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.

Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead

Doom Metal
Napalm Records

2012

1. Prophet
2. The Sound Of Dying Demons
3. Dancing In The Temple (Of The Mad Queen Bee)
4. Waterwitch
5. The Lights Of Thebe
6. Psalms For The Dead
7. The Killing Of The Sun
8. Siren Song
9. Black As Time

Well, this is already a sad day. It's the day I listen to the last new material from Candlemass. Seriously, this seems like odd timing considering they found a great new vocalist in Robert Lowe not so long ago. This will only be the third and the last album he sings on for this band. I had hoped for more material, but I guess this will have to do.

I can't decide whether it's a great thing or a horrible thing when a band's last album is one of their best ever. Or how about one of the best doom metal albums I've ever heard? It's odd to have the reaction of loving this album and cursing the fact it's the last one at the same time.

Forgetting the fact we get no more Candlemass, this album is freakin amazing. 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. This is pure epic doom and everything resonated with me immediately. I think the only moment where this album steps over the top for just a second is the long spoken intro on Black As Time. Could have done without the a little over 1:30 of padding there (plus a little outro at the end), but it is out of around 50 minutes of killer music.

Not much more to say than that. If you like Candlemass and/or doom metal you should not hesitate to listen to and own this. Talk about going out on a high note. This is about as near perfection as you can get from a classic band. Psalms For The Dead is kind of hogging all the awesome. Fun fact... only the second time I've given out a 5/5 rating in my years of reviewing. Please let them do a US tour before they go away.

Highlights: Prophet, The Sound Of Dying Demons, Siren Song, Waterwitch, The Lights Of Thebe, Psalms For The Dead

Rating - 5.0/5

Candlemass - Death Magic Doom

Doom Metal
Nuclear Blast

2009

1. If I Ever Die
2. Hammer Of Doom
3. The Bleeding Baroness
4. Demon Of The Deep
5. House Of 1000 Voices
6. Dead Angel
7. Clouds Of Dementia
8. My Funeral Dreams

Death Magic Doom has to be up with my most anticipated albums of the year. Consider me both a fan of Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus and the last album which brought Rob Lowe together with Candlemass kicked my ass. Going into this one I was expecting nothing but good.

After having listened to this I can't say I am disappointed in that it's a pretty good performance. However, I will say right off the bat that I don't think this one has quite the power of King Of The Grey Islands. It's hard for me to quite nail down why this one isn't as strong of a performance, but I think part of it has to do with the riffs. Really, what I like from much of Candlemass' songs is their ability to be doomy but have a nice roll and pace to them like the song Mirror, Mirror for instance. This one doesn't seem to quite have those memorable doom grooves that get the head moving and instead settles into a lot of very down tempo trudging. A little more pick up and go might've helped this album and I just don't hear any choruses that strike me as quite rivaling Lowe's wails of being emperor of the void, etc. Really, the only track that reminds me wholey of the last album is If I Ever Die which opens up the album with a ripping pace and some excellent and memorable riffing. Other songs do make their own impressions though as Hammer Of Doom does have a subtle creepiness to it and Dead Angel picks things up a bit in speed and energy.

Overall, this is a pretty enjoyable listen and certainly a worthy Candlemass album. I just don't think this one is a year topper like King Of The Grey Islands. I'm still digging Lowe with Candlemass and what he brings to the band. Death Magic Doom just doesn't come off quite as strong in the songwriting department.

Highlights: If I Ever Die, Hammer Of Doom, Dead Angels

3.5/5

Candlemass - King Of The Grey Islands

Doom Metal
Nuclear Blast

2007

1. Prologue
2. Emperor Of The Void
3. Devil Seed
4. Of Stars And Smoke
5. Demonia 6
6. Destroyer
7. Man Of Shadows
8. Clearsight
9. The Opal City (Interlude)
10. Embracing The Styx

Candlemass and Solitude Aeturnus brought together... that's gotta rank among a doom metal fan's wet dreams. Certainly my jaw dropped when I heard Robert Lowe was coming on as the new singer of Candlemass. With how much I loved the last release by the band and how much talent I knew Robert Lowe had to lend to the band I had to expect great things. While I love Messiah too, Candlemass had already proven themselves capable of making a great album without him. The only question for me was if this album would live up the potential I knew it had.

After listening to King Of The Grey Islands, I can say the results are nothing short of stellar. Robert Lowe brings surprising energy to the songs for Candlemass and I think the music itself will raise a lot of eyebrows. The changes from the last album are very evident as this feels less like a new Candlemass album and more like a lost old one. Truly the doomy lurch of many of this tracks recalls the brightest (or darkest) moments of Candlemass' early career and had me wanting to jump out of my seat and do some doom dancing. This is powerful, dark, atmospheric and Lowe's vocals crackle with energy and purpose. This is the Candlemass people love and the reason they are hailed as being among the best the genre has ever produced. The sound, the vocals, the striking riffs... everything about this release is so powerfully dark and metal that it could bring tears to these metal eyes. Even knowing I really enjoyed the last album and that Rob Lowe killed... I could not have predicted such an album that I truly feel comfortable calling a new doom metal classic. This combo of Candlemass and Lowe is just huge and I'm already hungering for more. Candlemass as great as they are and have always been... have just stepped it up a notch.

Anyone who likes dark doom and gloom music that drips with heaviness needs this album ASAP. If you dare call yourself a Candlemass or doom metal fan than I can't imagine you not loving this one. Absolutely awesome and truly gratifying to see a classic band come through in such fine fashion. This album manages to bring refreshingly new vocals into the mix coupled with classic Candlemass heavy gloom and will be a hard one to top when it comes album of the year time.

Highlights: Emperor Of The Void, Of Stars And Smoke, Man Of Shadows, Embracing The Styx

Rating - 4.5/5

Candlemass - Candlemass

Doom Metal
Nuclear Blast

2005

1. Enemy (intro)
2. Black Dwarf
3. Seven Silver Keys
4. Assassin of the Light
5. Copernicus
6. The Man Who Fell from the Sky
7. Witches
8. Born In A Tank
9. Spellbreaker
10. The Day and the Night
11. Mars and Volcanoes

Well Candlemass has reunited again (for about the 300th time) and what do you know... they actually managed to stand each other in the studio long enough to make an album. I for one am amazed. But that isn't the ONLY reason I'm amazed right now...

I was looking forward to hearing some more Candlemass, but I wasn't expecting this. Simply put... everything here is fucking perfect. The riffs are thick and punishing, Messiah's over the top vibrato vocals haven't lost their powerful, haunting feel, the production is crystal clear, and holy hell the solos rip. This is just doom metal at it's finest from one of the greatest bands to grace the genre. Candlemass's self titled is an album worthy of the band monicker and it's fit to stand side by side with their greatest classics. If you ever enjoyed this band or doom in general than you need this now. Bravo... and may you actually stay together this time!

Highlights: Black Dwarf, Assassin Of The Light, Born In A Tank, The Day And THe Night... really everything

Rating 4.5/5