TMD’s creator and Editor-In-Chief Randy “Rocket” Cody throws down his selections for the best albums of 2012. Rocket comments: “Horns up to all the kick ass bands that released music last year that broke ground and straight up slammed it down with a vengeance. Here are my picks for the top 10 best metal albums of 2012!”
THE METAL DEN’s Top 10 Metal Albums of 2012
Selected By TMD’s Creator Randy “Rocket” Cody
10. CANNIBAL CORPSE – “Torture”
There is no denying that this group will go down as the biggest name in death metal history. Can they still bring it though? Produced by Erik Rutan (HATE ETERNAL), Torture captures the band at its most mature time ever, arranging more sophisticated songs, and taking their musicianship to an even higher level than before. Yes, earlier albums from the band (Tomb Of The Mutilated, The Bleeding, and Butchered At Birth) will no doubt be pretty much impossible to top – but I feel Torture will be respected for being perhaps their best overall production to date.
9. VAN HALEN – “A Different Kind Of Truth”
VAN HALEN makes a blazing comeback with 2012′s solid rocking A Different Kind Of Truth, the first studio record to feature original vocalist David Lee Roth since VAN HALEN’s classic 1984 album. Eddie and his kid are hot as shit together. It is absolutely amazing how the magic is still there between the brothers and their reunited vocalist who comes off here like some kind of wrinkled rock n roll preacher.
8. PSYCHONAUT – “Shock ‘Em Dead!”
Perth, Western Australia metal act PSYCHONAUT deliver their sophomore effort in the form of the thrashing as all hell studio effort Shock Them Dead!. This reviewer feels it is definitely one of the more solid productions you will hear. PSYCHONAUT cites many influences including KISS, W.A.S.P., JUDAS PRIEST plus LOUDNESS, and certainly that is all in the mix here for sure – killer lyrics and vocals that you normally only dream about – but for me really this record sounds like PANTERA met TYPE O NEGATIVE in some dark alleyway for a gruesome knife fight. It is vicious, over the top and just pure rock n roll mayhem. These cats are not playing around.
7. LAMB OF GOD – “Resolution”
The album kicks off with the extremely doom-ish “Straight For The Sun”, perfectly showcasing the fiercest throat in all of metal that belongs to none other than Randy Blythe… who eerily enough now faces charges for the death of a fan out at one of their concerts. Love him or hate him, Blythe takes his vocal chords down a hellish exercise in how to push them to the absolute limit by growling and screaming like a pig that has been stuck over and over again with a burning skewer.
6. GREAT GODS OF GREED – “Great Gods of Greed”
Southern California crossover thrashers GREAT GODS OF GREED have self-released their eponymous debut album in 2012. It’s one of those rare times when you know something special has been accomplished. The lineup is fierce, people, featuring John Fallon aka “Johnny Rocket” on vocals, legendary SUICIDAL TENDENCIES/NO MERCY guitarist Mike Clark, Simon Johnson on drums, Marty “Muerte” Ramirez on guitar, and Eddie Jucius on bass.
5. Down IV Part I – “The Purple EP”
American stoner metal legends DOWN are back in 2012 with Down IV Part I – The Purple EP and they light it up for sure on all six tracks, man. Enough said. You want heavy? It’s there. Doom? You got it. Some fat and sticky as a green bud grooves? Hell yeah. You’re gonna feel the love from these cats. This little shit kicker was self-produced by the band and recorded at Nosfertu’s Lair, located at singer Philip H. Anselmo’s New Orleans, Louisiana residence. Down IV Part I – The Purple EP is chock full of some powerfully crafted riffs that will hit you square in the chest.
4. PRONG – “Carved Into Stone”
Tommy Victor has smartly recruited Tony Campos (ex-Static-X) to play bass on the record, along with enlisting the balls out drumming of Alexei Rodriguez (3 Inches of Blood/Walls of Jericho) – and let me say that this is one smoking hot rhythm section that conveys both the hardcore punk and industrial metal vibe this act has always been so well known for.
3. OVERKILL – “The Electric Age”
These dudes are like a fine wine. They just simply get better with age. From the start of track one’s energetic “Come and Get It” to track three’s molten-hot “Wish You Were Dead”, to my personal favorite, track six’s “Drop The Hammer Down”, which is an instant classic, it’s clear that Overkill is sending a message to the Big Four: “Hey, remember us?”
2. MACHINE HEAD – “Machine F**king Head Live”
MACHINE HEAD unleashed their second live effort, Machine F**king Head Live, this year on November 13th via Roadrunner Records. What the listener is treated to is a nearly two-hour, double live album of brutal perfection that covers the band’s eighteen year career in heavy metal. Hellalive was the group’s first live CD released in 2003— but nearly a decade has passed since then, and the band has certainly grown in importance. They are undoubtedly well known for delivering one of the most epic live shows in all of heavy music.
1. MINISTRY – “Relapse”
Al brings his favorite co-conspirators: the late great Mike Scaccia (RIGOR MORTIS), Tony Campos (STATIC X), Tommy Victor (PRONG) and Casey Orr (RIGOR MORTIS), along for a seriously sin-filled ride of sonic chaos to unleash perhaps Jourgensen’s most daring musical statement ever. It’s certainly sad to lose another incredible Texas guitar talent in 2012 but rest assured, Mike will not be forgotten. This album will mercilessly assault you with its pure sonic anger and “Fuck you all” attitude but most importantly it leaves you thinking more deeply about the crazy, messed up world we live in.
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