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Once again 2012 has a been another great year for music. It’s been a year full of surprises and disappointments but most importantly brilliant music, and with the festive period quickly approaching, we’re getting all retrospective here at Already Heard<\/strong>, so what better time to reveal our Top 10 Records of the Year!<\/p>\n After much discussion, the Already Heard<\/strong> team have come up with what we think are the best ten records of the past twelve months. These ten records are a culmination of what each member of the Already Heard<\/strong> team has picked as their favourite releases from this year.\u00a0From Ohio-based Pop Punk to Prog Rock concept albums to Americana Punk Rock and much more, we think our Top Ten Records of the Year is diverse and truly shows what Already Heard<\/strong> is all about.\u00a0<\/p>\n Let us know what you think to the list on our Facebook<\/a> page or on Twitter<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n 10. Our Time Down Here – Midnight Mass<\/strong> Track to track show how the Southampton band can tackle a little from all genres. ‘The Reckoning’<\/em> proves to fans that they can, and could, continue on the hardcore ball they began rolling. Then tracks like ‘Crystal Effigy’<\/em> prove how diverse and how much inspiration from all kinds of art this band take.<\/p>\n If you want to listen to an album that doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before, ‘Midnight Mass’<\/em> is the one, and this is why it takes right of place in the Already Heard top ten of 2012. (RK)<\/p>\n 9. Mixtapes – Even On The Worse Nights<\/strong> No \u2018woe is me\u2019 entitlement rears its ugly head at any point on this record: this is honest, musically wonderful pop punk. Mixtapes<\/strong> are unashamed in their use of major chords, big choruses, catchy riffs, and dual vocals making ‘Even of the Worst Nights’ a perfect record for the eternally positive, for the crestfallen, and for everyone in between \u2013 pure unadulterated good times. (TK)<\/p>\n 8. Coheed And Cambria – The Afterman: Ascension<\/strong> It’s Coheed And Cambria<\/strong> at their current best, but also their past best, so there really is something for old fans and new to sink into. And the fact that it’s a double album means there’s even more to come! Will ‘The Descension’<\/em> be in our top 10? We’ll see. (MB)<\/p>\n 7. Title Fight \u2013 Floral Green<\/strong> ‘Head In The Ceiling Fan’<\/em> showed a different side to the band with it’s atmospheric, drifting tone and haunting vocal delivery, whilst ‘Secret Society’<\/em> is vivid, aggressive and truly showcases everything that is great about Title Fight<\/strong>.<\/p>\n ‘Floral Green’<\/em> diversifies Title Fight<\/strong>’s sound but sticks to the bands origins, proving it to be a\u00a0genuine\u00a0record. (SR)<\/p>\n 6. Every Time I Die – Ex Lives<\/strong> A tangent in the form of ‘Revival Mode’<\/em> was also revealed. It was still Every Time I Die<\/strong>, but a lot slower. The thing is though, it was still bloody good. Some fans were split by it, but many will agree that it’s just the best evidence to prove that Every Time I Die<\/strong> are a good band and will be good no matter what they do. Now go get those arms flailing. (MB)<\/p>\n 5. Enter Shikari – A Flash Flood Of Colour<\/strong> With some of their best tracks to date and an even better live set to match, Enter Shikari<\/strong> are forever going to be labelled with ‘onwards and upwards’ as their really is no sign of them slowing down, ever. Each track on this album was superb for its own reasons and it’s really no surprise that we loved it as much as we did as there’s something all music fans can enjoy. Like I said, onwards and upwards. (MB)<\/p>\n 4. Don Broco – Priorities<\/strong> Without a doubt ‘Priorities’<\/em> is an album full of potential sings with tons of catchy choruses; the title track itself is the ultimate “bros before hoes’” song, and ‘Whole Truth’<\/em> is sure to be a radio hit. With radio airplay, festival appearances, and lots of sold out shows, 2012 has been a great year for the Bedford quartet and they won’t be slowing down any time soon. (CM)<\/p>\n 3. Deftones – Koi No Yokan<\/strong> Tracks like ‘Entombed’<\/em> left us in a euphoric haze whilst ‘Tempest’<\/em> and ’Swerve City’<\/em> burst through with pounding drums and Chino Moreno’s cinematic, soaring vocals.