BEST ALBUMS OF 2013

Well, it’s that time of the year again to select those bands that make your jaw drop because the music they make, the quality of their sound, their songwriting, the vocals, and total dedication…  Pearl Jam, Alter Bridge, Primal Scream, The Strypes, MGMT, MBV, Alice in Chains, Dawes, The Naked and Famous, Shadowboxer… are only a few in our list of Best Albums of 2013, what we consider the best and brightest. There are some bands and solo artists we had the pleasure to follow for several years, and continue to do so, Tame Impala, Flaming Lips, Grizzly Bear, Lamb of God, Muse… and many, many others. Some have gone on to greatness, and others have slipped away into obscurity, but they’ve all deserved a few minutes of your attention.  Either we understand the music they create and appreciate and admire their creativity, musicianship, the quality of their sound, the brilliant songwriting, the vocals…  or we don’t. This year we made the decision to make our list in alphabetical order (band/solo artist name), not ranked, and with links to the artists’ official website. It’s been a year in music we have fully enjoyed thanks to these artists.  No hype, no bullshit – just good music!  It’s been a lot of work but now that we’ve finished the list,  we wish you enjoy discovering and arguing about all the artists we’ve selected for this year’s list.

The Best Albums of 2013

Alice in Chains – ‘The Devil Put Dinosaurs There’ / Capitol

Alter Bridge – ‘Fortress’ / Roadrunner

A Perfect Circle – ‘A Perfect Circle Live’: Featuring Stone and Echo [A Perfect Circle Entertainment]

Arcade Fire – ‘Reflektor’ / Merge Records

Arctic Monkeys – ‘AM’ / Domino

Bryce Dessner and The Kronos – ‘Aheym’

Chelsea Wolfe – ‘Pain Is Beauty’ / Sargent House

Chvrches – ‘The Bones of What You Believe’ / Glassnotes Records

Daft Punk – ‘Random Access Memories’ / Columbia Records

Dawes – ‘Stories Don’t End’ / Relativity Records, HUB Records

Dinosaur Pile-Up – ‘Nature Nurture’ / SO Recordings

Flaming Lips – ‘The Terror’ / Warner Bros (U.S.); Bella Union (U.K.)

God Is An Astronaut – ‘Origins’ / Rocket Girl (RGIRL98) / Playlist

Grizzly Bear – ‘Shields'(B-sides) / Warp Records

Kid Cudi – ‘IndiCud’ / Wicked Awesome, Republic (current)

Jake Bugg – ‘Jake Bugg’ / Mercury (UK), Island (US)

Janelle Monae – ‘he Electric Lady’ / Bad Boy Records

Kurt Vile – ‘It’s a big world out there’ [EP] [Matador]

Lamb of God – ‘As the Palaces Burn’ / Prosthetic, Epic, Black Market Activities

MBV – ‘m b v’ / Self-released

MGMT – ‘MGMT’ / Columbia

Nine Inch Nails – ‘Hesitation Marks’ / Polydor Records

of Montreal – ‘Lousy with Sylvianbriar’ / Polyvinyl Record Co.

Palma Violets – ‘180’ / Rough Trade Records

Pearl Jam – ‘Lightning Bolt’ / Monkeywrench Republic Records

Primal Scream – ‘2013’ New Album ‘More Light’ Full Length Official / Ignition Records

Savages – ‘Silence Yourself’ / Matador Records

Shadowboxer – ‘Deaf Dumb Blind and Mute’ / Avalve Rec

Stone Temple Pilots – ‘High Rise’  / Rhino

The Killing Floor – ‘High Output’ EP /

The Naked and Famous – ‘In Rolling Waves’ / Somewhat Damaged

The National – ‘Trouble Will Find Me’ / 4AD

The Strokes – ‘Comedown Madhine’ / RCA Records

The Strypes – ‘Snapshot’ / Virgin EMI Records

Vampire Weekend – ‘Modern Vampires of The City’

Watch: LAMB OF GOD “Vigil” music video premiere – A True Gem!

