50. Like a Storm – “Wish You Hell”
New Zealand hard rockers burst onto the American scene earlier this year with their didgeridoo-heavy radio single, 2012’s “Love the Way You Hate Me”, and they continued to showcase their unique sound with a brand new single “Wish You Hell”. It will be interesting to see how the self-dubbed “voodoo metal” act continues to evolve on their forthcoming album, Awaken the Fire, set to release February 24.
49. Jack White – “Lazaretto”
The lead single and title track from alternative rock icon Jack White’s second solo album is equal parts gritty and catchy, which made it a staple hit on alternative radio for the greater part of the year, ever since its initial release in April.
48. Fall Out Boy – “Centuries”
Pop-punk giants Fall Out Boy have once again proven why they’re so well-known. With an irresistible hook and the Illinois natives’ classic sound, “Centuries” sets the pace for the group’s forthcoming full-length, American Beauty/American Psycho, slated to drop on January 20.
The trippy lead single from British rockers Coldplay’s sixth studio album Ghost Stories is a trance-inducing pop tune with enough electronics to go around for everyone.
2014 has been a busy year for Chattanooga-based Rigoletto. The indie rockers released two standalone singles earlier on in the year, in addition to a separate EP just a couple of weeks ago. One of the singles, “Vandals”, is a slow-paced yet powerful track with a haunting bassline.
45. Big Data – “The Business of Emotion” (featuring White Sea)
Although “The Business of Emotion” will most likely not blow up like Big Data’s first single did earlier on in the year, this one is just as catchy, while adding in a few elements that “Dangerous” lacked.
44. Kyng – “Burn the Serum”
I reviewed Kyng’s sophomore full-length record earlier this year and moderately enjoyed it, but its title track is undoubtedly the album highlight. The lengthy instrumental intro and throwback sound throughout the song prove that rock ‘n’ roll is alive and well.
43. Eden Circus – “Her Lovely Hands Upon the Black Earth”
German progressive group Eden Circus put themselves on the map with their debut release Marula at the end of September. “Her Lovely Hands Upon the Black Earth” is a long epic that showcases the band’s intricate instrumentation quite well.
2014 very well may have been the year of the supergroup. The first of many supergroups on this list, KxM is a collective comprising of George Lynch along with Doug Pinnick of King’s X and Ray Luzier from Korn. While their entire debut release is a solid effort, it’s the guitar-searing, foot-stomping second single that packs the most punch.
41. Playing to Vapors – “Ghost Hunter”
Playing to Vapors is extremely talented, and their latest single proves it. “Ghost Hunter” has all kinds of layers, from the groovy bassline to the dueling guitars and the keys over top.
40. He Is Legend – “Miserable Company”
The Southern hard rockers made their return this year with Heavy Fruit, and while there are a few standouts on the new album, none of them hold a candle to the atmospheric slow-burner that is “Miserable Company”.
39. White Lighter – “Omens”
White Lighter is the second supergroup with a song featured, and with good reason. Featuring Steve Dail of Project 86 fame and none other than Mark Salomon on vocals, White Lighter blends the alternative and the modern with classic rock rather seamlessly. The eerie “Omens” is a prime example of this.
38. Project 86 – “Knives to the Future”
Did someone say Project 86? That band has a song here too. The long-time Christian rockers put out their ninth full-length last month, and its title track is as heavy as it is melodic.
37. Soundgarden – “Storm”
Soundgarden has been around forever now, and yet somehow they keep cranking out great music. To be fair, “Storm” is actually an early demo that was unearthed and re-recorded for the band’s rarities compilation Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across the Path, but the song still sounds fresh, even almost thirty years later.
Bellarive isn’t your run-of-the-mill “worship” band. “Lazarus” is a lengthy indie rocker that just so happens to be a praise song as well, and sounds best while going out for a drive after dark.
35. Smokey Joe & The Kid – “Temptation” (featuring The Procussions)
The French hip hop collective released a phenomenal 4-song EP back in May, but the clear highlight of The Game is the track with The Procussions. While the entire EP blends hip hop with swing and electro rather effortlessly, Mr. J Medeiros and Stro both go off on this collaboration.
