The Best Metal Albums Of 2013

Well, here we are. I'm sure you know the drill come the end of any given year. It's time to look at 2013 in review. The following list is the best 20 metal albums I reviewed in 2013. I decided to make it 20 this year because that is more or less the number of albums I felt were really worthy of a mention here. Basically, 20 through 11 are honorable mentions. Very good albums, but perhaps with a little something holding them back from being quite the best or ones that were just edged out. 10 to 1 of course are the really great stuff 2013 had to offer. This wasn't my most prolific year in terms of album reviews, but I also told myself I'd be more laid back in this blog format and not spend all my time doing it. This is just a hobby after all. If you want more, you can feel free to pay me of course. At any rate... On to the countdown of the top 20 metal albums of 2013.


20. Running Wild - Resilient
"Basically, if you liked Shadowmaker or any of their more recent mid-paced album this isn't bad. It sounds like Running Wild and it has that fun, epic pirate quality about it."

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19. ReVamp - Wild Card

"Listening to this one, the basic formula remains intact. This is female fronted gothic material mixed with a nice dark/aggressive edge and backed by some symphonic elements."

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18. U.D.O. - Steel Hammer

"For a straight ahead, no nonsense album, I definitely like this overall. It does a pretty good job of getting you pumped and both the vocals and music have a nice heavy edge."

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17. Amorphis - Circle

"What Circle brings to the table is a somewhat familiar formula at this point of melodic, gothic music and deep vocals mixed with earlier death metal vocals and influences."

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16. Tarja - Colours In The Dark

"I can say as a fan of Tarja, that this album is worth it for fans and still a well above average release. Really, this brings some good new songs for the live stage and a lot of above average/good songs to back it."

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15. Stratovarius - Nemesis

"I guess the best word for Nemesis is uneven. This is about on par with the past couple Stratovarius albums, but with better highlights and more lackluster deep tracks. I'd say this album is worth it for Stratovarius fans and general power metal fans may find it worth it for the strong highlights."

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14. Huntress - Starbound Beast

"Basically, this shows the growth and more consistent energy that I was hoping for out of the band. It's an improvement and this is the kind of sophmore album you want to see. Starbound Beast shows me that Huntress has room to grow and they have the ability to do so."

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13. Queensryche - Queensryche

"I'm not sure the band could have picked a better replacement for Tate than Todd La Torre. The guy sounds like a young Tate vocally, but one who loves Queensryche's metal music and has the passion to make it. This is just a complete rebirth and the band sounds young and hungry."

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12. Timo Tolkki's Avalon - The Land Of New Hope

"This just sounds like a good ensemble of musicians that complement each other well and it makes me want to sing along. All in all, I think this kind of metal opera project suits Tolkki and is a very worthy comeback by him."

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11. Lingua Mortis Orchestra - LMO

"All in all, this is a very good album for Rage fans. It's still pretty much Rage, but there are by far worse things to be. This is a strong classically inspired album from the band."

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Top 10 Metal Albums of 2013

10. Memory Garden - Doomain

"Overall, this has some damn fine songs on it and everything holds up pretty well. The highlights are amazing and even the lesser tracks are good stuff. I'd recommend this to fans of bands like Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus or anyone who likes their doom metal with epic, melodic wails and some more upbeat moments."

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9. Ashes Of Ares - Ashes Of Ares

"It's not often I write about every track on an album, but barring maybe the single, everything is worth writing about. This is damn fine straight up heavy metal that recalls a very traditional style mixed with the power that power metal should have. Barlow's range is in full force here and it's a pretty perfect album for a superior frontman to be at the helm of."

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8. Motorhead - Aftershock

"Aftershock is just the kind of album that hits the bands strengths and runs with it. There's nothing fancy here, everything's just extremely headbangable. The energy and hooks on Aftershock are just damn great. It's loaded with blues rock hooks, the songs are mostly short and to the point, and everything just rocks. "

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7. Hell - Curse And Chapter

"If you like dark, heavy straight up metal than there is absolutely no reason I can see to like this. The vocals have personality and attitude, the music is involving and energetic, and the album just never relents. If you like NWOBHM music, Mercyful Fate, Venom, Coven, etc this is a must hear."

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6. Avatarium - Avatarium

"Often the music will alternate between punishing doom riffs and lighter fare, which all paints a very somber picture. This is interesting stuff that carries a really bleak feel to it. Vocalist Jennie-Ann Smith is also the perfect choice for this as she's capable of wailing out some powerful projections above the heavier riffs and also brings it back nicely for the mellower passages."

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5. Gloryhammer - Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife

"The band just has total fun with all the things that are in fact really fun about this kind of power metal. This sounds epic and glorious as hell and the songs stick with you. It's hard not to like something with this much energy and catchiness. Gloryhammer basically just indulges in fully nerding out on D&D metal and it completely works."

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4. Trouble - The Distortion Field

"The Distortion Field is simply more than I could have hoped for. Trouble really bring their A game here and this is the classic Trouble I remember. I have to give it to the entire band, but once again I have to give a special mention to Kyle Thomas for staying true to the Trouble sound, but at the same time bringing his own touch."

