{"id":1086,"date":"2012-12-21T04:15:57","date_gmt":"2012-12-21T12:15:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.heretodestroy.com\/blog\/?p=1086"},"modified":"2013-01-25T17:46:18","modified_gmt":"2013-01-25T17:46:18","slug":"top-20-albums-of-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heretodestroy.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/21\/top-20-albums-of-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 20 Albums of 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"

2012 has been a weird year when it comes to music. I still looked to expand my musical horizon, but I wasn\u2019t casting my net out quite as far for some reason. By times I was a little disappointed by that. However in hindsight I think it was a good thing. Sometimes sticking to what you\u2019re most passionate about can be even more rewarding than discovering a bunch of new bands. So in 2012 I let quality rule over quantity.<\/p>\n

So these twenty albums might not be as eclectic as they have in previous years, but I can say with confidence they are all killer and no filler. I\u2019ve spent countless hours (in some cases days) enjoying every single one of them. Don’t worry too much about reading my write-ups. If anything just check out the song clips\/videos linked below and hopefully you might discover something you like. If you do, be sure to support the artists and buy their music, then spread the word.<\/p>\n

\"Woods<\/p>\n

01. Woods of Ypres \u2013 Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light<\/em><\/h3>\n

Anyone who knows me won\u2019t be surprised to see Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light<\/em><\/a> by Woods of Ypres<\/a> at the top of this list. However there was a time a few weeks ago I thought that wasn\u2019t going to be the case. It was in the top five, but not number one.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been almost exactly a year since I first heard Woods 5<\/em> and I couldn\u2019t even begin to guess how many times I\u2019ve listened to it over the past twelve months. But like any album you love, eventually you\u2019ll end up letting it sit for a bit. Which is what I had been doing the past couple of months. During that time I found myself branching out and enjoying some really great music by other artists. Along the way I think I sort of forgot how good Woods 5<\/em> was. Until last week.<\/p>\n

To get this post in order I started revisiting the albums I was shortlisting and giving them each a few more listens. The first one I listened to was Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light<\/em> and it\u2019s been in constant rotation ever since. Everything I love about the album came flooding back to me immediately and I knew there was no way anything else was going to top it.<\/p>\n

Woods of Ypres – Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light<\/a> (MP3 Sample)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    \n
  1. Adora Vivos<\/li>\n
  2. Silver<\/li>\n
  3. Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye) Part 2<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    It was quite a challenge to sum up my thoughts on the album when I reviewed it back in July<\/a>. Read the review if you’d like, it should explain why Woods 5 stood out high above everything else that came out this year. But you’d be much better off to stop reading, shut out life\u2019s distractions and listen to this. You won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n

    Thank you David and Joel.<\/p>\n

    \"Horseback<\/p>\n

    02. Horseback \u2013 Half Blood<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I don\u2019t know how music this creepy can be so damn relaxing to listen to. Yet here I am with my headphones on nodding along enthusiastically as Jenks Miller\u2019s raspy vocals and dry bone riffs are pushed along by a steady driving rhythm. My co-workers just peeked over their monitors giving me that WTF look. I said nothing and turned on my speakers. Calm washed over the room and now we all nod in unison.<\/p>\n

    “Ahriman”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"The<\/p>\n

    03. The Devil\u2019s Blood – The Thousandfold Epicentre<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I was going to be a smart ass and copy\/paste some random satanic quote here. But I couldn\u2019t find anything that sounded cool. So instead I poured blood over myself, went to the basement, put on The Thousandfold Epicentre<\/em> and drew pentagrams on the floor. Okay, fine. I didn\u2019t do that either. But thanks to the massive hooks and crafty songwriting of the Devil\u2019s Blood, I have tricked many a Christian Solider into worshiping the southern lord this year. Hails.<\/p>\n

    “The Madness of Serpents”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Ufomammut<\/p>\n

    \"Ufomammut<\/p>\n

    04. Ufomammut – ORO: Opus Primum\/Opus Alter<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Ufomammut are on to some next level shit. I\u2019ve been a fan of them for years, but with their last few albums they really have found their niche. Sonically they are hands down my favorite band. These guys just get it. Plain and simple. Technically ORO: Opus Primum\/Opus Alter<\/em> is two albums. Opus Primum<\/em> being part one and Opus Alter<\/em> part two. But I choose to digest this beast as a whole and I recommend you do the same.<\/p>\n

