2014 the lists that almost didn't happen

So, it's a new year again and I guess I should make some promises that I can't hold and so on... Well, one thing is sure, I will try to calm down a little bit, both when it comes to work and everything else, try to stay focused on only a few things at the time and not trying to do everything. It's not optimal and the risk is that I burn myself out. And that I sure don't have time for. Because it's been a quite tough year 2014, a lot of things I just had to do even if I didn't really feel like it, or had the energy for them, plus work, plus Metal Kaoz, plus Void Moon and of course trying to take care of the house also.
And I really should go to the gym too... I've seen these groups at Facebook stating like, go to the gym 100 times before midsummer. I must admit that drink 100 beers before midsummer sounded more tempting but I really do need the exercise. So, why not combine the two? For every minute spent working out, I get 1cl of beer in reward! Deal!!!??? 

That I haven't been home very much really showed around Christmas when I started to sort out the newly bought records, update the records list and so on. A lot of records was still in shrink-wrap even though I've had them for months. Also, records I don't remember buying showed up. Of course it was fun to find them and also spend a lot of time listening to it all. There was some really nice discoveries but in the end, the pile of records listed as "could have made it to top ten if I'd listened more" became way to large to be really good. It sure feels like I've missed out on a lot. So absolutely, a bit more focused on incoming records and try to listen to them as soon as they come. Those piles is a bit because of the TPL packages. Earlier I got 3-4 batches of records each month, now it's a BIG one every 6 weeks or so which makes it harder to keep up and also, that most is on vinyl makes it hard to listen in the car...

Anyway, there's been a lot of records spinning during the year, some more than others of course. And this is the top 10;

1. ACCEPT - Blind Rage

Again ACCEPT shows they are a force to be reckoned with. I was a bit hesitant towards this album before I heard it, I'd formed an idea that it should be a repetition of "Blood of the Nations" and "Stalingrad", a bleak copy or so. It sure sounds like the mentioned two but it still is damn good! Of course it is, since it is at no 1... I'm not sure that it beats the earlier two but it still is a mighty fine moment in Metal history.
Favorite track: "Trail of Tears" (but I also need to say "The Curse")

2. ICED EARTH - Plagues of Babylon

This was a bit of a surprise. ICED EARTH has always been good but the last few albums has passed rather unnoticed. Of course, it's my own fault, getting hit by this one I picked up "Dystopia" also and that too is amazing. Stu Block sounds fantastic, a bit different from Barlow of course, but the best is that he's a Metal Head and he sure wants to be on stage and the band seems to enjoy themselves very much these days and that's why they release killer records.
Favorite track: "The Culling"

3. GRAND MAGUS - Triumph and Power

I was actually a bit disappointed with this album when I first got it and listened to it for the first time. It felt a bit too mellow. It has been the same thing with all GRAND MAGUS albums since "Iron Will" though so I gave this one a rest (read; forgot about it completely for months) and when digging it out again it all fell into place. I think the second half of the record is absolutely phenomenal. First half is absolutely not bad, not at all, but it feels a bit adjusted and stiff and not at all as vibrant as the second half. If it have had the same nerve straight through, it would have been no 1.
Favorite track: "The Naked and the Dead"

4. RIOT V - Unleash the Power

Damn... This one struck hard. Strong songs and very catchy melodies. The most fascinating is that it really sounds Riot, like Privilege of Power but still not a copy of it. And to tap Todd Michael Hall as the vocalist makes it even more perfect. Damn he's good.
Favorite track: "Land of the Rising Sun"

5. SANCTUARY - The Year the Sun Died

The album really is better than a fifth place and it would have been in top if it had been the Warrel Dane logo on it rather than Sanctuary. So with that, the record was a bit of a disappointment. I wanted a straight forward Heavy Metal record, or at least I expected it to be that. Still, this is an amazing record but it took a while to grind down my own idea of what it should be and appreciate what I got.
Favorite track: "Question Existing Fading"  

6. ALL SEEING EYES - Trinity Road

This was actually a really big surprise. I got it as a promo in my mail and I normally don't check many of the download promos since there's no time and most of the is Black Metal. This one teased with Ben Jackson and I'm really glad I dug into it. 18 magnificent tracks of prog/power Metal and absolutely no fillers or low points. Amazing album! 
Favorite track: "The Cube"

