...and now the Wrap Up!
JRundquist's Top 20 of 2012:
20.) Abigail Williams- Becoming (Atmospheric Black Metal)
19.) For the Imperium- For The Imperium (Experimental Hard Rock)
18.) Brendon Small- Brendon Small's Galaktikon (Progressive Metal)
17.) Anaal Nathrakh- Vanitas (Experimental Extreme Metal)
16.) The Contortionist- Intrinsic (Progressive Metal, Deathcore)
15.) Arctic Sleep- Arbors (Post Metal, Sludge Metal, Post Rock, Progressive Metal)
14.) Obsidian Kingdom- Mantiis (Progressive Black Metal)
13.) Converge- All We Love We Leave Behind (Mathcore, Metalcore)
12.) The Faceless- Autotheism (Technical Death Metal, Progressive Death Metal)
11.) Enslaved- RIITIIR (Viking Metal, Progressive Death Metal)
10.) Baroness- Yellow & Green (Sludge Metal, Sludge Rock)
9.) Torche- Harmonicraft (Stoner, Sludge, Hardcore, Punk, Pop, Rock)
8.) Ihsahn- Eremita (Progressive Black Metal)
7.) Periphery- Periphery II: This Time It's Personal (Progressive Metal)
6.) Between the Buried And Me- The Parallax II: Future Sequence (Adult Contemporary Progressive Death Metal)
5.) Woods Of Ypres- V: Grey Skies and Electric Light 9Goth Metal, Doom Metal, Black Metal)
4.) Alcest- Les Voyages de l'Âme 9Post Metal Black Metal, Blackgaze)
3.) Anathema- Weather System (Atmospheric Progressive Rock)
2.) Ne Obliviscaris- Portal Of I (Progressive Black Metal)
1.) The Devin Townsend Project- Epicloud (Progressive Metal, Pop Rock)
That Drummer Guy's TL'DR List Of Everything Else Reviewed:
10/10:
Pyramid Theorem- Pyramid Theorem
9.5/10:
God Forbid- Equilibrium (Metalcore)
Vertigo Steps- Surface/Light (Progressive Metal)
Atoma- Skylight (Atmospheric Progressive Death Metal)
Flying Colors- Flying Colors (Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal)
PostHumanBigBang- PostHumanBigBang (Progressive Metal)
Ancients- Star Showers On The Euphrates (Post Rock)
Testament- Dark Roots Of Earth (Thrash Metal)
Jazzkamikaze- The Return of Jazzkamikaze (Instrumental Jazz Rock/Metal)
Loch Vostok- V: The Doctrine Decoded (Symphonic Progressive Black Metal)
Paradise Lost- Tragic Idol (Gothic Metal)
Van Halen- A Different Kind Of Truth (Hard Rock)
Beardfish- The Void (Progressive Metal)
Krallice- Years Point Matters (Experimental Black Metal)
Rush- Clockwork Angels (Progressive Rock)
Goatwhore- Blood For The Master (Blackened Thrash Metal)
Cannibal Corpse- Torture (Death Metal)
Municipal Waste- The Fatal Feast (Crossover Thrash)
Trioscapes- Seperate Realities (Jazz Fusion, Metal)
Horrendous- The Chills (Death Metal)
Arbor- The Plutonian Shore (Atmospheric Folk Progressive Black Metal)
Katatonia- Dead End Kings (Progressive Goth Metal)
Winterfylleth- The Threnody Of Triumph (Atmospheric Black Metal)
Daylight Dies- Frail Becoming (Progressive Death Metal)
Dragged Into Sunlight- Widowmaker (Doom Metal)
Dimension Act- Manifestation Of Progress (Progressive Metal)
Against The Wall- Things Are Not Like They Said (Alternative Progressive Metal)
Lehto & Wright- November (Folk, Progressive Rock)
Ancestors- In Dreams And Time (Psychedelic Metal)
Anglagard- Viljars Oga (Progressive Rock)
