Clutch - Earth Rocker

As this is only the second Clutch album I've listened to in full, I can say that this band is quickly becoming one of my favorites in the stoner genre. Their infectious grooves, upbeat attitude, and fiery vocals have me hooked. With influences from artists such as Jimi Hendrix and ZZ Top, this is an album that will have you dancing and partying all night long. I highly recommend it.
9.5/10

Boris - Praparat (2013)

Following up on the poppy "Attention Please," legendary Japanese experimental masters Boris have returned with their 18th album that, for the most part, takes them back to their drone roots. It's a very diverse affair with comparisons to be drawn to artists as varied as My Blood Valentine (especially on the second track "Elegy"), Earth, Sunn O))), and even Lustmord on the last track. While none of this is exactly new territory for Boris, the whole album nonetheless feels fresh and innovative. Nor are are the drone tracks as heavy as the ones on, say, "Amplifier Worship" or "Pink" but the beautifully dark mood Boris set with them more than makes up for that fact. While this is not my favorite work of theirs, I am glad to see Boris continuing to crank out solid material like this after so many great albums. This is undoubtedly a worthy addition to their catalog.
9/10

Jimi Hendrix - People, Hell and Angels (2013)

First of all, it's astounding just how much material Hendrix left behind and how it's still in the process of being released over 40 years after his death. Second of all, this is a very accomplished album, and further demonstrates just how much of a guitar master Hendrix was (not that we needed any more proof.) People, Hell and Angels does contain a number of hard rock/psychedelic tracks, but is more oriented towards Hendrix's experimentation with blues, soul and funk. A few of the songs didn't quite pique my interest and sounded incomplete, but most of them are what you'd expect from one of the most renowned guitarists of all time. While I can't say I like this nearly as much as the original three albums, it's still a joy to hear new Hendrix tunes in 2013.
8.5/10

 

Paysage d'Hiver - Das Tor (2013)

This album represents all that I really love about black metal: It's dark, brooding, intense, mesmerizing, cathartic, heavily atmospheric, bleak and, of course, grim and frostbitten. However, while it's being all dark and evil, it's also oddly relaxing and conducive to meditation. The hypnotic riffs, barely discernible vocals, and icy ambiance all make for an immersive experience into an harsh, alien landscape that leaves you at once disconnected and alone, yet connected to something larger than yourself by unknown means. As I've only heard one other album (Winterkalte) from this genius artist, it's hard to say how Das Tor fits in the grand scheme of Wintherr's discography, but I suspect it's his best to date. Others have commented that this album takes a slightly different approach than previous ones due to its similarity to Darkspace and Vinterriket, and I think this holds true. These influences give Das Tor an extra layer of depth and darkness that push it to perfection. I would not be surprised if this ends up being my favorite black metal release of 2013.
10/10

 

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

Long Distance Calling - The Flood Inside (2013)

As my first experience with this band, I can see they have a whole lot of talent but weren't really able to make a cohesive record. This is especially the case with the tracks that have vocals in them. As compared to the excellent instrumentals on the album, the vocal tracks lack the dynamism and sense of adventure that the former have. In turn, that makes the album feel rather disjointed and schizophrenic which is not a good thing in a demanding genre such as post-rock (or any other genre for that matter.) Unlike the new Olafur Arnalds album in which vocals were integrated nicely into a genre that normally doesn't feature vocals at all, the vocals on this album detract not only from the music backing them but also affect the album as a whole. Then again, those tracks aren't actually bad; they just don't fit with the album's flow. So overall, it's a mixed bag. But I am interested in checking out their earlier albums without vocals as I'm sure they'll be superb.
8/10

 

Olafur Arnalds - For Now I Am Winter (2013)

One of the most recognizable names in ambient-classical fusion, Olafur Arnalds has returned for his third proper album and this he's brought Arnor Dan Arnarson of Icelandic band Agent Fresco with him. Mixing in vocals with this style of music is an unexpected and rather risky move, but Arnarson's sweet, almost Jonsi-like falsetto melts into the songs with ease. Other than the addition of vocals, Arnalds mostly sticks to his guns and delivers expertly crafted, beautiful atmospheric tracks riddled with his trademark icy beats. It's an epic, gorgeous album that, along with the new Ludovico Einaudi record, is sure to be one of the best classical albums of the year and possibly Arnalds' best.
9/10

 

