  | Blog author: Alex Stojanovic Hello folks! Given how much fun we have making these ultimate collective lists, there's no reason to stop now. We've already done two lists showing our top 10 thrash albums of the 2010s, and the top 10 thrash albums of the 2000s. However, this time, we thought that instead of just focusing on one style, we thought we'd combine a whole bunch of styles, and compile 10 of the best albums celebrating their 10th anniversaries in 2022. Now, 2012 was a really good year for releases, as some of the best albums of the 2010s came out then, so strap yourselves in, and let's revisit some of the gems of 2012. Here we go! |
LIST COMPILED BY:
Alex Stojanovic / Derek Solomos / Alex Irwin / Thomas Oake / David Catanus
Alex Stojanovic / Derek Solomos / Alex Irwin / Thomas Oake / David Catanus
10. SABATON - Carolus Rex
It's hard to deny the fact that Sabaton were already one hell of a busy band since they started. In the span of seven short years from 2005-2012, they released six albums. Primo Victoria already earned them a respectable following, but it was at the start of the 2010s that they started to take off and build a name for themselves across the globe. Starting with Coat Of Arms in 2010, the momentum continued with their sixth album, the fan-favourite better known as Carolus Rex. With the album giving birth to some of their best-known songs such as "The Lion From The North", "Carolus Rex" and "Gott Mit Uns", it's clear why this is a fan-favourite in the band's discography.
It's hard to deny the fact that Sabaton were already one hell of a busy band since they started. In the span of seven short years from 2005-2012, they released six albums. Primo Victoria already earned them a respectable following, but it was at the start of the 2010s that they started to take off and build a name for themselves across the globe. Starting with Coat Of Arms in 2010, the momentum continued with their sixth album, the fan-favourite better known as Carolus Rex. With the album giving birth to some of their best-known songs such as "The Lion From The North", "Carolus Rex" and "Gott Mit Uns", it's clear why this is a fan-favourite in the band's discography.
09. SHADOWS FALL - Fire From The Sky
We can hardly believe it has been 10 whole years since Shadows Fall has released any new music. Their last album was Fire From The Sky, and who knows whether this will officially be their last studio album or not. If it is, then Fire From The Sky is a great way to close out a recording chapter. 2009's Retribution was a tough album to follow, but they managed to follow it up with an equally brilliant album with quality songs such as "The Unknown", "Divide & Conquer", "Nothing Remains", "Fire From The Sky" and "Blind Faith". Since the band reunited recently, there has been talks about new material, which we certainly hope turns out to be the case, so we'll see what comes down the road.
We can hardly believe it has been 10 whole years since Shadows Fall has released any new music. Their last album was Fire From The Sky, and who knows whether this will officially be their last studio album or not. If it is, then Fire From The Sky is a great way to close out a recording chapter. 2009's Retribution was a tough album to follow, but they managed to follow it up with an equally brilliant album with quality songs such as "The Unknown", "Divide & Conquer", "Nothing Remains", "Fire From The Sky" and "Blind Faith". Since the band reunited recently, there has been talks about new material, which we certainly hope turns out to be the case, so we'll see what comes down the road.
08. ACCEPT - Stalingrad
In 2010, Accept came roaring back with their first album in 14 years with Blood Of The Nations with new singer Mark Tornillo. With the hugely positive reception that record got from both critics, fans and other bands, Accept thought it would be a good idea to keep the momentum going, and follow up the album rather quickly, which they did with their 2012 album Stalingrad, and it picks up where Blood Of The Nations left off. This album is easily a no-brainer for 2012, especially with songs such as the title track, "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" and "Shadow Soldiers". When a band is able to release such a strong album one year, and then follow it up with another highly strong album not even two years later, that shows you the strength that Accept had with their new lineup at the time.
In 2010, Accept came roaring back with their first album in 14 years with Blood Of The Nations with new singer Mark Tornillo. With the hugely positive reception that record got from both critics, fans and other bands, Accept thought it would be a good idea to keep the momentum going, and follow up the album rather quickly, which they did with their 2012 album Stalingrad, and it picks up where Blood Of The Nations left off. This album is easily a no-brainer for 2012, especially with songs such as the title track, "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" and "Shadow Soldiers". When a band is able to release such a strong album one year, and then follow it up with another highly strong album not even two years later, that shows you the strength that Accept had with their new lineup at the time.
