Where other news outlets put together their own top 10 lists, Ultimate Guitar turns to its community who know better than anyone what the best music of the year is.
Two weeks ago we opened a poll to see who had released the best album of 2012. It took over 13,000 votes, so thanks to all of you for taking part.So what were your top 10 albums of 2012?
10. Soundgarden "King Animal"
Their comeback album earned 8/10 in our album review. It's their first LP since 1996, and we're glad they're back.Hear "Been Away Too Long":
9. Green Day "¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tre!"
Green Day took the unprecedented step of releasing three albums as one concept release. UG readers were divided over which one sounded best, but everyone found something to love amid the dozens of new tracks.See the reviews for each individual release here: "¡Uno!", "¡Dos!", "¡Tre!"Hear "Oh Love":
8. Lamb Of God "Resolution"
Singer Randy Blythe has had a crazy year with his manslaughter charge in the Czech Republic, but not until after their storming album release in January. We awarded it a solid 9/10.Hear "Ghost Walking":
7. Muse "The 2nd Law"
Early demos featuring dubstep made Muse fans uneasy, and early single streams made them sound more like Queen-wannabes than ever. But in the context of a full album, every track has a place and Muse proved themselves kings of operatic rock for the modern age. See the full review here.Hear opening track "Supremacy" here:
6. Deftones "Koi Yo Nokan"
It's always been hard to top their renowned 2000 epic "White Pony", but their latest two albums have demonstrated a band who are back on form. This release in particular was a triumph; cold heavy riffage, blissful ambience, and singer Chino Moreno delivering some of the best performances of his career. It's no surprise that we awarded it 9/10.Hear "Swerve City":
5. Rush "Clockwork Angels"
The prog-rock legends are nearing the end of their career, but still have plenty to teach younger acts about rocking hard. As ever, it's a stellar record and they just won our Band Of The Year award. See their 9/10 review here.Hear the title song "Clockwork Angels":
4. Jack White "Blunderbuss"
Few modern artists pull off an authentic classic rock n' roll sound like Jack can. His debut solo album was make-or-break for the late White Stripes man - and it looks like he made it. See the review here.Hear "Freedom At 21":
3. Slash "Apocalyptic Love"
It might bear his name, but this is no longer just a Slash solo project. He's gelled with his touring band (featuring Myles Kennedy) so well that it's just become a collaboration between high-calibre musicians - and the result is simply a great set of songs. See the review here.Hear "Bad Rain":
2. Billy Talent "Dead Silence"
Rebellious, angst and rocking. That's how our reviewer described their new album which earned 9/10. They were helped to second place by a Facebook campaign, but it wasn't quite enough to match the might of the Periphery army!Hear "Viking Death March":
1. Periphery "II: This Time It's Personal"
Boom. There's no arguing with democracy: Periphery have released the best album of 2012, and you'll find it hard to turn down their relentless riffage and rock-shattering vocals.Our reviewer put it best: "Periphery really stepped it up here, and this is simply an album worth having. Mark my words: this band isn't done. By a long shot."Congratulations Periphery for making the best album of 2012!Hear "Make Total Destroy":
Thanks for voting for album of the year. But how would you order the list? Did any of your favorite records miss out? Tell us about them in the comments.
Taste is a matter of opinion.
I personally do not like metal of that style (Cannibal Corpse, etc.), so I am more inclined to say Slash had a better album.
Coz he's lost his shit and couldnt write a good song to save himself. That album is just pop as **** radio rock bullshit. Sippin on Monster energy drinks in his vids, what a sellout!
He's a sellout, because he stopped making "oh so pure" music for you? Slash has always been unashamed in his career. Make kick-ass rock, and make money out of it. Isn't that what we all secretly hope to do?
Let me assure you, if Monster Energy approached YOU with an offer "We'll pay you millions of Dollars, if you have our logo in for one teeny second in your music video with Fergie.", you would jump at it.
I don't get the hate he gets. Sure, he's not as technically gifted as some, and sure, a huge amount of people like him, but what the f*** is wrong with that? So he's successful, popular, still able to make records however he damn well pleases, and is raking in money by the truck loads.
Anyone who calls him a sellout is just plain green with envy. #Fact.
