Jac's 1st Quarter 2014
So I managed to compile 20 of my favourite albums from this year so far,
and ranked them very roughly (because knowing me the ranking will be
completely different in 2 weeks). Enjoy. |
| 1 |  | Artificial Brain
Labyrinth Constellation
Only 4.5 from this year so far. Basically, Labyrinth Constellation is a superbly
balanced mix of influences, with the most obvious one being Gorguts. However,
there's also some Immolation, Demilich, Deathspell Omega and even a touch of
Voivod here and there. Absorbing Black Ignition is probably my fav track of the year
as well, brilliant album. |
| 2 |  | Volcanic Queen
Faith in Desire
Absolutely adore this guy's gritty textures, ominous soundscapes, sparse little
feedback tones and groovy beats it just transcends through sound forever more.
Can easily see this in a lot of people's end of year lists, will certainly be on mine. |
| 3 |  | Symptom
Caverns of Katabasis
Excellent death/doom from this one-man band from Oregon. Got a really strong
Disembowelment vibe going on among other things, just needs some Tuvan throat
singing and the illusion will be complete. |
| 4 |  | Actress
Ghettoville
Feel this album is a little underrated despite getting two 4 reviews. Pretty sure I've
said before that I like the darker, most atmosphere oriented tracks and that's still
the case, though the gap between the beat-driven ones has narrowed pretty
significantly. |
| 5 |  | Corpsessed
Abysmal Thresholds
This is basically what happens when you take the instrumentation of Finndeath and
merge it with the crushing production typical of old school Swedeath. I like NoTrap
but saying the production on this is "poor" is a little silly, album rules. |
| 6 |  | Kangding Ray
Solens Arc
Random album I found scouring some lists on RYM and I'm glad I did, because it's
the perfect album to just throw on and be absorbed into your surroundings. Really
chilled, really engrossing, do check it out. |
| 7 |  | Morbus Chron
Sweven
Not the second coming as some people have touted it as, but it is an excellent
OSDM record regardless and has some of the best production of any album I've
heard this year. |
| 8 |  | Sk'p
Astravel
Twinkly, glitchy, nuanced IDM with really cool, almost surreal atmospheres. Pretty
overlooked unfortunately. |
| 9 |  | Howls of Ebb
Vigils of the 3rd Eye
Filthy, atonal, blackened death metal, like the soundtrack to a corpse being
devoured by hundreds of rabid rats or some other lame analogy. Was introduced to
me pretty recently so it's definitely got time to grow as well. |
| 10 |  | Oneohtrix Point Never
Commissions I
Only listened to this yesterday but that was enough time to warrant a place here,
first track is definitely my favourite with all the glimmering pleasantries but the
other two are arguably more interesting, if not a little less focused but whatever. |
| 11 |  | Behemoth
The Satanist
Hail Stan [emslash] hard etc. |
| 12 |  | Reverend Desaad
Elemental Raga II: Fire Starter
Certified Best Potsycore of 2014 (so far), would probs be a blast blazed |
| 13 |  | Domains
Sinister Ceremonies
Just some really cool OSDM with awesome production and riffs and that's all that
really matters so m/m/m |
| 14 |  | Mondkopf
Hades
Glad Captain put me onto this because it's pre cool. Beat driven tracks rule but the
Terminator 2 industrial-like ones rule even harder. |
| 15 |  | Woods of Desolation
As The Stars
"This black metal album has poor production" - retard. Anyways, complain about the
trebly sound engineering all you like it still sounds good in my ears and it's all
uplifting and makes me feel warm and fuzzy so there we are. |
| 16 |  | Sunn O))) and Ulver
Terrestrials
Was sorta boring at first but then it just clicked and I zoned out in contentment
the rest is history album rulez |
| 17 |  | Soluna ((Sunnae))
The Reverend.Cosmic ((Divine Polaric))
Potsy should just confine himself and his associates to a studio and make eclectic
beatz for ever and ever. |
| 18 |  | Audrey Fall
Mitau
Can understand why some people would be put off by an instrumental post-metal
album but I recommend you people to check it out regardless, good riffins and cool
soundscapes what's not to like exactly? |
| 19 |  | Thee Silver Mount Zion
Fuck Off Get Free We Pour Light on Everything
As good as the title is ludicrous. Vox initially had me scratching my head but they
grew on me pretty quickly. |
| 20 |  | Of Solitude and Solemn
Starlight's Guide
Reverberant, dynamic metal beyond categorisation from Sputnik's own Noctus,
really good stuff. |
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