To name the best albums of the year has not been easy, and to rank them to top 20 was even harder. After a year of pounding our eardrums with devastating metal, it should be safe to say that metal in 2013 is richer, more creative and ever more eclectic.
20
Rob Zombie – Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor
Universal Music
Cover art: Rob Zombie, Alex Horley, Nineteen76Designs
An absolutely incredible ground-shaking album. A cocktail of metal and dark rhythms that is bound to get fists pumping and voluptuous hips shaking. One of Zombie’s best to date.
By Andy Starz
19
Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats – Mind Control
Rise Above Records
A dirty, muddy piece of work with the precision of a knife. For those wondering what it would be like if Jimi Hendrix joined a psychedelic doom band, this is probably it. Steeped in mystery and with more than a subtle nod to a love of epic America, this album transforms itself as it evolves while managing to stay true to the roots. The stand out track really is the first, ‘Mt. Abraxas.’ I defy anyone not to groove to it.
By Lucy Grogan
18
Dregen – Dregen
Universal Music
Dregen was able to simultaneously work on this solo album and ‘Horns and Halos’. It seems most musicians would collapse under the pressure but Dregen is not ‘most musicians’. With songs like ‘Flat Tyre on a Muddy Road’ he knocks you flat on your ass with mastery of both instrument and word. Amazing.
By Andy Starz
17
My Ruin – The Sacred Mood
Rovena Recordings
Cover artist: Kayleigh Brookes
A favourite among the fans of DIY bands, My Ruin have taken themselves, and us, to the stratosphere. The mighty combination of Mick’s ball-busting riffs and Tairrie’s bellowing roar makes for succulent listening. It’s sexy, brutal and clever. Ending with a cover of Elvis’ ‘Trouble’ that is so deliciously evil the Devil himself would surrender, My Ruin have only served to prove that against the mainstream, creativity always takes the victory. When this goes on tour, you’re going to want to be in the front row.
By Lucy Grogan
16
Kalmah – Seventh Swamphony
Spinefarm Records/Universal Music
Cover artist: Juha Vuorma
Finnish death metal band Kalmah has released another exceptional album in the form of their 2013 offering “Seventh Swamphony”. Packed with aggressive drumming, that titillating growl that makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and dramatic guitar riffs, this album will enchant your ears and melt your speakers at the same time. The title track launches you right into the fray with no messing about and no questions asked while “Hollo” is slower, suitably swampy and appealing in its melancholy and memorable melody. Keyboards are used to great effect throughout the album, in “Wolves on the Throne” for instance, and final song “The Trapper” concludes things nicely with its grandeur, pounding drums and soaring guitar riffs. All in all a solid example of death/swamp metal and a fine contribution from this much-loved band.
By Amy Van De Casteele
15
Kadavar – Abra Kadavar
Nuclear Blast
Cover artist: Joe Dilworth
I wouldn’t ever call a band simple but Kadavar’s melodic simplicity shines through, and to their credit they run with it, opting for creating something deeper with a dirty nod to southern rock despite being from Germany. Groovy and decorated with heavy as hell bass lines, this is the album you stick on at a party, and the you’ve got yourself an all-nighter. It really is the simplicity that works with this album, nothing is overdone but everything is crafted.
By Lucy Grogan
14
Hardcore Superstar – C’Mon Take on Me
Nuclear Blast
Cover artists: Hardcore Superstar, Micke Johansson, Nippe
Fun. Loud. Won’t let you sit still. One more worthy addition to the already impressive Hardcore Superstar discography. Warning: May make you feel you are above the law.
By Andy Starz
13
Pestilence – Obsideo
Candlelight Records
Cover artist: Santiago Jaramillo Muñoz
The Pestilence’s debate will go on forever. While some just want them to come back to the primal brutality of their classic opus “Consuming Impulse”, others applaud the Dutch quartet’s decision to explore new musical territories. Regardless on which side you are, one thing is true their seventh album, “Obsideo” is a welcoming addition to the collection of any extreme metalhead out there. For sure, this is not their finest moment, but the intelligent song structures, twisted drumming and riffing and Patrick Mameli’s agonizing screams are a delight to the ears. Definitely a commendable effort that leaves craving for more.
