We tried to do a Top 10 list, but then we realised what an incredible year for music 2014 has been and thought, “sod it, let’s make it a Top 15 list” and trust us, even that was difficult! Check out the albums we adored this year below:
Lower Than Atlantis – Self Titled
As soon as Here We Go was released, we knew that Lower Than Atlantis’ fourth album was going to be an absolute corker. With almighty riffs, bop-a-long choruses and a cheeky wit about the words, it’s got everything you could ever need. English Kids In America has had us singing “Woah-woah-oh” for months and Stays The Same leaves us fidgeting in our seats. From start to finish this album is a non-stop thrill and that’s why it should find it’s way into everyone’s record collections this year.
Standout Track: Stays The Same
Architects – Lost Forever // Lost Together
Having waited patiently for something new from the Brighton metallers, March was THE month for Architects fans. Since 2012’s astonishing Daybreaker, the stakes were higher than ever for the impending sixth album. Then Lost Forever // Lost Together came along and changed everything. It’s not like you can un-hear the aggression-soaked screams over driving percussion and brutal riffs in tracks like Grave Digger, Naysayer, Colony Collapse and Broken Cross. The bitter and empathetic spits from vocalist Sam Carter – alongside his trademark “bleh” – saw 2014 taken by storm at the hands of the mighty quartet.
Standout Track: Naysayer
Beartooth – Disgusting
With a phenomenal EP under their belt, Beartooth stormed the hardcore punk scene with their debut full-length Disgusting earlier this year. Lyrically, the record is possibly one of the darkest, most honest we’ve come across in the past 12 months; you only have to look at the song titles to work that out. Not only this, but Disgusting is full to the brim with punchy rhythms, shout-from-the-top-of-your-lungs choruses and brutal breakdowns which are best served nice and loud. Beartooth have made a powerful impression on music fans far and wide this year and hats off to Caleb Shomo for not being afraid to unleash his inner demons to create one of the most hard-hitting albums of 2014.
Standout Track: I Have A Problem
King 810 – Memoirs of a Murderer
King 810 burst onto the scene this year and with that came controversy. This band have become a huge talking point in the metal world, with their story being drenched in crime, violence and poverty. On record they have created an album that captures the hell hole they are from; the crime-ridden city of Flint, in Michigan. It’s an album that has the listeners full attention from start to finish, from the heart stomping Kill Em All, to the absolute rager of Fat Around The Heart. It’s the most intriguing metal record of the year. Yes, they have a hallowing story to tell, but when it’s done with this much beauty it shows that there is something special waiting to erupt here.
Instead of reading about their reputation, take some time out to sit down and actually listen to the music from start to finish, it has a much deeper meaning than going out and shooting someone. It’s original, raw and keeps metal fresh. Love ‘em or hate ‘em they have been on the lips of everyone this year.
Standout Track: Fat Around the Heart
Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
Against Me! and their vocalist Laura Jane Grace have been on one hell of a journey since Grace came out as a Transgender woman in 2012. As the albums title suggests, this served as the inspiration for the bands sixth studio album and it’s their strongest release since 2002’s Reinventing Axl Rose. The personal lyrics and genuine anger in Grace’s voice on tracks such as Black Me Out and FUCKMYLIFE666 help to ensure that Transgender Dysphoria Blues was a real return to form for the band.
Transgender Dysphoria Blues is the most refreshingly honest and angriest punk rock record of the decade so far. Huge riffs and angry lyrics always make for a winning formula when it comes to punk rock.
Standout Track: Black Me Out
Lonely The Brave – The Day’s War
Oh God, what an album. Who’d have thought that five guys from Cambridge would sneak up on us and end up as one of the country’s favourite new bands? Although some of the tracks on this album were previously released on the Backroads EP, the addition of tracks including the anthemic Kings Of The Mountain and The Blue The Green really saw the band put their stamp on an intense, brooding style of emotive, melodic rock music that they can call their own.
Standout Track: Backroads
PVRIS – White Noise
The Massachusetts Alt-rock trio emerged onto the scene this year, equipped with this bloody incredible debut, White Noise. With the blinding but tactful synth, the on-point rocky elements and the belting vocals it’s very difficult to not click repeat. Particularly strong are tracks like My House, St.Patrick and Smoke. We shouldn’t have to define PVRIS by their female vocalist Lyndsey Gunnulfsen, but as a minority in the alt scene, they have really found themselves a niche. If all bands could produce a debut album like this, nobody would have a chance.
Standout Track: My House
La Dispute – Rooms of the House
Rooms of the House is where Michigan post-hardcore quarter La Dispute really took their sound to the next level. The bands third album is an ambitious concept album chronicling the collapse of a co-habiting couple, which is arguably a lot slower than the other La Dispute records, focusing more on ambient simple rhythms to allow for Jordan Dreyer’s poetic storytelling vocals to flow. The generally slower tempo of the album does mean that when things do get faster and heavier they feel much more satisfying.
