Another year has rolled on by with a fair dose of cracking rock and roll. Only the finest fist pumping, guitar slinging melody madness all cranked up to overdrive have made this years DoesItRock.net Album of the Year countdown. As usual we’re free from critical scoffing and only driven by honest and pure love of guitars, drums and voices.
EP’s) Buckethead – Pikes
Famed for being a supreme technical talent (but more famously for wearing a KFC bucket on his head, the latest in Buckethead’s long and varied discography is the Pike’s collection. Stunningly prolific, he released 30 EP’s of original material in quick succession, each packed with supreme guitar virtuosity, a huge swathe of moods and textures, beautiful leads and brutal metal moments plus cataclysmic of mega-melodies. A sparkling talent whose eclecticism/madness is unparalleled, in this universe or any other.
25) Templeton Pek – Signs
These brummy lads took me by surprise with this their debut full length LP. In a year without a Rise Against release this fills this void nicely with fast paced and confident power punk with soaring sing-along choruses, nifty guitar interplay and frantic drumming. This lustful fist pumping punk and energetic bouncing melodies made this stand out of the 2013 crowd.
24) Black Star Riders – All Hell Breaks Loose
Not content with just playing the greatest hits, the amalgam of the few remains of the Thin Lizzy line-up has been given a second bite at the cherry with the Lynott-esque vocals of Ricky Warwick at the helm. Not to dilute the Lizzy name this reformed line-up decided a name change was in order to release new material. To be honest the only thing which has changed in the name. Double guitar melodies, driving riff rock and powerful anthemic tunes which can easily sit alongside some of their former bands highlights.
23) Highwater Or Hell – Begin Again
The side project of Atreyu’s clean vocalist/drummer was a great success. This album moves away from the punk/scream mayhem of his main band and firmly into radio friendly American hard rock. Plenty of adrenaline pulsing numbers which while never re-inventing the wheel, soar with some catchy chorus’s and big ballsy guitars.
22) Stone Sour – House Of Gold And Bones: Pt II
The slipknot side project has always had the promise of greatness in the hard rock circles, with this year’s second part of the House Of Gold And Bones series they accomplish their goal. The deep and down tuned strings show a real statement of intent, giving the darker and slower moments a real sinister clout. Overall the guitar work is impressive as is the vocals from Corey Taylor, combined they create a powerful and thunderous rock epic full. A very well rounded album which varies its tempo’s and moods, providing many different reasons to love it.
21) Alice In Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
AiC continue on their return to the top with a sombre but jubilant release of mid tempo rockers which mix between their dreamy grunge sound, thunderous hard rock topped with a strong vocal performance. This lumbers along like the album title suggests but the epic-o-saurus bass riffs and guitar walls are enough to shake the foundations of Jurassic park more effectively than that damn T-Rex.
20) The Temperance Movement – The Temperance Movement
This smells like Creedence Clearwater Revival, sounds like The Black Crowes, but oddly is a British blues band from Glasgow! Fantastic vocals and a debut of great assurance and positive energy. An album for those long summer night drives packed with racy and rawkus upbeat numbers and mellow heartfelt moments. This is how to play the blues with supreme swagger and pure class.
19) The Answer – New Horizon
Still the premium classic rockers The Answer returned in 2013 with another corking album packed with songs you wished you wrote. Simplistic big blues, melodies in abundance and the whisky soaked vocals are a perfect recipe for a rollicking hour of high octane rock and roll. The consistency of this album is its greatest strength, with chorus after chorus of uber catchy lines and hooks, all driven by one of the most the tightly packed guitar arsenals around. If classic blues based rock takes your fancy, my Answer is The Answer.
18) Alkaline Trio – My Shame Is True
A proper return to form for the punk rockers who have created one of their finest ever songs in “She Lied To The FBI”. A catchy, punchy, bouncy, brilliant album opener which sets the tone for the rest of the album which is packed full of short sharp pop-punk anthems. A feel-good album of melody-first powered-up power chords which pump each track full of enthusiasm and energy.
17) Airbourne – Black Dog Barking
Airbourne are never going to shake the Ac/Dc comparisons, hence they revel in its glory and yet again load their classic rock cannon full of flashy guitar solos, snarling riffs and adrenaline pumping melodies to bang your head to. Their beer swigging swagger and strutting temperament gives this a real feel good vibe which is as macho as can be. A tight song writing unit, some of these tunes are sure-fire future classics. Thrilling and exhilarating this is big, dumb and fun at its finest!
16) The Fuzz Drivers – The Fuzz Drivers
Like a shooting star, this band has shone brightly for a very brief moment in time. As by the time I’d spun this bluesy rock behemoth, this Portuguese band had split with their lead vocalist, we’re dropped by their record label and we’re giving it away for free! Packed with infectious riffs and boulder sized rhythm guitar these are responsible for 2 of my favourite romping rock anthems of the year, each seeping with power and passion and a thundering melody. The album is string all the way down the track list, slower bluesy numbers aptly fuzzed in an accessible stoner style and the vocals are totally engaging. Here’s to a quick reformation!
15) Scale The Summit – The Migration
I fell in love at first listen to this instrumental album packed with crushing metallic moments, beautiful melodic highs and impressive guitar slinging. Each song swoops and soars between the peaks of each song, rising and falling between epic atmospheric walls of solid rock power. The sound flicks between clean and crunch with effortless ease and these songs shift tempos in progressive flamboyant style. These compositions are layered with up to 3 guitar sections which intertwine in perfect harmony and technical brilliance, forming epic tunes which flow and flare with captivating effect.
More Norwegian triple guitar madness plundered our ears during 2013. The kings of black n’ roll returned with another album packed with aggression and nitro-fuelled metal carnage. With riffs and melodies sweeping and crashing in a glorious pile-up of noise it’s impossible to ignore their thumping tunes. Foreign lyrics spat in a hostile growl, completes their package. They’re a total blast live too…
13) Enforcer – Death By Fire
Enforcer are Sweden’s answer to old school classic speed metal. Fantastically fast and precise riffs which fly along the fret board at breakneck speed properly harks back to days gone past. For a debut album this is a definitely not new, but yet the vibe is spot on and it’s packed with addictive songs. All the styles elements are here, with the powerful racing drums and a high pitched squealing lead vocalist completing the old school package. If you are an old school metal man, or just a fast guitar lover, Death By Fire is not to be missed.
12) Amaranthe – The Nexus
Euro Pop/Heavy Metal meshing masters Amaranthe return with another album of undeniably addictive songs. It’s slickly produced and the songs are riff heavy with plenty of dark and light moments, fired by chunky metal guitars and beautiful female vocals retrospectively. Aimed less at the heavy metal crowd and more at the commercial rock fans this is easily accessible to all, there is no surprise each song is sublimely catchy.
11) Free Fall – Power & Volume
No other band on this list are as deeply submerged in classic rock as Free Fall, soaked in Zep and floating on Sabbath, this album is not original but it’s so damn good at what it does. The songs are compact and varied with catchy riffs (faintly familiar) which mix between slow burning thudding melodic moment and upbeat raw blues power. The secret here is the vocalist whose vocal chords have a stunning range and a passionate force. Step back in time with Free Fall!
Stay tuned for the top 10!
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