Continuing Rocksins’ look back at the previous twelve months, it’s now the turn of Sheldon to offer his thoughts, over to you Sheldon!
Well it is that time of year to reminisce on the entertaining and disappointing music blasting into our ears during 2013. Getting started we have:
1) Album Of The Year – Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal
The album of the year for me would have to be Bring Me The Horizon’s Sempiternal. The album leaked way before the release date but it still had an outstanding response hitting some high numbers in the charts. They really showed how they could mature as a band and progress fantastically; you cannot fault their experimentation. Personally I believe this to be the best album they have created. Stand out tracks include ‘Can You Feel My Heart’, ‘Go To Hell, For Heaven’s Sake’, ‘Deathbeds’ and ‘And The Snake Starts To Sing’. Bring Me The Horizon have produced a seriously impressive album.
2) Song Of The Year – Enter Shikari – Radiate
Song of the year is a very difficult thing with so many of amazing candidates but I would have to say Enter Shikari’s ‘Radiate’. So much is compacted into that one song. For example the fast pace beats, slow sing along parts comforted with a catchy dance synth. Looking forward to more new material from them!
3) Gig Of The Year – Alt Ska Killed Christmas – The Black Heart, Camden, 21st of December 2013
Gig of the year would now have to be Alt Ska killed Christmas! Featuring Imperial Leisure, Karl Phillips, Ghouls and many more. It took place on the 21st of December in London. It may have been a small event but the atmosphere and the music were both incredible. It was a crazy night with great performances, so many shenanigans on-stage involving impulsive kissing, stripping, stage dives and audience climbing on-stage singing with the band. Forget 2013, this had to be one of the best gigs I have ever attended in any year.
4) Festival Performance Of The Year – Parkway Drive (Download 2013)
Festival performance of the year, I would say Parkway Drive smashed it at Download. Even though I am not a huge fan of this band, watching them live was a great experience. Also you always hear bands say how happy they are to be playing the festival…Well this band actually were and you could tell how much it meant to them. Also kudos to the bass player soldiering through the set bleeding all over his guitar
Other notable sets over the Download weekend were: Sonic Boom Six, Modestep, Korn, Bullet For My Valentine and Asking Alexandria.
5) Video Of The Year – Attila – About That Life
Video of the year goes to Attila’s ‘About That Life’. The ghetto swagger music/video gets your attention immediately and is extremely entertaining with females dancing, money flying with sex and drug references. The stereotypical gangster lifestyle is quite amusing to watch the way they have portrayed it in this video.
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(Another notable video mention would be Asking Alexandria – ‘Killing You’ – their music videos are quite creative and interesting apart from the occasional gig music videos, which most bands do).
6) Disappointing album of the year – Bullet For My Valentine – Temper Temper
Disappointing album of the year would be Bullet For My Valentine’s effort Temper Temper. They seem to have just played it safe by not pushing forward with their talent and experimenting. Also most of the lyrical content is lacking originality and spice. A possible error of this album was the hype behind it, especially on ‘Tears Don’t Fall part 2’, which has been quite controversial. But overall it’s still an OK album.
7) Band Of The Year – Asking Alexandria
Band of the year is a difficult decision but I would put across Asking Alexandria as they have had a wild ride and been dealing with a lot of issues and complications while constantly touring. They are really putting in the work and hopefully it will pay off for them. Their biggest tour so far is coming at the end of 2014 and we will really see how far they have come then.
8) Bonus Awards
“Shocking” but not so shocking events/news would go to Escape The Fate and Falling In Reverse burying the hatchet and all dramatics finally. Now hopefully the fans will stop whining about who’s better and just listen to the music that they are providing for a change, people seem to forget it’s music not a popularity contest.
You can follow Sheldon on Twitter at @Flobbit10. If you have enjoyed reading Sheldon’s highlights of 2013 you can read selections by some of our other writers below:
Stephen’s End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
Iain’s End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
Matt’s End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
Jamie’s End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
Sam D’s End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
Fran’s End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
James’ End of Year Awards 2013 (click here)
