Album of the Year Top Ten 2015

Well, it might be a little bit later than we intended, but finally we have decided on the albums that form our top ten albums of 2015. As ever, it is a mix of styles and genres, but we feel that these are the albums that everyone should have in their collection from last year. If you have not got them then click the links and go and buy them. Remember, they all rock!

Happy New Year to you all!

10

KINGCROW – EIDOS

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Kingcrow come of age with this album. Sixty minutes of glorious progressive metal with some wonderfully original moments. Just listen to the middle section of Adrift to see what we mean. Originally formed in 1996, Kingcrow have released some very good work, but Eidos stands out as a fascinating and hook driven piece of work. This could so easily have been higher on the list.

9

COHEED AND CAMBRIA – THE COLOR BEFORE THE SUN

Coheed_And_Cambria_The_Color_Before_The_Sun

We are all waiting for Coheed and Cambria to do something radically different style wise, but this album just sees a departure from the concept theme. Nevertheless, it is full of great songs and uplifting moments, and in our opinion is one of their best releases in a while. The boys doing what they do best.

8

MOONSPELL – EXTINCT

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Remember the halcyon days of gothic rock? Moonspell couple the low vocal style with some great songs, encompassed in full on metal. The title track may well find you hurtling around the living room, doing your best Scott Walker impression. We loved it!

7

SHUMAUNSHUMAUN

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Unbelievable debut album from a group of very talented musicians. Progressive rock that is varied and melodic. Couple this with a vocalist who goes from Rush to Peter Gabriel effortlessly, and what you have is an absolute necessity for any rock fan’s collection. Just listen.

BUY THE CD FROM HERE – SHUMAUN STORE

6

FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE – HOW BIG, HOW BLUE, HOW BEAUTIFUL

Florence_and_the_Machine_-_How_Big_How_Blue_How_Beautiful_(Official_Album_Cover)

Well you can call it hippy rock, you can call it anything you like, but Flo and the Machine owned Glastonbury. The album is pop/rock music at its absolute anthemic best. Positively dripping melody and wall of sound emotion, you must have this.

5

WE ARE THE OCEAN – ARK

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We Are The Ocean step up to the plate and go head to head with Biffy Clyro with this offering. It’s impossible not to compare it to the Biffs, as the variation and the swinging from pop to rock in style is very similar. A great collection of tunes and a giant leap into musical acceptance for the boys.

 

4

RIVERSIDE – LOVE, FEAR AND THE TIME MACHINE

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Riverside continue their journey into the lighter side of progressive rock. The days when they were compared to Tool seem very distant now. Riverside are far closer to such as Porcupine Tree than their metal brothers these days. That is not to say that this album does not have a cutting edge, because it most definitely does. However, some of the lighter breaks and songs are positively genius. Wonderfully varied expedition through progressive rock from the masters of their art.

 

3

VON HERTZEN BROTHERS – NEW DAY RISING

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Von Hertzen Brothers were never very heavy, but they were on the harder side of the rock. Although they have maintained their hard rock style, they have shifted to a much lighter side of the genre. Does it work? Hell, yeah! Great vocals accompany strong song writing, resulting in an album that may appeal to fans of all genres. The opening track just blows you away and the good music just flows through the album. Seriously melodic.

2

PRESSURE POINTS – FALSE LIGHTS

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The problem with producing a brilliant debut album,is how do you follow it? Pressure points show us just how to do it with their seconds album, False Lights. They continue to tread the boards of Progressive / Death Metal, mixing melody and growling effortlessly. One minute you are in the depths of Black Metal despair and the next you are soaring on a wave of anthemic emotion. In your face and passionate, this album is a gem. So the number two position goes to a band who very few people have heard of. Hopefully, by this time next year, everyone will know about Pressure Points.

 

1

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME – COMA ECLIPTIC

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There have been some brilliant releases this year, but the winner by an absolute mile has to be Coma Ecliptic. Take all the styles from the above releases, all the high points from them and all the hairs on the back of your neck standing on end moments, and you will find this album. Mix it all up with a dose of jazz and seventies style progrock and here you have a truly groundbreaking album. Criticised by many because it dares to traverse the genre boundaries that many use as a form of priviliged isolationism and elitism, Coma throws all that out of the window and says just enjoy the music. We are quite sure that 2015 will be the year that many will remember for the release of Coma Ecliptic. The album that in the future will be regarded by musicians as the one that influenced them the most, and by music lovers as the one that broke down the walls of blinkered musical prejudice. Just an absolutely remarkable album. Top Ten of 2015? Top Ten of all time!

That concludes are Top Ten albums of 2015. There are some honourable mentions beneath that were extremely close to making the Top Ten. We are sure we have probably missed some and we are positive that we will reappraise some through 2016, but Between The Buried and Me have broken all the rules and broke new ground with Coma. So no arguing with that one. What do you mean, you haven’t bought it yet? Get your wallet out now and treat yourself.

There are links to purchase all these albums below the almost made it vids. It helps keep the site going. Many thanks, and once again, Happy New Year to you all.

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR ALBUMS

NATIVE CONSTRUCT – QUIET WORLD

TREMONTI – CAUTERIZE

LEPROUS – THE CONGREGATION

BUY THE VINYL ALBUMS

BUY THE CD ALBUMS

NOTE – YOU CAN BUY THE SHUMAUN CD DIRECT FROM HERE – SHUMAUN STORE

YOU CAN BUY ALL THE MP3 ALBUMS HERE

ITUNES

OR HERE

AMAZON

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