7. STEEL PROPHET - Omniscient

I was confused to start with, I thought the record was a bit messy but slowly and surely things fell into place. Also, getting the real record took everything up a bit since the sound of the promo I had to review wasn't the best. Also, the info about this album prior to getting the physical CD (still waiting for the vinyl) was non existent. Still, it's a damn good record and I really hope I'll get to hear a few of these tracks live!!!
Favorite track: "Through time and Space"

8. ASTRAL DOORS - Notes from the Shadows

One of Sweden's finest Classic Metal bands who has released a steady stream of good albums over the years and this is no exception. I love their vocal harmonies and very strong melodies and there's not many vocalists around that beats Patrik these days. Somewhere between Dio and Coverdale...
Favorite track: "I Die Alone"

9. BEHEMOTH - The Satanist

I was absolutely blown away by Behemoth's performance at Trägår'n in Gothenburg. Their performances are sure 100% perfection. I mean, to have the whole drum raiser set on fire, or the visual effect of giving the bassplayer and guitarist wings (as very fateful figures of course) with light effects. And that they have music to back it up with sure helps.
Favorite track: "O Father O Satan O Sun!"

10. OVERKILL - White Devil Armory 

Yes, another full on from Overkill. Perhaps "Ironbound" still is a bit stronger but they sure are on fire these days. You know what you get with Overkill and it's always high quality.
Favorite track: "Pig"

And the ones just outside the list, alphabetically;
Evil Masquerade - The Digital Crucifix
Grave Digger - Return Of The Reaper
Hirax - Immortal Legacy
Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls
Magnum - Escape From The Shadow Garden
Masters Hammer - Vagus Vetus
Portrait - Crossroads
Slough Feg - Digital Resistance
Tankard - R.I.B
Wolf - Devil Seed

It sure was hard, records was moving in and out of the list. It actually took a couple of weeks to decide and a lot of evaluation for the last few spots on the list. Reviewing it again now, maybe it would have looked different... It sure was a huge bunch to chose from at least.

And the big pile that could have/should have made it into the list if I either gotten my thumb out sooner or actually gotten the records in time to have a chance to listen;
Ace Frehley - Space Invader
Apostle of Solitude - Of Woe and Wounds
Darkest Era – Severance
Elvenstorm - Blood Leads to Glory
Entombed AD - Back To The Front
Falconer - Black Moon Rising
Harmony - Theater of Redemption
Gus G. - I Am The Fire
Hands of Orlac - Figli del Crepuscolo
Hatriot - Dawn Of The New Centurion
Isole - The Calm Hunder
Midnight - No Mercy for Mayhem
Palace – The 7th Steel
Panzer - Send them All to Hell
Persian Risk - Who Am I?
Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen
Reino Ermitano - Conjuros de Poder
The Skull - For Those Which Are Asleep
Triptykon - Melana Chasmata
Tyranex - Unable to Tame

If some record should have a special place here, it is absolutely Hellion "Karma's Bitch". It doesn't qualify in the lists since it's not a full length album (stupid rule really). I'm really glad they are back at least. "The Black Book" is one of my favorite albums ever. Seeing Ann Boleyn with Detente a few years ago was amazing  but I sure hope I'll get to see Hellion live too! And that SOON!

 Another, which I've missed completely and actually was released in 2013 that I need to mention is Salem's "Forgotten Dreams". I don't know why I've missed this one and shame on me for that. Getting it and giving it a spin sure blew me away. Amazing album that both feels Old School, modern and damn vital.

 
And Peter's Top 10 of the year list;
1. Judas Priest – Redeemer of Souls
2. Overkill – White Devil Armory
3. Grave Digger – Return of the Reaper
4. Portrait – Crossroads
5. Palace – The 7th Steel
6. AC/DC – Rock or Bust
7. Darkest Era – Severance
8. Accept – Blind Rage
9. Apostle of Solitude – Of Woe and Wounds
10. Slough Feg - Digital Resistance

We actually discussed if it would have been fun to list the records that has meant the most or had the biggest impact over the year, new or old. That would have been quite interesting because there's so many forgotten pearls in the collection so it's bound to show up one forgotten or bypassed goodie every year... But perhaps next year! And this is how the rest of the Metal Kaoz crew voted;

METAL KAOZ Top 10 of 2014

There has of course been a lot of good concerts also but I think I take another blogg entry for those! Thinking back of 2014 I realized I've done a hell load of fun things, the downside I haven't had very much time to enjoy them very much. It's been good weekends followed by stressful weeks at work and very little rest. It's not the optimal way of living, I know but I do need to have the fun to be able to handle the weeks also... At least on a few occasions. And, I wouldn't want to miss to see my favorite bands play live either, especially when they're playing quite close by. So again, I'll try to take it a bit easy and try to relax more to be able to enjoy all the fun things I do fully!!! (and have a beer for every workout I do!!!)

