1.Amon Amarth - Versus The World

2.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

3.Anathema - The Silent Enigma

4.Arch Enemy - Burning Bridges

5.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

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1.Disentomb - Misery - Far and away the best album of the year. This rivals Katalepsy's Autopsychosis for the most brutal, devastating riffage in the genre. It's creative, precise, and strongly fulfills the atmosphere set by the album cover. I feel like I'm wading in hell among throngs of tormenting entities as I'm pummeled relentlessly by elite riff sections, massive gutturals, and near-perfect production. The choices of chords often take the music to another level. It doesn't get much better than this.

2.Infecting The Swarm - Pathogenesis - Probably not for everyone, but the intense and slicing guitar sections are simply amazing in the most subtle of ways. Not overly dynamic or inventive but hits the sweet spot in futuristic atmosphere meets massively ripping guitars. Vocals are good and songs are catchy and memorable. Only downside are the programmed drums, which normally would cause me to chuck this off the list but not in this case. It all blends seamlessly. Masterful work, at times, and I can't wait to hear what's next from this band.

3.Cerebral Effusion - Idolatry Of The Unethical - Chunking, ripping, crushing smashing, pounding brutal death. You can feel the sickness. The overall sound is amazing.

4.Septical Gorge - Scourge Of The Formless Breed - Inventive guitars, awesome technical musicianship and dynamism. Awesome production and elaborate song structures.

5.Omnihility - Deathscapes Of The Subconsious - Some of the most interesting and intense guitars pervade this album but there will be no wankery here - it's all in blindingly fast, mind-numbing riffs. Very cool songs and ideas and this band has a tremendously high ceiling. Not much out there like this. Guitarist is known for his 'gravity-picking' technique, which allows many of the songs to break BPM sound-barriers.

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My top 20 albums listed by order:

1.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

2.Septicflesh - Titan

3.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

4.Neurotech - Infra Versus Ultra

5.Burzum - The Ways Of Yore

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1.Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child

2.Sabaton - Heroes

3.Epica - The Quantum Enigma

4.Diabulus In Musica - Argia

5.Ancient Bards - A New Dawn Ending

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1.Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed

2.Channel Zero - Kill All Kings

3.Sanctuary - The Year The Sun Died

4.Slipknot - .5: The Gray Chapter

5.Overkill - White Devil Armory

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Great year, especially when it comes to melodic stuff. So glad that At the Gates and Empyrium delivered something solid. Even happier that Vanhelga really has become a "Lifelover 2", only darker. Although I am dissapointed that Deathstars didn't release a #1 album.

1.Vanhelga - Längtan

2.Harakiri For The Sky - Aokigahara

3.Twilight Force - Tales Of Ancient Prophecies

4.Duskmourn - Legends

5.Saor - Aura

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1.Behemoth - The Satanist

2.Sólstafir - Ótta

3.Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun

4.Babymetal - Babymetal

5.Slugdge - Gastronomicon

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After much deliberation and re-listening, this is my top 10 of 2014. I stand by it. What a great year, here's hoping 2015 is even better.

EDIT: Added a few more latecomers.

1.Behemoth - The Satanist

2.Septicflesh - Titan

3.Vader - Tibi Et Igni

4.Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun

5.Aspherium - The Fall Of Therenia

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1.Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds

2.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

3.Behemoth - The Satanist

4.More Than A Thousand - Vol.5 Lost At Home

5.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

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1.Sentenced - Crimson

2.Helloween - The Dark Ride

3.HammerFall - Renegade

4.White Skull - Public Glory, Secret Agony

5.Blaze - Silicon Messiah

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1.Sólstafir - Ótta

2.Nightbringer - Ego Dominus Tuus

3.Sabaton - Heroes

4.Dark Fortress - Venereal Dawn

5.Lux Occulta - Kołysanki

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1.Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

2.The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night

3.Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited

4.The Beatles - Revolver

5.Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

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1.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

2.Deep Purple - In Rock

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin III

4.Uriah Heep - Very 'eavy... Very 'umble

5.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come

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1.Ancient Bards - A New Dawn Ending

2.Epica - The Quantum Enigma

3.Eluveitie - Origins

4.Hoth - Oathbreaker

5.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

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1.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

2.Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

3.Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself

4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Sir Lord Baltimore

5.Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy

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