Considering I am now using this blog more for stuff that is less business based, I have decided to go for a more personal touch and am going to talk about my favourite albums and EPs of the year. I’ll be honest, I have listened to a lot of new albums, and not a lot has impressed me this year, 2014 has been rather weak in my opinion, So it has taken something rather special to make my list. These are not exactly critical reviews, more just my thoughts on them
Slipknot – 5: The Gray Chapter
I find it funny that as a Slipknot album, I don’t rate this as high as I rate most of its predecessors, yet I still consider it one of the best albums of the year. I come at the album from 2 fronts, as a metal fan and as a Slipknot fan. As a metal fan it is a really good album, insanely heavy with some great complimentary melodies, chants that can get crowd going, and the emotion driven by the death of former bassist Paul Gray (the album being a tribute to him), you can sense the feeling is there in the band again to write a really good album, something that I never really felt with All Hope Is Gone (2008).
Now as a Slipknot fan, there are elements I can only describe as an anti-climax, moments of pure “yes I love this” which lead to “what the fuck was that?” AOV being the main one, the ferociousness from the early days gave me tingles, then the chorus just killed it for me by going soft, eventually I grew to like it, but initially it wasn’t what I wanted in a Slipknot song that started of so viciously, Nomadic was a similar feeling too.
I know a lot of people loved this album from the start, but it was definitely a grower for me.
Song to check out – Skeptic
Grove Street Families – The San Fierro EP
For anyone familiar with the term, Groves Street Families is a nod to the Grand Theft Auto game series, Grove Street being a fictional street in the San Andreas instalment in the series. Here comes a hardcore band who write songs as if they are from the fictional street, writing songs about being in the hood, partying with the GSF Familia and capping gangstas. Some people might find this stupid though I think it is brilliant, just try not to take them seriously. Musically it is simple, raw and energetic, what more do you want from a hardcore release. With San Andreas 2 in the works, I really hope that Rockstar consider adding these guys into the soundtrack.
Song to check out – GSF ‘Til I Die
Brutality Will Prevail – Suspension of Consciousness
Admittedly before this release I wasn’t really a fan of BWP, though with Louis Gauthier from Breaking Point taking over as the new vocalist my interest peaked. Being a huge fan of Breaking Point I was intrigued with what this new album would sound like, and maybe I am biased towards Louis but I prefer “new” BWP, Louis’ voice just suits the music better. I was really impressed with Suspension of Consciousness, It is heavy and gritty and everything you’d expect from hardcore, yet it has a nice ambience to it, a somewhat stoner rock feel to it (ironic considering they are straight edge). I feel like I’m one of the few people that really likes this album, as most BWP loyalists seem to slam it instead of saying it is a progression, I disagree, it is a progression, they seem to have evolved as musicians without staying completely in the hardcore niche, and I’m excited about what is to follow.
Song to check out – Escapist
Martyr Defiled – No Hope No Morality
This is an absolute beast, some of the most crushing breakdowns I have heard on an album in 2014. Considering my recent discovery that I’m not completely in love with deathcore anymore, it surprises me that this is still up there as one of my favourite albums of the year. I think it is just the raw ferociousness of it all, no holds barred anger in album format! No Hope No Morality certainly moves Martyr Defiled up a notch in the world of deathcore, I personally think they now surpass Suicide Silence after their disappointing release this year.
Song to check out – 616
Pay No Respect – Hope For The Hopeless EP
Pay No Respect have been been one of my favourites over the last few years, and I still consider them one of the most underrated bands in the hardcore scene. With another EP under their belt, Hope For The Hopeless is nothing but spectacular. Brutal metallic hardcore that pulls no punches with breakdowns and grooves to get you dancing. A simple 4 track release with relentless aggression. I feel this deserves more recognition than it has received so far.
Song to check out – This World Is Ours
These are just my favourites, the releases that kept me hooked, there are a lot of releases that were good, but not great this year. As I said I was rather disappointed with music of 2014 as a whole, I hope this changes in 2015. Let me know what your favourites were…
makkys waffles 