Now that we have completed the BravePicks Of 2014 countdown - which Bloodbath triumphed (see the entire list here) - it is time now to shine the spotlight on the people that actually helped to build our mountain of metal! It was a massive task, as BraveWords was flooded with hundreds and hundreds of releases in 2014, showcasing the fact that the scene is as vibrant as ever! Each day, the BraveWords scribes will spout off their good, bad and ugly for 2014 and thoughts on the coming year! We’re talking individual Top 20s (new studio albums ONLY),  Top 5 Brave Embarrassments, Top 3 Concerts, What/Who Needs To Stop In 2015? and Metal Predictions For 2015.

BravePicks 2014 - The Scribes Speak!

MARK GROMEN

Top 20 Of 2014

1) GRAVE DIGGER – Return Of The Reaper (Napalm)

2) PRIMAL FEAR – Delivering The Black (Frontiers)

3) ACCEPT – Blind Rage (Nuclear Blast)

4) THE DAGGER – The Dagger (Century Media)

5) SABATON – Heroes (Nuclear Blast)

6) STORMWARRIOR – Thunder & Steele (Massacre)

7) BULLET – Storm Of Blades (Nuclear Blast)

8) EDGUY – Space Police: Defenders Of The Crown (Nuclear Blast)

9) EVERGREY – Hymns Of The Broken (AFM)

10) REVENGE – Harder Than Steel (Rata Mutante Records)

11) PRIMORDIAL – Where Greater Men Have Fallen (Metal Blade)

12) SKULLFIST – Chasing The Dream (NoiseArt)

13) HAMMERFALL – (R)Evolution (Nuclear Blast)

14) SINBREED – Shadows (AFM)

15) THE SKULL – For Those Which Are Asleep (Tee Pee)

16) BRAINSTORM – Firesoul (AFM)

17) THE VINTAGE CARAVAN – Voyage (Nuclear Blast)

18) OCTOBER 31 – Bury The Hatchet (Hell's Headbangers)

19) RATED X – Rated X (Frontiers)

20) GAMMA RAY – Empire Of The Undead (EarMusic)

Top 5 Brave Embarrassments

1) RED DRAGON CARTEL –  Red Dragon Cartel (Frontiers)

20 year hiatus for this? Should have named it after another animal: dog, or better yet, skunk. Phew!

2) ON TOP – Top To Bottom (Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

No truer title as EP is a complete letdown, compared to debut.

3) KISSIN' DYNAMITE – Megalomania (AFM)

Shaggy haired, 80s inspired Germans try to act mature & sophisticated. Cock rock never ages gracefully, even for youngsters.

4) OUTLOUD – Let's Get Serious (AOR Heaven)

Seriously, been all downhill since stellar debut. For crying out loud!

5) VANDERBUYST – At The Crack Of Dawn (Van Records)

Standing on the precipice of something big, Dutch dump traditional metal, opt for alternative rock.

 

Top 3 Concerts

1) Knockout Festival (EDGUY, PRETTY MAIDS, PRIMAL FEAR,UNISONIC, GOTTHARD, ANVIL) – Karlsruhe, Germany

2) Bang Your Head!!! Warm-Up Show (GRAVE DIGGER, STORMWARRIOR, BULLET) - Balingen, Germany

3) Amon Amarth, Sabaton - Best Buy Theater, New York City

Thoughts On 2014

By the looks of my favorite albums, 2014 was an amazing year for metal from Germany (or Auslanders who sound Teutonic)! While there are the long running standards (still too infrequent visitors to these shores), there's also a ton of “new' talent, bubbling below the surface and set to make an impact (at least overseas). Witness SKULLFIST, NIGHT DEMON kicking off 2015 with a cross country trek. With the further erosion of physical sales (and ), touring and associated merch has become the life blood of smaller acts, which translated into an amazing concert North American season, with  the likes of DESTRUCTION/WIDOW, KING DIAMOND, PRIMAL FEAR, Y&T;, AMON AMARTH/SABATON (who also hit the road with ICED EARTH), GRIM REAPER, RAVEN/NIGHT DEMON all hitting the road. On this continent, big outdoor festivals stubbed their toes, taking a step backwards by not offering European bands (or bands that frequently headline over there). Hopefully the future will see a return to well-rounded line-ups. RIOT V (killer live!), WOLF and EXODUS all deserve honorable mention in the album countdown. Keep beer and parking prices down! See you in the pit.

Metal Predictions For 2015

NIGHT DEMON – full length debut solidifies Cali trio as next breakout artist

NIGHTWISH – Hoping for a return to heavier, metal flavor on the first disc written specifically for Floor Jansen

70,000 Tons Of Metal – After 15 years surviving Wacken, the biggest land-based metal event, Metal Tim and I (along with many a European friend/musician) take the party on the high seas. Might be 2016 before I can recollect what happens!

What/Who Needs To Stop In 2015

Revolver: Giving America a false impression about metal, with self-aggrandizing “awards” show and  recurrent misogynist calendar of no-name “talent”. Grow up!

 

BravePicks 2014 Top 30

1) BLOODBATH – Grand Morbid Funeral (Peaceville)

2) ACCEPT – Blind Rage (Nuclear Blast)

3) JUDAS PRIEST - Redeemer Of Souls (Epic)

4) BEHEMOTH - The Satanist (Metal Blade)

5) EXODUS - Blood In, Blood Out (Nuclear Blast)

6) AT THE GATES – At War With Reality (Century Media)

7) MAYHEM - Esoteric Warfare (Season Of Mist)

8) TRIPTYKON - Melana Chasmata (Century Media)

9) CANNIBAL CORPSE – A Skeletal Domain (Metal Blade)

10) OVERKILL - White Devil Armory (Nuclear Blast/eOne)

11) ARCH ENEMY - War Eternal (Century Media)

12) 1349 - Massive Cauldron Of Chaos (Season Of Mist)

13) SANCTUARY - The Year The Sun Died (Century Media)

14) OBITUARY - Inked In Blood (Relapse)

15) GRAVE DIGGER – Return Of The Reaper (Napalm)

16) ACE FREHLEY - Space Invader (eOne)

17) MASTODON — Once More ’Round The Sun (Reprise)

18) EDGUY – Space Police: Defenders Of The Crown (Nuclear Blast)

19) THE DAGGER – The Dagger (Century Media)

20) PRIMORDIAL – Where Greater Men Have Fallen (Metal Blade)

21) UNISONIC - Light Of Dawn (earMusic)

22) PRIMAL FEAR – Delivering The Black (Frontiers)

23) DEVILMENT – The Great And Secret Show (Nuclear Blast)

24) MR. BIG - ...The Stories We Could Tell (Frontiers)

25) EYEHATEGOD – Eyehategod (Housecore)

26) STEEL PANTHER – All You Can Eat (Open E)

27) CALIFORNIA BREED – California Breed (Frontiers)

28) TESLA – Simplicity (Tesla Electric Co.)

29) PRONG – Ruining Lives (SPV/Steamhammer)

30) GAMMA RAY – Empire Of The Undead (EarMusic)