THE TOP 3 ALBUMS OF 2013

1.      BIFFY CLYRO - OPPOSITES

It’s a bit strange when one of the best albums of the year comes out at the beginning of the year- but as soon as I heard the songs on Opposites I knew very few records would be able to compete for the top spot. Biffy Clyro have already crafted and solidified their sound on their previous record, and while I did harbor fears that they might have become too mainstream, my fears were strewn away by this double album masterpiece. Catchy but edgy, prog rock dashes and pop peaks – don’t miss it.

 

The good:  A band at their creative peak.

The bad: Maybe too long for some.

 Link me up: Biffy Clyro - Biblical

2.    

DAFT PUNK - RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES

Yeah I went there. Yes, every other music critic picked this album for the top – and for good reason. Sure, the smash hit that spearheaded it got really old really fast (you must admit though, it did hold out quite long though) – but the album itself is a living example of how to make an homage to the sounds that created your own sound, yet still retain your own stamp on it. R.A.M is a labor of love, a heartfelt tribute to their influences, but above all – it is a masterwork clinic on production, mixing and songwriting. Feelgood album of the year? Try feelgood album of the decade.

 

The good: An homage done right, an apex of album quality.
The Bad:  If you’re expecting “stock” Daft Punk you will be disappointed.
Link me up: Daft Punk - RAM full album

3.      WITHERSCAPE - THE INHERITANCE

If you're into prog/death metal, you’re probably bemoaning the violent turn Opeth had towards melodic prog rock and away from death metal (or even metal in general).  Seemingly out of the blue, Dan Swano’s Witherscape burst on to the scene with a glorious example of how a genre can evolve without its formula changing too much. Its sublime progressive metal spiced up with death metal brutality, all the while wrapped in the soulful, bluesy vocal delivery of Mr.Swano. Think early Dream Theater, or even at times Symphony X, meets Opeth. If this last sentence  doesn’t get you going – I don’t know what will.

 

The good:  Fresh, new, yet familiar. Bang your head.

The bad: Whenever there are growl vocals, there are folks complaining. Can’t win them all.
Link me up: Witherscape - Dead for a day

BURY THE SUMMER

So, before I publish my winter playlist, and go on to post all of my end-of-year lists - I think I need to give summer a Viking funeral.

This is what Google pops out with then I type "Summer Viking funeral" so there.

I wont bore you more: These are the songs I played ceaselessly throughout the summer. Some of them are actual summer songs, most of them are not. It is, however, a nice nod toward my end-of-year top 10 list as well as a neat way to get in a more, ahem, "sunny" mood this otherwise apocalyptic winter.

In no specific order, here goes.

BURY THE SUMMER PLAYLIST 

(The link to a playlist with ALL THESE SONG can be found HERE.)

1.   M83 - Midnight City

2.   KIMBRA - Settle Down

3.   SIDDHARTA - Indian Boy

4.   MUSE - Madness

5.   KEANE - Sovereign Light

6.   JEZABELS - Hurt me

7.   THE KILLERS - Deadlines and Commitments

8.   APOPTYGMA BERZERK - Cambodia

9.   STONE SOUR - Gone Sovereign/Absolute Zero

10. KEANE - We Are Young

11. KIMBRA - Come into My head

12. SIDDHARTA - Bonsai

13. THE KILLERS - The way it was

14. CLOUDKICKER - LA After Rain

15. KEANE - On the road

OPTIONAL READING:

Memories tied to these include 

- Walking around Herceg Novi

- Dancing to Siddharta with my girlfriend, live,surrounded by a cloud of dust

- Banana Shake

- Enjoying the "beach" whilst trying to ignore the danger of a volleyball in my face

- Trudging along to driving lessons in Belgrade with Keane's We Are Young.

- Driving along verdant fields with my buddy Orgazmotron

- Waving goodbye to my girlfriend as she takes the bus home and waling back to my own......

- Singing "You'l always be my Indian boy" to my bud Dzule, no homo.

BOOK REVIEW: The Darkness That Comes Before

Ever since G.R.R.Martin (arguably) raised the bar with the Song of Ice and Fire series, a certain hole was made in the fantasy genre - who will match Martin? I must admit I was hesitant to even predict an heir, considering how pivotal Martin has been in rejuvenating my love for the genre. All other, new, fantasy works seemed entertaining and quaint at best and superficial and naive at worst.

Seemingly out of nowhere comes The Darkness That Comes Before by R.Scot Bakker- an epic series that mixes intrigue and gritty realism with dark magic to convey a sprawling, gripping tale filled with history and laced with stories of bloodshed. Sound familiar?

There is an ancient evil that no one believes in anymore. There are warring empires and political intrigue. There is the plight of the small folk and the folly of the rich. Sometimes the resemblance is striking.The refreshing thing about TDTCB is that it takes cues from Martin, but does not copy him. Gritty, dark fantasy is here - but TDTCB is much more high fantasy in than Martin's opus: there is magic in abundance and even a classic orc-like race called Sranc. There is intrigue and mystery, but as I mentioned there is a ton of history as well - something that might dissuade some people from attempting the book.

This dissuasion is a shame, because what Bakker managed to create here is a history that is complex, yes, but also very believable. All the peoples described, their religions and their culture, seem so tangible and comprehensive that they could easily be our own - a phenomenon i first encountered in Tolkiens exhaustive masterpiece The Silmarillion.

Bakker's writing style is distinct and meticulous. Like a lot of fantasy writers he has a flair for detail and his language is immaculate. He does struggle with timing and dynamics occasionally - the long, stretched part midway trough the book that deals with the Empire becomes quite slow - but this does not damage the readers impression much. Baker is at his best when writing about individuals from their point of view. The only issue is that he skips between too many characters for us to care at times. Only nearing the end does the reader gain his footing and pick who the protagonists, and his favorites, are. This is why the sequel is very promising, as our opinions are fully formed by the time the grandiose storyline takes full flight.

Just when you thought the fantasy genre can evolve no more, a new kind of epic has spawned - and I recommend it vehemently. If, you were left with  a sour feeling in your mouth when finishing Marting latest outing, knowing you'll have to wait for years for Martin to churn out a sequel - this is your cure. Have at it.

But this book holds its own whatever your relationship with Martin is. It is a well written, compelling and, above all, original fantasy saga. The series bears great promise, and I hope it will fulfill its potential.