The Best of 2012 in Heavy Metal Music
2012 was a great year for heavy metal music. Here are some of the best albums and songs of the year.
Best Metal Albums of 2012
2012 was a great year for metal music, with many great albums being released. In this article, we will countdown the top 5 metal albums of 2012.
Ghost – Opus Eponymous
Formed in 2008, Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band that has been gaining a lot of popularity in recent years. Their debut album, Opus Eponymous, was released in 2010 to critical acclaim from both fans and critics alike. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2012.
Featuring a mix of classic metal, doom metal, and black metal influences, Ghost’s music has been described as “easy to digest but still complex and fulfilling” (Allmusic.com). The band has been compared to other popular metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Mercyful Fate.
If you’re a fan of metal music, then you definitely need to check out Ghost’s Opus Eponymous. It’s one of the best metal albums of 2012!
High on Fire – De Vermis Mysteriis
High on Fire’s seventh studio album, De Vermis Mysteriis, is a riff-filled monster of an album. It’s the perfect marriage of High on Fire’s aggressive brand of metal with frontman Matt Pike’s growing songwriting skills. The result is an album that is both brutal and catchy, with some of the best riffs of Pike’s career.
Lamb of God – Resolution
Lamb of God’s Resolution is one of the best metal albums of 2012. It is a concept album that tells the story of a man’s journey through life, love, and death. The album is full of heavy riffs, solos, and breakdowns. Lamb of God has always been a great live band, and they sound even better on this album. If you are a fan of metal, you need to check out this album.
Mastodon – The Hunter
Mastodon’s fifth studio album, The Hunter, was released in September 2011 to critical acclaim. The album debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 41,000 copies in its first week of release. The Hunter is Mastodon’s second consecutive album to debut in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.
Megadeth – TH1RT3EN
Of all the bands that made a comeback in 2012, Megadeth might have had the best year. Not only did they release their best album in over a decade with “TH1RT3EN”, but they also went on one of the best tours of the year. “TH1RT3EN” is a return to form for the band, and it is one of the best metal albums of 2012.
Best Metal Songs of 2012
2012 was a great year for metal music, with a lot of great bands releasing new songs. Here are some of the best metal songs of 2012, in no particular order.
Ghost – “Ritual”
In 2012, the Swedish metal band Ghost released their second studio album, Infestissumam. The album’s lead single, “Ritual”, is a pounding metal song with a haunting melody. The lyrics deal with the dark subject of Satanic worship, and the video features the band’s signature costumed members performing in a church.
High on Fire – “Fertile Green”
High on Fire’s “Fertile Green” is one of the best metal songs of 2012. The song is taken from the band’s sixth studio album, De Vermis Mysteriis, which was released in April of that year. The song is a perfect example of the group’s signature sound, which blends elements of stoner metal, sludge metal, and hardcore punk. “Fertile Green” is an excellent showcase for the group’s musical skills, as well as their ability to write catchy hooks and create an atmosphere of tension and dread.
Lamb of God – “Desolation”
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994 as Burn the Priest, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler. The band is considered a significant member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement.
“Desolation” is a song by American heavy metal band Lamb of God, taken from their seventh studio album VII: Sturm und Drang. It was released on July 17, 2015 as the third single from the album.
Mastodon – “Curl of the Burl”
Mastodon’s “Curl of the Burl” was one of the best metal songs of 2012. The song is from the band’s sixth studio album, The Hunter, which was released in September 2011. The song peaked at number four on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and number one on Billboard’s Hard Rock Songs chart.
Megadeth – “Sudden Death”
“Sudden Death” is a song by American heavy metal band Megadeth, released on November 16, 2010, as a single from their fourteenth studio album, Rust in Peace (2010). The song won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 53rd Grammy Awards.
The song was written by guitarist and vocalist Dave Mustaine as a response to Michael Jackson’s death in 2009. Jackson’s sudden death shocked and saddened Mustaine, who had been a fan of Jackson’s music since childhood. “Sudden Death” is Mustaine’s ode to Jackson, and pays tribute to the singer’s legacy.
The song begins with a slow, mournful guitar melody that gradually builds in intensity. The lyrics are mournful and reflective, and pay tribute to Jackson’s life and legacy. As the song progresses, the guitars become more aggressive and the tempo increases, culminating in a powerful guitar solo from Mustaine.
“Sudden Death” is one of the most emotionally powerful songs in Megadeth’s repertoire, and is a fitting tribute to Michael Jackson’s life and legacy.
Best Metal Performances of 2012
It was a great year for metal music, with lots of new bands and old bands releasing great music. Some of the best metal performances of 2012 came from bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Lamb of God. Let’s take a look at some of the best metal performances of 2012.
Ghost – “Con Clavi Con Dio”
Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band that formed in 2008. In 2012, they released their second album, Infestissumam, and the lead single from that album, “Con Clavi Con Dio”, quickly became a fan favorite. The song is a fast-paced, high-energy track with an catchy hook that will get stuck in your head for days. It’s one of the best metal performances of 2012.
High on Fire – “Fertile Green”
High on Fire’s “Fertile Green” has been hailed as one of the best metal performances of 2012. The song is a sludgy, slow-burning track that features some of the most bone-crunching riffs of the year. Matt Pike’s vocals are primal and intense, and the band sounds tighter than ever. This is a performance that will leave you feeling both exhilarated and exhausted.
Lamb of God – “Redneck”
Lamb of God’s “Redneck” won Metal Performance of the Year at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. The song is featured on the band’s seventh studio album, Resolution, which was released in January 2012. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 61,000 copies in its first week of release.
Mastodon – “Curl of the Burl”
Mastodon’s turn-away-and-spit performance of “Curl of the Burl” on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon was so mind-blowingly good, it made the Fallon staff rewind and play it again. It was that rare performance that was both jaw-dropping and hilarious, with bassist Troy Sanders’ tongue firmly in cheek as he delivered one of the year’s most quoted lines: “I’m sorry to be so hairy/ I’m sorry that I stink.”
Megadeth – “Sudden Death”
One of the best things about 2012 was the wealth of great metal performances. Megadeth’s “Sudden Death” was a standout, a masterful display of technical skill and raw energy. It’s an exhilarating ride from start to finish, and one that every metal fan should experience.