That's what nearly 90% of bellends on UG are like. Hate on anyone that is remotely popular, be it Slash, Muse or Coldplay. Yet they are are selling out arenas/stadiums doing their own music how they want.
I don't know, i didn't think the new album was bad but i don't think its top ten material for the year, some good songs no doubt but as a whole it didn't really appeal to me. I am quite surprised though how the Stone Sour album didn't make it on the list, seems like lots don't like it but if you read the booklet that comes along with it the songs really come to life.
Of course its all opinion though
Listened to the song and it's hilarious. It's like their trying to say "hai guyz listen to how technical we are and our craaaaazy rhythms! But don't look to deep in or you will realise we don't know how to write a decent song or hook." Are these guys like the new BTBAM of UG, but less talented or something?
Get the **** out of here. These guys are talented as ****. A band doesn't need a good hook to be considered good unless it's judged by a legion of closed minded pricks like you. Just because you can't comprehend a rhythm that's not 4/4 or 3/4 doesn't mean Periphery lacks talent. It's okay to not like them, but to say they don't know how to write a song is just flat out maniacal.
Sorry to be the one to burst your bubble, but the "U JUST CANNOT COMPREHEND" defense is absolutely ridiculous. It's nothing more than a butthurt and dismissive defense.
Technicality=/=good songwriting. you can be skilled at an instrument and suck at songwriting. this tends to be true for a lot of technicalwankcore. It's not something super special that's hard to comprehend. Most of the people that hear it get it.
"like the new BTBAM of UG" ? What is that even supposed to mean? Besides being a metal band how is Periphery comparable to Between the Buried and Me in any way at all?
Technically all the members of periphery probably has more skill then the rush members. I can see Periphery playing rush songs simple as that, but i have a heard time thinking that rush would be able to pull of periphery songs. The drum and guitar work is amazing on this album (Matt halpern won over Neil Pert "Drummers world cup" as well) Ofc people may think that less complicated music is more appealing but then you just gotta accept that not everyone thinks so.
Listen to Have a blast, its my favorite from the album
Giving an opinion=/=trolling. I don't think you understand what the word trolling means.
Also disliking bands like Periphery and being honest with your opinion doesn't make you narrow minded.
For example, I dislike a lot of lulzsotechnicalxDDDD bands and I find music like Harsh Noise enjoyable.
"u dun get it" and "ur mind iz jus close" are equally silly defenses.
Periphery is awful? Write a song better than ANYTHING they produce from their anus on a bad bowel movement and just maybe your opinons will have any real weight.
Maybe your taste in music is awful. Or maybe you should just stop acting like your opinion is fact and start saying that you dislike it. It's one thing to say you dislike a band; it's arrogant, however, to make a judgment like "[they're] awful".
MESHUGGAH put out a new album this year and it was much better than Periphery in my opinion. Also some other metal albums out this year: Converge, BTBAM, Neurosis, TTDTE, A Life Once Lost, Baroness, Lamb of God, High on Fire, Car Bomb, Down, The Sword
everyone seems to forget Every Time I Die..and theres still others at least in the metalcore genre. throw in Shadows Fall, For Today and Memphis May Fire.
It's like, the 46th time that I mention this album around here in a period of 2 weeks, but I just can't get enough of Oceania by The Smashing Pumpkins, sorry. I'd like to see it up there, but I'm not in the mood for complaining right now.
It's not that some of us hate Periphery. It's that we just don't like their music. Why can't people just dislike a band nowadays without being called haters?
If I don't like a band, I still don't go to their videos in youtube and send comments like "Why ppl even call this music" or "These guys suck so bad! Why would anybody want to listen to them" Neither do I come here and call them shit and stuff because they won this thing and if i didn't like their music. I actually do like their music and their new album is also in my opinion best album of 2012. But for example I don't hate Billy Talent, because they are 2nd on this list, and i think Resolution should've been 2nd. That's why I'm not a hater.
What makes you think that people are being open about their dislike for them just because they won?
The thing a lot of you need to understand is that these comment sections are for discussion. They are for sharing your relevant thoughts and opinions. There is no such thing as "WELL IF U DISLIKE IT JUST EFF OFF" in public discussions.
People don't have to outright be dicks, but it's ridiculous to expect everyone to just play nice and keep their mouth shut and let what is meant to be discussion become a circle jerk.
