Metallomusikum’s favorite metal albums of 2013

Last year, I initiated what I called the HOLY SHIT LIST or my favorite albums of the year. I had certain criteria such as the recording had to be a full-length, not a reissue or compilation and most importantly it must cause me to declare “Holy Shit” at least three times while listening to it. This year I figured I would spread the wealth and get some input from two of my favorite boys on earth, my loving husband and drummer for Iron Man, Jason “Mot” Waldmann, and my concert-going buddy and podcasting partner Derek “Whiskey” Beam.

We got real drunk on whiskey, cider and beer and recorded a podcast, which, if you are brave enough you can listen to here. However, if you would like to spare yourself (and us) the embarrassment of listening to three people (mostly just me) slip into the abyss of alcoholism, you can just review our handy lists below. If you want to hear our slurred commentary on each album, you will have to listen to the podcast.

For background, it might help to know that the three of us come from different decades: Derek is in his 30s, Jason is in his 40s and me, well let’s just say that I am soon approaching that half-century mark. How this may or not influence our musical preferences is unclear, but I think it does have some bearing on our musical experiences to date. That said, Derek, tends to prefer and listen to a lot of stoner metal and doom, Jason goes for thrash and NWOBHM, and I favor black and death metal as well as some hardcore.

So here we go, youngest to oldest. Not surprisingly, there is very little overlap in our lists! Derek and I both listed 13 albums for 2013, but Jason only did 12 because he felt that was enough. Jason also did not have any honorable mentions. Looking back over these lists, I am surprised by what is NOT on them, as compared to the other best of lists I have seen out there. Clearly we all march to the beat of a different drummer here at Metallomusikum.

Derek’s Top Album List for 2013

13 – ASG – Blood Drive
12 – Wolvserpent – Perigea Antahkarana
11 – Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats – Mind Control
10 – Ulcerate – Vermis
9 – Black Sabbath – 13
8 – Church of Misery – Thy Kingdom Scum
7 – Windhand – Soma
6 – Iron Man – South of the Earth
5 – Mammoth Grinder – Underworlds
4 – Inter Arma – Sky Burial
3 – Stomach Earth – s/t
2 – Nails – Abandon All Life
1 – Jex Thoth – Blood Moon Rise

Honorable Mentions:
Primitive Man – Scorn (reissue)
Black Tusk – Tend No Wounds (EP)
Conan/Bongripper split (split)
Wounded Giant – Lightning Medicine (reissue? Not sure)

Jason’s Top Album List for 2013

12 – Deep Purple – Now What
11 – Cathedral – The Last Spire
10- Beelzefuzz – s/t
9 – The Melvins -Tres Hombres
8 – Saxon – Sacrifice
7 – Voivod – Target Earth
6 – Black Sabbath – 13
5 – Red Fang – Whales and Leeches
4 – Vista Chino – Peace
3 – Revocation- s/t
2 – Trouble – The Distortion field
1 – Death Angel – The Dream Calls for Blood

Mary’s Top Album List for 2013

13 – Beelzefuzz –s/t
12 – The Ocean –Pelagial
11- Red Fang –Whales and Leeches
10 – The Dillinger Escape Plan – One of Us is the Killer
9 – Corrections House — Last City Zero
8 – Exivious – Liminal
7 – Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult – Necrovision
6 – Aeternus – ….and the seventh his soul detesteth
5 – Arckanum — Fenriz Kinder
4 – Tribulation- The Formulas of Death
3 – In Solitude – Sister
2 – Wardruna – Runnaljog Yggdrasil
1 – Oranssi Pazuzu – Valonielu

Honorable Mentions:
Immortal Bird –Akrasia EP
Darkthrone – The Underground Resistance
Watain – The Wild Hunt
Selim Lemouchi and His Enemies – Earth Air Spirit Water
Iron Man – South of the Earth

What were your favorite albums of the year?