2012 Albums of the Year

#1 – Devin Townsend, Epicloud:

An achingly beautiful album that soars like a majestic eagle.

#2 – Melencolia Estasica, Hel:

Ethereal black metal that seduces like an untamed mermaid.

#3 – A Million Dead Birds Laughing, Xen:

Wholly original and totally satisfying. Where will they go next?

#4 - Chimp Spanner, All Roads Lead Here:

Fat, twanging bass in an orgy of synth , elevator music and eighties prog.

#5 – Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats, Blood Lust:

Solid retro goodness with genius song-writing. Just add LSD.

#6 – Yurei, Night Vision:

Mental Norwegian shape-thrower poses dramatic existential questions to xylophone madness.

#7 – Testament, Dark Roots of Earth:

Testament showing the young ‘uns how it’s done. 

#8 – Overkill, The Electric Age:

Overkill showing the young ‘uns how it’s done.

#9 – Dragged Into Sunlight, Widowmaker:

Dark and terribly frightening with well thought out compositions.

#10 – Orchid, Heretic:

More than just the Sabbath you have when you’re not having Sabbath.

#11 – Khonsu, Anomalia:

I just love the juxtaposition of heaviness and electro pops and squeaks.

#12 – 6h33, Giggles, Garlands & Gallows:

Clown based humour from some psychotic French peoples.

#13 – Adrift For Days, Come Midnight:

‘Fuck you!’ they say, ‘We’re doing it our way.’

#14 – Aluk Todolo, Occult Rock:

Hypnotic. Elusive. Excellent for invoking the Devil.

#15 – Baroness, Yellow & Green:

Beautiful harmonies. Blowing our collective minds. Get well soon, fellas.

#16 – Napalm Death, Utilitarian:

Pioneers who just don’t get enough credit for their influence. Brilliant.

#17 – Soen, Cognitive:

Sexy & slinky. Creeps up on you like a saucy boa constrictor.

#18 – The Senseless, The Floating World:

Finger-bitingly mad tunes that make me laugh.

#19 – Cannibal Corpse, Torture:

I had to be strapped down after listening to this. Nurse!

#20 – Aborted, Global Flatline:

A perfect soundtrack for the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

#21 – Meshuggah, Koloss:

Like being pummelled with a mallet. In the face. Forever.

#22 – Tankard, A Girl Called Cerveza:

A violently happy album for beer drinking and hell-raising.

#23 – Witchsorrow, God Curse Us:

Doomy, godless goodness. 

#24 – Various Artists, Stargazing Under Southern Skies:

Ranging from the gorgeously beautiful to the nun-punchingly angry.

#25 – Pomba Gira, Maleficia Lamiah :

Pink Floyd on drugs while worshipping voodoo deities (though this is a bit of a cheat; the album isn't released until 2013).