The 10 Best Metal Albums Of 2014

9. Insomnium – Shadows Of The Dying Sun

Source // www.hithefloor.com

Insomnium write Doom-inflected, Melodic Death Metal recalling the finest moments of Dark Tranquility and Amorphis and Shadows Of The Dying Sun is a work of genius in an overcrowded genre.

Darkness, sorrow, loss and pain are themes Insomnium return to time and again but the music’s often anything but depressing. Moments of magisterial beauty and soaring leads compete with frenetic Death Metal riffs and deep, growling vocals to create a balanced and mesmerising sound.

Achingly beautiful, the album’s highlight arrives mid-way through. “The River” is a tour-de-force of chaos and artistry; brute force and subtle melody colliding at often breakneck speed.

In an age where albums are seldom devoured whole, this is one album that demands your full attention for its entire duration.