#20 - Top of 2013

Darkthrone - The Underground Resistance (Peaceville)


In number 20, we have the newest -as of May 2016- studio album by Norwegian old-school band Darkthrone. Darkthrone, is a very well-known quantity for black metal fans, with very influential albums during the early nineties. In the last decade, Darkthrone have shifted their music tastes from black metal to old-school metal in general. This is also true for this album. It is not a black metal effort; rather it is reminiscent of Bathory in mixing old-school black metal songs with old-school metal songs with an epic undertone present in both. It is an excellent album with a lot of nostalgia and true love for this kind of music by a band that remains uncompromising in their ways. The best tracks of the album for me are "Valkyrie" and the epic finale of "Leave no Cross Unturned" but this is just personal preference and others might find the fast paced "Dead Early" or  "Lesser Men" more attractive. 

92/100

Below is the epic track Valkyrie!

#21 - Top of 2013

Hagbard - Rise of the Sea King (Soundage Productions)

Welcome again, once more, to the beginning of another Top List. This is the first entry of the top list for 2013, and once again we revert back to a list of the top 21 albums for this year.
We begin by exploring the 2013 debut by Brazilian Power/Folk metallers, Hagbard. The band succeeds in combining epic, symphonic and acoustic elements with folk metal inspired by a host of different mythologies. The band took its name from the eponymous Norse sea god and their music is indeed worthy of that name! The album has a range of songs with the atmosphere ranging from epic choirs of male voices in "Let Us Bring Something for Bards to Sing" and "March to Glory" to Igor Rhein's growling vocals in "Sail to War", and from slow-paced songs with violins, flutes and guitars in "Mystical Land" and "Hidden Tears" (with guest female vocals by Vitória Vasconcelos) to the blasting epic sounds of "Dethroned Tyrant". Hagbard's debut album is a little gem in a sea of mediocrity and probably one of the best folk metal debuts of this decade!The band recently released their second album, which will soon be available here, along with their butt-kicking debut!


91/100

Below is the music video for "March to Glory"

#1 - Top of 2014

Casualties of Cool - Casualties of Cool (HevyDevy Records)

 And on top of the best albums of 2014, ... another Devin Townsend record! But this is not a mere record by Mr. Townsend, this is an awesome disc of pure inspiration! The record is very low key and initially might not seem like much, but it keeps dragging you back for more, time after time after time until you can practically hum all of it yourself and you still cannot stop yourself from going back and listening to it all over again. It is a testament to its real value that despite its taking number 1 spot in this list, I would not classify it as prog, nor metal, perhaps not even rock. It is a quiet type of music that transcends genres and speaks directly into your soul. Perhaps one of the most important reasons for that is the incredible ethereal voice of Ché Aimee Dorval. She brings a strange, otherworldly feeling to the music and at the same time a feeling of longing and a need to pick up your shoes and lazily start driving around the town to peek at old men relaxing at their porches (as weird as that sounds). If I had to choose a couple of songs as the best moments of the album, those would be "Flight"and "Bones", but there are no weak moments in the album as it flows in a very organic way.

100/100

Below is the official promo track with which, we finish up a very cool and interesting year in music.
We will be back very soon with the top 21 albums of 2013!

#2- Top of 2014

Blues Pills- Blues Pills (Nuclear Blast Records)

 Blues Pills' first album is very impressive record that makes it hard to believe that it is the band's debut! The album brings a 70's retro vibe with a blues-rock groove into the present that starts with the album's opening song, the amazing "High Class Woman". The psychedelic and southern rhythms are present throughout the album with songs such as the "Ain't No Change" and "Jupiter" blending perfectly with the strong vocals by Elin Larsson."Black Smoke"while starting off slowly, changes into some of the best riffs of the album! "River" and "No Hope Left For Me" add a more "bluesy" feeling to the experience, while also leaving room for Larsson's stunning voice to be heard. In "Devilman", a song that had been previously released as an EP, the band rocks-out again, before moving to the interesting "Astralplane" and the fast-paced "Gypsy" and wrapping-up the album with the catchy ballad "Little Sun"! 
Overall, the band manages to be reminiscent of the 70's blues rock without just coping&pasting the genre, but approaching it with a new nostalgic way that makes us look forward for their new material that will be released during the summer of 2016!


99/100

Below is the official video for the songs "High Class Woman" and "Gypsy".

