Left-hand Side of the Stage: Top 30 Albums of 2012 - Part One: 30

OK, so I have finally prepared myself mentally to even begin to approach this monumental bastard of a task. What a year 2012 has been! As I have said previously, it seems like most bands in the world of rock and metal have really raised their game this year (there are exceptions...to follow). Bands old and new alike have released top quality statements of intent (albums if you prefer). Bands once close to being written off, by me at least, such as Cradle Of Filth and Deftones have come back with a vengeance, and the new upstarts are seemingly out to prove a point. Either way, the bar has been well and truly raised in 2012.

I can honestly say that I have never known a year with so many great releases. I didn't even know if I could do it, but after 6 weeks of headaches (literally) and headbutting (virtual) walls, here it is for your perusal. I have to admit that even after making this a top 30 as oppsed to a top 20, there are some albums that it really pained me to exclude (I may post this list later if anyone would be interested?), but it needed to be done for quality control purposes - there was just such a volume of great albums that I had to remove anything that had anything even apporaching too much "filler".

I am going to attempt to compile a Spotify list - if I can figure out how - containing a playlist of recommended songs from each album as this was suggested to me by more than one person and does seem a more sensible idea than posting endless links that most people won't bother clicking on. For now, however, YouTube links it is...I have also noted the genre of each band, so you only need to click on those that you think might be for you.

Of course, the temptation with a list of this type would be to name loads of underground/obscure artists to attempt to look cool and knowledgable (which I am, obviously), but I have listed the albums that I enjoyed and continue to enjoy the most. besides, I have nothing to prove to anyone in that respect (do I?) and I am a little too old for that type of playground elitism.

So, finally and with no more arsing around, here we go.

30. Testament - Dark Roots Of The Earth (Thrash)

Song: Rise Up