34. Red Fang – “The Meadows”
Stoner rockers Red Fang released a crushing new single called “The Meadows” back in April courtesy of Scion A/V. The riffs in this track are massive, but then again, that’s become pretty typical for these Portland natives.
33. War of Change – “Worthless Me”
After parting ways with his vocalist, War of Change drummer and founder Mick Blankenship stepped up to the plate to keep his band alive. The result is a beastly hard rock sound with industrial undertones.
32. Islander – “Criminals” (featuring Sonny Sandoval)
When Islander crossed into the mainstream modern rock realm with their hit single “Coconut Dracula” back in May, many drew comparisons to the Deftones. “Criminals”, however, sounds more like a hybrid of Rage Against the Machine and POD, which makes perfect sense since the guest vocals are provided by the frontman of the latter.
31. Mini Mansions – “Death is a Girl”
“Death is a Girl” is incredibly dancy, and so by nature it’s virtually impossible to dislike. The upbeat indie pop tune sets quite the precedence for the Los Angeles trio’s forthcoming studio album, The Great Pretenders, slated for release sometime next year.
30. Devil You Know – “Seven Years Alone”
Devil You Know’s debut The Beauty of Destruction was one of my albums of the year for 2014, and the lead single certainly helped its cause. This supergroup’s unique blend of groove metal and melodic metalcore is a breath of fresh air in the often-oversaturated metal scene. In “Seven Years Alone”, Howard Jones’ vocal contrasts are arguably some of the best they’ve ever been, even after taking into account his decade-long tenure with Massachusetts metalcore titans Killswitch Engage.
29. Godsmack – “Generation Day”
Godsmack is a very polarizing band; most either love or hate them. That being said, there’s no doubt that the six-minute-long journey of a track in “Generation Day” is the highlight of the Boston hard rockers’ latest offering 1000hp.
Flint nu metallers KING 810 have made a name for themselves with their aggressive debut Memoirs of a Murderer, but it’s the calmer moments of the album that make it so scary. Take “eyes” for instance, where a foot-stomping drumbeat plays the background to an eerie riff, on both piano and guitar, and frontman David Gunn’s raspy singing.
27. Three Days Grace – “I Am Machine”
Everyone’s favorite Canadian rock band is back and as good as ever. And no, I’m not talking about Nickelback. After lingering doubts that new singer Matt Walst would be able to fill the shoes of longtime frontman Adam Gontier, Walst proves that his voice is just as good as his predecessor’s. Not only that, but Walst fits right in with the band’s newer, heavier sound.
26. Lacuna Coil – “Nothing Stands in Our Way”
Lacuna Coil’s latest album Broken Crown Halo is yet another phenomenal effort from the Italian gothic metallers. The lead single and album opener features a thundering bassline and of course the classic dueling vocals of Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia.
25. Chevelle – “Take Out the Gunman”
Alternative metallers Chevelle set the rock charts ablaze once again, this time around with their hit song “Take Out the Gunman”. With a head-banging groove and lots of cowbell, the lead single from La Gárgola is about as experimental as it can be, while still staying true to the Chicago-based trio’s signature sound.
24. XTRMST – “Conformist”
Remember AFI? Frontman Davey Havok and guitarist Jade Puget have gone on to form a straight-edge hardcore band called XTRMST that is actually quite good. In fact, the duo released their debut full-length last month. All fourteen tracks are packed full of intensity, but perhaps the most intense song of all is the blistering lead single “Conformist”.
23. Slipknot – “The Devil in I”
Slipknot made its long-awaited return worth the anticipation, with a brutal yet melodic lead single in “The Devil in I”. The insane drumwork complements the nu metal kings’ signature sound quite well, and although the band has always been known for their percussive nature, there’s something about this song’s percussion section that sets it apart from other Slipknot tracks.
22. Linkin Park – “Rebellion” (featuring Daron Malakian)
Linkin Park returned to form earlier this year with their newest effort The Hunting Party, and released what may be one of their strongest singles ever in “Rebellion”. One part classic LP and another part System of a Down, courtesy of guest guitarist Daron Malakian, the only thing that’s missing in this track is Malakian’s voice. Otherwise, it’s practically flawless.
