As the only one on this blog who regularly listens to current bands and new records by older ones, it falls on me alone to share my personal favorite records of the year. I have been making a year end list for at least the last 4 years and now comes the time to share my yearly musical intake with the internet (as though someone cares?).
I am going to do two lists this year, the first is my 10 favorite short releases of the year. This category will be limited to EPs, demos, splits and singles only and the second will be my favorite full length records of the year.
10. S.H.I.T. - Generation Shit 7"
Not exactly sure what the acronym stands for, although a review of their previously released Collective Unconsciousness 7" offers a few suggestions. A busy band, having released 3 records this year. I heard their demo tape a couple of years ago and was blown away. Fast and furious hardcore with a healthy dose of reverb foaming from the singer's microphone.
Stream "Generation Shit" on bandcamp.
9. Wildhoney - Seventeen Forever 7"
Featuring at least one member of one of my favorite Baltimore bands, Surroundings, Wildhoney play shoegazey pop music. This latest release is a precursor to their upcoming LP on Deranged/Forward records. 3 songs of female fronted fuzzy guitar based pop that brings back memories of riding in my mother's car with a plethora of Lilith Fair hopefuls pouring from the stereo.
Stream "Seventeen Forever" on bandcamp
8. Genocide Pact - Desecration 7"
Brutal death metal from the nation's capitol. Vocals evoke Barney Greenway comparisons and the riffs land somewhere between Fear...Emptiness...Despair and Mental Funeral. Solid follow up to last year's demo, cannot wait for 2015's upcoming full length.
Stream "Desecration" on bandcamp
7. Iron Lung - Savagery 7"
12 tracks, 6 minutes, power violence. The latest effort from Seattle, WA's Iron Lung is going to cause your face to melt as you boil over with rage. Their own review does a far better job at summing this up than I can, "Our angriest record, our country's dumbest time".
Stream "Savagery" on bandcamp
6. Red Death - Demo 2014
Described by some as "DC Fight Metal" (genre name overloaddddd), expect a hearty helping of hardcore punk with metal influences ala The Accused. Featuring DC's usual suspects, LP coming out in 2015 on Grave Mistake (home of the best shit on the planet).
Stream "Demo 2014" on bandcamp
5. Windhand/Salem's Pot Split 10"
Richmond, VA's Windhand are responsible for several of the best doom records in the last few years. "Forest Clouds" is another fantastic, sprawling slab of Sabbathian doom, clocking in at just under 10 minutes. Salem's Pot are a strange psychedelic ride, "Pink Flamingos" is as though the members of Foghat got stoned and started having sex with a box of Hawkwind 45's.
Stream "Windhand/Salem's Pot Halloween Split" on soundcloud
4. Iron Reagan - Spoiled Identity 7" Flexi
Released as a free flexi disc through Decibel magazine, this EP is a preview of their LP that followed through Relapse. I personally prefer this to the LP, just because it reminds me so much of early Municipal Waste before they moved away from the punk end of the crossover spectrum. With only one song longer than 40 seconds, this is over in a blur of D.R.I. worship.
Stream "Spoiled Identity" on bandcamp
3. Sleep - The Clarity 12" single
Continuing where Dopesmoker left off, with a few hints of Om. This was originally released as part of Adult Swim's single series, but was repressed through Southern Lord a month or so ago. This is a a tribute to the weedian gods and as Sleep so appropriately put it "The Clarity is a lyrical follow-up to a lifetime of marijuana enjoyment."
Stream "The Clarity" on Youtube
2. Stone Dagger - The Siege of Jerusalem cassette
The solo vehicle of Brenden Radigan (Magic Circle, The Rival Mob), Stone Dagger bring a fresh perspective on the epic heavy metal sound. Fans of Dio and Manowar will be stoked.
Stream "The Siege of Jerusalem" on bandcamp
1. Sumerlands - The Guardian (supposed to be released as a 7" but I don't think that has materialized yet.)
Featuring Phil Swanson from Hour of 13 and Arthur Rizk from War Hungry, this three song demo is traditional heavy metal, but on steroids. Rizk's heavy riffing is as crushing as his other work and Swanson's vocals channel Geoff Tate to the point where you might expect a leather one piece suit to appear over your body as you sing along.
Stream "The Guardian" on bandcamp
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