My top albums of 2014

Edit 3/1/15: Moved Ghost Brigade's album from "Need to listen more" to "Honorable Mentions." Very powerful yet extremely catchy melancholic metal. Added the new(ish) album by Within the Ruins to "Honorable Mentions." Added albums by Abysmal Dawn, Revocation, and Winterfylleth to "Need to listen more." Also Ne Obliviscaris are still amazing.

It's been a fantastic year for metal. It was impossible to name only ten albums here, hence a lengthy "honorable mentions" list as well as several notable albums that I just can't judge having not listened enough yet. You may enjoy one of my "honorable mentions" more than some of my top 10, as music is of course entirely subjective but also this was just such a damn good year for metal that there was really something for everyone.

Since the Grammys (a ceremony that in my opinion embodies and perpetuates most of what's wrong with the music industry, but that's something else...) are tonight, I figured better late than never to get my two cents out there and give these artists some much-needed recognition.

Go past the break to see my picks! Added the gap so as not to bury my first post :P