Best of 2012: Songs

As I have said before, this year has been a great year for heavy metal and we have seen some incredible stuff from both established artist as well from rookie's. We have witnessed some fantastic guitar works, soaring vocals, exciting structures and some mind blowing solo's. So let us now see which songs stood up against its competition. Here is the 50 best songs of 2012

50. Cradle of Filth - Succumb To This - The Manticore And Other Horrors
49. Dynazty - Love Junkie - Sultans of Sin
48. Jorn - A thousand Cuts - Bring Heavy Rock To The Land
47. Testament - Last Stand For Independence - Dark Roots of Earth
46. Unisonic - Souls Alive - S/T
45. Dr. Living Dead - Signs From The Other Side - Radioactive Intervention
44. Soundgarden - Been Away Too Long - King Animal
43. Threshold - Staring At The Sun - March of Progress
42. Grand Magus - Draksådd - The Hunt
41. Anarchy Club - All The Fires Burning - Life In The Underground
40. Shadows Fall - The Wasteland - Fire From The Sky
39. Between The Buried And Me - Extremophile Elite - The Parallax II: Future Sequence
38. I Am I - Wasted Wonders - Event Horizon
37. Black Majesty - Voice of Change - Stargazer
36. Nekromantheon - Rise, Vulcan Spectre - Rise, Vulcan Spectre
35. Freedom Call - Terra Liberty - Land of The Crimson Dawn
34. Ne Obliviscaris - Xenoflux - Portal of I
33. The Agonist - You're Coming With Me - Prisoners
32. Kreator - Your Heaven, My Hell - Phantom Antichrist
31. Raubtier - Besten I Mig - Från Norrland Till Helvetets Port
30. Mustasch - Speed Metal - Sounds Like Hell, Looks Like Heaven
29. Domination Black - Cold Touch - Dimention: Death
28. Grave Digger - Death Angel & The Grave Digger - Clash of The Gods
27. John 5 - The Hill of The Seven Jackals - God Told Me To
26. Blessed By A Broken Heart - Holdin' Back For Nothin' - Feel The Power
25. Stone Sour - Tired - House of Gold & Bones Pt. 1
24. Lillasyster - Dra Åt Helvete - 3
23. Tenacious D - Roadie - Rize of The Fenix
22. Paradise Lost - In This We Dwell - Tragic Idol
21. Wolfsbane - Blue Sky - Wolfsbane Saves The World
20. Demon Hunter - God Forsaken - True Defiance
19. Slash - Anastasia - Apocalyptic Love
18. Accept - Revolution - Stalingrad
17. Prong - Revenge... Best Served Cold - Carved Into Stone
16. Adrenaline Mob - Undaunted - Omertá
15. All Hail The Yeti - I Am Wendigod - S/T

You can not get any more groovier than this spectacular song from All Hail The Yeti's debut. It is a simple, but a very effective, song that still makes a hell of a impression. I see a bright future for this band.

14. Engel - Blood of Saints - Blood of Saints

With every album released, Engel has gone one step forward and "Blood of Saints" was no exception. The title track is hard on the verse and epic on the chorus. A good mix if you ask me.

13. Rush - Headlong Flight - Clockwork Angels

There are few bands that can take you on such a journey as Rush can. "Headlong Flight" has a catchy riff and a Geddy Lee in great shape (both bass and vocals). A enjoyable rollercoaster ride.

12. Herman Frank - So They Run - Right In The Guts

Well this is a song that I am not running away from. Herman Frank is doing a great job on the guitar and At Vance singer Rick Altzi has never sounded better. Also, one of the best choruses this year.

11. Devil's Train - Room 66/64 - S/T

Swedish newcomers Devil's Train is not taking s**t from anyone, something that reflects well on the powerful and breathtaking "Room 66/64". That song just breaths self esteem.

10. Overkill - Drop The Hammer - The Electric Age

"Drop The Hammer" is actually one of the calmer songs from "The Electric Age" but what it lacks on speed it takes back on grooviness. And just like with the rest of the album the band is doing a swell job. Three cheers for the black and blue.

9. The Very End - Maelstorm Calling - Turn Off The World

This song is strong, not strong strong but the darkness "Maelstorm Calling" is bringing is giving me a big lump in my guts. You would have thought that was a bad feeling but it actually feels so great. Probably the most emotional song of 2012.

8. Epica - Monopoly On Truth - Requiem For The Indifferent

"Monopoly On Truth" is a pretty strange song but it is very symphonic and the chorus is just so god damn beautiful. Simone Simons is doing some of her best vocal works on the entire album in this song. Another great feature on this song is that it is pretty unpredictable.
7. Devin Townsend Project - Liberation - Epicloud

Since the album is called "Epicloud" it would be fitting that I would celebrate one of the more epic songs from that album. Naaahhhh. "Liberation" may not be a super epic song but it is a great song to shake things up. A dazzling riff together with warp speed is making this fantastic piece. The only epic with "Liberation" is the chorus where the quire is being used to the max. Effervescent quality!

6. Katana - In The Land of The Sun - Storms of War

Sweden may not be the land of the sun but that big round thing is always shining when I am listening to this song. A lot of epicness together with soaring vocals, great riffing and many tempo shiftings. Katana sure knows how to make a song with japanese theming.
5. Fozzy - Storm The Beaches - Sin And Bones

11 and a half minute to explain a young mans despair during the second world war. That is what this song is all about. And for a band with a pro wrestler on vocals, Fozzy is making quite a good work here. Never a boring second on this. The most theatrical song of 2012.

4. Primal Rock Rebellion - Savage World - Awoken Broken

It was hell to choose between "No Place Like Home" and "Savage World" but I chose the latter one because it was more modern and Adrian Smith's guitar work was a little better here (even though the solo was way too short). And the drums are just slamming.
3. Cloudscape - Your Desire - New Era

Power metal may not have its best year but some artist made some big impressions. One was Cloudscape and the song "Your Desire". Setting a furious tempo instantly and then shifting a gear down on the chorus. This song is just as modern power metal should sound like.
2. Blaze Bayley - Dimebag - The King of Metal

There are a lot of songs that is celebrating the murdered Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell but I think this is one of the better songs in that category. "Dimebag" may not be a great lyrical experience but the music and the performance Blaze Bayley is just incredible. Blaze sets the mood perfectly and makes this song as grand as it should be. And we must not forget the solo. A long and tempo shifting solo that is purely awesome. Best solo of 2012.

And the best song of 2012 is (insert drumroll)...

1. Gojira - The Gift of Guilt - L'Enfant Sauvage

Where should I start? First off, the riff is pure perfection. I could listen to that riff for days and still love it. Then I must mention that the songstructure is great, the band performs like clockwork, the balance between heaviness and melody is absolutely astonishing, the song structure is great and the ending may be long but that works as a big advantage. The only complaint I got against "The Gift of Guilt" is the lack of a solo. But who cares. This song does not need a solo. it is as good as it is. "The Gift of Guilt" truly deserves the title best song of 2012.

Which songs are your favourites from the past year? Are there any songs in this list that you think does not deserve its spot? Let me know by posting a comment. And btw, Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or what ever the f**k you are celebrating at this time of the year.