1
Wintersun
Time I
(2012)
Epic,
Grandoise Progressive Metal with elements of Black, Trad, Prog, Power and Folk
Metal
Every now
and then an album comes along that re-affirms your love of music. TIME I was
certainly the album that did it for me this year. An epic, grandoise mixture of
opera, traditional metal, folk metal, progressive metal, black metal and more
which is maybe even slightly more enjoyable than the band's highly regarded
debut due the cleaner vocal sections being better this time around. Part II of this epic is due next year
apparently, let's see if the might WINTERSUN can't achieve back-to-back albums
of the year...bring it on!!!
9.75/10
2
Testament
Dark Roots
of Earth (2012)
Classic
Thrash Metal with a slight Modern Trash tinge
One of the
best bast in the history of the universe releases what is easily one of the
best albums of 2012, and probably one of the best Thrash Metal albums released
in the last ten years! Seriously, If you are a fan of any era of TESTAMENT then
this album will please you more than you can imagine. DARK ROOTS OF EARTH is a
perfect example of all that can be achieved within the boundaries of Thrash
Metal and all of the current generation Thrashers should study this as a piece
of work to try and live up to!!!
9.5/10
3
Eyefear
The
Inception of Darkness (2012)
Progressive
Metal
THE
INCEPTION OF DARKNESS is an Aussie Prog Metal masterpiece!! I have been very proud of the Aussie input to
the metal landscape this year and this album is as good as any. Very, very
solid vocal performance and some excellent sounding dark keyboard work really
helps this album stand out from the pack.
If you are a prog metal fan and haven't discovered EYEFEAR yet.....Hurry
up and listen to this album NOW!
9.5/10
4
Teramaze
Anhedonia
(2012)
Progressive
Modern Metal with some Groovy Thrash
Most people
unfortunately won't hear about this record, which is a real shame because
Aussie modern prog metallers TERAMAZE have released the best album of their
career and finally look to have all of the required tools to take on the world.
A mixture of thrash, groove, progressive, modern and heavy grunge that offers
up plenty and not for one second lets up. a truly brilliant record from a band
that has just started to hit their stride.....can't wait to see what they do
next!!!
9.5/10
5
Coheed and
Cambria
The
Afterman: Ascension (2012)
Modernized
Progressive Alternative Metal
WOW! Such a
huge improvement over the lack-luster previous album YEAR OF THE BLACK RAINBOW.
The band head a little closer to their earlier sound on this one, but add a lot
of the little tricks they have learned along the way. By far the most
commercial metal album in my top ten, but there's a reason that these guys are
so popular. THE AFTERMAN: ASCENSION marks the beginning of a new era for COHEED
AND CAMBRIA and I for one am very excited to see what it brings.
9.5/10
6
Tank
War Nation
(2012)
Traditional
Heavy Metal mixed with some NWOBHM
WAR NATION
is a fuggen great album!!! Doogie White's melodic, soaring vocals meets TANK'S
classic NWOBHM sound to make something more akin to a classic era DIO record or
something like that. Purists may damn the fact that the band has dropped that
edgier, Punky influences in favor for more melody and classic riffing, but WAR
NATION is a true metalhead's dream album. The title track and also SONG OF THE
DEAD are probably my two favorite metal songs of 2012...
9.5/10
7
Linear
Sphere
Manvantara
(2012)
Progressive
Metal concept album
Well played
Techincal Prog Metal?...Check. Well
written and deep lyrical concept?...Check.
Unique, easily understood and varied vocals?...Check. What's not to like??? MANVANTARA is a
concept album based around man's journey through time via the Hindu and Mayan
calendars, and while it's hard to explain, it's actually very clear and easy to
follow. Musically the band draw inspiration from DREAM THEATER, MARILLION and
PINK FLOYD, all given a Technical undertone and some truly unique vocals that
are like some sort of twisted hybrid of Bruce Dickinson and Fish.
9.5/10
8
Be'lakor
Of Breath
and Bone (2012)
Progressive
Melodic Death Metal
I'm so
proud to have a second Aussie band in my top ten this year!! OF BREATH AND BONE
may be slightly under the band's previous effort, but it's still one of the
best albums the Melodic Death Metal genre has ever seen. It's progressive, it's
dark, it's epic and from a songwriting point of view it's totally fucking
awesome!! Seriously metal fans, take this one for a spin today, you won't
regret it.
9.5/10
9
Reverence
When
Darkness Calls (2012)
Traditional
Heavy Metal with Power Metal and NWOBHM touches
As most of
us already know, most of the time in the metal world, when a so-called
'supergroup' pops up the disappointment is inevitable. but REVERENCE are a
different beast all-together. Featuring members of BURNING STARR, CRIMSON
GLORY, TOKYO BLADE and SAVATAGE, the members of this band have combined to
create a very unique and organic approach that combines the best of Trad Metal,
Power Metal, NWOBHM, Melodic Hard Rock and Modern Metal and comes up with
something that should appeal to anybody that calls themselves a heavy music
fan.
9.5/10
10
Psycroptic
The
Inherited Repression (2012)
Technical
Death Metal with Progressive Metal undertones
With THE
INHERITED REPRESSION, PSYCROPTIC have once again shown that they are easily one
of the most exciting and inventive metal bands in Australia today. While
there's still a familair feeling backbone on this album, there's a few new
tricks to be heard and the overall vibe is fresh and listenable, whilst still
being brutal enough to make you poo your pants.
