2012 Metal & Hard Rock Albums

Recorded with Tommy Newton in Celle and out first in Japan on 22 February, UFO's 2012 album went straight to the top of the UK Rock & Metal chart.

Lacuna Coil's sixth studio album, again produced by Don Gilmore, came out in January 2012 and reached number 15, their best, on the Billboard 200.

Great White's twelfth studio album, released by Frontiers in May 2012, was its first with singer Terry Ilous and its first without Jack Russell.

The Darkness's third album, released in August 2012: their first since 2005, made by the four original members after their 2011 reunion.

Overkill's sixteenth album, released in March 2012 and recorded at D.D. Verni's own Gear Recording Studios; it reached number 77 on the Billboard 200.

Soundgarden's sixth album, out on 13 November 2012: their first studio album in sixteen years, and a number-five debut on the Billboard 200.

Paradise Lost's thirteenth album, released by Century Media on 24 April 2012: produced by Jens Bogren, and the first studio album with Adrian Erlandsson on drums.

DragonForce's fifth album, from April 2012, and the first with Marc Hudson, the singer the band chose by audition after ZP Theart's departure.

Fear Factory's eighth studio album, from 2012. The drums are programmed throughout and only Bell and Cazares are credited as members.

Cradle of Filth's tenth studio album, from October 2012 and the only one made by the band as a three-piece.

Down's first six-song EP in the Down IV series, from September 2012 and also known as The Purple EP. It was their first new music in five years.

The eighth album and the second instalment of the Real Illusions trilogy, out on 14 August 2012.

Ministry's twelfth album, out on 23 March 2012. Mike Scaccia, who died at the end of that year, plays guitar on it.

The third album by Miami's Torche, from 2012: thirteen songs in under forty minutes, heaviness and bright melody in the same place.

Kreator's thirteenth album, out on Nuclear Blast in June 2012 and a defining record of their later melodic period.

The eighth Corrosion of Conformity album, from February 2012: self-titled, and made as a trio without Pepper Keenan.

Borknagar's ninth album, out in March 2012 and the first with ICS Vortex and Vintersorg sharing the lead vocal.

The Faceless's third album, released by Sumerian Records in August 2012 and opening with a three-part suite.

Halestorm's second album, from April 2012; "Love Bites (So Do I)" won a Grammy from it.

The tenth L.A. Guns studio album, released on 5 June 2012 by the Phil Lewis and Steve Riley line-up through Cleopatra / Deadline. Fourteen songs, and the last studio record made without Tracii Guns.

Pride of Lions' fourth studio album, released on 21 September 2012 — eleven songs, and the band's first record in five years. King Records' Nexus imprint issued the Japanese edition on 24 October as KICP-1639.

Burning Oath is Anthem's fourteenth studio album, released on 24 October 2012. It was their first for Universal Music Japan after leaving Victor, and Isamu Tamaru plays the drums on every track but one.

2·0·1·2 is the twenty-fifth Loudness album, released by Tokuma Japan Communications on 22 August 2012, in the band's thirty-first year. The first pressing carried a bonus disc.

The third album and the first for AFM Records, number 50 in Germany. They toured it as support to Steel Panther. Reveltas issued the Japanese edition as SPIN-0035 with one bonus track.

The tenth studio album, released by Rocksector Records on 24 September 2012. Target Records reissued it in 2020 with bonus tracks.

The debut album in which Fuki and the four Gacharic Spin instrumentalists pack metal, hard rock, progressive turns and vivid pop color into ten songs.

Stalingrad drives Accept’s sharp guitar riffs, marching rhythm and commanding choruses into a concentrated statement of traditional metal weight.

Music from Another Dimension! moves through bluesy rock and roll, catchy arena rock and emotional balladry as if surveying Aerosmith’s long career from several angles.

A War You Cannot Win combines All That Remains’ tightly chugging guitars and heavy breakdowns with large clean-vocal choruses.

XXX layers Asia’s clear keyboard colors, song-focused guitar work and measured vocals with care.

reDISCOver(ed) is a covers album on which AXXIS recasts other artists' old classics in its own sound, led by Bernhard Weiss's voice.

BLAZING CRISIS joins Blindman’s expressive vocals, fluent guitar lines and full choruses into dramatic melodic hard rock.

Riot Avenue uses flashy guitars, immediate choruses and streetwise beats to bring the pleasures of eighties hard rock into a contemporary setting.

Endless World is Cyntia’s debut, combining bright twin guitars, fast rhythm and soaring female vocals.

Epicloud fuses Devin Townsend Project’s massive choirs, thick guitars, electronic texture and surprisingly accessible melodies into one wide-screen sound.

Broken Bones is shaped by Dokken’s hard guitar riffs, shadowed melodies and a somewhat darker sound.

