Originally Uploaded Textless on the 24th of December, 2013
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| 1) Karnivool // Asymmetry |
2013 James: Oh my god oh my god this is the first album I’ve ever waited for and it’s best thing ever in the world!!!11!!!!1!1! Don’t you agree 2018 James?
2018 James: Listen 2013 James. Be real with yourself. The only reason this album was number one in your list is because you were blinded by the love you had for its predecessor, Sound Awake.
2013 James: Yeah but—
2018 James: No buts. Did you even realise how much filler is on this thing? Nearing ten minutes of it. That’s just not good enough.
2013 James: But Sky Machiiiiine.
2018 James: Jesus Christ next. Next album. NEXT.
FFO: Tool / Birds of Tokyo / Deftones || Recommended listening: Nachash / We Are / Sky Machine
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| 2) Tesseract // Altered State |
2013 James: Okay what about Altered State? That was obviously a legitimate pick.
2018 James: Yeah maybe but did you pick it because of the perfect balance of techy musicianship, ambient atmosphere, and undeniably catchy hooks and vocal melodies? Or did you pick it because it was Baby’s First Djent Album™? You know in about five years you won’t even really listen to it anymore aside from the Of Matter and Of Energy movements.
2013 James: Googoo gaga bitch.
2018 James: Excellent.
2018 James: Yeah maybe but did you pick it because of the perfect balance of techy musicianship, ambient atmosphere, and undeniably catchy hooks and vocal melodies? Or did you pick it because it was Baby’s First Djent Album™? You know in about five years you won’t even really listen to it anymore aside from the Of Matter and Of Energy movements.
2013 James: Googoo gaga bitch.
2018 James: Excellent.
FFO: Periphery / Between the Buried & Me || Recommended listening: Of Matter / Of Energy
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| 3) Killswitch Engage // Disarm the Descent |
2018 James: Hey you’re not gonna believe this 2013 James, but I’ve just recently got big back into metal. And I agree that this album is definitely top tier. I think the best thing about it is that it doesn’t overstay its welcome—doesn’t linger. Nothing drags. Twelve songs. Forty minutes. In. Out. Pure Killswitch of the most focussed, unadulterated, and distilled level.
2013 James: I put this album in because I liked Times of Grace and My Curse a lot.
2018 James: So do I buddy, so do I. Okay next album.
FFO: Shadows Fall / Norma Jean / Unearth || Recommended listening: In Due Time / A Tribute to the Fallen / Always / Time Will Not Remain
FFO: Shadows Fall / Norma Jean / Unearth || Recommended listening: In Due Time / A Tribute to the Fallen / Always / Time Will Not Remain
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| 4) Heaven the Axe // Good Things Come... |
2018 James: Sorry I said next album. Album. This is. This is only one song?
2013 James: Yes.
2018 James: This is a list of? Top albums? Albums? Usually longer than a single so—? What the fuck is going on here?
2013 James: Weeeeellllll I didn’t exactly listen to enough albums in 2013 to have another one to include. Also this is a freaking sick song!
2018 James: Good song. That being said, I still wish there was an album to follow it up.
2013 James: Maybe there will be one day.
2018 James: One can hope.
2013 James: Yes.
2018 James: This is a list of? Top albums? Albums? Usually longer than a single so—? What the fuck is going on here?
2013 James: Weeeeellllll I didn’t exactly listen to enough albums in 2013 to have another one to include. Also this is a freaking sick song!
2018 James: Good song. That being said, I still wish there was an album to follow it up.
2013 James: Maybe there will be one day.
2018 James: One can hope.
FFO: Slayer / Slipknot || Recommended listening: Good Things Come To Those Who Hate
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| 5) Northlane // Singularity |
2018 James: This is another good choice 2013 James. You’ll be happy to know that this is still your favourite Northlane album nearly five years later.
