Poll 2012

Chris Galea
Important releases in 2012
ACCEPT “Stalingrad” ACYL “Algebra” AKPHAEZYA “Anthology IV: The Tragedy Of Nerak” ALTAR OF OBLIVION “Grand Gesture Of Defiance” ANATHEMA “Weather Systems” ATKINS / MAY PROJECT “Valley Of Shadows” BEDEMON “Symphony Of Shadows” CANDLEMASS “Psalms For The Dead” CETI “Ghost Of The Universe” COUNTER WORLD EXPERIENCE “Music For Kings” DARK PRINCESS “The World I’ve Lost” DEPTH “Memento Mori” (EP) DUBLIN DEATH PATROL “Death Sentence” EARTHEN GRAVE “Earthen Grave” EUROPE “Bag Of Bones” GRAND MAGUS “The Hunt” I AND THOU “Speak” KREATOR “Phantom Antichrist” JOHN LAWTON & DIANA EXPRESS “Power Of Mind” MAGNUM “On The Thirteenth Day” MARCUS MILLER “Renaissance” MY DYING BRIDE “A Map Of All Our Failures” PAUL GILBERT “Vibrato” PYRAMID THEOREM “Pyramid Theorem” RANDY GEORGE “Action Reaction” SPEAKING TO STONES “Elements” THE ARISTOCRATS “Boing! We’ll Do It Live” THE CHANT “A Healing Place” THE KEITH EMERSON BAND “Three Fates Project” THERION “Les Fleurs Du Mal” TOWARDS DARKNESS “Barren” TRIOSCAPES “Separate Realities” WINTERSUN “Time I” Y&T “Live At The Mystic” YOSSI SASSI “Melting Clocks”
Best band websites
OPETH (www.opeth.com) LACRIMOSA (www.lacrimosa.ch) BLIND GUARDIAN (www.blind-guardian.com)
Best gigs
MARSHALL 50 YEARS OF LOUD – Wembley Arena (London, England) – September22^nd (With Joe Satriani, Zakk Wylde, Paul Gilbert, Doug Aldrich, Brian Tichy, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Duffy, Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, Glenn Hughes, Mike Portnoy, Kerry King, Andy Fraser, Nicko McBrain, Phil Campell, Adam Wakeman and many others)
Newcomer 2012
ADRIAN WEISS (www.reverbnation.com/adrianweiss) HARK (www.harkband.com) MEANSTEED (www.meansteed.com) RISING FORCE (www.facebook.com/RisingForceNZ)
Best films seen
“Chronicle” (dir. Josh Trank) “Cockneys vs Zombies” (dir. Matthias Hoene) “Corman’s World” (dir.Alex Stapleton) “Moonrise Kingdom” (dir. Wes Anderson) “Safe House” (dir. Daniel Espinosa) “The Dictator” (dir.Larry Charles)
Best Music-related film or DVD
“Last Days Here” (dir. Don Argott & Demian Fenton)
Wishes for 2013
‘Wishes’ is a fancy aphorism for ‘hope’ of which there is none.
Haydee G
Important releases in 2012
Arjen Lucassen – Lost in the New Real Carach Angren – Where The Corpses Sink Forever Catamenia – The Rewritten Chapters Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud Epica – Requiem for the Indifferent Freedom Call – Land of The Crimson Dawn Jeff Loomis – Plains of Oblivion Kamelot – Silverthorn Marduk – Serpent Moon Naglfar – Teras Paradox – Tales of the Weird Rage – 21 Spheric Universe Experience – The New Eve Wintesun – Time I Yngwie Malmsteen – Spellbound Zonaria – Arrival of the Red Sun
Live show 2012
Fleshgod Apocalypse, Moonsorrow, Rhapsody of Fire, Symphony – X, Turisas (Paganfest III), Wintersun.
Wishes for 2013 Not to be disappointed by these upcoming movies: Iron Man 3, Die Hard 5, The Hobbit Part II, Oblivion, The Wolverine, Thor: The Dark World, Red 2, Archorman: The Legend Continues and Stark Trek: Into Darkness. Wintersun’s Time II. A great deal of great metal releases.

Kenn Jensen
Important releases in 2012
Headspace – I Am Anonymous Anathema – Weather Systems Riversea – Out of an Ancient World Flying Colors – Flying Colors Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud Katatonia – Dead End Kings
Live show 2012
Opeth at Voxhall in Århus Metallica in Horsens
Newcomer 2012
Headspace Beyond the Bridge Riversea Attic
Things you could have been without in 2012
The passing of my beloved mother (R.I.P)
Wishes for 2013 A great metal year with loads of great music!

