MID-YEAR FEATURE: Metal

10 July 2014 | 3:15 pm | Staff Writer
Originally Appeared In

Heavy music is always a diverse and interesting field. With more sub-genres than bands to go around, there’s the potential for over-saturation, but in a glass half-full-type of thinking, equally the promise of more acclaimed albums. The first half of 2014 has again produced some punishing and solid music. Essentially, the good keep getting better, while the rest are found out. Killyourstereo.com gives you the best and worst “metal” has offered (so far) – a mid year report to discuss, debate and offer opinion.

Heavy music is always a diverse and interesting field. With more sub-genres than bands to go around, there’s the potential for over-saturation, but in a glass half-full-type of thinking, equally the promise of more acclaimed albums.

The first half of 2014 has again produced some punishing and solid music. Essentially, the good keep getting better, while the rest are found out.

Killyourstereo.com gives you the best and worst “metal” has offered (so far) – a mid year feature to discuss, debate and offer opinion.




Top five international albums (in no particular order)

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Behemoth – The Satanist

When reality meets expectation. ‘The Satanist’ was unanimously placed at the top of most industry related “anticipated” album lists at the beginning of 2014. The first taste of new material – ‘Blow Your Trumpets, Gabriel’ – was a little tame. However, the collection of tracks that prevail here is something as impressive as it is worthy of lengthy praise. Brutal, controlled and equally dynamic, ‘The Satanist’ is metal personified. The rest of the genre has just under six months to try and knock this off the top of the pile.

Mastodon – Once More ‘Round the Sun

‘Once More ‘Round the Sun’ is another chapter in the already entertaining Mastodon tale. Diverse, relatable and perhaps challenging, the full-length is a composite of solid musicianship, well-planned structures and forward thinking delivery. There are classic sounding Mastodon riffs (intro to ‘High Road’) and more accessible moments (‘The Motherload’). There’s something for every fan.

Conan – Blood Eagle

HEAVY! Not in the deathcore meets UFC frontman persona type of way, but the distorted, wailing riffs on ‘Blood Eagle’ are dense and simply punishing. When ‘Total Conquest’ kicks in at around the 0:34 sec mark, the point is made. It’s doom but with sustained interest. Most contemporaries of the genre will wear you down with gloom and downtrodden pace. Instead, ‘Blood Eagle’ is layered and fast moving. Local fans need to check these guys out on their Australian tour.

Cult Leader – Nothing For Us Here

Gaza, who?! Cult Leader have taken the best bits of the aforementioned and improved the beast. Deathwish Inc. have another impressive band on their roster. ‘Nothing For Us Here’ adopts a hardcore approach but gives it that dark metallic edge. For those that want heavy music sans over-used breakdowns and clean-sung sections, Cult Leader offer a very enticing album.

Down – Down IV

Down don’t need a whole new album to excel. ‘We Knew Him Well’ on its own almost ensures this offering is another success. Sludgy, southern riffs when done right set the mood and having a metal icon front the band is always going to deliver added impact. It’s not a ground-breaking release and probably not even the band’s brightest point, but it’s still consistent and another example of metal done right.

Honourable mention: Eyehategod - S/T

Top five Australian albums

Caged Grave – Gutless

With ‘Gutless’ the timing felt right. With bands like Nails, All Pigs Must Die and Trap Them all doing good things, it’s only fitting the domestic scene is matching the international output. ‘Gutless’ is a brief affair but makes its impact felt in half the time others would often require. This could easily be placed in the "hardcore" field for its powerviolence approach. Either/or, really.

Adamus Exul – Arsenic Idols

What would a metal list be without a corpse paint wearing, black metal outfit?! Menacing and dark, this is lifted straight from the Scandinavian rulebook by the way of Melbourne. A little rough around the edges, this is still powerful. Sadistic and dripping with a misanthropic mentality…just like all black metal should.

Bateman – SMUT

So, it’s perhaps debateable whether ‘SMUT’ fits comfortably in the “metal” category. There are no blast beats, little or no double-kick and certainly no death growls. However, there are crossover elements, which metalheads will embrace and for that reason, this album deserves recognition. Entertaining, upbeat and simply fun, ‘SMUT’ is a good time. A party album but with consideration and thought in the execution.

I Killed the Prom Queen – Beloved

While not as good as predecessor ‘Music For the Recently Deceased’, ‘Beloved’ gets a pass mark. It could’ve easily gone the other way. So long between drinks, this full-length could’ve felt belated and past its used-by-date. Thankfully, the melodic death metal elements are retained and the hardcore ethic from the band’s infancy still exists. ‘Beloved’ brings nothing new to the table, but is still solid and consistent.

Sydonia – Reality Kicks

Perhaps more alternative than metal, ‘Reality Kicks’ did not disappoint. Catchy and consistent there was plenty on offer throughout the 13 tracks. Sydonia have been praised by their peers for some time (see: Stone Sour and Lamb of God), the music does the talking here.

Most surprising/underrated album

Conan – Blood Eagle

At the risk of doubling-up, just as impressive as ‘Blood Eagle’ was (see above for justified placement in international top five list), it is arguably the most underrated too. This is an elite metal album. It was unassuming, but deserves more praise than its underground acclaim currently gives.

Most disappointing album

Emmure – Eternal Enemies

How long is a piece of string? Disappointing is perhaps an ambiguous term because it suggests expectations weren’t met. However, anticipation for an Emmure album is not just low, it’s simply non-existent. The thing is, everyone likes to see people (or in this case, bands) prove doubters wrong. It’s that underdog mentality that’s captivating. Let’s make it painfully clear: this is not one of those cases. Emmure will never be underdogs because their music is just as undesirable as their frontman’s character.

Albums to keep an eye out for in the second half of 2014:

At The Gates – At War With Reality

Ne Obliviscaris – TBA

Cattle Decapitation – TBA

Darkest Hour – Darkest Hour

Slipknot - TBA

Read our MID-YEAR FEATURE: Punk here.