Here’s our top 50 albums of 2013. With so many amazing releases It was nearly impossibly to cut it down to just 50.
—
1)Gorguts – Colored Sands
I honestly wasn’t sure if we’d ever actually have another new album from Gorguts, but once I heard they were going to be releasing this I knew I had to get it once it was released. “Colored Sands” is hands down THE best technical death metal record to come out since Necrophagist’s “Epitaph”, the album hits you hard from the get-go and never lets up. “Colored Sands” is a must-listen for any tech death, or even just extreme metal fans, it’s without a doubt my 2013 album of the year.
2)My Bloody Valentine – m b v
Again, I wasn’t sure this band would ever release new music, it had been 22 years since the releasing of “Loveless”. “m b v” is one of the very few and rare albums to have come out in recent years that I can honestly describe as “flawless”. Everything from the beautifully haunting melodies, to the catchy (and somewhat addicting) swing-like hooks are perfect, it catches your attention early and never lets go. My Bloody Valentine have proven with this release that even after nearly 22 years, they haven’t lost a beat.
3)Deafheaven – Sunbather
It’s mind-blowing how much this album has blown up since being released, it even has Rolling Stone’s #1 “metal album of the year”, which is impressive considering how collectively unknown this band was before they released the album. Deafheaven are definitely a very unique band, mixing shoegaze with black metal influences, which creates a very dark and ambient tone. Deafheaven’s “Sunbather” is an absolutely stunning album, they’ve more than earned their spot towards to the top of this list.
4)The Ocean Collective – Pelagial
This band never ceases to surprise and amaze me, I wasn’t sure they’d be able to match their last two records, but they definitely proved otherwise. “Pelagial” is a 51+ minute long song split up into eleven parts, it is (in my opinion) a modern progressive metal masterpiece. The overall musicianship, and execution on the album is purely mind-blowing, “Pelagial” is a must-listen for 2013.
5)Steven Wilson – The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
Anyone that knows me knows I’m a massive Porcupine Tree fan, and even though I have enjoyed Steven Wilson’s first two solo albums, they just left me feeling slightly empty. “The Raven That Refused To Sing” is one of the five best albums Steven Wilson has written within all of his projects, it is also probably the most unique of his many releases. If you’re looking for something unlike anything you’ve ever heard before, go pick up this album, it’s a breath of fresh air in midst of all the mediocre music today.
6)Fleshgod Apocalypse – Labyrinth
I was almost wary about listening to this album at first, their previous release “Agony” was one of my personal favorites from 2011, and I was afraid they couldn’t surpass it. Boy oh boy was I wrong! “Labyrinth” is an absolute juggernaut of an album, it hits you repeatedly with some of the fastest, heaviest and most intense metal today, while constantly throwing in unexpected hooks to keep you grasping for more. Anyone familiar with this band knows of their classical and fantasy based influences, which is displayed in this album better than ever, the overall musicianship on this album is absolutely insane it’s not even fair. Fleshgod Apocalypse show us with “Labyrinth” they are one of the best modern metal bands out there, I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next.
7)Intronaut – Habitual Levitations (Installing Words With Tones)
Intronaut are slowly becoming one of my absolute favorite bands, fusing their odd but tasteful mix of sludge metal with a thick jazz-fusion influence, which makes for an incredibly stunning sound. “Habitual Levitations” is a very different album from anything they’ve previously released, for one there aren’t any death growl vocals, but even without them, Intronaut still manage to showcase an amazing sound and style. Sacha Dunable and Dave Timnick and masters at harmonizing, especially live, there aren’t very many vocal/guitar duos in modern music that can match them.
8)Protest The Hero – Volition
Even though I personally enjoyed “Scurrilous”, it seems like a lot of people were let down by the album, but for those people, “Volition” was a massive comeback from the band. Protest The Hero continue to show they are some of the most talented and musically diverse musicians in the business. Rody Walker is without a doubt one of the finest vocalists, showcasing a very wide range of vocal styles. Protest The Hero also continue to showcase their sense of humor with tracks like “Clarity” and “Underbite”. But the thing that sold me in the end were the performances from Jadea Kelly, who fans know from working with the band on their previous albums, her duet with Rody on “Drumhead Trial” deserves an award.
