Animals as Leaders are always interesting to listen to, but I've never really been able to get into them as much as I want to.

Also, Chon reminds me a bit of Plini whose 2013 EP was one of my favorite instrumental things from that year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywlWkkNl19U). Hes only released one song so far in 2014 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu30pc1acE0) but it is also wonderful imo. Also, his album art is fantastic...

Someone actually knows Plini, that's a nice surprise o: I especially like Moonflower (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4f6RPN6bh8), from 2012, but everything that man creates is amazing. If you like stuff like Chon and Plini, check out Sithu Aye (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUTMM_R1-oY from 2014 to stay ontopic d:)! It sounds a bit more aggressive than Plini, but I think it's great nonethess.

Animals As Leaders are another story entirely. The compositions they write and play are interesting and creative, but it can also be a bit too much at times. While Chon and Plini are really good at what they're doing, they do not see their projects as a professional thing as much as Animals As Leaders. That's why to me, Animals As Leaders can sound a bit forced sometimes because they feel like they have to do something creative. But hey, that's just me ;)

Atmospheres - Atmospheres (http://atmospheres.bandcamp.com/) is also a good album, I thought it came out at the end of 2013 but apparently it came out in january this year ;D It's a bit more, ehm, atmospheric and ambient than the above bands, but that doesn't make it any less interesting I think c:

I've listened to the dual album (or EP or whatever) by Sithu Aye and Plini, but other than that, I haven't really listened to much of Sithu Aye's stuff. The song you posted is definitely something I'd be interested in listening to though so I will certainly check it out. Atmospheres also sounds pretty interesting so I will give that album a listen to.

Speaking of stuff that came out in January 2014, that I thought was from 2013, Periphery's experimental EP "Clear" came out this year (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ydpiDs2i0Q&list=PLH22-xSMERQp18O1-ZMBCGD8zXwcDa037&index=7). While I'm not the biggest fan of Periphery, when there is something this heavy that I actually find listenable, it gets a lot of listens from me.

Most of these are alternative rock and/or indie, with some pop albums. 

Bad Suns - Language and Perspective This is probably my favorite album of 2014, so far. 

NIghtmare and the Cat - Simple. I just found out about this band, and I really like them. 

Lana Del Rey - Ultraviolence

Michael Jackson - XSCAPE. 

These I don't like quite as much, but they still are good albums:

Magic! - Don't Kill the Magic

The Colorist - The Colorist

Passenger - Whispers

Honorable Mention: 

5 Seconds of Summer - 5 Seconds of Summer. I wouldn't check this out unless you like boy bands and One Direction. 

I have a friend who is the biggest fan of Periphery one can imagine. While I'm not quite into them like that, I listen to them from time to time. Especially their Periphery II album (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfeUJ6lxb88) gets quite the amount of plays.

Apparently, Opeth will release a new album this year and they've already released the first song of this new album (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHq9yMXw3iA). It's the other side of progressive, but I like it a lot and maybe you will too? :)

These are the 3 that i recommend so far this year:

I've listened to Opeth before and while they are good,I don't know if they are the type of thing that I would listen to on a regular basis. Their style is certainly interesting, I just have a hard time getting behind their vocalist. I do like some of their songs though, so I will check out the new album when it releases.

Ah, Killer Be Killed is another thing I forgot about from this year. I'm a big fan of Greg Pusciato's (Dillinger Escape Plan) vocals so while I'm not the biggest fan of the other guys' styles of singing (or yelling) I can cetainly get behind what they are doing. KBK isn't as musically interesting as Dillinger to me, but they are still enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you for this and this.

Lykki Li kind of reminds me of Lana Del Rey, and Trouble in Paradise is very good as well.

sabaton : heroes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGtEH1i78sI

Power Metal at its finest, loud, fast and with a sense of glory.

No problem, those have been my top two picks for the year so far for sure.