Sami's best albums 2012

Best-In 2012

30 Dec 2012, 17:22

This year it proved to be too hard to put the albums in order, so instead I put them into three categories and did not care how many there is in each one. I did, however, limit the number of albums listed here to keep competition going on.

Category 1, must be in the best list (for one or another reason)

Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud
Devin has earned a permanent place in my lists with his previous achievements. I do not mean that he will remain here if he will make some shitty album, but currently he seems not to be able to do that. Deconstruction/Ghost was quite controversial production and I'm still not fully understanding the whole thing. Epicloud is much more coherent package and with its few hits (Lucky Animals!) hit my heart also.

Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol
Paradise Lost continues where it ended it in Faith Divides Us. At first listening the album sounds just like the previous one, it takes a few plays to start appreciating the fine nyances of this piece of art as its own. And you should also take some time to listen this album it is not something to be taken in small peaces or when you are in rush.

Swallow the Sun - Emerald Forest and the Blackbird
I guess this album is here also partly because of their excellent previous album New Moon. Although acclaimed in many reviews, I must confess that I like the previous one more because of its more straight forward songs. The current one is dark, melancholic, not that rough but do not hear me wrong, it is definitely worth of this list.

Van Halen - A Different Kind Of Truth

I would not have believed that Van Halen will make another album at all, but what kind of album they released! A solid gold from a group that I used to love even before I loved to listen to music at any serious level at all.

High on Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis
A bit different from their earlier release(s), but it should be allowed to all bands and High on Fire manages to change their style with style!

Testament - Dark Roots of Earth
Well, what to say here, sounds like Testament and not in the bad way at all. Must be in the list for a good reason!

Soundgarden - King Animal
Another (surprising?) return along Van Halen. They just continue where they ended more than a decade ago. I did not listen Soundgarden that much when they were existing before, but after this album I have to take another look to their discography.

Candlemass - Psalms for the Dead
An end of an era. A worthly end (for album releases) to a great band!



Category 2, "newcomers" (new in my album shelf)

Leonard Cohen - Old Ideas
This is surely not an album from a newcomer, but an album worth mentioning. I don't know if I'm going to listen any other of his albums (should do that), but this one is going to be listened several times.

Jess and the Ancient Ones - Jess and the Ancient Ones
Absolutely amazing group! Happened to listen this group just for screening the bands coming to Tuska festival in summer and they were definitely one of the most rewarding surprises this year. Also the gig was well worth visiting even if the place was not the best that there is.

Baroness - Yellow / Green
An acclaimed band that with this album took a permanent place in my playlists.

Lana Del Rey - Born to Die
If last year Adele managed to surprise even myself, this time it was Lana Del Rey. Beautiful woman voice with (mostly) good songs in this album.



Category 3, something in between, but has to be mentioned

Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve
A sound continuation to their previous album. Me likes.

Soulfly - Enslaved
Have something that makes you angry? Listen one Soulfly album and stop whining!

Killing Joke - MMXXII
This could be in Category 1, but haven't yet managed to figure out what exactly is the thing in this band. Old albums are good as well, but the last two with their updated soundscape are awesome.

In Mourning - The Weight Of The Oceans
Three albums released, three of them good, how long can they continue? Hopefully long. Again one excellent hit song (Colossus) and many good ones.

Graveyard - Lights Out
This album might be a bit too similar to the previous one, but if the thing works why change it too soon. Nicely rocking and rolling music.

The Sword - Apocryphon
From the first notes of this album, an irresistible urge to beat time with your foot and maybe some headbanging takes over.


Best Gigs of the 2012
Agalloch, 7.4.2012 Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, Helsinki
Jess and the Ancient Ones, 1.7.2012, TUSKA 2012, Suvilahti, Helsinki
The Revival Tour (Chuck Ragan, Cory Branan), 30.10.2012 Tavastia, Helsinki
The Epic Industrialist Tour (Fear Factory, Devin Townsend Project), 7.11.2012, The Circus, Helsinki

Phage's Best Albums 2012

I sometimes wonder why this is so fun to make these lists. Anyway, this year was very good year, I found again many new favorites and made a personal record buying new albums during one year. 

Here are a few albums that deserves mention:

Best albums of the 2012

Testament - Dark Roots of Earth



The best metal album from the best thrash band at the moment. While some dinosaurs are less successful, Testament keep delivering and actually improving. De luxe -version contains three brilliant cover versions as well.

Down - Down IV, part I: The Purple EP



Highly anticipated first EP of new Down package of four EPs. Smoky, crushingly heavy and groovy stuff from the New Orleans sludge gods. Anselmo sounds better that in a long time. Featured track: Misfortune Teller

Witchcraft - Legend



With this album Witchcraft steals the leading position in Swedish retro rock scene from Graveyard. Great comeback album with superb production and brilliant songs.

