The Best Metal Albums of 2012

With the cream of the crap out of the way (The Worst of Metal Albums of 2012) it's on to the best of 2012. Pretty self expanatory. These are my top 25 metal albums released in 2012, counting down to number one.

25. Hour of 13 - 333

"Basically, what we have here is classic sounding doom metal drawing on some old school influences while utilizing some nice groove guitar and plenty of dark atmosphere."

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24. Brendon Small - Brendon Small's Galaktikon

"There's an almost stoner vibe to this at times fueled by his vocal style and some groovier moments, but the music is also unmistakably progressive. I dig the mix and I can't say I've ever really heard a soundalike for what he's doing here."

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23. Hideweaver - Silver Bullet
"Hideweaver are an up and comer that I would say is worth keeping an eye on. Always nice to hear some new blood doing power metal well."

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22. Castle - Blacklands

"Listening to Blacklands I can't help but think this sounds kind of like the soundtrack to some 70s/80s occult/satanist themed horror movie."

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21. Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned

"I find myself enjoying this album more than anything they've done since Coup De Grace, the album that got me into the band back in my college radio days. The grooves here are just massive and make my head want to move. Kind of the epitome of just doing your sound well."

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20. Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline

"It's not a perfect album and I'd love them to have more of their old sound, but I've also kind of accepted the newer version. Metal? That's debatable. Good? I have no real debate with that. I'd say Dark Adrenaline is their best release since they did go more mainstream."

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19. Doro - Raise Your Fist

"Raise Your Fist is pretty well represented by it's title as this album is all about straight up fist pumping anthems. Short and sweet tracks that are really about rocking out and have a somewhat retro feel to them."

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18. Running Wild - Shadowmaker

"I can't say that Shadowmaker is Everything I wanted, but it is more than I expected and a good album. It is also probably the best of their more mid-paced albums. Expect more Victory/The Brotherhood than Black Hand Inn/Pile Of Skulls and this is an enjoyable listen."

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17. Threshold - March Of Progress

"In terms of frontman changes this one seems pretty seamless and comes off without a real hitch. If you like Threshold's brand of progressive with a strong focus on melody and memorable songs then there's just no reason not to like this in my book."

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16. Liv Moon - Symphonic Moon

"If you like Symphonic metal with operatic touches to the vocals and aren't opposed to something just a little quirky with Japanese lyrics than check it out. I personally enjoy an album like this when I'm feeling like something a little outside the norm."

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15. Crimson Cult - Tales Of Doom

"What this band brings to the table is a great no frills power sound grounded in traditional, while also sounding unique, and even haunting at times. Tales Of Doom just has a nice edge to it without the more melodic power metal sound that seems to be more in style at the moment."

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14. Oddland - The Treachery Of Senses

"Basically, what we have here is a band doing a heavy slant on progressive metal with halting riffs, melodic moments, and some dark/goth flavor that you might expect from a Finnish band. The sound of Oddland comes together pretty well into a dark and interesting soundscape with a lot of changes/variation in the music."

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13. Orden Ogan - To The End

"To me this is just a band taking a variety of influences, crafting their own sound out of it, and making for good straight up power metal. Sometimes I just want epic, classic, speedy power metal and this is highly satisfying to that end."

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12. Lullacry - Where Angels Fear

"Everything sounds like it should without sounding rehashed and that is just fine by me. All the songs have great energy, an almost pop-punk catchiness that totally works, and a sort of gothic atmosphere that adds a bit of substance and feeling along the way."

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11. Tiamat - The Scarred People

"This is exactly the sort of Tiamat album I want. From start to finish this is dreary and just loaded with atmosphere. Basically, it's the sort of music I think this band excels at and it's nice to hear them doing what they do best."

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Top 10 Metal Albums of 2012

10. Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65

"It seems like in all this down time Saint Vitus has neither changed nor missed a step. This is just such a strong collection of groove and atmosphere that you've gotta love it. Absolutely classic Saint Vitus from start to finish."

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9. Kobra And The Lotus - Kobra And The Lotus

"Kobra And The Lotus seem to have their act well together on this one and there is little to not like here. Their self titled release just has a lot of energy, a powerful sound aided by forceful wails, and rarely relents in it's headbanging pace."

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8. Tankard -  A Girl Called Cerveza

"Everything on here just screams to me Thrash and I enjoyed the album thoroughly from start to finish. While I've liked the past couple of Tankard releases this one just hit me harder and stayed with me better. The songwriting on this one is top notch for the style they aim for."

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7. Accept - Stalingrad

"No huge changes are found on Stalingrad, but none were really necessary either. This is a suiting follow up for a band who just came back to life in the scene. Just some strong traditional metal with good riffs and gravelly vocals."

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6. In The Silence - A Fair Dream Gone Mad

"Listening to A Fair Dream Gone Mad I just love the smooth atmospheres of this and how the songs incorporate metal/heavy guitar into their sound. It's quite a nice blend and they manage it well, neither getting too soft or too heavy, but rather using the heavy guitar to enhance the atmosphere."

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5. Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending To Infinity
"In the end, this is a pretty damn good Rhapsody album with strong lead guitar that sets it up for success. Luca Turilli shows here that he's still got it and that he can do it without the other guys in the Rhapsody Of Fire camp."

