Top 10 Metal albums of 2013

So 2014 is upon us which means it's time to take a look back at 2013.  Here are my picks for the top 10 metal albums of 2013.  I also will add some honorable mentions as well as the biggest disappointment of the year.  So here goes....

10. Amorphis - Circle

There are many naysayers when it comes to Amorphis...especially their most recent outputs.  I'm in the camp that feels as though this band has finally found their formula.  This album was the perfect follow up to The Beginning of Times.






 09. Isvind - Daumyra

This is a very special band.  Without sounding dated, this Norwegian band pulls off 90s Black Metal sometimes better than the classic bands.  This is a very enjoyable 40 minutes of solid Black Metal.







 08. Finntroll - Blodsvept

The trolls have done it again!  They have to be one of the most consistent bands in metal. Their latest output is just the quality Folk Metal you expect from these Finns.  One of my favorite bands in metal.






07. Carcass - Surgical Steel

This album is getting a lot of attention....both negative and positive.  I think this album is a riff-fest and the solos are done with absolute precision.  Yes this is Melo-Death Carcass but this is Melo-Death with balls!







06. Protector - Reanimated Homunculus

Martin Missy just basically stopped having a cover band of his own material and reformed Protector...albeit he's the only original member left and the only German in this German Thrash band.  This album is just kick ass Thrash Metal.






 05. Hell - Curse and Chapter

Another album by veteran musicians, Hell goes back to 1982 and is one of the bands in the NWOBHM movement.  Long time guitarist and producer Andy Sneap helped breathe life back into this band and their most recent output shows them not slowing down at all.






 04. Galneryus - The IronHearted Flag, Vol. 1: Regeneration Side

Ahhh....I just love Japanese Euro-Power Metal!!  All kidding aside, this is a REALLY good Power Metal band with extremely talented musicians.  This is what you should expect from a Neoclassical Metal band.  This is a re-recording of earlier works when they had a different vocalist.  This band has raised the bar for this genre of metal.





03. Feigd - The Dark Passenger

I love SognaMetal.  Although not exactly sounding like Windir or Vreid, this one man band from Sogndal, Norway creates epic Viking/Black metal that has it's own identity.  Probably the biggest surprise for me in 2013.







02. Atlantean Kodex - The White Goddess

I just recently found this band and all I can say is WOW!  This is epic old school Heavy Metal with solid songwriting and an epic sound make this band a new favorite of mine.








01. Argus - Beyond the Martyrs

This is Heavy Fucking Metal....nothing more, nothing less.  This is also a relatively new find for me and it just takes me back to the beginning of metal.  Riffs, twin guitar melodies, soaring vocals, and crafty solos this band epitomizes so called "throw back" metal.  This is the best album of 2013.

Honorable Mentions....

Some bands stood out from the crowd in 2013 but were just shy of making my top 10 list.


Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult - Necrovision

I know...that name!  Don't let the name fool you.  This is quality Black Metal from Germany.








Helker - Somewhere in the Circle

This band from Argentina is another of my favorite finds of 2013.  The singer Diego Valdez is a BEAST.








Motorhead - Aftershock

This is classic Motorhead.  This album is why they have lasted so long.







Children of Bodom - Halo of Blood

Children of Bodom actually did something that bands say they are going to do but never do...return to form.  This is the classic Bodom  we've been waiting over a decade for.  Great album!







Turd of the Year


Okay so now it is time for the biggest disappointment...or as I will call it....Turd of the year.  And this year it is a tie!!!

Black Sabbath - 13

Wow...I can't begin to tell you how disappointed I was when I heard this uninspired pile.  The riffs are regurgitated rather than a throwback.  It sounds forced and it's as if Rick Rubin wanted the band to re-hash a bunch of old classic Sabbath riffs and and throw songwriting out the window.  Oh and Ozzy is just a complete mess.  Sad.






Megadeth - Super Collider

You know, I've always defended MegaDave.  I actually like the post reunion Megadeth albums.  But this?  Risk was bad but this is just disappointing.  With the line-up that Dave has, why is he making this shit?  They can do better....I know it.






Well there it is, folks...my take on the Metal of 2013.  Let's hope that 2014 will be even better.