On The Horizon - The Upcoming Releases That I'm Most Excited About

Ok, so I already have a backlog of over 30 new releases to get through, but that doesn't stop me wanting more. There have already been some amazing albums released in 2014 - so many that I'm already struggling to compile my top 30 - but as it's only May, there are sure to be a hell of a lot more to come before the year is out. Of those I know about, these are the ones that spring straight to mind as the ones I really need to hear.

Alestorm - Sunset On The Golden Age 

Release date: 1st August.

What's not to like? Ridiculous song titles and subject matter (Surf Squid Warfare, anyone?), a tongue in cheek gimmick and alcohol fueled silliness all wrapped up in a Folk Metal package...complete with keytar. That this pirate schtick still hasn't outstayed its welcome after 6 years and 3 albums is to the band's credit. Here's to raising a few beers to album number 4! Well done, silly Scottish blokes. Here's an video from their third album, 2011's "Back Through Time"  to whet your appetite:

Eluveitie - Origins

Release date: 1st August.

Eluveitie are about to unleash their sixth full-length album and I have no doubt that it will be another gem that will slot neatly in to their impressive back catalogue of Celtic Folk / Melodic Death Metal. Using traditional instruments and with lyrics sometime sang in the ancient Gaulish language, Eluveitie stand apart as one of the most authentic, not to mention consistent and unique of the modern Folk Metal acts. Yes, the scene may be well and truly saturated with fakes, posers and chancers, but the cream always rises, as they say. Enjoy this track from the band's 2012 classic, "Helvetios"

Judas Priest - Redeemer Of Souls

Release date: 14th July

I'm not going to give you much of a back story here. I mean, after 45 years in the business, surely the mighty Priest require no introduction?! What I will say, though, is that after hearing 2 songs from the new album, it sounds like it could be the first album worthy of carrying the Judas Priest name in over 2 decades. The "Ripper years" had their moments as did "Angel Of Retribution" - I don't want to talk about "Nostradamus" - but none of them set the Metal world alight and they certainly came nowhere close to the lofty heights of the 1990 masterpiece "Painkiller". Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting "Redeemer Of Souls" to be in the same league either, but it is going to be a step in the right direction and if, as I suspect, it is to be the band's swan song, they will be going out on a high. Redemption, indeed. Here's a taster from the new album:

Anaal Nathrakh - TBC

Release date: TBC

Anaal Nathrakh have grown and developed as a band without ever losing sight of who and what they are - namely one of the UK's nastiest and most brutal acts. Blending a whole range of Extreme Metal sub-genres including Black, Death, Industrial and Grindcore in a rotten, filth-encrusted metlting pot, music doesn't come much more vitriolic and hate-filled than this....but they deliver it with style, personality and more importantly, they have the songs to back it up. The last album, "Vanitas" was an untouchable master work from England's premier purveyors of the sick and depraved and I can't wait to hear what unexpected direction they have taken their music in for the follow-up. Didn't hear "Vanitas"? Well, try this out:

Professor Elemental - The Giddy Limit

Release date: TBC

How to describe The Professor? With his Steampunk-influenced character and music which uses samples of Lounge, Jazz, Swing and more combined with old / new school Hip-Hop, Elemental is pretty much in a class all of his own and I think the term he would use to describe himself is "Chap Hop". So, we'll go with that. Either way, enjoy a song from the upcoming album, here:

Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun

Release date: 23rd June

I will be the first to admit that Mastodon took a while to grow on me. 6 years, in fact. I heard them on record and saw them live a few times from 2005 onwards, but it wasn't until the stunning "The Hunter" was released in 2011 that I finally 'got' what they were doing. Primarily a Progressive Metal band, Mastodon use odd rhythms, time changes and off-kilter grooves to give their sound a distinctive and recognisable edge. If the new album is even half as good as "The Hunter" then it will be a definite best of the year contender. Here's a taster from the new album: