So here it is, a few weeks late. I'm going to limit my commentary to albums that got less attention from other sources and sites; this might also be the only 2012 metal top 20 you'll see without Pallbearer. Enjoy.
#20: Goatwhore - Blood For The Master
At this point, everyone just expects these guys to put out solid albums every two years. That's no easy task, especially considering they're on the road more often than not. 10 more excellent slabs of black/death/thrash. Hail!
#19: Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned
Another band that's been around forever without a single dud in their discography. They should be way more popular than they are.
#18: Dying Fetus - Reign Supreme
This one took me by surprise. It's definitely their best album since Destroy The Opposition.
#17: Kowloon Walled City - Container Ships
The last great album of 2012, metal or otherwise.
#16: Gaza - No Absolutes In Human Suffering
#15: Neurosis - Honor Found In Decay
#14: Lecherous Gaze - On The Skids
From the ashes of Annihilation Time comes a band that sounds like Alice Cooper jamming with Blue Oyster Cult and Ted Nugent. Your favorite driving album is here.
#13: Corrosion Of Conformity - COC
Back to their Pepper-less power trio, COC revisits their hardcore punk roots while incorporating the stoner groove that put them on the map. A unique album, and a real grower.
#12: Hooded Menace - Effigies Of Evil
The audio version of The Blind Dead films. Keep it creepy.
#11: Incantation - Vanquish In Vengeance
Roaring back with their best album in years, Incantation buries their second-rate imitators. Fools!
#10: Unsane - Wreck
In Unsane's world, the Lower East Side is still scary to walk through at night and Helmet are still relevant. Who wouldn't want to live there?
#9: Bone Dance - Bone Dance
An amalgamation of sludge, grindcore, noise and nihilism - straight from Boise. You might wanna move the furniture if you're blasting this on 11.
#8: Pig Destroyer - Book Burner
#7: Torche - Harmonicraft
The album with my favorite song of 2012.
#6: Evoken - Atra Mors
#5: Baroness - Yellow & Green
#4: High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
#3: Napalm Death - Utilitarian
#2: 16 - Deep Cuts From Dark Clouds
This album was inexplicably missing from multiple (usually) reliable end-of-year lists. Considering how much doom dominated 2012, I figured people wouldn't be turned off by the depressive weight that 16 conveys. Maybe it's that after 20 years, in age of countless microgenres, this band is still undefinable. Sludge, noise, doom, whatever else; it's pop music for junkies. Tune in, turn up, burn out.
#1: Serpentine Path - Serpentine Path
This didn't get nearly as much attention as I thought it would. All the members of Unearthly Trance plus Tim Bagshaw (Electric Wizard/Ramesses)? Done deal. And unlike certain other "supergroups", the sum is indeed equal to the parts. This is death/doom that can crush worlds. As I said earlier, there were a ton of options in 2012 for this kind of thing. I say Serpentine Path did it best.
No comments:
Post a Comment