BEST OF 2013: Part Three - The Gigs

So, the countdown of the year concludes with the gigs.

The hardest one to do, given that the only reason RTM exists is to review concerts.

Its been a brilliant year - one which saw us attend 119 live shows, seeing well over 300 bands.

Here are (after many revisions!) the top 20.

BAND	DATE	VENUE
Iron Maiden	8/3/2013	O2 Arena
Black Sabbath	20/12/13	LG Arena
Steven Wilson	17/10/13	Civic Hall
Hell	8/10/2013	Bloodstock
Black Star Riders	30/5/13	Marshall Amp Studio
Clutch	7/9/2013	Rock City
Wildhearts	4/7/2013	Wulfrun Hall
Orange Goblin	2/6/2013	Slade Rooms
The Temperance Movement	5/12/2013	Hare and Hounds
ZZ Top	24/6/13	Hammersmith Apollo
The Who	28/6/13	LG Arena
Riverside	17/3/13	Assembly
Spocks Beard	5/6/2013	Robin 2
Gloryhammer	10/2/2013	Robin 2
Bruce Springsteen	6/20/2013	Ricoh Arena
Joe Satriani	13/6/13	Wolves Civic Hall
Rush	26/5/13	LG Arena
Michael Monroe	12/3/2013	Slade Rooms
Avenged Sevenfold	12/5/2013	LG Arena
Skid Row	4/12/2013	Assembly

BEST OF 2013: Part Two - The Albums

Our countdown of the year continues with the best albums of the year.

It has been a superb 12 months for LP's, with stellar efforts from the likes of Pearl Jam, Saxon, The Answer and Monster Magnet not making the list.

So here they are: RTM's 20 albums of the year.

Album	Band
Furiousity	Monster Truck
Earth Rocker	Clutch
The Theory Of Everything	Ayreon
The Temperance Movement	The Temperance Movement
The Raven And Other Stories	Steven Wilson
Scorpion Child	Scorpion Child
The Whoopperwill	Blackberry Smoke
Shrine Of New Generation Slaves	Riverside
All Hell Breaks Loose	Black Star Riders
Kadavar	Abra Kadavar
Horns And Halos	Michael Monroe
Fish	A Feast Of Consequences
Curse And Chapter	Hell
Brief Nocturns And Dreamless Sleep	Spocks Beard
The River	JJ Grey And Mofro
Rockville	FM
Dream Theater	Dream Theater
Tales From The Kingdom Of Fife	Gloryhammer
13	Black Sabbath
The Journey	Big Country

BEST OF 2013: Part One - The Songs

As is traditional on RTM at this time of year, we begin our countdown of the Best of 2013 with the songs.

The idea is that a playlist is created with all our favourite songs of the year.

They are not in favourite order - merely it is constructed like a gig, with a beginning, middle and end.

The last track is our favourite song of the year.

Song	Artist	Album
New Generation Slave	Riverside	Shrine of New Generation Slaves
Earth Rocker	Clutch	Earth Rocker
Kings Highway	Scorpion Child	Scorpion Child
Getaway	Pearl Jam	Lightning Bolt
Shakin' Hands with the Holy Ghost	Blackberry Smoke	the Whippoorwill
Going To Mexico	Motörhead	Aftershock
Bad On Fords And Chevrolets	Sammy Hagar And Friends	Sammy Hagar And Friends
Crucifix Corner	Fish	A Feast Of Consequences
Handyman Blues	Billy Bragg	Tooth & Nail
Boston Square	Deaf Havana	Old Souls
Hell To Pay	Deep Purple	Now What!
Crosstown Train	FM	Rockville
The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee	Gloryhammer	Tales from the Kingdom of Fife
End Ov Days	Hell	Curse and Chapter
Outlaw You	Shooter Jennings	The Other Life
Drive Home	Steven Wilson	The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)
The House Of Gold & Bones	Stone Sour	House Of Gold & Bones Part 2
How I Survived The Punk Wars	Ginger Wildheart	Hey! Hello!!!
99 Shades Of Crazy	JJ Grey & Mofro	This River
Hold On Me	Suns Of Stone	Suns Of Stone
Damaged Soul	Black Sabbath	13
Doomsday Machine	Kadavar	Abra Kadavar
Saturday Night Special	Michael Monroe	Horns and Halos
Hiding Out	Spock's Beard	Brief Nocturnes And Dreamless Sleep
Hail To The King	Avenged Sevenfold	Hail to the King
Temper Temper	Bullet For My Valentine	Temper Temper
The Enemy Inside	Dream Theater	Dream Theater
In a Broken Promise Land	Big Country	The Journey
Midnight Black	The Temperance Movement	The Temperance Movement
Sweet Mountain River	Monster Truck	Furiosity
Bound For Glory	Black Star Riders	All Hell Breaks Loose