Simon Rushworth
Throughout 2013 our dedicated team of reviewers have delivered the key verdicts first on the very best albums and gigs of the year.
So settle down and compare your annual favourites with our top team’s top choices from the last 12 months.
Richard Holmes (Reviews Editor)
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1.Carcass – Surgical Steel
A death metal classic in its own right, Surgical Steel was all that long time fans had hoped for and much more. Not many reunions bear as much fruit as this… or have as many great riffs!
2. Wardruna – Yggdrasil
3. Clutch – Earth Rocker
4. Satyricon – Satyricon
5. Kvelertak – Meir
6. Kylesa – Ultraviolet
7. Cult Of Luna – Vertikal
8. Altaar – Altaar
9. We Are Knuckle Dragger – The Drone
10. In Solitude – Sister
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1. Carcass – Damnation Festival, Leeds University, Leeds
An absolute masterclass in extremity from beginning to end, with new material blending effortlessly with gnarly old classics… and an ecstatic crowd lapping up every moment. Want to know how to play death metal? Get a video of this set.
2. Palehorse – GNAW Festival, Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
3. Saint Vitus – Northumbria University, Newcastle
4. Conan – Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
5. God Seed – Damnation Festival, Leeds University, Leeds
Ian Murtagh (Self Made Man)
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. The Temperance Movement – The Temperance Movement
A debut album messaging potential stardom. This is retro music sent kicking and screaming into the future.
2. Deep Purple – Now What?
3. Gary Clark Jnr – Blak And Blu
4. Kings Of Leon – Mechanical Bull
5. The Answer – New Horizon
6. David Bowie – The Next Day
7. Michael Schenker’s Temple Of Rock – Bridge The Gap
8. Snakecharmer – Snakecharmer
9. The Strypes – Snapshot
10. Free Fall – Power And Volume
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1. Roger Waters’ The Wall – Phones 4u Arena, Manchester
Theatrically stunning, lyrically provoking, musically perfect. Quite simply the ultimate live experience.
2. The Who – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
3. Rush – SECC, Glasgow
4. Mark Knopfler – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
5. Neil Young – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Russell Hughes (Staff Writer)
ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
1. Max Raptor – Mothers Ruin
One of the best British bands around seized potential by the scruff of the neck and turned it into proven quality on the magnificent Mothers Ruin.
2. Press To Meco – Affinity
3. Kill For Company – Alternative to Living
4. Dance Gavin Dance – Acceptance Speech
5. Nightlife – For The Record
6. Dinosaur Pile Up – Nature Nurture
7. Reaper In Sicily – Islands
8. De Staat – I_Con
9. Close Your Eyes – A Line In The Sand
10. Pyro, Ohio – Before The Sun Sets
GIGS OF THE YEAR
1. The Who – Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Old stagers taught rock’s new breed a thing or two about performing the big hits on the biggest stages with charisma, character and quality to burn.
2. Anberlin – o2 Academy, Newcastle
3. LostAlone – o2 Academy, Newcastle
4. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – o2 Academy, Newcastle
5. Dinosaur Pile Up – Think Tank, Newcastle