In Fear And Faith (SOtD DCLXXXI)

In Fear And Faith is a Metalcore band from the USA.
The balance between the voices and the keyboards melodic appointments makes their music suit my taste.

In Fear and Faith - Live Love Die

Civil War (SOtD DCLXXX)

Civil War is a Power Metal band from Sweden.
It's the band formed by the four ex-Sabaton members.

Civil War - Rome Is Falling

Timesailor (SOtD DCLXXIX)

Timesailor is a Progressive Metal band from Turkey.

Timesailor - The Voice Within

Newsted (SOtD DCLXXVIII)

Newsted is an Heavy Metal band fronted by the ex-Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.
The band has released an EP called Metal.
The sound is not revolutionary. Some Metallica influences are audible. But the final result is pretty decent. Much better than the stuff his ex-band has been releasing.

Newsted - Soldierhead

Bornholm - Inexorable Defiance (SOtD DCLXXVII)

Bornholm is a Pagan Black Metal band from Hungary.
Inexorable Defiance is their third album.

Bornholm - Moonlight Wanderer

Cult Of Luna - Vertikal (SOtD DCLXXVI)

Cult Of Luna is an Atmospheric Sludge / Post Metal band from Sweden.
Vertikal is their sixth full length.
Cult Of Luna will be in Portugal this week, with concerts on Oporto next Monday the 28th, and in Lisbon Tuesday the 29th.

Cult Of Luna - Mute Departure

Hanging Garden - At Every Door (SOtD DCLXXV)

Hanging Garden is a Death Doom Metal band from Finland.
At Every Door is their third album.

Hanging Garden - Ash and Dust

Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell (SOtD DCLXXIV)

Helloween needs no presentation. The German Power Metalers are back with their fourtheenth studio album.
Straight Out Of Hell is in line with the latest releases from the band. Doesn't reach the level of The Dark Ride (their best album of the 2000's), but is still good. It has a few catchy songs that you will be humming to fter a few spins, with some fillers in between.

Helloween - Straight Out Of Hell

Saille - Ritu (SOtD DCLXXIII)

Saille is a Symphonic Black Metal band from Belgium.
Ritu is their second album.

Saille - Haunter of the Dark

Wintersun - Time I (SOtD DCLXXII)

Best Album Of 2012: Wintersun - Time I

I don't care of how much it is bashed for taking 8 years to launch or because it s too short (which is true, 40 minutes is way too short for a Metal album!).
It's still the best album released in 2012! Complex, grandiose, alternating fast riffs with slow ones and magnificent symphonic pieces. Just the way I like it.

Wintersun - Time

Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve (SOtD DCLXXI)

2nd Best Album Of 2012: Barren Earth - The Devil's Resolve

The most awesome Progressive Melodic Death Metal released in 2012.
The influence of early Amorphis is easily noted, and also not surprising. But the sound is unique and the song writing is top notch.

Barren Earth - Passing of the Crimson Shadows

Xandria - Neverworld's End (SOtD DCLXX)

3rd Best Album Of 2012: Xandria - Neverworld's End

Maybe influenced by the fact that I had the pleasure of seeing them live, but I don't think so. This is definitelly the best Symphonic Metal album of 2012. Heavy riffs and operatic voice, mixed with great songwriting make this album the one to sooth the soul of those still crying since Tarja left Nightwish.

Xandria - Call Of The Wind

Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes (SOtD DCLXIX)

4th Best Album Of 2012: Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes

Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes

Swallow The Sun - Emerald Forest And The Blackbird (SOtD DCLXVIII)

5th Best Album Of 2012: Swallow The Sun - Emerald Forest And The Blackbird

Swallow The Sun - Cathedral Walls

Eluveitie - Helvetios (SOtD DCLXVII)

6th Best Album Of 2012: Eluveitie - Helvetios

Eluveitie - Havoc

Pythia - The Serpent's Curse (SOtD DCLXVI)

7th Best Album Of 2012: Pythia - The Serpent's Curse

Pythia - Cry Of Our Nation

Be'lakor - Of Breath And Bone (SOtD DCLXV)

8th Best Album Of 2012: Be'lakor - Of Breath And Bone

Be'lakor - Remnants

Pathfinder - Fifth Element (SOtD DCLXIV)

9th Best Album Of 2012: Pathfinder - Fifth Element

Pathfinder - The Day When I Turn Back Time

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending To Infinity (SOtD DCLXIII)

I'm starting today a review of those that, to me, were the Top 10 Best Albums of 2012.

Today, the number 10: Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending To Infinity.

Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending to infinity

Tuomas Saukkonen (SOtD DCLXII)

Shocked but excited at the same time, with the news that Tuomas Saukkonen has disbanded all of his current bands, including Before the Dawn and Black Sun Aeon, and decided to make a fresh start with a new band called Wolfheart.

Before The Dawn - Throne of Ice

Masterstroke - Broken (SOtD DCLXI)

Masterstroke is a Heavy Metal band from Finland.
Broken is their fourth album.

Masterstroke - Broken

Frosttide (SOtD DCLX)

Frosttide is a Folk Metal band from Finland.

Frosttide - Carefree Village

Winter's Dawn (SOtD DCLIX)

With a heavy cold and in a dark mood, I though that this band would be apropriate fr today.

Winter's Dawn is a Black Metal band from the UK.

Winter's Dawn - Frost Fall

Æther Realm - One Chosen By The Gods (SOtD DCLVIII)

Æther Realm is a Folk/Melodic Death Metal band from the USA.
One Chosen By The Gods is their first full length.

Aether Realm - Oak

The Slow Death (SOtD DCLVII)

The Slow Death is a Death Doom Metal band from Australia.

The Slow Death - The Slow Death

Sagas (SOtD DCLVI)

Sagas is an Epic Black Metal band from Chile.

Sagas - Overwhelming Grief upon us on our March towards the Inexorable

Visions Of Tragedy (SOtD DCLV)

Visions Of Tragedy is a Progressive Metal band from the province of Galicia, in Spain.

Visions Of Tragedy - I'll Be Born Again

Vandroya (SOtD DCLIV)

Vandroya is a Power Metal band from Brazil.

Vandroya - The Last Free Land

Immanifest (SOtD DCLIII)

Immanifest is a Symphonic Black Metal band frm the USA.

Immanifest - Revelations in Darkness

No Gravity (SOtD DCLII)

No Gravity is a Progressive Metal band from Italy.

No Gravity - I'm Bleeding

Mechina - Empyrean (SOtD DCLI)

Before I go into reviewing the best albums from 2012, here is the first release from 2013.
Empyrean is the third full length from Mechina. The second release in two years of the Industrial Death Metal band from the USA.

Mechina - Empyrean