I know, I know: I usually drag my Top 10 list out over a week and a half. I usually don't have to file copy on all of my precious decalogue, necessitating writing new shit. Truth is, I can't be arsed. I have a Top 10, of sorts. The word that comes to mind is rebirth. Metal has built its gleaming kingdom. Now, fans can sit and watch the blood and fight for the throne. Tremendous fight is what we hear.
The Crushtor.net Top 10 of Metal 2013
1. Carcass – Surgical Steel
Carcass are back. You need no further explanation.
2. Rotting Christ - Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy
Check your cellars for demons because Rotting Christ will summon them. Each play through disturbs your soul a little. It's that fucking good.
3. Orphaned Land – All is One
In the service of God is light and beauty. A cross-cultural triumph.
4. Dark Tranquillity – Construct
The Gothenburg Kings distil twenty years of superior metal evolution into Construct, their finest foray since Character.
5. The Fall of Every Season - Amends
Markus Strand's solo project weaves together dusky vocals, thunder from cloudy skies and a weak pulse of hope. It might just breathe new life into a death/doom genre at present best remembered.
6. Witherscape - The Inheritance
Dan Swano's The Inheritance concept gathers doom, old school prog and power metal, wrapping them in a compelling combo. You'll find it jammed in your CD player for weeks.
7. Nails - Abandon All Life
Nails are a clenched fist of 'fuck you.' Abandon All Life ain't no title, it's a command.
8. Gorguts - Colored Sands
Luc Lamay returns with an armful of tunes from another timey-wimey face-melty dimension.
9. Ghost – Infestissumam
Solid melodies and shaggy riffs hit the spot their second time around. Chuck it on, light a doob and get spooky.
10. The Black Dahlia Murder – Everblack
Like I said at the time: lesser releases bruise, Everblack kills.
The Honorable Mentions
11. Mercenary - Through our Darkest Days (Gold)
12. Omnium Gatherum - Beyond (Silver)
13. Locrian - Return to Annihilation (Bronze)
The Rest
14. October Falls - Plague of a Coming Age
15. Caligula’s Horse – The Tide, The Thief & the River’s End
16. Letlive - The Blackest Beautiful
17. Red Fang - Whales and Leeches
18. Jonas Renkse and Bruce Soord – Wisdom of Crowds
19. Ihsahn - Das Seelenbrechen
20. Audrey Horne - Youngblood
21. Cult of Luna - Vertikal
22. Deafheaven - Sunbather
23. Lo! - Monstrorum Historia
24. The Ocean - Pelagial
25. Ulcerate - Vermis
1. Carcass – Surgical Steel
Carcass are back. You need no further explanation.
2. Rotting Christ - Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy
Check your cellars for demons because Rotting Christ will summon them. Each play through disturbs your soul a little. It's that fucking good.
3. Orphaned Land – All is One
In the service of God is light and beauty. A cross-cultural triumph.
4. Dark Tranquillity – Construct
The Gothenburg Kings distil twenty years of superior metal evolution into Construct, their finest foray since Character.
5. The Fall of Every Season - Amends
Markus Strand's solo project weaves together dusky vocals, thunder from cloudy skies and a weak pulse of hope. It might just breathe new life into a death/doom genre, at present best remembered.
6. Witherscape - The Inheritance
Dan Swano's The Inheritance concept gathers doom, old school prog and power metal, wrapping them in a compelling combo. It'll get jammed in your CD player for weeks.
7. Nails - Abandon All Life
Nails are a clenched ball of 'fuck you.' Abandon All Life ain't no title, it's a command.
8. Gorguts - Colored Sands
Luc Lamay returns with an armful of tunes from another timey-wimey face-melty dimension.
9. Ghost – Infestissumam
Solid melodies and shaggy riffs hit the spot their second time around. Chuck it on, light a doob and get spooky.
10. The Black Dahlia Murder – Everblack
Like I said at the time: lesser releases bruise, Everblack kills.
11. Mercenary - Through our Darkest Days
12. Omnium Gatherum - Beyond
13. Locrian - Return to Annihilation
14. October Falls - Plague of a Coming Age
15. Caligula’s Horse – The Tide, The Thief & the River’s End
16. Letlive - The Blackest Beautiful
17. Red Fang - Whales and Leeches
18. Jonas Renkse and Bruce Soord – Wisdom of Crowds
19. Ihsahn - Das Seelenbrechen
20. Cult of Luna - Vertikal
21. The Ocean - Pelagial
22. Deafheaven - Sunbather
23. Lo! - Monstrorum Historia
24. October Tide - Tunnel of No Light
25. Ulcerate - Vermis