#7 - Top of 2012

 Beyond the bridge - The old man and the spirit (Frontiers Records)

Going further down on the list of top albums for 2012, there is the debut (and sole album to date) of this relatively unknown progressive metal outfit from Germany. There is little information on the band, other than the fact that they have been active for almost a decade before the release of this album, and it clearly shows, as this is not a rushed or amateurish debut but rather a very well thought out album which demands respect as one of the most hopeful progressive metal debuts of this decade.

The album starts off with "The Call" with a short intro before male vocals joining in, after the four minute mark the dynamic changes with the music slowing down in a interlude before expanding into a dynamic sound again."The Apparition" is a very strong song, which expands on the themes of its predecessor while being an individual marvel of modern music craftsmanship. "Triumph of Irreality" starts with keyboards with instruments coming in slowly and i excellent and strongly reminiscent of Ayreon. "World of Wonders" also kicks off with a mellow keyboard sound, while female vocals enter later on to give an ethereal vibe to this tune.
"'Doorway to Salvation'" is a metal track through ad through with dynamic riffing and powerful melodic lines. "The Struggle" starts with male voice singing a repetitive but addictive line, soon after the female voice interjects and creates one of th most powerful and human moments of the album. "The Difference is Human" is a typically long prog song, with mood changing throughout, creating a solid prog metal anthem. "Where the Earth and Sky Meet"is more quiet but has an amazingly emotional ending that will grip your heart. The album finishes with "All a Man Can Do" which is also a long prog track, with excellent flow which brings to end an amazing debut from a very promising band. Kudos guys and I am eagerly waiting to hear what's next!


95/100

Below is a live sample of the band performing "The Difference is Human"

#8 - Top of 2012

Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Piñata (Candlelight Records)

In number 8, we have one of the more unusual bands in this list that are certainly... very interesting although their accessibility to the average listener is debatable to say the least. DSO are an avant-garde band from Norway and they sure are pushing the boundaries of their music.The present is their third and last (to date) album with a new release upcoming(?). The album starts with "Voodoo Mon Amour", a jazzy/swing song with operatic vocals and a frantic rhythm. The album continues with "Guerilla Laments" with a lot of brass and rhythms that take you on a trip to Cuba or the carnival of Rio, and a highly dancing vibe to boot. "Kevlar Sweethearts" that follows, starts heavily with a string arrangement and drumming, before evolving into a lamenting latin melody with ethereal vocals and a folk-tale like feeling, before a mid-piece heavy metal/brass breakdown. "Black-box messiah" in sharp contrast has a very modern and avant-garde feeling, without engaging intertwining of male, female and "alien" vocals and an operatic feel. "Exit Strategy of a Wrecking Ball" is the next track, continues with the more modern and industrial feel blending it with an almost epic theatrical feeling in vocals and orchestral breaks. "Aurora", is an eerie song that is very close in feel to Chaostar and is highly operatic, feeling like a genuine opera piece. "Mass Rapture" has an oriental melody excellently blended with modern metal riffs and is at time reminiscent of the more quiet moments of Orphaned Land. "Honey Trap Aftermath" is a return to a jazzy/swingy song form with the brass section being again very prominent and n excellent tapping rhythm. "Of Kali ma Calibre" is the penultimate song of the disc and is another operatic piece with music and choral parts  resembling military anthems mixed with hints of industrial metal. The final song of the album,  "Justice for Saint Mary" is the pinnacling of the album with an epic haunting melody closing "Pandora's Pinata" with a whisper that sounds like a scream. This album is an experience!


96/100

Below are music videos for "Voodoo Mon Amour" and "Back Box Messiah"

#9 - Top of 2012

Ye banished Privateers- Songs and Curses (Record Union)

Ye Banished Privateers welcome you along with an album full of "Songs and Curses"! The crew consists of Major John (Piper), Blackpowder Pete, William  "One Eye" O'Sullivan (Accordion), Monkey Boy (Drummer), Fiddler Eve, Old Red, Scurvy Ben, Val & Emilio DuMonde (Guitarra), "Hog Eye" (Banjo), One Chou Zhong (Strings) and the extended crew. All the tracks are true to the pirate spirit telling stories about travels, exotic places, drunkard parties and violence! The tracks could not be classified as metal (in contrast to other similar bands that combine the two elements), however, their tone is representative of the pirate genre and makes their approach unique. Starting the journey with "The lamentation of the Marooned Sailor (Bottle of Rum)", you instantly get hooked to the vibe. The most uplifting songs are "Welcome to Tortuga" and "It Matters Not", while the best examples of intense story-telling are the aggressive "Colour of Sin", the melancholic "Drowned Walz" and the gloomy "When ye Dead Come Sailing Home Again". Songs like the "Yellow Jack", "Waves Roll High", "Fire Down Below" and "'Bout Me Father" are bound to make you wanna drink and sing along with the crew!