9)Daylight – Jar
“Jar” is without a doubt the best (full length) debut album of the year, bringing us back to a post-grunge sound. Daylight’s guitar and vocals duo Taylor Madison and Jake Clarke show off their incredible harmonizing on tracks like “Sheltered” and “Last October”. If you’re looking for an in-your-face, hard rocking album, I heavily recommend checking out “Jar”.
10)Carcass – Surgical Steel
17 years. That’s how long it’s been since Carcass released “Swansong”. However, “Surgical Steel” is proof that time has not taken toll on the gods of goregrind. In a year packed with amazing releases from old-school death metal masters like Suffocation, Deicide and Immolation, Carcass has not only given us one the absolute best albums of the year, but one of the best albums of their career
11)Lord Dying – Summoning The Faithless
Another amazing debut full length release from this year, Lord Dying give us a heavy hitting mixed with death, thrash and sludge metal influences. “Summoning The Faithless” pulls you in early with the track “I’m A Frightful State Of Gnawed Dismemberment” and never lets up. I’m must mention that the guitar work from C. Evans on this album is absolutely ridiculous, his tone is shrilling, and his solos leave you wanting more. My personal favorite song on the album, “Greed Is Your Horse”, leaves us with asking, “What would you pay for the price of your life?”
12)Broken hope – Omen Of Disease
And just like that, Broken Hope has risen from the dead to deliver a slab of old-school brutality that is punishing enough to rival more modern acts like Dying Fetus, Devourment and Cattle Decapitation. From start to finish, this “Omen Of Disease” is just a non-stop barrage of intensely brutal noise that has the power to destroy everything in sight.
13)Nails – Abandon All Life
Clocking in at just under 18 minutes, Nails has given us one of the most purely intense albums of 2013. Holy crap this album is brutal! From the start of “In Exodus” to the end of “Suum Cuique”, “Abandon All Life” is a wave of pure chaotic intensity. Nails truly know how to put the “violence” in “power-violence”.
14)Scale The Summit – The Migration
This is by far the best instrumental album to come out in the last few years, with the band going back to their “Carving Desert Canyons” sound. “The Migration” is the absolutely incredible work of four musicians who show that metal can be both heavy as hell and completely stunning at the same time. Scale The Summit’s “The Migration” is a breath of fresh air in a world where heavy music is usually dominated by generic breakdowns. The execution on this album is absolutely breathtaking, to where even if you’re not a fan of the style, you can’t help but admire and respect them for it.
15)Mouth Of The Architect – Dawning
I’m glad to see that this band are finally starting to receive some recognition, I’ve been a big fan of theirs for years, and I can more than say they’ve topped themselves on the new album. “Dawning” is an absolutely gorgeous album, it shows that metal can be dark and beautiful at the same time.
16)The Black Dahlia Murder – Everblack
I will never understand why this band gets lumped in with the deathcore crowd, because they are far from it. The Black Dahlia Murder were hurt with the loss of drummer Shannon Lucas, who brought such intensity and rawness into their previous albums, some people thought the band wouldn’t be able to come back from it, but the band have shown otherwise. Everblack to me is a far more mature album than any of their previous releases, it’s also much more melodic and just as technical. Trevor Strnad shows off his absolutely ridiculously wide vocal range, while Ryan Knight and Brian Eschbach show off some of the best guitar work in the band’s career. And i definitely must give props to their new drummer Alan Cassidy, he more than proved himself worthy on the new album.
17)Skeletonwitch – Serpents Unleashed
Skeletonwitch have once again knocked it out of the park. “Serpents Unleashed” is one of the thrashiest albums to come out this year, showing that Skeletonwitch are one of those rare bands that just seems to get better and better with each album they put out. And this album shows that they truly are masters of Soul-Thrashing Black Sorcery.
