Top Ten Heavy Metal Albums of 2013
Top Ten Heavy Metal Albums of 2013
Jan 13
Another year, another round of releases, and therefore another end-year Top Ten list on another music blog. 2013 was a little weak in the teeth as far as head bang worthy albums, which is rather a continuation from 2012 as well, though there were certainly some stand-outs, a few diamonds in the rough, and perhaps a few surprises. The fact that this list has two debuts and two hard-rock releases featured on it is probably a good indicator of the last year in metal music, where the months seemed to blur together from lack of spectacular records to differentiate them. But enough old man grumbling, here are my personal top ten heavy metal albums of 2013, in no particular order at all, along with a few honorable mentions.
Heart of Oak – Anciients
With what was perhaps the strongest debut album of the last year, Vancouver’s Anciients put out a solid platter of blended metal. The band weaves its way through several styles to craft a progressive album of expansive, crushing songs. The best description would be something between Opeth, Mastodon, and High on Fire, all sounds that compliment each other quite well. The result is a great album with depth and texture to the songwriting.
Last Patrol – Monster Magnet
Aside from 2010’s Mastermind being a solid ‘back in the game’ for Jersey’s drug rock emissaries, it also strongly hinted at a reversal of course from the fist-in-the-air rock of the last decade and half back to the spaced out psych rock of yesteryear. Well, sure enough with the new album out we get in Last Patrol a full return to form and a damn fine serving of garage stoner band goodness. Spacey, crunchy, and fuzzy, just how I like my rock.
Youngblood – Audrey Horne
Like the previous entry, this isn’t necessarily a ‘metal’ release, but it rocks hard enough enough to be thrown in for good measure. And besides, when you’ve got a band comprised of members from Enslaved and Gorgoroth, the metal category is certainly open to it. The songs are mostly straight forward hard rock, with the requisite few tracks sporting some ballady-ness. Nearly all the tracks are strong enough to stand on their own, which makes for a pretty solid release. Also, see if you can’t get the riff to “The Open Sea” stuck in your head for days on end.
Ænigma – In Vain
Like the rest of the metal scene this last year, melodic metal had a so-so altogether offering. There were a few choice albums, like Omnium Gatherum’s Beyond and Darkane’s Sinister Conspiracy, but the best of bunch would have to be the epic and well-crafted effort of In Vain’s Ænigma. The songs are big evolving pieces of textured music that swing effortlessly though grave howls, soaring clean melodies, and crushing waves of riffs. The progressive nature of the songwriting makes the whole affair flow expertly and makes for an engrossing and very satisfying listen, many times through.
Sister – In Solitude
While there is certainly no shortage of ‘retro’ hard rock and metal to be had in the market nowadays, a handful full rehashers manage to rise above the herd and stand out on their own in a good way. One such band is In Solitude who, instead of reaching back to first primal hints of metal in Sabbath or harkening to the psychedelic wanderings of Hawkwind, choose instead to direct their idol worship to the altar of Mercyful Fate. Sister is a haunting, epic revival album soaked with despairing vocals and hook-laden riffs, and while the band is stopping short of offering anything truly new and unique, what they are doing is done quite well indeed.
Spiritual Migration – Persefone
The entire Scandinavian melodic death metal scene has been getting rather stale for some years now, you can look to this year’s releases such as what Dark Tranquility and Darkane put out for evidence. Which is why it has been a breath of fresh air to see some of the newer arrivals weave the sound into more progressive trappings, taking the bits and pieces of it and expanding on a much-too-tired formula. Band’s like Mors Principum Est and Omnium Gatherum (who themselves put out a very solid album this year with Beyond) are shining examples of melo-death being approached from fresh angles, but Persefone really had something special with their Spiritual Migration album. The record flows beautifully through well crafted songs and results in an emotional journey that can amaze just as easily as it can crush.
Surgical Steel – Carcass
In a year characterized by mediocre releases, most metal listeners were left waiting for a true diamond to shine through the rough, and the comeback album from re-activated melodic death metal godfathers Carcass was certainly what many headbangers had in mind. Surgical Steel had quite a bit to live up to; not only was it the reunion offering of a band held in near-legendary status among the metal community, but it also had to overcome the band’s rather lackluster former swansong album, Swansong. While the resulting release was not a mind-blowing or truly spectacular affair, it was a damn solid platter of old school death metal done right.
The Inheritance – Witherscape
There are reasons people get excited whenever there’s a new Dan Swanö project in the works, and The Inheritance is absolutely one of them. Along with Ragnar Widerberg, the duo crafted an excellent progressive metal record with a fresh sound and memorable songs. The music can be as laid back as it can be deathly crushing, and Swanö’s vocal range plays a large part in adding a unique character to the album. Witherscape’s first album is definitely one the ‘meatiest’ record of the year, in terms of being able to sink your teeth into something over several listens; hell, I still can’t stop playing it.
Sunbather – Deafheaven
Speaking of being able to sink your teeth into an album, Deafheaven’s Sunbather damn well requires you to sink your mind into it. I’m sure it falls into one of the many ‘post-’ categories, be it of the black metal variety or something else entirely, all I can say is that it is a deep, expansive record that demands sitting down to for a full listen. You’ll often hear the term ‘emotional journey’ thrown onto certain albums, and this is one of the few times I would say the flattery would be justified. The music sinks to listful lows and rises to scathing highs in a constantly flowing soundscape, taking the listener on a journey well worth the time and experience.
Soma – Windhand
When the opening track to an album is a full 30 minutes, you know you’re in for an interesting ride. Soma is a giant, lurching, beautiful beast of a record; it’s haunting, and ethereal; it is at times claustrophobic and crushing, and at other times boundless and uplifting. Windhand certainly does not travel at a fast pace, but the sludge-seeping dirge they march to is a richly textured one that a listener can fall into and get lost for an hour or so.
Buy Soma on Amazon
Honorable Mentions:
Goatess – Goatess
Satan – Life Sentence
Kvelertak – Mier
Obscure Sphinx – Void Mother
Summoning – Old Morning’s Dawn
Gorguts – Colored Sands
Omnium Gatherum – Beyond
Skeletonwitch – Serpents Unleashed
SubRosa – More Constant than the Gods
Altar of Plagues – Teethed Glory and Injury
