Top 10 Bandcamp Finds 2014
Over the last 12 months Bandcamp has been a constant source of new music. Some of it amazing, some interesting, a lot, really bad. But, the fun part is finding those new incredible bands that you never knew existed. These are my top 10 2014 LP's from bands I found out (more-or-less) about this year Bandcamp-hopping. |
| 1 |  | Thantifaxath
Sacred White Noise
This LP is worth all the praise it's receiving. Bitter, razor-sharp, caustic black metal with terrific songwriting and outstanding raw production. |
| 2 |  | Black Monolith
Passenger
It's like an evil incarnation of Econochrist meets crusty black metal in a filthy testament to fucked up amazingness. This LP got played a ton this year. |
| 3 | | A Pregnant Light
My Game Doesn't Have A Name
I had heard the name bandied around but never listened to them. But one listen and I bought the entire discography this year. The new LP is a genre-defiant mix of hardcore, alt-anthems, tiny smidges of black metal and anthemic songwriting. Would have been a top ten if it had come out earlier in the year. |
| 4 |  | Hell / Mizmor
Hell / Mizmor
Both bands employ an atmospheric, sepulchral doom that adds a dark artiness to the plodding hopelessness of the songs downtrodden march to death. Killer artwork too! |
| 5 |  | Stray Ghost
So Much To Remember, So Much To Forget
Neo-classical minimalism is a fairly new genre for me, but I found a few guys I liked this year (Ludovico Einaudi, Nils Frahm, etc), but none more impressive than this UK composer's double album. Melancholy piano and spectral violins are the only instruments in this depressive yet gorgeous LP of rainy-day laments. |
| 6 | | Skaphe
Skaphe
A seething snakepit of claustrophobic and uncomfortably violent black metal. Really nailing the asphyxiating, blinding madness of black metal squall, noise and misanthropic atmosphere. |
| 7 |  | Wold
Postsocial
This is the most disturbing and wonderful LP of creative and harsh blackened noise I heard all year. This is a challenging, inharmonious journey through crackling and violent avant garde black metal noise. Recommended for the headphone junky in us all. |
| 8 |  | Lie
Consent
Post punk with the punk part being emphasized. The LP is played with edge, frustration and icy, jabbing guitar lines. Sometimes it's almost atonal, but the songs always retain a nice driving pace to them. Sounds like a mix of Shellac and Gorilla Angreb. |
| 9 |  | Halgrath
The Whole Path Of War And Acceptance
This surreal, post-apocalyptic dark ambient LP is beautifully menacing. Snow-clad drones, Russian writers, Siberian landscapes, open spaces and wintry depressions are the themes in this exquisitely textured ambient LP. |
| 10 |  | Tony Tears
Voci Dal Passato
This is not for everyone, but this Italian band's extremely odd Dario Argento movie soundtrack, meets gothic metal meets blackened doom is full of twisted, narcotic, damaged musicianship and an all-around b-movie, dreamlike vibe that creates an unsettling and sometimes almost comical mood. |
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