07. RUSH - Clockwork Angels
An amazing album that also turns out to be a band's final album is always bittersweet. For Rush, it was unknown at the time that Clockwork Angels would turn out to be the band's final album, but as the years went on, it became more evident that that would be the case, and then it turned out to be true, both with the announcement of their retirement in 2018, and the tragic passing of Neil Peart in 2020. While Snakes & Arrows served as an homage to more of the early 80s era of the band, Clockwork Angels seemed to serve more as an homage to the 70s with the more riff-oriented stuff that they were known for back then. Given how amazingly "The Garden" is written, and how it serves as the band's swansong, there's no way to listen to that song nowadays and keep a dry eye. It was Neil's passing that gave the listening experience of that song a whole new meaning. R.I.P. to the Professor, and thank you Rush!
An amazing album that also turns out to be a band's final album is always bittersweet. For Rush, it was unknown at the time that Clockwork Angels would turn out to be the band's final album, but as the years went on, it became more evident that that would be the case, and then it turned out to be true, both with the announcement of their retirement in 2018, and the tragic passing of Neil Peart in 2020. While Snakes & Arrows served as an homage to more of the early 80s era of the band, Clockwork Angels seemed to serve more as an homage to the 70s with the more riff-oriented stuff that they were known for back then. Given how amazingly "The Garden" is written, and how it serves as the band's swansong, there's no way to listen to that song nowadays and keep a dry eye. It was Neil's passing that gave the listening experience of that song a whole new meaning. R.I.P. to the Professor, and thank you Rush!
06. DESTRUCTION - Spiritual Genocide
In 2011, Destruction released the punishing Day Of Reckoning, which featured new drummer Vaaver at the time. However, nobody really expected them to follow it up so quickly in 2012 with Spiritual Genocide. However, the band intended to do that to mark their 30th anniversary at the time. It certainly marked a change in production style because the production was more raw and gritty as opposed to the last few albums, which featured more polished and punishing production. However, being that the guys in Destruction are always thinking old-school, it was really no surprise as to why they decided to go the raw and gritty route for this album.
In 2011, Destruction released the punishing Day Of Reckoning, which featured new drummer Vaaver at the time. However, nobody really expected them to follow it up so quickly in 2012 with Spiritual Genocide. However, the band intended to do that to mark their 30th anniversary at the time. It certainly marked a change in production style because the production was more raw and gritty as opposed to the last few albums, which featured more polished and punishing production. However, being that the guys in Destruction are always thinking old-school, it was really no surprise as to why they decided to go the raw and gritty route for this album.
05. OVERKILL - The Electric Age
Here we have another example of a band who was experiencing a period of rejuvenation at the start of the 2010s. Overkill began their period of rejuvenation in 2010 with the release of Ironbound, which was a high-quality album, and followed it up with The Electric Age, which seems to be even better than Ironbound, especially with tracks like "Electric Rattlesnake", "Drop The Hammer Down", "Good Night", "Old Wounds, New Scars" and so on. "Wish You Were Dead" has without a doubt one of the best screams not just by Bobby Blitz, but in metal as a whole. We dare anyone to try and not get goosebumps when you hear him unleash that blood-curdling scream. It's impossible.
Here we have another example of a band who was experiencing a period of rejuvenation at the start of the 2010s. Overkill began their period of rejuvenation in 2010 with the release of Ironbound, which was a high-quality album, and followed it up with The Electric Age, which seems to be even better than Ironbound, especially with tracks like "Electric Rattlesnake", "Drop The Hammer Down", "Good Night", "Old Wounds, New Scars" and so on. "Wish You Were Dead" has without a doubt one of the best screams not just by Bobby Blitz, but in metal as a whole. We dare anyone to try and not get goosebumps when you hear him unleash that blood-curdling scream. It's impossible.
04. CANNIBAL CORPSE - Torture
It maybe the only death metal album to be featured on the main portion of this list, but that's because Cannibal Corpse always manage to release quality death metal, even though we know what to expect all the time, and because of that, four out of the five of us picked Torture. Another definite no-brainer for 2012, especially if you're into death metal. The production may be a tad bit on the muddy side with the distortion levels on the guitars being set way too high, causing the drums to be buried in the background most of the time (blame that on Erik Rutan), this is another feast of death metal goodness with tracks like "Demented Aggression", "Encased In Concrete", "Scourge Of Iron", "As Deep As The Knife Will Go", "Rabid", and "Followed Home Then Killed". Do I need to say anymore?
It maybe the only death metal album to be featured on the main portion of this list, but that's because Cannibal Corpse always manage to release quality death metal, even though we know what to expect all the time, and because of that, four out of the five of us picked Torture. Another definite no-brainer for 2012, especially if you're into death metal. The production may be a tad bit on the muddy side with the distortion levels on the guitars being set way too high, causing the drums to be buried in the background most of the time (blame that on Erik Rutan), this is another feast of death metal goodness with tracks like "Demented Aggression", "Encased In Concrete", "Scourge Of Iron", "As Deep As The Knife Will Go", "Rabid", and "Followed Home Then Killed". Do I need to say anymore?
