Jude Felton's Top 20 Albums of 2014

2014 has, without a doubt, been an incredibly dark year for me, on a personal level. However, one of the things that has helped me through it has been the sheer quality of new music that has been released. I could have quite easily doubled the length of this list, as it has been that damned good, To say it was tough to compile would be a severe understatement.

Trevor Proctor's Top 20 Albums of 2014

This has been a fantastic year for albums and the only down side this brings is trying to select a year-end list befitting of such a year - it’s very easy to criticise lists but I can assure compiling them is far from straight forward. As testimony to the standard of this year’s releases I’ve opted to select three albums for the number one spot. This is not a cop-out in any way, shape or form, merely a reflection of just how good this year has been and the three albums in question are exemplary releases that I just couldn’t and don’t want to split – which is why my list ends at 18. There are also a few albums such as those from Swallowed, Triptykon and Winterfylleth, amongst others, that are missing from my list – this is merely because I won’t get my grubby mitts on them until Christmas.

Review - 'Vircolac: Codex Perfida'

Vircolac - Codex Perfida (2014)

Iron Bonehead Productions 

Review by Trevor Proctor

Ever the source of exciting and fresh underground music, once again Iron Bonehead has dredged the depths of Hell and unearthed another gem. Not content with supplying us top-notch bands such as Malthusian and Zom, Dublin has another new band to be proud of - Vircolac. Named after a Ukrainian werewolf this four piece death metal band is another Irish band you’ll be hearing a lot more of in the near future. 

Trevor's Top 10 Singles, EP's and Demo's of 2014

With 2014 being such a productive year it was always going to be difficult to select a year-end list of favourites. Narrowing EP, 7” and demo releases down to a list of ten has been a nightmare – the only thing that will prove even more difficult is an album list which is due to follow from both Jude and myself over the next few weeks. Anyhow, here’s my selection along with links to the relevant labels etc.  And by the way, I cheated slightly as there’s eleven releases covered; the joint number ten features two seriously excellent debuts that were simply impossible to split. - Trevor Proctor

Filthy Music Review - 'Voices: London'

Voices – London (2014)

Candlelight Records

Review by Jude Felton

Last year saw Voices debut album, the obnoxiously titled but musically superior, From the Human Forest Create a Fugue of Imaginary Rain, lay waste to my eardrums. The band, having risen from the ashes of UK band Akercocke, were not about to rest on any laurels and release a sub-par album. It was, and still is, an outstanding debut. Now, with a European release date in 2014, and 2015 in the US (due to a distribution change with Candlelight), they spew forth their follow-up, the abruptly named London, and what a perfect title it is.

The Lord of Filth's Top 10 Singles, EP's and Demo's of 2014

 You either love them or hate them, or couldn't give a shit either way, but as the year draws slowly to a close you know there'll be 'best of' lists cropping up everywhere. Well, we're no different here at the Lair, and we do like to celebrate our personal favorites of the year. So, this year we're kicking off things with my pick of the singles, EP's and demo's of 2014. We'll be adding Trevor's lists over the coming weeks, as well as my album choice, so just have fun with it! I've also included links to purchase physical copies of these phenomenal releases.

Review - 'Zom: Flesh Assimilation'

Zom - Flesh Assimilation (2014)

Invictus Productions (Europe)/Dark Descent Records (US) 

Review by Trevor Proctor

Since the 2011 release of their demo cassette via Invictus Productions Zom have been creating rumbles in the catacombs of Ireland’s death metal underground. The demand for this demo was so great it was re-issued on vinyl during 2013 with a bonus track, Ethereal Frost. A second demo was released in 2012 and featured three tracks; one of which was Ethereal Frost and the other two were Multiversal Holocaust and Terror of the Cosmos – in turn these two tracks got re-released on a limited 7” vinyl, again due to immense demand for their music. 

Interview - 'Sidious'

UK black metal group, Sidious, have just released their excellent debut album, Revealed in Profane Splendour, through the terrific French label Kaotoxin Records. This follows on from their EP, Ascension to the Throne ov Self, and both have been reviewed on these filthy pages. So, what better time to catch up with the band and fire a few questions at them? Now, of course!