#3 - Top of 2014

Grand Magus- Triumph and Power (Nuclear Blast Records)

The heavy metal band from Sweden is back with "Triumph and Power"! This is the 7th full-length from the Swedish Trio and it picks ups where its predecessor the epic "The Hunt" left off. The album starts its heavy metal engine with an intro of thunder, horses and guitar-bass riffs that constitute the song "On Hooves of Gold", an amazing song leading to "Steel versus Steel" (with a chorus that you are bound to sing along - all day long). The uplifting "Fight" is followed by the heavy riffs of "Triumph and Power" and the aggressive "Dominator", whose highlight are the incredible clean and deep vocals of the band's vocalist, JB Christoffersson. The instrumental "Arv"eases the transition to "Holmgång" and the more speedy "The Naked and The Dead". The album  is wrapped up by the ambient song "Ymer" leading into the epic "The hammer will bite", which is a heavy "typical" Grand Magus song that closes the album in the best way possible, leaving you singing "The Hammer will Bite, no other choice than surrender...Bow to the might, a fiery death from above."
 Grand Magus are uncompromising playing their kind of Epic Heavy Metal and with their new release coming in late May 2016, we are preparing ourselves for another dose of epic awesomeness.


99/100

Below is the music video for STEEL VERSUS STEEL

#4 - Top of 2014

Toehider - What Kind of Creature am I? (Bird's Robe Records)

Moving deeper into the absolutely best records of 2014, we arrive at this strange creation, a product of the imagination and creativity of Mike Mills, the main man behind everything Toehider. This is the band's second full length release preceded by a large number of singles and EPs. This is a record of pure progressive rock imagination with songs touching on various aspects of the genre and daring to experiment with different aspects of it. Going over the tracks of the disc, we start with the speedy "You and I both loose (but 5 wins)" with a very infectious refrain. Next, we have the more melody driven "Whatever makes you feel superior", followed by "The Thing With Me" a Queen-like lightning-fast track. The record continues with "What Kind of Creature am I?", a epic melodic journey of (self) discovery and keeps pounding you with the groovy "Smash it out". Then, we take a breather, as "Spoilt for Choice" is one of the most relaxing moments of the album, and prepare our selves for the highly humorous "Whoa", served with some extra irony. Next we have "Under the Future We Bury the Past", a bluesy piece with Mike's low singing completing the Jazz Bar feeling of the piece, almost straight out of Blue Velvet, culminating in some REALLY high "Kate Bush" vocals. This is followed by a prog rock epic "Meet the Sloth", a personal favorite and an awesome track relating a fantastic story about a fateful meeting with... a Sloth. The album concludes with the comedic short "Geese Lycan", leaving you wanting for more. A bombastic release that deserves all this  praise and more!

98/100

Below, as a special surprise, the video containing the complete album with lyrics, that the band itself uploaded to Youtube! If you enjoyed it please consider supporting Toehider at their Bandcamp here.

#5 - Top of 2014

Pain Of Salvation- Falling Home (InsideOut Music)

Pain Of Salvation are back after a break of 3 years with "Falling Home", bringing with them new acoustic variations of many their best known songs. The album has an amazing replay value for all the songs including the new track "Falling Home" (which gave its name to the album), the two very interesting covers of Dio's "Holy Diver"(with a lounge/reggae twist) and Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" as well as the acoustic versions of a long list of  favorite songs from the band. These include a jazz version of Stress (from Entropia), an acoustic Chain Sling (from Remedy Lane), and variable versions of Spitfall and Flame to the Moth (from Perfect Element II).  Although some people might complain that it has been a long time since the band has released a new album and be confused on their choice to record new versions of previous work, this is an amazing and innovative treatment to all these songs. some work better than others, but the overall experience is really amazing! Daniel Gildenlow's vocals blend perfectly with the backing vocals by the band's new guitarist Ragnar Zolberg, who was only a live session player before joining full time here. Overall, this is a melodic and catchy album that makes you look forward to new material from the band, which will hopefully be in 2016 or early 2017.



98/100

Below is the official video for the song "Falling Home".

