Martyrdod - Paranoia (2012)

If you want vicious, uncompromising d-beat (Swedish crust punk) then this album is a fine choice. However, be warned that it is at times monotonous, especially on the longer songs. If the band had chosen to make a shorter record, I think it would have packed even more of a punch, but as it is this is still a solid and brutal slice of punk that for the most part won't disappoint you.
8/10

Nebulous - The Quantum Transcendence of Death (2013)

This is a pretty good tech-death album that brings you pretty much what you'd expect of any tech-death album. Lots of complicated riffs, aggressive drumming, sci-fi lyrics, the standard fare. While it's not re-inventing the wheel of the genre, it's still enjoyable to me as a fan of traditional tech-death.
8/10

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

Megaherz - Gotterdammerung (2012)

 

This is a decent album that sounds quite a bit like Rammstein yet doesn't quite pack the same punch. There are catchy songs and some interesting riffs, but on the whole I was left somewhat disappointed by it. However,  they are still quite a talented band and I have hope that their other albums will be more satisfying.

7.5/10

Pythia - The Serpent's Curse (2012)

 

This is a solid symphonic metal release with great vocals, catchy choruses and some good riffs. Some of the songs did find my attention wavering a bit, but overall it's pretty enjoyable and something I'll be returning to in the future.

8.5/10

Stonerider - Fountains Left to Wake (2012)

 

Wow, this is one band that not only wears their influences prominently on their sleeves, but also mixes those influences into a unique stoner/blues concotion which is immensely satisfying. From Led Zeppelin to CCR to the old blues greats such as Robert Johnson, BB King etc, this is a very well-rounded and highly inspired record. All the songs are really catchy, and the vintage-sounding production is just killer. It's a heavy record, but its "heaviness" is much closer to the bluesy hard rock of Led Zeppelin than to the Sabbath-esque metallic riffage of many other stoner bands. Honestly, I think this band beats out their more popular blues-rock contemporaries such as Rival Sons and The Black Keys (not that those bands are bad by any means though.) In any case, I thoroughly recommend this album to all lovers of classic rock.

9.5/10

Finsterforst - Rastlos (2012)

 

This is an excellent atmospheric black metal/folk release that calls to mind the music of Moonsorrow. It's sweeping, epic stuff that makes you feel like you're right in the Lord of the Rings universe (as cheesy as that might sound). Like Moonsorrow, Finsterforst have a knack balancing harshness with epic melodies and storytelling so as to make for a provocative and beautifully grandiose musical statement. If you want music that really fires up the imagination then I highly recommend this to you.

9/10

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Pinata (2012)

When I first checked this band out on Youtube, I thought "swing-metal." When I checked out this album, I discovered that such a reductive term as that does not really apply to most of this band's music. The music is classicaly orchestrated, complex and very intriguing. It is certainly one of the most unique metal albums I've listened to, but the strength of the album lies primarily in the airtight songwriting abilities of the band rather than the "novelty factor" (one could say the same about Volbeat, another very unique and very talented band). Everything from the riffs to the string sections to the amazing operatic vocals is carefully choreographed and expertly placed to form compelling and mostly quite catchy music. If you want to take a walk on the wild side of metal then I highly recommend this amazing album to you.
9.5/10

 

Dopethrone - III (2012)

This band takes stoner metal to the extreme with harsh, blackened vocals and an extra thick riffs. The music does drag in some spots, but overall it's very solid stuff and certainly unique in the genre. Recommended for fans of other extreme stoner bands such as Weedeater and Acid Witch.

8/10

Belzebong - Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves (2011)

Featuring catchy, heavier-than-lead riffs and thick, hazy atmospherics, Sonic Scapes & Weedy Grooves is an awesome instrumental stoner album. With any luck, Belzebong will be to stoner metal what Scale the Summit and Animals as Leaders are to prog metal. Here's hoping.
9/10

Actress - R.I.P. (2012)

Here's a very solid experimental electronic album that fuses IDM with ambient and throws in some vocal samples for good measure. It's quite diverse and each song has a unique identity. However, I think that at least on some of the tracks there was an over-emphasis on that identity and its novelty, and not enough in the way of development and composition. But this is still a very engaging and ambitious release that fans of Aphex Twin, Four Tet etc. should be happy with.
8.5/10

 

Saturnus - Saturn in Ascension (2012)

Saturnus are a pretty-well known doom/death band, but this is the first album of theirs that I've heard. It is really impressive. The epic, captivating melodies along with the classical elements help establish a beautiful, yet depressing atmosphere that calls to mind the work of Daylight Dies and others. In fact, this album is about as enjoyable as Daylight Dies most recent album "A Frail Becoming." If you're looking for emotional, dramatic death/doom then this is a must-listen.

9/10

Mantric Muse - Mantric Muse (2012)

If you're looking for Ozric Tentacles-esque prog-psych music then this band should do the trick. Like OZ, Mantric Muse is expansive, lush, and captivating. They construct very exotic atmospheres that give a sense of wonder and exploration to the music. Their mastery of the genre is quite apparent, and overall this is a very impressive debut release.
9/10

 

Riverside - Shrine of New Generation Slaves (2013)

The melancholic prog titans have returned with what may be their best effort yet. Borrowing liberally from Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and others, Riverside have no qualms about showing off every ounce of musical talent they possess on this album. Whether it's the complex keyboard-guitar interplay on "Escalator Shrine" or the infectious riffs of "Celebrity Touch," this is a band whose musical skills are a true force of nature. But the real strength of the band is Mariusz Duda's hypnotizing, mournful vocals which anchor the songs and give them a real sense of direction. The lyrical theme on the album is that of alienation from modern life due to technology and globalization so in that sense this very much feels like a concept album. But even more important than the question of it being a concept album is the question of how it ranks quality-wise. I can say that this ranks extremely high both in the band's discography and relative to other prog artists, and that it will easily fall into my "Best of 2013" list.
10/10

Void of Sleep - Tales Between Reality and Madness (2013)

Borrowing from bands such as Mastodon, High on Fire, and Black Sabbath, these highly talented Italian newcomers come bearing tons of great riffs and catchy, clean vocal lines. It's a heavy album, but not so heavy that you get lost in the distortion and lose focus of the music itself. This band has expertly crafted an thoroughly accessible album that really stands out in the already over-saturated doom scene. The acute balance between the doom atmosphere and the stoner fuzz is one of the band's key strengths and is why, I think, they have real potential.
9/10