Rooms of the House is possibly one of the best storytelling albums you’re ever likely to hear, the depth the lyrics will tug at your heartstrings and send you on a journey of ups and crashing downs. Few albums use music as a platform for telling a story as well as Rooms of the House.
Standout Track: First Reactions After Falling Through Ice
Twin Atlantic – Great Divide
Twin Atlantic have been touring and recording relentlessly over the last few years, going from street corners in Glasgow to the main stages of some of the country’s biggest festivals. Great Divide is an album that sums up just how far they’ve come and the boys’ knack for writing killer stadium rock songs with catchy poppy choruses. From the soaring crescendo of Brothers and Sisters to the foot stomping power of Heart and Soul, this album is packed full of hits and was well worth the two-year wait.
Standout track: Heart and Soul
Bombay Bicycle Club – So Long, See You Tomorrow
Utilising different instruments and influences that spanned the globe, the ever inventive Bombay Bicycle Club managed to top themselves again with So Long, See You Tomorrow. With peaceful, dreamy odes to lost love sitting side by side with unassuming festival anthem (and album highlight) Luna, it is a true testament to their ability as musicians. That they were able to grow both as a band in both artistic outlook and fan base, when releasing their most adventurous effort yet is what speaks to the absolute quality of the songs on offer more than anything else.
Standout Track: Luna
The Xcerts – There Is Only You
As if the world didn’t have enough brilliant Scottish rock bands already, here comes another to take the world by storm. The Xcerts‘ third full-length release There Is Only You has seen them break into the mainstream and gain radio plays and fans to go with it. With the poppy charm of their debut and choruses only the greatest of bands have managed before, this album is bound to catapult these guys into the spotlight and rightfully so.
Standout track: I Don’t Care
Moose Blood – I’ll Keep You In Mind From Time To Time
Oh Moose Blood, how you tug on our heartstrings so. The debut full-length record from this Canterbury band swept us off our feet and had us experiencing all the feels with tracks such as the painfully melancholic Cherry, the gutsy Swim Down and the angst-ridden I Hope You’re Miserable. They’ve written punk love songs for a new generation, whilst still reminding us of all the bands we adored growing up and they’re proud of that.
Despite the terribly long title, I’ll Keep You In Mind From Time To Time is full of emotionally raw snippets that are just begging for a sing-a-long. If you ever needed a perfect break-up record, this is it.
Standout Track: I Hope You’re Miserable
Slipknot – .5:The Gray Chapter
When you’re as huge as Slipknot there’s always going to be pressure to out-do yourself with every album you release; especially when it’s your first new material in a whopping six years. The heavy metal veterans has us all waiting in eager anticipation for their latest album .5: The Gray Chapter and boy, was it worth the wait. Best described as a cross between the band’s breakthrough Iowa and Vol 3. (The Subliminal Verses), it has everything you want from a Slipknot record; from the aggression filled chugs to the dark and divserse vocal structures of Corey Taylor, the band have made a striking comeback. Whether you have been a Slipknot fan for 19 years or even 19 days, you need this album in your life, pronto.
Standout Track: Lech
Foo Fighters – Sonic Highways
Another big name to make a comeback in 2014 was Foo Fighters, who released their follow up to 2011’s Wasting Light at the back end of this year. A band who like to do things a little differently, the quartet recorded each track on the album in a different State of the US which in itself is pretty cool. Then, when you give Sonic Highways a spin you will remember within an instant why Foo Fighters are one of the hottest names in the world of rock. From the raw, trademark vocals of the nicest guy in rock Dave Grohl, to carefully crafted melodies and powerful beats the Foo’s have created an album of rock anthems that get better and better with every listen. It may be short and sweet coming in at 8 songs, but who cares?
With their UK stadium tour ahead next year, we can’t wait to hear this new material live; once again Foo Fighters have smashed it and it’s no surprise that they’re one of the biggest names in music.
Standout Track: Outside
Mallory Knox – Asymmetry
It was going to be tough for Mallory Knox to beat their outstanding debut record Signals, but they have most certainly triumphed with their 2014 release Asymmetry. With Ghost in the Mirror giving us the first insight as to what to expect, followed swiftly by the brilliant Shout at the Moon, we knew that this album was going to be one of our favourites from the year.
Full to the brim of contagious riffs, bouncing choruses and powerful vocals, Asymmetry will undoubtedly take Mallory Knox to the next level as they continue to dominate the UK shores and make their way to take on the US fans.
Standout Track: She Took Him to the Lake
So that’s it! Did your favourite album of the year make the cut? Take a listen to our favourite tracks from each of the albums below:
Written By: Tamsyn Wilce, Hannah Gillicker, Lizzi Hart, James Hingle, Cameron Law, Kathryn Black and Alex Garland