If you’re reading this right now, it means that you successfully survived the year 2013. And if that makes you want a cookie (or a beer) then go grab one, come back, and sit your rear end down to read about some of the highlights of last year for loud rock & metal. You’ll get all the stuff you’ve come to know and love from year-end reviews. Numbers, stories about things that happened, and jokes that probably aren’t that funny. Yeah!
Also, instead of naming one album for the prestigious title of “Album of the Year”, I’m giving you the Top 13 of 2013. Here’s numbers 13-11.
13. We Came As Romans – Tracing Back Roots
If there’s one thing I never get sick of in music, it’s seeing a band on the rise that’s got a good thing going for them decide to not settle for same old same old. With their latest release, ‘Tracing Back Roots’, Troy, Michigan’s own We Came As Romans prove that they can stay true to what’s made them a breakout act and then develop their sound beyond that. Their first effort with producer John Feldmann fully at the helm and choosing to incorporate vocalist Dave Stephens in a more actively singing role, ‘Tracing Back Roots’ showcases a band that’s added a more melodic leaning to their unique brand of upbeat post-hardcore. Tracks like the standout single ‘Hope’, ‘Fade Away’ and the opening title track offer a clear view of not just what WCAR have grown to be, but that they have the vision and talent needed to step up their game for years to come
12. Karnivool – Asymmetry
When it comes to breaking new ground in the realm of progressive rock, Karnivool are no strangers to impressing fans and critics alike. The band that made their first big splash on the scene with the 2007 (in the US) release ‘Themata’, Karnivool has been viewed by many as a more melodic and alternative answer to the style and elements made famous Tool. Following up on a highly lauded effort in ‘Sound Awake’, Karnivool prove themselves to be more daring than formulaic with ‘Asymmetry’. Songs like ‘Aeons’, ‘Nachash’, and the leading single ‘We Are’ demonstrate a range, accessibility, and elaborate vision that will keep your ears perked. Best enjoyed with high quality monitors.
11. The Devil Wears Prada – 8:18
If you enjoy metaphors that compare loud, unrelenting hardcore music to fine wine, then it’s probably in my best interest to say that The Devil Wears Prada have aged pretty damn well over the last eight years. More mature, focused, and fully tuned into their sound, the band released their newest effort, ‘8:18’, in the early fall of 2013. Whether it’s the crushing breakdowns of ‘Gloom’, the scenic textures of the album’s title track, or the chugging chords of ‘Martyrs’, TDWP offers a sound that’s as brutal as it is refreshing. And those two words also perfectly describe the experience of seeing Prada live.
Single of the Year: Coheed and Cambria – The Hard Sell
Note, I use the word ‘Single’ very deliberately (and not just as a declaration of my relationship status). There will also be a ‘Song of the Year’ a little bit further down the road. But back to the matter at hand…did any of you forget about the absolutely stellar release that Coheed and Cambria put out earlier this year? Well if you did, for shame. Allow me to remind you to dust off your digital copy of ‘The Afterman: Descension’ and give this track a spin. ‘The Hard Sell’ walks the tightrope of poignancy and hooky charm while incorporating a tempo and sound that doesn’t allow you to catch a single breath. An instant classic for a band that knows a thing or two about breaking the mold.
(Honorable mentions: Bring Me The Horizon – Can You Feel My Heart & Karnivool – We Are)
10. Dance Gavin Dance – Acceptance Speech
I’m an apologetic critic of post-hardcore music that leans too heavily on clean, high pitched vocals, but Tilian Pearson has somehow managed to convince me to back down on that stance. With ‘Acceptance Speech’, Dance Gavin Dance don’t simply excel in creating a sound that is dynamic; they downright make it infectious. Whether it’s the soaring plateaus of ‘Jesus H. Macy’ or the emphatic pulse of ‘Death of the Robot with Human Hair’, Dance Gavin Dance deliver with a sound that’s just fun to drink in. With a treasure trove of chords and beats blending multiple genres to back them up, Pearson and Mess join forces to establish a vocal range that’s as unmistakable as the one that defined bands like Alexisonfire. Now I’m not saying that they’re Dallas Green and George Petite, but the DGD duo have proven themselves more than qualified to fill a piece of that hole in my heart. Make it golden, boys. Make it holy.
