Top 15 EP's of 2014
.15.
Oh Tear the Veil
Oh Tear the Veil
progressive metalcore
This is a really good under the radar debut release from the 4 brothers of Oh Tear the Veil. Spirit-filled all the way, with solid versatile instrumentation.
.14.
Chorder
Warmonger
djent
Grooves for days... I personally don't like the term 'djent', but they do it extremely well.
.13.
Household
With Or Without
melodic hardcore/punk
This popular trend of emotional melodic hardcore is hit or miss. You're either really good or really bad, with me. Household is really good. They don't water down the Christian message to find acceptance, but mix the secular sound with profound lyricism perfectly.
.12.
Sleep Now
Cast Out
hardcore
For those of you who were fans of old Gideon. This should be your new favorite band. I personally love their sound. They have enough added melodic elements that perfectly blend together this style of in your face hardcore. They have been silent a while on Fb, but a great debut none the less.
.11.
Hashem
Martyr
death metal
Leaving the core out of things, and being straight metal. Solid death metal act with a really powerful sound. Second year in a row on this list. I would really love for them to experiment more and take things to the next level.
.10.
Mailman
Elder
metalcore
This is a band that everyone needs to know about. Elder went almost unknown in Christian music releases this year. I found them this summer and immediately featured them on the Summer Compilation. Huge potential for a small band that already has a popular sound.
.9.
Endure
Nothing Is Our Own
melodic hardcore
This was Endure's final release before disbanding. Such a solid band, ended with such a solid release. Really good melodic hardcore on faith, love, and hope.
.8.
With A Voice
Unending
post-hardcore
With A Voice sent us off with Unending, another band calling it quits with an EP release. Which is sad, but good, because this EP is superb. Raw, catchy, grown man post-hardcore, not for your average scene teen. So sad to see them go.
.7.
How The West Was Won
Wild And Waste
metalcore/metal
This release came as a surprise to me, I was waiting for them to release new stuff and didn't hear about a release until after Wild and Waste came out. So I can imagine it did the same for a lot of people. Wild and Waste is really good, from a very consistently good band.
.6.
CrossFire
The Catalyst
progressive metalcore
This is a release you most likely have not heard. This band took an extremely large jump this year musically with this release, and created a really solid EP. It's close to my top 5 for a reason, it's good.
.5.
Nomadic
Terminus
progressive death metal
Really diverse release. My cut off on length for releases was they had to be more than 2 songs. But this 2 song EP was just too good not to place.
.4.
O'Kingdom
Empires
progressive metalcore
O'Kingdom is another band that seemed to go under the radar in the Christian circut and released an extremely catchy EP, without trading awesome musicianship in the process.
.3.
All Have Sinned
Desecrate Their Graves
deathcore
Thee... heaviest and darkest EP release of 2014, hands down.
.2.
The Valenzetti Equation
Trial of Eden
progressive deathcore/death metal
Another extremely diverse metal EP to release this year. It's heavy, technical, experimental in all the right ways.
.1.
A Feast For Kings
Hell On Earth
progressive metalcore
Eric Gentry's legacy is forever implanted in our souls, his impact will be felt forever. Hell on Earth is a perfect release. AFFK worked extremely hard to release this EP, and they rightfully earned the best EP of this year. AFFK will continue on as the band XXI. Expect something huge.
Check out my Review of Hell On Earth here!
In honor of Eric Gentry. We love and miss you!
Honorable Mentions
Among Millennials - Idle Hands, Burdened Hearts - Lost In Myself, Consecrate - Holy, Holy, End Of Atlas - Immaturity, Essentials - Trials, Nazarene - Fade Away, Outstretch - Outstretch, Owls In The Attic - Old Souls, Young Hearts, Reveal Renew - Phrases For The Living, Revivalist - Brother, Wait Here - Empty Reflection
Other Notable Releases
Achaia - King, Anchor To My Soul - Demo, Armory Infirmary - Rest, Atrocities - Set Free, The Beckoning - Desolate, Between Now And Then - Collections, Beyond Vision - Fire Is Coming, BoughXBlood - Restoration, Captain Roselyn - Heartmatter, City of Auburn - Soul Searcher, Deadweight - No Place Like Home, Despite My Pride - Cold Blood/Simple Math, Elizabeth Crim - My Suicide, Embers Of Earth - Release the River, Emya - Viera II, ternal Covenant - The Storm, Eyes of Eli - Ignite, Heart of A Servant - Heart of A Servant, Hollow Vessels - Rumination, I Am Eternity - Restructure, In This World - Maiden Voyage, Lambs Like Lions - Lambs Like Lions, Me and the Trinity - Crux, Judgment Day x Strength - Split EP, Messengers - Deux Chansons, Nazarene - Heart and Mind, New Heart - Demo MMXIV, Parallax Withering - Disintegration, Poured Out - Inner Poverty, Reasons - Coffin, Remnants of Rome - Open-Hearted, Righteous Vendetta - Defiance, Servants x Endeavor - Split EP, A Sight To See - The Arrival, Soundcult - Mindset, Stop, Drop, & Burn - Face Down, Subtle City - Life After Death, Timoratus - Black, Timoratus - Death, Torn - Demo 2014, Vitriolic - The Road To Damascus, What We Do In Secret - The Migration, Whose Hearts Were His - Whose Hearts Were His, Windvent - Truth, Your Hands Write History - The Pentateuch
This year was a deep field full of talented EP releases! I want to thank all the bands for their hard work for the kingdom! If your band (or a band you know ) did not appear, be sure to contact God's Love For Hardcore throughout the year with your future releases to secure a submission for the annual Top 15 lists.
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