The 4 Biggest Upcoming Rock Albums

Rock music arguably dominated the 20^th century, seeing its means and ways evolve from the swinging hips of Elvis and the shuffling blues of Chuck Berry to the ridiculous hair metal of Twisted Sister and the shirtless funk-rock synthesis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. It continues to be one of the largest genres in music, encompassing everything from indie to folk to punk. Here are four of the most anticipated album releases of the next year from some of the biggest rock bands to grace the stage.

1. Queen- Obviously the surprise, given that lead singer Freddy Mercury died in 1991 due to AIDS, but lead guitarist Brian May (whose hair hasn't changed in 40 years) has stated that the band has material that was recorded but never released. May has said that it will be released at the end of the year, as the tracks require some redefinition due to having been recovered from tape. Some songs may include Michael Jackson as well, which is certainly a treat for a fan of any music genre.

2. The Foo Fighters- Fresh off of his monumental and excellent work directing Sound City, Dave Grohl stated that the band is recording new material for an album to be released in the fall of 2014. Their previous album, Wasting Light, was received with positive reviews. In Sound City, Grohl (and the other members of the Foo Fighters) teamed up with various renowned musicians, such as Stevie Nicks and Paul McCartney, to produce an eclectic and nuanced album that was a great tribute to all aspects of rock and roll.

3. The Red Hot Chili Peppers- The 30 year-old band continues its march forward without any end in sight. Their previous album, I'm With You, was met with some mixed reviews due to the fact that lead guitarist John Frusciante left the band to explore solo experimental work, and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer. The difference was noticeable: whereas Frusciante's guitar riffs and solos would explode and intermingle with Flea's funky bass tracks, Klinghoffer's presence was more noticeable in his backing vocals. The album in itself wasn't bad, but to follow a colossal album such as Stadium Arcadium, the difference was unsettling to many.

4. Queens of the Stone Age- Riding the wave of critical acclaim from their previous album Clockwork, QOTSA frontman Josh Homme has stated that they have more than enough songs ready to release an album soon after they are finished with their ...Like Clockwork tour in September. Homme has also said that they've been on a roll in terms of writing music, so expect to hear more hard, grinding rock from them in the future.