The song, ‘Vigil’ is one of LoG’s most iconic tracks and was featured on the album As The Palaces Burn which was recently released digitally remastered to celebrate it’s 10th anniversary.  The remastering has done wonders for this song, and it rocks every bit as much as it did when the album was released. Here’s to some nostalgic headbanging. You can check the video out below:

About the Album:
As the Palaces Burn is the third studio album by American groove metal band Lamb of God, released under Prosthetic Records in 2003. As the Palaces Burn received considerably more airplay than their previous effort, with three singles. The album was produced by Lamb of God and Devin Townsend. The album has sold around 250,000 copies in the United States. The band are releasing a 10th anniversary edition of the album this on November 2013, with remixed and remastered tracks, including bonus demo tracks.

Their second album, “As the Palaces Burn”, is a brutal barrage that pulls no punches and pummels the listener’s ear drums. With its impenetrable wall of sound, killer double bass drumming, fiery guitar work and an occasional guitar solo, this album should be any and every metalhead’s dream.

The band didn’t make this album on a major record label, so there isn’t a big production job. Thus, singer Randy Blythe’s voice and Chris Adler’s drums are more raw than on their next release, “Ashes of the Wake.” It’s up for debate whether that’s a good thing or not, but there’s no denying that Blythe’s yell/growl goes great with the background music.

Due to the production, Blythe’s vocals take a back seat to the guitars and drums. Drummer Chris Adler is at the root of Lamb of God’s attack. He makes the beat a big, relentless wave which gets shoved down the listener’s throat. But he sometimes creates breakdowns that change the beat (to a usually slower and heavier one). Sometimes, when listening to this album, I could have sworn Adler wasn’t beating his drums, but beating the outside of my headphones. Adler’s persistent double bass drumming (which is usually a death metal blast beat or machine gun attack) and Blythe’s Cookie Monster vocals make Lamb of God stand out from other “New Wave of Metal” bands.

“Ruin” is a good representation of Lamb of God: super aggressive, hard hitting and raw. It has a “ba boom boom” beat with pounding drums and Blythe shrieks like he’s being stabbed. There’s a breakdown in the middle of the song (following the guitar solo), making a bobbing beat with bobbing guitars. It ends with another mini solo and a small explosion sound.

“Purified” features guest guitar work by ex-Megadeth axeman Chris Poland. The solo he lays down here is good, but I would have definitely liked it more if it were longer.

“11th Hour” is the lead single and a personal favorite. The whole song is catchy, but I like it when Blythe bellows over just the double bass (no other instruments). Also, this song has GREAT give-and-take between the guitars and drums. After this part, it turns to Pantera-style riffing.

“Boot Scraper” begins with cascading (almost machine gun) riffs and drums, but my favorite part of this song is pounding double bass solo. Adler must have had bricks attached to his feet when he was playing this part.

“A Devil in God’s Country” is almost mind boggling (with rapid, back-and-forth guitar and drum work).

“Blood Junkie” begins with an almost inaudible spoken word, but the vocals gain volume as the song progresses. This track is a highlight because it has (1,2,3,) 4 beat changes and heavy breakdowns. Part of this song has bobbing riffs.

“As the Palaces Burn”  is a contagious album,  there should be nothing to deter you from checking this album out if you love metal or thrash or the “New Wave of American Heavy Metal” scene. Or, if you are just tired of hearing such bands as Nickelback or other wimpy modern rock bands that control the radio’s airwaves, Lamb of God should be your dream come true.

Track listing:

All songs written and composed by Lamb of God.

No.	Title	Length
1.	“Ruin”	3:55
2.	“As the Palaces Burn”	2:24
3.	“Purified”	3:11
4.	“11th Hour”	3:44
5.	“For Your Malice”	3:43
6.	“Boot Scraper”	4:34
7.	“A Devil in God’s Country”	3:16
8.	“In Defense of Our Good Name”	4:13
9.	“Blood Junkie”	4:23
10.	“Vigil”	4:42
Total length:		38:06

10th Anniversary bonus tracks
No.	Title	Length
11.	“Ruin” (demo)
12.	“As the Palaces Burn” (demo)
13.	“Blood Junkie” (demo)

Personnel:

Lamb of God

• Randy Blythe – vocals
• Mark Morton – lead and rhythm guitar
• Willie Adler – lead and rhythm guitar
• John Campbell – bass
• Chris Adler – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Chris Poland – lead guitar on “Purified”
• Devin Townsend – guitar on “A Devil in God’s Country”
• Steve Austin appears on “11th Hour”

Personnel

• Devin Townsend – production, engineering
• Shaun Thingvold – mixing
• Louie Teran – mastering
• Carla Lewis, Dan Kearley, Dennis Solomon, Grant Rutledge, Scott Cooke – assistant engineers
• Petar Sardelich – engineer for Chris Poland
• K3N – artwork
• Adam Wentworth – picture disc artwork redesign

Here is a look at the documentary that comes with the 10th anniversary edition of As The Palaces Burn, featuring interviews with the band, and producer Devin Townsend and other people involved in the process.  Pre-order the album here.

