Pistol's 2013
It was definitely a great year for music, most of my anticipated albums did not disappoint and some actually exceeded my expectations beyond what I could even imagine. I also was lucky renough to cross off one of my bucket list items and see both Chevelle and Alice in Chains play in Calgary this past summer. Hope next year is just as awesome. 26 is my EP of the year and 25-1 are ranked LPs. |
| 25 |  | Helioscope
Noir
EP OF THE YEAR: I like when a new band surprises me, but I honestly didn't expect it to be from a
Sputniker's own band. Osmark86 and his band play a glorious brand of metal. It's
got the immediacy of a band like The Ocean, mixed with the patience of a band like
Isis. "Pillars" was stuck in my head forever and is a top tier song to come out this
year. My favorite EP from 2013 and there isn't a second's hesitation in labelling it as
such. |
| 24 |  | Mouth of the Architect
Dawning
Highlights: "Sharpen Your Axes" (Post-metal) |
| 23 |  | Run The Jewels
Run The Jewels
Highlights: "Dfdn" (Hip-Hop/Rap) |
| 22 |  | O'Brother
Disillusion
Highlights: "Perilous Love" (Alternative Rock) |
| 21 |  | Eminem
The Marshall Mathers LP 2
Probably his best album to come out since The Eminem Show, still had some weak
spots but very solid. Highlights: "Rap God" (Hip-Hop/Rap) |
| 20 |  | Ra
Critical Mass
Another great comeback album, brings back what I loved about them in the first
place. Very nostalgic listen. Highlights: "Running Blind" (Nu-metal, Hard Rock) |
| 19 |  | Alice in Chains
The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
Could very well be the weakest AIC album to date, but that does not mean it's bad.
It's just unfortunately compared to some truly amazing albums. The band sounds
just as comfortable as before with the new singer and I can't wait to see what
they have left. Highlights: "Voices", "Low Ceiling" (Grunge, Alternative Rock) |
| 18 |  | Steven Wilson
The Raven That Refused To Sing
After sucking dick for the last 3-4 years, Steven Wilson reminds us all what he's
capable of. He's so "on" in this album it's ridiculous, practically every song is
memorable. Highlights: "Drive Home", "The Pin Drop" (Progressive Rock) |
| 17 |  | Soilwork
The Living Infinite
Reminds you why metal can be so goddamn glorious. Highlights: "This Momentary
Bliss" (Melodic Death Metal) |
| 16 |  | Foals
Holy Fire
"Inhaler" and "My Number" are some of the catchiest fucking songs I've heard this
year. Seriously how much groovier can a song get? Unfortunately, the album didn't
give me more of that but it's got enough good songs to make listening to this album
pleasant and not a chore. (Indie Rock) |
| 15 |  | Birds of Tokyo
March Fires
It's tough to give this album its due when I spent so much time raving about
Karnivool this year. I still do like this band and this album is another solid outing for
them. It's incredibly soothing and easy to listen to if you're open to a more
conservative and safer type of rock. Highlights: "Boy", "Sirin" (Alternative Rock, Indie Pop) |
| 14 |  | Intronaut
Habitual Levitations
Intronaut made a rookie move when they released this album. They streamed so
many songs before the album came out that by the time it was released, people
had already heard over half the tracks. But my goodness were those songs ever
amazing. They were so good I had this album set to be a 5 and thought nothing of
it. "The Way Down" and "Milk Leg" are easily in their top songs to date. However, it
seems they released all the good songs early and left the weaker ones for us to sift
through. It's still a solid album, despite the harsh vocals being forgotten, just not
quite as good as their last two. (Post-metal) |
| 13 |  | The Ocean
Pelagial
A bit of a grower, but when it seeps in this album becomes almost majestic. The
vocals are passionate and the sound is much more impactful than it's been in
recent years. Highlights: "Abyssopelagic II: Signals Of Anxiety", "Bathyalpelagic II:
The Wish In Dreams" (Post-metal, Progressive Metal) |
| 12 |  | Russian Circles
Memorial
They nailed it again, just as good as Empros' best moments. A truly solid, albeit
slightly short, offering from them. Highlights: "1777", "Burial" (Post-Rock, Post-metal) |
| 11 |  | Leprous
Coal
I hold their 2011 album Bilateral in very high esteem so they had some
unrealistically high expectations to live up to here. But they just do things their way as well they
should. It's a solid follow-up with some great and powerful moments that definitely
live up to the hype. Highlights: "The Cloak", "The Valley" (Progressive Rock) |
| 10 |  | Queens of the Stone Age
...Like Clockwork
Guys...I can't believe how good this turned out. Seems like the time off was
certainly worth it for everyone. This is the most consistent album they've made in
ages. Highlights: "Keep Your Eyes Peeled", "My God is the Sun" (Stoner Rock) |
| 9 | | Helm
Vol 3... Panthalassa
Another Australian band that will join a long list of epic bands from that part of the
world. This was the first album I tried out by them and it sure won't be the last.
