Metal Heads Assemble!!

[nullPointer]

It's been too long since there was a post in this thread!

So in retrospective I've concluded that 2014 was pretty much the year of doom metal, what with crucial releases from the likes of Pallbearer (which to my mind represents the new gold standard of doom), YOB, Earth, doom pioneers Electric Wizard, as well as quite a few I'm sure I've neglected to mention. If you're into slow, dirgy, melancholic, heavy-as-plutonium riffage, 2014 was your year.

Well as of right now, I'm making a prediction for 2015 (although it's not a great prediction mind, since we're already well into the year). 2015 will be the year of power metal. We've already seen some solid releases this year from genre stalwarts like Blind Guardian, Orden Ogan, and (a surprisingly good album from) Angra, as well as from a handful of upstarts like Noctourna, Wind Rose, and would be super group Serious Black (lol, dat name). And that's not even mentioning upcoming releases from Nightwish and whatever other power metallers might suddenly spring from the wood work. So do you take your metal with symphonic sensibility, a solid helping of theatricality, and operatic vocals (not to mention a hearty side of cheese)? Well I'm thinking 2015 is your year my headbanging friend!

[BoneSnapDeez]

I'm always slackin' on new metal. Maybe I'll check out some 2014 releases now.

[Ack]

I'm always slackin' on new metal. Maybe I'll check out some 2014 releases now.

Don't feel bad. I'm still hoping for a revival of the thrash revival.

Damn it, Havok, where are you?

[nullPointer]

I'm always slackin' on new metal. Maybe I'll check out some 2014 releases now.

Oh man, if you've got any sort of taste for doom, that Pallbearer album (Foundations of Burden) is marvelous. Those guys have elevated themselves as one of the best doom acts of all time AFAIC. I've also found myself returning to the following 2014 releases quite a bit:

Tryptikon - Melana Chasmata: This one might depend on how you feel about Tom G Warrior as it inevitably has his fingerprints all over it. But dude ... what a juggernaut this album is. This man has spent his entire career defining, refining, and redefining extreme metal. It all shows on this album.

Revocation - Deathless: Ok, cards on the table; I'm a huge Revocation fan. Like most of their back catalog, this one is such a wonderfully tasty mix of thrash and tech death.

Mastodon - Once More round the Sun: Mastodon continues to distill their proggy sludge sound into an increasingly focused package. They started this trend on The Hunter but weren't altogether successful (although I do like that album well enough). They are much more successful and tight on this album.

Opeth - Pale Communion: Well, hmm ... I mean it's unlikely Opeth will ever release another Still Life, and I'm not even sure this really qualifies as metal, but c'mon it's Opeth. Much like Mastodon above, Opeth took what they did on the previous album and did it several times better here. Whatever you think of Mikael Åkerfeldt's current musical trajectory (which seems to be in retrograde toward the likes of Hawkwind and Camel) the man continues to make interesting music.

2014 Records I'm still getting into. These are the albums that I've listened to on streaming that I'd still like to add to my collection in order to fully absorb.

Panopticon - Roads to the North: Black metal as refracted through the lens of the American South complete with Appalachian folk interludes and instrumentation? Yes please!

Blut Aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta III: Saturnian Poetry: I never fully got into the Blut Aus Nord ambient/industial influenced period, but Memoria Vetusta III is the bands triumphant return to their straight up 2nd wave black metal trilogy, and it's all the better for it.

I'm still hoping for a revival of the thrash revival.

Damn it, Havok, where are you?

Man, if you're looking for a decent thrash fix, you could do a lot worse than the latest Exmortus album (Slave to the Sword) which is another awesome 2014 release. It's not quite in the same style as Havok, but undoubtedly crispy none the less.

[stickem]

Havok, great 2nd album, 3rd not so much. I kinda have given up a thrash comeback and moved onto another genre lol.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I'm always slackin' on new metal. Maybe I'll check out some 2014 releases now.

Oh man, if you've got any sort of taste for doom, that Pallbearer album (Foundations of Burden) is marvelous. Those guys have elevated themselves as one of the best doom acts of all time AFAIC. I've also found myself returning to the following 2014 releases quite a bit:

Doom is one of my favorite subgenres but I'm rather picky. I've heard a couple of the things you mentioned but I'll check some more out.

[GSZX1337]

Havok, great 2nd album, 3rd not so much.

I've listened to Unnatural Selection when it first came out and didn't think it was too hot either. I plan on giving another chance though.

I kinda have given up a thrash comeback and moved onto another genre lol.

Thrash's revival has come and gone. Have you tried Fueled By Fire?

[stickem]

It's been a few years but i remember hearing them and it wasn't to bad. To be honest all the new thrash all sounded generic, nothing special. Moved along to death metal.

[GSZX1337]

Moved along to death metal.

Yeah, none of that shit sounds generic.

[stickem]

Moved along to death metal.

Yeah, none of that shit sounds generic.

Not sure what you mean, but ok. What subgenre is acceptable then?