Top 5 Albums of 2012

[Zydar]

My 5 favourites, no particular order though.

Beach Boys - That's Why God Made The Radio
Rush - Clockwork Angels
Van Halen - A Different Kind Of Truth
Kiss - Monster
Big Big Train - English Electric Part One

[TheLordOfTheStrings]

Not in a particular order...

All I Was by Tremonti
Flying Colors by Flying Colors
Periphery II by Periphery
Koi No Yokan by Deftones
Afterman: Ascension by Coheed and Cambria


EDIT: Fuck, I forgot about Van Halen's A Different Kind of Truth... shit... I guess I have a top 6...

[TAC]

I litarally was ging to make this thread this morning!

For me:
1. Accept-Stalingrad
2. Vision Divine-Destination Set To Nowhere
3. Pyramid Theorem- s/t
4. Stargate-Beyond Space And Time
5. Rush-Clockwork Angels

6. Circus Maximus-Nine
7. Reverence-When Darkness Calls
8. Testament-Dark Roots Of Earth
9. Speaking To Stones-Elements
10. Headspace-I Am Anonymous

Honorable Mention:
Van Halen=A Different Kind Of Truth


Best Live CD/DVD:
Saxon-Heavy Metal Thunder:Eagles Over Wacken

Worst Album Of The Year: Manowar-The Lord Of Steel

Album I wish I could get my money back for: Firewind-Few Against Many

Track Of The Year: Testament-Throne Of Thorns

[NecessaryPain]

1. Anathema - Weather Systems
2. Alcest - Les Voyages De L'Âme
3. Circus Maximus - Nine
4. Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I
5. Les Discrets - Ariettes Oubliees

With

Kametlot - Silverthorn
A Forest of Stars - A Shadowplay For Yesterdays

making a close 6 and 7.

[Perpetual Change]

Oh, are we gonna do a year-end contest again? I love those.

Sigur Ros- Valtari
Anathema- Weather Systems
Katatonia- Dead End Kings
Wintersun- Time I
Storm Corrosion- S/T

[krands85]

Didn't listen to that many new albums in 2012 and a few of those that I did hear, I've only listened to a handful of times (eg. Soundgarden, Stone Sour). But a few of the ones I've really enjoyed and listened to quite a lot:

1. Bad Salad - Uncivilized - Unfortunately there seems to be a bit of hate for them on here because what Thiago said about ADTOE. I don't care about that because they've put out one of the best prog metal albums I've heard in a long time. Exactly the sort of stuff I love listening to and not a weak track on the album. Hope they become big and release a lot more music.
2. Deftones - Koi No Yokan - This is awesome. Could be one of my favourite Deftones albums, definitely their best since White Pony. So many standout tracks, awesome riffage and I can't wait to hear some of the new tracks live next month.
3. Anathema - Weather Systems - Very good, but I don't like it as much as most of their previous efforts. Saw them live with Opeth a few months ago and they were brilliant.
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! - So glad they got back together giving me a chance to see them live and hear new music. Again though, I prefer their other work
5. Muse - The Second Law - Never expected this to make it onto a list of my favourite albums of the year, just shows how little new stuff I've heard this year! They aren't the same band I fell in love with over 10 years ago anymore, though I'm starting to appreciate their different elements more than I used to. There's some very good stuff on here, but it suffers from a few dull tracks towards the end. 
 
The top 2 are the only ones I'd call great albums, I'm expecting a bit more from 2013.

[Nekov]

2. Vision Divine-Stream Of Consciousness

This album was released in 2004?

[MoraWintersoul]

Okay let's go. The first place is set in stone, the rest is more or less interchargeable:

1. Enochian Theory - Life... And All It Entails
- You like softer prog with amazing lyrics? Hop the fuck on.

Dissona - Dissona
- Avantgarde prog in vein of Leprous. Only a debut - these lads have SEVERE potential.

Big Big Train - English Electric 1
- I boarded the train on Marco's advice somewhere in December I think and boy is this beautiful or what.

Headspace - I Am Anonymous
- Not your average prog metal band.

