2013 was the most difficult year of my life. This was the music that helped me get through it. How do I pick my top 5 albums of the year? Simple. The ones I keep listening to the most, and that I think I’ll still be listening to for years to come.
5. Motorhead – Aftershock
Same old Motorhead, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Classic rock n’ roll at a thousand decibels! Motorhead is like whiskey. It’s rough and it packs a punch. You either like it or you don’t. Real men like it.
Highlights: Coup de Grace, Lost Woman Blues, Silence When You Speak to Me
4. Newsted – Heavy Metal Music
The title is what you get. It’s basic heavy metal. No fancy production tricks. Just bare-bones groovy riffs and ass-kicking power, from the very charismatic former Metallica member Jason Newsted.
Highlights: Soldierhead, As the Crow Flies, King of the Underdogs
3. Rob Zombie – Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor
Rob Zombie surprised me this year with what I think is his best album since Sinister Urge. The songs seem like they were written very spontaneously. It has a fun, clapping, foot-stomping, frolicky nature to it. It’s like the soundtrack to a ghoul’s graveyard party.
Highlights: Ging Gang Gong, Rock and Roll in a Black Hole, Behold the Filthy Creatures, American Band (Grand Funk Railroad cover)
2. Black Sabbath – 13
The long-awaited comeback album that seemed like would never happen, actually happened! It’s the first Black Sabbath album to feature 3/4 of original members since Born Again (1983), and the first with Ozzy on vocals since Never Say Die (1978). It lived up to the hype and delivered exactly what we hoped for. Doomy, heavy blues-based rock and a throwback to the early classic days of Black Sabbath. (Don’t miss the 4 bonus tracks)
Highlights: God is Dead?, Loner, Age of Reason, Damaged Soul, Peace of Mind
1. Ghost – Infestissumam
The sophomore album from Ghost. (There’s about 17 other bands named Ghost, but this is the one!) Words I would use to describe it are epic, trippy, and mind-bending. Under its dark mask of evil are songs that are beautiful and melodic. They won’t get out of my head!
Highlights: Zombie Queen, Body and Blood, Depth of Satan’s Eyes, …all of them.