Ultra-violent Filthy Review - 'American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore'

American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore (2014)

Unearthed Films

Review by Jude Felton

When it was first announced that there was to be an American Guinea Pig film, I’ll admit to not being especially excited. The original Japanese is one that is incredibly notorious, due mainly to the Flower of Flesh and Blood installment. It’s this one in particular that most people associate with the films, and is incredibly savage. There are a couple of other good ones, but there are also some that are particularly forgettable.

Filthy Low Budget Three-way - 'Skinless/The Turnpike Killer/Collar'

Yeah, I know, I've neglected the movie reviews, of late. A combination of factors have contributed to that, but we're back with a few mini-reviews right now (with more to come). Three delightfully gruesome and shocking titles all hit DVD at the same time, and all are worth your time and money! Read on, Filthy friends, read on.

Filthy Music Review Threesome! - 'Sepulchral Temple/Ghoulgotha/Blaspherian'

In order to try and give increased coverage to the rapidly increasing multitude of releases we’ve access to we’ve decided to try a little experiment with reviews. To give more bands more exposure we’re going to start doing occasional 3 part reviews that detail 3 releases, it means shorter but more to-the-point reviews of much more of the quality music coming your way over the next few months. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them too of course…..

Review - 'Cult of Fire: Ctvrtá Symfonie Ohne'

Cult of Fire - Ctvrtá Symfonie Ohne 7” EP (2014)

Iron Bonehead Productions

Review by Trevor Proctor

Cult of Fire is a Black Metal band from the Czech Republic’s city of Prague; the band consists of Tomáš Corn on drums, Infernal Vlad guitars/vocals and third member, Devilish also performing vocals. Their first EP, 20:11, was released in April 2011 with their debut album “Triumvirát” following in July 2012 to widespread praise from all quarters of the underground. However, it was the release of their second album “मृत्यु का तापसी अनुध्यान”(Ascetic Meditation of Death) via Iron Bonehead Productions in December 2013 that saw the band experience a meteoric, and very justified, rise to prominence within the metal community.

Interview - 'Vircolac'

Due for release in the near future, from Iron Bonehead Productions, is the debut release from Dublin's upcoming death metal band, Vircolac. This in itself is exciting news, especially if you're familiar with Iron Bonehead's releases thus far, so we can only expect good things when Codex Perfida is released.

Ever the fella's to get the lowdown on new bands, here at the Lair, Trevor Proctor recently interviewed J and D, from the band, about Codex Perfida, gigs and Balkan werewolves. Read, enjoy and order the tape!

Filthy Music Review - 'Eye of Solitude: Dear Insanity'

Eye of Solitude – Dear Insanity (2014)

Kaotoxin Records

Review by Jude Felton

Honesty is pretty much always the best policy, so I’ll throw it right out there when I tell you that the UK’s Eye of Solitude are pretty much my favorite band, right now. Having only formed in 2010, they impressed the hell out of me with their 2012 album, Sui Caedere. However, this did not prepare me for the epic Canto III, which landed with Earth-shattering poetic beauty, in late 2013, and promptly made the number one spot in my year end list.

Filthy Music Review - 'Temple of Void: Of Terror and the Supernatural'

Temple of Void – Of Terror and the Supernatural (2014)

Saw Her Ghost Records/Without End Records

Review by Jude Felton

It’s always nice to see a band, of whom you have followed since their demo days, finally get that first full-length album released. This is especially satisfying considering the sheer volume of demos out there; most of which are available at the click of your mouse. Back in the day it was all hand-drawn J-cards, Xeroxed to death, and if you were lucky you’d get your hands on a tenth generation copy. It was all word of mouth and scouring the demo section of Metal Forces magazine!