Beyond The Bridge - The Old Man And The Spirit
- Metropolis pt. 2012

Honorable mentions:
Wintersun - Time I
- The most anticipated metal album of the... century turned out both different than expected and better than expected

OSI - Fire Make Thunder
- *points to forum title*

Kamelot - Silverthorn
- My favorite power metal band joins forces with my favorite young singer. Well what do you know, I like it.

Rush - Clockwork Angels
- I am a really casual Rush fan - I haven't even heard most of their albums. However, I have the feeling that, when I do hear them all, this will be somewhere in the top 5. Maybe even top 3. It's that good.

Enslaved - RIITIIR
- ROOTS OF THE MOUNTAIN.

[Nel]

I completely forgot to listen to the new Mystery album. 

[ZKX-2099]

Hey for 2012 I'm doing a top 12. Suck it.

The top 3 were really hard for me to call this year. 4, 5 and 6 were also very close, so that was a refreshing change.

1. Between the Buried and Me - The Parallax II: Future Sequence (This is their 3rd album that has topped a yearly best of list.)
2. Every Time I Die -  Ex Lives (I did not expect to love this album as much as I did. Sleeper hit of the year for me.)
3. Coheed & Cambria - Afterman: Ascension (YAY fun eclectic Coheed is back! Redemption of the year award)
4. The Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud (GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)
5. Muse - The 2nd Law (This album keeps getting better, may climb spots as time goes on.)
6. Periphery - Periphery II: This Time It's Personal (Took me a while to get into this one. Glad I gave it a chance. And it's nice to see Petrucci write the best solo of the year even in a guest spot.)
7. Flying Colors - Flying Colors (Solid the whole way through. Essential fun music.)
8. Unisonic - Unisonic (Great to see Kiske back in the game. Hope this isn't a one time thing.)
9. Pitch Black Forecast - Burning In Water​.​.​. Drowning In Flame (Yeah it's just a quick EP, but I certainly listened to it enough to rank it.)
10. Adrenaline Mob - Omerta ( )
11. Bleeding Through - The Great Fire
12. Storm Corrosion - Storm Corrosion

[Jaq]

2. Vision Divine-Stream Of Consciousness

This album was released in 2004?

Vision Divine did put out an album in 2012, Destination Set To Nowhere. 

[Elite]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks.

[ZKX-2099]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks.

You know I think there's some government disability benefits you can get now.

[Elite]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks.

You know I think there's some government disability benefits you can get now.

I think that won't be necessary, I feel perfectly fine.

[Cedar redaC]

I like most of Epicloud, but I thought that Grace and True North dragged on a bit too much.

Save Our Now might be my track of the year.

[rogerdil]

Top 4:
Echolyn - Echolyn
North Atlantic Oscillation - Fog Electric
It Bites - Map of the Past (forgot this for some reason)
Donald Fagen - Sunken Condos
------------------------------
Honorable Mention:
Neal Morse - Momentum
Pineapple Thief - All the Wars
Delusion Squared - II

[Ryzee]

1. Coheed & Cambria: The Afterman- Ascension
2. Devin Townsend Project:  Epicloud
3. Anathema: Weather Systems
4. Rush: Clockwork Angels
5. Muse: The 2nd Law


I've also enjoyed: BTBAM: Parallax 2, Flying Colors, Storm Corrosion, Silversun Pickups: Neck of the Woods, Flower Kings: Banks of Eden, OSI: Fire Make Thunder, Anberlin: Vital, Dave Matthews Band: Away From the World, John Mayer: Born and Raised, Thank You Scientist: Maps of Non-Existent Places & The Safety Fire: Grind the Ocean

I'm afraid I might be forgetting some too.  Oh well.

[Cyclopssss]

1. Headspace - I am anonynous
2. Anathema  - Weather Systems
3. Marillion - Sounds that can´t be made
4. Flying Colours - St.
5. Arjen Antony Lucassen - Lost in the new real/ ex equo

- Ambeon - Fate of a dreamer  (2012 re-release).

