Top 5 Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Albums of 2012 – Quarter 1

2012 has been shaping up as one heavy year. Hell, we are only 3 months in and there has been a plethora of blistering releases already. Here are my Top Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Albums of 2012 thus far:

1. Van Halen A Different Kind of Truth – Guess what? Van Halen ain’t dead yet! This is the best hard rock album in a long time. Eddie Van Halen and surprisingly David Lee Roth are far from washed up, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this is still my favorite record at the end of the year.

2. Corrosion of Conformity Corrosion of Conformity – The Animosity lineup returns after 27 years with this kick-ass release. Who needs Pepper when Mike, Woody, and Reed knows what’s up? Every track is a damn hit on this one.

3. Overkill The Electric Age – This is the best thrash metal band making music today. Overkill is not letting up at all. In fact, I think that they have hit their sweet spot. Their last album, Ironbound, was such an amazing record that you can expect The Electric Age to be no different.

4. Orange Goblin A Eulogy For The Damned – The best stoner metal band making music these days is Orange Goblin. Their latest release is so groovy and melodic it is mind blowing. Excellent work here.

5. Adrenaline Mob Omerta – As a loyal Dream Theater fan, I feel obligated to like this band. Thank God that this album doesn’t totally suck.

Looking Ahead in 2012:

Accept Stalingrad – April 6

DragonForce The Power Within – April 15

John 5 God Told me To – May 8

Tenacious D Rize of the Fenix – May 15

Slash featuring Myles Kennedy Apocalyptic Love – May 22

Fear Factory The Industrialist – June 5

Kiss Monster – June

…And More?

Alice in Chains

Kyuss Lives