Top 10 of 2012 - The Australian's Take

I know some of these albums came out in 2011, but the following are the 10 CDs I could not get enough of throughout 2012. Let me know your thoughts on my list.

10. Rival Sons - Head Down. The classic sound of 70s blues rock. Stand out track: "All the Way."

09. Europe - Bag of Bones.  A modern hard rock master piece. Are there really still people who think of these guys as a one hit wonder? Stand out track: "Bag of Bones."

08. Slash - Apocalyptic Love. More of a band effort than the star studded solo debut, this one left me hoping that Velvet Revolver never reforms. Stand out track: "Standing in the Sun."

07. Lacuna Coil - Dark Adrenaline. Dark, brooding euro metal. Their best album yet. Stand out track: "Give Me Something More."

06. Testament - Dark Roots of Earth. Better than anything the '"big four" have released for years, this was the thrash masterpiece of 2012. Stand out track: "Man Kills Mankind."

05. Manowar -  The Lord of Steel. Everything that is epic about heavy metal, without any self consciousness. Best Lyric: "In heavy metal we believe/ If you don't love metal/ time to leave." Stand out track: "Lord of Steel."

04. Nickelback - Here and Now. Yes, people hate them for the same reason they hated Poison or Def Leppard back in the day (except Nickelback's ballads are good).  But, these guys are the best shot for arena rock moving forward and this was a good example of that. Stand out track: "Midnight Queen."

03. Five Finger Death Punch - American Capitalist. Top shelf, bone crunching modern metal. Stand out track - "Coming Down."

02. Stone Sour - House of Gold and Bones Pt. 1. Amazing new modern rock CD, the only CD I felt strongly enough about to put on this list without giving it a lot of time to prove it will remain a top favorite. Stand out track: "Absolute Zero." (Fun fact, Rachel Bolan from Skid Row plays bass on this CD).  

01. Nightwish - Imaginarium. Hands down the best CD in a long, long time. Epic, orchestral metal. Stand out track - the whole thing.  Played over and over at high volume.  If I had to pick one song, I'd say "Ghost River."

Over the next few days, Allyson, Brian and Kim will post their favorites of 2012 as well.

Comments

[Christian]

I am interested that no-one has commented on Nightwish or Stone Sour, without a doubt in my mind the best CDs to come out in a long time ( well, at least since A7X did 'Nightmare' ).

[Kenny Ozz]

Foxy Shazam did suck at Rock On The Range last year. They must of just had an off night or something. I have seen them twice since then and both times they were great. They are playing again here in Cincinnati "well, Northern Kentucky, but close enough" this Saturday. I'm going again.

[Christian]

OK, well, if you thought it was an off night, then I'd give them another go, given the chance. I didn't really love the CDs, but I admit my view was coloured by how bad they were live.

[Metalboy!]

Just checked out Foxy Shazam! Queen meets The New York Dolls through a meat grinder! Wait, I thought The NY Dolls already sound like they're through a meat grinder! Ladies and Gentlemen, THIS is Rock and Roll!

[fletch]

MB: as I wrote recently...I have been OVERwhelmed by the applause I have recieved from so many former clients. Overwhelmed is actually an understatement. laugh your way to the "skank of america"; whereas I get to look at myself and my family and my friends and my history in the mirror each day and be proud of what I've done and what I've accomplished. I know you have similar feelings, but the difference is that you tried to destroy mine, whereas I used to embrace yours. good bye rocket queen