#1

STRYPER – No More Hell To Pay

Stryper gave to their fans, arguably their best studio album ever. With added pristine touches of relevant heaviness, melodies and goose bump inducing vocal harmonies, Stryper delivered 12 top-tier songs with No More Hell To Pay. This inspiring Metal album from Stryper is not just #1 for 2013, it’s an audio personal power tool, here at the Metal Odyssey headquarters. Metal be thy name.

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Admittedly, this year’s Metal album releases were enormously better than I ever expected. From the underground Metal bands to those Metal     bands breaking onto the mainstream charts, our Metal family had a victorious and flourishing year that I was proud to promote and cheer about!

2013 saw more legendary Metal bands creating quality music and career defining albums than I’ve ever seen before. The Metal comebacks of Carcass, Witch Cross, Satan and Gorguts (to name a few) are eye-popping to me! I could never be more proud, as a fan.

In my Metal world, I could easily add another 20 albums from 2013 to this list! Regardless, I present to you, Metal Odyssey’s Top 20 Metal Albums Of 2013! I sincerely believe, that each album here is a solid-as-steel piece of art and a true representation of the respective band’s talents and Metal sub-genre that they belong to.

I thank and congratulate each band on this list. Without these bands and their albums, life would undeniably super suck. Metal be thy name.

#2

MOTÖRHEAD – Aftershock

Easily can be described as a return to what made Motörhead the true Rock ‘N Roll legends they are. One of the best Motörhead albums in their entire iconic catalog. Lemmy, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee are, in my opinion, the greatest power trio alive today.

#3

CARCASS – Surgical Steel

Carcass returned in 2014. No, I correct myself. Carcass returned with a Metal vengeance in 2014. Just this 1 Carcass album alone makes them ultra legendary. Not one moment on Surgical Steel can be missed. Mesmerizing Metal is Surgical Steel. Amazing stuff.

#4

BLACK SABBATH – 13

Even without the legendary Bill Ward on drums, 13 from Black Sabbath still sounds mega-legendary from this iconic Metal band.

Read Stone’s review of 13 here:

BLACK SABBATH “13″ – Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day! New Music Videos Streaming Online!

Above review posted on June 16, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#5

SODOM – Epitome Of Torture

I mentioned here on Metal Odyssey during 2013 that SODOM’s Epitome Of Torture is one of the best of Thrash Metal albums I’ve ever listened to. This album is pummeling, raw and in-your-face Thrash Metal, done the old school way.

#6

SOULFLY – Savages

Metal warrior Max Cavalera brought in his son Zyon on drums – and with the super talents of Marc Rizzo (guitars) and Tony Campos (bass), Savages is (yet again) another explosive Metal album from Soulfly!

#7

WITCH CROSS – Axe To Grind

Easily, the comeback band and album of 2013. Witch Cross dug deep into their musical Metal roots and captured Metal lightning in a 6-pack! Unreal good songs and new vocalist Kev Moore soars! An instant Metal classic, the instant I listened to Axe To Grind.

Read Stone’s review of Axe To Grind here:

WITCH CROSS “Axe To Grind” – A Legendary Return To Metal Prominence!

Above review posted on July 31, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#8

SATAN – Life Sentence

SATAN accomplished quite the Metal comeback of their own with Life Sentence. SATAN returned to remind us all that they are an important part of Heavy Metal history and Life Sentence is audio proof of that.

Read Stone’s review of Life Sentence here:

SATAN “LIFE SENTENCE” – SATAN REIGNS ONCE AGAIN!

Above review posted on August 2, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#9

SINISTER REALM – World Of Evil

Allentown, Pennsylvania’s Sinister Realm are a Metal band that YOU need to be aware of; cause their Metal is in the same class as the 2 above mentioned bands and World Of Evil is a beacon for True Metal.

Read Stone’s review of World Of Evil here:

SINISTER REALM “WORLD OF EVIL” = METAL FANTASTICAL!