21. Circa Survive – “Schema”
Undoubtedly their most aggressive song yet, Circa Survive brings it on “Schema”, the lead single from their latest full-length Descensus. The heavy yet progressive musical tendencies and Anthony Green’s signature crooning are what push “Schema” into “song of the year” territory.
20. Peace Mercutio – “Credit Card”
Some call their style of music “powerpop”; others just settle for alternative rock. Either way, Peace Mercutio plays it well on their song “Credit Card”. And while the Seattle-based quartet may not have survived to the end of the year, at least we got a phenomenal song out of them before they ended up calling it quits.
19. Nonpoint – “Never Ending Hole”
I had lots of praise for The Return when I reviewed it earlier this year, and the songs like “Never Ending Hole” were at the top of the barrel. The guitars sound metallic at some times yet melodious at others, and the drumwork is about as good as it gets.
18. Krokodil – “Sun Riders” (featuring Simon Neil)
UK metallers Krokodil are known for their progressive, sludgy sound, but this song throws in a little bit of melody as well, featuring guest vocals on the chorus from the Biffy Clyro frontman. The galloping bassline is really just icing on the cake for “Sun Riders”.
17. Switchfoot – “Slow Down My Heartbeat”
Switchfoot may have released a full-length album earlier this year, but the best song they released in 2014 wasn’t even on Fading West. That title belongs to the dark, atmospheric unreleased track from The Edge of the Earth. Perhaps one of the darkest songs the San Diego rockers have ever written, “Slow Down My Heartbeat” is sure to send chills down the spine.
16. Royale – “I’d Love To (But You Play Too Rough)”
Out of Chicago comes a progressive quartet known for its massive instrumentation and intricate compositions. “I’d Love To (But You Play Too Rough)” is no exception to this, staying true to form and resulting in a heavy yet spacey sound, known to fans simply as “yacht metal”.
15. Machine Head – “Now We Die”
One of the biggest heavy metal acts in America almost fell apart before recording their latest record, but Robb Flynn and company persevered, yielding the awesome Bloodstone & Diamonds last month. The album opener and lead single takes the listener on a journey, from the orchestral intro to the brutal half-time segments throughout the choruses and bridge, all the way up until fading away much like it started. The best thing about the strings is that they stay prominent throughout the entire song, not just at the beginning and end.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSiKETBjARk[/youtube]14. The Foxery – “Patmos”
Relatively unknown outside of their hometown of Louisville going into this year, The Foxery put themselves on the map in 2014 after signing to Seattle-based Spartan Records and subsequently releasing their label debut Unless. “Patmos” is like a muddier mewithoutYou with less spoken word and more riffing, and it’s by far the strongest song on Unless.
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/162346865″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]13. Killer Be Killed – “Forbidden Fire”
As I’ve said multiple times already, 2014 was quite the year for supergroups, particularly in metal. Killer Be Killed features the staple members from Mastodon, Soulfly, and The Dillinger Escape Plan, and their self-titled debut released in May. While there have been a few singles from the record, the strongest song has yet to be released in this format. Packed full of contrasts, the album closer features Troy Sanders’ whisper-like crooning in the verses before escalating into a foot-stomping thrasher during the choruses.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrGRwAvBKa0[/youtube]12. ÆGES – “Parasite”
Although the single was first released in 2013, “Parasite” appears on the Los Angeles group’s most recent album, which was unleashed to the world this past September. The hard-hitting rocker with a sludgy rhythm line is a phenomenal song, and the highlight of Above & Down Below.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NidMrBgCd6I[/youtube]11. Even Devils Die – “Epilogue”
It was the inaugural single from Even Devils Die, “The Dream”, that caught my attention, and kept it for quite some time, earlier this year, but “Epilogue” somehow tops its predecessor. The guitars are heavier, the vocal performance from Rachel Peloquin is even better, and the mood is darker overall. Even Devils Die has the potential of blowing up in 2015 if they keep this up.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVvl5i1xAdw[/youtube]10. Sleepwave – “Through the Looking Glass”
Former Underoath frontman Spencer Chamberlain decided to continue making music after the group parted ways, but his new endeavor is quite a departure from the post-hardcore that he became so well-known for. Sleepwave’s debut is more akin to the industrial acts like Filter that ruled the ‘90s, and its lead single is an accurate portrayal of Chamberlain’s new, and arguably improved, sound.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYT_qBIwcpw[/youtube]9. Theory of a Deadman – “Drown”
