Favorite Records of 2014 so far?

[FatherAlabaster]

So far, Dead Congregation's "Promulgation Of The Fall" and Thantifaxath's "Sacred White Noise" take the top spots for me. I've also been favorably impressed by the new Behemoth and Triptykon albums. Since I had no real expectations of Belphegor, Cannibal Corpse, Sanctuary, or At The Gates, I can't say I'm disappointed - their albums all feel like safe career moves, easily overshadowed by their previous output. I can't get behind that Opeth album, either.

[Frostaudn]

So far it's Pallbearer' date=' Sunn O)))/Scott Walker, Cult of Fire (2013???) and a few more I need to listen to again but those three are no brainers.[/quote'] Cult of Fire is indeed 2013. Although they come with a new ep.

[Midi]

Let's see... Dead Congregation - Promulgation of the Fall Howls of Ebb - Vigils of the 3rd Eye Morbus Chron - Sweven Thantifaxath - Sacred White Noise Secret Cutter - Self Titled Emptiness - Nothing but the Whole Bädr Vogu - Agglomeration XXIV Doom:VS - Earthless Fórn - The Departure of Consciousness

[Frostaudn]

Emptiness - Nothing but the Whole

I get a really uncomfortable feeling while listening to this album.

[Midi]

I get a really uncomfortable feeling while listening to this album.

Yeah, this really is a nightmarish album, but it's easily in my top 3 black/death albums. I love the music, lyrics, structure and everything else. NbtW is one of the very few albums which actually make me proud of being Belgian.

[Frostaudn]

Yeah' date=' this really is a nightmarish album, but it's easily in my top 3 black/death albums. I love the music, lyrics, structure and everything else. NbtW is one of the very few albums which actually make me proud of being Belgian.[/quote'] And don't forget the album cover. It's disturbing, yet so great.

[Midi]

And don't forget the album cover. It's disturbing' date=' yet so great.[/quote'] Yup. I believe I posted it in the album cover thread as well. I must admit I was pretty skeptical when I first saw it, but when you hear the opening track you immediately know that cover perfectly summarizes the album.

[Os Abysmi Vel Daath]

So far' date=' Dead Congregation's "Promulgation Of The Fall" and Thantifaxath's "Sacred White Noise" take the top spots for me. I've also been favorably impressed by the new Behemoth and Triptykon albums. Since I had no real expectations of Belphegor, Cannibal Corpse, Sanctuary, or At The Gates, I can't say I'm disappointed - their albums all feel like safe career moves, easily overshadowed by their previous output. I can't get behind that Opeth album, either.[/quote'] I need to check out Dead Congregation. I haven't listened to them before.

[FatherAlabaster]

I need to check out Dead Congregation. I haven't listened to them before.

The full length from a few years ago, "Graves Of The Archangels", might be a bit more immediately appealing, and I recall liking an EP of theirs a lot too. I initially felt like the new album moved a bit too slowly, but it's really grown on me.

[Os Abysmi Vel Daath]

I'm not even entirely sure what kind of music they play.

[deathstorm]

Guys. This is the best. Album cover of 2014 [ATTACH=CONFIG]1598[/ATTACH]

[FatherAlabaster]

I'm not even entirely sure what kind of music they play.

Old-school death metal with a bit of Incantation/Immolation vibe. They have a great knack for crafting simple, memorable parts that stay interesting. The production is great too, organic without being shitty.

[Os Abysmi Vel Daath]

Old-school death metal with a bit of Incantation/Immolation vibe. They have a great knack for crafting simple' date=' memorable parts that stay interesting. The production is great too, organic without being shitty.[/quote'] Oh okay, awesome, so right in line with a lot of the stuff I've been checking out lately.

[Phobophile]

The new Horrendous (Ecdysis) is anything but. Goddamn it's been a while since I've heard some really good DM and this is it. Death/early AtG/early Entombed vibe with some proggish-sounding atmosphere. Seriously bought the album after one listen.

[totlamad15]

Although, I listen to a lot of international bands, most of my favorites this year were from India. 1. Bhayanak Maut - 'Man' (It's a story based album. Each song has a twisted story that makes you uncomfortable. I thought the stories were beautifully written and the songs really grew on me after reading the stories). 2. Scribe - 'Hail Mogambo'. They aren't your traditional metal band. Some of it is very non-serious. Eccentric vocals. I call it metal dance music with grit. Also a story based album. The members are all into 90s bollywood so expect a lot of subculture references. Slightly influenced by Sikth. 3. The Down Troddence - 'How are you? We are fine. Thank you'. Most of it is straight up groove metal. Slightly djent. But they fuse indian folk elements into it in a way that it doesn't sound weird to me. In fact, it fits in pretty well. 4. The contortionist - Language. Beatiful aesthetic. I haven't heard it enough to get the concept yet but the new sound put it on the top shelf for me. Waiting for the new Skyharbor which probably won't really even be metal haha.

[Iceni]

'The Flesh Prevails' by Fallujah was good, and maybe I'll like this new Ne Obliviscaris too. I'm not sure there was anything else released this year I remember liking.

[FatherAlabaster]

The new Horrendous (Ecdysis) is anything but. Goddamn it's been a while since I've heard some really good DM and this is it. Death/early AtG/early Entombed vibe with some proggish-sounding atmosphere. Seriously bought the album after one listen.

I liked it, but didn't hear much in the way of Death, ATG, or prog. More than anything it sounded like early Scandinavian stabs at incorporating rock/blues influence, with angular stuff reminiscent of old European DM thrown in. It's good, I like the vocals, production, etc. - but it strikes me as a period piece, if that makes sense.

[Os Abysmi Vel Daath]

I love Ecdysis, but I agree - it sounds nothing like Death or AtG.

[orcslayr23]

My favorite album this year is definitely The Pagan Manifesto by Elvenking. This might be their best album yet; almost every song is 5 stars. Here's the rest of my list: 2: Scar Symmetry - The Singularity 3: The Unguided - Fragile Immortality 4: Sonic Syndicate - Self-Titled 5: Poets of the Fall - Jealous Gods 6: Dead by April - Let The World Know 7: Tuomas Holopainen - The Life and Times of Scrooge 8: Vallenfyre - Splinters

[Midi]

My shuffled MP3 just bumped into Hirsute. I had completely forgotten about that guy. I'd include his album in my top records of 2014 as well.

[SOVTEKslave]

Kind of random, but Wolfmother's new album is pretty decent...there's some killer parts at least.

[Sphincter face]

That Fallujah cd was pretty damn sweet, also been digging Within The Ruins - Phenomena I believe? And The Atlas Moth the old believer, both bad ass albums

[Midi]

That Fallujah cd was pretty damn sweet' date=' also been digging Within The Ruins - Phenomena I believe? And The Atlas Moth the old believer, both bad ass albums[/quote'] I remember not being too impressed with The Atlas Moth. The Fallujah CD was good though.

[Sphincter face]

Right on, personally liked An Ache For The Distance better, but I didn't think it was too bad

[FatherAlabaster]

I didn't like The Atlas Moth, just couldn't get into it, and from what I heard of the Fallujah CD, I don't like it as much as the first one. I did like that Hirsute album, though I wouldn't be putting it on a list of year end favorites.