Filthy Music Review - 'Voyag3r: Doom Fortress'

Voyag3r – Doom Fortress (2014)

Battle Chamber Music/ Bellyache Records

Review by Jude Felton

We’re going to take a ride with Cabbie. Along the way we’ll be passing through a ruined and desolate New York City, a ravaged Florida, where only the undead walk and we might even make a stop at Tech Noir. Why? Because Detroit’s Voyag3r (pronounced Voyager 3) are back and they are once again tapping into the coolest sounds that came out of the 80s, and even the late 70s.

Review - 'Sidious: Revealed in Profane Splendour'

Sidious - Revealed in Profane Splendour (2014)

Kaotoxin Records 

Review by Trevor Proctor

Sidious is a blackened Death Metal group from the UK that’s set to unleash its debut album via Kaotoxin Records as one of their top priority releases this November. Revealed in Profane Splendour follows hot on the heels of last year’s critically acclaimed EP, “Ascension to the Throne Ov Self".

Filthy Music Review - 'Fen: Carrion Skies'

Fen – Carrion Skies (2014)

Code666/Aural Music

Review by Jude Felton

Fen’s previous album, 2013’s Dustwalker, was quite an exceptional album. It was one of those albums that bore many a repeated play, and was just perfect for long autumnal drives in the Filthmobile. So, with that in mind I thought it would be a tough task for the UK band to top it, as is often the case when a band releases such a good album. I suspect though that Fen are not the sort of band that worry too much about these sort of things, yet with Carrion Skies they have delivered easily one of the best albums of the year.

Filthy Music Review from beyond the Grave - 'Cemetery Filth: Screams from the Catacombs'

Cemetery Filth – Screams from the Catacombs EP (2014)

White Ship Records/Unspeakable Axe

Review by Jude Felton

Way back at the dawn of time, January 2014 to be exact, in deepest, darkest Tennessee, Cemetery Filth were spawned. In the short time since then, aside from giving themselves the rather wonderful moniker, they have delivered this three track EP.

Filthy Music Review - 'Swallowed: Lunarterial'

Swallowed – Lunarterial (2014)

Dark Descent/ Me Saco Un Ojo

Review by Jude Felton

Malevolent forces have manifested themselves inside a duo from Helsinki, Finland, which has resulted in the creation of Lunarterial. This is the debut album from the Fin’s and not only does it go to show that the small Scandinavian country has a seemingly endless supply of great music, but it also shows that there is a great variety as well.

Filthy Music Review - 'Xerath: III'

Xerath - III  (2014)

Candlelight Records 

Review by Trevor Proctor

The great thing about attending festivals is getting to see bands you may not have seen or heard too much of previously – this was the case for me on my first trip to Damnation festival (Leeds, England) in 2011. I had travelled from N Ireland specifically to see Godflesh so any other quality bands and performances caught would be seen as a bonus. 

Filthy Music Review - 'Panopticon: Roads to the North'

Panopticon – Roads to the North (2014)

Nordvis (Europe)/Bindrune (US)

Review by Jude Felton

Black Metal is one sub-genre of music where the national heritage of the band is so often infused into its lyrics and themes. What is slightly rarer, however, is a band that not only makes it a part of the lyrical content, but actually transfers it into the music itself. Panopticon is one such band that does this, in abundance with, sole member, Aaron Lunn digging deep to pay tribute to the past and the present.

Filthy Music Review - 'Phobocosm: Deprived'

Phobocosm - Deprived (2014) 

Dark Descent Records

Review by Trevor Proctor

Montreal group, Phobocosm, have been orchestrating the darkest of death metal since their formation in January 2008 when S.D. (guitars) and J.S.G. (drums) left a previous band to team up with vocalist and bassist E.B. and guitarist R.M. Phobocosm was established with the sole purpose of twisting minds with their blend of death metal that contains a varied mix of extreme styles and tempos. Whilst incorporating a myriad of influences into their music Phobocosm have managed to keep their roots firmly implanted in old school death metal but have added snippets of black metal, doom and even ambient into the mix with devastating effect. 