By Ramon Martos Garcia
12
Powerwolf – Preachers of the Night
Napalm Records
Cover artist: Matthew Greywolf
This band reminded me few years ago that metal is not meant to be boring. Too many times it is but it can be a bit foolish also (like Ghost’s case) yet extremely professional. As the album title suggests, there is lots of preaching in the album just like in every Powerwolf album. I really hope they don’t try to evolve too much ’cause the concept works here perfectly.
By Pete Alander
11
Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals – Walk Through Exits Only
Housecore Records/Season Of Mist
Cover artists: Kate Richardson, Philip H. Anselmo, Vance Kelly, John Anselmo
A nice spot of thrashing about from Mr. Anselmo makes for a truly heavy album. It’s nothing you haven’t heard before apart from ‘Music Media Is My Whore’ which blasts the many-tracked vocals and clean/crunch riffs as loud and destructive as a gatling gun, but still, this is a very exciting treat. It’s a 40-minute orgasm for the mentally deranged complete with enough pinched harmonics and bass booms to terrify.
By Lucy Grogan
10
Killswitch Engage – Disarm the Descent
Roadrunner Records
Cover artist: Mike D’Antonio of DarkicoN Design
On April 2nd 2013, Killswitch Engage released their eagerly awaited 6th studio album through Roadrunner Records, the first offering with reinstated vocalist Jesse Leach who hasn’t performed with the band since their 2002 album “Alive or Just Breathing”. Described by Leach as being “the fastest Killswitch record ever”, Disarm the Descent combines his pull-out-all-the-stops vocal stylings – which range from yelling to deep-throated growls and everything in between – with the band’s signature melodic hooks and overall heavy, grinding metalcore sound. Critics have reacted positively to this latest offering, dubbing it the best album the band has produced in years; it seems Killswitch have pulled off the tricky feat of reintroducing a singer with verve and style – and the results speak for themselves.
By Amy Van De Casteele
9
Crashdiet – The Savage Playground
Spinefarm Records/Universal Music
Cover artist: Carl-André Beckston
Long live these kings of rock’n’roll! This year they gave us an energetic, powerful and charged with emotional content album fueled by sheer grit, and held up by magnificent songwriting. Full of catchy masterpieces and more than worth listening to over and over again.
By Andy Starz
8
Ghost – Infestissumam
Loma Vista Recordings/Universal
Cover artist: Zbigniew M. Bielak
Most easily the best album of the year. No fillers here, everything works like a charm. Also their EP which included a cover of Roky Erickson’s ‘If You Have Ghosts’ is simply amazing! Nobody makes music like Ghost today. I can hardly wait for the next album.
By Pete Alander
7
Michael Monroe – Horns and Halos
Spinefarm Records/Universal Music
Bearing in mind that the band consists of Michael Monroe, Sami Yaffa, Dregen, Steve Conte and Karl Rockfist it is was unlikely that this album would be anything short of amazing. ‘Horns and Halos’ is a varied and rich album, a product of sophisticated songwriting and meaningful lyricism. Michael Monroe proves time and time again he is a living legend in a league of his own.
By Andy Starz
6
Dillinger Escape Plan – One of us is the killer
Party Smasher Inc./Sumerian Records
Cover artist: Brian Montuori
Great title, great album. Put together like a Dr. Frankenstein monster but twice the size, this is truly a behemoth. It harbours an overall dark sound, especially on tracks ‘When I Lost My Bet’ and ‘Magic That I Held You Prisoner.’ Peppered with trademark ‘mathcore’ tight-knit stabbing and soaring vocals, a lot of thought has clearly gone into this particular album. Beware listening in public. You may hurt someone.
By Lucy Grogan
5
Children of Bodom – Halo of Blood
Nuclear Blast
Cover artists: Sami Saramäki
Dedicated Children of Bodom fans are almost guaranteed to be thrilled by the band’s latest release – and 8th studio album – “Halo of Blood”. Put out by Nuclear Blast Records the album epitomises what has made COB so popular; that winning combination of driving melodies, powerful growling vocals and axe-master Alexi Laiho’s masterful riffs. The title track “Halo of Blood” is Alexi’s favourite but personally I lean toward the forceful but beautifully melodic “Scream for Silence” and the fast and furious “All Twisted”. Marking an exceptional and long-awaited return to form after the last 3 rather mediocre albums, “Halo of Blood” is a melo-death metal success and will keep COB fans champing at the bit for future releases.