BRING DOWN THE IRRROOOONNNN WAAALLLLLL. Highlights: "Iron Wall", "The
Taxidermist" (Metal, Post-Rock) |
| 8 |  | Filter
The Sun Comes Out Tonight
You wouldn't know this band has been around since the 90s when you hear this.
It's a wonderfully polished and smoothed out version of their older industrial sound,
designed for modern rock fans. Highlights: "This Finger's For You", "First You Break
It" (Industrial, Alternative Rock) |
| 7 |  | The Dillinger Escape Plan
One Of Us Is The Killer
I come to expect great things from these guys. Another truly solid outing with
moments that are some of their best ever, no word of a lie. Highlights: "When I Lost
My Bet", "One Of Us Is The Killer" (Mathcore, so...much...math) |
| 6 |  | Middle Class Rut
Pick Up Your Head
Not many people on this site would know this band, but if you're any kind of hard
rock fan they're worth checking out. After a shaky but okay debut album, these
guys returned three years later showing ridiculous improvement. It has this timeless
feel to it that truly doesn't get old. Highlights: "Leech", "No More", "Dead Eye"
(Alternative Rock) |
| 5 |  | Cult of Luna
Vertikal
I find every Cult of Luna record the same at first. It's always a huge chore for me
to get through an album on the first go. There's always so much to take in, so
much to dissect. But every time I make the effort, I'm always rewarded and sooner
or later songs start to shine through the murky and bleak post-metal sound these
guys have mastered. Highlights: "Synchronocity", "In Awe Of" (Post-metal) |
| 4 |  | Dead Letter Circus
The Catalyst Fire
I wanted to hate on this album so hard when I heard the first few songs get
released. This band hasn't changed its sound at all since their first release 6 years
back. I thought the novelty was long gone, but then by the third listen I basically
ate my own words. This album might not have changed the game, but it sure as
hell plays to their strengths and is even more consistent than their debut in my
opinion. Guy's voice is ridiculous. Highlights: "Alone Awake", "The Veil" (Alternative Rock, Progressive Rock) |
| 3 |  | Riverside
Shrine of New Generation Slaves
After a slight decline in quality with a couple releases that were plagued with
inconsistency, Riverside releases their tightest and strongest album since "Second
Life Syndrome". Really isn't a bad song on this, it's a pleasure to listen all the way
through. Couldn't have asked for much better. Highlights: "The Depth of Self-
Illusion", "Deprived". (Progressive Rock) |
| 2 |  | Clutch
Earth Rocker
It's Clutch basically being their regular badass selves and kicking your ass with
enormous and juicy riffs. They decided to go back to their heavier rock roots from
"Blast Tyrant" and "Pure Rock Fury" and gave us the best album they've released in
years. The songs on this are so seriously strong and memorable they'll be in your
head for days. Highlights: "Mr. Freedom", "Cyborg Bette" (Stoner Rock) |
| 1 |  | Karnivool
Asymmetry
This year I finally got the confirmation that Karnivool are a band I can always
expect something fresh and exciting from, something I've never heard before.
That's quite a feat, considering they make me suffer for four years between their
albums. That's a lot of time to build up hype and expect too much from the Aussie
gents. Karnivool have shown us here that they not only evolve, but they aren't
afraid to get out of their comfort zone. Asymmetry is all the better for it. The sheer
variety on this record makes it impossible to put down as there's always something
new that pops out with each listen. It's a grower just like Sound Awake, but in its
own unique way, it's on par with that album. It also has my two favourite songs of
the year back-to-back in "Eidolon" and "Sky Machine" preceded by a magical title
track in what was easily the best 15-minute stretch of music for me this year. (Progressive Rock) |
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