Album #16; 'Siren Charms' - In Flames

Hitting the countdown at #16 this year is 'Siren Charms' by In Flames; an extremely solid hard rock album that has slowly grown on me over further listening throughout the year. In Flames has been around for a long time, but this is only the second album with their new guitarist, and while their sound has slightly changed, I think it's for the better. This is their first album that I've been able to listen through the entirety and enjoy the majority of it, so they're doing something right in my eyes.

The singer has a very unique voice that takes some getting used to, and the time signatures used are occasionally quite unique. While that makes this a more complex listen than a great deal of the albums I gathered this year, it's more rewarding when you start to enjoy and understand the complexity. I'll be keeping my eye out for more releases from In Flames in the future, for sure.

Tracklist (favorites are, as always, in orange):

In Plain View - 4:06

Everything's Gone - 3:24

Paralyzed - 4:15

Through Oblivion - 3:37

With Eyes Wide Open - 3:57

Siren Charms - 3:04

When The World Explodes - 4:38

Rusted Nail - 4:54

Dead Eyes - 5:23

Monsters in the Ballroom - 3:53

Filtered Truth - 3:30

That concludes entry #16... I've been Awake Too Long to write #15, so you'll have to wait for tomorrow for that one.

Album #17; 'Savages' - Theory Of A Deadman

Coming in at #17 this year is 'Savages' by Theory Of A Deadman. One of the more 'mainstream' albums on my Top 20 this year, it's a solid rock album with a couple great highlights. It was initially ranked quite high on my list (top 10 at first), but I grew tired of certain songs and it fell down the list in the past month, so I'd say it doesn't have very much in the way of 'staying power' so to speak.

Highlights of this album include 'Misery of Mankind', 'Salt In The Wound', 'Angel', and 'World War Me'; though 'Blow' and 'Savages' are great songs that poke fun at the current state of the world, and make you really think. 'Salt in the Wound' really stuck with me when I first heard it because of my situation at the time, but as that emotional burn has subsided, my connection with the song has dwindled. That said, 'Angel' has grown on me the more I've listened to it and connects with me more than it used to. 'World War Me' is a great song that says exactly the way my head tends to work.

Initially I connected with this album emotionally, but now that has slightly faded, and by that way, has dropped down my list to #17. Still a very solid album with some great rock anthems and riffs, I'd suggest it as a way to get into current rock music and beyond.

Tracklist (favorites are in orange):

Drown - 3:42

Blow - 3:36

Savages - 3:33

Misery of Mankind - 3:24

Salt In The Wound - 3:38

Angel - 3:22

Heavy - 3:03

Panic Room - 3:14

The One - 3:58

Livin' My Life Like A Country Song - 3:20

World War Me - 3:15

In Ruins - 3:19

The Sun Has Set On Me - 5:21

Album #18; 'Metaphor' - Cyrenic

Coming into the list at #18 this year is 'Metaphor' by Cyrenic. And incredibly unknown band, this is the second year in a row they've released an album (last year was 'Selective Memory', which in itself was great), and it's the second year in a row I've been touched by the music they've written.

Seeming to be masters of a certain craft, every single song on this album has a wonderfully soft, heartfelt rock sound. Similar to last year, the ballads on the album standout to me; 'Your Move' is a hauntingly beautiful song of desire, while 'Slow Emotion' is a heart gripping song of loss. The title track is actually two tracks with 'Angel' and 'Devil' versions, and the subtle differences are fantastic.

A very solid release that tugs at me emotionally; though I hesitate to say it's better than 'Selective Memory' from last year.

Tracklist (favorites are in orange):

Constant Change - 4:53

Die Another Day - 3:19

Metaphor (Devil) - 4:16

Tightrope - 4:02

Bite the Hands That Bleed - 4:34

Focus - 3:59

Current - 3:20

Resuscitate - 3:48

Afterlife - 4:05

Your Move - 5:21

Slow Emotion - 5:03

One Bird, Two Stones - 4:03

Autumn - 4:37

Metaphor (Angel) - 4:21

And that concludes #18; don't turn into Savages waiting for #17.

Album #19; 'Duality' - Set It Off

Slotting in at #19 on this years Top 20 is Set It Off with their album 'Duality'. Another new band I'd never heard of before this year, I'd never actually listened to any of their albums until I saw them two weeks ago with Black Veil Brides in Portland. Having only had a short time to evaluate this album, it is slotted fairly low compared to where it could've been were I given more time to listen to it.

Cody Carson, the lead singer, has an amazing voice, and the album is decidedly positive and upbeat. There isn't a bad song on this album, and when played live, the band really knows how to involve the crowd. I foresee a great future for this band, and wouldn't argue with seeing them live again.

