BravePicks 2013: The Scribes Speak - Mark Gromen
January 7, 2014, 10 years ago
Happy New Year from BraveWords and all the best for a headbanging 2014! To honour tradition, we always follow our annual BravePicks by handing over the pen to our devout scribes and let them speak out about the year that was and the year ahead of us!
So now we present each writer's take on 2013 with the always popular Brave Embarrassments, Concerts, Thoughts On 2013, Predictions For 2014 and What / Who Needs To Stop In 2014!
Mark Gromen - Top 10 Of 2013
1) ALPHA TIGER – Beneath The Surface (Century Media)
2) AMON AMARTH – Deceiver Of The Gods (Metal Blade)
3) LANCER – Lancer (Doolittle)
4) VICTOR GRIFFIN’S IN-GRAVED- Victor Griffins’ In-Graved (Svart/Veritas)
5) DEATH ANGEL - The Dream Calls For Blood (Nuclear Blast)
6) UDO – Steelhammer (AFM)
7) VOODOO CIRCLE – More Than One Way Home (AFM)
8) RUNNING WILD – Resilient (SPV)
9) MOTORHEAD – Aftershock (UDR)
10) BLACK TRIP – Goin’ Under (Threeman Recordings)
Top 3 Brave Embarrassments
1) BUTCHER BABIES – Goliath (Century Media)
Bust!
2) AVANTASIA – Mystery Of Time (Nuclear Blast)
Time? For a new EDGUY record, sure!
3) WARLORD – The Holy Empire (Sons Of A Dream Music)
Sanitized/sanctified version of '80s legend. Give me something akin to unholy trinity of ‘Mrs. Victoria’, ‘Aliens’ or, God forbid, ‘Lucifer’s Hammer’.
Top 3 Concerts
1) VINTAGE CARAVAN - Gauknum - Reykjavik, Iceland
2) TWISTED SISTER, RAVEN - Old Bridge Metal Militia Reunion - Encore Events Center - Freehold, NJ
3) IRON MAIDEN, SABATON, GHOST - Oberhausen, Germany
Metal Predictions For 2014
NIGHT DEMON – After EP garnered rabid attention, time for traditional sounding Americans to get a full-length release.
BLIND GUARDIAN – Hansi has already hinted that the Germans will re-examine the heavier side of the band. Yeah!
VINTAGE CARAVAN – Voyage (Nuclear Blast): 70s hard rock inspired youngsters. Bit of a cheat, since will be a reissue of their Icelandic only album, which I’ve already heard.
Who/What Needs To Stop In 2014
AVENGED SEVENFOLD – at least cease the hyperbolic, self-aggrandizing statements. Metal fans will decide your fate!
Thoughts On 2013
Touring North American festival packages continue to gain in popularity, although overseas headliners (COB, AMON AMARTH, MACHINE HEAD) continue to be relegated to smaller/opening stages, while unworthy acts get coveted main stage status. Know bands are struggling for $, without CD sales, but too many club shows by bands going it alone (when they shouldn’t)! Diverse sounds, but everyone seems to return to old classics, be it the originals, or retro-minded bands. That said, Sweden continues to churn out quality “cover” bands, like BLAZON STONE. In addition to the top 10, also impressed by newest efforts from old-timers like THIN LIZZY, ahem BLACK STAR RIDERS, AMORPHIS and HELLOWEEN, as well as thought provoking projects like ATLANTEAN CODEX and TWILIGHT OF THE GODS. Good things already booked for 2014!
