Heavy Metal Albums of 2012

[RedSmile]

It has been quite awhile since I have done such a thread, so I figure why not?

This isn't a top ten or top twenty or anything like that. Just the albums that I got my grubby little hands on and ended up liking. I know there are a fair few metal fans here, so I hope some of these albums and bands garner a few more fans.

Anyways without further ado......

My first album is:

Testament - Dark Roots of Earth

Thrash veterans, Testament, released Dark Roots of Earth in late July, and really has been a nice surprise. Testament have been doing their thing since 1987, but have always seemed to take a back seat to their more accomplished peers Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. But that doesn't stop them from releasing a high quality thrash album with everything that a mature thrash album should be.

Sample:

Dragon Attack:

[RedSmile]

Striker - Armed to the Teeth

Striker is a fun-as-hell band from Canada who play a retro-speed metal style that is just too damn catchy to dislike. Armed to the Teeth is only their second full length, and it is an outstanding album cover to cover full of face melting dual guitar melodies and kick ass clean vocals that make to throw your fist in the air.

Sample:

It Could Be Worse:

[RedSmile]

Grave - Endless Procession of Souls

Grave is a mighty veteran, and one of the original innovators, of the Swedish brand of death metal. The crushing guitars and a tone that hit you over the head with heaviness, are in full force here in Grave's tenth album. This is a fantastic album, especially for fans of the Swedish Death Metal sound.

Sample:

Disembodied Steps:

[Bone Daddy]

From my favorite new metal album in years:



Of course, as soon as I discover a band I like they have a horrible bus crash

[RedSmile]

Enslaved - RIITIIR

By far, one of the best albums released this year. Enslaved is a band that has been around forever, releasing impeccable album after impeccable album, each album showcasing something a bit different that the one before. RIITIIR is no different, being generous in the progressive style and in its use of clean vocals from keyboardist, Herbrand Larsen, that really shine.

This is one of my favorite albums of the year. I cannot recommend it enough.

Sample:

Death in the Eyes of Dawn:

[RedSmile]

Haiduk - Spellbook

Haiduk is one of my new discoveries of the year. A one man Canadian affair, Spellbook is a wicked and unique hybrid of death and black metal that utilizes minimal vocals. The result is a frantic, atmospheric sound.

Sample:

Vortex:

[RedSmile]

A Million Dead Birds Laughing - Xen

Australia's A Million Dead Birds Laughing, or AMDBL for short, might be one of the best names for a band. It also is an accurate portrayal of the band's music; weird, dark, all over the place, a touch insane, and fun. If you are a fan of grindcore, or just plain weird styles, AMDBL is right up your alley.

Sample:

King:

[Derk!]

Cool thread! ;D

One of my choices:

Ikkadian - Of Alpha and Omega



If you're a fan of Blackened Death Metal ala Behemoth, I highly recommend this album. Best part, the band has it up on their website for free. They also have limited edition digipak cd versions available for only $12. Seeing as I prefer the real thing, that's what I got.




Will post more when I get the time.

[Glitch]

*Puts on elitest metal helmet and inspects around.*
Excellent. not a trace of nu or deathcore. Keep the good job, boys. XD

[RedSmile]

Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve

Barren Earth is another recent discovery. This Finnish band features members and ex-members of Moonsorrow, Amorphis, Swallow the Sun, and Kreator, and they produce a sound that is not too far away one would describe a combination of those aforementioned bands. Melodic Death, Doom, and a touch of Folk make up a fine album.

Sample:

As It Is Written:

[RedSmile]

Ahab - The Giant

Now here is possibly my favorite album of the year; competing heavily with Enslaved. Ahab, a German Doom metal band, have released three full length albums in total, and play such a slow and crushingly heavy style that they are able to mix brilliantly with moments of progressive style and clean vocals. This album is absolutely epic with songs that range from 8 minutes long to almost 13 minutes long.

Sample:

Fathoms Deep Below:

[RedSmile]

Tantara - Based on Evil

An outstanding debut for these Norwegian thrashers. Killer shreds and riffs, and great songwriting from a region not well known for its thrash.

Sample:

Mass Murder

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Skálmöld - Börn Loka

Icelandic Viking metal!!! Need I say more?

Sample:

Loki

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Ex Deo - Caligva

Ex Deo is a badass side project of the boys in Kataklysm. Where they rage about ancient Rome.

Sample:

Teutoburg (Ambush of Varus):

[RedSmile]

Hung - Hung

Hung is also a brand new band, one which I discovered back in early May. This band, and their debut album, have for the most part flown under the radar. I can't help, though, and be impressed with the use of an electirc violin along with the progressive-melodeath metal style.

Sample:

Progeny:

[RedSmile]

Soulfallen - The Promise of Hell

Another fine melodeath/death metal release by a Finnish band. Really 2012 was pretty good year for a fresh look at melo-death as a whole.

Sample:

Ghosts:

[RedSmile]

My Dying Bride - A Map of All Our Failures

A fantastic return to form for one the pioneering bands of the doom metal genre. This effort superbly utilizes Aaron Stainthorpe's vocals, deft instrumentation, and a swooning violin.

Sample:

The Poorest Waltz:

[RedSmile]

Be'lakor - Of Breath and Bone

An outstanding melo-death effort from Australia. One of the finest of the year. The tracks on this album have amazing flow.

Sample:

Abeyance:

[H-Virus]

Dec 29, 2012 18:07:11 GMT -5 RedSmile said:

Ex Deo - Caligva

Hell yeah.

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

sir I like the way you think and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

as for me, my album of the year is Book Burner by Pig Destoyer. honorable mention to High on Fire's De Vermis Mysteriis.