The end of the year is upon us, and Top 10 lists are already starting to appear on most of the major metal news sites. Be sure to remember the last few albums to be released in 2014, including the ones listed here, as you prepare your own list. It was a great year for heavy music, and no album should be left out because it was released too early or too late in the year. Don’t lose track of what’s out there!
AC/DC, Rock or Bust (Columbia)
Six years after the release of multi-platinum smash hit Black Ice, AC/DC is back with their sixteenth studio album. This release will be the first ever without founding guitarist Malcolm Young, who was diagnosed with dementia earlier this year and may never play again. Taking Young’s place is his own son, Stevie Young. Drummer Paul Rudd also had some legal troubles during the recording of Rock or Bust, leaving his status with the band in question. Regardless, though, this new material packs a bucketload of AC/DC’s signature rock fury, and it will be a hit with old fans and newcomers alike. Stream the album here for a preview of the amazing content that’s in store.
Mors Principium Est, Dawn of the 5th Era (AFM)
Mors Principium Est had a number of lineup changes to deal with that delayed the recording of 2012’s …and Death Said Live. Not so on their newest album, Dawn of the 5th Era. The appropriately-titled fifth opus from the Finnish melodic death metal group had only a single lineup change from the previous album, which is a pretty big deal in this band’s history. Mors Principium Est has only received a fraction of the attention that bigger Finnish bands like Children of Bodom constantly get. However, their talent and skill in this genre is not to be overlooked. The band has released their first-ever music video for the track “Monster in Me”, which can be viewed here.