I feel badly not being able to provide more of an opinion than this, but I've not been given a great deal of time to listen. Similar to Karnivool and Trivium last year, it is definitely possible that this album could be slotted higher up upon more listens.

Tracklist (favorites are in orange):

The Haunting - 2:53
N.M.E. - 3:29
Forever Stuck in Our Youth - 3:14
Why Worry - 3:19
Ancient History - 3:13
Bleak December - 3:07
Duality - 4:02
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - 3:08
Tomorrow - 3:36
Bad Guy - 3:09
Miss Mysterious - 4:31

Up Next, #18; be sure to Die Another Day and come read!

Album #20; 'Going To Hell' - The Pretty Reckless

Kicking off the Top 20 this year is The Pretty Reckless with 'Going To Hell'. This album has garnered some hit singles ('Heaven Knows' and 'Going to Hell'), and is overall a very solid album. 'Little' Taylor Momsen has come a long way from her role in 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas', and has developed quite the singing voice to complement her stunning looks.

The opening song 'Follow Me Down' is my personal favorite off this album (ohhhh that intro), but 'Heaven Knows', 'Fucked Up World', and 'Sweet Things' are also high points. If you haven't heard 'Heaven Knows' yet, than you probably haven't listened to the radio for very long this year, as it's gained extreme airplay since its release. 'Blame Me', meanwhile shows the softer side of the band, and certainly gives Taylor's voice a chance to shine. 

I missed my chance to see them live in Portland a month ago, but I'm sure it would've been a great show, and I certainly won't miss it next time they come around! Overall, this was a very strong release from a band I discovered the year, and if I'd seen them live, it'd probably be farther up this list, but alas, it slots at #20 on the year!

Tracklist (favorites are in orange):

Follow Me Down - 4:40
Going To Hell - 4:36
Heaven Knows - 3:45
House on a Hill - 4:39
Sweet Things - 5:04
Dear Sister - 0:56
Absolution - 4:34
Blame Me - 4:27
Burn - 1:48
Why'd You Bring a Shotgun to the Party? - 3:21
Fucked Up World - 4:17
Waiting for a Friend - 3:13

Tomorrow will be #19, and #20 will be Ancient History!

2014; My Year in Music!

While most people have their "Days of Christmas" which they celebrate with family and friends. I've my "20 Days of Music". Since you could pretty much replace any sort of present I'd get for Christmas with a new music album and I'd be happy.

2014 was a year of discovery. Debut albums, new bands I'd never heard before, it was all there. Of my final Top 20, 12 were bands I'd never listened to before this year. I've always looked for new music, but this year was a special year. Around the mid year point, I was disappointed, to say the least, in what I had found, but the second half of the year certainly made up for it. 

For this entry, I'll cover a couple notable albums that didn't make my final Top 20. Every day after this I'll post the Top 20, in reverse order, obviously, so the best album comes last.

First, I'd like to mention a couple albums that were close to making the Top 20, but didn't;

Arch Enemy - 'War Eternal'

Another band I'd never listened to before this year, I discovered this album while looking through a "Best of..." list at the halfway point of the year. I was honestly shocked to discover the lead singer of this band is a female! This is the first album with a new singer (the old one was a female as well), and it's a hell of a first effort. It has garnered raving reviews, but I'll forewarn you, it isn't for the faint of heart; there are no clean vocals here. What it does have is absolutely impeccable guitar, bass, and drum work. Barely missing my Top 20, it slotted at #21.

Devin Townsend - 'Z2'

Ever since hearing 'Ziltoid' I've been waiting for a sequel to the wonderful comedic metal album, and this was it. While this is actually a double album from Townsend (the first half being more melodic and spacey, called 'Sky Blue'), the second half is what I really wanted. It continues right on it's comedic roots (arguably it's funnier), and manages to stay just as heavy as it was on the original 'Ziltoid'. However, unlike the first, it isn't all just Townsend, and for me, it loses a little bit of it's luster; almost like it's too much of a comedic effort, and the extra production seems to bring it down from what it once was on the original 'Ziltoid'. 

Not many other albums truly met the pedigree to be named in my Top 20. However, there were certainly individual songs that I loved off of other albums that deserve mention, so let's get to that, shall we? Keep in mind, these are not in any particular order, and they're only coming off albums that didn't make the Top 20.

'We Were Just Kids' - Emmure

An incredible song on an otherwise lackluster album (it had some high points in 'Nemesis' and 'N.I.A' as well), I really can't describe how much I love this song. Pretty much the only song on the entire album that doesn't try to completely rip your face of with guitar shredding, it has actual melody and is an incredible way to cap off the album. 

'Drown' - Bring Me The Horizon

I honestly did not expect a new BMTH song this year, but I will not argue with it! This song is along the same vein as 'Seen It All Before' off 'Sempiternal', and I'm definitely not going to argue with that sound. I love this song, and can't wait for a possible new album in 2015!