No, no. Your example is not good compared to what Kurppa said. The way youre talking to these guys makes me feel like youre arrogant and you dont even see what hes trying to say..his take on this is MUCH much better than yours.
I still don't think this is a legitimate poll since only 20 nominations were available to vote for - and those were based on the album reviews that got the most views. Way too narrow selection.
On the other hand: Glad to see Periphery II made the #1 (Wouldn't expect anything else ), but Resolution, King Animal and Clockwork Angels should have been placed a lot higher.
Deftones and Jack White are the only ones I really enjoyed. Didn't Periphery link the poll on their Facebook too? I'd like to see the poll if all the bands did this.
Edit: Deftones and Jack White are the only ones I enjoyed on this list* Smith Street Band, Coheed and Cambria, Kendrick Lamar, Circa Survive, Flume and Japandroids were all up there for albums this year!
I do love both, but they both released albums which are impressive, Sigur Ros released an album which continued to change my perspective of not only music but sound. And Alt J released an album which made me fall in love with them. Two brilliant albums which will forever be underrated by the UG community
Exactly! Absolute Shit!! Where the hell are Accept, Cradle of Filth, Dragonforce, Gojira, Killing Joke, Kreator, Ministry, Overkill, Paradise Lost, Soulfly and many others excellent albums???
Billy Talent, Green Day, Jack White O_o
You must be joking!?
It's obvious that you haven't even bothered to listen to The Power Within. DragonForce has really stepped up its game this year, with Marc Hudson. They're not the technical wanks that everybody is used to hating on anymore.
Boom. There's no arguing with democracy: Periphery have released the best album of 2012, and you'll find it hard to turn down their relentless riffage and rock-shattering vocals .
First of all. I'm sorry cause I've been a bit tacky.
Second, I haven't said that the bands you like don't deserve to be on this list (although I think so). I just said that you should stop hating on Green day cause they are a great band pumping out really good music and making magnificent live shows since 1987. Show some respect man.
Respect for what? There overly basic redundant songs, or maybe there contributions to audible terrorism, or maybe that temper tantrum Billie had on stage (Yeah I'm still laughing at him for that).
Wait a minute...are you lolling just because Parkway Drive are metalcore? Look up the new album, give it a thorough listen first, and tell me that you dont think thats talent.
They have huge musical talent and innovation, technical skill, very well flowing compositions in their songwriting, ability to combine heavy, rhythmic work with melody and atmosphere, Misha Mansoor, and most of all, they're very down to earth and sympathetic guys, just to name a few reasons.
In addition to Braykah's comment they have also achieved a contract with their record label allowing them complete creative control over what they record/produce, whenever they want. Within one year they scored tours with Dream Theater, Meshuggah, BTBAM and have practically become a household name. Their bassist is better at guitar than all three of their guitarists. Their drummer INVENTED Bandhappy (if you've been living under a rock for the past year I suggest you google that shit!). These guys are simply something else; they're doing music THEIR own way and they don't give a **** who doesn't understand what people see in them.
Learn to accept that not everyone cares about what you have to say as long as you have an ignorant attitude. Besides, the "grow up" argument is getting pretty old.
I'd have Baroness, Neurosis, Gojira, Sylosis, Prototype, High On Fire, and Meshuggah in there, but I don't think this list is as bad as everyone else apparently does.
(Dark Roots of the Earth was by far my most anticipated release of the year, but it still hasn't grown on me... maybe my expectation were just too high).
No Koloss, or L'Enfant Sauvage?
I know it's a popular opinion poll, but Resolution and Uno/Dos/Tres don't stand up to Meshuggah's and Gojira's releases. Also, Periphery in front of Rush makes me sad. I haven't listened to Billy Talent's album, but I was never a fan of them. (I enjoy Green Day, Periphery and Lamb of God, but... there were a lot of better albums released this year.)
Shit heap of a list, no point in voting if it's only out of 20 options. High on Fire, Baroness and Gallows..at least one of these should get a mention in my opinion.
I find your comment amusing because whenever someone insults or professes not to like Periphery you are often to be found calling the person ignorant or a troll or butthurt. Projecting much?