#6 - Top of 2014

The Samurai of Prog - The Imperial Hotel (Seacrest Oy)

 On number 6, crawiling towards the top of the best albums of 2014 in retrospect, we have "The Imperial Hotel" from "The Samurai of Prog".This is an excellent third album of this Finland-based, multi-national  and virtually unknown band with a very unique name! The preceding 2 albums included exclusively covers of classic progressive rock tracks,  but this five-track album consists of new material. The music is written by four different guest keyboardists who also play on the album:i) "After the Echoes" is composed by Octavio Stampalia (Jinetes Negros), in a very sweet opening progressive track, with vocal harmonies echoing of Yes. ii) "Limoncello",  composed by Robert Webb (England) and is based around a violin tune that will become more infectious every time you hear it. iii) "The Imperial Hotel", also composed by Robert Webb, narrating the story of an old Victorian house that became a hotel is simply the best track of the album and truly a progressive rock gem. iv) 'Into the Lake', the final track of the album by Linus Kåse (Brighteye Brison), is a complex progressive composition that draws you into it and successfully completes the narrative of the album. A surprisingly awesome record that is worth a listen and a perfect number 6 to what was an immaculate year for progressive rock.


98/100

Below is, in all its glory, the full self-titled song (Warning, it is in the 25+ minute region)

# 7 Top of 2014

Transatlantic - Kaleidoscope (Inside Out Music)

Transatlantic's  2009, album "The Whirlwind" might be one of he best progressive rock albums of the 21st century. With their fourth studio release "Kaleidoscope", the all star band only had to keep the quality to the same standards and show that they are able to keep up with themselves in terms of music virtuosity. And after even the first listen of the album, you feel confident that they achieved that and possibly more.
The opening track "Into The Blue" is 25 minutes long, with a big intro, keyboards and all in all a true prog gem. The real surprise of the album comes with "Written In Your Heart Section" and specifically near the 17 minute mark when the magical voice of Daniel Gildenlow creates a moment of unparallel music. Neal Morse leads us  to the grand finale of the album with another epic, a hallmark of all good progressive rock records, with the title track, which includes powerful melodies, with many different parts leading to the explosive end of the album.
A great & memorable album!

97/100

Below is the music video from the "radio" moment of the album, Shine which in many ways is a reminiscent of another great moment from the band's past "We all need some light"

#8 - Top of 2014

Ian Anderson - Homo Erraticus (KScope)


On number 8 of the top albums for 2014, is the underrated gem by Ian Anderson, the main man of Jethro Tull. This release was inspired by Ian Anderson's manager Gerald Bostock, discovering an old manuscript in a bookshop near his home in Linwell, England. This manuscript was a summary of events past, present and future (!) by British amateur historian Ernest T. Parritt, entitled Homo Britanicus Erraticus. The author himself later died in a sanatorium.
Gerald was inspired by the material in the book and by collaborating with Ian, this album was made as a concept album relating all human history through the lens of aforementioned book. The album is brilliant mixing the old Jethro Tull vibe with newer music elements and incredibly witty lyrics, allegorically speaking about modern lifestyle choices and the futility of all things.


 97/100

Below is the Lyric Video from "Enter the Uninvited", one of the many highlights of the album.

#9 - Top of 2014

 Flying Colors - Second nature (Mascot Label Group)

In number nine, we have the second album from supergroup Flying Colors...

It is worth mentioning that this prog supergroup started as an idea of producer Bill Evans, who in the second album is again present, helping the position of producer / engineer. Composition and production was done mainly by the band itself here and probably this is the reason why "Second Nature" sounds quite diversified in relation to their debut and -as perhaps some already suspect- much more prog.The mere fact that the album opens and closes with two 12 minute epics should speak for itself. Additionally, the structures are more adventurous, the pop element is reduced, while Neal Morse has significantly greater role as a singer, either alone, or by sharing the role with McPherson in many compositions. Starting with the "Open Up Your Eyes" gorgeous piano, subsequently continuing with the "Mask Machine" striking a good balance between commerciality and quality. "Bombs Away" is the most groovy and dynamic disk composition without compromising on melody, even including parts reminiscent of Spock's Beard. The rest of the album also flows beautifully juggling between commercial songs and prog masterpieces. I admit that "Second Nature" exceeded my expectations with the five great musicians that make up Flying Colors combining forces and creating a multi-level and truly impressive work.

