And it sure has been a lot of things happening lately...
Biggest event is of course that we, me and Peter became Mr and Mrs Wallberg at the end of the summer...
How it feels to be married? Well, not much different from how it was before, just that I get surprised when Peter calls himself Mr Wallberg... *s*
Then of course, I missed both the 1 month and 2 month anniversary. For the first one I was in Shanghai and for the second I was in Dubai. Peter spent the second one in Malta drinking with Pim and the rest from Officium Triste and Wilburg from Semlah/Count Raven so I assume he had a good time, I myself was trying to squeeze everything in to my bag and get a beer which isn't easy or cheap in Dubai I tell you!
Even if work has taken a lot of time this year I've managed to go to a few shows and buy a lot of records. I realized though that I haven't kept up AT ALL with what's going on in the music world, it's been more what I've stumbled upon that I've been listening to rather than trying to check out what's new. So in the end of the year I had a list with 30-40 records I should have checked out for my Top 10... But to do that in a week, nope, that won't be good. So it is a rather sparse selection (at least compared to other years) I've picked my Top 10 from, then 10 to list the ones I should have listened more to, the ones who also could have made it is rather long instead.
Anyway, here goes;
TOP 10 of 2013
1. Oliva - Raise the Curtain
Again, the mountainking has managed to create an amazing piece of music. It's a bit like the first Jon Oliva's Pain record, an odd bunch of songs that doesn't really fit in anywhere. It's a bit of Savatage, it's a bit of Jon himself and a bit of others. This album feels so honest and pure, there's so much passion and absolutely no boundaries on what can be done. Still it's not far away from either Jon Oliva's Pain or Savatage. But as long as Jon Oliva released albums like this one, he can call it what he wants for my sake. And as long as they hold this quality, just take the suite from "Soul Chaser" over "Ten Years", "Father Time", "I know", "Big Brother" and "Armageddon". For the last one, there's no one who can scream line Jon in the chorus... Dramatic, fateful... It's the end of the world...
Favorite track: Armageddon
2. Vicious Rumors - Electric Punishment
Vicious Rumors showed with "Razorback Killers" that they still got it and "Electric Punishment" continues on the same track. Brian Allen shows a real progress and even if it still is a lot rawer than the classic albums the melodies are stronger than before. Riff maestro Geoff Thorpe still got it and delivers smart riffs behind a hitty facade. The mix of Geoff's and Brian's vocals for different part of the songs strikes hard. It is a raw record! And then there's a track like "Together we Unite" which is late 80's MTV generation hit-type. Still awesome but rather far off from the rest, however it still fits perfectly in the bunch.
Favorite track: I am the Gun
3. Queensryche - Queensryche
This might actually come as a surprise to some who knows me. I've never been a fan of this band, for two reasons mainly. First that I got "Operation Mindcrime" squeezed down my throat when it was released, I mean, the album is good but it could have been ok to listen to SOMETHING other on ONE party at least... Also, I really can't stand watching Geoff Tate... But with Todd La Torre in the band all's well, he's a joy to watch and listen to. I still didn't think the album would strike as hard as it did though. But it sure is an inspired album, full with interesting songs. Perhaps it takes a few spins for it to set but when it does it's great and it just keeps getting better.
Favorite track: A World Without
4. Hell - Curse & Chapter
Andy Sneap is the master of good sound when it comes to Heavy music. And of course that applies to Hell as well. I can't say I've been with Hell since the dawn of time. I've just heard some, or actually just heard of, before they released "Human Remains". But the style suites my style in music perfectly, I love the artistic side as well. Old School songs or not, most everything put on the two albums released by Hell is just awesome.
Favorite track: Something Wicked This way Comes
5. Anvil - Hope in Hell
Sure, Peter has influenced me a bit here... There's no doubt about that! Still I've been a fan since before we met. And I sure didn't mind having this album spinning constantly for a few weeks when it was released. It is a kick ass Anvil record and holds most of the elements significant for Anvil. It has fast songs and it has mid-tempo tracks and it feels more varied than its predecessor.
Favorite track: The Fight is Never Won
6. Saxon - Sacrifice
It's mentioned here and there that the classic band loses their skills or passion. None of these goes for Saxon. Biff sounds better and better for each year. Sure, he doesn't sound like he did on the early albums but his voice has grown in depth these recent years which allows much more varied vocal lines and different style of songs. Still he can pull off the classics live as well.