What i find more funny is that you keep coming back to Periphery fans only to drag on the comments more by the other person who commented who doesnt like their music. I get that you guys dont but to tell someone that Periphery is a "Meshuggah or BTBAM ripoff" is pretty damn naive if you ask me. Dude does that sound realistic to you? All 3 of these bands are so much different from each other. There are many upcoming djent bands that if anything are ripping off Periphery. Anyways this is my opinion and if you think i need to "grow up" like you had indicated in the comment above to the other Periphery fan, then thats just saying that you need to, and respect opinions from fans of other bands. I like Periphery, and thats that. So long.
Do you just have a Periphery seeking radar whenever you look in the comment section, god you Periphery fans are worse than Bronies and Sonic fans combined.
I actually deleted Periphery's first album the other day because it was painful to listen to, I can't believe I liked that shit at one time.
Well, whatever. Muse fans are by far the worst in my book. But aside from that I also used to really enjoy their debut as well until PII hit stores I just started to really like that album instead. Everything is just so much better. At the end of the day, however I still would choose a band like Protest the Hero over these guys any day.
I do respect other peoples opinions. Or rather. Their right to have an opinion.
That isn't the issue. The issue is you crying and whining whenever someone has a negative opinion about a band you like, Periphery in this case.
Don't talk to me about respecting musical opinion when the only ones you respect are the the ones that are the same as yours.
Look. We get that you like them. But some of us don't. You just need to deal with this.
Just because we don't agree with you doesn't make us wrong, ignorant or a hater.
Crying? Whining? Exaggerating much? Anyways, i hadnt given a thumbs down to your opinions on who deserves it bc that is your opinion, and its not like i dislike or hate any of the music you like.
[Insert band name that was on the list here] was terrible
[Insert band name that you wanted in the list here] was way better
When will people realize that this forum has so many people with so many personal music styles that no one will care about your preference on the band that should be on the list
This list is relative, I agree with some and disagree with others, now stop crying that your bloody technical yodeling mountain metal band or the clapping banjo lovers isn't on the list.
I like so much old Soundgarden but King Animal is so bad and boring record. Why there are only famous bands? Where eg. Tame Impala? "Lonerism" is such a great album with fantastic ideas. I don't get also why everyone adore "Blunderbuss". For me it's average record. There are so many less known bands which released fantastic records, but unfortunately journalists prefer to give prizes to big, well known bands, even if they 10th album is much worse than those from the past.
i cant believe it didnt even make the list, let alone win it. i wouldnt have picked it as the winner personally, but they've been a ug favourite since i joined
People will agree, people will disagree. They weren't trying to be objective, they took the albums they found fitting, can't please everyone. Personally my top 10 would be:
10. Between The Buried And Me - Parallax II: Future Sequence
9. Veil Of Maya - Eclipse
8. Kent - Jag är inte rädd för mörkret
7. Art By Numbers - Reticence: The Musical
6. Parkway Drive - Atlas
5. Yersinia - Fraktaler
4. Mumford & Sons - Babel
3. The Safety Fire - Grind The Ocean
2. Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood Of Colour
1. Periphery - Periphery II: This Time It's Personal
Good choice for me its a tie between Periphery II, and Atlas by Parkway Drive. both are great albums. there's also Wintersun's Time I which is really good.
why is there no hip-hop on here? i know this is a guitar site, but mainstream rock is becoming increasingly awful these days and the aforementioned albums are no exception. this list is supposedly "best albums" of 2012, it should be titled "best mainstream rock albums of 2012" if its going to neglect such masterpieces as kendrick lamar's good kid, maad city or some seminal hardcore releases such as xibalba's hasta la muerte
Its a guitar website bro, just go to pitchfork if you want to see maad city at # 1. But i do agree that these are the most soulless selections a top 10 could make. Sheeple dude. Qotsa already have won 2013 with this crowd, bookmark it.
Here are a few issues I think a lot of people have with Periphery:
1) Many people automatically have the "you guys are Meshuggah ripoffs" mantra playing in their mind before they even give them a chance. If these people were a little more objective about listening to Periphery, they would realize that, actually, Periphery really, really doesn't sound that comparable to Meshuggah. At all.
2) Other people just can't get into all the crazy shit going on in their music. It's the classic "all technique, no passion or soul" argument. Being that Misha writes most of the songs, most of their music is guitar influenced. Some people are searching for simple, catchy hooks and conventional song arrangements. It's no surprise they'd be disappointed in Periphery considering these expectations.