    “Oroborus”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Deftones<\/p>\n

    05. Deftones – Koi No Yokan<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I wanted to let you all know the Deftones will be doing a lunch and learn every second Thursday on how to age gracefully as a band. Future sessions will also be scheduled that touch on avoiding identity crises, bucking trends and how to churn out consistently strong music when you are 24 years into your career. Seriously, pay attention to this band. They are onto something.<\/p>\n

    “Rosemary”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Baroness<\/p>\n

    06. Baroness – Yellow & Green<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I don\u2019t have a problem with the AC\/DC formula. If you figured out something that works that well, then go ahead and make the same album over and over. But I also have a fondness for bands who want to push their sound in new directions. Baroness are definitely the latter. Never content to stay in one spot and become stagnant, the band hands down made their strongest statement to date with Yellow & Green<\/em>. It also looks pretty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    “Eula”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Royal<\/p>\n

    07. Royal Thunder \u00a0\u2013 CVI<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I was a fan of Royal Thunder’s self-titled EP and was confident the band would put out a solid follow-up. But CVI<\/em> was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. The album is a perfect example of a band taking huge strides as songwriters, honing in on their strong points and expanding their sound by just the right amount. They didn\u2019t reinvent themselves, they just figured out what works and made it better. Much fucking better.<\/p>\n

    “Whispering World”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Kadavar<\/p>\n

    08. Kadavar \u2013 Kadavar<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Judging by the photo on their album cover, Kadavar are oblivious to the fact that it is 2012 and listening the album only cements that even more. I can only assume this was recorded in Tony Iommi\u2019s basement straight after a three day bender with Pentagram. Well maybe not, but until anyone tells me any different, I\u2019m treating that is the stone cold truth. Inhale and worship the riff.<\/p>\n

    “Black Sun”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Alcest<\/p>\n

    09. Alcest – Les Voyages de L’\u00c2me<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Parfois, il peut \u00eatre difficile \u00e0 mettre en mots ce que vous pensez d’un album. Surtout quand vous \u00eates en train de dire quelque chose d’int\u00e9ressant vingtaine d’albums diff\u00e9rents. J’ai donc d\u00e9cid\u00e9 de sortir de ma zone de confort et \u00e9crire celui-ci en fran\u00e7ais. Cela seul suffisait de travail, je ne vais pas la peine d’aller sur comment super Les Voyages de L’\u00c2me<\/em> est. Je suppose que si vous \u00eates sur ce site et parler le fran\u00e7ais, vous avez probablement d\u00e9j\u00e0 tout savoir sur Alcest toute fa\u00e7on.<\/p>\n

    “L\u00e0 O\u00f9 Naissent Les Couleurs Nouvelles”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Ides<\/p>\n

    10. Ides of Gemini \u2013 Constantinople<\/em><\/h3>\n

    According to Ides of Gemini it\u2019s dark and cold in California. Or at least that\u2019s the mood that is captured so eloquently on Constantinople through J. Bennett\u2019s distant trancelike riffing, Sera Timms haunting vocals and Kelly Johnston\u2019s subtle drum fills. There\u2019s lots to dig into here and the band draws from a number of influences that compliment each other perfectly. With each repeat listen of Constantinople<\/em> it climbs up this list one more notch. Nine more spins and it very well could have been sitting at the top of the pile.<\/p>\n

    “Resurrectionists”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Ancestors<\/p>\n

    11. Ancestors – In Dreams and Time<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Last year Ancestors dropped a three song EP titled Invisible White<\/em>. It was some mellow shit. The kind of mellow Ancestors occasionally drop in the middle some epic space rock jam that just finished burning off your eyebrows. Good news. They\u2019re back to business with In Dreams and Time<\/em>. Everything we all loved about their past two full lengths is here and accounted for. So bust out your space suit, get ready for liftoff and put something over your eyebrows.<\/p>\n

    “Corryvreckan”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Testament<\/p>\n

    12. Testament \u2013 Dark Roots of Earth<\/em><\/h3>\n

    See that album cover? Metal as fuck, isn\u2019t it? My theory is the cover came first, then the music. You always hear about the bar being set high for a new album. Usually it\u2019s based on the band\u2019s last recording, or in some cases their peers. But if this cover was created before the band started writing Dark Roots of Earth<\/em>, then that bar was set pretty goddamned high. There is no way a band would put out something with that on the front and not have it blow your balls off. Don\u2019t worry, my balls are okay. When I saw the album cover I held a plate in front of them for my first listen. The plate didn\u2019t make it.<\/p>\n

    “A Day in the Death”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"DZ<\/p>\n