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3. Poisonblack - Lyijy

"This one hit me hard from the start and never really let go. The sound here is nothing particularly new for Poisonblack, but the material is extremely good with songs that are just loaded with hooks, an energetic pace, and lots of headbangable riffs. Every song from fist pumping opener Home Is Where The Sty Is to the beyond great ballad Maybe Life Is Not For Everyone is noteworthy."

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2. Avantasia - The Mystery Of Time

"This album seems to have found a good delivery method for Tobias and I like that this feels happy and majestic. It actually takes me back to what I liked about early Edguy though this is not exactly the same sound. What The Mystery Of Time is is some very engaging music that keeps my attention with good melodies."

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1. Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell

"What's not to like here? Not a damn thing. This could seriously be a guide on how to do power metal of some kind. Nice energy and melodies can be found throughout Straight Out of Hell and the songwriting is top notch. Throughout this album Helloween seems to find just the right balance between heaviness, catchiness, and the 'happy' moments that have kind of defined the band's career."

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Ashes Of Ares - Ashes Of Ares

Power Metal

Nuclear Blast

2013








1. The Messenger
2. Move The Chains
3. On Warrior's Wings
4. Punishment
5. This Is My Hell
6. Dead Man's Plight
7. Chalice Of Man
8. The Answer
9. What I Am
10. The One Eyed King (Bonus)

Anyone who knows me at all knows what a huge fan of Matt Barlow I am. The guy is probably my favorite metal vocalist of all time so it pretty much goes without saying that this project had my interest from the start. Not only that, but Ashes of Ares also boasts one of my favorite drummers, Van Williams who formerly played for Nevermore. Rounding out the lineup is Freddie Vidales who played for Iced Earth. That's seriously a whole lot of talent for one band to contain. I had no question going in that the band has the talent to be great. My only question was if they also had the ability to write good songs. Being able to execute material and write it is not the same deal.

I have to say that my first real experience with the band set my expectations a bit low. When the single, Dead Man's Plight, came out it kind of underwhelmed me. The track is just a bit too plodding and uninventive and doesn't really have a lot of energy. When you hear a single like that you have to just stop and wonder... is this really the best the album has to offer?

Thankfully, the answer is no... not even close. Of all the songs on the album that is my least favorite and pretty much everything else puts it to shame. Not sure about that single decision, but it's a small complaint when you hear the rest of the album is awesome.

The Messenger opens up the album with a mid-paced approach, but good vocal range and just a lot more passion. This isn't too far off an Iced Earth track in feel and reminds me a bit of the original Something Wicked album. After that, Move The Chains picks up the pace nicely with some biting riffs that make it my personal favorite on the album. This is just really good, no frills, screaming metal. I kind of like that not all of this album is epic or written around concepts like Iced Earth has been of late. Beyond that we get a bit more melodic with epic flair for On Warrior's Wings which shows off Barlow's softer vocal ability. Next up, Punishment comes in with a lot of attitude and some really heavy grooves. Nothing, but keepers so far and nothing changes as This Is My Hell starts off with an acoustic song, building into some heavier emotionally charged power from Barlow. After that one we head into Dead Man's Plight which still doesn't quite have it. One weaker track on a debut album is pretty forgivable though so let's move on to Chalice Of Man. This one comes out speedy as hell and just a tad chaotic, but I like the wide open sound and the aggression is a nice change of pace. After that we get a bit softer again as Barlow shows off his ability to project emotion beautifully through his voice. It's one of my favorite things about the guy and his ability to go from soft to a screaming demon never ceases to amaze. Rounding out the regular tracks we have What I Am which is another ripping beast of a track. Also worth noting is the bonus track The One-Eyed King which also has great edge to the guitar and plenty of heaviness to go around. This is not a filler extra.

It's not often I write about every track on an album, but barring maybe the single, everything is worth writing about. This is damn fine straight up heavy metal that recalls a very traditional style mixed with the power that power metal should have. Barlow's range is in full force here and it's a pretty perfect album for a superior frontman to be at the helm of. This is ranged, this is heavy, and this is damn good. There's a fair amount of reminders of Iced Earth, but the band also has their own songwriting flair. It just doesn't range too far from what made Barlow and that can't really be a complaint. This is just a great album for fans of Barlow era Iced Earth.

I think everyone who's as big of a fan of Barlow as I am can breathe a sigh of relief now. Not only is Matt Barlow not vanishing from the scene, but this is a great new start for him. Ashes Of Ares have what it takes to overcome the expectations of past material and make a band that stands well on it's own. This is great stuff for fans of Iced Earth, but also any fans of straight up metal. This is traditional in a way few bands are now a days in the world of subgenres, but it also manages to not sound dated at all. This is no easy feet and Ashes Of Ares is worthy of a lot of praise here. I only hope I did it justice here. The best thing I can say though is that you need to hear this for yourself.

Highlights: Move The Chains, Punishment, The Messenger, What I Am

Rating - 4.0/5