All right, what were yall's favorite albums from this year?
Any new bands you have discovered worth listening to

For Me my favorite albums are...

#1 Ne Obliviscaris - The Citadel
#2 The Contortionist - Language

Mastodon - Once More Around the Sun
Cynic - Kindly Bent to Free Us
Destrage - Are You Kidding Me, No?
Machine Head - Bloodstones and Diamonds
Soen - Tellurian
Thomas Giles - Modern Noise
Killer Be Killed (self titled)


Top Bands I discovered this year...
Ne Obliviscaris
The Contortionist
Last Chance to Reason
Kvelertak
Textures

Have only heard a few songs off at the gates - at war with reality, but it sounds like classic ATG which I'm down with. Will probably pick it up soon.

And, obligatory 'not metal anymore', but I really like Opeth's pale communion. Much better than their last effort heritage. The songs really sounded great live too.

Machine head-- blood stones and diamonds

I can't get those riffs outta my head!!

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Machine head-- blood stones and diamonds

I can't get those riffs outta my head!!

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This

Favorite Metal Album (w/ 62strat's obligatory "not metal" disclaimer): Opeth - Pale Communion

Just an awesome, awesome record in every way. Performances, production, everything.

Favorite new band discovered in 2014: Anciients - Canadian band, sort of Opethy meets stoner metal.

These are my favorites for the year, in no particular order. I may add to this later, when I get home from work.

Job For a Cowboy - Suneater
Progressive Death. Fantastic Bass line.

Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
Death/Black. Great vocal work.

Opeth - Pale Communion
Progressive. Has a very 70's vibe to it. Agree with the people that like it better than Heritage.

Spires - The Whisperer
Progressive Death

Son of Aurelius - Under a Western Sun
Progressive

Anaal Nathrakh - Desideratum
Industrial/Death/Grind

Bloodbath - Grand Morbid Funeral
OSDM

Septic Flesh - Titan
Symphonic Death

Mastodon - Once More 'round the Sun
Progressive

Behemoth - The Satanist
Black/Death

Allegaeon - Elements of the Infinite
Technical Death

Abysmal Dawn - Obsolescence
Technical Death

Devin Townsend - Casualties of Cool
Not Metal, but an awesome album

Ghost Brigrade - IV: One with the Storm
Melodic Death/Doom

Goat***** - Constricting Rage Of the Merciless
Black/Death

Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds
Metal

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Favorite new band discovered in 2014: Anciients - Canadian band, sort of Opethy meets stoner metal.

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+1. I love Heart of Oak. I didn't put it on my list because it was released in 2013.

They sound a lot like Mastodon to me.

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Devin Townsend - Casualties of Cool
Not Metal, but an awesome album

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Hells yeah, that album is greatness!

Thought of another album I'm enjoying, it's a 1-man project where this guy meticulously programs the drums and then plays bass and guitar. Has a Devin Townsend-like quality to it (heavy compressed bass, huge production). Pretty awesome for one dude. His album is free on bandcamp:

Celestial Flesh - Suspended Motion

Darkest Hour - S/T

They went with more clean vocals and more melody, but their At The Gates inspired melodic death metal riffs are still there. Not their best, but I ****ing love Darkest Hour.




Monuments - Amanuensis
Intervals - A Voice Within
Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun
Every Time I Die - From Parts Unknown

Dudes are ridiculous..

Within The Ruins - Phenomena

And my always guilty pleasure band..

Amaranthe - Massive Addictive

And I'm really digging Celestial Flesh. Massive potential for some badass vocals.

These are my 10 favorites of 2014 (in no particular order):

Inferi: The Path of Apothesis
Decapitated: Blood Mantra
Crobot: Something Supernatural
Exodus: Blood In Blood Out
Revocation: Deathless
Within the Ruins: Phenomena
Destrage: Are You Kidding Me? No.
Vader: Tibi Et Igni
Origin: Omnipresent
Overkill: White Devil Armory

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These are my 10 favorites of 2014 (in no particular order):

Inferi: The Path of Apothesis
Decapitated: Blood Mantra
Crobot: Something Supernatural
Exodus: Blood In Blood Out
Revocation: Deathless
Within the Ruins: Phenomena
Destrage: Are You Kidding Me? No.
Vader: Tibi Et Igni
Origin: Omnipresent
Overkill: White Devil Armory

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I liked Origin's and Decapitated's releases but I haven't listened to Vader's new one yet.

It's Vader, so there aren't any big surprises. I've just always been a huge fan. If you like tech death though (which it appears you do) check out the Inferi album.It came out really early in the year so I think it got overlooked by a lot of folks but I think it was fantastic.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShiEuQk5agg

Ne Obliviscaris - Devour Me, Colossus (Part I): Blackholes

Check this song out, Technical Melodic Death Progressive with violins

Remind me of Opeth when they used to play metal

When it gets to 9min mark, its a BTBAM bass-led build up that pushes this over the edge.

Also, they are from Austrailia, which is a little different for a band from this metal subgenre