'So Others May Live' - Atreyu 

I've been waiting for new Atreyu music since 2009, and god dammit I was so happy when this song came out. What made me even happier? It's 2006 era Atreyu! No more radio friendly BS, just pure metal. I cannot wait for their release in 2015. 

'End of An Empire' - Celldweller

I'm not a huge 'fan' of Celldweller per say; I've only 5 songs on my playlist from him, and I've never listened through an entire album of his. However, I can say this, every single one of those songs is incredible, and this song is no different. 'End of An Empire' perfectly blends rock, metal, and electronica into a 7 minute epic of a song; seriously, give it a listen.  

'Sellouts' - Breathe Carolina

While I do, for the most part, enjoy this album, this is a standout song. Featuring vocals from Danny Worsnop (of Asking Alexandria fame), this song is a heavy chugging song with great screamed vocals to accentuate the melodic chorus. The screaming during the second verse, especially, is wonderfully placed. 

'Shatter Me' - Lindsey Stirling featuring Lzzy Hale 

Lindsey Stirling is fantastic, and add in some vocals from Lzzy Hale? You've got me immediately. An incredible song that you've probably heard before. If you haven't, what's stopping you? Click the link! 

'All Is Fair in Love and Brostep' - Skrillex

While I was overall disappointed with this effort from Skrillex, this song is actually my favorite song from his entire catalogue. I can't really explain why (seems to be my excuse everytime dubstep is involved), I just love it. The middle section of this song confuses me so much, because it doesn't seem to fit at all, but I love it.

'I Believe (Get Over Yourself)' - Nico Vega

Another singer I'd never heard of before this year, I was introduced to her through the song 'Our Demons' by The Glitch Mob, and discovered that I absolutely loved her voice. A very mellow, easy to listen to track, I highly recommend it. 

That concludes my first entry in my 2014 'Year in Review'!

Next up, the Top 20! Heaven Knows what could be #20!

New Album Review; Bring Me The Horizon - "Sempiternal"

Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal

Released on April 2nd, 2013, "Sempiternal" is Bring Me The Horizon's fourth studio album, and a follow up to the highly acclaimed "There is a Hell, Believe Me I've Seen It. There is a Heaven, Lets Keep It a Secret". "Sempiternal" builds further upon the musical styles explored in "There is a Hell...", and, with a great effort, comes close to perfecting it. 

Clocking in at a solid 45 minutes (without the bonus songs), "Sempiternal" doesn't drag along, and yet, doesn't seem too short either; steamrolling along with pounding riff after riff. Every song on the album is at least 3 minutes long; a hard hitting, blitzing song called 'Antivist' is the shortest, and the longest, 'Hospital of Souls', an almost 7 minute epic, closes out the album with a haunting chill. 

Picking highlights from the album is an almost impossible chore; 'Can You Feel My Heart' starts the album off with a chilling look at emotion and the demons we all face; and Sykes sings like he's got nothing left; "I'm scared to get close, and I hate being alone / I can't drown my demons, they know how to swim"...

But of course; BMTH doesn't turn away from being direct and to the point with lyrics; songs like 'The House of Wolves', 'Antivist', and 'Crooked Young' bring this directly to the forefront. The no-holds-barred approach to these songs could be off-putting, if they weren't so forceful. Each of the songs charges ahead with reckless abandon, and yet, never seems to far off the chain. 'Crooked Young', especially, makes a statement, with it's catchphrase; "Fuck your faith! No one is gonna save you!"...

Oliver Sykes, lead singer, has always been more of a screamer than a singer, but when he wants to, his singing voice is a force to be reckoned with; 'And The Snakes Start To Sing' and 'Seen It All Before' best exemplify Sykes willingness to explore the bands vocal and musical range, and both are wonderful additions, and at the very least, great breaks from the blistering pace of the rest of the album. 

BMTH's talent and willingness to be creative is never more evident than in the song 'Sleepwalking'; one of the released singles. A hard song that manages to somehow stay mellow as well, 'Sleepwalking' does anything but sleepwalk; it presses on and manages to always keep you wrapped up inside the wonderful soundscapes that the band creates. 

'Hospital of Souls', the final song on the album, is a masterpiece of creativity; building wonderfully into a song that just cannot be ignored; "Hold me close, don't let go, watch me..." is repeated multiple times before finally rising into a screamed cry for help; "Hold me close, don't let go, watch me burn!" The pure emotion Sykes sings with is unrivaled and really finishes the record off with a chilling exit.

Bring Me The Horizon hit a high point with "There is A Hell...", but they've pushed the envelope even farther with an amazing effort in "Sempiternal"