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1.
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Indesinence - Vessels Of Light And Decay
I honestly didn't think anything would beat Faal but this one tops it. Absolutely fantastic Death Doom that I just can't stop listening to. |
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2.
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Faal - The Clouds Are Burning
Black/Doom is one of my favorite sub-genres yet few bands do it right. Faal were right on the money with this release. Surprising dynamic for the genre. |
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3.
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In The Silence - A Fair Dream Gone Mad
Absolutely fantastic Atmospheric Prog. It's hard to believe this is their self-released debut. |
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4.
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Enochian Theory - Life... And All It Entails
Another brilliant atmospheric/melodic Prog release. The whole album flows so well & has so many brilliant moments that it is hard to stop listening to it. |
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5.
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Eternal Deformity - The Beauty Of Chaos
There hasn't been too many Melodic Black Metal album's that have caught my attention this year, but this one blew me away. Hard to believe they have been around 15 years & this is their 5th album yet very few people have heard of them. Hopefully this album changes that. |
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6.
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Abstracter - Tomb Of Feathers
Absolutely crushing Crust/Sludge. |
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7.
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Reverence - The Asthenic Ascension
The French do black metal quite well nowadays, and this was the best of them for 2012. |
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8.
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Obsidian Kingdom - Mantiis
Engrossing extreme prog that pulls you in & never lets go. This release has just got better & better with each listen for me. |
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9.
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Hour Of Penance - Sedition
This is unbelievably good death metal right here. Shame it's so damn short. |
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10.
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Dissona - Dissona
Very theatrical & enjoyable avantgarde/prog. Another self released debut that really impresses. |
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11.
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Abraham - The Serpent, The Prophet & The Whore
Crushing Sludge/Post-Hardcore from Switzerland. |
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12.
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Xanthochroid - Blessed He With Boils
Interesting, innovative, engaging, diverse & technically proficient. This Epic/Melodic/Progressive Black metal release takes influences from many different genres & combines them together so well to form an absolute gem of a debut album. Xanthochroid are going places, and wherever they go you should follow. |
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13.
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Enslaved - RIITIIR
Will be on many 2012 list's i'm sure. |
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14.
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Asphyx - Deathhammer
Old-school Death Metal the way it should be played. Pulverizing. |
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15.
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The Foreshadowing - Second World
There are not many Gothic Metal albums out there which I can say truly enjoy, especially in the last few years. This one is a big exception. |
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16.
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Pallbearer - Sorrow And Extinction
Not as good as their Demo unfortunately. But considering their demo was one of the best I'd ever heard, this still ranks as one of my favorite doom albums of the year. |
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17.
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Graveyard - Lights Out
On first listen I dismissed it as not up to the standard they set with 2011's Hisingen Blues, but it has really grown on me. My favorite Hard rock release of 2012 without a doubt. |
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18.
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Elysian - Wires Of Creation
Prog-heavy Melodic Death Metal from Australia. |
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19.
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Monolithe - Interlude Second
Monolithic indeed. |
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20.
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Sunpocrisy - Samaroid Dioramas
Fantastic atmospheric sludge/Post metal. Very progressive for the genre. Highly recommended. |
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21.
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Monuments Collapse - Monuments Collapse
Seriously impressive crusty doomy ambient post-metal. Their are only two tracks on this LP, but both are lengthy expansive pieces giving this album a total run time of 36 minutes that is a joy to listen to from first note to last. |
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22.
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Derkéta - In Death We Meet
Widely considered the first all female Death Metal band when they formed in 1988, they have finally released their full length debut 24 years later! |
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23.
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Dying Fetus - Reign Supreme
Dying Fetus are back on form. As brutal as it gets. |
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24.
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Inverloch - Dusk / Subside
Crushing Death Doom. Just what you would expect from former members of Disembowelment. |
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25.
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Be'lakor - Of Breath And Bone
The metal scene in Australia has really blossomed over the last few years, with Be'lakor one of top bands. Fantastic Melodeath that i'm sure will be on many people's end of year lists. |
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26.