Patrik Skoglund
Important releases in 2012
Adrenaline Mob – OmertáH.E.A.T – Adress the Nation Shadowside – Inner Monster Out Accept – Stalingrad Sonata Artica – Stones Grow Her Name Kamelot – Silverthorn Grand Magus – The Hunt Asia – XXX Firewind – Few Against Many Threshold – March of Progress Eclipse – Bleed And Scream Magnum – On the 13’th Day Bonrud – Save Tomorrow David J Caron – Throu Ever-Ending Black Circus Maximus – Nine Jimi Jamison – Never Too Late Cloudscape – New Era Love.Might.Kill – 2 Big 2 Fail Kiss – Monster Youngblood – No Retreat Van Halen – A Different Kind Of Truth
Newcomer 2012
Bonrud
Things you could have been without in 2012
The rain and the cold on Sweden Rock Festival.
Wishes for 2013 I hope on a sunny and warm festival in Solvesborg in June! I wish that Van Halen finally will come to Sweden for a gig. I want to be healthy and to have a awesome comeback on the race track (running). I would like a sunny, cold day with wind in my back the 3’rd of March when I skii the 90 km in Vasaloppet. In April will Bill Champlin, Bobby Kimball (ToTo), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow) and Steve Augeri (Journey) create a magic night in Lycksele and we will stay on the same hotel all night long! Night Ranger, Overland, Work of Art, Snake Charmer, Bon Jovi, W.E.T, James Christian, Steve Lukather, Brother Firetribe, Degreed and Krokus will release new albums!!

Reinier de Vries
Important releases in 2012
Asphyx – Deathhammer Epica – Requiem For the Indifferent Overkill – The Electric Age Paradise Lost – Tragic Idol Carach Angren – Where the Corpses Sink Forever Candlemass – Psalms for the Dead Kreator – Phantom Antichrist Be’ Lakor – of Breath and Bone Testament – Dark Roots of Earth Ex Deo – Caligula Whyzdom – Blind? Kamelot – Silverthorn Destruction – Spiritual Genocide Paradox – Tales of the Weird Forcentury – Revelant Goatwhore – Blood for the Master Angelus Apatrida – the Call Allegaeon – Formshifter Pastore – the End of Our Flames Tourniquet – Antiseptic Bloodbath
Live show 2012
Kontrust – Bolwerk Sneek Delain – Bolwerk Sneek Jon Oliva’s Pain – Dokk ’em Open Air
Newcomer 2012
Paradox (I know they are not new, but they really surprised me with their new album!) Infernal Tenebra Whyzdom
Things you could have been without in 2012
People making a fuss about little things they find important, not realizing that they should be happy because they are healthy and have everything they need.
Wishes for 2013 That my daughters 10 year old classmate will recover from the world’s most terrible and unfair disease! Hope you can find the strength girl!

Thomas Nielsen
Important releases in 2012
Devin Townsend Project – Epicloud Epic and loud. Wonderful, diverse, brilliant. Gojira – L’enfant Sauvage Stunning, nothing more, nothing less. Prong – Carved in Stone What a comeback! Probably the best Prong album ever. Fear Factory – The Industrialist With computer drums and all, Bell and Cazares show that they’re still relevant in the world of metal anno 2012. Napalm Death – Utilitarian There’s still so much power in Napalm Death from Birmingham, England. Impressive, again! My Dying Bride – A Map of All Our Failures Far from a failure, MDB have returned yet again with some of the best doom-laden death metal, the world has seen! Paradise Lost – Tragic Idol Not as extremely convincing as its predecessor, but still excellent. I love it. Saturnus – Saturn In Ascension A comeback album by the Danish doom kings which is absolutely amazing. At Aalborg Metal Festival the band showed us that they can also do it live! Testament – Dark Roots of Earth Testament is a unique band with a unique sound. Fantastic album. Dawn Of Demise – Rejoice In Vengeance Impressive kick of death metal from one of Denmark’s finest bands.
Live show 2012
Devin Townsend at Aalborg Metal Festival Gojira at Aalborg Metal Festival Machine Head at Wacken Morbid Angel in Aarhus (Voxhall)
Newcomer 2012
Lelahell from Algeria. Check out their ‘Al Inhitar EP’.
Things you could have been without in 2012
One funeral too many. Hearing once more that Burton C. Bell can’t cut it live. A damned shame! Only having 15 minutes with Devin Townsend when I interviewed him – would have liked more time!
Wishes for 2013 Judas Priest return with a brilliant album. Slayer likewise. No rain at Wacken. Peace and love and happiness stuff.

