Rolling Metal Thread 2012

If it's an album by an established act, does it significantly up their game, take them in an interesting new direction, set a new benchmark for their corner of the world, serve as the most fully realized example of their vision yet, or is it just plain awesome? If it's a newer act, do they bring something new to the table, provide an exceptional example of the genre they're working in, surprise you, etc

By the way, I'm not denying that all of these factors might obviously figure into how much you like something -- might make it more compelling, more worth returning to, more fun; might give it more potential for future usefulness. But the trick of criticism (list-making and otherwise) is to figure out how much you like or dislike something, and then figure out why, not the other way around, by marking off variables on a checklist or whatever. There are plenty of great albums that do nothing new at all, always have been. And new directions aren't necessarily good directions.

I don't like the Dethklok album at all, by the way. But I also don't distrust the guy on facebook who tried explaining why he thinks it's one of the year's best metal albums. He's a pretty good critic, and he hears tons of metal. In his world, maybe it is one of the best.

I agree, Chuck. And I feel like, when writing a review of an album, that's the approach to take. But when you're compiling an end of year list, something which by its very nature requires more rumination on why you like something and why that thing is more worthy of promotion at the end of the year (and end of year lists are supposed to take into account how well an album has aged in the intervening time after it's had a lot of time to sit with you), it's pretty valuable to look at those different factors.

end of year lists are supposed to take into account how well an album has aged in the intervening time after it's had a lot of time to sit with you

Obviously agree with this. But otherwise, I'm more likely to (mostly sub-consciously) ask myself questions like: (1) How often do I play this?; (2) How often do I expect to play it in the future?; (3) How much do I get out of it when I do play it? (which might eliminate stuff that seems more lightweight, but then again might not); (4) How much of it do I care about?; (5) How much do I want to hear it right now? All of which add up to: Of these two (or 200) albums, which one do I like more? "Importance" (however you define it) is a minor issue.

Since I don't get paid by whoever is buying ad space in the magazine, I try to be 100% honest about what albums I like the most, in the order that I liked them.

Unfortunately, I am often most excited about artists who are my booking clients (go figure that I book some of my favorite bands). So it's a drag that due to "conflict of interest" I'm annually barred from putting bands like YOB on my year-end list.

Actually, (aside from my own album which I am very proud of), I have decided to throw in the towel and include the Agalloch e.p. on my lists since it's just a great record.

I'm not advocating dishonesty. I just think there are certain criteria that need to be weighed when putting together an end of year list, especially if it's supposed to be representing the publication and not just your personal favorites – and there is a difference, Chuck. For example, Die Hard is probably my favorite movie, but I'm not going to claim that it's the best movie ever made.

I definitely see a different between the "objective" best and my "personal" favorite. Big time.

I'd say that Master of Puppets is the best Metallica album, but Ride the Lightning is still my favorite. I get that.

I don't get that (especially that specific an example!) at all. If Master Of Puppets is "better," why wouldn't you like it more? That makes no sense to me.

Die Hard is probably my favorite movie, but I'm not going to claim that it's the best movie ever made.

Just the best one you've ever seen?

I mean, I believe people who say Charlie Parker is a great artist, even though I don't get him (in fact, I've called him "probably the greatest artist whose music I don't get"), and I could say the same about certain movies I've never made it through. (I probably wouldn't say anything was the best movie ever; I haven't seen enough movies. Could maybe say the same about metal albums, except that I subtitled a book The 500 Best Heavy Metal Albums In The Universe once.) But the smaller the pie gets from "in all of human history," the sillier the distinction seems to me. Nothing from 2012 has been canonized; I'll be damned if I'm going to contribute to the canonization of albums I don't actually love, just because somebody else with more boring taste than me (okay, with different taste than me) does.

Wow, I have a busy as hell day at work with no time for ilx and you guys go crazy with the good discussion.

But you can all breathe easier, my Krallice CD finally showed up in today's mail, only four months after placing the order.

Expect your cross-town mail order in 2014.

Lol.

People who make year-end lists should obviously have perfect knowledge of the breadth of human history and culture, past, present, and future, is all I'm trying to say.

I think there is too much water being held on a EOY record list. Maybe a bit more thought can be into a eoy list from a publication, as it should rep what THAT particular publication is about, but a personal list is up for whatever floats your boat. Thats why its a personal list.. Global impact of a record is NEVER a consideration

The specific list under discussion wasn't (framed as) a personal list, though, but rather as representing the publication.

For what it's worth, I am still scared to look at that list. Really want to stay oblivious to whatever is going on at that publication. (I sort of have a history there, see.)

Well, the piece was written in editorial plural voice, contrary to the premise undergirding this whole tangent.

There is a circle of Hell reserved for people who use the "editorial we." And at the Voice, of all places -- Okay, I'm definitely leaning toward boycotting Pazz & Jop. No good can come of this.

I don't really agree with anything j3ff is saying here (sorry!) but that vv article is pretty irritating to me. starting things off by praising an album for how 'not metal' it is just isn't what I'm looking for in a '10 best metal records of 2012' article, weirdly enough. just not my bag.

otoh, grim kim's list seems really cool and makes me want to check out a bunch of albums even though all I listen to nowadays are albums that YMO members play on or produced. knelt rote! their first two ruled! didn't realize a new one dropped, man I gotta listen to that.

