Top 10 Albums of 2012

Alright it's that time again, the year is almost over and I need to wrap my head around all the good music that came out. There was a lot of it so your list will likely differ from mine considerably, that's cool. No real criteria here except it had to be one of my favorite albums of the year and had to have a vinyl releases. Some albums definitely would have made it if they were on wax. Enjoy!

10. The Hundred In The Hands - Red Night
Warp Records

 

 

The Hundred In The Hands is a New York based electro/snyth post-rock band, well that's about as close as I can get to classifying their sound. Consisting of just two members, Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman, the band's second album, Red Night, is full of soundscapes that will make it difficult to believe that several other musicians were not involved. Most of what is found on Red Night is ambient drum and synth loops with layers upon layers of vocals. The vocals are ethereal, cold, and full of reverb and produce a mesmerizing quality. This is an odd choice for me, as there is very little guitar to be heard on this album. I would hesitate to even call this rock music, although there is a good bit of post-rock influence, which is unusual for my states. However, I've always like synth and atmospheric music and Red Night is one of the best albums to combine those two elements this year.      

9.Sigur Ros - Valtari
XL Recordings

Sigur Rós, Icelandic for "victory rose", are one of the biggest names in post rock. Along with Explosions In The Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor(who make an appearance below), Sigur Ros rounds out the trifecta of most celebrated post rock bands. These Icelanders have always been the "weird" ones though; playing guitars with violin bows, singing in a made up language called "Hopelandic", and the ever present falsetto vocals of Jónsi Birgisson. On Valtari the band continues in that spirit, it is certainly a weird one. While the album is enitrely beautiful, peaceful, and atmospheric; it manages to feel completely foreign and difficult to comprehend. There is very little of what could be considered rock in any stretch of the imagination, the post part of post-rock is present but not much of the rock part. Valtari is a strangely beautiful album that I can't help but love.

8. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! 
Constellation

 

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is the legendary Montreal nine piece band that consists of two bass players, two drummers, a violinist, and a cellist. The band formed in 1994 and essentially created post-rock. They're known(and loved) for extremely long compositions with little to no repeated sections and no "hooks" to speak of. A full decade has passed since the band's last album, Yanqui U.X.O., and many fans were skeptical of a new album. Well with 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! the godfathers of post-rock have proven they are deserving of such an illustrious title. If you want post-rock in 2012 Godspeed You! Black Emperor should be the first place you look, no one did it better.

7. Pallbearer - Sorrow And Extinction
20 Buck Spin

 

 

  

On the surface this Little Rock, Arkansas outfit seems to be just another doom metal band in sea of similar Black Sabbath clones. Sorrow And Extinction, the band's debut album, has more than a few nods to the 70s but it manages to remain completely fresh and relevant. Touches of funeral doom creep in to the albums longer tracks such as Foreigner and Given To The Grave in the form of long drawn out riffs that haunt and enchant the listener. Most notable are the vocals of Brett Campbell which are almost always fully clean, there are no growls or screams to be found here, yet they manage to sound at times distant, strange, and chill inducing. In short this may be standard fare doom, but it has so much more atmosphere than many in the genre. Put this album on your turntable, close your eyes, and your mind will do crazy things. 

6. Ancestors - In Dreams And Time
Tee Pee Records

  

 Two genres that seem to have had the best year in 2012 are prog rock and doom metal, so naturally one of the best album of the year is equal parts of each. Ancestors are a band that seem to have grown up on a strict diet of Black Sabbath, Saint Vitus, Cathedral, Kyuss, Hawkwind, and Pink Floyd. If that sounds like a killer combination, you're right it is! Doom riffs, heavy vocals, spacey keyboards, and flowing song structures all come together beautifully on In Dreams And Time. This album is very diverse, from the female vocals of Carah Faye(singer of the electro band Shiny Toy Guns) on "The Last Return", to the cello and violin on "First Light" In Dreams And Time will keep you guessing until you pick the needle up.

