Year: 2013
2013 was a great year for metal
indeed. Month after month, fans were bombarded with releases from their
favourite bands. There were no dearth for quality releases from big bands and
except for a couple of bands, all the others managed to live up to the hype
surrounding their releases. Another thing that must be mentioned about the
releases this year, is that it was a year for comebacks.
Big names that had been in slumber, arose from their hibernation and delivered
some amazing stuff this year. Due to the sheer number of releases, I was unable
to check out all the good ones. However, I did go through a substantial amount
of records and the following ones are the ones that I feel are truly the best.
#13 Tesseract – Altered State
After their critically acclaimed
debut full length 'One', the expectations for their second album were pretty
high. And following vocalist Dan Tompkins’s departure, a lot of people were
left wondering if his replacement would be able to match up to him. Ashe O’Hara
lays all such doubts to rest with his beyond amazing vocal delivery in their
second full length ‘Altered State’. This album is more melodic than their
previous outings, with atmospheric elements and peculiar arrangements adding to
the overall beauty of this record. This is
a delightful treat to all the fans of the band and I’m sure that it will appeal
to newer fans as well.
#12 Suidakra – Eternal Defiance
This is a band that has been
criminally underrated among both folk metal and melodic death metal
fraternities. Their 11th album ‘Eternal Defiance’ is an absolute mish-mash of Celtic folk and death metal elements that managed to abduct the listeners to an
enchanted and brutal version of the medieval times. This album contains some of
the most memorable melodies written by the band and though it may not be the
best pick from their big discography, it is a suitable contender for the title
nonetheless. Arkadius’s vocal work on this record is more powerful than ever
and the female vocals which are mesmerizing and contrasting to Arkadius’s
growls, add a whole new dimension to this record.
#11 Orchid – Mouths of Madness
This is an album that will make
one feel like it is the 1970's all over again with their brand of fuzzy, occult
influenced rock and roll. Though they proudly brandish their affection for the
old Black Sabbath, they also manage to have signs of originality in their
songs. Their occult themed songs are rendered in true 70's fashions by the work
of guitarist Mark Thomas Baker, who’s riff based song writing approach leaves a
very memorable impact. This is definitely a must listen for those who think
that the good ol’ days of fuzzed out rock and roll have ended.
#10 Leprous – Coal
These Norwegians have been hailed
as one of the best modern progressive acts and they offer enough reasons to
justify that in their new album, ‘Leprous’. Progressive metal with avant garde
elements has never sounded so enthralling. The band shows tremendous
improvement from their first full length from four years ago and delivers a very compelling progressive record this year.
There are balanced quotients of both experimental portions and
traditional metal, which makes ‘Coal’ a very interesting listen. After listening to
this record, I regret having missed
their first live performance in India this year.
#9 Watain – The Wild Hunt
Now this is an album that has
contrasting receptions from fans and critics alike. While some people lauded the new
direction the band takes on this album, others shunned it. I for one, embrace
the new Watain album in all its glory. They experimental efforts of this band
works quite well and frankly, their first attempt at song with only clean
vocals (‘They Rode On’) is one of the most addictive songs of the year, hands
down. What is appreciable about this album is the fact that it is different
from their other works and presents something fresh and new from Watain.
#8 Skeletonwitch – Serpents Unleashed
Out of the hordes of thrash metal
bands that have been forming post 2000, Skeletonwitch is one of the most tight
and original bands. After their amazing 2011 release, the lads are back with ‘Serpents
Unleashed’ this year. This time, they have increased the amount of black metal
elements substantially, to create a highly rabid sounding form of blackened
thrash metal. Short song lengths, great guitar work and originality, make this
one of the best thrash albums released this year.
#7 Immolation – Kingdom Of Conspiracy
The god fathers of the New York
Death Metal scene prove once again, why they are the best at what they do. ‘Kingdom
of Conspiracy’ showcases that consistency of quality, which the band has been
brandishing throughout its discography. Technical, brutal and yet catchy
song writing are few of the highlights on this one. Though the band hasn’t changed
much in terms of style, the album is very enjoyable and absolutely crushing.
This is one of the finest technical brutal releases of this year and a must buy
for anyone who adores this genre.