In Mourning- The Weight Of Oceans (Melodic Progressive Death Metal)
Agalloch- Faustian Echoes (Folk Metal, Black Metal, Post Metal)
Meshuggah- Koloss (Math Metal)
9/10:
Circus Maximus- Nine (Progressive Metal)
Corrosion Of Conformity- Corrosion Of Conformity (Hardcore)
House Of Fools- Versus The Beast (Alternative Progressive Rock)
Klone- The Dreamer's Hideaway (Alternative Progressive Metal)
Stone Sour- House Of Gold & Bones Part 1 (Hard Rock)
Mental Architects- Celebrations (Math Rock, Post Rock)
The Seer- The Prologue (Progressive Black Metal)
Napalm Death- Utilitarian (Death Metal, Grindcore, Noise)
Bend Sinister- Small Frame (Alternative Progressive Rock)
Stealing Axion- Moments (Progressive Metal/Djent)
Skyharbor- Blinding White Noise: Illusion And Chaos (Progressive Metal)
Krisiun- Arise From Blackness (Death Metal)
The Darkness- Hot Cakes (Hard Rock)
Siamese Fighting Fish- Breathe: See: Move (Alternative Progressive Metal)
Call Me No One- Last Parade (Alternative Metal)
Stolen Babies- Naught (Experimental Metal)
Prong- Carved Into Stone (Thrash Metal, Hard Rock, Industrial)
Grave- Endless Procession Of Souls (Death Metal)
Pepe Deluxe- Queen Of The Wave (Alternative Rock)
Eluveitie- Halvetios (Folk Metal)
Dethklok- Dethalbum III (Melodic Death Metal)
Asphyx- Deathammer (Death Metal)
Minus The Bear- Infinity Overload (Indie/Alternative Rock)
Cloudkicker- Fade (Instrumental Progressive Metal/Alternative)
Moonloop- Deeply From The Earth (Progressive Death Metal)
New Death Sensation- ...New Horizons... (Instrumental Post Metal)
Borknagar- Urd (Progressive Black Metal)
Sylencer- A Lethal Dose Of Truth (Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal)
The 11th Hour- Lacrima Mortis (Doom Metal)
Gatherer- So Be It (Alternative Rock/Metal)
Andre Matos- The Turn Of Lights (Progressive Power Metal)
Mono- For My Parents (Post Rock)
Adaliah- Broken Families (Deathcore, Djent, Hardcore)
Astra- The Black Chord (Heavy Progressive Rock)
Terrorizer- Hordes Of Zombies (Death Metal, Grindcore)
Merkaba- A Lament For The Lamb (Math Metal, Improv Jazz)
Twelve Foot Ninja- Silent Machine 9Progressive Metal, Djent)
Havok- Point Of No Return (Thrash Metal)
Overkill- The Electric Age (Thrash Metal)
Earthrise- Eras Lost (Post Metal)
Bane- The Acasual Fire (Black Metal)
Down- Down IV Part 1- The Purple EP (Stoner Metal)
Tremonti- All I Was (Hard Rock, Speed Metal)
Panopticon- Kentucky (Folk Metal, Bluegrass)
Star Monarchy- Volume I (Progressive Metal, Djent)
Pallbearer- Sorrow And Extinction (Doom Metal)
Effloresce- Coma Ghosts (Female Fronted Progressive Death Metal)
Bison B.C.- Lovelessness (Progressive Sludge Metal)
Sabaton- Carolus Rex (Power Metal)
Sigh- In Somniphobia (Experimental Black Metal)
Suffer Well- Sorrows (Blackened Metalcore)
Troglodyte- Don't Go In the Woods (Brutal Death Metal)
Arjen Anthony Lucassen- Lost To The New Real (Progressive Power Metal)
Secrets of the Moon- Seven Bells (Black Metal)
Neal Morse- Momentum (Progressive Rock)
Sear Bliss- Eternal Recurrence (Symphonic Black Metal)
The Sword- Apocryphon (Progressive Doom Metal)
