Articles : Chris Maric’s Best Albums of 2013

Chris Maric, head honcho at Maric Media, a PR company based in Sydney, Australia that specialises in promoting heavy metal and hard rock music shares his top albums of 2013. Chris has been doing PR for over 16 years and has been fortunate enough to work alongside some of the biggest names in metal, and make a career out of something he loves doing.

Chris shares his thoughts on heavy metal in 2013.

“Metal is in a good spot as we close 2013. Its more out there than ever and becoming more commonplace which is great. Sure the underground will always be there but its great to see more bands arriving on the scene than DJs.”

Metal Obsession is pleased to have Chris Maric share his favorite local and international albums of 2013.

The Local List

Bronson – Blood Brothers

Blown away from the first listen – I have not been as excited by a release since I heard “Alive Or Just Breathing” by Killswitch Engage. The riffs, the aggression, the delivery. Its all there and its world class!

Check out “Right to Fight”

Bellusira – Connection

Flawless. The emotion conveyed on these songs is utterly convincing. It’s criminal that they haven’t been picked up by mainstream radio although they would still be considered heavy anyway. Great songs and an amazing vocalist.

Check out “Wake Up”

Recoil VOR – Sleep For The Masses

It’s a definite grower but its so complex it needs to be. The band is developing in leaps and bounds too. Rich song structures while still retaining their thrash heart

Check out “Album Teaser”

As Angels Bleed – Self Titled

Could be put right up there alongside Within Temptation, Epica and all those female fronted Euro bands. The songs are lush, like the production and everything just sounds grandiose. Fantastic

Check out “Desire”

The Amenta – Flesh Is Heir

There is about 5 albums I know that really make me feel edgy and are hard to listen to since they evoke such a sense of unease. This is one of them.

Check out “Teeth”

Scar The Surface – From The Shadows To The Fire

Has had such awesome reviews and rightly so. Everything on this albums is exactly where it needs to be!

Check out “Unite Our Blood”

Perpetual End – Blood Complex

I love a good concept album and this is awesome – Dystopian, futurist and well conceived. I think if these guys honed in on that, their sound will morph into a parallel futurist society ala Fear Factory.

Check out “Album Teaser”

Feed Her To The Sharks – Savage Seas

More metal than core. I love their delivery and song structures. Live they are great too! Some international interest is circulating too!

Check out “Memory of You”

Northlane – Singularity

Super hyped band of the year but its justified. Here’s hoping the trend of quality Australian releases continues into 2014 and the world becomes a more level playing field

Check out “Quantum Flux”

Lord – Digital Lies

Cause Andy would get the shits if I didn’t mention the awesome power metal goodness the boys continue to serve up! Haha

Check out “Because We Can”

The International List

Carcass – Surgical Steel

Because. Because it melted my face the second I heard it. Because it’s like they never left. Because its simply better than the majority of death metal albums I’ve head I the last decade. It rules!

Check out “Captive Bolt Pistol”

The Monolith Deathcult – Tetragrammaton

Makes Dimmu Borgir sound like AC/DC. I don’t think you could fill another moment with sound there is so much going on. If Darth Vader was a composer, this is what he would come up with

Check out “Gods Amongst Insects”

The Defiled – Daggers

Another fantastic sounding album. Due to modern production it’s fairly easy to sound grand and epic but it’s another to have the songs that take it to another level. These guys made me come back again and again to the album. That doesn’t happen very often so they’re doing something right.

Check out “Unspoken”

Killswitch Engage – Disarm The Descent

Everyone can relax now, Jesse is back. And what a way to come back! I love “Alive Or Just Breathing” and can give or take everything that came after it. This is a great comeback record!

Check out “The New Awakening”

Black Star Riders – All Hell Breaks Loose

Sure its technically Thin Lizzy under a different name or a Ricky Warwick solo record, but it rocks. A great straight up foot stomping rock and roll record direct from a time when all their was was rock n roll. Looking for no frills, good songs? Check this out.

Check out “Kingdom of the Lost”

Motorhead – Aftershock

Or this. How a band like Motorhead gets heavier and better with age is mystery and I don’t care. I just hope Lem has a few more like this left in him

Check out “Heartbreaker”

Red Fang – Whales and Leeches

The next Baroness? Probably not but fuck do they know how to riff! Maybe the next Kyuss!

Check out “Blood Like Cream”

We Came As Romans – Tracing Back Roots

Maybe I’m late to the party on these guys as some reviews didn’t take too kindly to what I thought was a fantastic modern heavy album. Not core, not metal and who really cares – Its like metalised pop music really and it sounds oh so good!

Check out “Tracing Back Roots”

Clutch – Earth Rocker

This has been the year of big riffs over velocity for me – Crusing to middle age? Maybe, or maybe some huge chunky groove is the order of the day (year).

Check out “Earth Rocker”

Alterbridge – Fortress

I’ve been a fan of Myles Kennedy since he was in The Mayfield Four, a band no one has ever heard of but who released to fantastic hard rock albums. Creed always wanted to be more metal and now they are! Haha.

Check out “Addicted To Pain”

Metal Obsession wishes to thank Chris Maric for taking the time to share his top albums of 2013. If you have a new album or tour coming up that needs a professional touch, Chris Maric is definitely your man. Contact him today to find out about his album and tour package programs. www.maricmedia.com.au

Related Posts

• 

  HJELVIK – Welcome to Hel
• 

  AC/DC – Power Up
• 

  Depravity – Grand Malevolence
• 

  Pioneering Aussie metal drummer Matt ‘Skitz’ announces 2021 national tour.