Metal Awards

Aleksie's Top 15 albums of 2012

  1. Van Halen - A Different Kind Of Truth
    An unbelievable piece of ultimo-party hard rock after a layoff that many reasonably thought would be permanent.
  2. The Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud
    Whether you are a fan of pop, rock, heavy metal, smooth jazziness, ambient, acoustic balladry, layers upon layers of vocal power forming a melodic flood, hell even a touch of modern dance music which I generally despise… the Wizard of Canada brings something for everyone in grand fashion. Most of all plenty of rocking, of course.
  3. Neal Morse - Momentum
    America’s prog rock master supreme keeps up the equally supreme work no matter how busy he keeps with his solo albums. A whirlwind of instru-mental ownage coupled with bursts of catchy melodies that will put their hooks in you should you give them the chance.
  4. Sabaton - Carolus Rex
    The Swedes known for their impeccable handling of war history within mind-blowing bursts of power metal roar into 2012 with their most epic, choir-drenched record yet that is above all else remarkable in just how brilliant it makes the Swedish language sound (the Limited 2-CD or Swedish edition of the album in this case, of course). A heroic accomplishment in the eyes and ears of someone based in Eastern Finland. It’s also one of the real growers that just gets better with time.
  5. Rush - Clockwork Angels
    The best trio this world has ever heard with their best dose of proggy heavy rock in at least 20 years (and the years in between were great too, this is just more awesome).
  6. Swallow The Sun - Emerald Forest and the Blackbird
    Long time champions of atmospheric doom metal of our northern variety, Swallow the Sun finally hits it out of the park with their fifth studio album that is their most melodic and I feel synth-filled work to date. Something just makes this album click better than their previous, commendable-in-themselves records that have felt good but not great. Maybe it’s the added emphasis on melodies. But don’t be fooled, there are still crushing riffs aplenty!
  7. Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead
    Doom. DOOM. Epic DOOOOOOOOOOOOMMM! And so much awesome molten metal riffage. If this is the almighty Candlemass’ final studio record as the band has alluded, they went out in grand style. ‘Nuff said.
  8. Overkill - The Electric Age
    East Coast thrash veteran Overkill revived its fortunes with the Ironbound-album a few years back and the follow up The Electric Age keeps that engine running hot and very heavy. Guitar riffs wield by like a swarm of flying scythes why the rhythms are kept appropriately brutal. Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth’s throat-maiming vocals are still among the most evil in the business. Mosh-tastic.
  9. De Lirium’s Order - Veniversum
    Downright sublime technical death metal with aggression as much as melody and wicked playing chops as much as raw animal ferocity. The harsh roars are great and the occasional clean vocals bring awesome dynamics. Their previous album Diagnosis was already a superb offering of Necroticism/Heartwork-era Carcass mixed in with their own stylings. Veniversum progresses from there with considerable leaps and in my books, makes this troupe easily the best death metal band that Finland has to offer these days.
  10. Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve
    The Finnish supergroup knocks another one out of the park with their melodic deathprogdoomy cauldron of headcrushing and ominous eastern vibes. Very yummy stuff.
  11. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth
    Thrash metallic goodness with melodies to spare.
  12. Wintersun - Time I
    A tornado of complex blasting put simply, just majestically grandiose melodic death metal, more epic than an army of samurai warriors equipped with jet packs.
  13. Ihsahn - Eremita
    Avantgardy Prog/Black goodness! Love them saxes!
  14. Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost In The New Real
    Dutch prog maestro put his several awesome projects like Ayreon and Star One on hold for a literal solo album, that is an excellent mix of the usual 70s-style progressive rock romps, a few heavier steamrollers and oodles of psychedelic pop in the vein of late 60s Beatles and Pink Floyd’s lighter moments. Includes the cover tune of the year with his version of Frank Zappa’s I’m The Slime. Also, the pauses between songs on Disc 1 are narrated by Rutger Hauer. You sci-fi freaks know you have to get this one.
  15. Napalm Death - Utilitarian
    Just barely edging Kreator's Phantom Antichrist for this final spot in the listed Top 15. The best grindcore around, with speed, groove and even a lil’ jazz to spare.
Aleksie's Top 5 surprises of 2012

  1. Standing Ovation - The Antikythera Mechanism
    Easily my personal surprise of the year. Totally off-the-wall, cooky progressive metal with twisted laughter fills and instrumental zaniness to spare. Perhaps not for the weak of heart but for anyone interested in the entertaining sonic side of metal, a must-hear.
  2. Oddland - The Treachery of Senses
    Progressive metal of an intriguingly modern variety. It’s got the kind of rhythmic angularity and quirkiness that Meshuggah branded in days gone by but they make things decidedly more melodic and occasionally atmospheric. All clean vocals so the grunt-factor isn’t there either. A seriously promising troupe of monsters of their instruments and a good start towards a sound of their own.
  3. Beyond the Bridge - The Old Man and the Spirit
    Holy progfest, Batman! Another great surprise name with excellent chops combined with an ear for melodies.
  4. Humangod - Dead Water
    Getting tired of the progressivity yet? Sorry, but Humangod’s notably traditional, mix of Dream Theater/Shadow Gallery/Symphony X-style prog metal with plenty of melodies and instrumental widdlyness makes for a very commendable and promising EP. I mean hell, the disc has 2 songs, both over 10 minutes long that do not get boring. These guys take their prog seriously.
  5. Antagonist Zero - Doomed
    Hodgepodge of doomy post/death/dark metal + melodies too.
Aleksie's Disappointment(s) of 2012

  1. Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion
    Easily and by far the biggest disappointment of the year. Drag Ropes was a great appetizer and still a great tune - the only one on this record. Maybe leave the red-wine-jamming-and-sound-effect-noodling onto the demo reels or the rehearsal space's floor and craft actual songs, if there's a follow-up record.
  2. Lamb of God - Resolution
    A good record with definite highlights, but I'd be lying if I wasn't expecting much better.
  3. Suicidal Angels - Bloodbath
    Again, good album, not as much as I had hoped for.
Aleksie's Joke(s) 2012

  1. Several Union - Awake From The Game
    To be fair, more precisely that Aerosmith-cover tune amidst the originals...just absolutely dreadful.
Aleksie's words about 2012
  1. Awesome year for heavy metal all across the genre board. Let it flow as good if not better in 2013! Keep it heavy! -AA-