3) Finally, Periphery is blowing the **** up and it's making all these people mad! Number 3 behind Van Halen and Rush in Guitar World's top 50? A couple years ago these dudes were noodling around in their guitarist's apartment producing their debut album in the box for free!
It's just funny to me. Whether you like them or not, you can't deny they must be doing SOMETHING right.
Personally. I think Periphery are talented. They can play their instruments very well.
However I find their music to be quite banal. Their riffs just don't seem to go anywhere for me. The melodies seem quite weak and unremarkable and the rhythms are very wanky. I love odd time signatures and polyrhythms but I don't think Periphery do it right.
However the worst thing about Periphery I think are the vocals. They are completely laughable. It sounds like a typical emo/scene kid vocalist. Just awful.
But obviously I'm in the minority as they are undoubtedly popular and any comment saying they don't like Periphery is getting downvoted to oblivion so whatevs.
Haha, well I voted you up there.
I am probably biased as well because I have been watching Misha closely from 2007...back when he was putting up SUPER rough mixes of what would eventually become their first album. The improvement of his mixes from then until now is just mind boggling.
Thanks for being open minded to my comment dude. Thing is I wish I could like Periphery. It annoys me when a band has so much love and I can't get into em. Same with Between the buried and me. Another bunch of extremely good musicians but don't like the muzicz
Yeah, I did get a little carried away up there too before this comment and didn't even realize it was you haha. I guess the thing with me is it's easy for me to just go on tangents about them, having studied Misha's recording methods so closely.
By the way, I completely agree with you about their vocals...just...ouch :/ haha
While I agree with your opinion completely as a Periphery fan, I think EyesWideOpen doesnt get that Spencer does have a great voice. He sings well, puts his heart out there. His voice is out there and his range is pretty damn good. No, not the best thing ever but I guarentee you he will get better. Look how much he has evolved from now to their debut. Maybe somewhat whiny but whatever. Hes by far from the "typical emo/scene kid vocalist." A "typical emo/scene kid vocalist" doesnt have vocals that soar to that level of power. If anything, We Came As Romans' vocalist is a pretty damn good example of the fit. While he does have a fairly unique voice, its not too powerful and does tend to get whiny at times. I used to be a pretty damn good fan of them until i realized that and how much theyve changed. Most of the post-hardcore genre is filled with these bands. Look at Sleeping With Sirens, Pierce The Veil, and A Skylit Drive. Thats true hardcore? How about The Bled, Converge, or Refused? How much the genre has changed to that is pretty damn scary, but Periphery's vocalist def doesnt fit with the typical emo/scene kid vocalist crew. Take Escape The Fate as well, another good example that fits under that category. Overall, Periphery is just different than any other band. I think the melodies are great btw.
For me, it's like I can totally see he's got plenty of talent (I mean, there's literally zero pitch or time correction on the vocals on Periphery's second album) I just don't think he's got a vocal range suitable for a metal band of Periphery's technical caliber. He should be singing in a pop punk band or something else. Not a very "metal" voice
Guitar is good like a lot of metal bands. Drummer is pretty skilled as well. But after that it's just white noise. The thing their doing right is that they play to metal and get rated in guitar based polls. I tried listening to some of the album and it's just not that great. There's no new ideas or clever twists. It's just another metal album.
Also...scrolled all the way down here and not a single user has mentioned the name Devin Townsend; extremely disappointed. I thought Epicloud was breathtaking.
Fairly predictable list.Some good stuff on there.I enjoyed the green day trilogy and the deftones album.I would have put it number 1.Smashing pumpkins new album was good too.As much as i hate to say it i really didnt like soundgardens king animal.It just felt like it was missing some passion.
I do have a couple issues with the list but It all comes down to fan base in the end. Periphery is a great band, do they deserve the #1 spot? Not necessarily, and only because they seem like they were the only band on my facebook page that seemed to care about being in a best of list ( aside from Japandroids) for 2012, other than that, congratulations to them.
I always find it so true to the band that Coheed never makes a list. They always talk about how different they are and ignored they are by the mainstream. I am a fan of an underdog band and I love it so much and couldn't be happier about their album. Deftones' new album was phenomenal and I really wish I could've seen BTBAM's new album on the list. I was surprised Converge didn't end up on here as well.