Metal Injection are giving away A Pair of Tickets to Each Stop of the LAMB OF GOD, Tour!

Enter to win tickets: Metal Injection

Lamb of God Premiere Video Trailer for “As the Palaces Burn” Reissue

Lamb Of God

Metal masters Lamb of God are getting ready to reissue their second album, As the Palaces Burn, on November 11 via Razor & Tie. The album was remixed by longtime producer Josh Wilbur, and the reissue features three unreleased demos and a 70-minute documentary telling the story behind the album via interviews with band members and original album producer Devin Townsend. The CD package features updated artwork by longtime Lamb of God designer Ken Adams and a new booklet essay by former Revolver Editor in Chief Tom Beaujour.

In anticipation of the release, the band has teamed up with Revolver to premiere a video trailer for the documentary that is a part of the reissue. Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

For more on Lamb of God check out their website and Facebook page. To order the As the Palaces Burn reissue, go to Lamb of God’s http://lambofgod.merchnow.com/ site.

Lamb Of God – As The Palaces Burn 10th Anniversary DVD Trailer

As Lamb of God winds down the touring cycle for their sixth studio album Resolution, they have announced the release of a remixed and remastered version of their second album, As the Palaces Burn, on November 11th via Prosthetic/Razor & Tie. You can check out a remixed track of “Purified” below.

The album remixed by longtime producer Josh Wilbur features three unreleased demos and a 70-minute story behind the album documentary featuring interviews with all five band members, including original album producer Devin Townsend. The CD package features updated artwork by longtime Lamb of God designer Ken Adams and a new booklet essay by former Revolver Editor in Chief Tom Beajour.

The album will be released during the final North American leg of the Resolution tour cycle featuring Killswitch Engage, Testament, and Huntress. The band will then bring the Resolution cycle to an end with an UK/Europe tour in January featuring Decapitated and Huntress. The final shows will be in South Africa on January 24 and 25. This will be the band’s first visit to that continent.

The Resolution cycle was the most eventful of the band’s long career. Starting in January 2012 with a #3 debut on Billboard, touring began on January 25 of that year and ends exactly two years later. In that period, the band was faced with a career threatening crisis with the arrest and incarceration of vocalist Randy Blythe. After a trial that ended in acquittal, the prosecution appealed and the initial verdict was upheld.

Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe will be releasing a memoir centered on his life and trail in the Czech Republic.

In the book, which is due out in the spring of 2014, Blythe will cover his much publicized arrest, incarceration, trial, and acquittal for manslaughter in the Czech Republic last year.

In a press release, Blythe said, “While I’ve dreamed of being a published author almost since I began to read, I never imagined my first book would center around such a sad topic. Sometimes though, life unexpectedly provides you a story that needs to be told. I believe this one does (for several different reasons, not just for the benefit of myself), so I will tell it with the respect and dignity all involved deserve. This will be a good read, I promise you, and I hope some good comes of it.”

To preorder As The Palaces Burn, go to lambofgod.merchnow.com.

Lamb Of God – Purified (2013 Remixed & Remastered Version)

PERFORMER ALERTS – LAMB OF GOD UPCOMING CONCERTS U.S. & EUROPE

Lamb of God – Upcoming concerts

Lamb of God Tickets and Concert Dates

New York/Tri-State Area (3)

Oct 25 Fri	Roseland Ballroom New York, NY 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »
Oct 26 Sat	Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre Wallingford, CT 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »on Live Nation
Nov 22 Fri	Starland Ballroom Sayreville, NJ 06:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage	Find Tickets »on Partner Site

United States Of America (1 – 7 of 14)