18)Balance & Composure – The Things We Think We’re Missing
Balance & Composure bring us another phenomenal album with “The Things We Think We’re Missing”. A lot of people said that this album wasn’t as “angry” as their first album “Separation”, but I think it’s because the band have matured a lot since then. Jon Simmons has become one of my personal favorite vocalists, his work on this record reminds me a lot of Thrice’s Major/Minor and Alchemy Index. But I think the best song on the album was “Keepsake”, which also features Anthony Green on vocals.
19)Coheed And Cambria – Afterman: Descension
Three or four years ago, I wouldn’t even have called myself a fan of this band, but the double album “The Afterman” completely changed my opinion on them. It’s insane how much this band has matured and improved musically, Claudio Sanchez has got to be one of the absolute finest vocalist/guitarist out there in any genre. I think my favorite song on the second half of the album has to be “The Hard Sell”, which touches on a subject I think everyone needs to hear. Coheed And Cambria are back and better than ever before with “The Afterman”.
20)Stray From The Path – Anonymous
This band somehow manages to get better and better witch every release, and they definitely show that with their new album. “Anonymous” touches on a lot of very personal subjects, from past relationships to personal freedom. Stray From The Path have always showcased an influence from the group Rage Against The Machine, and shows it more obvious than ever, but they manage to make it work perfectly for them. My personal favorite song from the album is “Scissor Hands”, which features guest vocals from Jason Butler of Letlive, the back and forth the two vocalists do on the song is both intense and perfectly executed.
21)Kylesa – Ultraviolet
Kylesa are without a doubt one of the best female fronted and sludge metal bands out there, and their new album even further proves that. “Ultraviolet” hooks you in early and puts you in a trance with some of the most beautiful, incredibly dark and ambient tones you will ever find in sludge metal. Laura Pleasants once again shows why she is one of the best female metal vocalists out there, “Ultraviolet” is by far her best performance so far.
22)Anciients – Heart Of Oak
I had never even heard of this band until they were announced to open for Tesseract on tour earlier this year, and after listening to their new album I have fallen completely in love with them. “Heart Of Oak” is a nearly flawless album, it holds your attention from start till finish, and it makes you want to listen to it all over again once it’s ended. If you’re a fan of Mastodon I heavily recommend taking the time to give this band and album a listen, you won’t be disappointed.
23)The Wonder Years – The Greatest Generation
The Wonder Years prove yet again why they’re perhaps the best pop punk band out there with the release of “The Greatest Generation”. It’s incredible how songs like “We Could Die Like This”, “Passing Through Screen Doors”, and “Dismantling Summer” have a very nostalgic feel, even though the album is less than a year old. Dan Campbell gives out his best vocal performance with this new album, as well as with his songwriting.
24)Revocation – Revocation
Holy crap, this album is just flat-out incredible. Period. Revocation also earns a ridiculous amount of cool points for their cover of Metallica’s “Dyers Eve”, contained on the special edition of the album. There is even a Hetfield style “YEEAAAAAAHHH” thrown in where there wasn’t one before. Everything from the blazing guitar solos to the thrash-like riffs and intense drumming, Revocation show us once again why they’re one of the better modern metal bands out there.
25)Cult Of Luna – Vertikal
Cult Of Luna are a band that can do no wrong, every album is nearly flawless, and “Vertikal” is no exception. “Vertikal” is a very dark and beautiful album, the incredible harmonizing of their three guitars and two drummers creates a stunning and atmospheric wall of sound. You won’t find anything else out this year like Cult Of Luna’s “Vertikal”, it’s a true work of art.
26)Amon Amarth – Deceiver Of The Gods
The Vikings have officially returned to destroy all in sight with their latest album “Deceiver Of The Gods”. This just sounds like an Amon Amarth through and through, and that’s awesome. They aren’t a band that is going to differentiate too much from their tried and true formula, and that’s what makes them so special. When you first buy this album, you know exactly what it’s going to sound like. Plus it’s great to see these guys finally get the recognition here in the US that they deserve, what with being on the main stage at this year’s Mayhem Festival. Oh, and reaching number 19 on the Billboard top 200 chart is kind of cool too I guess.
