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‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #27: UDO – Steelhammer

By Andrew Bansal

Keeping his prolific solo-career going strong and showing no signs of stopping, German heavy metal legend Udo Dirkschneider released the 14th U.D.O. studio album ‘Steelhammer’ earlier this year via AFM Records, a 14-track, hour-long slab of pure old-school heavy metal delivered in a style that’s become somewhat of a trademark of Udo, with his unmistakably distinct singing voice and music that fits in extremely well with it. Continue reading “‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #27: UDO – Steelhammer”

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‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #28: Mothership – Self-Titled

By Andrew Bansal

Started in 2010 by brothers Kyle and Kelley Juett, Mothership is a rock trio based out of Dallas, Texas. They released their self-titled debut full-length album earlier this year, offering fans of heavy stoner/doom rock a 45-minute set of eight tunes that spell pure awesomeness. Continue reading “‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #28: Mothership – Self-Titled”

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‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #29: Havok – Unnatural Selection

By Andrew Bansal

Denver thrashers Havok have been around since 2004, and released their third full-length album ‘Unnatural Selection’ via Candlelight Records earlier this year. Led by guitarist/vocalist David Sanchez, Havok have not only strived to play and revive the old-school thrash that they clearly love, but have also attempted to throw in some un-thrash elements to diversify their sound and make it more interesting than that of a generic thrash band. Continue reading “‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #29: Havok – Unnatural Selection”

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‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #30: Exhumed – Necrocracy

By Andrew Bansal

Northern California deathgrind masters Exhumed have been around for more than two decades in passing, but ever since they ended their five-year hiatus and resumed extremities in 2010, they’ve regained a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting and most constantly active bands on the metal circuit. Following the success of their fifth full-length album ‘All Guts, No Glory’ and the subsequent touring in support of it, they came out with the follow-up effort ‘Necrocracy’ earlier this year via Relapse Records. Continue reading “‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #30: Exhumed – Necrocracy”

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‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #31: Satan – Life Sentence

By Andrew Bansal

Veterans of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement Satan have been around since 1979 albeit in various incarnations, but hadn’t put out a studio album under the Satan name for more than 25 years. Finally, they rectified that earlier this year with the release of ‘Life Sentence’ via Listenable Records, the first Satan album since 1987’s ‘Suspended Sentence’. Continue reading “‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #31: Satan – Life Sentence”

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‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #32: SpiralArms – Freedom

By Andrew Bansal

SpiralArms is a hard rock band based out of Northern California’s East Bay area, featuring members of Forbidden, Man Made God and Systematic, including Craig Locicero on guitar. The six-piece group of excellent musicians released their second album ‘Freedom’ earlier this year via SPV/Steamhammer records, a drastically more cohesive and dynamic effort as compared to their debut album, and one that brings forth the undeniable magic of hard rock exactly the way it should be. Continue reading “‘Top 50 Albums Of 2013’ Countdown – #32: SpiralArms – Freedom”