Theory of a Deadman may have been discovered by Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, but the Canadian modern rockers have eclipsed many of their peers with the lead single from their latest effort. The monstrous guitar line is bound to have you humming along, and lyrically the track is a refreshing departure from much of the band’s previous content.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKZ2PLTPYP8[/youtube]8. Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil – “Only a Ride”
Steve Taylor has been a household name in Christian music for decades now. While his latest musical project features some long-time collaborators, this is the first time they’ve all played together in this capacity. The opener from the group’s debut full-length is an upbeat, feel-good alternative rocker, with hints of punk thrown in here and there.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pgyvfNEC7s[/youtube]7. Bush – “Loneliness is a Killer”
Their debut Sixteen Stone will always be the best record from post-grunge forerunners Bush, but “Loneliness is a Killer” rivals any of the UK natives’ top hits in terms of staying power. The track is not only as heavy as the band has ever been, but the electronic parts also give it an edge. It’s a shame that this staying power was lacking on much of Man On The Run; otherwise it could have been in the running for album of the year.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc9h58vTCP8[/youtube]6. Royal Blood – “Figure It Out”
“Figure It Out” is the first song that the UK rock and roll upstarts ever recorded, but it wasn’t unveiled to most of the world until its release as the lead single from the duo’s debut full-length earlier this year. The riff-heavy track is insanely groovy and just lots of fun in general.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhgVu2lsi_k[/youtube]5. Black Stone Cherry – “Never Surrender”
Lyrically “Never Surrender” is a battle cry and a salute to all of the troops, past and present. As far as the music is concerned, this relentless hard rocker matches up with the song’s lyrical content quite well.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ELngYG3IU[/youtube]4. Black Label Society – “Heart of Darkness”
With a riff as distinct as it can be and a hardened edge that could only belong to Black Label Society, long-time heavy metaller Zakk Wylde showcases exactly what made him so well-known in the first place. Needless to say, it’s not surprising that “Heart of Darkness” proves to be one of the top songs of the year.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vusIkAJyUlk[/youtube]3. Nothing More – “Christ Copyright”
2014 was a breakout year for San Antonio natives Nothing More. The hard rock quartet signed with Eleven Seven Music, re-released their 2013 self-titled album, and was on countless tours throughout the country. “Christ Copyright” was the song that made me fall in love with the band last year, but it wasn’t properly released until this past summer, which is why I’m including it in my 2014 list. The uber heavy rocker shatters the stereotype of “hard rock”, and the bridge turns it up several more notches on top of that.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cxsTDnRN7M[/youtube]2. Low & Behold – “Some People”
Low & Behold is the new wave side-project of Demon Hunter’s Ryan Clark and Starflyer 59’s Jason Martin. This synth-heavy duo first surfaced in 2011 with a 7” single, but after nearly three years of silence, made their return with a phenomenal post-punk song which they quietly released for free through label Northern Records. It just doesn’t get any darker than this. The group’s debut full-length Uppers is slated for release in the beginning of next year, and if the lead single is any indication of the future, 2015 will be another big year for creative mastermind Ryan Clark.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Z-s5DLB4E[/youtube]1. Finch – “Anywhere But Here”
Post-hardcore pioneers Finch released their third full-length album, and their first in over nine years, back in September. With Back to Oblivion, the band doesn’t miss a beat. In fact, they may have released one of their strongest songs ever in “Anywhere But Here”, which is aggressive enough to please the long-time fans, yet catchy enough to garner them new ones. Every single time I listen to this song, I get the chills, as if it’s the first time I’m listening to it all over again.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0dXXNXOVSg[/youtube]I could rant on and on about all of the great music that released this year. Another fifty tracks from 2014 didn’t even make this list, all of which I thought were awesome. With more “______ of the Year” lists on the horizon though, it’s probably best that I omit those, for your sake and for mine. I personally have two more features on the way before the year’s end, and that’s before even taking into account what my peers have to say.
dude how did you come up with 50 songs? That’s awesome. I wouldn’t even know where to start. I also love that you put a few in there that I didn’t expect. very nice.