97/100

Below is the music video from aforementioned album track "Mask Machine"

 

#10 - Top of 2014

The Soulbreaker Company- Graceless (Alone Records)

Moving on to the Top 10 for 2014, is a very interesting album by The Soulbreaker Company, a Basque psychedelic rock band. "Graceless" is an album that succeeds in approaching 70's rock and indie elements with a new and fresh perspective. The catchy violin melody in "Hard and Fast", the mesmerizing "Dust From The Stars", the groovy "No One Is Complaining" as well as the personal favourite "Many So Strange" make it certain that the album will stick to the listener for long time. Although the band is not very well known outside Spain and the majority of information on them is in Spanish, they are a band that is worth checking out if you are looking for a chill-out musical experience.


96/100

Below is the official video for the song "How will we get by?".

#11 - Top of 2014

Solstafir - Otta (Seasons of Mist)

As we near the top ten albums of 2014, we encounter the four cowboys from Iceland, delivering their fifth full length release with once more a slow-paced mixture of post-rock, neofolk with a pinch of progressive hidden underneath. The use of piano sounds, longing strings banjos add a dream-like quality to the melancholic riffs.
This is a concept album, on the basis of an Icelandic system of time that starts and ends at midnight. The different tracks represent very well the eight segments of a day. The songs that portray nocturnal hours are epic, hypnotizing and lugubrious. The calm, lethargic and menacing opener “Lágnætti” has an almost nightmarish quality.
Here, on the basis of this weird concept, the band manages to deliver a diversified listening experience, much more accessible than it would appear at first glance.

96/100

For your viewing pleasure two incredible official videos, straight from this record 

#12 - Top of 2014

Devin Townsend & Devin Townsend Project - Z² (HevyDevy)


At number 12 of the top 31 list for 2014, there is the double monstrocity released by Devin Townsend and the Devin Townsend Project,  Z². As the two releases are very distinct, in terms of music, lyrical content and deserve to be discussed separately, a brief overview of each of the two records follows:

1. Dark Matters (Devin Townsend)
"Dark Matters" is the sequel to the sci-fi metal musical "Ziltoid The Omniscient", a disc that Townsend himself has now denounced as having a very rough production. Despite that, it went on to become a fan favourite.  With a full house of staff this time, unlike the homemade character of the first "Ziltoid" - the four-dimensional universe alien is before us again, via the "Nerd" style characteristics of its predecessor and an extreme prog metal frenzy reminiscent of "Deconstruction" and "The New Black" of Strapping Young Lad. In short, the "Dark Matters" is as complex synthetic and thematic silly needed to bring the mark of a genuine descendant of "Ziltoid". Highlights of the disc include "March of the Poosers" and "Ziltoidian Empire". An all around entertaining prog metal concept album, bringing back the atmosphere of the first "Ziltoid" while expanding on it.

2. Sky Blue (Devin Townsend Band)

On the other we have "Sky Blue", which was in fact asked by Inside Out as a complement to Ziltoid 2 and is in fact a continuation of DTP studio albums such as "Epicloud" and "Ghost". With Anneke lending the beauty of her voice for the third time, the album's orientation faces in the style of the aforementioned but containing elements from older albums. Admirable remains the ability to write feel good epic songs like "Fallout", the "Universal Flame" or "Before We Die", to groove, exemplified in "Rejoice" and "Silent Militia" and to slow down so beautifully in " Midnight Sun "and "Sky Blue". However, if you compare it with the "Epicloud", "Sky Blue" is leaning more on the melancholic side, and there are some songs like "Warrior" that are a tad more forgettable than usual DTP standards.



96/100 (Higher marks for Dark Matters)

Below are 2 music videos from the two releases.

 

#13 - Top of 2014

Battleroar - Blood of Legends (Cruz del Sur Music)

Battleroar are back with another epic album to tell us about the "Blood of Legends"! The amazing and powerful vocals of Gerrit Mutz, the new frontman of the band, fit perfectly with the heavy riffs. Gerrit was previously known from his work with Sacred Steel, a Teutonic (sic) heavy metal band, and he brings the dynamic of his powerful vocals here as well.  Another interesting trait that makes that band stand out is the addition of violins, played by Alex Papadiamantis. The song "Valkyries Above Us" is no doubt the highest point in the album, with its melodic chorus that is bound to stick to you and make you sing along (all night long)! The rest of the record doesn't lack anything in epicness with songs like the dramatic "Poisoned Well" (the song from the video below) and the impressive "The Swords Are Drawn". Excellent release and an epic record through and through!

95/100

Below is the official video for the song "Poisoned well".