Albums of 2013: 10-1

This years countdown is into it’s top 10, time to find out who takes home the title, and who’s a dirty rascal…

10)  Frank Turner  – Tape Deck Heart

Franks transformation from the hardcore punk turned touring folk troubadour who would gladly sleep on your floor after a show to the UK’s premier acoustic rock star and all round national treasure has been confirmed. His latest album matches this step up in profile with a packed LP of undeniably huge songs fit for stadium sized singalongs. This is more pop rock than folk but his adept skill at writing both catchy but meaningful songs is still in tact. This is about the most happy sounding breakup album ever! Full of rousing chants, yet the lyrics document a outpouring of heartbreak and lost love. Frank has never lost the ability to pen raw and honest song and here, he is back at the top of his game.

9) The Virginmarys – King Of Conflict

Finally, after many years of circling with excellent EP’s teasing us with unhinged raw blues energy, 2013 saw the Virginmary’s unleash their debut, which was everything we’d hoped for. This trio strip back all of the production gloss and turn the amps up to make gloriously noisy and punchy blues rock packed with killer hooks, boundless enthusiasm and infectious chorus lines. King of Conflict is a rampant riot of a record, which is both exhilarating and exciting!

8) Volbeat – Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies

Volbeat have been making great records for a while now, their latest is another to add to their rising credentials as Scandinavia’s finest Hard Rock/Metal band. Musically akin to a hard rock juggernaut armed with metal jagged guitars, yet vocally as soulful and as clean as a whistle, all while walking the line between dark and deep grooves chugged from huge amps to concise and bright pop songs. The mood swing-o-meter pinball’s about which keeps this album interesting, but its their catchy rock numbers (of which there are many) and melodic soaring choruses which kept me coming back. Nice and cleanly produced this is a big album from a bad assed band.

7) Clutch – Earth Rocker

Clutch have cometh once more, and they bring southern attitude. style and massive songs. This is their rockiest record for some time and they reminded me of just how good they can be when they crank their amps and play all out attack rock and roll. Spinning weaves of blues & deep south into their version of hard rock, this truly stands out as a terrific record, full of high octane energy, thrusting tempo’s and the ragged croak of those deep booming vocals. Varied, engrossing and fiery, Earth Rocker just takes the bull by the horn, gives a huge kick and lets you see how long you hang on tight.

6) Coheed & Cambria – The Aftermath Descension

After the loose and proggy pop of The Aftermath Ascension, I wasn’t sure what to expect with 2013’s second Aftermath album, Descension. Like the title suggests this is a brooding and dark album which is as beautiful as any of their previous works. Tuning down the tempo and letting Claudio’s vocals fly like a bird in flight allow for a different side to be showcased, one that has me addicted. The guitars (technical as ever) are still there in abundance but mainly used to bolster the drama and create huge waves of noise at the melody crescendo’s. Taking nods from classic rock, metal, prog and pop, C&C are always able to write brilliantly different songs which are still familiar and composed of the up most emotion and impact. This Descension is pure genius.

5) The Bronx – IV

The Bronx, after doing the totally unexpected and converting (temporarily) to a mariachi band…I’m please to announce they are back doing what we have come to expect of them. Straight talking, no nonsense blasts of punk attitude and a 6 barrels full of lock and loaded energy punk rock. Swaying closer mainstream sound with less abrasive vocals and more melodies than on previous releases this album is a surefire success. Each song produces either a captivating guitar riff, an addictive vocal harmony or thundering melody, each driven along at 100mph by non-stop thudding drums. Like a vice, once it has you in its grips…The Bronx barely relents.

4) Monster Truck – Furiosity

 

New boys Monster Truck knew they were onto a winner. So much so that they had to invent a new word to describe just how awesome and powerful their debut album! Furiosity is about an apt a description I can think for this rocket fuel powered, nitro guzzling hard rock beast. Equal parts harmony, melody and gruff classic rock vocals yet overwhelmed by the carnage created by the blazing guitar riff destruction derby. Pure simplicity of the good old blues lick and hell for leather fury combine to make a stonking release which looms over all comers like the champion it is. If you love rock, you’ll love Monster Truck.

3) Dinosaur Pile-Up – Nature Nurture

Dinosaur Pile-Up’s sophomore effort was created just as number #1, entirely by front man and lead guitarist Matt Bignall. There is no doubt his incredible talent for writing songs and vocal hooks large enough to see from space. Grungy guitar thumping typify their more energetic punked up songs, but more modern rock and foo fighters comparisons can be drawn as the tracks tick by. Honestly there is not a single dud tune on Nature Nurture, plus the album flows so beautifully through rampant rock, to perfect pop on what is a tremendous alt-rock record that deserves to be noticed!

2) Heaven’s Basement – Filthy Empire

Author Bias Alert! After nearly 5 years of following these guys through the underbelly of London’s gig circuit, they finally landed a coveted record deal with Red Bull and boy have they delivered. Heaven’s Basement play ferocious modern rock inspired by the classic exponents. Bulging and pulsating with unrestrained energy and flair. New songs have stood up well alongside the material pulled from their early singles and EP’s, especially when doubling up the vocals and unleashing the mesmerizing guitar pyrotechnics. Riffs are tight, melodies are massive and the production is clean. Sweeping from all out attack to infectious pop-rock catchiness, Filthy Empire is loaded with soaring rock anthems which demand you to raise your fists to the sky, sing your heart out and jump about like you just don’t care! A fine debut, years in the making!

 

1) Alter Bridge – Fortress

Alter Bridge have returned to set a new career defining standard in Hard Rock, one which blasted all fellow AOTY contenders into oblivion with its epic power. By far their heaviest album to date, the dropped tuning creates immense Richter measurable riffs and melodies which are astoundingly good. In the words of the band, “it’s like dumper trucks falling from the heavens”, who am I to argue. Technical and complex dual guitar work is pervasive throughout and create memorable melodies both challenging and familiar. Lead singer Myles shows why he’s one of the greatest rock vocalists of a generation. Fortress packs the impact of a meteor, the wake of comet and the staying power of a planet. That’s why its DoesItRock.nets Album of 2014!

Let’s hope 2014 is half as good as 2013!