Arson Awards 2014: Top 100 metal albums [Part IV]

Marking the year's death.

Arson Awards 2014: Top 100 metal albums [Part III]

Arson Awards: Top 100 metal albums [Part II]

Arson Awards 2014: Top 100 metal albums [Part I]

Dividing the list into four pieces, including artwork and links, is always better than a long text list. Maybe it's less likely to completely ignore the albums too, but I've never gone down that path, really. Once again, 2014 left us with a fuckload of music and you never have the time to listen to everything, so for this year I will not include any worst album lists and the likes so that i'll stick to being positive. It's all great, everything's great. Don't forget to autistically knock your head over a wall while listening to each and every one of these records, as a token of appreciation for me doing the same thing all year now just to compile this list.

Arson Awards 2014: Top 12 non-metal albums

It felt wiser to seperate the metal from the non metal albums this time, even though I like keeping year lists with all kinds of music at the end of the day. There were more albums from which I enjoyed a couple of tracks only and these didn't make it to the finals, I hope you already know there are countless more amazing records than twelve for this year. Each one has their favourites:

12. This Will Destroy You - Another Language

Genre: Post-Rock

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One of the bands that introduced me to this genre released another great record. Atmospheric, laid back and warm, with some excellent compositions like "Dustism", "The Puritan" and "Mother Opiate".

11. Bassnectar - Noise VS Beauty

Genre: Electronic / Experimental / Dubstep

Listen [1] [2] [3]

I'm really into the style of this producer more than anything else I've come across in EDM, mainly because of his eccentric, colourful and artistic approach to the craft of music.

10. sleepmakeswaves - Love of Cartography

Genre: Post-Rock

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The essential band that led me into post-rock. Maybe I was really lucky because them and This Will Destroy You released albums this year. Love of Cartography deserves all the joy you can spend on it.

9. Wovenhand - Reftactory Obdurate

Genre: Indie / Alternative Country

Listen

I had no idea about this until I found a Youtube link with the whole album. I shouldn't introduce these guys to anyone, only gonna say their music hasn't lost it's strength.

8. Nadja - Queller

Genre: Drone / Shoegaze

Listen

This whole record is amazing, an aural journey into immaterial landscapes. Maybe the closest to metal in this list, even though they have reduced such elements in Queller. Beware of the thick guitars though!

7. Worm Is Green - To Them We Are Only Shadows

Genre: Electronic / Ambient / Trip-Hop

Listen

I didn't know this band and gave it a listen because of it's name and album title. It was the first tracks that moved me and it's after all a spectacular effort.

6. Tuomas Holopainen - The Life and Times of Scrooge

Genre: Atmospheric Rock

Listen [1] [2] [3]

I have explained here how close to the core of my heart this stuff resides. Majestic music and one of the best concept albums ever. Oh, and look at this picture.

5. I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Dust

Genre: Indie Rock / Post-Punk

Listen

I had completely forgotten about this band and didn't know about a new record. I used to give them often and several spins some years ago and the new album turns out to be even better than their early material.

4. Bob Mould - Beauty and Ruin

Genre: Alternative Rock

Listen

A veteran rocker that jams with more heart than most artists in his area today. I get a feel like Bob Mould is an unsung hero but anyway. Flawless album, all tracks great.

3. Musk Ox - Woodfall

Genre: Chamber Folk

Listen

Came around listening to this after a suggestion from Don Anderson of Agalloch and it turns out to be magnificent. This band has classical guitars, violins, cellos and it is the definition of beauty.

2. Lethe - When Dreams Become Nightmares

Genre: Avantgarde / Electronic / Trip-Hop

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When Dreams Become Nightmares might be the first record I listened for 2014 and by then I knew it would be a good year. Lethe is a project of Tor-Helge Skei from Manes and Anna Murphy, who sings in Eluveitie. The two musicians created an album beyond reckoning. Anna's ethereal vocals fill your lungs with euphoria and the smart electronic compositions of the duo are pure awesomeness. Recommended for every person on the planet.

1. Villagers of Ioannina City - Riza

Genre: Stoner / Folk Rock [Ηπειρόκ]

Listen

This band has attracted huge attention within the borders of the country. Even if you don't understand Greek, ckeck out Riza for it has a truly addictive sound. Villagers of Ioannina City took traditional Greek songs and fused them with strong Tool elements and traditional instruments, it seems like it is the recipe to success.

Arson Awards 2014: Top 12 EPs

I know I've been around here a lot less than I used to, but I'll keep coming back every year for this shit, for sure. I've moved my reviewing thoughts and general music updating to a webzine named Metal Invader, and that might explain something. Anyway, off we go!

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12. Baths - Ocean Death

Genre: Minimal / Electronica / Glitch

Listen

11. Mormoan - Empyreal Wisdom

 Genre: Funeral Ambient / Dungeon Synth

Listen

10. Trepalium - Voodoo Moonshine

Genre: Swing Death Metal / Jazz

Listen

9. Mournful Congregation - Concrescence of the Sophia

Genre: Funeral Doom Metal

Listen

8. Vermin Womb - Permanence

Genre: Grindcore / Death Metal

Listen

7. Kever - Eon of Cycling Death

Genre: Death Metal

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6. Vuyvr - Incinerated Gods

Genre: Black Metal

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5. Satariel - White Ink: Chapter 1

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

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4. Inter Arma - The Cavern

Genre: Black Metal / Sludge / Post-Metal

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3. Svartidauði - The Synthesis of Whore and Beast

Genre: Black Metal

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2. Worsen - Blood

Genre: Black Metal

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1. Skelethal - Deathmanicvs Revelation

Genre: Old School Death Metal

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