At least the haters have taste
But personally think that High on Fire, Cannibal Corpse and Cattle Decapitation all had better albums this year and I'm kinda surprised that none of them made it.
All these other bands have a MUCH bigger fan base than Periphery does on Facebook(I'm talking like 1 million to 180k) so they could have easily linked their fans to the polls if they "cared" enough about the list. Honestly, Periphery is just using this poll as a way to market themselves to target audiences so in the end I think it's fair that the underdog should get some exposure.
I'm beyond complaining about my favourite albums not appearing on top 10 lists, and so I wont throw a bitch fit about Sigh's In Somniphobia not appearing on this list.
I'll just throw a bitch fit about Wintersun's Time I not appearing on it!
I continue to have a hard time seeing Periphery as anything more than an uninnovative, mainstream, watered down version of Meshuggah. Emulating influences is one thing but I just can't find any reason to respect them.
Periphery was miles ahead of EVERYBODY this year hands down. Hell, if anything just the straight up guitar tone is enough to take the #1 spot... Haters gonna hate, P:II kicked everybodys ass. People just cant admit that polyrhythems = the new standard in metal. Let the butthurt downvoting commence!!!
Well you may think Periphery may have been miles ahead of everybody else on this list (and I'm not saying I agree or disagree with that) but Between the Buried and Me's new album is entire planets ahead of what Periphery are capable of. All in my extremely humble opinion, of course. That is all!
i cant agree with ya in terms of who is better... but we stand together in the fact that BTBAM should 110% FOR SURE be in the top 3 of this skanky list... i mean seriously wtf
UGers arguing over things like this is both hilarious and embarrassing.
"x sucks, *obscure band that i like* should've won" Obviously you'll be disappointed just ****ing take these lists for what they are.
This is an interesting list, I hated Periphery when I first heard them but I'm getting into them recently, though I still prefer their first release to this newer one.
Surprised to see Green Day up there, I might have to give this new stuff a listen at some point.
Why is that when they mention Deftones' Koi No Yokan they always just throw Swerve City on their as the song? I'm sorry, but if you wanna give a good example of what really made that album special, I would post either Leathers, Tempest, or Rosemary. I don't care if 2 of those songs are singles, they're great songs. That's all my opinion, of course. I don't expect others to fully agree or anything, but seriously. Swerve City wasn't the highlight for me.
Three awesome things about this post:
1) I posted about Epicloud in an earlier comment
2) That post and this one are the only ones mentioning DT
3) If the first three letters of your username are indicative of your first name, that would mean we have the same name.
Awesome! Haha
Where's Parallax II?
And I'm not surprised this didn't make it on here, but Monolith of Inhumanity by Cattle Decapitation was easily one of my top 2012 releases.
Whack list for sure! Where is "Intrinsic" from The Contortionist?? PII & Deftones are good, haven't heard the Jack White album yet. Pretty sure these bands releases are better than most of those though.. BTBAM, Coheed, Converge, Gojira, Meshuggah, The HAARP Machine, The Omega Experiment, The Saftey Fire, Skyharbor, Sylosis, Thy Art Is Murder.
I've been buying albums and CD's for over 40 years. I'll, buy about one each month or so during the year and then buy the top ten albums of that year from a list compiled by a local radio station. I haven't bought more than 15 any year. Like any year, some of the choices on a list like this are questionable, but a lot of them are justified too. No one's top ten lists will be the same.
I think John Mayer's Born and raised should've been on this list I honestly do.
And to add too you already growing hatred of me I love the Guitar work on Periphery II.
In my opinion Anathema's Weather Systems and Swans' The Seer are the two absolute best albums of the year, followed by Neurosis' Honor Found in Decay. Would have liked to see some of them here... But it's just a list, not a defining fact as some people seem to think.
If you had told me two years ago that a new Van Halen album would ever see the light of day, I would have called you nuts. But then to have that actually happen AND have it be a great album, marking the return of the greatest gun slinger of my generation...icing on the cake !
There are bands/artists exploding in the pop-punk, alternative, indie, hip hop, Rock, and etc. scenes and all UG consistently do is hail old classic rock "legends" who literally have recycled their old sound...besides periphery, the average age of any musician on this list is north of 40.
