Summer has officially arrived. School’s out, work is a little slower, and the days are much longer, giving us all time to enjoy the outdoors even more. And to me, nothing is more enjoyable in the outdoors then sitting on the deck with a cold beer, watching the sun set, and listening to some hard rock music to end the day. It’s also fun to roll down the windows of the car on the way to work and blast out the hard rock during the morning commute. And of course at barbeques and picnics, I like to have a little rock and roll playing out of the portable radio.
So, with all those opportunities to play some exceptional music, what are some of the best albums to rock out to this summer? Well, let me preface this edition of Vie’s Verses by stating that I have not yet purchased the new Black Sabbath album (as of this writing), but I hear it may be one of the best records of the summer. I have every intention of purchasing it soon, and when I do, I will be sure to tweet whether it is an album worth rocking out to this summer (you can follow me on twitter – @ryovie).
Without being able to rate 13, here are my picks for albums that will rock your summer, 2013 style. Some of them are brand new, some have been out for a little while, but all are relatively newer records, guaranteed to rock. Perhaps you missed one of them along the way. Now is a perfect opportunity to give them a listen.
Airbourne – Black Dog Barking
If you haven’t been following this Australian band, you need to. It would be a great summer gift to yourself. Airbourne is one of the hardest rocking bands to come out in a long while and their third disc, Black Dog Barking, is nothing short of spectacular. Jam packed with hard rocking, AC/DC style jams, Black Dog Barking is certain to show your ears a hell of a good time. Between the gems “No One Fits Me (Better Than You)” and “Back In The Game,” you have a solid, old school, foot stomping rock fest. Black Dog Barking is a great album to push out at maximum volume this summer.
Buckcherry – Confessions
The latest album from Buckcherry, Confessions, is another beauty by this exceptional band. I have been a huge fan of Buckcherry since their debut album was released almost 15 years ago. They rocked hard then and they rock hard now. Confessions is packed full of great songs that will make any summer road trip much more enjoyable. From the opening number “Gluttony,” straight through to “Dreamin’ Of You,” Confessions is a well thought out, well produced, well performed rock album. If you have the chance to add Buckcherry to your summer concert list, I would highly recommend doing it. If they aren’t playing a venue near you, then just keep on spinning Confessions. Your summer will thank you.
Kiss – Monster
Even though it came out this past autumn, Kiss’ Monster is certainly a summertime hit. One of the best Kiss albums to be released in a long time, and one of the best records of 2012, Monster is an enjoyable ride of fun rock and roll. Gene, Paul, Tommy, and Eric all take vocals on this disc and everyone provided nothing but the highest quality of music for Monster. This record packs a punch and is certainly a force to be reckoned with, which is why it still gets significant play months after its initial release. While you’re grilling up your favorite protein this summer and downing a delicious craft beer, pop in Kiss’ Monster and watch how quickly the grill becomes a headbanger’s paradise.
Pop Evil – Onyx
Heavy, dark, and certainly summer worthy, Pop Evil’s Onyx is a record that I waited a long time to hear and when it was finally released, it did not disappoint. Modern sound with a hard rock edge, Onyx is a spectacular record that demands attention this summer. Tracks like “Sick Sense,” “Beautiful,” and “Fly Away,” will be all over the radio as the summer rolls on. From FM to satellite, they will be practically unavoidable. On top of that, Pop Evil is constantly touring, so more than likely you will have a chance to see the band on the road this summer (which I highly recommend that you do). Pop Evil is everywhere and their commanding presence is only getting stronger.
Suicidal Tendencies – 13
Back after a long hiatus, Suicidal Tendencies returned with one of the greatest records I heard this year—13. Infectious grooves, excellent lyrics, and a whole lot of hard rocking, fun filled jazz infused music makes 13 such an amazing album. This record not only will get a ton of play this summer, but it will probably get a plethora of spins this fall as well. I can’t say enough good things about the latest from Suicidal Tendencies, but I can say this – if there is one album that you rock out to this summer, 13 should be it. The original hard rock funk masters are back and they mean business.
Whether you’re on vacation, on the grill, or on your daily commute, be sure to rock some excellent music this summer. Don’t think you’ll be rocking to the list above? Drop us a line and tell us what we should be rocking out to. Or feel free to send me a tweet (@ryovie).
Legendary. It is the only word that fits the band Black Sabbath! It is mind-blowing to me that Black Sabbath has been recording metal music off & on for over 40 years now. Their music has stood against the test of time. There have been many imitators, but no band has been able to reproduce the amazing music that Black Sabbath has put out over the years. With that being said, Black Sabbath’s latest album 13, is not what I would call legendary, but it is a great bookend to what could easily be the final chapter in the careers of this amazing metal band.
Out of 10
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