[bosk1]

Man, I'm struggling to recall whether I even bought 5 new albums in 2012.  The only ones I can recall off the top of my head are Neal Morse, Flying Colors, and Y&T.  I think Lacuna Coil's album may have been early 2012 as well.  Slow year in music for me. 


NinjaEDIT:  Looks like Nightwish was early 2012 as well, so, yeah, I did buy 5.  I guess that makes it easy to do a top 5 since I don't have to worry about excluding anything. 

1.  Neal Morse - Momentum:  Good album.  I liked it better than his last two, so this is a good trent, as far as I'm concerned.
2.  Nightwish - Imaginaerum:  Really good.  I was anxious to hear what they would do this time around, since this is the first album going into the writing process where they actually knew Anette was going to be doing the lead vox.  Tuomas did a great job of writing to her strenghts and creating a very strong album.  And now she's gone... 
3.  Y&T - Live At The Mystic:  VERY good live representation of a band that historically absolutely shines in a live setting.  Some of the song choices aren't my favorites, but given the band's 38 year history, it's nice that they aren't simply re-treading the same set list they've done since the '80s.  Good mix of classics, deep cuts, and new songs.
4.  Flying Colors - S/T:  Very solid. 
5.  Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline:  A bit of a disappointment, actually.  There are a couple of pretty good tracks, but most of the album was not very memorable.  But if their past "cycle" is any indication, I should really like their next album since they tend to follow the U2 pattern of good album/bad album/good album/bad album...

[ZKX-2099]

Man, I'm struggling to recall whether I even bought 5 new albums in 2012.  The only ones I can recall off the top of my head are Neal Morse, Flying Colors, and Y&T.  I think Lacuna Coil's album may have been early 2012 as well.  Slow year in music for me. 


NinjaEDIT:  Looks like Nightwish was early 2012 as well, so, yeah, I did buy 5.  I guess that makes it easy to do a top 5 since I don't have to worry about excluding anything. 

1.  Neal Morse - Momentum:  Good album.  I liked it better than his last two, so this is a good trent, as far as I'm concerned.
2.  Nightwish - Imaginaerum:  Really good.  I was anxious to hear what they would do this time around, since this is the first album going into the writing process where they actually knew Anette was going to be doing the lead vox.  Tuomas did a great job of writing to her strenghts and creating a very strong album.  And now she's gone... 
3.  Y&T - Live At The Mystic:  VERY good live representation of a band that historically absolutely shines in a live setting.  Some of the song choices aren't my favorites, but given the band's 38 year history, it's nice that they aren't simply re-treading the same set list they've done since the '80s.  Good mix of classics, deep cuts, and new songs.
4.  Flying Colors - S/T:  Very solid. 
5.  Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline:  A bit of a disappointment, actually.  There are a couple of pretty good tracks, but most of the album was not very memorable.  But if their past "cycle" is any indication, I should really like their next album since they tend to follow the U2 pattern of good album/bad album/good album/bad album...

You plagiarized my Flying Colors comment.

[Jaq]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks. Epicloud is the most overrated album of 2012

FTFY. And I have a flame shield ready.

[MoraWintersoul]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks. Epicloud is the most overrated album of 2012

FTFY. And I have a flame shield ready.

*water-canons you*

[Dark Castle]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks. Epicloud is the most overrated album of 2012

FTFY. And I have a flame shield ready.

*water-canons you*

*Has Blastoise join in with Hydro Pump*

[Cedar redaC]

(GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE!)

I know I'm going to catch fire here, but I honestly think that is the worst song on the album, not counting the 1-minute tracks. Epicloud is the most overrated album of 2012

FTFY. And I have a flame shield ready.

*water-canons you*

*Has Blastoise join in with Hydro Pump*

*Calls in Aquaman and Hurricane Katrina*

[YtseBitsySpider]

Tough one.

I've got 4 for sure and a bunch of number 5's and 6's.

1. Circus Maximus - Nine
2. Blessed By a Broken Heart - Feel the Power
3. Threshold - March Of Progress
4. Memphis May Fire - Challenger
5. (currently) Lostprophets - Weapons

[WindMaster]

BTBAM - Future Sequence
Enslaved - RIITIIR
Ne Oblivscaris - Portal of I
Anathema - Weather Systems
Periphery - Periphery II

In no particular order.

