Seven Sisters of Sleep - Opium Morals (2013)

Featuring brutal riffs, tortured vocals, and an extremely heavy atmosphere, this album is bound to be one of the heaviest of 2013. It perfectly blends grindcore with sludge in a very menacing and violent way. Like the new Nails release, it's pretty chaotic and claustrophobic, but there's definitely good music happening behind the thick wall of fuzz. If you're into bands like Napalm Death, Melvins, Acid Bath, Rotten Sound etc. then this album is sure to please your ears.
9/10

Nails - Abandon All Life (2013)

As with Nails debut "Unsilent Death," their second effort is no less brutal and violent. In fact, it might be even more so. It's an uncompromising, crushing album that will make your ears bleed and your head bang. It may be closer to hardcore punk than metal, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the heaviest albums I've ever heard. Definitely check this one out, but don't say I didn't warn you.

9/10

Gaza - No Absolutes in Human Suffering (2012)

 

This album can best be described both as a venomous, high-decibel rant against the world and as a sort of catharsis and search for order amidst the chaos. At times it's violent, ugly and suffocating and sometimes it's hypnotically beautiful. This is a truly unique album that takes post-metal back to its hardcore roots and blends the best aesthetic qualities of both genres into a potent and very organic synthesis. Lyrically, the band makes no qualms about assaulting you with their radical political and anti-Christian views which is perhaps why the music sounds so fresh and inspired. This is one of the darkest and most compelling hardcore albums I've heard yet and I urge you to give it a try.

9/10

Napalm Death - Utilitarian (2012)

Well I finally got around to listening to this, and I think it's a very solid effort from the most famous grindcore band in the world. I'm not really familiar with their older work so I can't compare it, but this album is incredibly raw and in-your-face as one would expect a grindcore album to be. There's a notable progressive-ish tinge to the album with frequent time changes and the addition of legendary avant-garde saxophonist John Zorn for a mean solo on "Everyday Pox." Utilitarian is full of unrelenting brutality that should please pretty much every metalhead including myself, but I did find my attention waning at times due to the sheer brutality of it. However, I still think it's a quite enjoyable work that will get better with repeated plays. I'm definitely looking forward to further digging into the band's discography.
8.5/10

Liberteer - Better to Die on Your Feet Than Live on Your Knees (2012)

This is one of the most vicious and uncompromising punk (technically grindcore) records I've ever heard. The lyrics are unabashedly anarchist, and the music is fast and extra brutal. This is basically The Casualties on steroids. What a thrillride it is.
8.5/10

Nails - Unsilent Death (2010)

It's fast, short and incredibly brutal. This is hardcore punk taken to its extreme. Nuff said.
9/10