So, the question remains, does Unkind manage to stand up on the pedestal on which it has been placed? The answer is undoubtedly a hearty ‘yes.’ Unkind is as diverse and as brutal as all its hype had predicted, and this review only confirms its inevitable success in 2013.

For fans of Jack's Mannequin, there's enough familiarity here to keep you coming back, while also having covered enough new ground that you won't get bored of hearing the same thing all over again. All in all, this is a strong addition to Andrew's already stellar catalogue.

In the past few years we have seen the resurrection of ‘emo’ occur parallel to the rise of the pop punk craze. Four Minutes of Being Cool is an imrpessive nod at two bands that planted the roots for the craze as well as proving that hardcore and emo can be interspersed in a way that is explosive and effective. While August Burns Red's contribution lets the split down slightly, Silverstein's cover of 'Coming Clean' is brilliant. 

With 'My Shame Is True', Alkaline Trio inject a much needed dose of the harsher edginess sorely missed from the past couple records, pairing it with a sense of maturity. It's no 'Goddamnit!', and fans hoping for a straight-up nostalgia trip are likely to be disappointed – but, catchy and acerbic, it's distinctly Trio.

With 'Bone and Marrow', Derek Archambault wears his heart on his sleeve to deliver a powerfully strong debut. Suspend the knowledge that Archambault also fronts a very loud hardcore band – or indeed, use it as proof of his versatility when it comes to writing music – and 'Bone and Marrow' is a rich collection of whiskey-soaked ballads that serve as evidence of the amount of time Archambault has had to work these songs to their best.

You can be quiet achievers without actually being quiet at all. A Life Once Lost are deliberate and care little for much else. Despite its bland moments, ‘Ecstatic Trance’ is a good return. Maybe not the greatest point in the catalogue, but still very enticing.

After The Fall know what they’re good at and play to their strengths on album number four. Bittersweet serves up an instantly familiar sound that fans will embrace with open arms. It’s not revolutionary stuff, but it’s catchy and playful enough to justify repeated spins. Not bad.

'A War You Cannot Win' is not groundbreaking; most of the ideas can be traced without difficulty to moments in the group's back catalogue, as well as those of their peers. It is well executed, however, and this makes it an enjoyable listen.

With a career spanning a decade, Anberlin continue to demonstrate their ability to grow on Vital. This record showcases the band at their most mature, and the melodies – enhanced by Stephen Christian’s pure tone – are some of the best they’ve produced in recent years. Vital will appeal to new listeners, in addition to (possibly) satisfying many long-time fans who have been craving an Anberlin record to match Cities.

Why not immerse yourself in a change of pace once in a while? The holidays just got a bit more rock ‘n’ roll here. ‘Sleddin’ Hill, A Holiday Album’ is refreshing and proves itself worthy of the time and effort.