 

 5. Saint Vitus - Lillie F-65 
Season Of Mist
 

Saint Vitus is the legendary Los Angeles doom band that, second only to Black Sabbath, is the most important band the genre has. Lille F-65 is the band's first album since 1995's Die Healing, and the first since the band's classic lineup reunited in 2008. This album sees Wino return to the microphone for the first time on a studio album in twenty four years, and it is a triumphant return. What I wrote about this album six months ago really says it all: "Classic Sabbath style doom that is drenched in riffs and whiskey. Really no one is doing this style better than Saint Vitus, and this is one hell of a comeback album. Wino is on vocals again, and Chandler is just as crunchy and fuzz soaked as ever. This album is more or less what you'd expect Vitus to do, but that is exactly what makes it so great."       

4. Krallice - Years Past Matter
Gilead Media

  

This should come as no surprise to those who have seen my list from last year. Krallice's 2012 offering, Years Past Matter, comes in a full three places higher than the band's 2011 album, Diotima. This has more to do with 2011 being a better year for music in my opinion than the relative quality of this album compared to the previous one. Years Past Matter is the New York prog/technical black metal band's fourth album since 2008, an impressive pace to say the least. The band seems intent on taking black metal to places it has never been, and pushes the limits further with each album. Where Diotima had many stand out riffs and a cohesive structure to it(although not immediately apparent), Years Past Matter is much more of a single path or theme spread out over the entire album. That point is driven home in the fact that this release comes with no lyrics or even song titles, instead each track is noted with only a series of tally marks. This is an incredibly dense and overwhelming album that takes multiple listens to really begin to comprehend, but the effort is very much worth it. *The vinyl version from Gilead Media isn't technically out yet.

 

3. Velnias - RuneEater
Pesanta Urfolk 

"Velnias" is a Lithuanian god of Baltic mythology, the god of the natural world. I can hardly think of a band with a more fitting name, as Velnias plays a particular type of black/folk metal which immediately places the listener in a forest on a cold winter night as the wind howls and pierces everything in its path. It stands to reason that the band is from Boulder, Colorado, a city on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. I first heard Velnias' debut, Sovereign Nocturnal, a few years ago and was very impressed. RuneEater is in fact heads and shoulders above its predecessor, everything they got right on the last album is even better here. Long movement based pieces that focus on a feeling and atmosphere instead of a riff or vocal, slow drawn out doom sections, extremely heavy riffs, and soothing acoustic sections; its all here. RuneEater is a very special album in that it is entirely analog, and as such one of the best sounding vinyl releases in a very long time. The album was recorded on two inch tape and the master lacquers were cut by hand directly from the tape. Not only a fantastic album, but one that was made specifically for us record nerds.

2. Astra - The Black Chord

Rise Above Records

 

2012 has been an excellent year for prog rock, and not the kind of "prog" that bands like Meshuggah play. Keyboard heavy, saturated guitars, long winded movements, and musically ambitious playing is what you'll find here. In other words; prog rock in the 70s tradition. Imagine what you would get if you mixed Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, and Rush, well that is exactly what Astra has done on The Black Chord. These guys from San Diego clearly grew up with the classics and have been profoundly influenced by them. Have you always wondered what Genesis may have sounded like if they never became pop stars, or what King Crimson could have done if it weren't for their neo-prog period? Well Astra speculates on those questions, and produces fantastic results. The real highlight here is the absolutely top notch musicianship, writing, and above all the journey you embark upon by listening to this album.  

1. Rush - Clockwork Angels  

    Roadrunner Records

 

 The best album of 2012 is without a doubt Rush's twentieth studio album, Clockwork Angels. Rush is easily one of my favorite bands ever so perhaps my love of this album is not quite objective, but the fact that a band as old as Rush has delivered something this good is worthy of praise. Far and away the best album this Canadian trio has done since maybe...Signals(1982) or Grace Under Pressure(1984), listening to this brings the listener back to the classic movement oriented progressive rock that Rush crafted so well in 1970s. A true concept album having something to do with a steam punk theme(it's pretty cryptic), Clockwork Angels almost demands you listen to the whole thing through. This is easily the most progressive album Rush has written since, well really Hemispheres in 1978. I was fortunate enough to see the band on the Clockwork Angels tour recently, and they still have it! A good third or so of the set was taken up by songs from this album, accompanied by a string section. It was a very ambitious live show that really did these complex masterpieces justice. Rush proved both in the studio and on the road that they are the best band around in 2012. 

