Unfortunately, I was rather busy catching up on discographies of
thrash masters such as
Slayer,
Anthrax,
Megadeth,
Exodus,
Sodom,
Tourniquet and some
punk bands
Good Charlotte,
New Found Glory,
Green Day. It took me two months of 2013 to check some of the records, and I can definitely say that 2012 was quite a year music-wise. Here are some of the records that impressed me.
Top Original SoundtrackKevin Costner & Modern West –
Famous for Killing Each Other: Music from and Inspired By Hatfields & Mccoys
About 4 years ago or so I was surprised to hear
Kevin Costner delivering a great
country sound. This year found him record an original
soundtrack to the miniseries Hatfields & McCoys, where he also starred. Famous for Killing Each Other is more than just a
soundtrack, it’s a story in and of itself.
Top Tribute Record V/A -
Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International
Now this is a must whether you enjoy the work of
Bob Dylan or you couldn’t care less about him. It can’t be denied, though, that his influence upon the music industry as a whole is unquestionable. The beauty of this 4 CD collection is that the music is performed by a great number of famous and not so famous artists from all over the spectrum – from
country to
folk to
soul to (
punk)
rock.
Top EPMaranatha -
Incarnate
Honorable Mentions:As I Lay Dying -
AwakenedWar Of Ages –
Return To LifeGideon -
MilestoneAltars -
ConclusionsBecoming the Archetype –
I AmThe Insyderz –
The Sinner’s SongbookThe Chariot –
One WingLeaders –
Now We Are FreeFrom The Eyes Of Servants –
Change The WorldAnberlin -
Vital10Demon Hunter -
True Defiance
The truth is my favorite record of DH is their self-titled debut, it was just a angsty
Slipknot-influenced
nu metal. From then on their sound changed to more
metalcore with much melody to make it listenable and memorable.
True Defiance marks the second record without the founding member,
Don Clark. And it looks like they found their sound – the perfect blend of aggression and melody sprinkled with not-preachy-but-hopeful-and-yet-in-your-face lyrics.
9The Smashing Pumpkins -
Oceania
Billy Corgan is a legend, that’s all there is to it. Whether you like or not, whatever he lays his hands on it’s stellar, controversial, and worth a listen for the sheer beauty that it sheds with its listeners. Be it his solo more electronic effort or the
supergroup outing of
Zwan or the sounds of
The Smashing Pumpkins that saw many grow up under its far-reaching wings.
Adore is where I was taken into the fold of Pumpkins.
Oceania may not be what many expected, but it is
The Smashing Pumpkins even if it’s got
Billy Corgan written all over it.
8Matisyahu -
Spark Seeker
This was the record I was both dreaming about when I heard it was coming out and was afraid of at the same time. I was dreaming about getting my hands on it, because
Matisyahu left a huge impression on me since the very first tunes of his that I heard. I was afraid because the new record was going to be less
rock and more
pop as was indicated by many factors. This is exactly what I got when
Spark Seeker first started playing. I felt the disappointment creeping in, but then I felt lifted on account of catchy
pop melodies and the same honest Matis soul that comes through the lyrics. With this record, although not as “aggressive” as
Youth, he definitely reaches a greater audience. More power to ya, Matis!
7Further Seems Forever -
Penny Black
Another long-anticipated reunion that many thought would not be possible. FSF is a band that could boast three awesome records each with a different frontman. The amazing part about each of the records is that each of the releases was stellar in its own way.
Penny Black marks the return of the original vocalist
Chris Carabba known also for his work in
Dashboard Confessional. Even though, the production suffers a little, but the chemistry between the original members of FSF cannot be denied. It is a great comeback, and let us hope this won’t be the last we’ll see of them.
6Flatfoot 56 -
Toil
I’d listened to all records of F56 and although I had enjoyed each of the pieces, I’d say this is the most cohesive outing of theirs and it deserves a top-ten position. It is catchy and it ain’t just
punk all the way, it’s got beautiful
celtic melody going as well and this is what makes the record contagious. And a
celtic punk gospel tune “
I’Ll Fly Away” is a great incentive!
5P.O.D. -
Murdered Love
Well, where do I start with these crowd-favorites? I still remember that HM issue with four alternative covers featuring each
P.O.D. member. In September of 2001 the world saw the release of
Satellite. And since then – although they reached the rockstar status – it seems like they couldn’t find their sound again. There were changes in the line-up and then there was the return to the original fourpiece line up.
Murdered Love sounds like a logical progression of
Satellite. Honestly speaking, I’d call this record (with one obvious setback – “
Bad Boy”) their most mature and theologically sound record to date (especially the title track and the closer, “
I Am.”)
4Tourniquet -
Antiseptic Bloodbath
The last record of these monsters of
metal led by a true drum (and not only) legend known as
Ted Kirkpatrick was years and years ago. Honestly, their
Where Moth and Rust Destroy left me wanting. It felt as though the record prior to that,
Microscopic View Of A Telescopic Realm,
was exactly where needed to be. Now, 10+ years later, they revisit the same musicianship and the same songwriting with this stellar piece –
Antiseptic Bloodbath.
3Worthwhile -
Carry On Kid
Another surprise in my top ten is a
melodic hardcore (at times bordering on some
pop-punk sensibilities) offered by a Bay Area, CA bunch known as
Worthwhile. Their
Carry On Kid is exactly what a youthful vigor demands – fast and raw and yet melodic and emotional. Give it a listen if you enjoy
Comeback Kid,
It Prevails,
Hundredth.
2The O.C. Supertones -
For the Glory
When I found out
The O.C. Supertones were disbanding back in 2005 (which by that time was not actually what it used to be back in the 90s) I was devastated.
For the Glory hits exactly where their previous records left off with the only exception – this is a more mature record than any of their efforts from the years past. Don’t be fooled, though, this is still
ska, but it’s a mature version of it. Mojo and the Tones know exactly what they’re doing!
1Being As An Ocean -
Dear G-D
I remember when I first listened to
Defeater’s stellar EP from several years ago. It was the
melodic hardcore I had always wanted to hear – angst, passion, bleeding emotions (without becoming
emo-tinged in any way). Now take the
Defeater’s approach and blend it with the spoken-word kind of approach of
La Dispute, and this is where
Being As An Ocean hits. It does so for me with its soaring melodies, honest lyrics and deep convictions.
Dear G-D is the record to pick up if you haven’t yet.