August 2013 Best Heavy Metal Albums

As the summer winds down, we examine August's best metal releases. The depth of quality was fairly mediocre, with a few high profile releases that didn't meet expectations. But several excellent albums were released, and these are the ones we think were the best.

1. Norma Jean - 'Wrongdoers' (Razor & Tie)

Wrongdoers is not only in the same class as Norma Jean's O God, The Aftermath, but it is among the most exciting and confounding metalcore records in ages. Out of the past tense perfect and into the future tense undefined, “Hive Minds,” “Wrongdoers,” “Sword In Mouth, Fire Eyes” and “Sun Dies, Blood Moon” will drop jaws and collapse lungs for years to come.

Norma Jean paste a dozen influences together. From the Converge-style chaos to The Black Dahlia Murder’s disrespect for song structure, the band scribbles out an emotionally potent love letter to, well, love. Wrongdoers works within in the now industry-standard framework of 11 tracks to spread dark tender determination across the album. Cory Brandan Putnam sings his heart out this time around, as if he has finally found the words he needs to say.

Read the complete Norma Jean - Wrongdoers ReviewMore »

2. James LaBrie - 'Impermanent Resonance' (Inside Out)

Songwriting is the highlight on Impermanent Resonance as the songs are straight to the point and not overinflated. Most songs range between three and four minutes and are chorus driven. LaBrie actually seems more suited for this type of music than his main band. His vocals are melodic, he utilizes a great range and this is the hookiest record of his career. Listen to the outstanding choruses on “Undertow,” “Back on the Ground” and the infectious “Holding On.”

Impermanent Resonance is more enjoyable than the last Dream Theater record as the songs are just more memorable. The shorter arrangements work here and LaBrie is the showcase instead of the musicianship and he nails it. Even at fourteen songs and almost an hour, the record never becomes monotonous or gets old, a true testament to the quality of the songwriting.

Read the complete James LaBrie - Impermanent Resonance Review

3. DevilDriver - 'Winter Kills' (Napalm)

As on their previous albums, the groove is paramount on Winter Kills. Guitarists Jeff Kendrick and Mike Spreitzer keep the groove train rolling throughout the album. With most of the tempos medium or medium-fast, monotony could become an issue, but DevilDriver avoid that pitfall. One way they do that is with song intros.

It’s a very consistent album, with no duds and little filler. A couple stand out slightly above the rest, including the title track and the rifferific “Ruthless.” DevilDriver deliver another winner with Winter Kills. It's exactly what you'd expect, but with enough twists and turns to keep things fresh.

Read the complete DevilDriver - Winter Kills Review

4. Exhumed - 'Necrocracy' (Relapse)

Necrocracy sees Exhumed sticking to their scalpels, but where All Guts, No Glory was a full-frontal evisceration, this time they go about the dissection process in a slightly more refined way. It will still take your head clean off, but not before throwing a whole lot of swirling melodies your way.

Hardcore fans may bemoan the (slight) lack of intensity, but I totally applaud the more catchy approach the band took, and I can definitely see Necrocracy being hailed as one of the year’s best death/goregrind releases.

Read the complete Exhumed - Necrocracy Review

5. Witherscape - 'The Inheritance' (Century Media)

Witherscape is the latest project from producer and musician Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity). In forming Witherscape, Swanö teamed up with Ragnar Wierberg, who handled guitars and bass on the album while Swanö took on keyboards, vocals and drums. The fruit of their collective labors, Witherscape's debut effort The Inheritance is an extremely sophisticated offering with all the subtlety and heaviness that could only come from so much shared experience.

The tone is a deep, sumptuous combination of driving, doomy riffs and lighter, Opeth-esque passages, a perfect balance of dark and light. “Astrid Falls” is an album highlight, with Swanö's clan vocals giving way to death growls at the most shiver-inducing moment. While there is an element of cool distance that keeps this record from reaching deeply into the gut, technically and compositionally The Inheritance is excellent.