Honorable Mentions

Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited II 

I came so close to putting this in the top 10! Hackett got a ton of guests to come in and reinterpret Genesis classics, some of the best in prog rock. I left it off because there is no new material.  

Faustcoven ‎– Hellfire And Funeral Bells   

Killer black/doom, almost made the top 10

Stellar Descent - Accretion

Phenomenal atmospheric black metal, cassette only it would have made the list if it was on vinyl

Finger Of Scorn - Relics Of A Forgotten Age

Harsh black metal, cassette only

Electric Wizard - Legalize Drugs and Murder

Doom metal 7" single   

Aura Noir - Out To Die

Black/thrash

OSI - Fire Make Thunder

Prog Metal

The Flower Kings - Banks Of Eden

Prog Rock      
Ne Obliviscaris ‎– Portal Of I
Prog Metal
 

Best Albums of 2012...So Far

Well June is almost over, and that means half the year has passed us by. Where does the time go? Anyway, the amount of quality music that has been released this year is staggering really. Over the horizon some hopefully great albums are in the works as well. In an effort to make the task easier at the end of the year I've compiled a list of my favorite releases thus far. Enjoy.

Saint Vitus - Lillie F:65

Classic Sabbath style doom that is drenched in riffs and whiskey. Really no one is doing this style better than Saint Vitus, and this is one hell of a comeback album. Wino is on vocals again, and Chandler is just as crunchy and fuzz soaked as ever. This album is more or less what you'd expect Vitus to do, but that is exactly what makes it so great.

Astra - The Black Chord

 

 

Do you wish all the 70s progressive rock bands didn't go all new wave in the 80s? I know I sure as hell do! Astra is as close to that dream as we'll ever come. Think Pink Floyd, Yes, and King Crimson and you're almost there. If those bands had kept playing that 70s style one of them may have written "The Black Chord" Far from just a retro rehash though, this band has improved upon and expanded their sound since their debut. This is one of the absolute best prog rock albums to come out in long time.   

Electric Wizard - Legalise Drugs and Murder

 

 

If the cover art reminds you of a certain third album by a certain legendary band, well that's intentional. Electric Wizard  play that same kind of slow, fuzzy, doom with the distinct smell of weed coming off every note. While this is technically a single(both sides are only just over 12 minutes), "Legalise Drugs & Murder" cannot be neglected. Crushingly heavy riffs, and a real tangible atmosphere make this one of the contenders for sure.

Rush - Clockwork Angels

 

Rush is back with their 20th(!) studio album, "Clockwork Angels", and it will blow you away. This is easily their best effort in more than a decade, hell some say their best in three decades. Either way it's Rush, it's prog, it's great!

Ancestors - In Dreams and Time  

The first half of 2012 has been phenomenal for progressive rock and doom metal, so here is an album that combines the two of course! This is the trippiest and progiest doom I've ever heard, like Pink Floyd and Kyuss had a baby. I dare you to click on the video above and claim you've heard anything really like it before. 

Aura Noir - Out To Die

 

And now for something completely different. Aura Noir never fail to deliver down and dirty, straight forward, kick your ass metal. Occupying that same area between thrash and black metal that Sodom and Kreator did in the 80s, "Out To Die" blends the two genres beautifully. This one has been kicking my ass for months.

Maryland Death Fest

A little more than a week ago I made the three hour(give or take) trek down to Baltimore for what is known as "America's biggest metal party of the year". What I speak of is of course Maryland Death Fest. This was the tenth time they've done this festival, which brings metal bands and fans to converge on the city en masse. Everyone from big names such as Morbid Angel, Electric Wizard, and Saint Vitus to obscure bands like Pentagram(Chile), The Devil's Blood, and Dragged Into Sunlight were on the bill. Though it was my first year, many people I talked to were of the opinion that this year was the best. A lot of friends from all over were there, and I got to hang out with and meet a bunch of cool people. I had an absolute blast!