Hooded Menace- Effigies of Evil (Doom Metal)
Black Country Communion- Afterglow (Progressive Rock, Classic Rock, Hard Rock)
Old Man Gloom- NO (Doom Metal, Post Metal)
Soundgarden- King Animal (Hard Rock)
Blut Aus Nord- 777- Cosmosophy (Atmospheric Black Metal)
Cloudscape- New Era (Progressive Power Metal)
A Hero, A Fake- The Future Again (Progressive Metalcore)
Panzerballet- Tank Goodness (Progressive Jazz Metal)
Emmanuel And The Fear- The Janus Mirror (Progressive, Alternative Rock)
Abraham- The Serpent, The Prophet, The Whore (Sludge Metal)
Ensiferum- Unsung Heroes (Viking Metal)
Oedipus- Viscous Little Smile (Experimental Hard Rock)
Undersmile- Narwhal (Doom Metal)
Words Of Farewell- Immersion (Progressive Death Metal)
Wintersun- Time I (Melodic Death Metal)
Neurosis- Honor Found in Decay (Post Metal)
Gojira- L'Enfant Sauvage (Groove Metal)
Candlemass- Psalms Of the Dead (Doom Metal, Heavy Metal)
In The Silence- A Fair Dream Gone Mad (Dark Progressive Metal)
Corrosion Of Conformity- Megalodon (Hardcore, Stoner Metal)
Drudkh- Eternal Turn of The Wheel (Atmospheric Black Metal)
8/10:
The Night Flight Orchestra- Internal Affairs (Classic Rock, Prog Rock)
Vaura- Selenelion (Experimental Metal)
Les Discrets- Ariettes Oubliees (Post Rock)
Hung- Hung (Progressive Death Metal)
Stick To Your Guns- Diamond (Punk Rock, Hardcore)
Unleashed- Odalheim (Viking Metal, Death Metal)
The Elijah- I Loved I Hated I Destroyed I Created (Post Hardcore)
Spawn Of Possession- Incurso (Technical Death Metal)
Primal Rock Rebellion- Awoken Broken (Heavy Metal, Hard Rock)
Judgement Day- Polar Shift (String Metal)
Bejelit- Emerge (Power Metal)
Soulfly- Enslaved (Groove Metal)
Liam- MMIX (Post Rock, Shoegaze)
Oddland- The Treachery Of Senses (Progressive Metal)
Fire And Ice- Not Of This Earth (Hardcore)
Mysteriarch- Mournful Embrace of Aeons (Symphonic Black Metal)
Gaza- No Absolutes In Human Suffering (Sludge Metal, Grindcore)
Ex Deo- Caligvla 9Death Metal, Roman Inspired)
Empires Of Eden- Channeling The Infinite (Power Metal)
Wake Of Redemption- Earthshaker 9PRogressive Metal)
Earthlimb- Origin (Instrumental Progressive Metal)
Carach Angren- Where The Corpses Sink Forever (Experimental Black Metal)
T.R.A.M.- Lingua Franca (Jazz Fusion, Instrumental Metal)
Towards Darkness- Barren (Funeral Doom Metal)
Fornorst Arnor- The Death Of A Rose (Progressive Death Metal)
Shadows Fall- Fire From The Sky (Metalcore, Thrash Metal)
My Dying Bride- A Map Of All Our Failure (Doom Metal)
The Pilgrim- Misery Wizard (Doom Metal)
Pig Destroyer- Book Burner (Grindcore)
Eye Empire- Impact (Alternative Metal)
Suspyre- Suspyre 9Symphonic Progressive Metal)
Dumbsaint- Something That You Feel Will Find Its Own Form (Post Rock)
Swallow The Sun- Emerald Forest And The Blackbird (Folk Metal)
Breach The Void- The Monochromatic Era (Cyber/Modern Metal)
Screaming Savior- Infinity (Symphonic Black Metal)
Barren Earth- The Devil's Resolve (Folk Metal)
De Profoundus- The Emptiness Within (Progressive Thrash Folk Metal)
The Cory Smoot Experiment- When Worlds Collide (Progressive Metal)
Deathspell Omega- Drought (Progressive Black Metal)
