2014's Most Notable Album!

It's that time of the year again to present the most notable albums of the passing year. In 2013, I only did a top five, but as there were several other great albums that released that weren't mentioned. This time, I believe. a list of albums (not in any special order) showing which ones are most notable is the best way to go. Also, there are fan mentioned albums at the bottom as well! So, let's get started!

Most Notable Albums of 2014

Lorelei - Lore of Lies (Feb, 2014)

Carnifex - Die Without Hope (Mar, 2014)

Benighted - Carnivore Sublime (Feb, 2014)

I Declare War - We Are Violent People By Nature (Apr, 2014)

Inferi - The Path To Apotheosis (Jan, 2014)

The Kennedy Veil - Trinity of Falsehood (Jan, 2014)

Nexilva - Eschatologies (Apr, 2014)

Alterbeast - Immortal (Mar, 2014)

Cognitive - Cognitive (Apr, 2014)

Hour of Penance - Regicide (May, 2014)

Cage of Torment - Exceed (May, 2014)

Serpents - Pestilence (May, 2014)

The Room Colored Charlatan - Primitives (May, 2014)

Structures - Life Through A Window (May, 2014)

GhostxShip - Cold Water Army (July, 2014)

Volumes - No Sleep (July, 2014)

Septicflesh - Titan (June, 2014)

Aborted - The Necrotic Manifesto (Apr, 2014)

Delusions of Grandeur - Reclamation (July, 2014)

Swine Overlord - Parables of Umbral Transcendence (Aug, 2014)

Acrania - Totalitarian Dystopia (Aug, 2014)

Within The Ruins - Phenomena (July, 2014)

Secret Band - Secret Band (July, 2014)

The Contortionist - Language (Sept, 2014)

Fallujah - The Flesh Prevails (July, 2014)

Rings of Saturn - Lugal Ki En (Oct, 2014)

Flub - Advent (Oct, 2014)

Depths of Hatred - Hellborn (Oct, 2014)

The Dali Thundering Concept - Eyes Wide Opium (Oct, 2014)

Hideous Divinity - Cobra Verde (Oct, 2014)

The Ghost Inside - Dear Youth (Nov, 2014)

Aversions Crowns - Tyrants (Nov, 2014)

Circa Survive - Schema (Nov, 2014)

Starbomb - Player Select (Dec, 2014)

Acranius - Dishonor (Dec, 2014)

Pathology - Throne of Reign (Aug, 2014)

Walking Dead On Broadway - Aeshma (Oct, 2014)
Shemales From Outta Space Of Death - Das Virus Ist Der Fetisch (Oct, 2014)
Suffocate With Your Fame - Item(s) (June, 2014)
Job For A Cowboy - Sun Eater (Nov, 2014)
Villains - Freudian Slip (Nov, 2014)
Combaticus - The Worst of One World (July, 2014)
Aera Cura - Dead Ends (Aug, 2014)
Shokran - Supreme Truth (Feb, 2014)

Most Notable Albums of 2014 From The Fans

Animal As Leaders - The Joy of Motion (Mar, 2014)
Whitechapel - Our Endless War (Apr, 2014)
The Acacia Strain - Coma Witch (Oct, 2014)
Upon A Burning Body - The World Is My Enemy Now (Aug, 2014)
I Killed The Prom Queen - Beloved (Feb, 2014)
Motionless In White - Reincarnate (Sept, 2014)
Texas In July - Bloodwork (Sept, 2014)
Architects - Lost Forever // Lost Together (Mar, 2014)
Numbers - Three (Mar, 2014)

Now I know I am sure I missed several great albums, but I was unable to listen to every metal album put out during the year. So, these the ones I got the chance to check out and really enjoy. Make sure you check them out yourself, and the albums listed from the fans. Thanks for reading, and here's to 2015!

Interview with Sykosis!

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Genre(s): Groove/Experimental/Hardcore

Location: Ashtabula, OH

PSAB: Why did you choose the name "Sykosis" for your band?

SYK: The reason we chose the name Sykosis is because just about every one of us have been in the nut house at some point in our life and it just seemed fitting, we saw the name on CSI television show and found out what it meant and it clicked with us that it was the right name for us and what we we're going for as a band.. we're crazy.. have you seen us live?? 

PSAB: How was the feedback when you released The Act of Vengeance? Are you still receiving feedback now?

SYK: The feedback has been phenomenal .. the album has been very well received from fans and critics alike, we have the best fans in the world and we have to thank all of them for the support all the way to California to Texas to Arkansas etc. !! We have received great reviews, some bands say they are putting out their heaviest record.. but we actually did .. we went as heavy as we possibly could on "The Act Of Vengeance" .. the album is still spreading and going to places we have never thought possible!!

PSAB: You're currently signed to Ferocious Records. How has the experience been being signed to them?

SYK: It has been great to say the least .. We would have never had these opportunities we have now if not getting signed to Ferocious Records.. With our album being packages and wrapped and distributed and recording at the amazing studio we got to record it at .. a big thank you to Dylann at Ferocious for all he has done for us!!! 

PSAB: What is the local metal scene like in Ashtabula?