Sultans of Sin uses fast-moving riffs, shining keyboards and forward vocals to deliver youthful melodic metal.

Bleed & Scream joins hard, tight riffs, urgent rhythm and instantly singable choruses into a persuasive form of modern melodic rock.

Requiem for the Indifferent uses orchestral weight, heavy guitars and the contrast between clean and harsh vocals to frame social concerns on a large scale.

Bag of Bones moves Europe further into the foundations of seventies hard rock and blues rock, building a mature band sound.

Few Against Many centers Firewind’s sharp riffs, fluid solos and strong vocals in a tightly focused power-metal record.

Land of the Crimson Dawn opens Freedom Call’s bright melodies, brisk speed and fantasy-colored world to the fullest.

Angel of Salvation brings together Galneryus’s high-speed guitar and keyboards, powerful high-register vocals and a grand approach that includes extended compositions.

L'Enfant Sauvage uses low, rolling riffs, precise rhythm and guitar textures with an unusual sense of space to create metal that is both massive and reflective.

Firebirth marks Gotthard’s new beginning with a new vocalist, built from warm melody, bluesy guitar and reliable band groove.

Address the Nation uses bouncing rhythm, bright keyboards and powerful vocals to deliver modern melodic rock with confidence.

Danger Zone combines soaring vocals, tight guitar riffs and thick choruses into a polished statement of classic melodic hard rock.

Fanatic moves between powerful vocals, acoustic shading and heavy guitar riffs to show Heart’s continuing rock vitality.

Damage Control brings Jeff Scott Soto’s powerful voice, modern guitar riffs and polished melody into a varied hard-rock setting.

Silverthorn introduces a new vocalist while reconnecting Kamelot’s heavy riffs, symphonic decoration and dark storytelling.

Monster puts thick guitar riffs, simple beats and full-band choruses at the front of a direct rock and roll statement.

Resolution uses shifting rhythms, hard-chopped riffs and rough vocals to build high-tension groove metal.

El Dorado Hotel layers Lana Lane’s clear vocals, keyboard-born fantasy colors and dramatic guitar work.

Ten Tangerine Tales uses soft-edged vocals, rich keyboards and polished guitar to portray the warmth of Scandinavian melodic rock with care.

XI: The Days Before Tomorrow uses heavy guitar, shadowed melody and restrained vocals to create mature hard rock.

Living Things condenses Linkin Park’s heavy guitars, electronic beats, rap and melodic singing into short, sharp songs.

Vibrato shows Paul Gilbert’s range through fluent solos, thick rock riffs and playful arrangements.

Unbreakable puts Primal Fear’s steel-edged riffs, fast rhythm and powerful high-register vocals at the front of a title-true power-metal record.

21 joins Rage’s cutting guitars, tight rhythms and constantly changing structures into power metal that is aggressive yet intelligent.

Clockwork Angels joins Rush’s precise rhythms, shape-shifting bass, inventive guitar and science-fiction storytelling in a full concept work.

Fire From the Sky uses sharp thrash riffs, heavy breaks and rough vocals to create dark, aggressive metal.

Amaryllis combines heavy guitars, electronic texture and emotionally expansive vocals into modern rock with real scale.

Apocalyptic Love is built around Slash’s thick, singing guitar, Myles Kennedy’s powerful vocals and a dependable rhythm section.

Stones Grow Her Name builds on Sonata Arctica’s melodic power-metal speed while adding folk-shaped melodies, acoustic touches and progressive turns.

House of Gold & Bones – Part 1 opens STONE SOUR's two-part concept work, telling a story by Corey Taylor through heavy riffs and melodic songs.

Armed to the Teeth uses cutting twin guitars, speedy drums and big choruses to deliver youthful traditional metal.

Emotional Fire centers Joe Lynn Turner’s seasoned vocals within polished keyboards, melodic guitars and high-quality choruses.

Dark Roots of Earth joins Testament’s sharp thrash riffs, heavy groove and aggressive vocals into thrash metal with modern thickness.

Choice of Weapon uses thick riffs, psychedelic echo and distinctive vocals to create mature alternative hard rock.

New Audio Machine is Trixter’s return to straightforward American hard rock, driven by bright choruses, lively guitar and easy-rolling rhythm.

Unisonic’s debut brings seasoned members together around powerful high-register vocals, polished guitar and heavy rhythm to play classic melodic metal.

A Different Kind of Truth reunites Van Halen with David Lee Roth and brings the band’s thick riffs, bouncing rhythm and unruly vocal personality back to the front.

Reinventions is Wigelius’s debut, built from fresh vocals, shining keyboards and melodic guitar to portray the brightness and polish of Scandinavian AOR.

Spellbound carries Yngwie Malmsteen’s neoclassical style through classically shaped phrases, high-speed guitar runs and dramatic harmony.