Taproot- The Episodes (Hard Rock)
Crippled Black Phoenix- (Mankind) The Crafty Ape (Post Rock)
Yossi Sassi- Melting Clocks (Progressive Rock)
Lethian Dreams- Season Of Raven Words (Atmospheric Doom Metal)
Zero Absolu- Automn (Post Rock, Electronica)
Dragonforce- The Power Within (Power Metal)
Hurt- The Crux (Hard Rock)
Maserati- Maserati VII (Post Rock, Instrumental, Electronica)
Hammer Horde- Vinlander (Viking Metal)
Master- The New Elite (Death Metal)
Cattle Decapitation- Monolith of Inumanity (Death Metal, Grindcore)
Diablo Swing Orchestra- Pandora's Pinata (Swing Metal)
Ash Borer- Cold Of Ages (Doom Metal, Black Metal)
The Safety Fire- Grind the Ocean (Progressive Metal)
Sigur Ros- Valtari (Post Rock)
Cryptopsy- Cryptopsy (Technical Death Metal)
Miss May I- At Heart (Metalcore)
Apathy- Ghost Light (Progressive Death Metal)
Weapon- Embers And Revelations (Black Metal)
Adrenaline Mob- Omerta (Hard Rock, Heavy Metal)
Nachtmystium- Silencing Machine (Black Metal)
Car Bomb- w^w^^w^w (Mathcore)
Devil Sold His Soul- Empire Of Light (Post Hardcore)
What the Blood Revealed- Harbour Of Devils (Post Rock)
Nile- At the Gates of Sethu (Technical Death Metal)
Vision Of Disorder- The Cursed Remain Cursed (Hardcore)
Elvenking- Era (Folk Metal, Power Metal)
Dying Fetus- Reign Supreme (Death Metal, Grindcore)
High On Fire- De Vermis Mysteriis (Stoner Metal)
From Oceans To Autumn- Oath Of Eternals (Post Metal)
Bad Salad- Uncivilized (Progressive Metal)
Mombu- Zombi (Jazz Metal, Djent)
The Mars Volta- Noctourniquet (Alternative Progressive Rock)
Bleeding Through- The Great Fire (Black Metalcore)
Save Us From The Archon- How terrible, the Undergrowth's Jaw Tangle (Djent Progressive Metal)
Shining- Redefining Darkness (Black Metal)
Primate- Draw Back A Stump (Grindcore, Hardcore, Crossover Thrash)
Kreator- Phantom Antichrist (Thrash Metal)
Microfilm- AF127 (Post Rock)
Wo Fat- The Black Code (Sludge Metal, Progressive Rock)
Morglbl- Brutal Romance (Instrumental Progressive Metal)
Counter-World Experience- Music For Kings (Instrumental Progressive Metal)
Wilton & Akerstache- Storm Corrosion (Of Love And Emotion) (Progressive Rock, Cheesy 80s Rock, Comedy Rock)
To-Mera- Exile- (Female Fronted Progressive Metal)
Pelican- Ataraxia/Taraxis- (Post Metal)
Angel Witch- As Above, So Below (NWOBHM)
A Sound Of Thunder- Out Of The Darkness (Heavy Metal, Power Metal)
The Casualties- Resistance (Punk Rock, Hardcore)
Horn Of The Rhino- Grengus (Stoner Doom Metal)
Marduk- Serpent Sermon (Black Metal)
Hypomanie- Calm Down, You Weren't Set On Fire (Instrumental Blackgaze)
Daniel Jakubovic- Surrounded By A Million Goats (Pop Rock, Alternative Progressive Metal)
Ahab- The Giant (Doom Metal)
Jute Gyte- Isolation (Black Metal)
Dysrhythmia- Test Of Submission (Instrumental Progressive Metal)
Legacy Of Disorder- Last Man Standing (Thrash Metal, Groove Metal)
Low-Pass- Trimurti (Post Rock, Math Rock)
Sylosis- Monolith (Thrash Metal)
Moonspell- Alpha Noir (Symphonic Death Metal, Thrash Metal)
Demon Hunter- True Defiance (Christian Metal)
Jeff Loomis- Plains Of Oblivion (Progressive Metal)
