2013, places 11-15.

11. Jesu - Everyday I Get Closer To The Light From Which I Came
Oh how I love the sound of this album. The sort of post punk/rock stuff with the heavy doomy bass/guitars in the background. This sound builds the foundation of the album and sets the tone from the very start.

You wouldn't have expected a "happy" album from Broadrick's Jesu and luckily that is not he's intending on this record. Where for example Trent Reznor made a somewhat up beat (by NIN and Godflesh/Jesu standards), Broadrick stays on the gloomy road.




12. Chelsea Wolfe - Pain Is Beauty
This album is for 2013 what PJ Harvey's "Let England Shake" was for 2011.I hear a lot of similarities between the two records, mainly that this one is nearly as good as Harvey's last masterpiece and that is saying a lot! This is dark, doomy and dreasmy pop(?), that would be the soundtrack to your nightmare.





13. Wolf People - Fain
The band that released the greatest record of 2010 returned with another great release this year! This album is probably even better than "Steeple". However I think I expected something more, it's more of the same but slightly better which obviously makes it a great album, but for me it's not a contender for a top spot like the previous album was. And in all honesty there aren't a lot of records from 2010 that would end up in top ten this year...



14. Kylesa - Ultraviolet
I thought this was gonna be a contender for best album of the year, it didn't really reach that high though. This album is packed to the rim with sludgy riffs that'll make your ears bleed and there's a great dynamic throughout the record. The mix between Philip Cope's and Laura Pleasants' voices fits the music brilliantly. The band is coming to Oslo in January and I hope to catch the show!





15. Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare
Jonathan Wilson might be my discovery of the year, outside of metal. Best described, Wilson creates psychedelic folk rock inspired by some of the artists that make appearances on the records. These artists are David Crosby, Graham Nash, Roy Harper and Jackson Browne. To fit so many inspirations in one record it needs to be quite long, and it is... The album is nearly 80 minutes long and if I have any complaints about the album it is that it's a tad too long. However, there isn't a single track I would remove so maybe I'm all wrong...

Slottsfjell day two.

As stated in previous posts, Friday had a lot more to offer music wise than Thursday. First up was Black Tusk at the stage on top of the hill. The rain was pouring down and there was even some thunder and lightning which made the attendence a quite small one. The lucky ones who were there though got a great show as the band didn't let the weather slow them down.

It's amazing the quality stuff the town of Savannah, GA, has provided over the last few years. Kylesa, Baroness and Black Tusk. Is Savannah the sludge metal capital of the world?

Next up was Tortoise, a highly influentual 90's alternative band. If you haven't heard this band yet you're certain to have heard bands and artists influenced by them during the past decade or so. This is really good rhythmic instrumental post-rock/krautrock/indie/alternative... Call it what you want, it's good music!

Timbuktu and his band Damn! has a great ability to make people dance. That they did today as well. Great versions of some of his classic early 00's songs that I listened to a lot at the time.

After a short food break we were ready for some more punk metal. This time it was served by the canadians in Cancer Bats. They were ok, their sound was a bit too "american" and straight forward for me. They did a cool cover of Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" though.

One of the biggest signings the festival made this year, for me was Wolfmother. I've seen them twice before and they have always been great. This time wasn't that different either. The only small complaint I have with them is that when you have such a great set of tracks you can play from both of your albums (especially the first one) you should really show it. At a festival like this you have limited time (they played for about an hour), so I don't like it when they use lots of time doing jams. "White Unicorn" ended up in a The Doorsy druged out jam. I also wonder what the band had been drinking/smoking before they went on stage? They didn't exactly seem sober at stage. They still manage to deliver the goods so no complaints about it.

Finally we saw a couple of songs by Pure Love, the band of the former Gallows singer. An ok band that may have some potential.

All in all it was a great day and today should be nothing short of that either. Starting with Graveyard early in the afternoon and ending with New Order tonight. Looking forward to it!

See you at Fjellet!

Black Tusk in pouring rain.

The shoes were white before I went to the festival. And they looked even worse when I got home last night.

Tortoise.

Timbuktu & Damn! put on a great show.

Cancer Bats, the highlight being a cool cover of Beastie Boys "Sabotage"

Wolfmother. One of the highlights of the festival so far.

Finally we saw some of the Pure Love set.