TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2012

It's finally here. These are our top 10 albums of 2012. It's been one helluva year for the heavy music community and now it's time to celebrate the cream of the crop. Here are the top 10 albums of 2012, no shits given about whiny elitist opinions. Also check out our top 10 of 2009, 2010, and 2011.

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PERIPHERY - PERIPHERY II: THIS TIME IT'S PERSONAL

This wasn't just an album, it was an event. The anticipation was so high for this record you could have cut it with a chainsaw. And when it hit, it hit hard. There's division amongst the metal community, but it's hard to deny the musical excellence without being an elitist (refer to the intro of the segment). "Periphery II: This Time It's Personal" was damn near perfect. Every virtuosic member of this band progressed significantly, making serious contributions to form a masterpiece. Intelligently crafted and executed, every track offers something unique and awe-inspiring. "Periphery II" deserves album of the year. Easy.

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THE HAARP MACHINE - DISCLOSURE

From the very first time Sumerian Records announced The HAARP Machine, it was evident they would become a metal juggernaut. But at the time, there was no way of telling just how amazing they would be. "Disclosure" is everything you could hope for and some. Providing a cutting edge Progressive sound and a serious, shred heavy Technical approach along with Mike Semesky's amazing vocal work, Abdullah Al Mu'min and crew  created one of the best albums to come out in 2012. This is a masterpiece through and through. This is evinced by tracks like "Pleiadian Keys", "The Escapist Notion", "Disclosure", and "Esoteric Agenda".

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SKYHARBOR - BLINDING WHITE NOISE: ILLUSION & CHAOS

Coming out of India, Skyharbor made a huge debut. Featuring the flawless voice of Daniel Tompkins (ex-Tesseract) and boasting massive guest spots from Marty Friedmen (ex-Megadeth) among others, they formed a masterpiece. Actually it wouldn't be a stretch to call Skyharbor's debut, "Blinding White Noise", music of the gods with it's ethereal beauty and unique approach of songwriting. Split into two parts, "Illusion" for beauty and "Chaos" for heaviness, this album is so unlike what you've heard before. It's encouraged you give it a listen or seven. You'll thank us after hearing songs like "Dots", "Maeva", "Aurora" and "Celestial".

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THE SAFETY FIRE - GRIND THE OCEAN

There's so much to say about this album. The Safety Fire made one of the strongest debuts all year with their full-length, "Grind The Ocean". Years in the making, they have managed to create a stand out masterpiece. Bringing next level creativity and writing some of the best riffs known to man, this UK musical unit is easily one of the most promising bands out there. "Grind The Ocean" covered so much ground both musically and thematically, making for an abundance of classics on this record. "Huge Hammers", "Circassian Beauties", "Floods of Colour", and the rehashed versions of "Sections" and "DMP (FDP)" are just a few greats among many.

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RINGS OF SATURN - DINGIR

Aliens, man.... aliens. Rings of Saturn write some of the sharpest, most technically proficient Death Metal that will ever bless your ears (...or shred them). "Dingir" is absolute brutal chaos from start to finish. This band shreds like no other \m/ Plain and simple. Actually they do it so well we're convinced they aren't human beings. Thus aliencore. Songs like "Objective To Harvest", "Faces Imploding", "Peeling Arteries", and "Hyperforms" should be locked up in Area 51. You can actually stream the ENTIRE album below and see why. This is definitely recommended if you have forty minutes to kill (bad Death Metal pun intended).

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BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME - THE PARALLAX II: FUTURE SEQUENCE

Between The Buried And Me always seem to expand and improve with every release. Which is saying a lot considering they're practically gods of Progressive Metal already. This is true as ever with their epic full-length "The Parallax II: Future Sequence". The band's sixth studio album is also the second part of the band's interstellar space saga. And it's safe to say it expands upon the concept of the original EP brilliantly. The release is teeming with master level classics. "Astral Body", "Telos", "Goodbye To Everything", and "Extremophile Elite" are just a few examples of the absolute greatness on "The Parallax II". Welcome to hyperspace.