The Flaming Lips - The Terror (2013)

After 2009's rather disappointing "Embyro," The Flaming Lips  have returned with what is one of the best albums of their career. Always unpredictable, "The Terror" sees the band further developing some of the sounds they had previously dabbled in on "Yoshimi." It's a very laid back, spacey album that wears its Krautrock influences on its sleeve. It's also quite a beautiful album that takes multiple listens to absorb. It may not have the over-the-top ambition of "Yoshimi" or "At War With the Mystics," but it's still a unique and excellent addition to the band's discography and further cements their position as one of the best modern psychedelic bands around.
9/10

 

Soilwork - The Living Infinite (2013)

Good melodeath is rather hard to come by these days seeing as how many bands are doing it and so few really succeed. However, one of greats of the genre have returned to show everybody how it's done with what may be their best album yet. Whereas the previous few were inconsistent quality-wise, "The Living Infinite" contains no filler and all thriller. From the riffs to the melodies to the solos to the choruses, this double album is packed with catchy, heavy moments that really grab your attention. It's a very satisfying listen and shows that bands who are considered to be "past their prime" can surprise the music world and put out some of the best stuff of their whole career. Melodeath might not be entering a renaissance with this album, but Soilwork sure are.
9/10

Autechre - Exai (2013)

One of the most influential and ambitious electronic groups has returned after three years with what may be their best album since "Amber." Autechre are as glitchy as ever on this album with meandering, dense passages that makes one imagine being walking through an endless labyrinth. Per usual, this is not a very easy listen as its schizophrenic nature wedges it in between the safe, familiar world of electronic dance music and the bizarre, chaotic world of avant-garde. As with other IDM artists such as Aphex Twin, as well as with Autechre's previous albums, Exai presents a bold challenge to the listener to not only enjoy its quirkiness, but to appreciate it as an artistic statement. I think this album works very well on both levels and would highly recommend it to any electronic music fan.
9/10

 

How To Destroy Angels - Welcome Oblivion (2013)

Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor and his wife Mariqueen have concocted a dark, brooding experience that sucks you in with its seductive beauty. Unsurprisingly, the music is very similar to NIN, but the key difference is Mariqueen's fragile, haunting vocals which allow for a wider range of emotions and themes. Additionally, HTDA has more in common with Reznor's recent film score work than the most recent NIN albums (The Slip and Ghosts I-IV) which are more guitar-driven. The music flows very organically and peers into the dark corners of the psyche with unnatural ease. The subtle glitch work and menacing bass beats make for an atmospheric, eerie journey that will make your spine tingle.
9/10

Darkthrone - The Underground Resistance (2013)

This is the first of Darkthrone's non-black metal albums I've had the pleasure of listening to and though I admittedly prefer their black metal era, this is still a very good metal album. On "The Underground Resistance," Darkthrone show unabashed love for their influences including such heavyweights as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Motorhead, and Celtic Frost. Considering the punkish aesthetic and occasionally semi-harsh vocals employed, one can see that the band have not completely abandoned their roots. Besides the last two tracks being unnecessarily long, this is an enjoyable album filled with great riffs and epic songs. It would be hard even for the diehard fans of their old stuff to not appreciate such a convincing, well-written album as this one.
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

Atoms for Peace - Amok (2013)

As a massive fan of all things Radiohead and Thom Yorke, I was eagerly anticipating this album and now that I've listened to it I can say it's absolutely amazing. In fact, it sounds quite similar to Radiohead's recent work in that it features hypnotic guitar melodies/bass lines, beautiful ambient glitches, and of course Yorke's traditional crooning. Amok is less similar to Thom Yorke's previous non-Radiohead project "The Eraser" due to the latter's absence of guitars, but it's still in the same vein as it. All in all, it's a very dense and lush piece of art that deserves many listens to fully appreciate.
9.5/10

 

Eternal Tears of Sorrow - Saivon Lapsi (2013)

Like Omnium Gatherum, Eternal Tears of Sorrow is another Finnish death metal band that makes epic, melodic music but they add in symphonic elements to give the music a unique twist. This is my first full experience with this band and I'm quite impressed by it. The last track especially impressed me with its sheer epic quality and its showcasing of the band at its full potential. However, a few of the other songs on the album didn't quite hold my attention and the vocals sounded a bit typical, but despite these shortcomings this is still a very good record that shouldn't be missed.
8.5/10