03. LAMB OF GOD - Resolution
Another absolute no-brainer for 2012. Lamb Of God's Resolution was one of the first albums to be released in the year, but there was also the possibility that this could've been the last Lamb Of God album due to Randy Blythe's Czech arrest. However, that didn't turn out to be the case. Resolution is without a doubt the longest Lamb Of God album to date, clocking in at 56 minutes and containing 14 tracks in total. It would also be the first album where we would hear Randy use clean vocals on the track "Insurrection". The album may be more known for "Desolation" and "Ghost Walking", but you can't forget about deeper cuts like "Guilty", "The Undertow", "King Me" and "To The End".
Another absolute no-brainer for 2012. Lamb Of God's Resolution was one of the first albums to be released in the year, but there was also the possibility that this could've been the last Lamb Of God album due to Randy Blythe's Czech arrest. However, that didn't turn out to be the case. Resolution is without a doubt the longest Lamb Of God album to date, clocking in at 56 minutes and containing 14 tracks in total. It would also be the first album where we would hear Randy use clean vocals on the track "Insurrection". The album may be more known for "Desolation" and "Ghost Walking", but you can't forget about deeper cuts like "Guilty", "The Undertow", "King Me" and "To The End".
02. KREATOR - Phantom Antichrist
The 2010s were definitely one of the strongest decades for Kreator. They released two of their strongest and most well-received studio albums in this decade alone with Phantom Antichrist in 2012 and Gods Of Violence in 2017. Phantom Antichrist was one of those albums people could not stop raving about when it was released, and rightfully so. It saw the band tour for 4 years behind it before they moved on to the next chapter. Mille Petrozza has always been one of the most underrated riff masters and songwriters. When you take the riffs he wrote on this album, and combine them with the monstrous production, courtesy of the great Jens Bogren, you have a recipe for some quality metal. With tracks like "Phantom Antichrist", "From Flood Into Fire", "Death To The World", "United In Hate", "Your Heaven, My Hell" and "Victory Will Come", there's no question as to why this album is one of the strongest in Kreator's discography, and why it was so raved about, and still is to this day.
The 2010s were definitely one of the strongest decades for Kreator. They released two of their strongest and most well-received studio albums in this decade alone with Phantom Antichrist in 2012 and Gods Of Violence in 2017. Phantom Antichrist was one of those albums people could not stop raving about when it was released, and rightfully so. It saw the band tour for 4 years behind it before they moved on to the next chapter. Mille Petrozza has always been one of the most underrated riff masters and songwriters. When you take the riffs he wrote on this album, and combine them with the monstrous production, courtesy of the great Jens Bogren, you have a recipe for some quality metal. With tracks like "Phantom Antichrist", "From Flood Into Fire", "Death To The World", "United In Hate", "Your Heaven, My Hell" and "Victory Will Come", there's no question as to why this album is one of the strongest in Kreator's discography, and why it was so raved about, and still is to this day.
01. TESTAMENT - Dark Roots Of Earth
With three #1 spots, a #2 spot and a #3 spot on our individual lists, I don't think there was any doubt that Testament's Dark Roots Of Earth was going to be the top pick for this list. It already won the #1 spot on our 2010s Thrash Albums list, so that was also an easy indicator. As I've mentioned many times about this album; the levels of quality that are on display in these songs are astronomical. When you talk about albums that are remarkably tough to beat, this is definitely one of them. Testament have since released two more amazing studio albums since then, but neither of them have ever come close to the level of brilliance displayed on Dark Roots Of Earth. The variety is just one of the key elements that makes this album stand out. You have the incredibly thrashy tracks such as "Rise Up", "True American Hate" and "Last Stand For Independence", the more groove-oriented numbers such as "Native Blood", "Man Kills Mankind", "A Day In The Death" and "Throne Of Thorns" and the more melodic numbers like "Cold Embrace" and "Dark Roots Of Earth". It goes without saying that "Cold Embrace" is not just one of the strongest tracks on the album, but one of the strongest ballads and songs that Testament has written in their entire career. The album was also the band's most commercially successful album, with it reaching #12 in the U.S and Canada, #1 in Hungary, #4 in Finland and Germany, #8 in Poland and Sweden, and #9 on the World charts. For an album that heavy to chart that high is a massive accomplishment. It's a testament (pun obviously intended) to the strength of the band as musicians and songwriters, and the strength of the metal community as a whole for their support.