Filthy Music Review - 'Winterfylleth: The Divination of Antiquity'

Winterfylleth – The Divination of Antiquity (2014)

Candlelight Records

Review by Jude Felton

If you are anything like me, and God help you if you are, you still get that buzz and excitement when the release date approaches of an upcoming album you eager to hear. Maybe it’s the kid in me, or maybe it’s just the fact that I am always anxious to digest more good music? Regardless of this, I feel honored that I got the chance to listen to The Divination of Antiquity; the new album from England’s finest black metal purveyors, Winterfylleth.

Filthy Music Review - ' Funereus: Return of the Old Goat'

Funereus (Mexico) - Return of the Old Goat (2014)

Forever Plagued Records 

Review by Trevor Proctor

Mexico’s Funereus have been creating hateful, raw, black metal from their inception in 2008. Since then they have released some demos, an EP and a split release with Helsefyr which was followed by their debut album, “Profane Rite of Morbid Glorification” in August 2010. Funereus consists of Sargatanaz on guitars and Valefar on drums and vocals. 

Filthy Music Review - 'Internal Bleeding: Imperium'

Internal Bleeding – Imperium (2014)

Unique Leader

Review by Jude Felton

Californian label, Unique Leader, has impressed all kinds of hell out of me of late. The label, which was formed by members of Deeds of Flesh, over the last few months delivered the goods with terrific albums from young bands like Inanimate Existence, Acrania and especially Fallujah’s recent masterpiece. Now it’s the turn of the old blood to get in on the act, with the Long Island slam machine, Internal Bleeding, unleashing a new album, twenty-odd years into their existence.

Filthy Music Review - 'Energumen: Void Spiritualism 7" EP'

Energumen (Switzerland) - Void Spiritualism 7" EP (2014)

Blood Harvest

Review by Trevor Proctor

Swedish label Blood Harvest is set to bring us a release from yet another very promising death metal band, Energumen, in September 2014. Hailing from Geneva, Switzerland, Energumen consists of M.RMSR on drums and J.FHRR who plays guitar and bass along with vocals. Since formation in 2010 Energumen has been playing blackened death metal in a very authentic and brutal manner. In April the band independently released the debut EP “Void Spiritualism” on cassette, though it wasn’t long until Blood Harvest signed them in order to officially release Void Spiritualism as 7” EP.

Filthy Interview - 'Infestus'

Back in April, Trevor Proctor reviewed the quite magnificent album, The Reflecting Void, from Infestus. It's certainly one of the best releases of 2014, thus far, so it is a privilege for us to post this interview with Infestus' main man, Andras, which was composed by Trevor. Read, enjoy and then buy the album!

Filthy Music Review - 'Svärta: På Förtvivlans Krön'

Svärta - På Förtvivlans Krön

Misanthropic Generation Media

Review by Blakwulfaz

I have kind of a biased opinion when it comes to Swedish black metal since most of my favorite bands come from that country, but the debut release "På Förtvivlans Krön" from Svärta is something that I think everyone should take notice of.

Filthy Music Review - 'Ævangelist: Writhes in the Murk'

Ævangelist - Writhes in the Murk (2014)

Hell's Headbangers

Review by Trevor Proctor

ÆVANGELIST have been turning and twisting heads with their demented death metal since debut EP, “Oracle of Infinite Despair,” was released in 2011. Since then they’ve brought us two albums, an EP and a split release with Esoterica. Their music vigorously defies classification as they constantly push the boundaries of dark and intense death by blending it with influences ranging from jazz to industrial along with a little bit of almost everything in-between.

Review - 'Horrendous: Ecdysis'

Horrendous - Ecdysis (2014)

Dark Descent Records

Review by Trevor Proctor

Horrendous is a three piece from America’s East Coast which was formed in early 2009 due to a “fascination and utter obsession with the old school.” By the summer of 2009 they had recorded and released a demo entitled “Sweet Blasphemies” which they sold independently on CD-R via their Myspace page. It wasn’t long before they attracted attention from record labels and by mid-2010 they were signed to both Skeleton Plague Records and Dark Descent Records who co-released Sweet Blasphemies on cassette in an initial press of 200. 

