Top 5 Awesome Songs from 2012

5

Anathema - "Lightning Song" (from Weather Systems)

Of all the songs on Anathema's excellent release Weather Systems, none of them exemplifies the feel of the album better than "Lightning Song". A short piece compared to the rest of the album, the track is five minutes of immaculately designed strings, vocals, and guitars, all written with the purpose of reaching into your heart and pulling out every drop of emotion there might be inside. It's the loudest and most intense burst of music on the whole album, and its guaranteed to pierce even the coldest of hearts.

4

Gojira - "L'Enfant Sauvage" (from L'Enfant Sauvage)

Gojira aren't holding anything back with the title of track of their latest release, L'Enfant Sauvage. It's four minutes of frantic syncopated thrash riffing, complete with guttural screams that somehow hold a tone and the most fervent drumming of their discography. It's clear why this song was the lead single--after meandering just a bit too far with their last release, Gojira wanted to prove that they could still write metal as heavy as the best. This song should leave no doubt about that fact.

3

She Said Destroy - "The Bleeding" (from Bleeding Fiction)

We spent a good part of our review for She Said Destroy's new EP Bleeding Fiction detailing each and every minute of this amazing piece (which comprises the whole release), so believe us when we say it's worth your time to hear. It's halfway between a dirge and a fanfare, both remorseful and triumphal, introspective and exuberant. It's also half an hour long. But don't let that keep you from hearing it--the piece is consistently beautiful throughout, and never gives up on its energy or quality.

2

Devin Townsend Project - "Kingdom" (from Epicloud)

The Devin Townsend song "Kingdom" is one of his finest pieces, not to mention a live concert staple. However, the studio recording of that song from 2000's Physicist, to put it bluntly, sucked. It's no surprise, then, that Townsend was looking to rerecord it. What is surprising is how well the new version encapsulates everything the album wanted to accomplish. It is thrashy and soaring, heavy and graceful, and, most importantly, epic and loud. The absolute over-the-top instrumentation on this recording brings out every single bit of intensity the original wanted, and in the process became one of the best individual recordings of his career.

1

Diablo Swing Orchestra - "Justice for Saint Mary" (from Pandora's Piñata)

This song almost defies description. It's hard to communicate exactly why this song is so amazing, as nothing as mere as the typed word will be able to do it justice. Imagine that you've just sat through 40-someodd minutes of the best and most creative metal this year, and this track is the capstone. It starts out deceptively soft, with a pondering but strong ballad-esque opening, yet by the time it finishes, it's become the heaviest piece on the entire album. We won't spoil it if you haven't heard it yet, but the way this song finishes this already incredible album will, most likely literally, floor you. This was the more-than-perfect ending to an already perfect album, and by far the best composition this year.

- Sarah