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Elysian Blaze - Blood Geometry
Dark, haunting blackened atmospheric funeral doom from Australia. At over 2 hours it's a lot to digest in one sitting, but very rewarding if you have the appetite. |
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27.
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In Mourning - The Weight Of Oceans
A step down from their last album, Monolith, but still a very solid album. |
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28.
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Evoken - Atra Mors
The master's of Funeral Doom are back, and they do not disappoint. |
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29.
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Narrow House - A Key To Panngrieb
Crushing Atmospheric/Funeral doom of the highest quality. |
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30.
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Evadne - The Shortest Way
Accessible & enjoyable Melodic Death Doom. |
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31.
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Zatokrev - The Bat, The Wheel And A Long Road To Nowhere
I remember hearing these guys back in 2004 & not being that impressed. It is safe to say that in the 8 years since, they have improved dramatically! This is a fantastic slab of doomy sludge. |
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32.
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Skogen - Eld
These Swede's don't try & reinvent the wheel, but they know what they are doing & do it well. This is a multi-layered, mid-paced black metal record that incorporates acoustic passages and clean chants with a beautiful yet sombre atmosphere. |
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33.
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Primal Rock Rebellion - Awoken Broken
Heavy Metal collaboration between Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden & ex-sikTh vocalist Mikee Goodman. Really fun catchy record although it doesn't quite have the longevity factor after repeated listens. |
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34.
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Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I
Solid debut following on from their impressive demo. Will be high up on many end-of-year lists no doubt. |
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35.
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Ørkenkjøtt - Ønskediktet
Absolutely bonkers avantagrde extreme prog that jumps from genre to genre, as highlighted in the song 'Profeten' which is one of my personal fav tracks of the year. Very original but a little inconsistent, hence why it doesn't place higher on my list. |
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36.
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Sulphur Aeon - Swallowed By The Ocean's Tide
Crushing Death Metal with Old School values, plenty of melody & tons of aggression. |
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37.
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Waning - The Human Condition
Modern progressive Swedish Black Metal packed full of great riffs with a cold, bleak atmosphere. What is there not to love? |
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38.
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Distorted Harmony - Utopia
Another great debut for the year, this time from this young Israeli Prog Metal band. Not the finished article yet but if they live up to their potential they have a bright future ahead of them. |
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39.
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Another Perfect Day - Four Songs For The Left Behind
Great, if not a little weird proggy death metal. Shame it's only an EP as it leaves you wanting more. |
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40.
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Anhedonist - Netherwards
Thick, heavy, crushing death/doom that sucks you in & doesn't let go. |
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41.
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The Forsaken - Beyond Redemption
It's been 9 years since The Forsaken released an album but it was worth the wait. This is a solid, enjoyable thrashy melodeath album. |
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42.
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Kontinuum - Earth Blood Magic
A real eclectic style of Progressive Post-Black Metal that is melodic, atmospheric & quite experimental. Drifts a little in places but overall is a real solid debut. |
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43.
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Agruss - Morok
Extremely brutal & crushing death/black metal that will leave you bloody, bruised & wanting more. |
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44.
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Oddland - The Treachery Of Senses
This is a really technical & well written Progressive Metal album. It is a little inconsistent in places but is very enjoyable & shows great promise for the future from these Finns. |
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45.
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Worship - Terranean Wake
Really solid release from these cult German Funeral Doomsters. |
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46.
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The Howling Void - The Womb Beyond The World
Solitude Productions have quite a reputation for releasing solid extreme doom albums, as evidenced by this is really engaging Symphonic Funeral Doom release. |
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47.
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Profetus - ...To Open The Passage In Dusk
The bleakest of bleak Funeral Doom. |
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48.
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Wilds Forlorn - We, The Damned
Atmospheric Depressive Black Metal with outstanding musicianship that combines beautiful melodies with a cold, bleak atmosphere. |
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49.
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Stoned Jesus - Seven Thunders Roar
Really chilled out, well written Stoner Rock/Metal from Ukraine. |
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50.
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L'Alba di Morrigan - The Essence Remains
Really great Post Rock / Alternative Metal from Italy with a real Katatonia vibe in places. A little inconsistent but a lot of potential. |
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51.