#6 Inquisition – Obscure Verses For The Multiverse
Speaking of things that do not
change, Inquisition came out with an album this year. And as can be expected
from the demonic duo, they haven’t changed in the slightest. Yet, maintaining
the same style, they deliver some crushing abrasive black metal that surpasses
most other black metal releases this year. Alternating between abrasive raw
black metal parts and dark atmospheric parts, this album entertains in every
way possible, without getting monotonous even over repeated listens. It is an
album that keeps the madness going right from the first beat and it lasts
almost a whole hour. The guitar work in particular, shows some influence from
classic heavy metal and it fits in well with the other black metal elements.
#5 Exhumed – Necrocracy
The masters of gore have risen
again, only to deliver something different this time: a classic riff based
death metal album that sounds very mature. This is not what many people
expected from the same band that created ‘All Guts, No Glory’. The grinding
edge that their songs carried is almost gone and its replaced by some very
meaty death metal riffs that are immensely addictive. The chaos seen in their
previous outings are replaced by structured and organized song writing which
gives the band a much matured feel. Instead of trying to sound as brutal as
possible, the riffs carry a certain tune to them, which invokes a natural sense
of brutality. The best thing about this album is that the band has not tried
too hard and has written something which comes to them very naturally. This is
felt in the music of the album as nothing feels contrived or forced.
#4 Toxic Holocaust – Chemistry Of Consciousness
This is quite possibly the album
that I had the most fun listening to in 2013. It is the same old Toxic
Holocaust sound with their punk influenced thrash metal, with black metal
leanings. Joel Grind plays a mean guitar on this record and his fast riffs are
hard to get out of the mind. He snarls and barks his way through this joy ride
of a record. What makes this album so fun to listen to, is the sheer simplicity
of it. There is nothing complex about anything on this record and everything is
done with a minimalistic approach. So if you are looking for a record that will
make you bang your head for no reason, then get this record and start thrashing
now!
#3 Preludium – Redemption
I sure am glad that I decided to
listen to this album before doing my year end list. This album came out pretty
late in 2013 and it is quite a masterpiece in blackened death metal. To
describe the music on this album, it is like an absolutely beautiful place that
is surrounded by roaring seas and thundering storms. Of course, the beautiful
place here refers to the subtle dissonant melodies on the guitar work and also
the deep philosophical lyrics of the songs, while the roaring seas and thundering
storms refer to the dark atmosphere, fast tremolos and crushing drumming. This
is the best polish death metal record of the year in my opinion and I urge
anyone reading this to give Preludium a try.
#2 Gorguts – Colored Sands
The first Gorguts album after
their reunion in 2008 came out this year and it does not disappoint. The
pioneers of technical death metal, take an avant garde direction on ‘Colored
Sands’. The result is a deeply layered record that enthrals completely. The
orchestrated arrangements come together to create a moody melodic brand of
death metal and sounds very ethereal. Listening to this album is an experience
in itself as the progressions and dynamics are sure to transport the listener
to a very surreal place. The genius of this album is that it challenges the
boundaries of genres and presents a form of technical death metal that does not
show off useless and unnecessary guitar work.
#1 Carcass – Surgical Steel
Many bands made comebacks this
year. But none of them did it like how Carcass did. After 'Swansong', the band was
thought to be dead. But after 17 years of staying off the radar, the band came
back with an album that would sit perfectly between 'Necroticism' and 'Heartwork'.
While people wondered which direction they would take with 'Surgical Steel',
Carcass added a bit of both melodic death metal and deathgrind to create the
perfect record. Though predominantly a melodic death metal album, songs carry a
grinding edge. Bill Steer’s guitar work is the highlight of the record,
especially when it comes to the grand solos. The melody quotient is kept to a
limit and it is not overdone. As quoted in my review, this album justifies the
name ‘Surgical Steel’ as it is a very precise and sharp record, which earns it
the top spot on my list. Welcome back Jeff and Bill. We missed you.
Honourable Mentions
Egypt – Become the sun
Autopsy – The Headless Ritual
Black Sabbath – 13
Sodom – Epitome Of Torture
Coffins – The Fleshland
Killswitch Engage – Disarm The
Descent
Ghost – Infesstisumam
Hypocrisy – End Of Disclosure
Suffocation – Pinnacle Of Bedlam
Wormed – Exodromos
Darkthrone – The Underground
Resistance
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