Filthy Music Review - 'Force of Darkness: Absolute Verb of Chaos and Darkness'

Forces of Darkness - Absolute Verb of Chaos and Darkness (2014)

Hells Headbangers

Review by Blakwulfaz

This monstrosity has BENEATH THE REMAINS written all over it....

A blackened thrash band from Chile, Force of Darkness's new EP "Absolute Verb of Chaos and Darkness" is a nasty pill to swallow. Drenched in occult content and a devotion to Satanic forces, this 20 minute EP is fast, its heavy, its filled with excellent riffs and will surely satisfy those who have a taste for dirty black/thrash metal.

Filthy Music Review - '13th Moon: Abhorrence of Light'

13th Moon - Abhorrence of Light (2014)

Exitium Productions/Nigrem Serpentis

Review by Blakwulfaz

13th Moon is a band I have been very familiar with in the past year. I reviewed the debut demo "The Pale Spectre over the Worm" some time ago and it was an excellent introduction to a band I've never heard prior. With the first full length released to the masses, 13th Moon give us "Abhorrence of Light" to slowly digest.

Filthy Interview - 'Vorage'

Recently, the mysterious Vorage had their demo released by the superb Exitium Productions. It is now sold out, so you'll have to sell your soul to find a copy. Alternatively you can listen to it on Bandcamp, which I'll grant you isn't the same. However, it is worth your time. Anyhoo, for his first piece for the Lair, Blakwulfaz conducted this interview with Vorage instrumentalist, A.H.S. Enjoy!

Review - 'Entombed AD : Back to the Front'

Entombed - Back to the Front (2014)

Century Media 

Review by Trevor Proctor

Entombed, Godfathers and pioneers of Swedish Death Metal need no introduction whatsoever - Entombed AD on the other hand, might need a little explanation. Following a long term spat between guitarist Alex Hellid and vocalist LG Petrov the band’s split was confirmed by press release in January 2014. The release stated from then onwards LG Petrov would only perform under the name Entombed AD, (also consisting of Nico Elgstrand, Olle Dahlstedt and Victor Brand) in addition to this he also stated he would not be taking part in the Entombed live performance of Clandestine.

Unearthed Films set to brutalize the civilized world with Ryan Nicholson's 'Collar'!

November 18th will see Unearthed Films release Ryan Nicholson's rampage of sex and violence, Collar, onto DVD. I was lucky enough to see the film on the big screen not so long ago, and I can tell you that this movie is a beast! You can check out my review here. Needless to say, this is one DVD you will want to add to your collection. Full details below.

Review - 'Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) & Fōr 7” Split - Tehom / Ginnungagap'

Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) & Fōr 7” Split - Tehom / Ginnungagap  (2014)

Iron Bonehead Productions

Review by Trevor Proctor

If you haven’t heard of sepulchral death metal band Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) it’s about high time you did as to say they’ve had a hell of a year so far is an understatement. Since releasing their widely praised debut EP “Sepulchral Ruins Below the Temple” at the beginning of the year they’ve solidified their line-up with a new guitarist, played a number of live shows (including two in support of Incantation) and also entered the studio to record a track for this upcoming 7” split with Sweden’s Fōr. Details about Sweden’s Fōr (Proto-Germanic for Fire) are somewhat more limited - formed in 2013 they’ve so far released a demo entitled Kundaz and also an EP, Blakaz Askō Hertō, which was released in November 2013 via Iron Bonehead – identities of band members and their locations are currently unknown. The eye-catching cover artwork was designed by JDW Death my only Friend Artworks and late August sees the release of this essential 7”.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary Blu-ray release details!

One of the most enduring, terrifying and downright fantastic horror films ever made will see a brand new 40th anniversary Blu-ray, DVD, Collector's Edition and Black Maria Limited Edition Boxset release on September 16th. This is strangely fitting news, and tribute, to the iconic actress Marilyn Burns, who sadly passed away this week. She will be missed.

The 40th Anniversary release, which features an all new 4K scan and 7.1 Audio, will come with an amazing array of extras, and will see a limited edition 'Black Maria' Limited Edition Boxset. Full details, including a pic of the boxset, can be found below.