Jake Pelzl of Defiler was kind enough to send over his list of Top Albums of 2014. Keep checking back for more lists by band/industry folk.
1. The Gray Chapter - Slipknot
We all know I have more slipknot masks than I can count and will be a maggot forever, so this ones biased, but this album is fantastic. It's heavy as hell, the mix is pissed off, and it might be my favorite Knot album yet.
2. Our Endless War - Whitechapel
This is a rare instance of a band actually getting better with each album. The guitar hooks are out of this world and I constantly find myself humming them, and being forced to listen to the album again. "Diggs Road" is an absolute masterpiece.
3. Memoirs of a Murderer - King 810
I felt like this album was an amalgam of everything I loved about heavy music, and it was the only thing I listened to when it came out. Really hope to see these dudes go far.
4. You Can't Stop Me - Suicide Silence
Obviously everyone loved Mitch. However I feel like Eddie brings a completely new element to an already awesome formula, and their new CD is my favorite by miles. "Sacred Words" has the catchiest leads of all time.
5. Ultraviolence - Lana Del Rey
I am going to marry this woman and I will destroy anyone who opposes me.
Aside from the fact that these are by far the dopest Emmure riffs to ever come out, the mix sounds like getting hit in the face with a pipe. 10/10.
It took awhile for this to grow on me, but this record has incredible ambient and soundscapes in all the right places. I hope they do another album with Joe Baressi in the future.
8. Til Death, La Familia - Ill Niño
It feels like the aggression on this record is much more focused than before, and obviously Cristian is the homie, so shameless plug right here!
9. Once More 'Round The Sun - Mastodon
This one blew my tits off when it came out, and it's even cooler that they're the all awesome dudes. "The Motherload" is an instant classic.
Pretty sure this came out last year, but I found it this year. Subsume is a journey, and one of the very few albums that tempted me to do random psychedelic drugs while listening. Highly recommended.