	Myth Maplewood, MN Multiple Dates and Times	Rock Savings Package: Volbeat Aug 23rd and Lamb Of God Nov 18th Details: VOLBEAT, HIM, Airbourne, Lamb of God, more…	Find Tickets »
Oct 28 Mon	Lifestyle Communities Pavilion Columbus, OH 06:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »
Oct 29 Tue	The Fillmore Detroit Detroit, MI 06:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Testament, more…	Find Tickets »on Live Nation
Nov 1 Fri	The Midland by AMC Kansas City, MO 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God And Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage	Find Tickets »on Partner Site
Nov 2 Sat	Verizon Theatre At Grand Prairie Grand Prairie, TX 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »on Partner Site
Nov 5 Tue	Fillmore Auditorium (Denver) Denver, CO 05:30 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »on Live Nation
Nov 8 Fri	Hollywood Palladium Hollywood, CA 06:00 PM	Full Metal Jackie presents: Lamb of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Huntress	Find Tickets »on Live Nation

United States Of America (8 – 14 of 14)

Nov 9 Sat	Fox Theater – Oakland Oakland, CA 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »
Nov 18 Mon	Myth Maplewood, MN 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God And Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament	Find Tickets »
Nov 20 Wed	Orbit Room Grand Rapids, MI 06:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »
Nov 23 Sat	House of Blues Boston Boston, MA 04:30 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »on Live Nation
Nov 24 Sun	The Electric Factory Philadelphia, PA 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage	Find Tickets »
Nov 25 Mon	STAGE AE Pittsburgh, PA 06:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »
Nov 26 Tue	The Fillmore Silver Spring Silver Spring, MD 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Testament, Huntress	Find Tickets »on Live Nation

Dates Scheduled in Other Countries (2)

Oct 24 Thu	Métropolis Montreal, QC 07:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Testament, more…	Find Tickets »
Nov 15 Fri	BIG FOUR BUILDING Calgary, AB 06:00 PM	Lamb Of God & Killswitch Engage Details: Lamb of God, Testament, more…	Find Tickets »

EUROPE

City Venue Time Tickets

Aug 15 Amsterdam, Netherlands Melkweg 8pm

Aug 16 Dinkelsbuehl, Germany Summer Breeze 8pm

Aug 17 Hasselt, Belgium Pukkelpop 8pm

Aug 18 Paris, France Le Bataclan 8pm

Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe Cleared by Czech Appeals Court

Randy Blythe of Lamb of God at court in Prague, Czech Republic.
MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images

 

Not-guilty verdict upheld in manslaughter case against rocker 

Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe has been cleared once more of causing a fan’s death. According to Billboard, an appeals court in the Czech Republic has upheld a not-guilty verdict for Blythe, who in March was acquitted on a manslaughter charge in connection with the death of a fan at a concert in 2010.

The singer had been blamed for pushing the fan, Daniel Nosek, 19, from the stage during a performance in Prague. Nosek hit his head on the concrete floor and died two weeks later from injuries he sustained in the fall.

Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe has spoken out on his acquittal of manslaughter in Prague.  As he explains in an open letter on Instagram, Blythe is not looking to return to the Czech city for a long time but still holds love for it.

“This is a wonderful place and many people have been kind to me. Not a single soul here has been rude or mean to me at all, nor done me any harm – in fact it is quite the opposite,” he writes. “I have grown to love this city, for it is a marvelous, magical town. I encourage everyone to come visit here, to see this lovely country.”

A state prosecutor had appealed the not-guilty verdict, which Prague’s High Court upheld earlier this week. Blythe is currently on tour with Lamb of God and will be playing tonight in the Orpheum Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin.

Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe Found NOT GUILTY

American musician Randy Blythe was found NOT GUILTY!

Randy Blythe found innocent of manslaughter

by RVANews staff

Update #28 — March 5, 2013; 8:32 AM

Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe was today acquitted of manslaughter by three judges in Prague. The charges relate to the death of fan following a 2010 Lamb of God show in the Czech Capital after that fan was allegedly pushed off the stage by Blythe (see below)

Judges deferred requests by the victim’s family for compensatory damages to civil court.

In the last day of the trial, biomechanics expert George Straus testified on behalf of the defense that victim Daniel Nosek couldn’t rotate his body 180 degrees and land on his head after being pushed from the stage, as the prosecution contends. Straus also testified that Nosek couldn’t have been pushed over the first row of spectators, but would have to actively jump over them on his own accord.

But in closing arguments, prosecutors reaffirmed their stance that Blythe was responsible for Nosek’s death and asked that judges sentence Blythe to five years in prison.

Nosek’s family is also seeking 10 million Czech korunas (roughly $500,000) in compensatory damages from Blythe.