Favorite track: Night of the Wolf
7. Michael Schenker's Temple of Rock - Bridge the Gap
What the hell happened here??? Sure, Mr Schenker is a peculiar bugger but he has never done anything as heavy as this one. The songs are oozing with Rainbow influences, the odd thing with it is that on top of the Heavy riffs you have Michael's unmistakable style of melodies. Sure, Dougie White has a lot to do with the Rainbow/Dio feeling in the music but there's no understatement saying this is easily my Michael Schenker favorite since 1987's "Perfect Timing". This was actually one of the ones picked up just a few days before my list was due deadline and getting the thumb out earlier it sure would have ended up higher on the list.
Favorite track: The Land of Thunder
8. Tad Morose - Revenant
Bollnäs-Metal always hold high standard. I'm not really surprised that Tad Morose ended up on the list even if this record was released rather late in the year. They normally writes just in my taste. This though being the first in a while without Urban Breed on vocals. And with that spot empty there are a rather bi pair of boots to fill. For me, I've known Ronny Hemlin since decades back and he sure is a good vocalist, always impressive. But it seems like he's taken one more step up here. His voice is better than ever, more depth and more control than before. Awesome really.
Favorite track: Spirit World
9. Trouble - The Distortion Field
I for once was positive about bringing Kory Clarke in when Eric Wagner decided to leave. Unfortunately Kory has done a lot better performances than he did with Trouble, he's so much better than he showed. So perhaps it wasn't right. Then, if Eric never wants to come back, the line-up now with Kyle Thomas in the line-up is just as good as it ever was. It feels like the band really is inspired to play again, even if this don't fully matches "Manic Frustration" it's absolutely a good step in the right direction.
Favorite track: The Broken has Spoken
10. Carcass - Surgical Steel
Who could have thought this? I still hold "Heartwork" as one of the greatest albums ever. I think the mix of brutality and melody is genial. I don't think Arch Enemy (you know, Mike Amott...) has captured the same mix and neither does Carcass on "Surgical Steel", frankly, Bill Steer and the rest can't write as strong melodies as Mike can. But Carcass still win over Arch Enemy with their brutality and ability to keep the Death Metal, no compromise and still have a catchy record.
Favorite track: Cadaver Pouch Conveyor System
I realized writing this that there's really nothing new in here... I have been listening to new bands as well though. Even if it hasn't been to the same extent as it usually is. So with this, I like to mention one more even if it's not listed in the Top 10, but it probably should have been, at least keeping in mind how much I've listened to it...
Extra for top 10:
Surpuissance - Affamé de Metal
French bastards, with Metal sung in French... So it's hard to keep up with them. And I assume I've made up my own lyrics for this album since it's hard to not sing along. It has that naive feeling as "Show No Mercy" or "Kill 'em All" has. It's raw, not all that precise all the time (I didn't say not tight though...).
Favorite track: Agression Métallique Positive
And the ones that ended up just outside, alphabetically;
Avatarium - Avatarium
Black Sabbath - 13
Helloween - Straight out of Hell
Legend - The Dark Place
Metal Church - Generation Nothing
Motörhead - Afterschock
Procession - To Reap the Heavens Apart
Satan - Life Sentence
UDO - Steelhammer
Warlord - The Holy Empire
And 10 more that could have made it if I'd gotten the thumb out and listened a bit more;
Argus - Beyond the Martyrs
Atlantean Kodex - The White Goddess
Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark
Chastain - Surrender to None
Deep Purple - Now What?!
Midnight Messiah - The Root of all Evil
Muro - El cuarto jinete
Running Wild - Resilient
Spiritual Beggars - Earth Blues
Witch Cross - Axe to Grind
Peter's List;
1. Anvil - Hope in Hell
2. Saxon - Sacrifice
3. Oliva - Raise the Curtain
4. UDO - Steelhammer
5. Midnight Messiah - The Root of all Evil
6. Hell - Curse & Chapter
7. Satan - Life Sentence
8. Avatarium - Avatarium
9. Procession - To Reap the Heavens Apart
10. Muro - El cuarto jinete
What's your favorite albums of 2013?
What did I miss completely?
Another list over concerts will come in a few days...
Cheers
E
NP: 220 Volt - Power Games