Return To The Pit got a great shot of me(white shirt) in the front row for Saint Vitus

Many of the bands that played over the course of the weekend were on my bucket list of sorts. Some of these bands I never thought I would get to see, as they had been broken up for years or had never played on US soil before. Others were seen by my eyes and heard by my ears long before MDF, but those bands were as good as ever.

Artillery played their first US show

 

   

Pentagram also played their first show in America. Viva Metal Chileno!

Aside from seeing some great bands and hanging out with a group of really cool people, there were tons of vendors set up selling all kinds of shit. Inside, outside, in the parking lot(bootleggers), and everywhere in between a MDF patron with some cash, or in some places credit card, to blow could buy a ton of shit. Shirts, hoodies, CDs, tapes, records, dvds, and more were abundant and most at good prices! I couldn't help but by some records.

Just a small portion of the merch area

So, you believe in a blood sucking dog?

You believe in dead people walking around?

 

Saint Vitus was on my favorite bands of the fest, and I managed to score three of their records. The above is"The Walking Dead" EP reissue from SST Records. Originally released in 1985 as a precursor to the band's second album, this EP features one epic doom song, a shorter doomy piece, and the Black Flag like "White Stallions". A great release, I just wish SST didn't mess up the order on this pressing.When the needle drops though, it still sounds incredible.

Next is the band's 1985 sophomore album, "Hallows Victim". A hugely influential doom album, this is one of Saint Vitus's better efforts. With classics like "War Is Our Destiny", "Mystic Lady", and of course the supremely awesome "White Stallions" it is hard to go wrong. This is also a SST reissue, but without errors and it sounds great.

These old guys could still kick my ass

My last Vitus purchase was their reunion album, "Lillie: F65". Released earlier this year, this album was the first by the band in 15 years. Additionally, the reunited band saw Wino return on vocals for the first time on a studio album since "V" in 1989. "Lillie: F65" is a classic Vitus album in every sense of the word. The tracks from this one that made it into their live set fit in perfectly with all the old songs. Easily a contender for my top 10 at the end of the year. This pressing is on the French label, Season Of Mist, and is very well done.

 

 

They crushed us live as well

"Retrospective Of Chilean Metal" for my Spanish challenged readers

The last of my MDF purchases is one that I've been looking for for years. The German label, Iron Bonehead, put out this spectacular compilation called "Retrospectiva Al Metal Chileno" in 2009.  The goal of compiling all these obscure bands from a country at the bottom of the world was to shine a light on what was an incredible thrash/death/black metal scene in 80's. I'm so happy they've done this, because many of these recordings might have gone undiscovered without this compilation.

There are some really great pieces of 80s metal here. My personal favorites are Necrosis, Massacre, and Cancerbero. The packaging and presentation is really great too, a lot of work went into this. The insert has each band's classic logo as well as short biographies. The cover and foldout have great artwork that feature lots of photos as well as other relics.  

One disappointment was the fact that I was not able to pickup one of the new Relapse reissues of Morbid Saint's only album, "Spectrum Of Death". They had sold out of it by the time I tried to get one, but I did order it from their website. And I did nearly break my neck during their live set.

They played "Spectrum Of Death" in its entirety

And I'll finish off this post with another gem I bought at MDF, just not a record. This is Pentagram's (Chile) classic logo from their 7" released in 80s on a really cool shirt.

Magna Carta Records

Recently I've realized that I tend to buy a bunch of records from similar artists on the same labels. These small labels are unlike major labels in that they tend specialize in one genre and others related to it; obviously that's only one difference. Because of these practices I've found myself becoming a fan of these labels nearly as much as I am of their bands. In an effort to spread the word about some great records, and the labels behind them I'll be making posts highlighting my experience with them.

First up is the Rochester, New York based Magna Carta Records.

