Mike Sloan
Best Albums

1 Napalm Death – Utilitarian (Century Media) Maybe the most reliable band in the history of metal?
2 Antietam 1862 – Life, Death Entwined (self-released) Wow what a monster! If this was a few songs longer, it would have taken the top spot.
3 Goatwhore – Blood for the Master (Metal Blade) Probably the best “somewhat newer” metal band and this is their best record to date.
4 Aura Noir – Out to Die (Indie Recordings) These dudes get better and better every time they release something new. I can’t wait to hear what’s next
5 Unleashed – Odalheim (Nuclear Blast) Another always-reliable band, another top shelf album.
6 Cryptopsy – Cryptopsy (Century Media) Most people didn’t care for this one for reasons only they know.
7 Nile – At the Gate of Sethu (Nuclear Blast) The production is a little too polished, but a new Nile album is always essential.
8 Winterfylleth – The Threnody of Triumph (Candlelight) Just an awesome album from a band that has yet to hit their artistic peak.
9 Immolith – Storm Dragon (Metalhit.com) What a surprising, killer album. Definitely a band to keep an eye out for.
10 Terrorizer – Hordes of Zombies (Season of Mist) THIS is what Commando & Co. should’ve come out with when they reunited.
11 Munruthel – CREEDamage (Svarga Music) There’s no telling how mesmerizing this band will inevitably become.
12 Sylvan Realm – The Lodge of Transcendence (self-released) Wicked, emotional album that amazes from start to finish.
13 Testament – Dark Roots of Earth (Nuclear Blast) Easily their best album since Souls of Black
14 Asphyx – Deathhammer (Century Media) Like so few bands, Asphyx always delivers, regardless of lineup.
15 Cardiac Arrest – Vortex of Violence (Ibex Moon) Chicago’s best band? Well, them and Cianide.

Best Songs
1 Antietam 1862 – “Death is Mine”
2 Napalm Death – “Orders of Magnitude”
3 Antietam 1862 – “Christ Storm”
4 Goatwhore – Embodiment of this Bitter Chaos”
5 Nile – “The Gods Who Light Up the sky at the Gate of Sethu”
6 Winterfylleth – “A Thousand Winters”
7 Unleashed – “Germania”
8 Cryptopsy – “Amputated Enigma”
9 Terrorizer – “Flesh to Dust”
10 Enthroned – “Horns Aflame”
11 Munruthel – “The Mown Dawns Lie on the Ground”
12 Sylvan Realm – “Temple of Not”
13 Napalm Death – “The Wolf I Feed”
14 Cradle of Filth – “For Your Vulgar Delectation”
15 Goatwhore – “Judgment of the Bleeding Crown”

Best EP
Absvrdist – Illusory (self-released)

Biggest Disappointments
Rage Nucleaire – Unrelenting Fucking Hatred. What a lousy debut album. After so much hype, this is what was given to us? Yuck…
No bands ever come through Las Vegas on tour. Las Vegas is great for many, many things. Metal isn’t one of them. Virtually every tour, large or small, skips Sin City over. It’s almost reason to move.
Still no word on any sort of new Bolt Thrower album. Again. It’d be nice if these veterans would figure something out and actually make some new metal. WTF!
Dismember break up is actually legit. They broke up in late 2011 but the hope was that they’d get back together this year. That looks unlikely. Bummer.

Most looking forward to in 2013
New Atheist album. Easily the most anticipated album for me this year. Top five favorite band ever and a new album can’t possibly disappoint. At least I’m not waiting 17 years again…
New albums from: Ghost, Opeth, Amorphis, Deceased, Sylvan Realm, Immolith and hopefully Slayer.
Release of the King Fowley autobiography. This one should be amazing.

Best cover art
Testament – Dark Roots of Earth

Because I’m a moron, I have yet to listen to:
Kreator – Phantom Antichrist
Enslaved – RIITIIR
Overkill – The Electric Age
Anaal Nathrakh – Vanitas
Vesperian Sorrow – Stormwinds of Ages