The Royal Veil- The Royal Veil (Alternative Progressive Rock)
Chrome Waves- Chrome Waves (Post Black Meal)
Blinded In Bliss- Constancy (Melodic Metalcore)
Christian Alvestram- Self 2.0 (Progressive Pop)
Mass Culture- Amoralism (Experimental Doom Metal)
Toundra- III (Post Rock)
Wanzwa- Wanzwa II (Instrumental Progressive Jazz Metal)
Hour Of Penance- Sedation (Death Metal)
Chimp Spanner- All Roads Lead Here (Instrumental Djent)
7/10:
Black Pyramid- II (Stoner/Sludge Doom Metal, Clean Vocals)
Gespenst- The Bloodline (Post Rock)
Propaghandi- Failed States (Punk Rock)
Coldworker- The Doomsayer's Call (Death Metal)
Wretched- Son Of Perdition (Death Metal)
3 Inches Of Blood- Love Live Heavy Metal (Heavy Metal)
Saint Vitus- Lillie: F-65 (Doom Metal)
All Hail The Yeti- All Hail The Yeti (Southern Groove Metal)
Eclipse Eternal- The Essence Of Hopelessness (Black Metal)
Red Lamb- Red Lamb (Alternative Metal)
Moonspell- Omega White (Goth Metal)
Oak Pantheon- From A Whisper (Atmospheric Black Metal)
Job For A Cowboy- Demonocracy (Death Metal)
Destinos- Fireflies For Fireworks (Djent)
Maladie- Plague Within (Epic Black Metal)
Fozzy- Sin and Bones (Heavy Metal, Hard Rock)
The Samuel Jackson Five- The Samuel Jackson 5 (Post Rock, Electronica)
Yakuza- Beyul (Experimental Metal)
Akphaezya- Anthology IV: The Tragedy Of Nerak (Experimental Metal)
Behold...The Arctopus- Horrorsension (Experimental Instrumental Metal)
Aborted- Global Flatline (Brutal Death Metal)
Meldrum- Lifer (Heavy Metal, Hard Rock)
Kristoffer Gildenlow- Rust (Progressive Rock)
Vesperian Sorrow- Stormwinds Of Ages (Symphonic Death Metal)
Slash- Apocalyptic Love (Hard Rock)
Naglfar- Teras (Black Metal)
Bonded By Blood- The Aftermath (Thrash Metal)
Monuments- Gnosis (Djent)
Dordeduh- Dar de Duh (Folk Metal)
If Trees Could Talk- Red Forest (Post Rock)
Holy Knights- Between Daylight and Pain (Epic Power Metal)
West Of Hell- Spiral Empire (Speed Metal, Heavy Metal)
Don't Worry I'm A Doctor- Create. Divide. Consume (Deathcore)
Axel Rudi Pell- Circle Of The Oath (Heavy Metal)
Korpiklaani- Manala (Folk Metal)
M-Pire Of Evil- Hell To The Holy (Blackened Thrash Metal)
Primalfrost- Chapters Of Time (Folk Metal)
Luna Amara- Pietre in Alb (Progressive Metal)
Psycroptic- The Inherited Repression (Technical Death Metal)
Ides Of Gemini- Constantinople (Sludge Metal, Black Metal)
Seven Kingdoms- The Fire Is Mine (Female Fronted Power Metal)
Lamb Of God- Resolution (Groove Metal)
Hail Spirit Noir- Pneuma (Black Metal)
As I Lay Dying- Awakened (Christian Metalcore)
Tenacious D- Rize Of The Fenix (Comedy Rock)
Beyond Terror Beyond Grace- Nadir (Djent, Doom Metal)
Worm Ouroboros- Come The Thaw (Post Rock)
Huntress- Spell Eater (Female Fronted Power Metal)
Whitechapel- Whitechapel (Deathcore)
I Am I- Event Horizon (Power Metal)
When Icarus Falls- Aegean (Post Metal)
Cyclamen- Memories, Voices (Djent)
AEGES- The Bridge (Post Hardcore)
Exumer- Fire & Domination (Thrash Metal)
Tyrant Of Death- Cyanide (Djent, Electronica, Progressive Metal)
Alice Through The Windshield Glass- Alice Through The Windshield Glass (Deathcore)
