Articles : Jake Patton’s Top Albums of 2015

Jake Patton (pictured right with Misha Mansoor of Periphery)

If anyone doubts that 2015 wasn’t the year of the Heavy, then they seriously need to re-analyse what has just gone by. The fact that in Australia alone there was five heavy metal albums that topped the ARIA album charts shows that the passion  fans have for Heavy music in Australia is stronger than ever. Next year already has a pretty high standard set because looking back on 2015 and trying to write a ‘best of’ list sucks. It sucks because this year has seen so many local and international bands release albums, EP’s and cassettes, all of which could hold a worthy place on a ‘best of’ list. I could write an essay on why each individual piece (and about 50-100) others should be included on this list, but I’m going to keep it short and sharp. Here are the releases that have been getting continual play and are my top picks of 2015:

The List

10. Vessel Born – Stateless (EP)

This one has snuck onto the list as a late inclusion after receiving some heavy play time recently, and for good reason. For the relatively short runtime of this CD, it is packed with that much goodness that you can’t help but not be moved by it. Vessel Born takes all the elements of some of the more premiere metalcore/melodic death artists, and strips them back until you are left with something which is musically so raw, yet refined and powerful. There is no flair in the instrumental side of things (save for a few pieces of guitar wizardry here and there), and, in combination with a vocal delivery which is hard to fault (both harsh and clean), you are left with one of the most powerful releases of recent memories. Check out “Dressing a Dead Man”.

9. Periphery – Juggernaut (Alpha and Omega)

The double album release from Periphery took me by surprise at the start of this year. Having never really rated Periphery before (such ignorance) I caught wind of the track ‘Alpha’ on a Twitch stream a few days before the albums were release, I instantly went out and bought both albums the day they were available. Spencer Sotelo is flawless on vocals (something which is replicated on point live – not something which many artists can do to that degree), and both CD’s in this release just have this air about them which makes them infectiously catchy, while at the same time making them feel like a guilty pleasure. Definitely a release to listen to. Check out “Alpha”.

8. Pressure Points – False Lights

Another surprise inclusion on this list, August saw Finnish progressive mettallers, Pressure Points release their second full length album ‘False Lights’. Consisting of only six tracks, but spanning 57 minutes, this is definitely an album worth investing time into. Each listen opens up something new, whether it be a key passage, bass line, or guitar riff that you might not have noticed during your last listen through. The music is probably some of the greatest constructed for this particular genre, and is layered perfectly for either the harsher or softer vocal styles found on the album. This is one for fans of bands like Opeth and Katatonia, and definitely something worth checking out. Check out “Electric Shadows”.

7. Svengali – Theory Of Mind

I originally discovered Svengali through their EP which some friends suggested I listen to, and haven’t looked back since. Channelling melodic elements, quieter passages and clean vocals, but sticking with a groove laden, thrashy sounding harsher style, their debut album “Theory of Mind” is something which was a surprise experience to listen to. If debut albums set reference for a bands future, then this is definitely a strong frame of reference for Svengali. It’s raw, its emotive, but it’s a damn good listen, and I think that it is only a matter of time before these guys became massive outside their native walls. Check out “Sink Or Swim”.

6. Powerwolf – Blessed & Possessed

Have you heard these guys yet? If not, you should have! Powerwolf are one of the more ‘unique’ Power Metal bands that there are out there, and their 5th album, 2015’s ‘Blessed & Possessed’ is one of their finest works yet. Musically, their style plays very closely to the standard Power Metal M.O, but it’s the small nuances in each of their songs that make this album so strong, and is probably the reason these guys played as a major headliner for a few of the bigger European festivals this year. Don’t let the religious undertones dissuade you, because if you are after something which by all means sounds epic, approachable, and different then this is a must-have for your collection. Check out “Blessed and Possessed”.

5. Orpheus Omega – Partum Vita Mortem

‘Partum, Vita, Mortem’ the third release from Melbourne’s melodic maestro’s Orpheus Omega provides one of their greatest creations yet. While the melodic death metal genre has become so polluted with bands, sounds and sub-genres sprouting up everywhere, Orpheus Omega has managed to create an album that showcases and highlights their own individualistic sound. Perhaps the best thing about this album is that while Orpheus Omega borrows so many elements from many of their contemporaries, they still accomplish the tremendous feat of not imitating any of them, and creating an album that stands majestically alone from the crowd. Check out “Beacons”.

4. Parkway Drive – Ire

Well, well, well, the Byron boys are back with something which borrows heavily from their earlier releases, and then expands beyond the point of awesomeness. Parkway Drive’s 5th album ‘Ire’ sees the band leap from Metalcore heroes to metal masters. There is a reason that this album topped the ARIA charts, and that is because on almost every level it is just so damn good, and encompasses a more complete and accessible sound over their previous releases. ‘Ire’ still has it’s selection of anthems on here, like ‘Crushed’ and ‘Vice Grip’, something which Parkway has excelled at for years, but there are some really moving pieces on here as well, showcasing a more versatile side to their sound. If you don’t own this in your collection yet, go out and get it! You won’t be disappointed. Check out “Bottom Feeder”.

3. Gloryhammer – Space 1992: Rise Of The Chaos Wizards

Where other paradoxical bands falter, Gloryhammer has not only pushed down the walls, but has taken a giant proverbial space doo-doo on it. With their second release ‘Space 1992: Rise of the Chaos Wizards’, the band has gone to the ‘distant future’ of the year 1992 to continue the epic story of Angus McFife, Zargothrax, and the ‘Galactic Empire’ of Fife. Humour aside, Gloryhammer has taken everything that people love from the power metal genre, and compressed it into a 50 minute synth laden, cheesy adventure that will have even the most uninterested listener singing loudly in their space boots by the end of it. Check out “Rise of the Chaos Wizards”.

2. Trivium – Silence In The Snow

Trivium have always been a band that I have had immense appreciation for, and they pulled off probably the greatest blindside of the entire year with the release of their seventh album ‘Silence In The Snow’. Already critically acclaimed, this album was, for all intents and purposes, practically completed before there was any mention of it. Being their first release without harsh vocals has allowed Trivium to reach a wider fan base, all while keeping their token anthemic feel throughout the album. Trivium was often touted as the “next big thing” for metal, and if this release doesn’t help push them along that spectrum, then I don’t know what else will. Check out “Blind Leading The Blind”.

1. Bullet For My Valentine – Venom

This has been the year that a lot of bands have made their powerful return to form, and the greatest example of that is with Bullet For My Valentine’s ‘Venom’. At long last! Who would have thought that after their last few albums, that something this strong would have been so powerful? Don’t get me wrong, their recent albums still have some musical gems on them, but this album encompasses everything that most fans fell in love with from Bullet For My Valentine. ‘Venom’ doesn’t deviate from the normal formula too far, but it does seem that the band has reigned everything back in on this album to focus on highlighting that sound which they are so well loved for. The anthemic nature of most of the songs makes it hard not to sing along to, and the careful sprinkling of ballads throughout the album provides the perfect combination of ‘soft’ and ‘heavy’, without any oversaturation. This album has been massively on spin since I first got it, and I don’t see myself getting sick of it any time soon. Check out “Skin”.

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