Here is my list. Let the haters hate!
1. The Gaslight Anthem: Handwritten
2. The Killers: Battle Born
3. Mumford & Sons: Babel
4. Fun.: Some Nights
5. Bruce Springsteen: Wrecking Ball
6. Muse: The 2nd Law
7. House Of Heroes: Cold Hard Want
8. Soundgarden: King Animal
9. Flyleaf: New Horizons
10. Tremonti: All I Was
these are all good albums this year, but... green day? and adele?
i think "vulnerable" by the used should be on this list, along with marilyn manson's "born villain" and shinedown's "amaryllis".
my top ten,
10-Sylosis Monolith
9-Lamb of God Resolution
8-Baroness Green and Yellow
7-Fun Some Nights
6-Every Time I Die ex lives
5-Meshuggah Koloss
4-Shadows Fall Fire From The Sky
3-Testament-The Dark Roots of Earth
2-Jeff Loomis Plains of Oblivion
1- Deftones Koi No Yokan
honorable mentions, cannibal corpse, dying fetus, gallows, the gaslight anthem, napalm death, teenage bottlerocket, cancer bats.. the list can keep going
Reading the comments of this article has given me cancer. I really don't understand how so many people are defending Slash, who has been recycling the same music over and over, but bashing a band of talented musicians like Periphery. Way too many people stuck in the dark ages on this site.
Whether you like Periphery or not, if you can't see the talent these guys have, then you must have a pretty terrible comprehension of music. They might be pretty mainstream for a "djent"/Post-Meshuggah band, but these guys are insane in their ability to make music in their own unique way. First time you listen it might sound like overly technical rhythms etc but these guys have their own take on what Meshuggah have done. I'm not even a huge fan of them, but I did enjoy their first album without vocals and some of the songs on this new one I do like.
These guys don't make catchy hooks that stick in your head to sell albums because they are pushing boundaries on music, so you have to let go of your opinions and try to see where THEY (the musicians) are coming from. They put more effort into detailing and crafting one riff than most bands put into an entire song.
But I guess everyone says the same thing about Meshuggah; that they are shit and try to be technical to show off blah blah blah, while all they do is listen to their music passively without paying any actual attention to what the instruments are doing or trying to understand the groove. Meanwhile musicians are bowing down to them saying they are geniuses engineering new possibilities of music
While it is indeed true that some people may judge Periphery without giving them a careful listen, I believe that everyone is entitled to their own opinion on what is good and bad in music. We can go on forever and argue on how they are better than X or Y but that's useless.
Some people just don't like what's happening there. And I do certainly not think it has something to do with the album being "technical", as I really do not see where it seems so technical to so many people... it's really the average music level in numerous bands these days, and I do not say it's a bad thing.
I actually really liked their first album, they had something fresh going on but the second album was FOR ME (!!) a down step from it, and I believe it goes about the same way for a lot of people who didn't agree with this list. As for the meshuggah argument that people tend to bring around, well it doesn't make that much sense. Yes they both play on the rythmic field but that's about all...
It's really sad to see so much hate going on in the comments because of this particular band, and I'm referring to both haters and pros...
Anypoop, I didn't reply to contradict you in any way because I mostly agree with you, I just felt the need to even some things out
Is it just me or no one mentioned Van Halen...guitarists... or sheep?
Soundgarden was great...drops off a bit towards the end but no band sounds like them. Deftones was great but no Diamond Eyes. Muse was good for a few weeks...Gojira are at the peak of their game! Aerosmith pulled out a killer album. Next to the Bloc Party it was the surprise of the year. Just great songs and both putting a stamp on their trademark sound. The Darkness was also a great album. KISS also put out their best since 'Revenge' full throttle rock 'n' roll!!!
I really have no opinion on any of these because I haven't listened to any of them. Half of them I don't know anything about and most of the other artists I don't care for.
I know this might be old-fashioned, but I think KISS's new album belongs on this list. I think it's the best thing they've released since Creatures of the Night.
) Ofc people may think that less complicated music is more appealing but then you just gotta accept that not everyone thinks so.
), but Resolution, King Animal and Clockwork Angels should have been placed a lot higher.
)
