DISAPPOINTMENTS
5. Icon for Hire-Icon for Hire
Icon for Hire went from a promising pop rock debut to, well, something with all the trappings of pop but none of the catchiness or hooks, and certainly none of the rock. The sophomore slump is certainly all too common, but a group completely having this kind of reversal is disheartening.
4. Trivium-Vengeance Falls
Once again, I got all excited about a Trivium album and it got close, but no cigar. This one has me moreso to blame for its placement on the list than any other, because I probably, no, definitely should've known better.
3. Device-Device
When Disturbed went on hiatus, my only real interest was in David Draiman's next move. After finishing Device's debut album, I was reminded that a band is not just a frontman. As good a voice as his is, it's nothing without quality songwriting and performing around it.
2. Stone Sour-House of Gold and Bones Part 2
Last year's first part of the House of Gold and Bones saga wasn't just Stone Sour's best album to date, it was one of the best rock records in quite a while. A diverse effort that showcased the many different styles and techniques the band was capable of, it left me longing for more. Unfortunately, part two just isn't nearly as dynamic, in fact it ends up quite monotonous. The more universal lyrical concepts of the first part are left behind for a focus on the overarching story, and the compositions just don't standout, especially coming after songs like Tired and A Rumor of Skin.
1. Alice in Chains-The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here
This isn't the first disappointing Alice in Chains album. The self-titled has its defenders, but I can't listen to it and not hear Layne and the band's spirits dying with every note. The disappointments of The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here are far more generic. The songs just aren't great. A lot of it is low key enough to put one to sleep. The title track and singles Hollow and Stone are enough to keep one going, but this still isn't quite worthy of the name Alice in Chains.
SURPRISES
5. Newsted-Heavy Metal Music
Jason Newsted is still obnoxious and tries way too hard, but the results at least somewhat justify the means. At the end of the day, that's really all we should ask for.
4. Soulfly-Savages
Having now listened to the Soulfly records that I missed, this seems a weird one to end up making me a fan compared to better efforts like Conquer and Enslaved, but the timing ended up the way it was, and better late than never.
3. A Day to Remember-Common Courtesy
Judging by the six digit sales figures of the opening week, I'm one of the last to jump onto the Day to Remember bandwagon, but I'm okay with that. Huge choruses, a beast of a drummer in Alex Shelnutt, I can see why people love these guys.
2. Battlecross-War of Will
It's been a strange trip with Battlecross, going from finding them pretty sad on Trespass America, to enjoying them live in front of Demon Hunter and In Flames this year, and culminating in one of my favorite albums of the year. Guess that's a testament to the power of aggressive promotion.
1. Chimaira-Crown of Phantoms
Mark Hunter, in less than two years, found new band members to fill every single position in Chimaira other than vocalist, launched one of the most successful IndieGoGo campaigns in the history of metal crowdfunding, and put out one of the best albums of 2013. What have you done lately?
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