2012 has came and disappeared as fast it entered and there were great albums to go along with it. We’ve compiled several lists below; enjoy!
Top 10 Albums
Awakening - As I Lay Dying
As I Lay Dying went what they know for this record and that’s creating straight up metalcore. Circle pit riffs, crushing double bass, powerful vocals and a live experience to back it up. It’s worth noting there’s much clean vocals on this record than previous releases.
Listen to: A Greater Foundation
Get What You Give - The Ghost Inside
One of my favorite hardcore bands (despite Scott Vogel’s irrelevant opinion) in recent years, The Ghost Inside decided to change it up on Get What You Give with clean vocal choruses and some group shouts but still retaining their melodic/breakdown driven song structures
Listen to: Engine 45
The Royal Thousand - Glass Cloud
When I heard two of the members graduated from Berklee College of Music; I immediately became hooked after hearing the first single, “White Flag”. You may know the talented guitarist, Joshua Travis from his old band, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza. His 8 string antics really add dynamics to a genre plagued by Hot Topic kids with swoop haircuts and V-necks. It must really suck to be Of Mice & Men right now.
Listen to: Ivy & Wine
Parkway Drive - Atlas
Australia has some of the best bands (Hands Like Houses, The Amity Affliction, I Killed The Prom Queen) and Parkway Drive are no exception. I’m truly convinced Winston McCall gargles some really fine Australian sand before he does a show because his vocals are some of the best I’ve heard.
Listen to: Old Ghost/New Regrets
Veil of Maya - Eclipse
A lot of people didn’t like this record cause they thought it was basically Periphery with Brandon Butler on vocals since Misha Mansoor co-wrote/produced this album. It’s some of their best work yet with lone guitarist Marc Okubo ripping up the fretboard. Sumeriancore at it’s best, at least until the new After The Burial comes out.
Listen to: Punisher
Whitechapel - Whitechapel
Lamb of God - Resolution
The Chariot - One Wing
Every Time I Die - Ex Lives
Periphery - Periphery II: This Time It’s Personal
Best New Band
Glass Cloud; they put out of the most impressive debuts for their respective genre.
Best Record Label
Sumerian Records; they have some of the most talented (and not so talented..) bands on their diverse roster.
Best PR/Publicist
George Vallee - Sumerian Records
PR people don’t get the recognition they deserve. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to cover shows and interview bands
Most Anticipated of 2013
Animals As Leaders
Austrian Death Machine
Born of Osiris
A Day to Remember
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Brand New
My Chemical Romance
Slipknot
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The following list is from fellow contributor, Emily Bunn
Best Album: Deftones “Koi No Yokan”
The guys of Deftones did not disappoint with their follow up to 2010’s “Diamond Eyes”. “Koi No Yokan” fits right in with the sound that the Deftones made their own with “White Pony” and their self-titled. This album embodies everything I love about Deftones and I couldn’t be more happy with the album.
Best Tour: Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends 10 Year Anniversary Tour
I was only 11 years old when I first heard “You’re So Last Summer” From Tell All your Friends. This was the first album I ever bought with my own money and the first album I ever obsessed over. It’s still one of my favorite albums. To see the band perform it live from beginning to end was indescribable. The 11-year-old in me was beyond ecstatic.
Best New Band: Dead Sara
Dead Sara have had a huge year with the release of their first full length, acting as tour support for some big names, and taking part in the Vans Warped Tour over the summer. Their sound is not what you have come to expect with a female-fronted band, but it’s pure rock’n’roll.
Best Record Label: Sumerian Records
The people at Sumerian handled the Falling in Reverse/I See Stars debacle really well. They stood up for I See Stars and supported them throughout the situation and were quick to support the band’s statements on the whole issue. It’s always great when a label thoroughly supports their artists in tough situations like this.
Most Anticipated of 2013: Bring Me the Horizon
If “Shadow Moses” is anything to go by, the new BMTH album is going to be one of the best albums of 2013. Their last release leaves big shoes to fill, but from the little information the band has released about the new album it’s sure to live up to the expectations.
Song of the Year: Enter Shikari “Arguing with Thermometers"
Enter Shikari’s latest album is amazing from beginning to end, but “Arguing with Thermometers” has to be my favorite track. Not only is it a banger of a song, but the lyrics send a strong message about how corrupt our society has become and the effect we are having on our environment. The world needs more songs like this.
Artist of the Year: Pierce the Veil
Pierce the Veil played the main stage at the Vans Warped Tour, released their newest album “Collide With The Sky”, and sold out almost all of the dates on their headlining tour of the same name in 2012. They’ve proved that they are a forced to be reckoned with and they’re not going anywhere. I can’t wait to see what 2013 has in store for the quartet.