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten



Definitively my summer album of 2012. They seem to have finally found their own style (the Springsteen worship times are almost over), and I think they're better than ever. Such a great rock album and de luxe -edition contains two nice bonus songs as well. Featured Track: Keepsake

Hot Water Music - Exister



Chuck is fine folk singer, but somehow to me he sounds better while fronting HWM. I just love how his vocal performance kicks so many punk singers' asses and give a whole lot more street cred to the message. Definitively my training album of the year. 

Corrosion of Conformity - Corrosion of Conformity



The original line-up from Animosity era put out such a tough album. It takes only three to rock 'n roll, or so it seems. Interesting mixture of old and new, the self titled album took some more listening before really opening up. It also seems that the power trio is enough to put out intensive live performance as well. Later, It was informed that Pepper Keenan decided to join Down full-time, but luckily the future seems to be bright for C.O.C. 

Katatonia - Dead End Kings



New Katatonia is always an important event. Interestingly, the release seems to be dark and rainy fall/early winter, which is actually a perfect time to listen to Katatonia. Nothing new or groundbreaking here and they continue in the spirit of their former album Night is the New Day. I don't mind. Dead End Kings is not a straightforward album, it doesn't contain obvious hit songs. Instead, its beauty is in the details and nuances that make it more interesting. All the important Katatonia elements are still there, if you're willing to discover them.

Neurosis - Honor Found In Decay



Another important and highly anticipated album for me. In a way, this sounds like a synthesis of Eye of Every Storm and Given to the Rising, both albums I particularly like. Neurosis isn't the easiest music and usually need a certain mood. Only time will tell, will this be my favorite album, but all the needed elements are present. 

The Sword - Apocryphon



I wasn't aware of this until it came out. Why, I really can't tell. I loved their previous record and I guess I just couldn't believe they'd put out next so soon. Anyway, Apocryphon is out and it sounds great. I haven't had enough time to listen it more carefully, but pretty similar stuff as Warp Riders.

Orange Goblin - Eulogy For The Damned



One of the early year releases I almost forgot. Brilliant stoner album from the UK based veterans. Listen to The Fog and you'll understand why this album is listed here. The rest of the songs ain't bad either.

High On Fire - De Vermis Mysteriis 



Heviest album of the year? Maybe not, but getting close at least. Slight problem of this album (and as a matter of fact of previous one too) is slight unevenness. There are many brilliant songs but also some more mediocre ones too. Nevertheless, when you need to consume some beer and whiskey, this album is your soundtrack of choice. Featured track: King of Days. 

Lee Ranaldo - Between The Times and The Tides



Better known from his band Sonic Youth, Lee Ranaldo is a gifted songwriter. Here he experiments with more traditional rock in the spirit of Neil Young. Yes, influence is clearly present, but where Neil sounds, well...Neil, Between the Tides and the Times expands and explores more. I probably started to listen to this, because it sounded like Neil, but later I found it to be a great addition to my playlist. Good rock record, that's what this is.

Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth



One interesting comeback was the return of the Diamond Dave. He is a showman from the beginning and hasn't lost his edge. I think that A different Kind of Truth is actually quite good record. It rocks, it rolls and it grooves. It is entertaining and makes you wanna party. Welcome back Eddie. Welcome back Dave. Rock 'n roll needed you. We needed you. Featured track: China Town.

Dead Can Dance - Anastasis



I usually don't listen to this kind of music (I actually don't even know why, since it seems to be rather good). I bought this album solely after I read a review written so that it got me interested. This epic ambient/electronic/whatever masterpiece has given so many hours of enjoyment during this year. I learned that this is also one of the comeback albums of this year. Featured track: Opium. 

Nate Hall - A Great River



This found its way to my list on the eleventh hour. Nate Hall is (perhaps) better known as a front man and guitarist of U.S. Christmas. His has very distinct voice and he usually uses echo to tune his singing. The result is unique. Every listening is a journey to world beyond, to "the other side". I don't know where, but I like to be there.

Other albums worth mentioning:

Bob Mould - Silver Age, OM - Advaitic Songs, Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol, Soen - Cognitive, Neil Young - Psychedelic Pill, Mark Lanegan Band - Blues Funeral, Six Feet Under - Undead, Graveyard - Lights Out 


Best EPs of the 2012

Down - Down IV, part I: The Purple EP



Corrosion of Conformity - Megalodon



Agalloch - Faustian Echoes



Dark Tranquillity - Zero Distance



Best Gigs of the 2012

Agalloch @ Korjaamo 7.4.2012
Judas Priest @ Jäähalli 22.4.2012
Brice Springsteen @ Olympiastadion 31.7.2012
Corrosion of Conformity @ Tavastia 14.8.2012
The Revival Tour @ Tavastia 30.10.2012