Shane Foley
Assistant Connector Editor
2013 May have been one of the craziest years in heavy metal. We have seen everything from band reunions, to band break ups, to reunions of reunions and to really, really long awaited band reunions. We’ve seen self-titled releases 24 years after the band’s first album (I’m looking at you, Dream Theater). We have seen melodic death metal bands go black metal, grindcore bands going thrash, and even metalcore bands going hard rock. Most of all, though, we have seen some great heavy albums. These 5 masterpieces exemplified the best of the year.
5. Aftershock – Motorhead
Motorhead deserves a nod on this list for the simple fact that they found it in their hearts to give us one more album in their condition. However, they didn’t just give us a mediocre album, they gave us another Motorhead banger that rocks as much as their early 80’s releases. The amazing thing about this release is that they are still evolving. All of the stuff on this record is straight old school metal, but they throw in some very thrashy stuff, especially on songs like “Heartbreaker” and “End of Time.” It sounds like somebody stuck Motorhead in a cryogenic chamber after “Ace of Spades” and woke them up to record this.
4. Everblack – The Black Dahlia Murder
If you were to look at deathcore or metalcore in general as fashion, The Black Dahlia Murder just released Gucci. Never before has deathcore sounded so sweet as it did on “Everblack.” There is a ton of technical prowess displayed on this record- it’s not just growling and blastbeats. This also may be lead guitarist Ryan Knight’s finest work. Check him out on the title track and “In Hell Where She Waits for Me.” Also, the music video to “Goat of Departure”- just watch it.
3. Surgical Steel – Carcass
The release of this album has resulted in several great things in the world of music. First, it got the band Carcass together again. Second, it reminded everybody that there still is a band called Carcass. Third, it is the perfect mix of death metal and thrash metal without the melodic overtones from “Heartwork.” Lastly, it caused my eardrums to bleed enormously, especially tracks “Thrash Abbaitor” and “Unfit for Human Consumption.”
2. 13 – Black Sabbath
I cannot praise this album enough. I mean, they’re Black Sabbath, with Ozzy. The fact that these guys could walk to the studio deserves applause. As it turns out though, they are apparently still capable of playing their instruments and writing amazing metal riffs. Ozzy still can handle a microphone and Gezzer Butler’s lyrics and bass lines still groove. However, what is perhaps most impressive about this album is that Tony Iommi can still bring the thunder with his amazing guitar riffs. Just listen to “End of the Beginning” and “The Loner.” I really wanted to make this album number one, simply for the fact that this classic lineup has reunited and can still put out great music, but there was one other work that I had to give the number one slot to.
1. Deceiver of the Gods – Amon Amarth
The words “best album” get thrown around a lot. At times they can be difficult to conjure, since it is such a lofty claim. However I find myself greatly liberated at this moment. “Deceiver of the Gods” is the best Amon Amarth album ever (in my humble opinion). The band members can still get it done, the riffs are on point and once again we are spoiled with another epic with swords and shields included. Amon Amarth is a peculiar band in that they are appealing in different ways. They belong specifically to the Viking Metal crowd, however they have been cited as death metal, and thrash fans, power metal fans and even metalcore fans identify with this great band. The good news is they all got a treat in this record. The title track is really thrashy, “As Loki Falls” sounds very power metal like and even doom metal fans might be impressed that Messiah Marcolin of Candlemass sings on the track “Hel.” However, I can’t talk enough about “Father of the Wolf.” I think it will be recognized as one of the best Amon Amarth songs, and if it is not I may cry.
Notable Mentions: “Dark Roots of Earth” by Testament, “The Dream Calls For Blood” by Death Angel, “Vengance Falls” by Trivium, “The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must be the Heart” by Sepultura, “Halo of Blood” by Children of Bodom and “Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold.
