Considering the fact it felt like yesterday we were putting together the ‘Best Of 2014’ feature, on the surface that looks like we’re suggesting 2015 was a quiet one. Hardly. 2015 was absolutely stacked with huge albums from bands old and new as well as a fair few blistering live sets along the way. As ever our brilliantly talented team of writers have given each of their own highlights of the year, which always serves as a bit of a mixed bag. Check these lists out, go discover something new and gear up for what’s set to be an excellent 2016.
Tom Donno (Reviews Editor)
Albums
Faith No More - Sol Invictus
When Faith No More reunited in 2009, it led to a flurry of excellent live shows, but the question always remained - was this going to be a full time deal? Were we going to see new Faith No More material? When the band started sampling some new bits and pieces at shows in 2014, excitement understandably began to mount, and the result has ended up being Sol Invictus. This is an album which not only sits right alongside their old material, at times it betters it. To say they’ve rerouted the energy and momentum from the reunion in to new music would be an understatement. An absolutely brilliant album from one of the greatest of all time.
REVIEW LINK
Lamb Of God - VII: Sturm Und Drang
This was the first Lamb Of God album to be released after the incredibly tumultuous period which nearly seen Randy Blythe incarcerated for 10+ years in the Czech Republic. That story is already well documented, but the band were able to use the influence of these dark days and drive it in to one of the best albums they’ve ever made. The power and emotion stretching across the whole album is absolutely staggering especially in tracks like 512 and Overlord. The highlight though comes on Embers with a guest appearance from Deftones’ Chino Moreno. Randy and Chino’s vocals in tandem on this track provides one of the greatest moments you’ll hear in heavy music this decade. Stunning.
REVIEW LINK
Turbowolf - Two Hands
When Turbowolf’s Two Hands came out in April this year, there was already a heightened familiarity with most of the tracks due to them treating crowds with a fair few of them at shows right back from 2014 onwards. Even so, as a full package this album is absolutely stunning. They’ve kicked on from their debut album brilliantly, not losing a shred of their eclectic levels of bedlam and originality. They’ve had a huge year off the back of its release, gaining both radio play and more extensive tours including a stint over in the US. The future is Turbowolf’s to take.
REVIEW LINK
Singles
Sikth - Philistine Philosophies
This is a bit of a cheeky one as it’s more a gateway to talk about the truly phenomenal EP Sikth released in the follow up to releasing this single. On their return, it was a bit like with Faith No More, no one was really sure as to whether we’d get a decent amount of new material to come with it, but wow are we glad they decided to do so. This track alone triggered such an incredible amount of buzz and excitement it served brilliantly as a precursor for an EP which contained everything we know and love but with an added freshness and aggression.
Live
System Of A Down - Wembley Arena
This was one of the dates as part of the ‘Waking Up The Souls’ tour to commemorate the anniversary of the Armenian genocide. System Of A Down have had a few shaky live reviews since their comeback but this particular tour has rejuvenated the Armenian/American group and caused them to put on a truly stunning performance at Wembley Arena. There were no support groups, instead the band took to the stage for over two and a half hours splitting the gig into three sections of wall to wall classics. Easily one of the loudest crowds ever heard at a gig.
Muse - Download Festival
When Muse were announced as the Saturday night headliners at Download Festival it was met with some criticism and a bucket-load of scepticism. Never has a band rolled in to Donington and turned the opinion of so many people like Muse did at Download this year as the band put on one of the greatest performances in the festival’s history. They knew their crowd, and played to it brilliantly - an absolute triumph.
REVIEW LINK
Gojira - Reading Festival
Quite simply the best live band in Metal at the moment. Does anything else need to be said?
REVIEW LINK
Ross Pike (Writer/Editorial)
Albums
Anna Von Hausswolff - The Miraculous
The singular Swede’s third release added further instrumental touches, voices and atmospheres to the dominant organ sounds of her previous album, Ceremony, making a gothic, monumental record that will keep me listening for years.
Golden Void - Berkana
Isaiah Mitchell’s dust covered riffs might owe a significant debt to various stoners of the seventies but I love them and this record with its undemanding daftness lit up by stellar playing and soaring melody.
