Top 50 of 2013: No.42: Earthtone9 - IV (Self-Released)

Pretty much nothing can stop the juggernaut that is Earthtone9, a nine year absence just seems to have fuelled their fire which culminated in 2011’s fan funded ‘For Cause & Consequence’ EP, and not breaking from that formula they did the same in 2013 for new album, imaginatively titled ‘IV’. And for a band that released a metal classic in ‘arc’tan’gent’ expectations for me anyway were extremely high, so when ‘March of the Yeti’ literally storms out of the opening gates, I breathe a sigh of relief. Throughout the album Karl Middleton’s vocals veer from huge melodies to bellowing shouts over the top of grooving progressive riffs, how these guys never got bigger back in the day is a mystery, however their cult status is confirmed enough that they have a festival named after the previously mentioned classic. ‘Our Last Sunrise’ takes things down to a calmer level before the band let rip again on pre-album single ‘Horizons End’ welcome back lads, it’s been too long.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.earthtone9.co.uk/PRODUCT_et9IVALBUM.html

Top 50 of 2013: No.43: Evile - Skull (Earache)

Remember when Metallica were thrash?, back in the 80’s when thrash was thrash, when Slayer were releasing ‘Reign In Blood’ and ‘Master Of Puppets’ was slaying every album in it’s path, in an ideal world that’s when this album would have been released and it would today be considered one of the classics with the aforementioned albums. Which basically means Evile’s latest album ‘Skull’ is a destined to be a metal classic, so while people are going on about when any of the Big 4 will get off their arses and record something new and worthy of their legacy, Evile have decided to do it for them. Opener ‘Underworld’ kicks off with prime-hetfieldesque vocals over fast as fuck riffing and some of the most insane solo’s ever heard and from that point on there’s no let up, pile on top of this the clean vocals and massive chantalong anthemic songs and you have one of the best metal albums of not just last year but the last decade, oh and they're from Yorkshire which makes them better than other bands in general.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://webstore.earache.com/evile-pack-2?search=evile

Top 50 of 2013: No.44: Future Of The Left - How To Stop Your Brain In An Accident (Prescriptions)

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Purveyors of nonsense lyrics and angular rhythms, Future Of The Left have been Wales best kept secret for too long now, languishing in cult status while prolifically releasing a string of genius manifesto’s chock full of twisted pop-rock. Their latest crowd-funded effort is no exception, whether you want straight up acidic rock like ‘The Male Gaze’ or absolute gibberish babbled over chainsaw bass on ‘Singing of The Bonesaws’ which frankly just creeped me out, but in a good way. ‘French Lessons’ shows a mature softer side to the band that you wouldn’t usually associate, launching straight back into the vicious ‘How To Spot A Record Company’ and that’s where the genius lies, keeping you excited about what turn they’ll make next while still holding it all together in a cohesive structure, it’s a tightrope Future Of The Left have become experts at walking. If closing track 'Why Aren't I Going To Hell?' doesn't send chills down your spine then nothing well, sick evil stuff!!!

8.5/10

Buy here: http://futureoftheleft.net/shop/

Top 50 of 2013: No.45: Jetplane Landing - Don't Try (Smalltown America)

Welcome back Jetplane Landing, 6 years is too long to go without their cocky tongue in cheek brand of rock ‘n roll, and boy are they back. ‘Don’t Try’ is easily their most accomplished yet, creating a unique sound that manages to mix the intensity of At the Drive.In with the wackiness of Les Savy Fav driven home with melodies that would make Dave Grohl jealous, yet sounding absolutely nothing like those bands. Opening with the intense ‘Cheapskate Tricks for Worn Down People’ and only slowing down briefly during the anthem in waiting ‘My Radio Heart’, ‘Walls Of Derry’ follows recalling Kerbdog at their heaviest, if any other above bands appeal to you or you just like huge melodies mixed with heavy riffs, then you need to check out Jetplane, one of the most underrated bands and albums I’ve heard in quite some time, and as they themselves state, they were writing shit like this years ago.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.smalltownamerica.co.uk/

Top 50 of 2013: No.46: Stray From The Path - Anonymous (Sumerian)

Sometimes when you hear a band this good and you find out it’s their 7th album you wonder how the hell you’ve managed to never hear them before, Stray From The Path have managed to evade me for too long and based on this album I’ll be checking out their back catalogue. Kicking off with the punch to the face of ‘False Flag’ and not slowing down for nearly 40 minutes of RATM politically infused metal mixed with hardcore, the intensity on display here rivals bands like Snapcase and Downset and takes it up a further notch and adding Jason Aalon Butler of letlive to ‘Scissor Hands’ is a touch of genius as it gives the album one of it’s highlights, as is previous single ‘Landmines’, seriously I have no idea how I’ve not managed to hear these guys before but my ears are happy I have now.

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stray-Path/dp/B00E21D8KC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1392899988&sr=1-1&keywords=stray+from+the+path

Top 50 of 2013: No.47: Red City Radio - Titles (Paper + Plastik)

If doing this blog has done one thing it’s made me listen to more bands than ever before, and I was already listening to a lot, and the great thing about that is occasionally you come across some absolute gems. Red City Radio’s new album ‘Titles’ is one such gem, as soon as the chorus to opener ‘Two Notes Shy of an Octave’ hits, you know you’re on to a good thing, gruff barking vocals that would give Chuck Ragan a run for his money, however Red City Radio are no mere Hot Water copyists like so many bands seem to be trying to be these days, first off they actually have amazing songs which is what the copyists always lack, along with melodic sections and a whole heap of fun and energy. Every song on this album is crammed with either huge sing-along melodies or chant along anthems, it’s so rare to hear a new band where you love every song on the album, but Red City Radio have managed it, stand-out track ‘Don’t Be A Hero, Find a Friend’ shows everything that makes this band a crucial listen. I’ve also just found out their playing Santiago’s in Leeds on 16th May with Texan’s Perdition, get yourself down!!!!!

8.5/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Titles-Red-City-Radio/dp/B00H7GZJME/ref=sr_1_4?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1392894187&sr=1-4&keywords=red+city+radio

Top 50 of 2013: No.48: Satyricon - Satyricon (Roadrunner)

Kicking off with a hypnotic riff that could charm a snake Satyricon’s 8th album instantly worms its way through you and makes the 5 year wait worth every minute, as usual the Norwegian black metal band have polarised opinion which they have done throughout their career, because horror of horrors they dare stray from the original blueprint that they themselves were as much a part of creating. So if you are expecting them to return to a sound they pioneered 20 years ago, you’re shit out of luck, if you're expecting one of the best black metal crossover bands to evolve yet still produce excellent metal then this is the album for you. Satyricon have been producing excellent albums since 1994 and this latest is no exception, while not as brutally heavy as my favourite album ‘Now, Diabolical’ the song structures as usual are simple yet effective. While in my opinion having clean vocals courtesy of Sivert Høyem on the melodic ‘Phoenix’ doesn’t do much for the album, I do agree with them at least trying something different and it’s not so much an awful song, it just doesn’t really fit, album highlight is ‘The Infinity of Time and Space’ which is an epic masterpiece in itself. Let’s hope the next one doesn’t take quite as long.

8/10

Buy here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Satyricon-Limited-Digipack-Version/dp/B00E0W8ROU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1392832687&sr=1-1&keywords=satyricon