Nails
Abandon All Life
Southern Lord (2013)
The only reason Metallica is supposedly used as a torture tactic in Guantanamo is because the C.I.A. doesn't know about Nails. I mean that to sound neither glib nor uncomplimentary - there's a cruel relentlessness to Nails that I and other fans of extreme music will most certainly appreciate, but, and I'll avoid the arrogant use of the term understanding … Read more
Native
Orthodox
Sargent House (2013)
It's been a while since I've been this interested in a post-hardcore record. Native seem to have that effect on me. As a band, they're too often overlooked, brushed aside by most as another one of the many cardboard cutout bands watering down a once innovative music scene. Indiana post-hardcore powerhouses Native play a distinctly groovy and angular take on … Read more
Nero di Marte
Self Titled
Prosthetic (2013)
I'm eternally grateful to a close friend of mine for telling me to check out a little Italian quartet called Nero di Marte. If he hadn't persuaded me that not listening to this album was akin to metal blasphemy, I would never have given them a second thought. So when I purchased this album completely on faith in my friend, … Read more
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Push The Sky Away
Bad Seed LTD. (2013)
Nick Cave is an uncaring bastard.He doesn't care if you buy his new album Push The Sky Away, nor does he care if you like it. Of course, this is not what makes him a great artist. What makes him a great artist is the uncompromising nature of his work. The man does whatever the hell he wants to, and … Read more
Nick Jaina
Primary Perception
Fluff & Gravy Records (2013)
Nick Jaina added a full length album to an already impressive and diverse portfolio of sound in April of this year. Primary Perception joined a repertoire of 8 albums (available on bandcamp), multiple scores for theater, dance, and film, and a collection of prose and poetry. Taking into account his many diverse talents and works,Primary Perception is surprisingly focused and … Read more
Night Birds
Born To Die In Suburbia
Grave Mistake (2013)
Releasing the 7” teaser Maimed for the Masses certainly helped introduce the increasingly prominent surf guitar in Night Birds. Still, the opener “Escape from New York” is a holy shit moment as it perfectly blends surf lines with punk aggression. After their debut, The Other Side of Darkness, I was wondering just how far the band could take their sound … Read more
Night Birds
Maimed for the Masses
Fat Wreck Chords (2013)
For how active a band Night Birds is, they still only have one studio full-length to their name. Instead of releasing the long-players, the band has focused on short-form EPs and Maimed for the Masses, on Fat Wreck Chords, is yet another to add to the band’s discography. This one has four songs, notably the opening title track. It doesn’t … Read more
Nine Covens
...On The Dawning Of Light
Candlelight (2013)
Nine Covens second release …On The Dawning of Light is a raging follow up to their debut that’s full of extremity and shades of melody alike. The furiously enigmatic group – no names, or indeed, faces – prefer to step back from the spotlight in order to let their music do the talking. Although, if you have a keen ear … Read more
Nirvana
In Utero (20th Anniversary Reissue)
Universal (2013)
Some anniversary reissues are like tapas. Small, manageable servings of exactly what you want and you wind up leaving utterly satisfied. Others are like going to Country Buffet. More food than you could ever need or want and you end up gorging on shit you never asked for in the first place and when you finish you ask yourself "Why … Read more
Nirvana
In Utero (20th Anniversary Reissue)
Universal (2013)
It’s easy to read a posthumous reissue as a mining of a band’s demos and outtakes. Nirvana saw the deluxe treatment of Nevermind a few years back and now, celebrating 20 years since its release, they get the same treatment on In Utero. For a band that only released three proper full-lengths, yet received accolades beyond what I care to … Read more
No Consequence
IO
Basick (2013)
The djent movement is still the "next big thing" in metal music, meaning that there are a lot (and I mean a LOT) of new bands coming up from the woodwork every day. However, in sifting them through, it's always been a safe bet to check out the new releases from Basick Records, who have a pretty good track record … Read more
Nö Pöwer
No Peace
Sorry State (2013)
No Peace is the debut LP by Charlottesville, NC’s Nö Pöwer. There are subtle elements of garage and psych at play here but it’s primarily raging hardcore punk, with a noticeable emphasis on the noise. It's a primitive and blown-out style of D-beat that’s been injected with a distinctive dose of artiness and then drenched in feedback. Although he’s not … Read more
Noisem
Agony Defined
A389 (2013)
For all of the hype and bluster that was the so called "thrash revival" a few years later few bands can make a viable claim that they remain, let alone stick out (save for Municipal Waste). Even the standard bearers (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer) have clearly lost the energy the once had (Slayer) or lost the plot entirely (Metallica and Megadeth). … Read more
Northless
World Keeps Sinking
Gilead Media (2013)
Milwaukee's Northless have long been trudging within their brand a somewhat sprawling sludge. The band have consistently input further measures of post rock textures into their sound to create something a little bit more different from the norm. While still remaining mostly true to sludge on the whole the band seem to create something a little bit more tuneful and … Read more
Norwegian Arms
Wolf Like A Stray Dog
Independent (2013)
I discovered Norwegian Arms the same way I discover most of the best music I listen to – with the pop of a facebook chat window opening accompanied by a youtube link. As the video for “Tired of Being Cold” loaded (I have satellite internet because I live in the woods. It’s very slow, comparatively.) My friend Cris explained that … Read more
October Falls
The Plague of a Coming Age
Debemur Morti Productions (2013)
Starting life as a one-man instrumental outfit by M.Lehto in 2001, October Falls soon began to incorporate other members as well as a more metallic approach to the black metal genre and in 2007 The Streams of the End signalled a huge step for the band in terms of musical stance. Their music is steeped in the history of their … Read more
Off With Their Heads
Home
Epitaph (2013)
Maybe it’s because I caught Off With Their Heads live recently and maybe it’s because on Home, their third official full-length, the theme is something that songwriter Ryan Young has been hinting at all along. Either way, the songs here are familiar and powerful and they continue to deliver in a similar vein as to the rest of their output, … Read more
Old Funeral
Our Condolences (1988-1992)
Soulseller (2013)
The history of Black Metal has been told ad infinitum. We know that groups like Venom, Posessed, Mercyful Fate and Sarcofago planted the seeds that stretched like a dark vine across Europe and taking hold in Norway. By now, we all know the story of groups like Darkthrone and Mayhem, but lesser known is the story of Old Funeral.The band … Read more