Browse the Magna Carta site you'll soon realize that the bread and butter here is progressive rock. Big names in the genre like Steve Walsh, Alex Skolnick, Derek Sherinian, and James LaBrie should make it easily apparent the type of label this is. A lot of the releases this label has put out over the years have been superb, and I've discovered some gems simply by virtue of being on Magna Carta(Ice Age in particular). My only complaint, literally the one thing I don't like about this label, is their serious lack of vinyl releases. In one order I bought their entire vinyl catalog!

First up is the 7" single "Let's Live For Today" b/w "Beaumont Rag" by folk/prog/rock band Tempest. The A side is a cover The Grass Roots classic 1967, albeit with more flute and violin. I really love this version of the song, it just feels so much more genuine than the original for some reason. The B side is also a cover, this being a traditional Texas tune named after the town of Beaumont. "Beaumont Rag" is not on any album, and this 7" is the only release of it.

Blurry photo above

As you can see this version is on black wax and hand numbered, only 50 were ever pressed. A nice little 7" addition to my collection.

Glorious gatefold 2LP

...And rounding out the vinyl releases on Magna Carta is the legendary debut by Liquid Tension Experiment. LTE is the prog supergroup that consists of Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci of Dream Theater(though Portnoy is no longer in that band), Tony Levin of King Crimson, and Jordan Rudess who was mainly known for his solo work at the time but would later join Dream Theater. This is just pure wanky technical prog rock in the vein of Yes. No vocals can be found on this album, and they really don't seem needed at all. These four musicians have more than enough to say on their own. The back cover really says it best "Caution: "Three Minute Warning" is not for the musically fainthearted, impatient, or critics of extreme self indulgence." which could really be said about the entirety of the album.

The label looks like it was made in MS Paint, but Levin is still a bad ass

Petrucci before the roids

Record Store 2012 Recap

 

One day every year, well actually two days now, I get up early but not for work. The day is always a Saturday, and invariably I've been out the night before and get very little sleep. The alarm goes off and the last thing I want to do is get out of bed, but that is just what happens. After a short drive to The Record Store hours before they open, I stand on line with other like minded people. We wait for the owner of the store to show up and let us in and we all talk music, records, and anything else people can think to discuss at 8am. 

Yesterday was that day, which I'm sure you've figured out by now is known as Record Store Day. This special holiday of sorts was conceived in 2007 by Chris Brown, who worked in a record store, to celebrate independently owned record stores. This celebration has taken place annually for 5 years now, with the special black Friday releases debuting a few years ago as well. A ton of special limited releases come out, some as few 100 pressed, some stores have live shows, some stores give away free stuff, but it's all about celebrating record stores. These places are unique, a store where you can get physical music(which is sadly becoming more rare every day) and hang out with people who are just as nerdy about music as you are. To me at least, that's something really special. 

Anyway let's get on with my scores from yesterday. I called The Record Store on Friday to ask what they got in, and unfortunately a few of the releases I wanted they didn't get, notably the Mastodon/Feist split. This is to be expected though, the releases are very limited and stores across the country(and beyond) order them. The staff did tell me that a few of the records I wanted they only got 1 copy in. I ended up being about 8th on line at 8am, the first person was there at 6:30! An hour and a half or so(and a hundred bucks!) later I walked away with almost everything I wanted.

Much nicer looking than Ben Franklin

 

 First up is Metallica's 12" EP, "Beyond Magnetic". This was released last year first on iTunes(aka where stupid people pay for digital downloads) then on cd, but no proper wax version existed until yesterday. As the name implies, these songs were recorded during the sessions for 2008's "Death Magnetic" but didn't quite make it. I didn't love that album, but it had some solid songs and was a pretty good effort. These songs are just about on par with that album. If it hadn't been right in front of me and a limited release I probably wouldn't have bought it. That said, pretty good stuff.  