95/100

This is the official video clip for the cheerful song "Welcome to Tortuga".

#10 - Top of 2012

Big Big Train - English Electric Pt One (Eer/Gep)

Moving down to the ten best albums of 2012, in number ten we have the first part of the English Electric by the ever crafty Big Big Train. This is the second album with Nick D'Virgilio on Drums and David Longdon on Vocals, and essentially the first record that the new members had a real creative input. The album is musically very close to its predecessor, but at the same time is the more approachable of the two English Electric releases (the second released in 2013), having no song exceed the 10 minute mark. The album achieves that without compromising its artistic integrity or becoming more simple but by compressing its artistry into pieces that are shorter but definitely not less proggy than they should. 
Going in a track by track exploration,  "The First Rebreather" is an amazing opener with nods to Genesis and with amazing lyrics and pioneering storytelling. "Uncle Jack" is an off-beat tune with banjo excerpts in it. "Winchester from St. Giles' Hill" is easily among the finest tunes of the album with jazzy guitars and vocal arrangements lending themselves to recount one hell of a story. "Judas Unrepentant" is more mellow and again alludes to Genesis without loosing the band's individual identity. "Summoned by Bells" begins with a  piano arpeggio before reinventing itself through the use of cello, doo-wap b-vox and recorders with an emotional outro with King Crimson influences abundant throughout. "Upton Hill"is quirky with cello sounds giving it a unique a distinct vibe. "A Boy in Darkness" is a powerful and emotional piece with D'Virgilio leading the way and again one of the best moments of the album Hedgerow has a Beatles feel with amazing vocal lines, slow guitars and violin arrangements leading to an explosive progressive piece which might also qualify as one o the best progressive songs of the year. An incredible end to an incredibly consistently awesome album which, at least for me, is probably the best in the long career of Big Big Train and a true masterpiece equal to very few others in the 21st century.

95/100

Below is the band performing Judas Unrepentant live and an audio clip of Hedgerow

 

#11- Top of 2012

Arraigo- Fronteras y Horizontes (Independent)

Fronteras y Horizontes is the first full length album by the Argentinian heavy/ folk metal band that is entirely in Spanish. The band which is composed of singer Pablo Trangone, guitarists Federico Bertoli and Leandro Ramogida, drummer  Federico Prieto and bassist Javier A. Espeche succeeds in mixing Heavy metal with Tango and Folk elements using amazing guitar riffs along with traditional Argentinian instruments such as the "bombo leguero" and the "charango". The album (which has amazing replay value and is bound to be stuck in your music list for a while) starts with the heavily cheerful "Carnaval de soledade" but has songs for every taste with acoustic songs such as the "Zamba para los huérfanos", guitar&drums-based songs like the "En el nombre del padre" and the "Crías de crías" and songs that combine both elements such as the "Para aquel que sabe oír".
The final two songs, the vibrant "Cadenas y antifaces" combining both heavy guitar riffs and an uplifting vibe followed by the tango-based "Que sangre madera" provide a unique wrap-up of the album leaving the listener hoping that a new album will be coming out soon!

94/100

Below is the video clip for the song "Nehuen (Fuego del Alma)".

#12- Top of 2012

Mostly Autumn- Ghost Moon Orchestra (Mostly Autumn Records) 

Ghost Moon Orchestra is the 2012 release of British prog-rock band Mostly Autumn and is their 10th studio album in a career spanning almost two decades. It has all the engaging elements that are representative of the band, including amazing female vocals by Olivia Spernnan and male vocals by Bryan Josh, excellent musicianship filled with guitar and keyboard tunes (by Iain Jennings) and an overall engaging flow from beginning to end! The powerful vocals can be noted especially in the equally great "King of the Valley" and "Wild Eyes Skies". The album is full of eerie ambient ballads such as the "Unquiet Tears" without missing out on heavier songs lead by powerful male vocal such as the "Ghost Moon Orchestra" and songs guided by acoustic guitars such as the "Working Man". The mood is set by rather dark melodies and lyrics which are describing a scary and eerie environment around a campsite.  Overall, it is a very good example of English and Celtic folk/ prog that can be appreciated by both prog fans and first timers in this particular music field!


94/100

Below is a lyric video for the song "Wide Eyed Skies"

.

#13 - Top of 2012

Witchcraft -Legend (Nuclear Blast)

In the lucky number 13 of the 2012 top list, we have the 4th album of Swedish heavy rockers Witchcraft, aptly named Legend. The album follows in its predecessors' steps and is marked by Witchcraft's traditional sound. This release would be followed by a 4 year break from releases followed by an excellent successor in this year's Nucleus. Two new guitar players were added for the needs of this album and the band's main-man Magnus Pelander who also played guitars in the previous records is only in vocal duty here, leaving the guitar duties to his two new bandmates. Highlights of the album include the single "It's not because of you"  and the epic "Dead End" which acts as a closing act to the album. The rest of the songs are also of genuinely excellent quality and there are very few flaws in this otherwise immaculate record which acts as a magical gateway back to 70s psychedelia.