Killswitch Engage play at Meadow Brook in 2012 (file photo, by Damien Dennis).
9. Killswitch Engage – Disarm The Descent
When it comes to being a band, one of the hardest issues you can face is encountering a situation where you have to replace a vocalist that carries a strong association with your band. Luckily for Killswitch Engage, two things went very right.
A. They brought back their original vocalist, Jesse Leach. B. He’s pretty darn good!
Leach makes his return to KSE with their latest effort, ‘Disarm the Descent’. Ready for the challenge of a more matured group than the one he left over a decade ago, Leach and the rest of Killswitch deliver with a bounty of tunes that hit with depth and impact. Be it the throttling energy of ‘In Due Time’ or the griping sincerity of ‘Always’, ‘Disarm The Descent’ demonstrates a continued growth from one of metalcore’s preeminent artists.
8. Clutch – Earth Rocker
About a month ago I found myself interviewing Clutch frontman Neil Fallon when the band was in town to rock the Fillmore in Detroit. He told me something that really stood out as a calling card for how I’ll remember Clutch from this day out.
“So many bands are obsessed with trying to reinvent the wheel. And really, sometimes you just need to focus on making a good wheel.”
With ‘Earth Rocker’, Clutch continues their legacy of doing what they’ve done over the span of the last 20+ years: making virtuous, creative, and fully competent rock music. Whether it’s songs like the hard hitting, in your face opening title track, a somber ballad in ‘Gone Cold’, or the prolific anthem that is ‘The Face’, Clutch manages to cross every ‘t’ and dot all the ‘i’s with a release that’s as venerable as their most esteemed works to date.
Festival of the Year: Rock On The Range
Trust me, the Detroit guy in me wanted to write Orion Music + More. I really did. And that’s not to say that Metallica and the fine folks at C3 Presents didn’t put on an incredible festival. They did. But when it comes to the world of loud rock, there isn’t enough praise I can give to acknowledge just how thoroughly awesome Rock on the Range really is. Last year’s ROTR was the biggest to date. Bringing together iconic rock legends like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, and Bush to headline alongside fan favorites such as Stone Sour, Lamb of God, A Day To Remember, Volbeat, Papa Roach and many more. Rolling with a lineup that went fifty bands deep, Rock On The Range sold out for the first time in the event’s history and delivered an experience that brought fans of all ages and generations together to see one of the best shows to hit the states in 2013.
(Honorable Mentions: Orion Music + More & The Summer Slaughter Tour)
Stone Sour at Rock on the Range 2013 (Photo by Damien Dennis).
7. Stone Sour – House of Gold & Bones Pt. 2
When Stone Sour announced back in early 2012 that their next release would be a two part concept record that would also be accompanied by a graphic novel, fans found themselves overwhelmed with excitement and curiosity. The epic conclusion to the “House of Gold & Bones”, HoGaB Pt. II puts less emphasis on the flash and catchy tropes and strives to deliver a complete experience that draws you into the story. It’s hard not to marvel at the little things this album does to create such an intense environment that never runs stagnant. Couple that with the rich and rugged vocals of Corey Taylor and you have a formula that proves brilliant. Not to be enjoyed in haste, ‘The House of Gold & Bones Pt. II’ demands your utmost attention. Do yourself that favor.
I See Stars performs in Royal Oak (File photo, 2012 by Damien Dennis).