Above review posted on August 1, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#10

WARBEAST –  Destroy

The legendary (vocalist) Bruce Corbitt fronts WARBEAST; a band with a Texas-sized sound of blazing, furious and brain sizzling Thrash Metal! DESTROY is the second studio album from WARBEAST and its title aptly describes the wholesome goodness of what you’ll hear.

#11 (Tie)

SATYRICON – S/T

Yes, Satyricon took a detour and released a diverse album in 2013; only this S/T package of songs STILL delivers a Blackened atmosphere, mood, feel and vibes which are all worthy of making this listener to do exactly that… listen. Rest assured, the Blackened heaviness is here as well.

#11 (Tie)

SKELETONWITCH – Serpents Unleashed 

These Ohio Blackened Thrash troublemakers aka SKELETOWITCH have done it again; they’ve created another face-ripping Metal album that if played at maximum level, could very well move planet Earth off of its axis and fuck everything up.

#12

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

It’s simple. Five Finger Death Punch released a one-two punch to their fans and most likely recruited 200 million more fans along the way. It’s too difficult to choose Volume 1 or Volume 2, therefore, Metal Odyssey’s staff and I say: It’s a Metal draw! FFDP honestly kicks incredible ass on both albums!

#13

GORGUTS – COLORED SANDS

Hail to another Metal comeback in 2013! GORGUTS returned as well and Colored Sands is a Metal triumph! Guitarist and Vocalist Luc Lemay has mystically made Classical Music sound and feel like… Metal. This is a top-tier Death Metal album and band that shall stand the test of time.

#14

HELLOWEEN – Straight Out Of Hell

HELLOWEEN don’t need to keep proving that their the Power Metal kings; still they do once again with Straight Out Of Hell. Released back in January of 2013, this Helloween album even includes superb tributes to the late Jon Lord and Freddie Mercury.

#15

HORLET – The Keys Of Life And Death

HORLET is an unsigned, DIY Metal band from the grand Metal state of Ohio. HORLET’s The Keys Of Life And Death is a Melodic Death Metal prize. Trust Stone when I say: HORLET is the real Metal deal.

Read Stone’s review of The Keys Of Life And Death here:

HORLET “The Keys Of Life And Death” – A Debut Underground METAL Gem Of 2013

Above review posted on August 6, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#16

VOIVOD – Target Earth

Target Earth is another must own from Quebec, Canada’s VOIVOD. Target Earth is a monumental highlight as to how VOIVOD has persevered and conquered any obstacles thrown in their way!

Read Stone’s review of Target Earth here:

VOIVOD – “Target Earth” Is Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

Above review posted on February 16, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#17

NEWSTED – Heavy Metal Music

As Jason Newsted says: Listen To Metal. As Stone Says: “Buy this NEWSTED album or else!”

Read Stone’s review of Heavy Metal Music here:

NEWSTED “HEAVY METAL MUSIC” – IS KICK ASS HEAVY METAL MUSIC!

Above review posted on October 19, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#18

HATEBREED – The Divinity Of Purpose

Connecticut’s HATEBREED are a band that makes me proud to say I was born in the Nutmeg State. With that said, I am proud to own The Divinity Of Purpose and will be listening to this album for the rest of my Metal life. Metal be thy name.

#19

REPTILIAN DEATH

The Dawn Of Consummation And Emergence

Reptilian Death are from Mumbai, India. Reptilian Death plays insane Death Metal. Reptilian Death will tear your Metal soul apart and feed it back to you, with a ferocity you never could imagine. Metal be thy name.

Read Stone’s review of this Reptilian Death album here:

REPTILIAN DEATH “The Dawn Of Consummation And Emergence” = Imperative Death Metal!

Above review posted on November 8, 2013, on Metal Odyssey.

#20

KORN – The Paradigm Shift

KORN returned with a back to KORN basics Metal sound, while welcoming back Brian “Head” Welch on guitar, on The Paradigm Shift. This album has been a contagious listen for me and is, in my Metal opinion, an album that substantiates why KORN is a world-class Metal band since day one. Metal be thy name.

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LONG LIVE METAL.

METAL FOR LIFE. 

Stone.