27)Paramore – Paramore
There were some people complaining about how the Self Titled isn’t really even a pop punk album, and that Paramore have changed too much and for the worse, I feel like those people haven’t given this album much of a chance. . I too was a bit worried about the new album after the Farro brothers were out of the band, but i was pleasantly surprised. Hayley Williams isn’t just a pop punk singer anymore, she is a fantastic vocalist. She displays incredibly beautiful singing on almost every song, but the tracks “Grow Up”, “Daydreaming”, “Still Into You” and “Proof” really stick out as some of her best vocal work in her entire career with Paramore.
28)Red Fang – Wales And Leeches
These guys have become one of my personal favorite bands over the last two and a half years, their previous release “Murder The Mountains” was such a great album, and their new one is no different. “Wales And Leeches” is flat out a fun record, it has everything you’d expect from Red Fang, from incredible grooves to melodic guitar solos and thick bass lines. Red Fang have given us yet another incredibly solid release with “Wales And Leeches”.
29)Exhumed – Necrocracy
Goremetal masters Exhumed are back with their new release “Necrocracy”, and while I was a little skeptical about them being able to follow up their “All Guts No Glory” album, I was pleasantly surprised. “Necrocracy”, while still keeping to the gore-related themes of the band, is a very different record from their previous releases, the songs are slower, more melodic, but are just as awesome. Exhumed have shown no signs of slowing down with this album, it more than holds up with the rest of their discography.
30)O’Brother – Disillusion
I am slowly falling more in love with this album with every listen. As soon as the album starts off with “Come Into The Divide” with a slow, hazy and atmospheric build up, it grasps you and keeps you in it’s trance. From the absolutely crushing triple guitars to the pounding basslines, and the beautifully dark and abrasive vocals of Tanner Merritt, it’s nearly impossible to find flaw with this album. O’Brother’s almost sort of post-prog meets doom metal influence meshed with their ambient post rock style creates for an eerie yet alluring sound.
31)Havok – Unnatural Selection
Havok are easily one of the best modern thrash bands in the scene right now. Their latest release “Unnatural Selection” is definitely one of the most solid pure thrash albums of 2013. Lyric-wise, track like “I Am The State”, “Give Me Liberty…Or Give Me Death”, and the title track just reek of old-school, late 80’s Megadeth influence. Meanwhile musically, these songs are performed at an almost Slayer-like intensity. With this being only their third full length album, it’s easy to see that Havok definitely have a very bright future ahead of them.
32)Death Angel – The Dream Calls For Blood
After three years of heavy touring all over the world, Death Angel, the mighty Bay Area thrash legends have officially returned to kick our asses with their latest offering “The Dream Calls For Blood”. This album shows that age hasn’t slowed these guys one bit. Filled with neck-wrecking tracks like “Left For Dead” and the title track, Death Angel shows us with this album that they’re still one of the very best in the genre.
33)Arsis – Unwelcome
The technical juggernauts are back and better than ever with the release of their new album “Unwelcome”. Arsis never cease to amaze people with their technicality and overall musicianship they bring on each and ever album, and a lot of that is due to James Malone, who continues to show why he’s one of the best vocalist/guitarists in extreme metal. “Unwelcome” is an album grabs you by the throat and never lets go, a must have for metal and Arsis fans alike.
34)Russian Circles – Memorial
Russian Circles over the years have shown that they’re one of the best instrumental bands in the business, and their latest album “Memorial” even furthers it. Russian Circles bring an almost gothic vibe to their signature ambient sound, to create a very beautifully dark and atmospheric vibe. Russian Circles did something on this record that they’ve never done before, and that’s have vocals on a song. Chelsea Wolfe guest appears on the title track, which just might be the best song the band has ever written.
35)Power Trip – Manifest Decimation
Crossover music at it’s absolute finest. Power Trip mix thrash, punk and hardcore influences to create a very intense, raw and chaotic sound. “Manifest Decimation” is probably the best crossover album to come out in recent years, it’s raw intensity and creativity can only be admired, even if you’re not a fan.
