Editorials
Most Anticipated Releases Of 2013
Well, this is it folks, the last day of 2012. It’s been a year just like any others. We’ve had good stuff happen, we’ve had bad stuff happen. But now is the time to look forward and feel excitement. After all, it’s a new year! It’s a time for new beginnings, fresh starts, etc… And what makes things better than some new music, right? So, with that in mind, I’ve come up with 14 albums that I just cannot WAIT to get my grubby little mitts on. Check ’em out below and make sure to leave your most anticipated albums in the comments!
In no particular order:
TesseracT – Altered State (TBD)
I’ve been a big fan of these guys since they signed to Century Media Records. And after the several singer change that the band has undergone in since the release of One, it’s amazing that they are pushing forward with even more intensity and energy than before. If their current single “Nocturne” is any indication of what Altered States is going to sound like, I have a feeling I’ll be playing it over and over for a good long while.
Destiny Potato – As-of-yet-untitled (TBD)
I’m a big fan of the melodic tech metal surge that has happened over the past few years. But something that was missing was the presence of female vocals. Now, Serbian-based band Destiny Potato is going to fill that void. Based on their song “Dark Side Of You“, I’m expecting some really great things.
Tool – As-of-yet-untitled (TBD)
This is in no way a confirmation of a new Tool album coming out in 2013. Rather, this is a hope that such an event will occur. Because this band evolves and shifts with each release, it’ll be fascinating to hear what their next step forward will sound like.
Alice In Chains – As-of-yet-untitled (TBD)
With the release of “Hollow“, my anticipation for a new Alice In Chains album reached fever-pitch. It was everything that I could’ve wanted to hear from AIC and I’m beyond excited to hear the full album and its offerings.
The Gathering – Afterlights (TBD)
Now, originally Afterlights was released as a 4-track EP on vinyl. However, the band plans on releasing the EP on CD with additional brand-new tracks. With how incredible Disclosure was, I’m on pins and needles awaiting this release.
Leprous – As-of-yet-untitled (TBD)
Bilateral was one of my absolute favorite releases of 2011. As a result, I’m eagerly awaiting a new album to fulfill my prog rock/metal desires.
Heaven’s Basement – Filthy Empire (Feb. 5th)
Sometimes, you just need some damn good heavy rock ‘n’ roll to get you through the day. If “Fire, Fire” and “I Am Electric” are any indication, I’m gonna have to go out and get a leather jacket and get my rock face mastered.
Alaya – Thrones (TBD)
This band was brought to my attention only a few weeks ago when they signed with Basick Records. Something about their track “Inside” wormed its way into my head and hasn’t left since. Every time I hear the track, I get to the end and I want to hit ‘replay’. If the rest of their album is like this, we might already have an Album of the Year contender in the running.
Philip Anselmo – Walk Through Exits Only (TBD)
After hearing two solo tracks on the War Of The Gargantuas EP, I knew that I needed to hear the whole product. I can’t wait to get my face melted off by this album.
Soilwork – The Living Infinite (March 5th)
I’m a huge Soilwork fan and have been for years. And after hearing “Spectrum Of Eternity“, my interest was locked. March 5th can’t come soon enough.
Karnivool – As-of-yet-untitled (TBD)
I still listen to Sound Awake on a regular basis and “New Day” still ranks as one of my favorite songs ever. So knowing that the Aussie prog band is going to enter the studio in March for their third album fills me with such joy and excitement. Bring it on fellas!
Ghost – Infestissumam (TBD)
Opus Eponymous was a glorious throwback to 70’s NWOBHM and I loved every second of it. If “Secular Haze” is any indication, Infestissumam will be every bit as enjoyable.
Wolves Like Us – As-of-yet-untitled (TBD)
Wolves Like Us rocked my 2011 with their debut album Late Love. They mixed hardcore with punk and added in dashes of metal to create something incredibly infectious and entertaining. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that their sophomore album at least matches their debut.
Depeche Mode – As-of-yet-untitled (March)
Any time that Depeche Mode announces a new album, I get all giddy. I always have and always will love this band.
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Judging from the unprecedented box office success of Kane Parsons’ Backrooms adaptation, you’ve likely already seen the liminal horror hit that managed to make audiences afraid of empty hallways and bad wallpaper. And now that so many of us have already entered the yellow labyrinth (some of us more than once), the time has come to discuss the spoiler-filled details that make the movie so fascinating in the first place.
And if there’s one element here that makes the Backrooms movie stand out from any previous lore/mythology, it has to be the genius addition of the Still Life entities. Warped recreations of real people that somehow wandered into the Complex, these misremembered creatures are responsible for some of the most disturbing imagery of 2026 – as well as laugh-out-loud memes created by one of the film’s very own concept artists.
However, true to Parsons’ word that the movie would rely heavily on practical effects, each of these distorted monsters was brought to life by real actors under heavy layers of makeup and prosthetics (with the occasional splash of CGI enhancements). While Anora and If I Had Legs I’d Kick You actress Ivy Wolk wasn’t among these performers, despite what Letterboxd might have you believe, the creature cast did benefit from veteran players with plenty of genre experience.
For starters, Alien: Romulus alumni Robert Bobroczkyi (who previously brought that film’s horrific Offspring to life during its most memorable sequence) plays the flick’s main antagonist, the Still Life version of Captain Clark. And though there was some obvious CGI involved in making the character’s peg-leg and nightmarish face more believable, Bobroczkyi’s monstrous performance and his natural 7’7″ frame helped to make that final chase sequence a clear highlight among this year’s genre offerings.
The film’s Texas-Chain-Saw-inspired “dinner” scene also features a freaky collection of less-aggressive Still Life creatures in the form of the Bearded Man, the Red-Headed Woman and, strangest of them all, the cheekily named “Archibald Leland Sutter Still Life” (who earned this title among fans and crewmembers as a reference to his apparent affinity for lamps).
While this was the first major horror outing for both Patrick Baynham (The Bearded Man) and Dana Mahmood (Archibald), Rhiannon Roberts has worked as a stunt performer in everything from Yellowjackets to HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation – which is probably why The Red-Headed Woman is the most active out of Clark’s impromptu “family.” That being said, the Archibald Leland Sutter Still Life is my personal favorite of the bunch simply because his anachronistic outfit suggests that the Backrooms phenomenon might be a lot older than the Async Foundation. I also love how hard he tries to be helpful with that little light of his!
That might be it for the Still Life entities, but I think horror fans will also be pleased to hear that the film’s Found Footage prologue stars none other than Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City star Avan Jogia as Naren Warne – and American Mary herself Katharine Isabelle also shows up in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo at Mary’s house party towards the middle of the story (though I have a feeling that she originally had a bigger part that was likely cut for time).
At the end of the day, Parsons’ Backrooms may have been an auteur-driven project motivated by the young director’s unique take on the classic creepypasta, but film has always been a collective artform, so it’s fun to see just how many talented performers it takes to bring this kind of supernatural nightmare to life in a way that connects with so many people.
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