9.5/10
11
Iron Fire
Voyage of
the Damned (2012)
Slightly
Modernized Power Metal
VOYAGE OF
THE DAMNED is by far the best record IRON FIRE has ever released and the first
one to get a 9/10 from me personally. Martin Steene adds a few tricks to his
collection here by including some Modern Metal harsh vocals and even an
occasional Death Growl too. Coming, mid-January this album is the first true
highlight disc of 2012, and one all metal fans should stand up and take notice
of. No band before has so successfully pulled off a modernized Power Metal
album.
9.5/10
12
Aeternam
Moongod
(2012)
Symphonic
Melodic Death Metal with Arabic influences
If this
sort of moody and interesting vibe that AETERNAM are running with at the moment
is the direction Melodic Death Metal is headed in then I may well finally get
right into it. MOONGOD is a fantastic album that is constantly brutal and heavy
while still sounding melodic and symphonic. The growled vocals are clear enough
to follow along with the interesting lyrics, the clean vocals are refreshingly
well done and the Arabic influence really does add a nice touch. May seem a
little too 'nice' for those heavily into the genre, but for my varied musical
tastes, this album is a real treat.
9.5/10
13
Ensiferum
Unsung
Heroes (2012)
Symphonic
Folk Metal mixed with Melodic Death Metal
Whilst
UNSUNG HEROES slightly less-aggressive and more accessible sound seems to have
angered some of the band's long-time fans, I have to say that it's really
working for me! It's a little less Folk-inspired and there is certainly much
less growl vocals, but it's just so darn enjoyable to listen to! Also, IN MY
SWORD I TRUST may well be my favorite ENSIFERUM track...Only time will tell.
9.25/10
14
Banshee
Mindslave
(2012)
Classic
Metal from reunited band joined by new singer
After
twenty years on the sidelines, BANSHEE return to the metal fold with a fresh
attitude and a new perspective. They are joined by ASKA frontman George Call
and while they have written an album worthy of their classic metal history,
it's got a slightly modern groove and a meaty production that make it very easy
to listen to. In one fell swoop these guys have put themselves back into the
upper tier of Traditional Metal bands.
9.25/10
15
Wilderun
Olden Tales
& Deathly Trails (2012)
Epic,
Symphonic, Blackened Folk Metal
In years
gone by, I may have missed an album like this. Usually this close to the end of
the year I am rather busy and have to be very picky about what I chose to
listen to, but gee I'm glad I gave this one a go. Surely one of THE most
impressive folk-based metal debuts ever. Everything I love about folk metal is
here in spades and the epic, grandiose feel of OLDEN TALES & DEATHLY TRAILS
should appeal to just about everybody. Highly Recommended!!
9.25/10
16
Mob Rules
Cannibal
Nation (2012)
Traditional
Heavy Metal on a Melodic Hard Rock base
Seems to me
that I enjoyed this one a little more than most others, which is has been a
consistent trends across the entire discography of MOB RULES. The album is a
perfect mix of HELLOWEEN inspired Power/Traditional Metal and the more heavy
rock leanings of SCORPIONS. If nothing else, check out this album for the
choruses...truly some of the most enjoyable music of 2012!
9.25/10
17
Prong
Carved Into
Stone (2012)
Alternative
Metal with a little bit of everything
Once again
the mighty PRONG release an album that defies genre boundaries. Is it groove metal? Is it thrash metal? Is it
alternative? Is it industrial metal?
Well, it's a little bit of everything really and sounds significantly
different from anything else being done at the moment. CARVED INTO STONE is an
immensely enjoyable album REVENGE SERVED COLD is one of the best songs these
guys have ever written.
9.25/10
18
Kälter
Ubuntu
(2012)
Ultra-Heavy
Progressive Metal with Folk, Tribal and more
If their
first album wasn't enough, surely KALTER'S amazing follow-up UBUNTU will be the
album that sees these guys hitting the big time. Sure a lot of heavier bands
these days have progressive elements, but this album has an aura and
personality all of it's own. Definitely one of the most interesting releases of
the year and one EVERY metal fan needs to have a listen to.
9.25/10
19
Adorned
Brood
Kuningaz
(2012)
Blackened
Epic Folk Metal
Though I
check out each album that ADORNED BROOD release, I have learned from experience
to not expect too much. Imagine my surprise thn when KUNINGAZ turned out to be
one of the best Folk-Metal related releases of 2012. The vocals of FROST have
been sorted out and fixed up after the previous album's mistakes and the
overall atmosphere of this release is simply stunning. It may have taken
somewhere around twenty years, but finally ADORNED BROOD have released
something I truly admire!
9.25/10
20
Candlemass
Psalms for
the Dead (2012)
Epic Doom
Metal with Heavy Metal vocals
As
CANDLEMASS sail off toward the midnight moon they were good enough to leave us
with one more gem first. PSALMS FOR THE DEAD may not be the band's best ever
album, but it's easily the best Doom Metal related release of 2012 and a
fitting swansong for one of the most imitated bands in the history of
metal....See ya later guys....
9.25/10
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