2014 POLL RESULTS COUNTDOWN - ILM Metal Albums of the Year

93 Truckfighters - Universe 152 Points, 5 votes, One #1
http://i.imgur.com/GyshWzK.jpg

spotify:album:1sGA0UblbKkjo3PoPbXkZZ
https://fuzzoramarecords1.bandcamp.com/album/truckfighters-universe

When the mood is right that Monarch record is amazing. Best thing they've done.

Yeah, I love that record. I think I had it around #6 (forgot to save my list).

Magical invocations probably would be that slow.

I still need to buy it. Not bought as much this year due to lack of money. Need to make a profoundlore order soon

Ambergris is the only thing I voted for that has placed so far. Curious who gave it the #1. I'm listening to Lantlos now. I listened to it once before and didn't really click with it but I think I'm enjoying it a little better now.

91 Raspberry Bulbs - Privacy 155 Points, 6 votes
http://i.imgur.com/9lrSO5p.jpg
spotify:album:7wQBjixV20G0EkKmZkYIsZ
https://blackesteverblack.bandcamp.com/album/privacy

Lol I need to finally listen to Truckfighters. A good friend of mine surprised me by trying to sell me on the song "Desert Cruising"

Ambergris too. The Branca-metal thread is one of my big go-to places for new music reccs these days

...and tbh Im not hating Raspberry Bulbs either after listening a little to their bandcamp.

Is 91 a tie or is there a numbering error?

yeah its a tie
91 Coffinworm - IV.I.VIII 155 Points, 6 votes
http://i.imgur.com/wIdtRA9.jpg
spotify:album:42aSDPZtBZXHq0Tq5jWvVV
https://profoundlorerecords.bandcamp.com/album/iv-i-viii

next up is the album that i thought didn't get in the countdown despite having 3 #1 votes

but it got a late #1 so it has 4

that's right the next one up has four #1s

I love how wonky everything is this year so far

A Pregnant Light - My Game Doesn't Have A Name 156 Points, 4 votes, Four #1s
http://i.imgur.com/F9TTOj3.jpg

spotify:album:4R17xrjlNhg72GNKtryyfz
https://colloquialsoundrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/my-game-doesnt-have-a-name

Truckfighters! I'd like to think if everyone listened to it, it would have been on at least 30 ballots ;)

thats #90

So yeah, obv Truckfighters was my #1. They tour a lot, I highly recommend their live show.

I have not heard A Pregnant Light.

dunno them but four #1s means we should all give them a go

I'm not a fan.

I think im expecting ASG style stuff (older shouty ASG)

never heard the name in any context at all iirc

songtitles and album art have led me to anticipate a metal version of Xiu Xiu minus the elements that I like about Xiu Xiu

liking it so far i must say. id buy this if i saw it in a shop

89 Conan - Blood Eagle 157 Points, 5 votes
http://i.imgur.com/WcNvC1o.jpg
spotify:album:0cfQtHX71WkdUXX5J8Nrjo

I listened to most of the Pregnant Light. I guess those shouty post-hardcore vocals work, but are not for me.

I was super excited when the Conan album first came out, but then I heard Monolord which I liked better. I think Conan made it to the lower end of the ballot. I'd see them live for sure.

Conan album was more of the same really, pleasant enough though. Glad to see that excellent Raspberry Bulbs album placed.

What the hell is A Pregnant Light?!

I guess 4 people really really liked it. I've never heard of them.

88 Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestite 157 Points, 6 votes
http://i.imgur.com/ca77V6E.jpg
spotify:album:3CZ1efJZ8G1hDBETkFuoxw
https://artemisiarecords.bandcamp.com/album/celestite

for fans of Tangerine Dream. Black Metal fans may not like.

seandalai you might dig it

87 Wo Fat - The Conjuring 158 Points, 5 votes
http://i.imgur.com/YzmHlbe.jpg
spotify:album:2wDbLernQ1CHHesMpjb3bI
https://smallstone.bandcamp.com/album/the-conjuring

lol no surprise that a pregnant light is riiiight up my alley

Wo Fat have played Europe more than they have most of the U.S., as they've never done a proper American tour! I've been a fan for years and never seen them. I hear their shows are something to behold.

At first I thought Adam Levine was on that APL cover.

From my review:

A close listen, however, reveals a distinctly American mix of voodoo space jazz fusion, doom and blues. While they don’t quite do southern boogie like ZZ Top, they do have a groove. And Kent Stump’s vocals are both down to earth and somehow comforting. Probably because he could sub for Bill Barretta, the great voice actor who took over the Muppets characters Rowlf the Dog and Dr. Teeth from Jim Henson. With their name taken from the arch-villain from Hawaii Five-O, and album covers by German artist Alexander von Wieding that bring their sci-fi and horror lyrics to life, the band has clearly digested a ton of 70s references. But they don’t sound like any particular band from any decade.... "Read The Omens” pummels hard without being punishing. This is a good thing. A lot of bands in sludge, doom and many other genres try too hard to be hard, and may end up making an impressive noise, but also kind of a chore to get through. This is never an issue with Wo Fat, who keep the perfect balance of heaviness and musicality. “Pale Rider From The Ice” simmers with a slower, textured, doomy pace before picking it up with the groovy riff monster “Beggar’s Bargain.” The closing track is even more of a trippy beast, the 17:11 “Dreamwalker,” a couple minutes longer than their previous epic “Noche del Chupacabra.” It’s so good I’ve played it three times. Newcomers to the band will likely ask themselves how they missed this band for so long. Were they always this awesome? Pretty much. The Conjuring has some sort of secret sauce that makes it my favorite, but they’ve had the amazing tones, riffs and grooves for a while, which means a lot of people have a lot of Wo Fat albums to catch up on.

86 Karma To Burn - Arch Stanton 160 Points, 4 votes
http://i.imgur.com/e57iLtj.jpg
spotify:album:5djJ40af7FwP1Id0gV462c

A friend of mine used to play in a band with some of those guys. I last saw them a couple years ago open for The Sword. They get better every album!

legends

I thought A Pregnant Light might be the band with 3 #1s and not on the list so I'm glad it got the needed points.

I had it as my #1 and I've been a big fan of APL for a couple of years now. I can't remember how I found them, but I fell hard for the Live to Tell ep and I've kept up ever since. Also check out the Purple Pain / Ultraviolet-singel. Two great songs not on the album. Everything can be found on the Colloquial Sound Recordings bandcamp-page. https://colloquialsoundrecordings.bandcamp.com

this death penalty album is pretty cool, more up tempo than I expected

85 Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining of Last Patrol 160 Points, 5 votes
http://i.imgur.com/ISwrprH.jpg
spotify:album:5w7HEquNl4Pf4yM7dEu4tJ

Monster Magnet - Milking the Stars: A Re-Imagining of Last Patrol

is this a remix album or what?

I was curious about that too. I mean I gather it's MM doing the remixing or re-recording or whatever's going on.

Ambergris is the only thing I voted for that has placed so far. Curious who gave it the #1.

That could've been me. I'm really digging both of his releases at the moment!

84 At The Gates - At War With Reality 161 Points, 5 votes
http://i.imgur.com/3u6Zngc.png
spotify:album:5cBynm0jngOdwnEzRVbiYx

Hahaha. Wow. I still haven't heard it but figured it would place higher. Is it that bad?

Not heard it and doubt its my thing but I thought it would be higher too.

it's good! it's oddly... relaxed

83 Rigor Mortis - Slaves To The Grave 161 Points, 6 votes
http://i.imgur.com/lFuvT8Y.jpg
spotify:album:5dlmruPHYNx3athqj7HvJN

YEAH