Moderate Rock

Silence is a virtue, right? Certainly not if you’re a music news and reviews website.

While the lack of updates around here may have made it seem like we upped and died, rumours of any permanent demise are greatly exaggerated. We’ve still been listening to, no, devouring tons of music in 2013. There’s been the return of Trent Reznor, the quick-witted hip hop of Run the Jewels, Bring Me The Horizon continuing their ascent to superstardom, and much more. There’s never enough time to hear everything, not even close, but still, some records just seem to stand out from the crowd.

These are Moderate Rock’s albums of the year. 11 because Spinal Tap. Also, crippling indecision:

11. MOGWAI- ‘Les Revenants’
10. MISERY SIGNALS- ‘Absent Light’
9. SHAI HULUD- ‘Reach Beyond the Sun’
8. CULT OF LUNA- ‘Vertikal’
7. AND SO I WATCH YOU FROM AFAR- ‘All Hail Bright Futures’
6. JESU- ‘Every Day I Get Closer to the Light from Which I Came’
5. SIGUR ROS- ‘Kveikur’
4. 65DAYSOFSTATIC- ‘Wild Light’
3. STUART WARWICK- ‘The Butcher’s Voice’
2. DEAFHEAVEN- ‘Sunbather’
1. REMEMBERING NEVER- ‘This Hell Is Home’

Everyone has got a band that feels like their own, right? A band that you know isn’t necessarily the best band in the world but something about what they play and the way they play it hits you in the best way. Playing confrontational hardcore as they do, I know they won’t be for everyone, but Remembering Never are one of my bands. Always have been. Their placing here isn’t (only) based on goodwill or nostalgia though, their fourth full-length is also an essential blast of fury and the best thing they’ve ever done.

Shout out also to The Pirate Ship Quintet for the record I listened to most this year that actually came out last year.

Looking back, this has been another incredible year for music and it sucks we couldn’t shower louder praise on these and a ton of other great albums. We will be back brighter, bushier tailed, and more talkative soon.