36)Touché Amoré – Is Survived By
“Is Survived By” is the sound of a band honing their chaos for maximum impact, and it reflects in Jeremy Bolm’s lyrical output. He shrugs at the idea of dying and being forgotten, offers gravely wisdom to Andy Hull on life in a band, and takes a hard look at the people in his life. Songs like “Harbor” crackle with Tyler Kirby’s throbbing basslines, but the real prize in musicianship goes to the duo of Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt on guitars, managing to make hardcore atmospheric, beautiful, and yet just as abrasive as ever. “Blue Angel” hums with graceful distortion, and the guitar tone on “Non Fiction” is lovely enough that Jeremy Bolm holds himself back for an intimate climb towards euphoria.
37)Defeater – Latters Home
I’ve been a big fan of these new wave hardcore bands for a while now, and I can say that Defeater are easily my favorite. Defeater bring such raw emotions with their new release “Letters Home”, the intensity they portray is enough to make the hair on your neck stand up. Lyrically this album ties in with their previous “Empty Days And Sleepless Nights”, following the life of the father of the family. “Letters Home” is an album that quickly grabs your attention, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, waiting to know how it ends.
38)Mammoth Grinder – Underworlds
“Holy crap”, is the only fitting way to describe my reaction when I first listened to this band and album. Mammoth Grinder are perhaps not only the loudest band I’ve ever seen live, but they are by far one of the most musically tight. The performance and energy the band brings, especially guitarist/vocalist Chris Ulsh is almost unmatchable. “Underworlds” is one of the most punishing metal albums to come out in the last couple years.
39)Killswitch Engage – Disarm The Descent
It has been eleven years since we’ve had a Killswitch Engage record with Jesse Leach on vocals, there was a ridiculous amount of hype for this album, and they certainly did not disappoint. The album opens up with one of the heaviest and possibly best songs the band has ever written in “The Hell In Me, and from then on it never once lets up. Jesse Leach is back and better than ever on this album, the vocal performances he gives on the tracks “The Hell In Me”, “”Beyond The Flames” and “No End In Site” are some of the best in his career, and guitar duo Adam D and Joel Stroetzel show off some of their best guitar work in the band’s history. Killswitch Engage are definitely back and better than ever with “Disarm The Descent”.
40)Alice In Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Alice In Chains are back with their second album since hiring their new vocalist, and after the huge success of “Black Gives Way To Blue”, not many people had hope that the band could match it. I can definitely say that Alice In chains have done even more with the new album. Once again Jerry Cantrel shows why he’s one of the best songwriter/guitarists in the business, “The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here” is everything you could expect from Alice In chains and more.
41)Dillinger Escape Plan – One Of Us Is The Killer
Saying this album is a big step up from their last release is an understatement. “One Of Us Is The Killer” is possibly the best album this band has ever written, it’s most certainly the best in terms of Greg Puciato’s vocal performance. While this album still has the band’s signature chaotic feel, it incorporates more melodies and at times, a slight ambient touch. Dillinger Escape Plan have definitely topped themselves with the new album, their rise in the metal scene is testament to it.
42)Battlecross – War Of Will
This was not a only a huge step up from their debut album in terms of production, but also the overall musicianship from the band. “War Of Will” is the epitome of what a heavy metal album should sound like, straight forward crushing drums and dueling guitar solos. Battlecross have definitely stepped up as a band and also in the metal scene, they were by far the best side stage band at this year’s Mayhem Festival.
43)Letlive – The Blackest Beautiful
Letlive are slowly becoming one of my favorite bands, they bring such a raw and chaotic intensity to their music and their live performance. “Fake History” is one of the best hardcore albums to come out of the last decade, so I had very high hopes for the new album. “The Blackest Beautiful” picks up right where “Fake history” left off, Jason Butler gives some of the finest vocal performances of his career on this album. The only flaw for “The Blackest Beautiful” is that the studio recording aren’t all that amazing, which is the reason for it’s low ranking on my list, but that doesn’t mean the songs themselves are anything less than fantastic.