6. I See Stars – New Demons
I’m going to come right out and say that I haven’t always been a fan of Warren, Michigan’s very own I See Stars. However, the band had me optimistic that they were on the verge of something awesome with their last album ‘Digital Renegade’. With all that said, ‘New Demons’ delivers on the promise ISS made during the album’s production to deliver a record worthy of being classified as “Electronic Hardcore Music”. Ernest, fresh, and emotionally relevant, ‘New Demons’ marks the kind of territory that I See Stars should be proud to call their own. Songs like ‘Ten Thousand Feet’, ‘Murder Mitten’, and ‘Boris The Animal’ seamlessly blend post-hardcore shredding with ambient electronic effects and unfettered bass leanings. Not bad guys. Color me impressed.
5. The Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us is the Killer
Do any of you folks remember The Borg from Star Trek: The Next Generation? (if you don’t, I’ve officially succeeded in dating myself). Well the reason I mention them now is because if you ever saw them, you could appreciate just how vicious, militant, and shocking their presence was. And well, I honestly can’t imagine a more perfect description of the energy that The Dillinger Escape Plan bring to the party with ‘One of Us is the Killer’. With an opening track like ‘Prancer’ to set the tone early, the vengeful diatribe in ‘Hero of the Soviet Union’ to hold down the center, and an unnerving juggernaut in ‘Crossburner’ to highlight the record’s tail end, Dillinger wield unorthodox timings, shrill vocals, and unsettling progressions to create an environment that is nothing short of neurotic. And if that makes you at all curious about their live show…
Best Live Show: The Dillinger Escape Plan
“HOW COULD IT ALL BE?!??”
Try to imagine the progressive metal equivalent of a starting gun. The cue that let’s an audience know that if you’re on the floor, all bets are officially off, and your only two options are losing your mind or losing your head…welcome to The Dillinger Escape Plan: Live Edition. If you weren’t in the know, the guys in the band are big fans of Bill O’Reilly’s iconic tirade and know a thing or two about “doing it f#%&ing live” (Hell, they were even on Fox News one. And it was WEIRD). Well known for their onstage energy and destructive tendencies in closing out a show, Dillinger will bring out the inner animal in a crowd of seemingly nice (or not so nice) people. It really is something to behold and, if you’re up to it, be a part of.
(Honorable Mentions: letlive. & The Devil Wears Prada)
A Day To Remember plays at Rock on the Range 2013. (Photo by Damien Dennis, 2013)
4. A Day To Remember – Common Courtesy
The story of A Day To Remember’s latest release was a page turner that kept the entire post-hardcore community on its toes. A classic battle between band and evil label where, you won’t believe this, the band won! The result was ADTR independently releasing ‘Common Courtesy’ and showing off the strong punk/hardcore leanings and charismatic personality that has propelled them to the height of mainstream acclaim over the last seven years. But arguably what makes ‘Common Courtesy’ such a great effort is the growth it shows in areas where the band had room to improve. McKinnon takes a huge step in the right direction with a greater vocal range, the riffs of Westfall, Woodward, and Skaff come through with a more convincing degree of focus, and ultimately what we get is A Day To Remember doing what they’re best at; making music that’s undeniably fun and relatable.
3. Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal
I know what you’re thinking…only #3? Yeah, I’m kind of surprised too. If you had asked me back in June, I would have told you that the odds of any record knocking ‘Sempiternal’ out of the #1 spot were slim to none. But let’s focus on the positives here; this record isn’t just a defining work in the BMTH catalog, it marks a maturation in both technique and production for a band that was already immensely talented. Also, if you’re a huge follower of producers like myself, can we all take a second to admire how great Terry Date is? And if you don’t know who that is, go to Wikipedia, look at the list of albums he’s credit with, and then never forget who that is. You’re welcome. Whether it’s the energy and vulnerability of ‘Can You Feel My Heart’, the rebellious mantra of ‘Shadow Moses’, or the intense emotional grit of ‘And The Snakes Start To Sing’, you can’t help but be taken back by the strength of ‘Sempiternal’ in terms of both quality and accessibility.
