It's a little belated, but it's high time for the 2012 top 5 metal list! Like Tony last year, I opted out of the bottom 5, but that's mainly due to the fact that I have no time. This year was kind of tough because there were several really solid albums. There's some honorable mentions in there, but these top 5 really made my regular rotation for several months after they came out.
This year seemed to be the year of old school bands bringing their absolute best. I'd say at least 3 albums on here are the bands' best to date, and you could make an argument for all of them in my opinion, so let's get to it.
5. Running Wild - Shadowmaker
We thought that 2009 was the end of Running Wild when Rock N' Rolf announced they were done, but when they started making a best-of album with a couple of bonus tracks, Rolf decided to give us one more album! And I'm glad he did. This album combines some of the newer production we've become accustomed to with later Running Wild with the songwriting of the 80s where every song stands out and gets stuck in your head! There's a couple shitters on there, but generally, this is a winner. Back to their roots!
4. Firewind - Few Against Many
I have no problem saying this is their best album to date. Maybe playing with Ozzy supercharged Gus G's songwriting abilities? Who knows. All I know is the songs on here are almost all catchy as hell and also damn heavy. I didn't care for their last effort, "Days of Defiance", but this more than makes up for that. Rock over London, Rock on Athens. Polaroid, see what develops!
3. Accept - Stalingrad
The only problem I have with this album is that it's NOT Blood of the Nations! That album raised the bar so damn high, I knew it'd be virtually impossible to trump. They didn't, but damn, they tried! There's no skippers on here, it's just all out, straight ahead metal: so just turn this fucker on and kick back with a cold one! Highlights are Stalingrad, Twist of Fate and Flash to Bang Time. I can't believe I'm saying this, but as they proved with Blood, they are actually better off without UDO.
2. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist
The second album that I have to say is probably their best album to date. That's a hard thing to do when you've been around for 25+ years, but here they are doing it! While this thing just melts your face with raw speed and power straight through, the songs are somehow catchy and melodic. Honestly, it's hard to even fathom how the hell they pull it off. Highlights for me are Civilization Collapse and Phantom Antichrist.
1. Testament - Dark Roots of Earth
Wow. Holy shit. This album came out in July and it's still in my regular rotation. To me, this is their best effort of all time by a longshot...and they have a TON of other great albums in their 25 year career! Like Kreator, they managed to make some damn heavy songs, but still make them incredibly melodic and catchy. It's like "The Ritual" with modern production and a drummer (Gene Hoglan) that could power the country of Iceland for an hour with his double kick-drums! Again, every song is a winner, but to me highlights are Native Blood, Rise Up and Throne of Thorns. This is a must for every metalhead!
Honorable Mentions:
- Overkill - The Electric Age
- Jaded Heart - Common Destiny
- Tygers of Pan Tang - Ambush
- Rush - Clockword Angels
- Primal Fear - Unbreakable
- Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth (Yes, the single sucked, I know)