Cheers
E

NP: Panzer - Send Them All to Hell

 


 

Recorshoppers Anonymous #13

Well, as I mentioned earlier, the postman had been nice enough to drop of a few packages in our mailbox during the week while I was working. Ok, the one from TPL Peter had to pick up from the Schenker Terminal though  but that was done and also was waiting for me. So it has been a weekend digging into a lot of music, that's for sure.

Also, last weekend me, Peter and David discussed if we could co-ordinate the shipments from  TPL and have everything in one pack since first, we are neighbours and now, I only get mine about every second month. And the want list I've sent in to TPL is rather long so it could be beneficial to have smaller batches of records to pay each time even if I love it when the postoffice complains about having to carry too heavy boxes!!!

So, this time featured Thor and UDO for Peter, Jamson Raid, Cirith Ungol, Omen, Sabbath Assembly and Fates Warning for me. Some just like to have from a collectors point of view, like the Fates Warning "A Pleasant Shade of Gray". Still that one in particular is one of my favorites ever. Im really looking forward to the new Fates Warning release as well, which should be out before the summer I think.
And then I realized it is not always fun to listen to these old dug up tapes. I love Jameson Raid's music and Terry Dark is very cool. Of course the songs are good but the sound not too much fun for "The Beginning of Part II".

Included was a few CD's as well. Death SS, Tank and Troubled Horse. The last one of those three I never expected to buy but since I really liked the latest Witchcraft, and it has gotten cool reviews from people who has about the same taste in music as I have. A good one but not as good as the latest Witchcraft album!
Then I finally got the thumb out and ordered the new Vicious Rumors live "Live you to Death", it's really strange that it took this long to get it since I normally always pre-order releases from my favorite bands. But I guess moving and such was enough during the fall last year. Killer album still! Also, Wildestarr's new one "Tell Tale Heart" is a really good one. London has grown a lot from last album and this, as the last one, holds killer songs.
And then Tank "War Nation", that's also one I should have bought half a year ago. Especially since "War Machine" was high on the list of best albums in 2010... i guess "War Natioin" should have been on this year's top 10 but as you see, I started digging into it too late.

The one that has been spinning the most is Colossus "Drunk on Blood", just as good as "...and the Sepulcher of the Mirror Warlocks", ok it feels the band has developed between the two releases and found a more stable own sound. But it sure is there on "Drunk on Blood" as well even if the influences becomes a little too obvious from time to time. Still a very good EP. And that is strange, normally band squeezes in as manu tunes as possible which results in a record that's too long to dig into. While the amazing Colossus just tosses out EP's, even one step down from what they releaed on these would still be better than most bands playing Classic Metal. I'm still waiting for "...and the Rift of the Pan-Dimensional Undergods", then the discography is complete. Hope it will be waiting for me when I come home next weekend.

And then I also had a package with Promos from Emanes Metal Records. Also a very nice surprise. Sin Starlet, Omission, Infinite Translation and Warckon, all of them sounding quite cool. Sure it means work but that's not such a big deal when work means listening to cool records.

 

So I know what to do this week! I still have a few ones to review that's in the backlog, the issue is that it is very hard to find inspiration to listen to records outside my taste when I have such a nice batch to dig into... Also, all bands that gets to release records doesn't really qualify for it. Or perhaps it's just me that don't get all of these new genres...

 

 

And it sure is time to start to plan for the Festival/Concert season now. We've booked Hotel for Muskelrock, will book the KIT flights (and plan a KIT Warm-up Party), tickets for Manowar, Northern Lights Winter Nights, Blaze/Dianno is getting together nicely. And there are some concerts in Gothenburg too that I would like to go to! We'll see what happens!

 

Meanwhile, when not listening to all newly bought stuff I'm charging for KIT. I've been listening to Steel Prophet most of last week, damn they're good!!! And what a vocalist Rick Mythasin really is! Gonna be awesome at KIT, Steel Prophet were really good at Sweordbrothers Festival a few years back but I'm having a feeling it will be better this time.

 

Cheers

E

 

 



NP: STEEL PROPHET - Unseen