SYK: Its booming and always has been.. Ashtabula County has always had a great metal scene full of pissed of motherfuckers.. with past metal bands such as : Profound Anger - Acid Porno - Mosquioto Bitten Bastards - Eclipse - Konipshun Phit - Falling Astray - Devolution - Deviate - P.R.S. - All Dead and now theres bands in the Ashtabula Metal Scene like us SYKOSIS and Chaos In The Sky - Cherry Poppins etc. its a pretty cool fucking scene to be apart of and its unique .. we want to give a huge shout out to P.J. at The Cove in Geneva and to his staff as well because its pretty much the only place in Ashtabula where we can play metal and get away with it! 

PSAB: What bands did you listen to growing up, and do those bands play an influence on your music?

SYK: There's 7 band members in our band and we all love metal and other genres too .. there are a lot of bands that have influenced us all throughout the years to make the music we all have come to create in Sykosis today! 

PSAB: Do you have any shout outs to give to the readers?

SYK: We would like to thank everyone who supports us in anyway from coast to coast and overseas .. keep spreading the word because its working!! To all of our friends in Arkansas for the support .. you've made it our 2nd home!! Also we'd like to thank Dylann at Ferocious Records for always supporting us!! Last but not least a huge thank you to all of our girlfriends and close friends who have always supported us in any way they could!!!

Matt Marshall - The Freakshow [REVIEW]

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Genre(s): Instrumental/Heavy Metal/Metalcore/Progressive

Matt Marshall's latest single, "The Freakshow" combines elements of heavy metal, metalcore, and progressive metal. There are also probably some other sub-genres that could be thrown in, but I don't want to drag out that list. This song is pretty good, and is fun to listen to. The pace of the song is upbeat, not really fast nor slow. The mix of genres change the pace quite a bit through each portion of the song. 

 

The song varies from heavy metal sounding riffs, melodic metal solos/riffs, some breakdowns here and there, and then there is some progressive metal heard in other parts of the song as well. Basically, this song is all over the place with different sounds, and the way Matt Marshall plays the guitar is great. So, I recommend this song to anyone who is into instrumental metal, or instrumental music in general. 

Score: 4.5/5

Interview with The Alchemyst!

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Genre(s): Experimental / Melodic Metalcore

PSAB: Why did you guys choose the name "The Alchemyst" for your band name?

TA: We went through a huge list of names that just weren't cutting it for us. We were almost called "Ossis" which has some meaning in Greek mythology, But simply enough it comes from the fact that we have many different genre influences in the band, like we were the ones doing alchemy with metal, through genre blending.

PSAB: Your EP Double Tap released in October of 2013. How was the feedback for that EP upon release, and do you still receive feedback now?

TA: Initially it did great. We had a lot of feedback and the shows soon following the release were so fucking intense, The whole crowd in a packed venue singing along to the chorus is just one awesome feeling, we're still seeing many people come back to us with great feedback. The biggest thing we've heard is everyone wants physical copies, so we're looking into our options there.

PSAB: You use a lot of different genres in your music; death metal, pop-punk, blues, hardcore, etc. Why do you use so many different genres in your music instead of using genres that are usually coupled together?

TA: The reason we use so many genres in the band, is that is what makes us, well us. Our drummer Wil comes from a Hardcore background, Mike our rhythm guitar comes from a metalcore/punk background. Kenny our lead, is a grunge kid who loves melodic metal,and really anything, He's like a tall hippy sometimes haha. Our original bassist Jon came from a thrash metal background. Our bassist now "Porkchop" likes literally everything. And for myself (Cody) I come from a death metal background, our influences as a whole have definitely grown and we all mesh up, but we still definitely do a lot of experimentation. I think that's what gives us an edge over many bands, we have a popular sound but, we still maintain our signature.

PSAB: Since you use many different genres in your music, what bands from those genres played an influence in your music?

TA: As far as genres there are so many bands I could name that influence us, or individual members. I'll start and say mutual influences: Everyone loves After the Burial,Upon a Burning Body, Becoming the Archetype,Blink-182, Sum 41, Periphery... Kenny has a huge influence with Darkest Hour, Suicide Silence, Nirvana, Eminem.. a few others I can't think of off the top of my head. Mike loves DH as well, Nirvana, AFI, Old As I Lay Dying, Johnny Cash, Breakdown of Sanity, Wil is really into Gwen Stacy, Attila, a lot of Ska that I can't even come to think of at this moment. Porkchop has so many influences I think he is just influenced on Music itself. For myself, Chimaira has a huge part in my soul, and is the reason I even do vocals. The Black Dahlia Murder, Acid Bath, Lamb of God, Johnny Cash, Aesop Rock, Deftones, The Cramps, Dead Kennedys, I mean the list could really go on for days!

PSAB: If you could be signed to any record label, which label would that be and why?

TA: I think for me personally, I'd love to be on Solid State Records, I'm not really religious, and neither is most of the band but we have a few friends on the label that we respect and care about like older bros. Not to mention a lot of kick ass bands. But, I think Sumerian would be another cool one considering most of the mutual bands we all listen to are on the label, or maybe Famined Records, who doesn't wanna be a label with Arbiter ;)

PSAB: Do you have any shout outs to give to the readers out there?

TA: Faith in Fallacy, WHATUP!?! To our fans actually reading this. New shit is coming SOON! All other metalheads. Check us out, spam us, ask us questions, we don't care!