By Trevor Proctor
This has been another year filled to the
brim with some seriously excellent metal releases, that’s why it’s been so
difficult to pick a top twenty and also why there’s no such thing as an end of
year list that’ll please everyone. I’ve never read any myself that I’ve totally
agreed with – there’s always someone left out or someone not featuring as
highly as you’d place them. This list is by no means perfect or comprehensive;
it’s merely the recordings that I’ve enjoyed most throughout the year.
Big thanks to Mr Jude Felton for the
opportunity to work with the Lair of Filth, there’s a few releases here that
wouldn’t be if I hadn’t had the privilege of listening to them thoroughly for
reviews for the Lair. Thanks also to my Fiancee Audrey for tolerating the
extreme music I constantly make her listen to in the car.
20. Uncoffined - Ritual Death and Funeral Rites (Memento Mori)
Doom metal of death from Scotland’s
Uncoffined – raw, heavy, one to watch in 2014.
19. Chthonic - Bu Tik (Spinefarm Records)
The
seventh studio album from Chthonic featured more traditional instrumentation
than previous releases with the greatest of effect.
18. Nocturno
Culto’s Gift of Gods - Receive (Peaceville)
Straight
up heavy metal EP from Darkthrone’s Nocturno Culto, essential listening.
17. Twilight
of the Gods - Fire on the Mountain (Season of Mist)
What
started life as a Bathory tribute has turned into a major player in the world
of heavy metal.
16. Satyricon - Satyricon (Roadrunner Records)
Few
curve balls here, but still a fantastic release.
15. Ereb
Altor - Fire Meets Ice (Cyclone Empire)
Essential
listening from Ereb Altor - so much more to offer than most Viking metal.
14. Grave
Miasma - Odori Sepulcrorum (Sepulchral Voice Records)
Another
seriously good death metal release from the UK, and another band to watch in
2014.
13. Black
Sabbath - 13 (Virgin EMI)
It
was never going to be as good as the first 4 masterpiece albums but I feel we
still got an excellent release from the masters of the genre.
12. Unkind - Pelon Juuret (Relapse Records)
Brilliant
crust filled D-Beat madness from the crazy Fins.
11. Ulcerate - Vermis (Relapse Records)
A
difficult but rewarding album, Ulcerate achieve a perfect balance between
technical aggression and blackened atmospherics.
10. Malthusian - MMXIII (Invictus Productions)
Debut
EP of hallucinogenic, oppressive music that’s so original and fresh it couldn’t
be omitted from the top 10 let’s hope 2014 brings us a lot more of this
fantastic band.
9. Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - Mind Control (Rise Above Records)
Not
as instantly likeable as Blood Lust but a damn fine album that grows on you
with every listen.
8. Deicide - In the Minds of Evil (Century Media)
One
of the year’s strongest death metal releases and their best album for several
years.
7. Patrons of the Rotting Gate - The Rose Coil (The Path Less Traveled
Records)
An
amazing album, created by the UK’s own mad musical genius – some achievement when
we consider it’s predominantly the work of one very talented individual.
6. Ihsahn - Das Seelenbrechen (Candlelight)
Another
masterpiece from one of metals most creative minds an excellent album that sees
Ihsahn explore more musical soundscapes.
5. Sheol - Sepulchral Ruins Below The Temple (Iron Bonehead/Invictus
Productions)
A
fantastic death metal debut, an essential addition to any collection from a
very exciting UK band, the UK death metal scene is so much healthier for their
presence.
4. Altar of Plagues - Teethed Glory & Injury (Candlelight & Profound
Lore Records)
Unfortunately
this is Altars of Plague’s final album, but what a way to end a fantastic
career.
3. Gorguts - Colored Sands (Season of Mist)
Technicality,
depth and beauty – an amazing return to the studio from Canada’s finest.
2. Cathedral - The Last Spire (Rise Above Records)
A
very fitting conclusion to Cathedral’s legacy, this album fully represents
Cathedral’s back catalogue from the straight up doom of “The Forest of
Equilibrium” to the eccentricities of “The Guessing Game”.
1. Carcass - Surgical Steel (Nuclear
Blast)
With
a series of amazing live performances and a top quality album 2013 was always
going to be Carcass’ year – an amazing return to form.
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