This year has been a ridiculous one for metal releases, and albums from all sordid corners of the genre have made waves. In the last 12 months, Black Sabbath and Avenged Sevenfold both hit the #1 spot in the UK and American album charts, rubbish bands became very good and bands you've never heard of released masterpieces.
There are too many to count, but given the music-loving public's insatiable appetite for lists, here it is. Forget what anybody else says – these are the top 10 metal albums released in 2013.
1. Vulture Industries – The Tower
'The Tower' melds melodramatic vocals with off-the-scale progressive noodling and a smattering of insanity, making for one of the most absorbing soundscapes you’re likely to find anywhere. Think DevinTownsend eating Mastodon. It's not easy to understand, but once you do, this is genuinely the most rewarding album of recent times. A classic.
2. Heart Of A Coward – Severance
Trumping just about everything else in the British metal scene, 'Severance' is the audio equivalent of a sledgehammer to the knackers. Uncompromisingly brutal yet brilliantly intelligent, the intricate riffing on the title track contrasts perfectly with the knuckle-headed belligerence of Deadweight. Clean vocals scattered throughout make for an intense, luscious experience.
It's Carcass. It's their first album in 17 years. And it's bloody brilliant. Focusing more on melody, while still retaining the pure evil of their sound, the guitar harmonies on Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System stink of ‘90s Gothenburg, while the punishing gallop of Captive Bolt Pistol is a complete thrash-fest.
Consistently referred to as the 'Best Live Band On Planet Earth', Crossfaith finally have the tunes to back that up. Eclipse sounds like the Prodigy after a night out on the piss, while the addition of female vocals on Scarlett is an instant winner. Metal has never sounded so undeniably, uncontrollably fun. Mosh, rave, repeat.
5. The Dillinger Escape Plan – One Of Us Is The Killer
This band doesn't know how to write a shit record. They're a multi-faceted, blindingly original force. Prancer mashes the ear-drums, Greg Puciato’s vocals on Paranoia Shields drip with Mike Patton-esque sleaze and the petrifying roar of “you smell like shit!” on Hero Of The Soviet Union is possibly the angriest thing to ever happen, ever.
After releasing two beige LPs, Bleed From Within pulled this gem out of absolutely nowhere. Throwing in hooks and grooves to rival Lamb Of God on songs like It Lives In Me and I Am Oblivion, 'Uprising' proves that the third time is, indeed, the charm.
As far as debuts go, 'Heart Of Oak' defies belief. Anciients have carved a sprawling, epic tome of progressive beauty, filling the void Opeth left when they decided to be a jazz band. Tunes like The Longest River will delight prog-heads while delivering the meaty goods for death metal enthusiasts.
'Shit'. 'Not metal'. These ridiculous accusations from elitists were smashed by Bring Me The Horizon's latest. Keyboard player Jordan Fish took the band to the next level, while Oli Sykes' vocals now make him the frontman he's always threatened to be. More Slipknot than deathcore, Bring Me The Horizon are set to destroy everything in the next few years.
Korn are back, and they're packing tunes to rival those of their heyday. Songs like Prey For Me and Love & Meth hark back to 'Untouchables' and 'Issues' and, combined with dub-step trickery, cleverly update the formula. Original guitarist Head's reinstatement is duly noted: these riffs are colossal.
'Grave Times' was one hell of a debut, but 'Daggers' annihilated it. Further experimentation with keyboards added depth, yet the band still stayed true to their gritty roots. Boasting monolithic choruses, astonishingly brutal drumming and production slicker than a lubed-up banana skin, the Defiled won't be ignored.
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