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4. Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol
"As much as I've always like Paradise Losts's releases, this is exactly the sound I want this band doing. The gothic vibe is still there and takes the frontseat every once in awhile, but make no mistake... Paradise Lost are doom metal again and it is good."

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3. OverKill - The Electric Age
"I have not a doubt in my mind that all but the most jaded old school thrash fans will enjoy this and it might even grab a few of the more cynical. Certainly, OverKill is sounding a lot more like their 80s/early 90s incarnation than the Mid 90s/2000s version."

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2. White Skull - Under This Flag
"Overall, Under This Flag comes pretty close to everything I want from a straight up power metal album. This is one of those reviews where choosing highlights is like picking between children. The material here just seems to ride that perfect line where the songs sound epic and powerful while remaining heavy and never getting Too overblown or happy."

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1. Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead
"There is nothing non-badass about Psalms For The Dead. From the fantastic doomy titles/lyrics to the punishing riffs, gloomy atmosphere, great variation within the songs, and killer solos... there's absolutely nothing to not like. Not to mention the rather awesome melodramatic wailing of Lowe."

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That wraps up the top metal albums of 2012 for me. Thanks for reading. Everyone's list is bound to be a bit different, but I thought these albums all worthy of mention. Candlemass in particular created one fine piece of metal and it's a fine closing chapter to the band. Feel free to comment with your own top album picks. Happy holidays.

Accept - Stalingrad

Traditional Metal
Nuclear Blast

2012

1. Hung, Drawn, And Quartered
2. Stalingrad
3. Hellfire
4. Flash To Bang Time
5. Shadow Soldiers
6. Revolution
7. Against The World
8. Twist Of Fate
9. The Quick And The Dead
10. The Galley

I've got to say that I've never been the hugest fan of Accept. I like their classics, but I've never really cared that much about a lot of the band's catalogue. That being said, Blood Of The Nations was a surprise album that I liked a lot. Going into this one I pretty much wanted more of what Blood Of The Nations offered.

Well, Stalingrad did not have the same Immediate effect on me as Blood of the Nations, but after a few listens it grew to be just as good. From the start of Stalingrad you get both a high energy rocker in Hung, Drawn, And Quartered and also a strong epic tune in the title track. Follow that with a nice upbeat groove like the one in Hellfire and this album was meeting my expectations and hopes of hearing more Blood Of The Nations type material. The album continues on in fine fashion from there in a great, traditional sound. All the songs are good, but more highlights would be the cool melodic roll in Shadow Soldiers and the sinister sounding groove of The Galley. No huge changes are found on Stalingrad, but none were really necessary either. This is a suiting follow up for a band who just came back to life in the scene. Just some strong traditional metal with good riffs and gravelly vocals.

Basically, this album is exactly what I wanted from the band. Maybe there isn't a single song Quite as amazing as Teutonic Terror, but this is a nice slice of traditional that you don't hear enough these days and there are plenty of strong songs to be found. Gotta love a little straight forward Metal. If you liked Accept's return with Blood Of The Nations then I see no reason you wouldn't like this one.

Highlights: Stalingrad, The Galley, Hung Drawn And Quartered, Hellfire, Shadow Soldiers

Rating - 4.0/5

Accept - Blood Of The Nations

Traditonal/Heavy Metal
Nuclear Blast

2010

1. Beat the Bastards
2. Teutonic Terror
3. The Abyss
4. Blood of the Nations
5. Shades of Death
6. Locked and Loaded
7. Kill the Pain
8. Rolling Thunder
9. Pandemic
10. New World Comin'
11. No Shelter
12. Bucket Full of Hate

I've gotta say to start this one that I've never been much of an Accept fan really. To me this band has always been inconsistent and while they've had some great songs, I've never really considered their albums great. You, of course, are free to disagree, but that's where I'm coming from here. I know many consider this band quite the classic.

Now I'll just come out and say this album shocked me. A new Accept album minus Udo didn't exactly leave me dying to hear it, but this album kicked my ass from the very first riff and never really stopped. To me the consistency of this album is shocking and also surprising is the utter lack of me missing Udo at all. New vocalist Mark Tornillo does an impressive job taking over here and they seem to have picked the perfect replacement in every way. This guy has a lot edge, a great voice reminiscent enough of Udo to satisfy fans, and a powerful voice at that.

The music here is also just classic Accept. There's a shitload of edge to the music and it's just straight ahead ass kicking traditional metal. There is nothing modern sounding here at all and this seems like it could have come out from Accept in the 80s. I just really love how faithful this band is to what I believe the fans want.

Also impressive here is the huge amount of material. At over an hour in length this is no lightweight. For an album to sustain itself that long with good material is certainly worthy of praise. It could just be that all this time off has lit a fire in the band as well and maybe gave them time to put together a lot of great songs. Sometimes you just can't force songwriting out and put out releases too quickly and when you have a band that's been sitting this long the results can be great.

To me Blood Of The Nations is a band just at the absolute top of their game. This is an album to rival anything Accept has done in my opinion and the future is looking bright for the band. All the problems with Udo, etc don't seem to matter anymore and if Accept can sustain this level of songwriting than they will have no problems keeping this band kicking ass. This may not be my favorite album of the year in the end, as it will probably come from a band I'm More a fan of, but it is a damn solid one... especially for someone who never really considered himself that much of a fan. Consider me impressed.

Highlights: Beat The Bastards, Teutonic Terror, Blood Of The Nations, Pandemic

Rating - 4.0/5