Knelt Rote is badass live. I've never tried listening to their recordings.

those are also pretty badass

Shameless plug...I wrote a thing on Barge to Hell, which was last week and loads of fun:

http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/headbang-blogpost.aspx?post=b12cd001-00fa-4cbf-82cf-5bd960a5b2b4

Not as into this Corsair record as some of the other people on here. It's decent, but I don't know, I feel like Gypsyhawk do the Thin Lizzy thing with more verve and better songs.

In the meantime – Hells Headbangers 7" roundup on the Deciblog! http://www.decibelmagazine.com/featured/7-inches-of-hell/

Adrien, your write-up on Barge to Hell was a fantastic read, seems like such fun! It's still hilarious to see all those death metal dudes cavorting in the sunshine like that, the picture of Attilla invisible oranging the sun is all time.

I've started trying to organize my year-end lists, and wow was there a lot of good metal this year. It's looking like I'm going to mix the less abrasive metal into my "regular" lists this year, and have a separate list for, more or less, metal with noisy vocals. The short list for this, at the moment: Agalloch, Ahnengrab, Anamnesi, Ankhagram, Arbor, Arstidir Lifsins, Azoic, Blut Aus Nord, Cradle of Filth, De Magia Veterum, Deathspell Omega, Desiderii Marginis, Dodecahedron, Dynfari, Ea, Evoken, Eis, Frozen Ocean, Heimdalls Wacht, Krake, Liam, Oak Pantheon, Raventale, ScerrA, Seirom, Solbrud, Stagnant Waters, Svartidaudi, Tempestuous Fall, Thisquietarmy, Thormesis, Timor et Tremor, Ubi Sunt, Wild Hunt.

I won't reveal which metal albums are destined for my main list, but they're ones I've mentioned here one or twice or several times.

Yeah, I really need to start cranking on my lists, but I keep hearing good new stuff!!

the thing is that metal is the genre where one isn't as assailed by the "but if it's fun right now, that's valid!" mindset - metal, from the early eighties forward, is pretentious and ambitious and these are both good qualities in the right time and place. Metal should be monumental. There is plenty of "it's great for this summer" music on the pop charts, give me my Quixotes in metal please.

man i could stand to listen to a totally solid death metal from this year

Spawn of Possession dude

That record fucking rules.

So is the EOY metal poll happening, and if so, when?

not soon, i hope

Agree with Jon there's no need for a poll. It's not metal.
Just everyone list top 20's here and those inclined can check the albums out. Never saw the need for big fancy email polls other than the big ILM one run by johnny fever.

well i'm still in favor of the poll, because this is one of the most interesting polls on ilm in general, i'm just not prepared to participate just yet. i'd like a few more weeks.

Yeah, the metal poll is fun.

Spawn of Possession dude

holy shit

Best discovery for me from the year-end metal lists so far? Satan's Wrath, Galloping Blasphemy. Placed pretty high on Decibel's list and, after hearing it, I can't believe we didn't walk about it itt (unless my Ctrl-F is betraying me. It's super fun Greek blackened thrash with a decidly old school feel. Also this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HWCuuJfW8PU/UGtl5vIT6NI/AAAAAAAAMps/WVi0Q5Hqi-I/s640/satans+wrath+01.jpg

Just listening to The Black Chord by Astra for the first time... this fucking rules!!

That's a great one too.

HAIL TRITONE, HAIL LUCIFER

Yeah, The Black Chord is definitely getting a vote off me in the big poll.

I like the 'five metal records your're listening to at the moment' thread - something like that but for 2012 records is something I'd like to see. I don't mind the metal poll at all, I've participated in the past, but I can't decide what order I like stuff. I like it all!

Here's the new Ghost song. I think it's pretty weak stuff, to be honest. The keyboards have devolved from Blue Öyster Cult knockoffs to imitations of the Doors in circus-music mode, it's too slow, it doesn't have a chorus, and it's at least a minute too long. When they were offered a wheelbarrow full of money last year, I asked, "But do they have a second album in them?" Based on this song, the answer is No, they don't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN2GCjPh0Hw

I didn't like the first record but this horrid track makes it look like Dont Break The Oath or something. Yuck.

I don't want to write them of so quickly. I don't mind the song, but if this was designated the main "focus track" on this album, then they're in trouble.

I still can't get on board with Ghost..

I like Ghost, though I didn't get excited until I saw them live. This song is fine, but doesn't feel remotely like a single.

I played it for my girlfriend. She said "sounds like something you'd hear at Hot Topic in the mall."

Thats funny, cuz I saw a post on Facebook with this song and their caption was something like "this will go over the heads of the hot topic crowd.."

^^^ Those two HT propositions are not mutually exclusive. ^^^

Begrime Exemious's Visions of the Scourge is the only album that would be on my year-end list and hasn't already been posted somewhere in this thread. It's angry, demonic metal that feels like it could've come out 20 years ago and doesn't fit into any categories. Death, black, thrash, sure.

Binah and Bound by Entrails were also fantastic. Hopefully I can come up with something that doesn't start with the letter "B."

Year-end shenanigans are finally up and running at MSN...

http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/headbang-blogpost.aspx?post=a7a6961c-cdcb-40be-a110-0e9d0b242b45

Happy birthday Phil Freeman!

The Ghost track sounds fine to me, not my favorite of theirs, but its still pretty fun.

Hello you have until 7pm EST on Friday, December 21st 2012 (that's midnight for the Britishes and 4pm for our friends on the left coast of the US) to nominate in !!! Under New Management !!! It's The ILM NON-ELITIST METAL ALBUMS POLL 2012 NOMINATIONS THREAD