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THE CONTORTIONIST - INTRINSIC

The Contortionist are certainly standing out as one of the premiere bands of the metal underground. They have expanded and grown much since their debut, moving away from their Deathcore roots in favor of a Progressive approach and pure creativity. Not to say there isn't extreme heaviness to be found on "Intrinsic", just twice as much genius. This album is mind-blowing on so many levels (more puns). "Intrinsic" is a high-octane adventure through the inner workings of the human consciousness, providing captivating soundscapes for brains to explore. "A secret dimension of noise" - That lyric pretty much sums it up.

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MESHUGGAH - KOLOSS

The masters of Math Metal never seem to disappoint. We're actually fairly convinced Meshuggah are robots, void of humanity, designed by the Swedish government to decimate the eardrums of metal listeners worldwide. Listening to Meshuggah is like receiving a heavy brain massage. Listening to "Koloss" is like having your brain massaged by a robotic titan. Expect massive grooves, mechanical technicality, and unparalleled polyrhythms. This is a prime example of Meshuggah doing what they do best. They crank out goods like "Do Not Look Down", "Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion", and "Demiurge" for this colossal experience.

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THE FACELESS - AUTOTHEISM

The Faceless came back as strong and creative as ever with their third full-length "Autotheism". This album seemingly took forever to be released, but was well worth the wait when it hit. There were serious line up changes, but The Keene Machine raised the bar with Evan Brewer and Wes Hauch in the mix. In many ways, this is really a side step for the band. "Autotheism" is an unexpected treat to listen to with an increased focus on melody and a theatrical approach. It opens up with singing for christ sake. Who honestly expected that? When all the factors are added up, it makes for a phenomenal listening experience.

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DEFTONES - KOI NO YOKAN

Deftones has been in the business of making awesome music for over two decades and they haven't even come close to losing their spark. Their tenth studio album, "Koi No Yokan", is perfect evidence of that. This record delivers in all the ways that matter. It is the complete package from flying through the air with "Swerve City" to the genius, floaty closer "What Happened To You?". All the songs in between are outstanding as well. "Leathers", "Tempest", and "Entombed" just to name a few. This album is just plain amazing. It's recommended you give it a good listen but watch out... you may end up falling in love after listening (get it?).

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TOP 5 EPS OF 2012

This year was packed with amazing music in all forms. EP releases were no exception. The competition on this list was fierce but it is finally settled. Here are the top 5 EPs of 2012.

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CHIMP SPANNER - ALL ROADS LEAD HERE

Hailing from the UK, guitar and composition wizard Paul Ortiz has been creating some of the most mind bending, out of the box tracks known to man since 2005 and he hasn't even remotely slowed down. If anything, he's sped up with his newest "All Roads Lead Here". This is a multi-dimensional aural adventure teeming with musical genius and complete excellence. And it's all crammed into 25 minutes of explosive audio perfection. From "Dark Age Of Technology" to "Cloud City", and the three massive parts of the epic "Möbius" in between, this is one you don't want to miss. This release deserves your full attention as the EP of the year.

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CIRCLE OF CONTEMPT - ENTWINE THE THREADS

Circle of Contempt have grown in many ways since their debut while maintaining the edge they are known for.  Technical and creative with an increased focus on musical execution, Circle of Contempt have achieved classic status with the phenomenal "Entwine The Threads". Tracks such as "Transient Belief", "Perceive The Mendacity", and "Entwine The Threads" really set it apart. This is definitely an EP that's worth your time and money. More than that, this is an EP worth recognition among the best this year has to offer. "Entwine The Threads" is like the metal cherry on top of 2012 \m/ It is a massive and inspiring musical experience.

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ASCARIASIS - OCEAN OF COLOUR

This is the kind of band that will either inspire the hell out of other artists or make them want to give up on their respective instruments. The Ascariasis debut was one of the most impressive Death Metal EPs to come out in awhile. "Ocean Of Colour" is filled with shreddy, razor-edged metal combined with a creative, tasteful side. This band has the ability to combine a chaotic, heavy sound with a classical, melodic flavor. They even throw in some ambience. Altogether, it makes them really stand out amongst the Death Metal pack. "Shatter", "Eleven", "Carving The World" and the title track all demonstrate why Ascariasis is the cream of the crop.