2013 James: Yeah?
2018 James: Yeah. See, if Discoveries was their primal scream, Singularity was them refining that, and also showing the first signs of experimentation. You have the anthemic Quantum Flux, the melodic leanings of Dream Awake, and the post rock dreaminess of Singularity. And let’s not forget the absolute savagery of that one-two opening punch that is Genesis into Scarab. Absolute madness.
2013 James: Yes! That’s why I picked Singularity! I’m glad you agree.
2018 James: Also fun fact for ya 2013 James, they’d eventually go on to re-release the album with a bonus disc of instrumentals of every song on the album. 2015 James was the first one to hear that. But from what I’ve heard said instrumental disc really added to his experience with the album.
2015 James: Hey did someone say my name? Sorry I can’t talk long I gotta get back to being FUCKING DEPRESSED AT UNI.
2013 James: Oh dear, how’d he get out of the basement again?
2018 James: I don’t know but you restrain him and I’ll go find the chloroform.
2013 James: Yeah?
2018 James: Yeah. See, if Discoveries was their primal scream, Singularity was them refining that, and also showing the first signs of experimentation. You have the anthemic Quantum Flux, the melodic leanings of Dream Awake, and the post rock dreaminess of Singularity. And let’s not forget the absolute savagery of that one-two opening punch that is Genesis into Scarab. Absolute madness.
2013 James: Yes! That’s why I picked Singularity! I’m glad you agree.
2018 James: Also fun fact for ya 2013 James, they’d eventually go on to re-release the album with a bonus disc of instrumentals of every song on the album. 2015 James was the first one to hear that. But from what I’ve heard said instrumental disc really added to his experience with the album.
2015 James: Hey did someone say my name? Sorry I can’t talk long I gotta get back to being FUCKING DEPRESSED AT UNI.
2013 James: Oh dear, how’d he get out of the basement again?
2018 James: I don’t know but you restrain him and I’ll go find the chloroform.
FFO: Architects / The Amity Affliction / Underøath || Recommended listening: Genesis / Scarab / Quantum Flux / Dream Awake
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| 6) Rise Against // Long Forgotten Songs |
2018 James: Once again, this release probably shouldn’t be here.
2013 James: Yeah but it’s Rise Agaaaaaainst.
2018 James: Okay you’ve twisted my arm. I’ll allow it. But it is a compilation of previously released material so you’re walking on shaky ground here. Go on. Why’s it here then?
2013 James: Well because it’s Rise Against and they are my favourite band ever and I’d never heard a lot of these songs before this compilation dropped. Need I say more?
2018 James: *Sigh* No I think that about covers it. I begrudgingly allow it. But no more of this singles / compilations nonsense in 2014.
2014 James: Did somebody say singles in an albums of the year list! Boy do I have news for you!
2018 James: Oh for the love of—
2013 James: Yeah but it’s Rise Agaaaaaainst.
2018 James: Okay you’ve twisted my arm. I’ll allow it. But it is a compilation of previously released material so you’re walking on shaky ground here. Go on. Why’s it here then?
2013 James: Well because it’s Rise Against and they are my favourite band ever and I’d never heard a lot of these songs before this compilation dropped. Need I say more?
2018 James: *Sigh* No I think that about covers it. I begrudgingly allow it. But no more of this singles / compilations nonsense in 2014.
2014 James: Did somebody say singles in an albums of the year list! Boy do I have news for you!
2018 James: Oh for the love of—
FFO: Descendents / Billy Talent / The Gaslight Anthem || Recommended listening: But Tonight We Dance / Grammatizator / Little Boxes / Built to Last / Ballad of Hollis Brown
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| 7) The Amenta // Flesh is Heir |
2013 James: 2018 James look! This album’s the heaviest thing ever. You like heavy music. It’s so intense. Man isn’t it great?