Before the verdict, Blythe addressed the court.

“I still believe that I have acted reasonably to protect” myself, the band, and the audience, Blythe said. “If I am guilty, I will take it like a man. If I am released, [Lamb of God] will take such precautions” to ensure similar events never happen at concerts.

— ∮∮∮ —

Update #27 — March 5, 2013; 7:36 AM

The Gauntlet is reporting that Randy Blythe has been found not guilty. The band’s official twitter account also tweeted that their lead singer is now free:

Lamb Of God ✔ @Lambofgodband

Randy is finally free – http://bit.ly/Z6iLBK 

12:34 PM – 05 Mar 13

Randy Blythe of Lamb of God attends a trial at the Prague City Court in Prague

Randy Blythe of Lamb of God attends a trial at the Prague City Court in Prague, Czech Republic. Photo:Milan Holakovsky/Getty Images

Via Rolling Stone

Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe’s manslaughter trial resumed on Monday in Prague, where the singer stands accused of violently pushing Daniel Nosek, a teenage fan, offstage in 2010, resulting in his death. Experts testified that the singer may exhibit aggressive and asocial tendencies under stress but he does not suffer from a personality disorder, citing the results of psychological testing conducted while he was remanded in custody for five weeks last summer.

“Every one of us could in their lifetimes get into a situation in which we act without mercy, but this is not a personality trait of his,” criminal psychiatrist Alena Gayova, appointed by the defense, said of Blythe, adding that the singer tested within “normal” ranges on various stress tests even while held in a Prague jail. The presiding judge, Tomas Kubovec, said a verdict will likely be handed down tomorrow.

This evaluation of Blythe’s character somewhat contradicted an earlier assessment by a court-appointed criminal psychologist, Tereza Soukoupova, who co-authored a report on the Blythe’s mental health using “new methods” and characterized him as exhibiting histrionic and asocial (albeit not deep-rooted) tendencies.

Addressing the court only once on Monday — and the psychologist directly — Blythe said, with apparent disbelief at the assessment of his character, “When I was in jail, I was given three tests. One was with some blocks, one was looking at some pictures in a magazine as you told stories. . . and the other a Rorschach test, which is a very old test.”

The prosecution had, in previous court sessions, called witnesses who spoke of Blythe’s allegedly aggressive handling of another fan who, like Nosek, had bypassed security and taken to the stage, three times by Blythe’s count. The singer has acknowledged pinning down that man, Milan Poradek — and published photos have captured that incident — but he denies having pushed Nosek, whom defense attorneys have suggested may have instead stage-dived. On Monday, one witness who was allegedly with Nosek that night — a tall, lanky high-school girl with dyed blue hair and dressed all in black — told the court she clearly remembered seeing Blythe shove Nosek off the stage that night.

“He climbed onto the stage, and when he tried to stand up, Blythe shoved him,” said the student, Anna Rozsivalova, demonstrating how the Lamb of God frontman allegedly used both hands to vigorously push the Czech boy by the shoulders, whom she said then fell backwards into the crowd. She described the atmosphere that night at the Abaton club, housed within an old factory, as “crazy.” In February, another friend of Nosek’s reportedly described Blythe as “physically aggressive” and said he was “100 percent sure” that the singer pushed him from behind with both hands.

Nosek, 19, initially appeared unharmed, his friends and other concertgoers have previously testified, but later that night — though reportedly sober — he complained of a headache and vomited, and was rushed to hospital. The Czech teen underwent emergency surgery to reduce swelling on his brain but lapsed into a coma and died a few weeks later.

The defense has pointed to numerous similar inconsistencies within testimonies — the concert took place three years before the trial, and many witnesses during the trial have struggled to recall details. Blythe’s attorneys have also cast blame on lax security at the club for allowing the repeat incidents to occur, and bandmates and others have testified to Blythe as being well-read and mild-mannered, with any aggression displayed on stage as being all part of the show.

On Tuesday, an expert on biomechanics, called by the defense, is due to explain how Nosek may have fallen to his death. If found guilty of manslaughter, Blythe faces up to 10 years in prison; he could also be found guilty of the lesser charge of negligence, which carries a suspended sentence. Nosek’s family is also demanding the equivalent of over $500,000 in damages.

Related posts:
Q&A: Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe on Imprisonment and Freedom