[kirksnosehair]

01. Beyond The Bridge - The Old Man and The Spirit
02. Head Space - I am Anonymous
03. Speaking To Stones - Elements
04. Threshold - March of Progress
05. Circus Maximus - Nine


Honorable Mentions:
Neal Morse - Momentum --- Feels a bit phoned in at times, but the epic which makes up about half the album is killer.
Kamelot - Silverthorn --- A vast improvement over their last couple of albums, and that caught me by surprise considering the departure of their lead vocalist
Pyramid Theorem - s/t ---- Musically, these guys kill.  And their debut album is a very solid effort that would definitely make my top 10 albums for the year.  With a power-vocalist in the vein of Jorn or old-school Russell Allen, these guys would conquer the progmetal scene in no time.


Disappointments:
Flying Colors - s/t  --- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Firewind - One Against Many --- a couple of decent tracks sounded by a handful of phoned-in mediocrity served up on a bland sonic pallet of mud
Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost In The New Real (this album does not have a single redeeming quality)

[MoraWintersoul]

Disappointments:
Flying Colors - s/t  --- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Firewind - One Against Many --- a couple of decent tracks sounded by a handful of phoned-in mediocrity served up on a bland sonic pallet of mud

Quoted for truth.

[Lolzeez]

Disappointments:
Flying Colors - s/t  --- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Firewind - One Against Many --- a couple of decent tracks sounded by a handful of phoned-in mediocrity served up on a bland sonic pallet of mud

Quoted for truth.

Agreed with both. Especially on Flying Colors. I just found the album bland and boring. I don't understand why some people liked it.

[LieLowTheWantedMan]

I like most of Epicloud, but I thought that Grace and True North dragged on a bit too much.

Save Our Now might be my track of the year.

Heh. True North is one of the only tracks I remember. Incredibly forgettable album I find.

[TAC]

2. Vision Divine-Stream Of Consciousness

This album was released in 2004?

Vision Divine did put out an album in 2012, Destination Set To Nowhere. 

OK, I fixed my post. Destination is an incredible album! So is Stream!

[Nel]

Disappointments:
Flying Colors - s/t  --- zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Firewind - One Against Many --- a couple of decent tracks sounded by a handful of phoned-in mediocrity served up on a bland sonic pallet of mud

Quoted for truth.

Agreed with both. Especially on Flying Colors. I just found the album bland and boring. I don't understand why some people liked it.

And also agree. The only thing FC had going for it was Everything Changes. Rest of the album is just so, so very boring.

[Heretic]

1. Anathema - Weather Systems
2. Between the Buried and Me - Future Sequence
3. The Mayan Factor - Yesterdays Son
4. Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Ascension
5. Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine

[WebRaider]

1. Periphery - Periphery II: This Time It's Personal
2. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange
3. Devin Townsend Project - Epicloud
4. Anathema - Weather Systems
5. The Safety Fire - Grind The Ocean

Deftones - Koi No Yokan
Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth
Soundgarden - King Animal
The Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
Jeff Loomis - Plains of Oblivion
Steve Vai - The Story of Light
Big Wreck - Albatross
Twelve Foot Ninja - Silent Machine

[johnnysuperfan]

I litarally was ging to make this thread this morning!

For me:
1. Accept-Stalingrad
2. Vision Divine-Destination Set To Nowhere
3. Pyramid Theorem- s/t
4. Stargate-Beyond Space And Time
5. Rush-Clockwork Angels

6. Circus Maximus-Nine
7. Reverence-When Darkness Calls
8. Testament-Dark Roots Of Earth
9. Speaking To Stones-Elements
10. Headspace-I Am Anonymous

Honorable Mention:
Van Halen=A Different Kind Of Truth


Best Live CD/DVD:
Saxon-Heavy Metal Thunder:Eagles Over Wacken

Worst Album Of The Year: Manowar-The Lord Of Steel

Album I wish I could get my money back for: Firewind-Few Against Many

Track Of The Year: Testament-Throne Of Thorns

Thanks