2018 James: Ok edgy. Name me two songs on here that aren’t Cell or Tabula Rasa.
2013 James: Errrr.
2018 James: Yeah that’s what I thought. Next album.
2018 James: Ok edgy. Name me two songs on here that aren’t Cell or Tabula Rasa.
2013 James: Errrr.
2018 James: Yeah that’s what I thought. Next album.
FFO: Fear Factory / Cattle Decapitation || Recommended listening: Cell / Tabula Rasa
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| 8) Soilwork // The Living Infinite |
2018 James: Hey fun fact 2013 James. As of writing this amended list, I’ve just recently got back into Soilwork. I did a massive deep dive into their back catalogue a couple weeks ago, and man, they’re not a bad band. Not a bad band at all. I do think though that The Living Infinite remains my favourite thing they’ve done though. You had a half decent ear my friend.
2013 James: I liked this album because it was in Metal Hammer!
2018 James: Ok.
2018 James: Ok.
FFO: Dark Tranquillity / In Flames / Children of Bodom || Recommended listening: Spectrum of Eternity / Vesta / Whispers & Lights / The Living Infinite II / Rise Above the Sentiment / Parasite Blues
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| 9) Bring Me the Horizon // Sempiternal |
2013 James: Man what a game changer this album was, right?
2018 James: See everyone said that but I still don’t exactly get how it changed the game. It’s a fucking cracking album. There are some weak songs on it. But the hits far outweigh the shit.
2013 James: I just assumed it was a game changer because that’s what everyone else said.
2018 James: Honestly I think That’s the Spirit was more of a game changer. Or maybe not so much the game as it was a re-imagining of sorts. For the band. Both in terms of the musicality and who they wanted their audience to be. I think Sempiternal was just peak modern metalcore.
2013 James: Gaaaaaaaaaame changer.
2018 James: *Sigh*
2013 James: I just assumed it was a game changer because that’s what everyone else said.
2018 James: Honestly I think That’s the Spirit was more of a game changer. Or maybe not so much the game as it was a re-imagining of sorts. For the band. Both in terms of the musicality and who they wanted their audience to be. I think Sempiternal was just peak modern metalcore.
2013 James: Gaaaaaaaaaame changer.
2018 James: *Sigh*
FFO: Suicide Silence / A Day to Remember / Linkin Park || Recommended listening: Sleepwalking / Antivist / Hospital for Souls / Deathbeds
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| 10) Falling In Reverse // Fashionably Late |
2018 James: *siiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGH* Why? Just why man?
2013 James: WHITE BOY ON THE BEAT ROCKIN GUCCI SNEAKS.
2018 James: This is over. Bye.
2013 James: I WILL CUT YOU UP AND GUT YOU LIKE A FUCKING AVOCADO.
2013 James: WHITE BOY ON THE BEAT ROCKIN GUCCI SNEAKS.
2018 James: This is over. Bye.
2013 James: I WILL CUT YOU UP AND GUT YOU LIKE A FUCKING AVOCADO.
FFO: *Sigh* || Recommended listening: *Sigh*
Is ah. Is he gone? Hoo boy thank god. That was intense. 2018 James here again just for a little sign off. In the interest of curiosity, I went ahead and made a more up-to-date list of my top ten albums of 2013. In the year 2018, it would look a little like this (from ten to one):
Palm Reader // Bad Weather
Placebo // Loud Like Love
A Day to Remember // Common Courtesy
Birds of Tokyo // March Fires
Chvrches // The Bones of What You Believe
Moving Mountains // Moving Mountains
A Day to Remember // Common Courtesy
Birds of Tokyo // March Fires
Chvrches // The Bones of What You Believe
Moving Mountains // Moving Mountains
Paramore // Paramore
Touché Amoré // Is Survived By
We Lost the Sea // The Quietest Place On Earth
The Wonder Years // The Greatest Generation
Touché Amoré // Is Survived By
We Lost the Sea // The Quietest Place On Earth
The Wonder Years // The Greatest Generation
And that's that. I think I'll make Saturdays my upload days for now. Next week you can expect... I don't actually know. I'll have a look through the archives, but maybe expect something similar. Or some poetry. Who knows. Thank you for reading!
Stick around. This might be fun.
~James~
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