With three #1 spots, a #2 spot and a #3 spot on our individual lists, I don't think there was any doubt that Testament's Dark Roots Of Earth was going to be the top pick for this list. It already won the #1 spot on our 2010s Thrash Albums list, so that was also an easy indicator. As I've mentioned many times about this album; the levels of quality that are on display in these songs are astronomical. When you talk about albums that are remarkably tough to beat, this is definitely one of them. Testament have since released two more amazing studio albums since then, but neither of them have ever come close to the level of brilliance displayed on Dark Roots Of Earth. The variety is just one of the key elements that makes this album stand out. You have the incredibly thrashy tracks such as "Rise Up", "True American Hate" and "Last Stand For Independence", the more groove-oriented numbers such as "Native Blood", "Man Kills Mankind", "A Day In The Death" and "Throne Of Thorns" and the more melodic numbers like "Cold Embrace" and "Dark Roots Of Earth". It goes without saying that "Cold Embrace" is not just one of the strongest tracks on the album, but one of the strongest ballads and songs that Testament has written in their entire career. The album was also the band's most commercially successful album, with it reaching #12 in the U.S and Canada, #1 in Hungary, #4 in Finland and Germany, #8 in Poland and Sweden, and #9 on the World charts. For an album that heavy to chart that high is a massive accomplishment. It's a testament (pun obviously intended) to the strength of the band as musicians and songwriters, and the strength of the metal community as a whole for their support.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
| NILE At The Gates Of Sethu | SAVAGE MESSIAH Plague Of Conscience | VAN HALEN A Different Kind Of Truth |
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| WINTERSUN Time I | DYING FETUS Reign Supreme | MUNICIPAL WASTE The Fatal Feast |
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| 3 INCHES OF BLOOD Long Live Heavy Metal | SUICIDAL ANGELS Bloodbath | NAPALM DEATH Utilitarian |
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| ENSIFERUM Unsung Heroes | MESHUGGAH Koloss | HUNTRESS Spell Eater |
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INDIVIDUAL LISTS
| ALEX STOJANOVIC 01. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth 02. Savage Messiah - Plague Of Conscience 03. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist 04. Shadows Fall - Fire From The Sky 05. Accept - Stalingrad 06. Dirge Within - There Will Be Blood 07. Rush - Clockwork Angels 08. Cannibal Corpse - Torture 09. DragonForce - The Power Within 10. Lamb Of God - Resolution | DEREK SOLOMOS 01. Lamb Of God - Resolution 02. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist 03. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth 04. Cannibal Corpse - Torture 05. Overkill - The Electric Age 06. Accept - Stalingrad 07. Destruction - Spiritual Genocide 08. Woods Of Ypres - Grey Skies & Electric Light 09. Napalm Death - Utilitarian 10. Gojira - L'Enfant Sauvage |
| TOM OAKE 01. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth 02. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist 03. Cannibal Corpse - Torture 04. Sabaton - Carolus Rex 05. Nile - At The Gates Of Sethu 06. Lamb Of God - Resolution 07. Destruction - Spiritual Genocide 08. Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes 09. Marduk - Serpent Sermon 10. Ministry - Relapse | ALEX IRWIN 01. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth 02. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist 03. Wintersun - Time I 04. Overkill - The Electric Age 05. Destruction - Spiritual Genocide 06. Rush - Clockwork Angels 07. Sabaton - Carolus Rex 08. Nile - At The Gates Of Sethu 09. Cannibal Corpse - Torture 10. Lamb Of God - Resolution |
DAVID CATANUS
01. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist
02. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth
03. Exumer - Fire & Damnation
04. Shadows Fall - Fire From The Sky
05. Cryptopsy - Cryptopsy
06. Psycroptic - The Inherited Repression
07. Mors Principium Est - And Death Said Live
08. Lamb Of God - Resolution
09. Overkill - The Electric Age
10. Striker - Armed To The Teeth
01. Kreator - Phantom Antichrist
02. Testament - Dark Roots Of Earth
03. Exumer - Fire & Damnation
04. Shadows Fall - Fire From The Sky
05. Cryptopsy - Cryptopsy
06. Psycroptic - The Inherited Repression
07. Mors Principium Est - And Death Said Live
08. Lamb Of God - Resolution
09. Overkill - The Electric Age
10. Striker - Armed To The Teeth
That concludes our ultimate list for the Top 10 Best Albums Of 2012 that are celebrating a decade of existence this year. We thank you very much for reading. Share your stories of 2012 and your favourite albums of that year in the comments down below. Stay tuned because we got more lists in the works, and we plan on making this a yearly thing, where we post an ultimate list of the 10 best albums celebrating 10 years of existence. Thank you again!
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