By Amy Van De Casteele
4
Ihsahn – Das Seelenbrechen
Candlelight Records
Cover artist: Ritxi Ostariz
As one of the most important musicians of his generation, Ihsahn always surprises. His constant desire of pushing the limits of what extreme music can do, is something very palpable on each of his solo albums, most especially on ‘Das Seelenbrechen’. This is probably his most introspective and experimental recording to date. Boundaries seem not to exist anymore in his creative mind. He easily goes from muscular heavy moments to eerie and disconcerting experimentation. ‘Das Seelenbrechen’ is not an album primary designed to headbang but to reflect about the conflicting aspects of the human psyche. Listen carefully and you will probably find many things you didn’t know about Ihsahn… and yourself.
By Ramon Martos Garcia
3
Black Sabbath – 13
Vertigo Records
Cover design: Zip Design
Sculptor: Spencer Jenkins
Metalheads the world over rejoiced at the news that eponymous band, Black Sabbath, were releasing a new album – and boy was the aptly named “13” worth the wait. Combining the long-established vocal and bass skills of Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler respectively the album’s many attraction for me is undoubtedly rock god Tony Iommi and his incredible riffs. Produced by 7-time Grammy Winner Rick Rubin, the deluxe edition of the album boasts 11 tracks, 5 of them running to more than 8 minutes in length, and marks a return to the classic Sabbath sound which has pleased a great many fans and most likely won the band some new ones.
By Amy Van De Casteele
Without a doubt, this was the most anticipated album of the whole decade. Were Ozzy, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi, capable to recapture Black Sabbath’s iconic sound without their original drummer, Bill Ward? The answer is Yes and No. However, that’s not what really matters. What “13” really proves is that these sexagenarian rockers can still conjure memorable tunes, monolithic riffs and produce music that feels powerful, urgent and timeless. After 40 years in the business and many decades of abuse, being able to do that is… a miracle.
By Ramon Martos Garcia
2
Amorphis – Circle
Nuclear Blast
Cover artist: Tom Bates
If you love melodic death metal – and I clearly do – then Amorphis’s 11th studio album “Circle” is a no-brainer entry on this list. Blending stunning melodies with Tomi Joutsen’s soul-shattering vocals, pounding riffs and eloquent themes this record is both beautiful and brutal and deserves to be played over and over again. Described by many fans as one of the band’s “best albums ever”, “Circle” doesn’t have a single disappointing track but “Hopeless Days” and the hauntingly beautiful “Mission” are arguably two of the most addictive.
By Amy Van De Casteele
Finland’s Prog Metal architects, Amorphis, rarely disappoint. After more than two decades in the game, the band is still able to produce music that sound fresh and vibrant. Their 2013 full length, “Circle”, is a undeniable proof of that. Part of the album’s success relays in the infectious quality of their compositions and on the work of producer Peter Tagtgren (of Hypocrisy fame), who provided the band with a heavier sound. Thankfully this didn’t mean they had to leave behind their melodic prowess and progressive leanings. On the contrary, “Circle” seems to assure us that this six-piece collective is going strong and ready to go further in their musical evolution.
By Ramon Martos Garcia
1
Carcass – Surgical Steel
Nuclear Blast
Cover artist: Ian Tilton
Did you see this record coming? Maybe yes, maybe not, but hat doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that this gargantuan sonic statement was worth the 15-plus years Carcass made us wait for new studio material. Bassist/vocalist, Jeff Walker, and his compadres took some of the best ingredients of their previous albums (including the underrated “Swan Song”) and developed music that still feels original, modern, relentless and most importantly, vital to old and new generations of fans. Let’s hope this is just beginning of equally great things come…
By Ramon Martos Garcia
What a comeback! Nice solid album full of aggressive sh*t! I listened to Heartwork a lot in its time and considered it as good as Carcass could get so I had my doubts on this one. I had nothing to worry about. ‘Surgical Steel’ proves Carcass to be like an actual carcass, get’s more moist and rotten when getting older.
By Pete Alander