Tommy Skøtt
My top 20 “Knockout Kings of Steel” (in no particular order) of 2012
Beyond the Bridge – The Old Man and the Spirit ” Beyond the Bridge sets the bar very high for all, not just for debut albums, but all progressive metal acts to follow!” Affector – Harmagedon ” My heart is fulfilled with joy and sadness at the same time. Joy, since I was honored to review this progressive masterpiece from Affector. Sadness, if the predictions are coming true, maybe our precious world will come to an end.” Stealing Axion – Moments One of the year’s best contributions to the almighty and blooming “djent” scene. ” These are the newfound kings of the “djent” throne and progressive groove metal has a new name, pronounced “STEALING AXION”. This is as important as the universe itself, and hands down…my metalbrain has experienced some of the most intense and breathtaking eleven epic ‘MOMENTS’ in my yet short life as a metal reviewer.” Gnosis – Monuments “The quintet has constructed a new gigantic ‘monument’ of extraordinary size and power, to stand out among the other progressive metal acts out there, bringing something very unique and a refreshing sound to the already overpopulated “djent” scene.” Threshold – March of Progress 2012 will be remembered as the Year of Damian Wilson with his leading role in Threshold and Headspace. Threshold delivered maybe their best craftsmanship with this release ever. Wintersun – Time I 8 years of wait…and then frontman Jari has finally returned with his supercomputer from the future to produce the best melodic death metal piece delivered in many years, even though it was a very short listening experience… Teramaze – AnhedoniA “The band just delivered one of the best progressive thrash metal albums since many years, and I hope we will not have to wait 4 years again for the next release. If yes, we can find comfort until then, by feeding our ears with this masterpiece.” Syqem – Reflections of Elephants Was introduced to this prog act by one of my friends, and what a delightful surprise it was. A polished prog gem & debut introducing a very unique blend of electronica (dupstep) and prog metal. Circus Maximus – Nine One of my prog metal favorites of 2012, and after five years of wait this quintet from Norway had one hell of a comeback with this release. “With this release most of the technical acrobatic tricks from the debut lay buried deep down in the earth, but what we now get from these musicians is so much more than that. It is feelings told with mesmerizing melodies and heavy tunes, which will haunt your dreams forever” Periphery – Periphery II “This musical journey has been an endless cycle of listening for me. The album has so much to offer with its uncountable flavors and juiciness and has succeeded in gluing my ears to the speakers for many hours of listening” Kamelot – Silverthorn Roy left Kamelot , and it was announced that Tommy Karevik of prog metal act Seventh Wonder would replaced him. Did he succeed? Indeed he fits like a hand in a glove. “Silverthorn” should be a thorn in the side of Kamelot sceptics. Pun intended!” Headspace – I Am Anonymous “Well, this album combines the strengths of Dream Theater, Threshold, A Perfect Circle, Rush and Yes and melts it all into a perfect symbiosis. The music simply captures you and takes you on a sonic journey beyond the stratosphere” Damian Wilson & Co. nailed it. Speaking to Stones – Elements 7 Horns 7 Eyes – Throes of Absolution ” Still it must be one of the best progressive death metal experiences released this year. My ears are still glued to my earphones and can’t escape this beast from hell.” Arjen Anthony Lucassen – Lost in the New Real Finally this young man has returned from his home planet called Netherlands with the next solo release in his career. “This jewel is more in the vein of Ayreon in the early years. With help from some unique talents on board, Arjen is able to deliver one of his most creative works since “Into the Electric Castle” that melds different music styles so seamlessly. The high diversity of this release includes contrasting styles such as prog, rock, metal, folk, industrial and even pop.” Hemina – Synthetic A great debut by these newcomers to the prog scene, and what a great opportunity to kick off my new career as a reviewer of PoM. Distorted Harmony – Utopia This could be a wish child of legendary melodic prog metal group Fates Warning and prog maestros Dream Theater…enough said! Suspyre – Suspyre Ethereal Architect – Monolith Katatonia – Dead End Kings “Dead End Kings” is the best dark and melancholic album this year!
Live show 2012
Opeth at Store Vega in Copenhagen Kamelot at Lille Vega in Copenhagen Gojira at Copenhell Festival
Newcomer 2012
Distorted Harmony Stealing Axion Beyond the Bridge Headspace I’ll stop now…and Affector!
Wishes for 2013 Hopefully, it will be another great year in the company of my great colleagues and metalheads from Power of Metal \m/. Wintersun – The second part of the epos “Time” Seventh Wonder – It’s time for frontman Tommy Karevik, who has been touring and tearing up the stages all over Europe this year with Kamelot, to return to his old prog roots with SW. Headspace – A follow up to their debut masterpiece “I Am Anonymous”, yes please \m/ Rumors are true…Finn Zierler (Beyond Twilight) will return with a new super group called “Zierler Projects”…Hopefully, he will unleash the debut during 2013. I’ll be waiting very patiently… I’ll will certainly be praying for another amazing year with many new prog releases to be raining down upon our metalheads \m/

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