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DAVID MAXIM MICIC - BILO 2.0

Coming from Serbia, David Maxim Micic has both re-defined and set the bar high for other "bedroom producers" worldwide. The Berklee trained multi-instrumentalist followed up his debut in the biggest way possible. "Bilo 2.0" borrows elements of the original release while being a beast of it's own. Bringing together genius, progressive metal, jazz fusion, huge atmosphere, electronics, technicality, tasteful writing, and cutting edge experimentation, this EP creates a musical journey for the listener. Every track on "Bilo 2.0" will bring you "Along For A Ride" like nothing you've heard before. This is easily one of 2012's best EPs.

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NOVALLO - NOVALLO EP

Novallo sounds like a combination of Periphery, The Human Abstract, Mute Math, Maroon 5, and lord knows what... The music these guys make, although random at times, is damn impressive. Their debut is easily one of the strongest EPs to drop this year. Packed with tight instrumental work, amazing vocals, and infectious ear candy, Novallo will leave you hooked. Every track on this release has something interesting and unique going. To name a few - "Angle of Perception", "4 Eyes Win!", and "Visually Silent" really stand out. Definitely give the EP a listen. Warning: It will get stuck in your head in the best way possible.

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TOP ALBUMS OF 2012 - HONORABLE MENTIONS

Here are 5 amazing albums from this year that were just shy of making our top ten. They all deserve your full attention as the honorable mentions of 2012.

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GOJIRA - L'ENFANT SAUVAGE

There's no doubt that Gojira's "L'enfant Sauvage" (French for "The Wild Child") is an amazing album. To put it simply, one of the best things about Gojira is that they always manage to sound like Gojira. This is a band which proves that musicians don't need to be complex to be musically efficient. Not to say there isn't depth and complexity here. Gojira pummels the listeners eardrums with blasting heaviness and musically creative force. There are so many awesome tracks on this record. The title track, "The Axe", "Explosia", and "Mouth of Kala" are just a few examples of the greatness you can expect from "L'enfant Sauvage". It's a wild ride.

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THE OMEGA EXPERIMENT - SELF TITLED 

This is the kind of record that will catch you off guard. You go into it expecting one thing and experiencing something entirely different. The Omega Experiment's self-titled debut strikes as a powerful cross between Supertramp and The Devin Townsend Project with a pinch of Meshuggah... Yeah, go ahead and read that again. All of this while bringing a sound of their very own which is hard to describe. When you add it all up, it makes for a mind blowing, unique musical experience. Tracks such as "Stimulus", "Terminus", "Gift", and "Furor" are guaranteed to leave you wanting more goods from The Omega Experiment.

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VEIL OF MAYA - ECLIPSE

Veil of Maya's fourth full-length record really stood apart from the rest while simultaneously staying rooted. For example, the intro "20/200" sounds like a throwback to "Common Man's Collapse" while the title track is easily the most melodic, open song the band has ever written. "Eclipse" really opened up a whole new dimension of Veil of Maya with an increased focus on musicality. This may have been in part to Misha Mansoor's production and influence, but the fact is this record provides phenomenal music through and through. Stand outs include "Divide Paths", "The Glass Slide", "Vicious Circles", and "Punisher" among others. 

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THE TONY DANZA TAPDANCE EXTRAVAGANZA - DANZA IIII

Not only does The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza have the best band name ever, they always manage to produce devastating, awesome metal. The bands fourth and sadly final album, "Danza IIII: The Alpha - The Omega" is no exception. It's also too cool for Roman numerals. This is an earth-shattering venture into chaotic, technical heaviness. There are many greats on this record like "You Won't", "Canadian Bacon", "Paul Bunyan and the Blue Ox", "Rudy X3", and you can't forget the semi-title track, "The Alpha, The Omega". "Danza IIII" is a worthy end to this band's insane career. R.I.P. Tony Danza... talking about the band, not the actor.

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ELITIST - RESHAPE | REASON

Elitist have been emerging as one of the best Metalcore bands around. Actually, their debut full-length "Reshape | Reason" is easily the best Metalcore record released in 2012. Even with various key line-up changes over recent years, Julian Rodriguez's compositional ability has remained true, even improved in some ways. There is a progressive, creative take on how this band approaches the core, yielding amazing results. With a serious focus on driving melodies and musical execution, Elitist produced a monster of a debut record here. "Square And Compass", "Equinox", and "Unto The Sun" make an aural impact among others.

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