What are your albums of the year so far?

Steven Wilson : The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)
Sound Of Contact : Dimensionaut
Free Fall : Free Fall

Steven Wilson by a long shot. If anything comes remotely close to it, I'll be shocked!

Steven Wilson as well

QOTSA - Like Clockwork
Black Sabbath - 13
Anders Osborne - Three Free Amigos
Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals - Walk Through Exits Only
JJ Grey & Mofro - This River

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories
QOTSA - ...Like Clockwork
Dark Tranquillity - Construct
Alkaline Trio - My Shame Is True

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Just gave Wisdom of Crowds a listen there, really is fantastic. Not surprising given the personnel involved!

+1

Haven't really listened to new stuff this year, "Vertikal" by Cult Of Luna is very good and the first of theirs that I've liked since Salvation.

The new Immolation was decent though I preferred "Majesty & Decay".

I enjoyed Altar Of Plagues "Teethed Glory & Injury" even though I'm not the biggest fan of black metal.

Heard one song from Hacride's latest and wasn't pushed with it, even though I think they're superb and loved "Lazarus" and "Amoeba". Great live band, great mix of Meshuggah and Gojira in their sound which will always work for me.
Might give that album another chance.

Five Finger Death Punch - The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell volume 1

Very very catchy, and has some serious shades of Stone Sour's House of Gold & Bones Part 1 in places.



Karnivool - Asymetry

A bit darker than some of their earlier stuff (especially lyrically), but seems to grow further with each relisten.


A Pale Horse Named Death - Lay My Soul To Waste


An excellent second album, and one that I hope had Mr Steele nodding his head in approval somewhere.


Bruce Soord with Jonas Renkse - Wisdom of Crowds

Excellent, just excellent.



Steve Wilson - The Raven That Refused to Sing


Same as the album above it on my list.


Middle Class Rut - Pick Up Your Head.

My favourite Jane's Addiction impersonators add a little bit more of Rage Againt the Machine and Faith No More to their sound. Very good second album, and a hell of a lot of noise for just two guys.


Soil - Whole


Ryan McCombs is finally back on lead vocals and we finally have an album from Soil that is a worthy successor to Scars.



James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance

Bit of a big shout here and may enrage some DT diehards, but this is the best album I have heard him front since Images And Words.


Front Line Assembly - Echogenetic.

Very atmospheric album from the electro-industrial - metal -dance-whatever other genres they skirt around- band.




Honourable mentions to Volbeat, Newsted, Killswitch Engage, Winery Dogs, Stone Sour, and Filter.

machiavellianme wrote: »

Didn't know about the Front Line Assembly new one. Just had a wee listen and it sounds excellent. Filter is a long-awaited return to form.

Loving both Mutation albums / double album thing myself.
Metal supergroup with contributions from the Wildhearts, Napalm Death, Exit International, The Sisters Of Mercy, Hawkeyes, Cardiacs and Mark E. Smith.
Mutation - The Frankenstein Effect
Mutation - Error 500

Yep it is good. Not many bands can say they have released a 17th studio album that sounds fresh and modern.

For me it's:

Kata Ton Aaimona Eaytoy
Rotting Christ






Surgical Steel
Carcass

]


End of Disclosure
Hypocrisy




Pinnacle of Bedlam
Suffocation

markomuscle wrote: »

Bullet For My Valentine - Temper Temper.

They are one of the most hated bands out there but I think they're great, they are playing Belfast tonight.

Hated so much they sold over 3 million albums, that latest release is terrible I think even the band are trying to distance themselves from it. Should be a decent gig in Belfast tonight though.

I changed username and deleted my first post in this thread so I'll re-post my R&M albums of the year so far:

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
Big fan of Steven Wilson's music and I'm amazed by this release, I can see myself listening to it for years to come.

Deafheaven - Sunbather
Haven't liked much black metal apart from Alcest, but Sunbather will probably be my gateway into acknowledging the genre a bit more.

Bruce Soord with Jonas Renkse - Wisdom of Crowds
Katatonia are a great band, don't know much about The Pineapple Thief, but I didn't think I'd enjoy Wisdom of Crowds when I heard the single 'Frozen North' months before its release. Listening to the album in its entirety changed that though, very enjoyable stuff.

Karnivool - Asymmetry
Got a lot of play time out of Asymmetry and although it's a different type of album to their excellent Sound Awake, I appreciate its less hook oriented, dissonant and darker sound.

Palms - Palms
Was excited to hear that Chino Moreno and ISIS were teaming up on this project and I think there's plenty of promising aspects to Palms, I'd love to hear a sequel.

There's also a few more R&M albums I intend to listen to.

markomuscle wrote: »

Justin Bieber has sold millions of albums, doesn't mean he doesn't have his fair share of haters, it's usally the old fashioned metal heads who hate them.

Sure but the way you put it was you were in a minority of people who liked them although maybe you are for that album anyway :):), Obvs popularity brings more opinions positive & negative but whys this Bieber chap referenced every youtube vid, forum etc when the chap doesnt need irrelevant exposure?, put him away!!

anyway back on track with the thread, Its these 2 rock albums that lead the way for me as favs of the year

Ghost - Infestissumam
QOTSA - ...Like Clockwork

Seems to be mixed feelings about the latest Ghost album esp when it comes too discussing weather its better than the first and im with the opinion that it is. Highly addictive stuff.

The Latest QOTSA record is a great listen with I Appear Missing my personal highlight

In no particular order:

Spock's Beard: Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep
Sound of Contact: Dimensionaut
Riverside: Shrine of New Generation Slaves
The Prophecy: Salvation
Newsted: Heavy Metal Music
Mourning Beloveth: Formless
Havok: Unnatural Selection
Fen: DustWalker
Evile: Skull
Black Sabbath: 13
Annihilator: Feast
Acolyte: Alta