Top 10 - 2013 / By Steinmetal - Metal Temple Magazine

Top 10 - 2013 / By Steinmetal

No. 10 Band: Taberah Album: Necromancer General Info Year of formation: 2005 Label: Dust On […]

January 19, 2014

No. 10
Band: Taberah
Album: Necromancer

General Info
Year of formation: 2005
Label: Dust On The Tracks Records

The young Aussie Heavy Metal band showed their appreciation for the old school merits of the 80's, surging between traditional Metal to implantations of Speed / Power and Thrash. Certainly this is an act to watch out for in the coming years.

No. 9
Band: Unsouled
Album: Evolve

General Info
Year of formation: 2004
Label: Art Gates Records

I have never thought that I would be so psyched of technical Thrash Metal, ever since listening to the old bigots VOIVOD and ATHEIST. In their own unique way, the Spanish group did the honors for the genre while presenting excellent songwriting combined with their incredible instrumental abilities.

No. 8
Band: Eden's Curse
Album: Symphony Of Sin

General Info
Year of formation: 2006
Label: AFM Records

Melody loves company, so forget misery. The power crew of EDEN'S CURSE has never cease to amaze me, and now with a new Serbian vocalist, replacing Michael Eden, they rose to a different level. Forging crafty Hard N' Heavy music embraced with an 80's oriented fashion with a sharp glance towards the present, it was an amazing experience that should be noticed by many.

No. 7
Band: Alter Bridge
Album: Fortress

General Info
Year of formation: 2004
Label: Roadrunner Records

After the CREED days I never really gave a second thought to listen to these guys, but given the chance I said what the heck. After suffocating this one for quite a while, I regret for not tracing them right from the get go. This is no CREED but much better, sophisticated and heavenly flowing, groovy, pounding but with a melodic inflammation. Catchy tune after another, excellent songwriting and shrewd arrangements, it was love at first sight.

No. 6
Band: Rotting Christ
Album: Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy

General Info
Year of formation: 1987
Label: Season Of Mist

The Greek lords of chaos have forever been one of my most influential extreme Metal bands of old times. Sinking deep into their culture, facing their old heritages and pagan obscurities, I found my true extreme Metal release of this year, a brand of nostalgic Black Metal, hindering Folk installments with a crushing blow that should not leave you standing.

No. 5
Band: A Pale Horse Named Death
Album: Lay My Soul To Waste

General Info
Year of formation: 2010
Label: SPV / Steamhammer Records

After the demise of TYPE O NEGATIVE I thought that I would never find an answer for a good well done NYC Groove / Doom Metal. Sure there was SEVEN VOID, but when I first listening to A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH, I knew that I found the rightful answer to my craving. The debut had me dazed and confused and the sophomore merely continued the venture, hard slashing grooves, keeping it American flavored, touching melancholy and a bleak aura that will never suffice, leaving a strong taste for more.

No. 4
Band: Voodoo Highway
Album: Showdown

General Info
Year of formation: 2010
Label: Dust On The Tracks Records

The boys are back in town, but not from the British Isle. This Italian group has been reliving the late 70's with a blast, crunchy Rock N' Roll, like THIN LIZZY and LED ZEPPELIN but with a fierce attitude. "Showdown" is a party fest of great riffs, classic Rock soloing and plainly a good fun in the sun, surely the best and ultimate Rock N' Roll piece of this year, another band to notice.

No. 3
Band: Nergard
Album: Memorial For A Wish

General Info
Year of formation: 2010
Label: Battlegod Productions

While not being such a Progressive Metal, there have been always sparkles of light that pinned me down to my chair and just listening. Listening to this concept album made me feel connected to my surroundings, trying to understand reality better. Kristian Nergard is practically a genius, creating a manifold of a dreamy existence with harsher anecdotes, rallying up various of stars and rising musicians for an explosive Progressive / Power Metal instigation, so emotive and immensely strong. Can't wait to listen to more of his creations in the future.

No. 2
Band: Thaurorod
Album: Anteinferno

General Info
Year of formation: 2002
Label: NoiseArt Records

I missed the old 90's flame of Euro Power Metal, and gladly for bands like THAUROROD, which no matter the lineup changes, this Finnish group blasts as if nothing happened. Infusing catchy notes, energetic bullet train music, these guys made DRAGONFORCE's technical attributes demonstrations to look like a mere show and tell. Within their utmost capabilities, there are actual songs, hits to be carved in stone. This is a prospect that will rise to glory.

No. 1
Band: Saxon
Album: Sacrifice

General Info
Year of formation: 1978
Label: UDR Music

The kind of Metal, maybe not, but a band that never failed to impress, sometimes more and at times less, but this year they retained their older selves with triumph. The British icons of NWOBHN embellished with hard to the bone Metal, reminding their past with glory, dancing a bit with the modern art but without straying away from their 80's legacy. A strong arm of the law landing on the sacrificial alter gazing at the crown jewel of a Heavy Metal thunder. SAXON still has it in tons, and "Sacrifice" is the living proof the best of what this year could come up with.

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