Woo-hoo! My favorites of 2012 list! I've included a couple of comments and sentence fragments to accompany the albums listed below, most of which will only be deemed necessary by myself. So, to help out a little bit, I included some links to legitimate reviews for the first five items.
If the album contains the use of a wah pedal at any point, it will artificially raise the album's rating.
Also, bands that are on my label don't get added to the list. Sorry, dudes! #Objective #Fairness
Follow me:
@GraniteHouseLPsFace me:
Granite House RecordsIgnore me:
How To Delete Browser HistoryBuy American Heritage "Sedentary" vinyl from me.
1. Astra - The Black ChordHaven't heard music like this since Astra's debut, The Weirding. I was blown away by
that record, and then The Black Chord arrives. Definitely made my year. While it came out way back in the winter of 2012, it still feels like it came out last week; still fresh and still vibrant. Simply amazing prog stuff that fits nicely in my vinyl collection alongside my Andromeda and T2 LPs. While Astra would kill me if they knew I sold all my Uriah Heep and Yes vinyl as part of a "psych lot" on eBay 10 years ago, I don't regret my decision as I'd rather just have The Black Chord instead.
Follow them:
@AstraBand Facespace:
hereInformative review:
heavymetal.about.com Buy the vinyl:
All That Is Heavy
2. Graveyard - Lights OutAstra's early release retained my interest throughout the year, but I feel like I've been listening to "Lights Out" ALL year!.
I was blown away that
Graveyard was able to make such a great transition from their previous release ("Hisingen Blues") to "Lights Out." I am absolutely going to LOSE MY SHIT when I see Graveyard on February 8th in a venue that holds about 150 people. Good thing it's on a weekend night.
Great choruses, solos, vocals, slow songs, fast songs; great EVERYTHING. Too bad Captain Beyond's not around anymore,
because these two band should be touring together. Sweden.
Follow them:
@graveyardsongs Facespace:
hereInformative review:
theobelisk.netBuy the vinyl:
Nuclear Blast USA
3. Pallbearer - Sorrow and ExtinctionAnother early 2012 release, and another record that's stood/held the test of time/space or matter/anti-matter throughout the year. I have been waiting for this release FOREVER (well, since 2010). Ever since I started drooling over their demo, which was featured by Shane Mehling in his
Decibel Needle Exchange column, I had dreamt about an official release. Finally, my dreams came true. Pallbearer's zoned-out sorrow metal definitely fits nicely with my copy of Forests of Equilibrium. Killer gatefold vinyl art, great live show, and cool group of dudes that appreciate a good IPA.
Follow them:
@pallbearerdoom Facespace:
hereInformative review:
heavymetal.about.comBuy the vinyl:
20 Buck Spin
4. Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound - ManzanitaTee Pee Records has been coming out with some great old-school 70's rock stuff this year! I love this band. Delay. Guitar Solos. Keyboards. Mystical vocals. Pysch, man, psych! These guys NEED to tour with Astra.
Facespace:
hereInformative review:
heavyplanet.netBuy the vinyl:
Tee Pee Records
5. First Aid Kit - The Lion's RoarTwo chicks at the same time. Singing.
Some of these songs here ("In the Hearts of Men") would make a grown man cry. This Americana-folktastic release sounds perfect to me, if it weren't for the slight annoyance of Connor Oberst on the last track. Sweden.
Follow them:
@firstaidkitband Facespace:
hereInformative review:
pastemagazine.comBuy the vinyl:
Kung Fu Records
6. Dragged Into Sunlight - WidowmakerThe definition of evil. The transition from their first album to Widowmaker is equal to that of Electric Wizard transitioning to Dopethrone.
Yes, it's that good.
Follow them:
@volcanicbirth Facespace:
hereBuy the vinyl:
Prosthetic Records
7. Mount Carmel - Real WomenThis is a straight-up, bluesy, dirty record that sounds like it was recorded in 1971. If you like 70's greats Truth & Janey, this album's for you.
“Sing a lullaby, kiss my guitar goodnight."
Follow them:
@mountcarmelswag Facespace:
hereBuy the vinyl:
insound.com
8. Witchcraft - LegendFunny/awesome lyrics that don't make a whole lot of sense at times, but make the album extremely catchy. "You're made
of moraaaaaaalllllls... degenerated polittaaaa??????"
Lots of solos. Metal. Sweden.
Follow them:
@witchcraftband Facespace:
hereBuy the vinyl:
Nuclear Blast USA
9. Kadavar - KadavarTeePee Records, reporting for duty. Again.
Better-than-Pentagram.
Finally someone's taking a risk and putting guitar deep in the left channel. Sweden.
Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
Tee Pee Records
11. Tame Impala - LonerismNot as good as their debut.
Still good though.
Tame Impala > Flaming Lips.
Follow them:
@tameimpala Facespace:
hereBuy the vinyl:
insound.com
12. Black Breath - Sentenced To LifeMore sounds of Sweden, but this time I'm talking about the guitar sound.
Poem: Slayer riffs. Black Breath riffs. You can mosh to a lot of this.
Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
Southern Lord
13. Goat - World MusicPsych. Funk. Afro-beat. Wah. Delay. Excellence.
Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
insound.com
14. Enabler - All Hail the VoidI like this better than the new Converge (am I allowed to say that?!?!?).
Not every record in the universe has to be produced by Kurt Ballou, right?
Follow them:
@EnablerMKEFacespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl: Oh SNAP!
Halo of Flies says it's OOP.
15. Dead Empires - Dead EmpiresThe Fucking Champs. Old Trans Am. C Average (the band, not the grade).
Instrumentals the right way.
Riffage.
Follow them:
@deadempires Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
Dead Empires
16. Golden Void - Golden VoidModern-day psych-out on Thrill Jockey. Contains many jammin' songs with members from Earthless and Assemble Head in Sunburst Sound.
Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
Thrill Jockey
17. Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind Through the powerful and engaging wrath of... ah, nevermind. This is just a good metal record, man!
Follow them:
@convergecult Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
Deathwish, Inc.
18. Early Graves - Red HorseDirty metal. Upside-down crosses. Baseball fans (A's, Giants, Dodgers).
Follow them:
@earlygraves Facespace:
hereBuy it on vinyl:
No Sleep Records
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