    13. DZ Deathrays \u2013 Bloodstreams<\/em><\/h3>\n

    This sounds pretty much like Death From Above 1979. Which is kind of odd because DZ Deathrays is a guitar\/drum duo and not a bass\/drum duo, yet they sound like a bass\/drum duo. It doesn\u2019t matter though because DFA1979 are so damn good that I\u2019m not going to hate on any band that sounds like them. Especially when their songs are this good.<\/p>\n

    “Dollar Chills”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Torche<\/p>\n

    14. Torche \u2013 Harmonicraft<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Despite a valiant effort by Torche to throw me off this killer album by confusing me with whatever the hell is going on in that album cover, I was not deterred. Heaps of praise has been given to pretty much every album Torche has released. But around here Harmonicraft<\/em> is sitting high on the pedestal. Apparently they get their power from rainbows, waterfalls and mutant My Little Ponies.<\/p>\n

    “In Pieces”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Godspeed<\/p>\n

    15. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Allelujah! Don\u2019t Bend! Ascend!<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I finally get it. I\u2019ve had some of Godspeed You! Black Emperor\u2019s other albums for a few years now, but they never really clicked. I\u2019m not put off by long assed post rock, but holy crap, it seemed like it took forever for something to happen when I was listening to this band. But one listen to Allelujah! Don\u2019t Bend! Ascend!<\/em> and I now get it. Back catalogue rediscovery in full effect. Come back to Halifax!<\/p>\n

    “Mladic”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Black<\/p>\n

    16. Black Breath – Sentenced to Life<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Sentenced to Life<\/em> didn\u2019t grab me by the junk quite like 2010\u2019s Heavy Breathing<\/em><\/a> did. But this is still heavy as a bag of sand in the face swung by Entombed while Converge kick your legs out from under you. If that\u2019s your kind of thing, then get on board and watch out for Swedish sandbaggers and sneaky American hardcore bands who will take the legs out from under you at any chance they\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n

    “Home of the Grave”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Converge<\/p>\n

    17. Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind<\/em><\/h3>\n

    I\u2019m as surprised as you to see Converge this far down my list. Especially after they totally floored me with Axe to Fall<\/em><\/a> in 2009. To be honest there\u2019s nothing to dislike about All We Love We Leave Behind<\/em>. If anything Converge just set the bar a little too high the last time around. However I do expect after spending some more time with this beast, I\u2019ll look back and kick myself for not putting it at least in the top ten. Oh and in case you didn’t know, Ben Koller<\/a> is hands down the best drummer in metal. Now you know.<\/p>\n

    “Trespasses”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Lantl\u00f4s<\/p>\n

    18. Lantl\u00f4s \u2013 Agape<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Even though Alcest mastermind Neige is also a member of Lantl\u00f4s, we\u2019ll stick with writing this one in English. Plus I think Neige\u2019s bandmate Herbst is German and I already used up all my Google Translate credits. So no German for you! Anyway, Agape<\/em> brings more solid dark wave, post black metal to the party. If that sounds like your kind of party, then pull up a chair, dim the lights and let some seasonal affective disorder set in. Also, on the way to the party, pick up the deluxe version of Agape <\/em>that includes the cover of \u201cWhere Have You Gone My Friend\u201d<\/a> by Asylum Party. Super dark, depressing and hauntingly beautiful all at once.<\/p>\n

    “Bloody Lips and Paper Skin”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Witchcraft<\/p>\n

    19. Witchcraft – Legend<\/em><\/h3>\n

    Unlike Kadavar, Witchcraft seem to be aware that it is 2012. Sort of. Yes, their sound is still firmly rooted in the 70\u2019s, but when they hit the studio to record Legend<\/em>, the band opted to forgo the vintage feel of their past albums. Despite this and a major lineup change, this is undeniably Witchcraft, just with a little more weight sonically. As always, quality stuff.<\/p>\n

    “White Light Suicide”<\/a><\/p>\n

    \"Turbonegro<\/p>\n

    20. Turbonegro – Sexual Harassment<\/em><\/h3>\n

    A little less homoerrotic and a little more gruff. Other than that not too much else has changed with the departure of Hank From Hell and the arrival of Tony \u201cThe Duke of Nothing\u201d Sylvester behind the microphone at Turbojugend HQ. So don\u2019t let the somewhat mixed reviews of Sexual Harassment<\/em> deter you. This is not a misstep, but rather a rebirth and the party animals never sounded better.<\/p>\n

    “You Give Me Worms”<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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