iTokoloshe's 25 Of 2012
The 25 metal albums that got my fists pumping in 2012. These are in no particular order. Honorable mentions include: Baby Godzilla - Oche; In This Moment - Blood; Rolo Tomassi - Astraea; Polar - Iron Lungs; Soulfly - Enslaved; |
| 1 |  | Architects
Daybreaker
Takes the best parts of Hollow Crown and The Here And Now and creates a masterpiece |
| 2 |  | AxeWound
Vultures
This is what BFMV should sound like. Liam Cormier and Matt Tuck combine to create a fun album |
| 3 |  | Baroness
Yellow and Green
I normally don't like double albums or long albums, but this is majestic. It is slower than Blue or Red, but is so captivating |
| 4 | | Bury Tomorrow
Union of Crowns
Heavy when it needs to be, melodic when it needs to be. The music feels so natural and fits together so well. Only criticism is the length of the album, could've cut off a few songs |
| 5 |  | Cancer Bats
Dead Set on Living
Liam and the lads never disappoint, great slab of crunchy awesomeness. Even better when you add the Basterds of Reality album to it |
| 6 |  | Deftones
Koi No Yokan
Another gem from Chino and his crew. Psychedelic, heavy, melodic and awesome |
| 7 |  | Devil Sold His Soul
Empire of Light
Absolutely epic, their finest moment to date |
| 8 |  | Every Time I Die
Ex Lives
Fast & furious, sarcastic & witty, catchy & brutal |
| 9 |  | Fear Factory
The Industrialist
The machines take over again, and its awesome again |
| 10 |  | Feed the Rhino
The Burning Sons
Doesn't completely capture their live madness, but comes close which makes this a banger of an album |
| 11 |  | Floods
Floods
Disappointingly the last release from these guys. This album shows so much promise |
| 12 |  | God Seed
I Begin
Gaahl back to his best with some black metal that will get Lucifer to bop his head |
| 13 | | Gojira
L'Enfant Sauvage
Wow. A wall of music that smothers you and makes time stand still |
| 14 |  | Heart of a Coward
Hope and Hindrance
8 strings of goodness and a great vocalist in the form of Jamie Graham. Wall of death anyone? |
| 15 |  | Huntress
Spell Eater
Divisive album. I love it. It feels like there are witches flying around on broomsticks when you listen to it |
| 16 |  | Karybdis
From the Depths
Like being hit in the face by a baseball bat, awesome |
| 17 |  | Lamb of God
Resolution
LoG continue to dominate metal whilst adding a little bit of experimentation. Classic stuff |
| 18 |  | Monuments
Gnosis
More 8 string goodness with great melody |
| 19 |  | Mortad
The Myth of Purity
Another suprisingly awesome Metal Hammer covermount debut album. Angela Gossow watch out, Somi Arian is here to rip us all a new one |
| 20 |  | Parkway Drive
Atlas
If you haven't given the Byron Bay boys a listen before, just do it. Fun loving, uplifting and brutal with some of the most natural breakdowns you'll ever hear. A heavy band that doesn't try to look tough, they just enjoy it and make you enjoy it |
| 21 |  | Sylosis
Monolith
Technical, progressive, complex, aggressive, intelligent metal. But the album could be at least 15-20 minutes shorter |
| 22 |  | The Amity Affliction
Chasing Ghosts
Well balanced music with great energy, melody and aggressiveness. Can fee; a bit repetitive towards the end of the album, but is forgivable as they have a great sound |
| 23 |  | The Elijah
I Loved I Hated I Destroyed I Created
Beauty and the Beast in musical form. Such a pity that these guys called it quits. You won't hear many better albums this year |
| 24 |  | Thy Art is Murder
Hate
Brutal groovy stuff from these crazy Aussies |
| 25 |  | While She Sleeps
This is the Six
Unbelievably catchy, you'll be singing along without knowing it |
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