Geoff Barrow and Ben Salisbury - Ex Machina Soundtrack
Barrow and Salisbury crafted a subtly chilling soundtrack to the Alex Garland directed rumination on artificial intelligence with Tangerine Dream like pulse and precision and John Carpenter moments of murk and dread.
Live
King Crimson - Hackney Empire
No phones, no photos, no fun? Hardly. Robert Fripp’s King Crimson return to playing live in the UK was hugely anticipated by their hardcore tifosi and delivered instantly. From the three drummers at the front of the stage backward the band danced and stomped through massive swathes of their back catalogue (the tracks from Red being a highlight for me) and finished with the prog sing-along of In the Court of the Crimson King. A treasure.
Big|Brave - Birthdays (Dalston)
An aggressive, beguiling noise trio in a bare, monochrome basement made for one of the most intense gigs I’ve seen in many a year. Go and see them and pick up their debut record Au De La too, it’s fantastic.
AC/DC - Wembley Stadium
Back in Black, Whole Lotta Rosie, Thunderstruck, For Those About to Rock (We Salute You) and much more in a stadium in the summer time. What’s not to like?
Michelle Moore (Writer)
Albums
Escape the Fate - Hate Me
Released in October, Hate Me was the fifth studio album from Escape the Fate, the first to feature new band member Thrasher on guitar. Having had many changes to the band line up you may think that they would be getting a little fed up of keep introducing “the new guy”. However, this line up appears to be the strongest with Hate Me sounding to be the most memorable album to date. The first two singles, Just a Memory and Alive are incredibly upbeat, catchy and get you perfectly in the mood the upcoming tour in 2016!
Fall Out Boy - American Beauty/American Psycho
It is as though those few years out of the lime light never happened for Fall Out Boy. First came the incredible album Save Rock and Roll and now American Beauty/American Psycho. Released in early 2015 this album is yet another release jam packed full of catchy lyrics and sing-a-long choruses with tracks such as Centuries really standing out and being memorable.
Singles
Simple Plan - Boom
Simple Plan has always been known for their upbeat pop punk tunes and this track is no exception. With a video featuring countless familiar faces, Boom is the type of track that makes you remember why you fell for Simple Plan’s music from the very start. Their new album is out early 2016 and a tour in the works around that time also.
Live
Black Veil Brides - Electric Ballroom
Each and every time Black Veil Brides return to the UK they give it everything they have and this performance was no difference. Although the venue and stage were much smaller in comparison to Brixton Academy in which BVB have played countless times, they never let this get their performance down and made it a night to remember.
Fall Out Boy - Wembley Arena
At last Fall Out Boy returned to UK shores this past autumn for some live dates and this performance at London’s Wembley Arena was not a show to be missed. Seeing these guys back doing what they do best bought back memories of seeing them play Wembley for the first time many years ago and returning to the same venue made it that much more memorable!
Wednesday 13 - The Garage
Having seen Wednesday 13 numerous times now, in acoustic settings in small shows as well as being supported by a full band, this is a man that just seems to get better and better with time. Having attended both the Halloween show and the one the night before (what a weekend of horror it was!) both had different songs with the Halloween date being a special performance of the album Transylvania 90210 to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Wednesday 13 return in 2016 for yet more touring!
Gareth Allen (Writer)
Albums
Skyharbour - Guiding Lights
While technically Skyharbour's Guiding Lights came out in 2014, it was right at the end of the year, and was heavily toured in Europe in 2015, so qualifies for inclusion in 2015's best albums. It's blending of technical metal with the most gorgeous of melodies, and Daniel Tompkins stunningly expressive voice, is to die for. Just listen to opening track Allure and be instantly smitten. The guitar solos at the midpoint of the song, by Keshav Dhar and Periphery's Mark Holcomb, are simply exquisite in the way they mix soaring melody and sonically aggressive playing. A great album!
Insect Ark - Portal/Well
Insect Ark from New York and Portland, are made up of bassist and multi-instrumentalist Dana Schechter and drummer Ashley Spungin. Their album Portal/Well is without doubt setting a new exciting musical direction, in its combination of inventive rhythmic playing and immersive sound pictures, created through Dana's lap steel guitar, bathed in delay electronics and synths. Live Ashley's nuanced drumming brings a new interpretative voice to the Portal/Well tracks. They are also a band that understand fully, how to integrate music and visuals. Go see them live and you will understand this instantly. A band to take to your hearts, and an album to enjoy, and find new layers in every time you play it.
