Top 20 Of 2014 So Far
A WIP of my 20 favorite albums from this year as of the end of August. |
| 20 |  | Nadja
Queller
Don't have much to say about this, it's the only Nadja release I've really enjoyed.
6.3/10 |
| 19 |  | IDYLLS
Prayer For Terrene
Hardcore/grind is still new to me. Raw and intense. Needs more listens. 6.4/10 |
| 18 |  | Fallujah
The Flesh Prevails
A good release that I stopped caring about after only a few listens. There's just
something very missing. Nomadic was fantastic, this felt a little off. Starlight Path is
a 9/10 song. Overall 6.4/10 |
| 17 |  | Boris
Noise
It'll get better. Angel is amazing. The cat artwork is my favorite this year. 6.5/10 |
| 16 |  | Lorelei
Lore of Lies
Another one of my earlier favorites that aged poorly. Must be a deathcore thing. I
fell asleep to this in broad daylight once. 6.6/10 |
| 15 |  | Low Roar
0
This one's a recent dig as well. Very emotional. Rating is sure to increase. 6.8/10 |
| 14 | | Smallman
Envision
Having picked this up recently, I really like it. Needs more time. 6.8/10 |
| 13 |  | Alcest
Shelter
L'Eveil des muses and Delivrance are two of my favorite tracks of this entire year.
The rest of the album is just alright. 6.9/10 |
| 12 |  | Ben Frost
A U R O R A
It's like Tim Hecker on steroids. Deep, rumbly, and intense. Still needs more listens.
7.0/10 |
| 11 |  | Opeth
Pale Communion
Gonna be honest, I love 90's Opeth (apart from MAYH) and 70's prog isn't
something I've adapted to quite yet. The first half of this record was pretty
sluggish, but the second half is great. I'm still trying to absorb it. 7.0/10 |
| 10 |  | Swans
To Be Kind
Meh, The Seer is better. Gira's insanity didn't do it for me. Still top-notch
instrumentally but really hit-and-miss. Screen Shot and Nathalie Neal are great.
7.2/10 |
| 9 |  | Secret Band
Secret Band
This album's nuts. The lyrics make no damn sense. It'll grow on me more. 7.4/10 |
| 8 |  | A Sense of Gravity
Travail
This album impressed me the first time I heard it, but it unfortunately aged quite a
bit after ten or so listens. Still solid. 7.5/10 |
| 7 |  | So Slow
Dharavi
Poland is becoming one of my favorite countries for music. What caught my eye was
the Instant Classic label, the same label is Alameda 3's "P??ne kr?lestwo", one of my
favorite albums of 2013. Beautiful release. 8.0/10 |
| 6 |  | BADBADNOTGOOD
III
This album is sexy. I don't have many other ways to describe it. Better than BBNG2.
8.0/10 |
| 5 |  | Wolves in the Throne Room
Celestite
I'm still trying to fully take in this record. It's so sparkly and beautiful and
immersive. It keeps sucking me in. Send help 8.1/10 |
| 4 |  | Dirge
Hyperion
As a post/atmosludge metal fanboy, I couldn't pass this up. It took a few listens to
fully absorb. The only downside is the last track's long repetition, other than that
it's near-perfect. 8.5/10 |
| 3 |  | Trophy Scars
Holy Vacants
I'm still new to this band, but this album sounds better with every listen. Amazing
to jam to. 8.5/10 |
| 2 |  | nic/Old Soul
Split
I love this split so much. Old Soul feels like the perfect balance of Converge meets
Deafheaven. ?????? (nic) continues to be a much darker Deafheaven. Great
stuff. 8.7/10 |
| 1 |  | Have a Nice Life
The Unnatural World
Many would say this record was a letdown, but I honestly couldn't find much wrong
with it. Made me feel. Burial Society and Emptiness Will Eat the Witch are both
10/10 tracks. 9/10 |
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