The vinyl mastering is actually pretty good, much less brick walled than the digital version

They try so hard to look bad ass

The record came with this sticker...cool I guess

Nice silver color on a thick sturdy wax

   

Next we have Snapcase's best album, 1997's "Progression Through Unlearning". I love this band's first two albums, the really captured that magic of the mid-late 90s scene that fell somewhere between hardcore and post hardcore. There is enough melody to make this completely listenable, yet enough energy and aggression to give it that hardcore edge. Really good stuff. 

This reissue is limited to just 900 copies

The store told me on Friday that they only got one copy of this record, which is more than I thought they would actually. A number of the Record Store Day releases this year were "regional" and many stores had no access to them at all, this was one of those. Being 8th into the store I assumed this would be gone, but imagine my excitement when I saw it sitting on the shelf untouched! The record was in my hands before any thought could be given.

Did you say something about my hair?!

Another record that few were pressed(mine is 2066/2500), and only one was in store was this gorgeous picture disc of Rainbow's classic 1978 album, "Long Live Rock N Roll". I was sure this would be gone by the time I got into the store, as the anticipation for this one has been building for awhile. On last year's list of Record Store Day items you can find "Rainbow-Long Live Rock N Roll-12" Picture Disc", but for whatever reason it was not released until this year. I've been looking for it for a whole year now! The conversation I had with the owner went like this: "Is there anything in particular you're looking for?", "That Rainbow picture disc has to be gone right?", "No! I'm shocked it's still here". He grabbed it and handed it to me, but I'm not sure if the big smile on face was real or just how I felt inside. 

Dio's last album with the band before going to Black Sabbath

On to the 7"s...

Love that chest hair

 This is a new single from Ozzy, but the songs and the recordings are older than me. The A side is "Believer" recorded during "Diary of a Madman" tour. This is when Ozzy was at the top of his game in all respects. His vocals were better than they ever had been in Black Sabbath, his song writing was fresh and exciting, and of course he had Randy Rhoads shredding next to him. The performance is great, and it's cool to hear it and imagine what it might have been like to see this legendary lineup. 

Mine is 1913/4400

 As far as I know this single is taken from the live album that was released yesterday as well, which is all from the Randy Rhoads era. I didn't buy that because it wasn't limited and will have a full production run later. The B side is "Goodbye To Romance" from "Blizzard of Ozz" but with a 2010 guitar and vocal mix. The mix is interesting, it strips the song down to really just Ozzy and Randy raw. I might even like this mix better than the album version.

Polka Dot picture disc to represent Roads' iconic flying v

A series of 7" splits that have been coming out on record store day for a few years is the Side By Side, that features an original recording on side A and a cover on side B. I personally love this idea, as many covers can be truly appreciated when compared to the original. The above entry is the Flaming Lips song "A Spoonful Weighs A Ton" from their 1999 album, "The Soft Bulletin". Its a weird keyboard driven, airy experimental song; which is interesting to have covered by a prog metal band like Mastodon. The cover is quite good, and definitely unique as most of the synth parts are played by distorted guitars.

 

Here is another Side By Side which features one of the dirtiest, rawest, and most awesome rock bands ever MC5; and a 80s rapper? Yes. MC5's landmark "Kick Out The Jams" from their 1969 debut of the same nameis side A. If you haven't heard this song you must! For 67 this is so heavy and abrasive, metal and punk owe a great deal to this. Side B is Afrika Bambaataa's strange cover of the song from his 1986 album, "Beware (The Funk Is Everywhere)", complete with the cheesy 80s guitar and awkward rapping. The pairing is hilariously awesome. 

And finally one of the absolute coolest in this series to date is "Respect". The A side is Otis Redding's original of the song that would go on to be the signature for Aretha Franklin, who's cover is the B side. Redding's version is just so soulful and emotional, quite different when compared to Franklin's powerhouse vocals. Both versions are incredible and landmarks of R&B. The great shame is that Otis Redding died at the very young age of 26 in plane crash in 1967, he was a rising star at the time and would have gone on to even greater things. I see this record getting a lot of spins from me in the future. 

All in all record store day 2012 did not disappoint. I had a great time at a great store, and got some really cool records.