44)Monster Truck – Furiosity
If you’re a fan of old-school classic rock groups such as Thin Lizzy and Creedence Clearwater Revival, then this band and album is for you. Monster Truck’s name speaks for themselves, they’re a straight forward bluesy rock n’ roll band, and their new album “Furiosity” will have rocking out the entire time. There isn’t a single boring song on the album, but tracks like “Sweet Mountain River”, “Old Train”, “Undercover Love” and “The Lion” stand out, and are incredibly bluesy, groovy and infectious.
45)Senses Fail – Renacer
I don’t think anyone was expecting an album like this to come from Senses Fail, they’ve always had a sort of post-hardcore sound, but “Renacer” is for the most part a straight up melodic hardcore album. Not only is “Renacer” completely different from any of their previous albums, but it’s a much more mature album, and a big step up from their last release. The tracks “Holy Mountain”, The Path”, “Mi Amor” and the title tack more than stand up with some of the band’s best material.
46)Suffocation – Pinnacle Of Bedlam
22 years after the release of “Human Waste”, Suffocation are still the kings of brutal death metal. And they prove this to us with their phenomenal new album “Pinnacle Of Bedlam”. Everything on this album, from Frank Mullen’s guttural roaring, to Terrance Hobbs’ excellent guitar work, sounds just amazing here. It’s an album where once it’s kicked you to the ground, it won’t stop stomping your skull until it’s over. It’s brutal death metal done right.
47)Twenty One Pilots – Vessel
It’s insane how much this band has blown up in the past year. When I saw them at the 2012 “Next Big Thing” festival they were the opening band, and no one had any idea who they were, and now just one year later they’re headlining venues like House Of Blues. “Vessel” is something completely different from anything you’ve ever listened too, mixing pop, hip hop, rock and alternative influences into a truly unique style. The songs “Holding Onto You”, “House Of Gold”, and “Migraine” will have you dancing and singing along, while songs like “Car Radio” will make you sit back and reflect. Twenty One Pilots are truly a unique group to say the least.
48)Sevendust – Black Out The Sun
Anyone that says that Sevendust have lost their edge obviously haven’t given this album half a chance, not only is it their heaviest album since Home, but I think it’s also their best album since then. “Black Out The Sun” is just a flat out a solid heavy rock album, Lajon Witherspoon also shows why he’s still one of the best vocalists in modern rock, especially on the tracks “Mountain”, “Till Death”, and the title track.
49)Clutch – Earth Rocker
Clutch have certainly outdone themselves on this album. “Earth Rocker” is an absolute huge step up from their last album, the groove and the flow on tracks like “Crucial Velocity” and “Mr. Freedom” are more than infectious. Neil Fallon is not only a fantastic vocalist, but his song writing on this album shows that he is still one of the best in the genre. “Earth Rocker” is flat out just a fun record, it’ll keep you movin’ and groovin’ from start to finish.
50)Dark Sermon – In Tongues
I have to give this band some credit, it isn’t very often that a band gets signed out of Florida, and that they actually deserve the hype. Dark Sermon’s “In Tongues” is one of those albums that’s incredibly hard to put into a single category, there are obvious signs of death metal and metalcore influences, while the lyrical themes are almost blackened influence. “In Tongues” is a fierce album from start to finish, songs like “Hounds”, “The Sheppard’s Staff” and the title track are incredibly heavy, but still manage to be tasteful. Dark Sermon are definitely one of the best metal bands to come out of Florida in more recent years, and it’s clear they have a very bright future ahead of them.
—
Since there are way too many great releases this year, I figured I’d have a top 10 honorable mentions.
Iron Reagan – Worse Than Death
Soilwork – The Living Infinite
Queens Of The Stone Age – Like Clockwork
Moving Mountains – Moving Mountains
Rotting Out – The Wrong Way
Scorpion Child – Scorpion Child
The Swellers – A Light Under Closed Doors
Norma Jean – Wrongdoers
KEN mode – Entrench
Weekend Nachos – Still
