Metal Underground.com

OpEd

Best Metal Newcomers Of 2013 Explored, Part 2

Each year in our annual metal awards we take a look at the best “newcomers” – those bands that released debut full-lengths worth your time.

To help get you acquainted with the best new talent releasing albums you may have missed, we’ll be looking at each of the bands nominated for the “best newcomer” category by our staff. Today, writer Rex_84 covers Vista Chino, The Resistance, Raven Lord, Skan, and Lord Dying. Here's what he had to say:

Thanks to Facebook and local venues, there was hardly a day that went by without receiving a flyer or like request on an unfamiliar band. Bands from around the globe injected new ideas into sounds we know well. In the end, however, my list mostly consists of new bands containing members from the artists I've gotten to know and love through my years as a heavy metal fan.

Vista Chino

Vista Chino rose from the ashes of Kyuss Lives when former Kyuss guitar Josh Homme and bassist Scott Reeder sued the band for "trademark infringement and consumer fraud." Although no longer containing the "Kyuss" in their name, Brant Bjork easily filled Josh Homme's shoes. Vista Chino's debut "Peace" is the fuzzy, desert rock album Kyuss fans have long for since the group disbanded nearly twenty years ago.

The Resistance

The "Rise From Treason" EP proved that the Gothenburg, Sweden melodic death metal scene is still here and still heavy. The magnetic rhythm section of Glenn Ljungström and Jesper Strömblad heard in the early years of In Flames and Hammerfall has once again brought together, this time heavily accented with hardcore groove. "The Haunted Made Me Do It" front man Marco Aro provides the perfect vocal bravado for this style.

Raven Lord

Raven Lord is certainly a product of the times. The group's first effort "Descent to the Underworld" contains power metal musicians from all over the globe. Although the album doesn't offer a Tim "Ripper" Owens or Blaze Bayley, its members have a long resume that includes such vaunted names. Vocals strong enough to rise out of the valley and over the mountains, guitar wizardry and cinematic keyboard-generated atmospheres were all food for fodder for any fan of power metal or classic heavy metal.

Skan

Just when we thought most of the blood had been mopped up from another sanguinary year of metallic sounds, Skan takes aim for the first time with it's "The Old King" EP. The recording was primarily handled by Skrew member, Joseph Merino. Other members joined him after the EP's release. "The Old King" puts thrash, death metal and black metal into a blender, resulting in a tasty, original sound with plenty of aggression to get your blood boiling!

Lord Dying

Pac Northwest newcomers, Lord Dying top this list for crunchiest guitars. The group's bombardment of bruising guitar riffs known as "Summoning the Faithless" proved a major acquisition for Relapse Records. Too up-tempo to be considered a doom band and too doom-y to receive the groove metal tag, Lord Dying found its own niche that includes bands such High On Fire. Expect to see these guys take the stage opening for some of your favorites artists in 2014.

Looking for more new talent that came out in 2013? Check out yesterday's article covering Witherscape, Gloryhammer, and Cnoc an Tursa right here.

An avid metal head for over twenty years, Darren Cowan has written for several metal publications and attended concerts throughout various regions of the U.S.