Best of 2013: 10 - 6

10. DevilDriver - Winter Kills

A huge step up from the last album "Beast", which I personally found a little underwhelming, "Winter Kills" finds the Double D back on form and once again delivering the goods in their own inimitable style. DevilDriver have enough passion for 10 bands and although they still find capturing their live energy on record (yes, I'm old) to be elusive and slightly beyond their collective grasp, this is nevertheless a lesson in how to balance ferocious vocals, big riffs and catchy songs perfectly. From the crushing "Ruthless" to the Melodic Death Metal swagger of "Desperate Times" and  "Appetite" this is a near-flawless Groove Metal exhibition piece.

9. Black Sabbath - 13

What do I need to say about this? If you haven't heard this, then I really do pity you. "13" is an almost perfect Metal albums from the originals themselves. More amazing still, is that this is the first album to feature Ozzy in 35 years (and the first to bear the Sabbath name in 18 years) and the band are well into their 60's. This is not just a good "comeback" album or nostalgia trip. No, this is a great Metal album, full stop (not period as I am British). Almost every song could stand alone as a "single" (if such a thing still really exists), especially the amazing "Loner", but part of  "13"s strength is that the running order is nearly perfect and allows the pace of the album to ebb and flow beautifully right up to until the last track, the dire and cringe-worthy "Dear Father". If they had left that song off, this would probably have been in the top 5. All in all though, this is still a timeless, classic Metal album.

8. Falkenbach - Asa

After leaving me a little underwhelmed with their last album, "Tiurída", Falkenbach are back on the form they left us with on the stunning "Heralding - The Fireblade. Truly one of the most unique musical entities out there - everything from the song structures to Vratyas' distinct and often beautiful vocals is instantly recognisable. This is music to take you away to another world, evoking images of Nordic landscapes and of long-abandoned gods. Ranging from simple acoustic passages to bleak, cold Black Metal, this is nothing short of a journey. Another masterpiece from this (almost) flawless band.

7. Deicide - In The Minds Of Evil

Always an inconsistent prospect, this album catches Deicide on one of their upswings. This is a band that can count an equal number of shoddy releases to great ones - if ever there was a metal band that needs quality control, it's Deicide. In my very humble (haha!) opinion, the band hasn't released a great album since '95's "Once Upon The Cross". This is business as usual as far as subject matter goes - don't expect and deep existential questions or a declaration of love - this is pure, unadulterated Christian-bating Death Metal. Thankfully this tried and tested (read: tedious and tired) concept is backed up by some of the best Death Metal riffs I have heard in many a year. Oh, I should also mention that it has actual, memorable songs too. Which is nice. If there is a negative - and there is - which stops this from being a classic, then it's the below-par production. That small gripe aside, this is a top-notch record and one which should propel Deicide right back to the top of the tree within the sub-genre - at least until they release the next terrible album. Enjoy it while you can.

6. Die Krupps - The Machinists Of Joy

In a year that has positively overflowed with "comeback" albums, this, the first proper album (there was an EP in 2011) from German Industrial legends, Die Krupps in 16 years, is right up there with the very best of them. Not merely a great return, but an overall great record. Musically, this spans the band's entire, long career, but never once sounds forced - managing as it does, to retain the distinctive sound of early-mid Die Krupps (being noticeably metal-free), but be energetic and forward thinking at the same time. It is filled with potential club floor-fillers - from the stomping "The Machinist Of Joy", with it's German/English language mix to the more old-school Industrial stylings of "im Schatten Der Ringe", this is a masterclass in how Synth-led music can be powerful and aggressive, yet accessible. Welcome to the rebirth!