The Worst Metal Albums of 2012

With the end of 2012 around the corner it's that time of year. That magical time when every site on the net, magazine, radiostation, person on facebook, etc, etc, etc posts their picks for the year. This is all pretty subjective stuff and based on tastes, but of course I intend to get my 2 cents in as well.

This year, with the new blog, I figured I'd start off with the worst albums of 2012. Basically, I thought I'd post these turds first since posting them after the best albums seems sort of anticlimactic. Hold on to your ears because here comes the biggest pieces of shit that I've listened to this year. I try to stick to reviews I'm interested in on some level, but sometimes albums like these gets reviewed because they have a lot of buzz, are from a big name, or were released by a band I like that just took a downward turn. Whatever the reason these reviews were warnings to avoid the following albums.

Without further ado here are the 5 worst metal albums I heard in 2012...

5. Blaze Bayley - The King Of Metal

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I almost hate to give Blaze a kick while he's down, but any sympathy I feel for this guy doesn't make this album less of a trainwreck. The King of Metal features a goofy title, a band of mediocre hired guns, a budget that must have been based on what change Blaze could find in his couch, and a rough songwriting session. This album just sounds plain amateur in production and songs. Blaze Bayley - The King Of Metal? Not quite. More like a footnote in metal history based on a poor choice at vocals by Iron Maiden. I've liked some of his solo stuff, but he can barely keep a band together these days and I don't see record labels knocking down his door. Things just aren't looking good for Blaze.

4. Unisonic - Unisonic

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Anything featuring Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske is going to be burdened by some expectations. Most reasonable people probably didn't expect the second coming of Keepers era Helloween, but I think most at least hoped for something that brought the two together in speedy, happy fashion again. Unfortunately, that was not in the cards. It almost seemed to be the case when the songs Unisonic and Souls Alive hit the net, but that was just good marketing. Those were the songs the fans wanted to hear (more or less), but those shiny singles were just hiding a whole lot of fluff. Basically, Unisonic was made of the kind of bland melodic rock Kiske favors these days. Not totally surprising, but those two sample tracks were a real tease. Kai Hansen's time could certainly be better spent.

3. Bloodbound - In The Name Of Metal

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The lesson of this album may be that sometimes it Is appropriate to judge a book (or CD) by it's cover. Just look at that shit and really take it in. What you see on the cover is Exactly what you get when you play the music inside. This is some of the cheesiest, most uninspired shit ever. Just the absolute dregs of power metal cliches and unlike Dream Evil, they fail to make it amusing or pull it off. Granted this band didn't always have the best lyrics, but this album just sounds like it didn't really have any ideas, but to scrape together the worst of the power metal genre's ideas.

2. Adrenaline Mob - Omerta

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I get that a musician has to pay the bills, but any blatant attempt at "selling out" isn't necessarily going to earn the favor of your fanbase. Such is the case with this Adrenaline Mob which seems more intent on breaking ear drums than thumbs. This is just such a waste of talent from it's members and it's quite frankly embarassing. Like the above Bloodbound album, this is a collection of terrible cliches. The only difference is that instead of power metal's worst this is nu-metal/radio rock's worst. That is a whole other level of suck.

1. Steve Harris - British Lion

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What's worse than selling out? Making an album this fucking awful for no god damn reason. Shit, Steve Harris didn't have to start another project to make money. He just Wanted to make this music. I hate saying bad about a metal god and there is no way this can diminish the man's legacy, but this is an atrocious album. It is unfathomable to me that Steve Harris actually wanted to work with castrato vocalist Richard Taylor to make the most boring modern rock ever. I think it's best for everyone if we just collectively pretend this never existed after the close of the year.

Adrenaline Mob - Omerta

Alternative Metal/Rock
Capitol Records

2012

1. Undaunted
2. Psychosane
3. Indifferent
4. All On The Line
5. Hit The Wall
6. Feelin' Me
7. Come Undone (Duran Duran cover)
8. Believe Me
9. Down To The Floor
10. Angel Sky
11. Freight Train

I don't know where to even begin with this one. In theory a collaboration between Russel Allen of Symphony X and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater sounds like it could be a great thing right? I mean I'm not a big Dream Theater fan as most well know, but we're talking about a very skilled drummer and one excellent singer here. Both of these guys have been involved in highly regarded progressive metal so you'd kinda think this album might follow that trend. Certainly, both members do bring a level of talent to the band to start.

Well, throw any preconceived notions about these two right out the window. If you're expecting Symphony X or Dream Theater than you are going to be sorely, sorely disappointed. From the first track I could feel any hope for this album obliterated in nuclear fashion. I've just gotta come right out and call this utterly mindless, chuggy, nu-metal/alt-rock drivel. This is pure, shameless radio rock and coming from someone I respect(ed) as much as Russel Allen this simply pisses me off. Omerta is basically an album made up of boring riffing with Russell Allen sounding like more recent Symphony X in that generally rougher voice most of the time. The first comparisons to come to mind for me are moments of Disturbed, Seether, and Sevendust and if that doesn't express the bad taste this left in my mouth than I dont know what can. Any number of other radio rock bands could come to mind, but honestly they tend to blend together for me and I don't pay that much attention if it can be helped. I mean to say these guys are jumping the shark is an understatement. They're more like jumping the shark on a pod racing course in a fridge that is propelled by a nuclear blast.

In short, this is like the antithesis of the true metal scene and everything I like about the genre. This has mass produced, major label, easily marketed to the braindead masses, garbage written all over it. Oh Russel Allen... how you wound me. Rated as a metal album this doesn't deserve a shred of positive and that's how I rate things on this Metal site folks. You have been warned. I'm already preparing to crown this one worst 'metal' album of the year to loose the term loosely. I could barely even stand listening to this all the way through.

Highlights: Nothing, Zero, Zilch, Nada

Rating - 0/5