10. An Autumn for Crippled Children – Try Not to Destroy Everything You Love This depressive work of art is one of the most unique albums of 2013. The album is a cold and beautiful take on depressive black metal as a whole, as it combines elements of everything from shoegaze, experimental, doom and atmospheric black metal. The synth pours over the cavernous sounds of agonizing howls, far away distortion of guitars and bass. For depressive black metal, the album is incredibly bright, like staring at the sun through a woodland forest. Pretty much Xasthur is to night as An Autumn for Crippled Children is day.
9. Sworn In – The Death Card
What can I say? The Death Card is just one of those pissed-off, teenage angst, kill your neighbours type of albums. Subjects of suicide, depression, misanthropy and death are drenched throughout the entire listen. The production is nothing short of perfect, mixing the hate-filled sounds with even more hatred. It really brings back those middle school nu-metal playlist mixes of Slipknot, Korn and Mudvayne. Sworn In, bravo, mates.
8. The Bunny the Bear – Stories
Now, before you guys go throwing the “fag” flag, these guys are probably one of the most unique bands in the genre. It’s a breath of fresh air to listen to The Bunny the Bear push the borders of what we call “metal” or “hardcore” with its own beautifully chaotic twists and turns. Stories finds the band going for its more synthpop and experimental rock roots, bringing around some new sounds and ideas. Great stuff from a fearless band.
7. Kvelertak – Meir
I put this album in my car and found my hair flowing back like a gust of wind was hitting my face, even though the windows were up. Black metal blast beat, hard rock guitar solos, and a righteous punk attitude, Meir is headbanging material at its finest. Tons of melodic moments give the album a distinct personality from other albums this year. It will even have your old man bobbing his head to these infectious grooves. Kvelertak’s Meir is the perfect soundtrack to any motorcycle California cruise.
6. Erra – Augment
I got turned on to these guys from my swim coach and instantly thought they rocked. The production gives the listener a view of snowy mountains and far away lands. The nice mixture of both clean and screams compliment their fusion of progressive metal and metalcore. In a world where blogspots are overrun by hordes of prog/core bands, Augment holds its ground. In other words the album became the reason why my iPod’s replay button doesn’t work too well. This is how metalcore should be made: adventurous, bold and breathtaking. Thanks, Coach Weintraub!
5. The Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us Is the Killer
This album is like a car accident that never lets up. The chaos is beauty to my ears and leaves me coming back for more. The Dillinger Escape Plan push their sound even farther with tracks such as the self-titled track, “Nothing’s Funny”, and “Crossburner” with hints of melody and chaos. The album is dramatic, but not to the point where it becomes cheesy. One of Us Is the Killer is a cruel, but rewarding mistress of experimental metal.
4. The Black Dahlia Murder – Everblack
This is straight-up evil music that is pure death metal bliss. Ritual was a tough record to follow up for The Black Dahlia Murder, so they turned on some throwback Morbid Angel and Suffocation and put out some gut-wrenching brutality that is the Everblack. The album brings back the themes and sounds that I craved in Nocturnal, but has the diversity in Ritual. The approach is straight a lot more straight forward from past releases and goes straight for your wretched neck. This is another great addition to The Black Dahlia Murder’s collection.
3. Born of Osiris – Tomorrow We Die ∆live
Another band that had a hard record to follow up from (The Discovery), Born of Osiris released probably their most adventurous record to date. The album is synth driven to the point where the synths alone on this album would make one of the most epic sci-fi movie soundtracks. Thunderous drums, prog-tech guitars and vicious vocals combined makes for one hell of an album.
2. letlive. – The Blackest Beautiful
This is, hands down, the best post-hardcore record of this decade. The Blackest Beautiful might even go down as one of the best punk albums in the last 20 years. Yes, I said it. Fight me. The album takes from many genres: everything from funk, soul, afrobeat, punk rock and hardcore. The album is diverse in every way and becomes addicting to listen too. This is the catchy, powerful and passionate album we’ve been waiting for.
1. Deafheaven – Sunbather
Sunbather is a beautiful painting that should be admired by listening from beginning to end. Deafheaven has successfully mixed the genres of shoegaze, post-rock and black metal perfectly. The lyrics are poetry and thought-provoking stories that really hit hard. Soaring guitars glimmer across the tracks over storm drums and howls of vocalist George Clarke. One track, “Irresistible,” brought tears to my eyes. The last time I cried was during the ending of the movie remake of Where The Wild Things Are. So many feels on this album. Elegant art. This is perfection.
Honourable Mention
Nails – Abandon All Life
Carcass – Surgical Steel
Gorguts – Colored Sands
Melt-Banana – Fetch
Death Grips – Government Plates