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Disguise - Second Coming
This Black Metal record has dynamic & varied song writing that draws on many different influences. Not all the ideas work unfortunately but overall it's a solid release which shows a lot of promise & potential. A band worth keeping an eye on. |
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52.
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Threshold - March Of Progress
Damian Wilson doing what he does best on this solid Prog Metal Album. |
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53.
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Trepalium - H.N.P.
Really eclectic Death Metal with a solid groove & interesting song writing. I've been following this band for many years now & this album lives up to the standards of their previous releases. |
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54.
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Bilocate - Summoning The Bygones
Really intricate Death Doom with great musicianship. This album has a lot going on, sometime too much so. Overall a lot more melodic sound compared to their fantastic debut 'Sudden Death Syndrome' but still a very solid album from a band with a bright future. |
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55.
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Eïs - Wetterkreuz
Really solid German Black Metal from the band formally known as Geïst |
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56.
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Soen - Cognitive
There is an unbelievable amount of Tool worship going on here. Great melodies, musicianship & song writing are all present throughout this great album. They just need to find their own identity a little bit more. |
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57.
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Daylight Dies - A Frail Becoming
Melodic Death Doom is an over-saturated genre & although this album doesn't stand out for it's originality, it is extremely well written & an enjoyable listen overall. |
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58.
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Marduk - Serpent Sermon
I must admit to not properly paying attention to Marduk since the 90's as every album they released since then seemed to be a carbon copy of the last. Their is evidence of progression here with a varying of tempo through the record. Overall a solid album that I was pleasantly surprised by, although it does drag slightly towards the end. |
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59.
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Meridian - Meridian
Another Melodic Death Metal release from Australia. This is only an EP but it shows promise. |
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60.
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Algol - Complex Shapes
Melodic Death Metal with Prog, Power, Thrash & Black Metal influences. |
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61.
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Anathema - Weather Systems
Anathema have probably gone through the biggest musical change of any band out there. From their death/doom beginnings they dropped the aggression to become a depressive doom act before cheering up & leaving metal behind completely to become an atmospheric rock band. This album has some truly amazing tracks, "Untouchable Part 1-2" and "The Beginning And The End" in particular, but it is let down by the overuse of Lee Douglas' vocals which dominate 80% of the album. Overall it's a good album but it really suffers with a lack of replay value. |
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62.
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Merrimack - The Acausal Mass
Another great Black Metal release from France. |
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63.
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Forgotten Tomb - ...And Don't Deliver Us From Evil
Another band that have cheered up as their musical journey has progressed at the detriment to the quality of their output. Forgotten Tomb were probably THE best Black/Doom band back in the day. 'Songs To Leave' is my favourite album from that genre of all time but their newest releases have nothing in similar with that style as they now play a form of melodic 'Black n' Roll'. Despite not living up to the standards of their older material, this is still actually quite an enjoyable album if you accept it for what it is. Similar in style to their previous album 'Under Saturn Retrograde', which I actually quite enjoyed. |
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64.
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Exumer - Fire & Damnation
First new album in 25 years from these German Thrashers. There is some real quality on this album but it is let down by the relatively short run time of just over 30 minutes. This is exacerbated by the fact half the songs on this aren't new material. |
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65.
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Sanctus Nosferatu - SAMCA
Female fronted Blackened Death Metal from Portugal. The vocalist, Morticia, has a seriously impressive vocal range from black metal shrieks & death metal growls to melodic clean vocals. The band are technically proficient although let down slightly by uninspired song writing which unfortunately means that although the album itself is enjoyable, it doesn't last long int he memory. |
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66.
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Katatonia - Dead End Kings
This was a real love/hate album for most people, and i expect to see it at the top of most people's lists for 'best' & 'worst' of the year in equal measure. Overall I felt there was some good elements to the album such as Jonas' ever improving vocals, but overall the whole thing had no longevity factor & i found myself bored with it fairly quickly. It's an average to good release, but being a big fan of Katatonia's entire discography, average/good doesn't cut it. |