Kamelot- Silverthorn (Symphonic Progressive Power Metal)
NOFX- Self Titled (Punk Rock)
Rumpelstiltskin Grinder- Ghostmaker (Death Thrash Metal)
TesseracT- Perspective (Acoustic)
Primal Fear- Unbreakable (Power Metal)]
Self Spiller- Worms In the Keys (Experimental)
Whoretopsy- They Did Unspeakable Things (Death Metal)
Reflections- The Fantasy Effect (Djent)
Dublin Death Patrol- Death Sentence (Thrash Metal)
Tetrafusion- Horizons (Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal)
Fang Island- Major (Indie)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor- 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! (Post Rock)
6/10:
Dol Ammand- Cosmic Gods Episode I: Hyperspeed (Djent, Power Metal)
Apocalipsis- Apocalipsis (Instrumental Sludge Metal/Post Metal)
Black Breath- Sentenced To Life (Blackened Death Metal)
Xandria- Neverworld's End (Female Fronted Symphonic Power Metal)
Narrows- Painted (Mathcore)
The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza- IIII: The Alpha The Omega (Djent)
Amberian Dawn- Circus Black (Female Fronted Symphonic Metal)
Dirge Within- There Will Be Blood (Metalcore, Hard Rock)
Serj Tankian- Harakiri (Alternative Metal)
Chapel- Satan's Rock And Roll (Speed Metal, Black Metal)
Dantalion- Return To Deep Lethargy (Atmospheric Black Metal)
Dragony- Legends (Symphonic Power Metal)
Aviyn- Aviyn (Djent, Post Hardcore)
Just Like Vinyl- Black Mass (Experimental Alternative Metal)
Every Time I Die- Ex Lives (Hardcore)
God Seed- I begin (Black Metal)
The Levitation Hex (Thrash Metal, Death Metal)
Becoming The Archetype- I Am (Christian Metal)
Vanisher- Unbound (Hard Rock/Metal)
Tyrant Of Death- Re Connect (Industrial Djent)
Sybreed- God Is An Automation (Cyber/Modern Metal)
Knives Out!- Black Mass Hysteria (Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Industrial)
Veil Of Maya- Eclipse (Djent, Deathcore)
5/10:
Epica- Requiem Of The Indifferent (Female Fronted Symphonic Metal)
Fear Factory- The Industrialist (Industrial Metal)
Soen- Cognitive (Progressive Metal, Tool Meets Opeth)
Firewind- Few Against Many (Power Metal)
Coheed and Cambria- The Afterman: Ascension (Progressive Rock)
Manowar- The Lord Of Steel (Power Metal)
Evans Blue- Graveyard Of Empires (Hard Rock)
Constants- Pasiflora (Shoegaze)
A Life Once Lost- Ecstatic Trance (Groove Metalcore)
OSI- Fire Make Thunder- (Progressive Metal)
Semargl- Satanic Pop Metal (Satanic Pop Metal)
A Forest Of Stars- A Shadow Play for Yesterdays (Atmospheric Black Metal)
4/10:
Kayo Dot- Gamma Knife (Experimental Metal)
Exotic Animal Petting Zoo- Trees Of Tongues (Experimental Post Hardcore)
All That Remains- A War You Cannot Win (Hard Rock, Metalcore)
Jodis- Black Curtain (Drone)
Mnemic- Mnemisis (Modern Metal)
3/10:
Lacuna Coil- Adrenaline (Alternative Rock/Metal)
Shinedown- Amaryllis (Hard Rock)
Sonata Arctica- Stones Grow Her Name (Hard Rock, Power Metal)
Halestorm- the Strange Case Of... (Hard Rock)
Storm Corrosion- Storm Corrosion
2/10:
In This Moment- Blood (Hard Rock, Industrial, Dubstep)
1/10:
Muse- The 2nd Law (Alternative Rock)