Best of 2012

1. Atoma - Skylight
Sweden, progressive metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: I think this is what music should be all about

2. Stick to Your Guns - Diamond (2012)
USA, Hardcore
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: a heavy and striking sound that comes through the speakers very powerful

3. It Bites - Map of the Past (2012)
United Kingdom, progressive rock
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: possibly the best ending to an album ever

4. Periphery - Periphery II:This Time It's Personal (2012)
USA, Progressive death metal
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: they have 14 songs where none of them really feels like songs you remove from an album

5. Eluveitie - Helvetios (2012)
Switzerland, melodic folk death
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: raw, wild, anthemic, emotional and thrilling - the ultimate folk metal album

6. David J Caron - Thru Ever-Ending Black (2012)
Ireland, Melodic hard rock
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: it's a sort of rock 'n' rolling AOR that's noticeable heavier than "normal" AOR

7. Downspirit - Bulletproof? (2012)
Germany, Hard rock
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: “Are you proud - and - do you wave your flag - look away - homeless - look away - gang wars - bang bang -hey - yeah you’re free - killed in a drive by - or gunned down at school”

8. Renegade Five - Nxt Gen (2012)
Sweden, Hard rock
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: prostitute yourself to them for 50 minutes

9. Wheels of Fire - Up For Anything (2012)
Italy, AOR
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: man hör redan från inledande spåret Follow Your Heart att de inte kommer att visa någon nåd

10. Ribozyme - Presenting the Problem (2012)
Norway, Progressive metal
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: be thrown in to the unknown and figure around what this album means because understanding that takes a hell of a lot longer than playing through these 39 minutes and ten songs

11. Primal Fear - Unbreakable (2012)
Germany, Heavy metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 6/7
Marked quote: a heavy metal band to rely on

12. Bonrud - Save Tomorrow (2012)
USA, Hårdrock
Recensent: Caj Källmalm
Betyg: 6/7
Markerat citat: Det är så här den här typen av musik SKA spelas!

13. Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Lost in the New Real (2012)
The Netherlands, Progressive hardrock
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: Expect the unexpected

14. Awolnation - Megalithic Symphony (2012)
USA, Modern rock
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: Pop, indie pop, indie rock, hip hop, techno, 60's rock, modern rock, hard rock, R 'n B and even some punk rock

15. Therapy? - A Brief Crack of Light (2012)
United Kingdom, Alternative metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote:

16. The Used - Vulnerable (2012)
USA, Rock
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: "I gave you everything, you threw it away - put me out like a cigaret"

17. Jess and the Ancient Ones - s/t (2012)
Finland, Psychedelic rock
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: it is a musical adventure we are treated to

18. Yossi Sassi - Melting Clocks (2012)
Israel, Alternative rock
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: Sounds great

19. Blaqk Audio - Bright Black Heaven (2012)
USA, Synth pop
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: why have I got this album?

20. Solisia - UniverSeasons (2012)
Italy, Progressive metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: this album really fulfils all the credentials to be a great album

21. Malrun - The Empty Frame (2012)
Denmark, Modern power metal
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: he has a knife-cutting, shouty voice that sings kind of whiny and making the vocal site pretty plangen

22. Evenoire - Vitriol (2012)
Italy, Symphonic metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: It is melodic, slightly symphonic female fronted metal

23. Caliban - I Am Nemesis (2012)
Germany, Metalcore
Reviwed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: there's quite a lot more in Caliban than just being a copy cat act

24. Pride of Lions - Immortal (2012)
United Kingdom, AOR
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: if you are only going to buy one AOR album this year, I would say that this is a good bet for being that album

25. Mark Spiro - It's a Beautiful Life (2012)
USA, AOR
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: has sold in excess of 100 million copies

26. Wild Frontier - 2012 (2012)
Germany, Heavy metal
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: 18 years since the release of debut album 'One Way To Heaven'

27. The Birthday Massacre - Hide and Seek (2012)
Canada, Gothic metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: I can’t help but thinking that they have been lazy when writing for this album

28. The Safety Fire - Grind the Ocean (2012)
United Kingdom, Progressive metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: Powerful, heavy, complex, aggressive, mellow, diverse

29. Nubian Rose - Mountain (2012)
Sweden, hard rock
Reviewed by: Caj Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: it's a great beat and nice straight to the point rock music without being afraid of mixing in elements from near and far

30. Niobeth - Silvery Moonbeams (2012)
Spain, Symphonic metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Rating: 5/7
Marked quote: Majestic is a word that springs to mind

31. Epica - Requiem for the Indifferent (2012)
The Netherlands, Symphonic metal
Reviewed by: Daniel Källmalm
Score: 5/7
Marked quote: the best album that Epica has made to date