REVIEW LINK
Singles
Nervosa - Into The Mosh Pit
Into Mosh Pit by Brazilian thrash metallers Nervosa, is the best thrash metal record in a long time. The band's passion and great musicianship, mixed in with infectious riffs, is completely joyous and uplifting. Nervosa have completely re-invigorated the genre, and if you were lucky enough to catch them on their recent UK tour, you will know how much potential they have.
Live
Opeth - Bloodstock Festival
The Bloodstock Festival was the place to be this year with some career defining performances. One of the most awe-inspiring was Opeth's performance on the main stage. Riding on the crest of the superb Pale Communion album, their music floated through and over the starry eyed audience. The superb musicianship is never dry, but full of emotion, and an intense musical connection between the band members on stage. And in Deliverance a set closer that connected so intensely with the Bloodstock audience that people looked a bit dazed at the end. As we said in the festival review, it was all summed up so well by Sophie from Alunah '....they blew my mind... their sound was so huge it sounded like there were 20 people on stage'.
REVIEW LINK
Alunah - Bloodstock Festival
Alunah played one of the best sets at Bloodstock, deservedly garnering lots of new friends along the way. Still, one of the highlights this year, has to be the transcendent gig they played in the intimate surroundings of Bannerman’s in Edinburgh. Sophie's voice just hit a wonderful high and continued for the whole gig like that, her performance up there with the greats, like Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday The band also infused their music with some mesmerising guitar solos and intense rhythms that made for a spellbinding performance. Just astonishingly good!
REVIEW LINK
Alright The Captain - BLOC (Glasgow)
Alright the Captain at BLOC in Glasgow were a revelation, with all your expectations of math rock confounded. Wonderous funky rhythms and great guitar led melodies, all played at a frenetic pace, and with a dance and jazz sensibility. Music for the head, heart and feet. We and the Glasgow audience just loved them!
REVIEW LINK
Dave Mulcrone (Writer)
Albums
Clutch - Psychic Warfare
Without a doubt the greatest heavy rock album of the year. Clutch's eleventh studio outing shows a musical maturity and dynamic unparalleled in the modern scene. Psychic Warfare is as fast and aggressive as they've ever sounded. They've incorporated new elements of boogie rock and funk to show a positive and ambitious development on the critically acclaimed predecessor Earth Rocker.
REVIEW LINK
Black Breath - Slaves Beyond Death
Intensely heavy as always albeit with a new musical direction as Black Breath introduce new ideas with melody and harmony with touches of progressive rock to spice things up. Overall the effect is very promising and the ambitious quest to evolve for a fresh sound seems to have paid off triumphantly.
REVIEW LINK
Singles
Baroness - Shock Me
This teaser from the Purple album is the most exciting single of the year. It introduces new band members and a different sound shown on Yellow & Green. This album promises to incorporate the old heavy Baroness sound from Red and Blue with the new melodic dynamic found on Yellow & Green. The single is catchy and heavy with huge blistering guitars and an anthemic chorus.
Live
High On Fire - Scala
Unsurprisingly the heaviest show of the year, you often watch High On Fire in awe with a somewhat glazed expression wondering how in hell they sound so loud and powerful for a three piece. The building seemed to be on the brink of collapse as the power trio played a hugely generous set, delving into most of their studio albums and playing numerous cuts from the brilliant Luminiferous. They made the support bands look like mediocre cover bands at a loveless wedding.
Om - Le Guess Who (Utrecht)
The highlight of Le Guess Who festival in Utrecht this year. Al Cisneros' bass tone must have resonated throughout the whole town that evening as they played a beautiful set that was just as heavy as it was enchanting.
Clutch - Brixton Academy
No doubt the professional opinion was made to move Clutch's London gig from Shephards Bush Empire to Brixton Academy due to the unstable foundations of the 112 year old venue correctly deemed unsafe to cope with the ferocity of the greatest rock n roll band on the planet. The set list was largely based on Psychic Warfare with classics like Burning Beard and Profits of Doom thrown in for good measure. The most fun night of the year for sure. 2015 belongs to Clutch.