95.5/100


Below is the lyric video for the single of the record, "It's not because of you"

#14- Top of 2012

Therion - Les Fleurs du Mal (End of the Light)

In number 14, we have the latest, to date full-length album of Therion who have since been put on a mini-hiatus to prepare a grandiose operatic album, while still occasionally hitting the road for a live or two. This is an endeavour unlike what Therion have produced ever before, as it contains exclusively covers of old songs from the 60s interpreted through the distorted lens of the very talented Mr Johnsson.  There is abundant talent here as the membership of the band has remained relatively unchanged from Sitra Ahraagain Johnsson here joined by Thomas Vikstrom of Candlemass fame, who also lend his voice in the previous Therion album (Sitra Ahra), the soprano Lori Lewis and Nalle Påhlsson (bass), Johan Koleberg (drums) and |Christian Vidal (lead guitrars). If you are a fan of old "golden age" pop songs and Therion, look no further! This one is for you!


 94/100

Below are the music videos for three of the cover songs of the album

#15 - Top of 2012

GravelRoad -Psychedelta (Knick Knack Records)

Psychedelta is a the third album of the Seattle-based trio: guitarist Stefan Zillouxs, drummer Marty Reinsel, and bassist Jon "Kirby" Newman who make up GravelRoad. The record starts of by setting up the mood with a dirty and  alt-bluesy vibe with "Devil Eyes", "Keep on Movin" (introducing a psychedelic blues rock element) and "In the Woods" (with its southern country-like guitar riffs). Throughout the album a familiar feeling is created without repeating but by enhancing known tunes. "Caves" (with its "crying" guitars and prog-rock sound) and "Deep Blues Theme" are excellent examples of the blues, while "Nobody Gets Me Down" is a funky cover to the original song by T-Model Ford and "Furry" is closer to the traditional deep blues feel. The final song "I Was Alone" is a classic bluesy song and a perfect track to wrap up a disc that blends perfectly new and old sounds taking the listener into a trip to the Deep South!


94/100

This is the music video for the album track "Keep On Movin"

#16 - Top of 2012

Ensiferum - Unsung Heroes (Spinefarm Records)

Viking folk metallers Ensiferum released in 2012 one of their most epic records, in Unsung Heroes. The album starts off with the epic intro "Symbols", leading into the first awesome song of the record, "In my Sword I trust", a fast Viking metal sing-along which sets the tone for what is to follow. The eponymous track who follows brings the speed down and has a more epic feel to it with folk metal overtones. "Burning Leaves" follows with a fully blown folk tune that breaks into power intermitted by folkloric interludes. "Celestial Bond", which follows is mainly dressed in the voice of Laura Dziadulewicz, singer of Medeia and acts as an acoustic interlude to the album's frantic energy. Speedy folk is back in "Retribution Shall Be Mine", while the folky Star Queen is simply a melodic elegy. "Pohjola" is another folk song, which is more reminiscent of older Ensiferum records with a more "black" feel and an added grandiosity to it. "Last Breath" is more solemn with an acoustic vibe and acts as an intro to the final 17 minute epic "Passion Proof Power" which acts as a perfect close to the album. There is an added bonus track of a loose cover of Bamboleo which is a fun note to an otherwise cool and solemn epic folk record. An excellent effort, truly a gem for its genre.

94/100

Below is the music video for "In my Sword I Trust"

#17 - Top of 2012

Baroness -Yellow and  Green (Relapse Records)

After a short break we are moving on to number 17, taking a small leave from all things progressive that defined the last 4 posts of this list and heading towards a more hard rocking album. "Yellow and Green" is Baroness's third full length album and it came out during a year that became challenging for the band (while touring for the album's promotion, the band's bus crashed in the UK, severely injuring the vocalist/guitarist John Baizley, as well as drummer Allen Blickle and guitarist/vocalist Matt Maggioni who later left the band). The record is split into two discs both equally interesting and filled with psychedelic, heavy and hard-rock vibes! The first disc starts with the heavy-paced instrumental "Yellow Theme" followed by a range of different tunes including the rocker "Take My Bones Away", the psychedelic "Cocainium", the melodic "Twinkler" and the atmospheric "Eula", which constitutes as a transition to the second part of the album. The second disc starts with the airy instrumental piece "Green Theme" followed by the radio-rock "Board Up the House", the captivating "Mtns. (The Crown & Anchor)" and "Foolsong", wrapping up with the more alternative "The Line Between" and the instrumental tunes of the "If I Forget Thee, Lowcountry". The intriguing cover art by Baizley completes the album with a great visual depiction of the record's vibe and amazing song-writing!


 94/100

 Below is the music video for "Take My Bones Away"