I had no idea they were working on anything, is it anything like Razors or did they go with more of the blackened style of the full length?

I was never much of a Black Breath fan, wouldn't be interested unless they changed their sound quite drastically

I haven't heard any other album from them, but the new one sounds like straight-up oldschool Swedeath with some crust. It's pretty damn enjoyable.

New Meshuggah was surprisingly good. Probably because they released a shitty song first (Break Those Bones).

The new Desaster album is probably their best since Divine Blasphemies, which was possibly their peak IMO. Probably my favorite release of the year so far (though I'm a Desaster fanboy). Also, the new Proclamation and Revenge albums are both quite good, better than I had expected.

As some have mentioned, the new Ketzer was kind of disappointing. It's very good, but it doesn't top SBU.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_HRhZOQ9WI

^Album of the year.

Heh, the New Impending doom is a pile of shit.

REALLY? You don't say.

So far the albums released in 2012 I have really enjoyed have been from the bands

Woods of Ypres
Swallow the Sun
Epica
Xandria

Also loving the leading tracks from Overkill and Accept's new albums can't wait for their release

Wow, the new Worm Ouroboros kills! I've also liked Pilgrim, Drudkh, and Alcest, but Worm Ouroboros is my favorite so far.

just got the new hour of penance this arvo and ive gone through it half a dozen times already. really crushing stuff. a worthy addition to their already strong discography

7 H. TARGET
Abominable Putridity
Cannibal Corpse
Goatwhore
Splattered Entrails
Terrorizer

And, surprisingly enough I've really enjoyed the new Caliban album. I almost feel bad admitting that.

Enthroned - Obsidium

The new Anathema is really good. The acoustic playing is tremendous.

My first post!

Torche - Harmonicraft
Meshuggah - Koloss
Cannibal Corpse - Torture

some good ep's/releases also:

Torche - Decibel Flexi Disc
The Great Sabatini - The Royal We

Anyone like the new Iron Fire? I haven't actually heard anything from it. Which is odd considering I actually like the band a fair amount.

So far my favorites are

Winterburst - The Mind Cave
Sigh - In Somniphobia

Bloodshot Dawn's self titled album was really good. The new Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death albums are pretty good, but they are on the bottom list. Out of the albums I've listened to there hasn't been a single one I disliked. I'm pretty lucky when I buy albums, and usually don't dislike my purchases.

Lamb of God-Resolution
Aborted-Global Flatline
Cannibal Corpse-Torture
Abominable Putridity (forgot the title lol)

Based off of the last two years and all the great releases, I'd say this is going to be a REALLY good decade for Metal...provided all the scene bands don't ruin it.

I realize it's still relatively early in the year, but so far it seems like The Arts of Destruction is going to be my album of the year. Granted, I am a huge Desaster fanboy, but I it was my most anticipated 2012 release and it exceeded my initially lofty expectations (especially since the only truly mediocre song on the album was the one used for promotion). The only upcoming release that might have a chance to top Desaster's is the new Impiety album.

I still have yet to pick up the new Alcest as well as Woods 5. If the new Accept is anywhere as good as the last one, it might be one of the best of the year as well.

Listening to the new Hour Of Penance at the moment -> mindblowing :0

Hour of Penance was good. Maybe a little more easy on the ears than usual, but good.

I thought it was still pretty damn relentless.

It isn't as fast and breakneck as Paradogma nor is it as excellent as Vile Conception. . . but it still kills.
You guys think they'll ever be able to top tVC?

In a nutshell, me thinks not. Haven't heard the new album yet but hadn't got much time in this month of March with so much new stuff coming out.

I did receive an email today directing me to Hail Spirit Noir's FB page, which led to their MA and Myspace page, and then to an album download. I have to say that this is something else, but it will require multiple listens to fully apprehend. Any opinions formed on it around here?

Angel Witch - As Above, So Below

The new Lunar Aurora keeps getting better the more I listen to it. I pretty much have most of the songs hooked in my memory and everything else just isn't as addictive. My favorite of the year so far.

Yeah I'm thinking Vile Conception will always be their best, if only because the style doesn't seem be shiting much (Paradogma was slightly more full on, Sedition was slightly more melodic and easy on the ears) so the sheer familiarity of it will probably mean I'll keep going back to that one as the best, but if they keep putting out stuff as good as the last two I won't be unhappy.

I liked the new Hour of Penance, though I haven't heard any of their other albums. Relentlessly brutal.

Gorod was pretty lame, though I never liked them in the first place.

It's pretty good. The dreamy, atmospheric moments of Im Gartn, Nachteule etc. are the best clearly, the disappointing aspect was the lack of high quality intense black metal stuff.

I disagree. I found it all to be high quality and I did not miss the aggressive intense stuff at all. This was a more mid paced album like Zyklus, but much better imo. I found the songs to be very memorable and I love the keys and synths that accent the music in Sterna and Beagliachda. Actually, Beagliachda is probably my favorite track due to the awesome electronics, it doesn't have to be aggressive and blasting to be good. I do love the interludes, but they are not the highlight for me. I just find the riffs and melodies to be highly addictive and great.

Also, the album really grew on my while blasting in my car, so maybe the loudness and immersive quality of that made it one of my favorites. Its actually not as amazing just through my speakers hooked to my computer.

Hoagascht could well be their finest moment (hour)

I've been meaning to listen to the whole album for quite some time, but I can't quite get around to it. The songs I have heard are the same as the last 3-4 albums, but with more synth present. I'm fairly convinced that the band won't have made anything definitive or groundbreaking, but they're certainly consistently not-too-bad.

Ethereal Collapse - The Precipice of Failure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbgZgkXlL2A

Definitely the best of the year thus far.

(2012) Lunar Aurora - Hoagascht is a nice album and it's becoming adictive for me too.


I will quote myself from the Now Listening thread:



Anyway, (2012) Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned is nice too.

Nekromantheon's Rise, Vulcan Spectre in my opinion is the best thrash metal album of the year! It is exactly how a thrash band should sound (again in my opinion, right?). Also the new strike of Aura Noir, Out to Die is mind blowing! Now let's see what Deathhammer has prepared for us with Onward to the Pits and Darkthrone!! Support the real metal!

yeah that Nekromantheon is definitely the best so far. It and last year's Antichrist...might finally be seeing some good thrash again after that shit ass nu-wave.

I just have to say that the new Undergang is very good! I've been listening to it on a daily basis since my copy arrived last week and holy crap, it might even be better that their debut. That statement alone says a lot!

I'm listening to Leviathan right now and am not particularly impressed or distressed by it. Like a lot of their songs. I feel like if they wouldn't try to make every album filled with 11-12 tracks that their music would stand out more. Take away the fillers and the recycling, you know what I mean?

I only just discovered these guys a few weeks back, but yeah, this album is awesome (As is the debut). At this stage I've still got it second behind Ignivomous as my favourite album so far, but I've only heard Cosmogenesis once while it was streaming, so I'm kind of looking back that one with pretty rose coloured glasses.

I agree with those who mentioned Nekromantheon's latest. That one was damn near perfect.

The new Autopsy tracks blew me away. They were pretty much the standard Autopsy affair, but Chris' vocals were absolutely disgusting (in a good way, of course). They're always great, but he just went all out balls-to-the-wall this time. Let's hope he delivers a similar performance on the next full-length.

Asphyx, Aborted, Cannibal Corpse, and Napalm Death all put out solid offerings as well. Oh, and Torture Division's latest demo absolutely rules. I swear, Lord K cannot do wrong.

Mgla - With Hearts Toward None
Drudkh - Eternal Turn of the Wheel


I think these are the only new albums I've bought so far too.