Song of the Year: Bring Me The Horizon – And The Snakes Start To Sing
I swear I didn’t plan for these to lead into each other…but that’s not important right now. When I first heard ‘And The Snakes Start To Sing’ shortly after Epitaph Records put the whole record on YouTube for streaming (three months ahead of the release date), I was instantly hooked. Every aspect of the song jumped out at me with a sense of desperation and urgency. The production and delivery of Oli Sykes’ vocals alone deserve to be commended. Adding in lyrics that will eat away at your emotions, a falling and rising of tempo that takes the listener from subdued to enthralled, and a well executed use of instrumental minimalism…well, you get the point. ‘And The Snakes Start To Sing” gently pulls at your heartstrings with unwavering confidence that they’ll eventually snap.
2. letlive. – The Blackest Beautiful
You can blame the foaming at the mouth inner Glassjaw fan in me all you want, it honestly doesn’t change much. It’s so rare that I would use a word like vivid to describe the energy that a band is able to convey in their music, but with ‘The Blackest Beautiful’ I find it to be an apt description of the way in which letlive deliver. With a sound that embodies the words ‘synchronized chaos’ and a sense of conviction and wit that separates the ambitious from the routine, ‘The Blackest Beautiful’ exists in a class of it’s own. Whether it’s the crashing cascades of ‘Empty Elvis’, the bitter tones of ‘The Dreamer’s Disease’ or the tumultuous conflict of ’27 Club’, letlive make an impression that will leave you breathless.
1. Norma Jean – Wrongdoers
Because Rock n’ Roll has such a terrible name…
In music, the ultimate challenge for an artist is to create a piece that is both relentlessly gripping in texture and thematically irresistible to its audience. So congratulations Norma Jean, because not only does ‘Wrongdoers’ succeed in both those categories, but it does so thoroughly and without rest. Described by band frontman Cory Brandon as “a name we picked because it expresses something we can all relate to”, ‘Wrongdoers’ lives up to the spirit of its title with a collection of songs that just feel inspired. Early on the album establishes its lyrical ambition, rich textures, and unique blend of metalcore charm with songs like ‘Hive Minds’, ‘If You Got It At Five, You Got It At Fifty’ and the album’s title track. From there it’s more of the same…but in no sense do I mean that in a bad way. ‘Wrongdoers’ is neither repetitive or lethargic in it’s delivery. Each song feels massive in significance whether it times in at over seven minutes or under two. For all the heat that metalcore has gotten for lack of creativity and heart, ‘Wrongdoers’ is truly worthy of praise as one of the genres greatest offering. Not only this year, but ever.
Artist of the Year – letlive.
I know, I know. Yet another shameless plug on my end. But do you want to know something funny about the interview found above? It wasn’t scheduled. When asked about talking with letlive. at their most recent show in Detroit, the rep from their label said “just go up to them and ask.”
I’m not kidding.
At the time, this seemed ludicrous and silly to me. But then I met these guys. Then I saw them live. Then I saw them with their fans. And everything made sense…and I was very happy. Whether its through music that intimately and aggressively outlines the hopes, fears, trials and tribulations of the human experience, a live show that can’t be contained by a stage of any size, or just generally being nice people who want to create something special for their fans, letlive. prove themselves sincere in their efforts to be something bigger than just a group of guys who get on a stage and play music. The experience is both universal and unprejudiced; asking only that you come ready to feel whatever it is you want to feel. Bands like letlive don’t get into music to win fancy awards or sell millions of albums. They do it because they want to give fans something that they feel a part of and accepted by. And the depth to which these guys have dug to be genuine in that deserves to be commended. So yeah…thank you.
That’s it! 2013 was a great one for rock n’ roll. We saw the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. But if the music, the bands, and the moments shared by literally millions of fans are any indication, it was certainly a year not to be forgotten. Cheers to another new year of great music and mind blowing shows!