<\/p>\n ‘Koi No Yokan’<\/em> is seamless and flows with so much ease. It is a record fuelled by Deftones’ hunger, ambition and experience with the end result being a engaging, concise record. (SR)<\/p>\n 2. Apologies, I Have None – London<\/strong> With \u2018London\u2019<\/em>, Apologies, I Have None<\/strong> have produced a punk rock Google Maps. By the end of this magnificent record you\u2019ll feel as though you know the city like the back of your hand. This is a concept album without the pomp and circumstance, a blistering collection of punk rock gems tied together by friendship, truth, and bus routes.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not looking for familiarity, or routine, just a little consistency\u201d,\u00a0<\/em>the band plead on \u2018Clapton Pond\u2019<\/em> and that\u2019s exactly what this record offers. Nothing over done, no dime a dozen London Punk songs, but a hope in common and life consistent with anyone who ever had a heart.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n There\u2019s beautiful musicianship and story telling that would make even Springsteen jealous here. Fantastic crescendos, powerful choruses, and heartbreaking desperation build a pedestal for Apologies to stand deservedly upon. If you need proof that this album is missing from your collection just listen to \u2018The 26\u2019<\/em> and try keeping yourself still when the untouchably passionate, wonderfully poetic breakdown builds back in to a raucous ending. Showing an aggression in detailing those feelings we\u2019re often too ashamed to admit, Apologies prove that they aren\u2019t ones to shy away from the truths of human nature. Hell, they\u2019ll sing them from the rooftops and throw in enough melody to keep them in your head forever. (TK)<\/p>\n 1. The Menzingers \u2013 On The Impossible Past<\/strong> Filled with Americana lyrical imagery and\u00a0fuelled\u00a0by the bands honest punk rock sound, ‘On The Impossible Past’<\/em> grabs your attention from the very opening line of “I\u2019ve been having a horrible time”<\/em> (‘Good Things’<\/em>) and keeps hold of it all the way through to the very end of ‘Freedom Bridge’\u00a0<\/em>taking you on an overwhelming, sincere musical journey. From the rousing, pumping ‘Ava House’ to drifting title track, this is a record made by a band who are not only sincere but also confident.<\/p>\n Rich in sound with\u00a0song writing\u00a0to match, The Menzingers<\/strong>’ third full-length is a record that is not only a flawless punk record but it transcends the genre and beyond. (SR)<\/p>\n Listen to all ten records on Spotify<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n Let us know what you think to the list on our\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0page or on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Words by Sean Reid (SR), Mikey Brown (MB), Tom Knott (TK), Callum McPhee (CM) and Rosie Kerr (RK).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Once again 2012 has a been another great year for music. It’s been a year full of surprises and disappointments but most importantly brilliant music, and with the festive period quickly approaching, we’re getting all retrospective here at Already Heard, so what better time to reveal our Top 10 Records of the Year! After much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31815,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8181,395],"tags":[13867,62,1373,3956,1813,1108,491,577,122,5040,7252,9538,7253,221],"class_list":["post-31814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-post","category-record-of-the-year","tag-13867","tag-already-heard","tag-apologies-i-have-none","tag-coheed-cambria","tag-deftones","tag-don-broco","tag-enter-shikari","tag-every-time-i-die","tag-feature","tag-mixtapes","tag-other","tag-our-time-down-here","tag-record-of-the-year","tag-the-menzingers"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Our Time Down Here<\/strong>’s ‘Midnight Mass’<\/em> is an incredible progression in the right direction. Not only do you feel as though the band are now achieving a sound that they set out to a long time ago, it’s exactly the fresh take on music that’s needed. We come across so many bland and average records that to have even just one that’s portraying a sense of something unique is refreshing.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Mixtapes<\/strong> have produced a considerable back catalogue in just a few short years but 2012\u2019s ‘Even on the Worst Nights’<\/em> is (so far) the pinnacle. Sixteen short and sweet pop-punk rock and roll songs with not a note out of place, not a lyric written that doesn\u2019t beg for a sing along with best friends. Life abounds on this record and it\u2019s the tales of honest living and the raw human emotion that course through every single track that gives \u2018Even on the Worst Nights\u2019<\/em> its brilliance. The lyrics, however, aren\u2019t the whole party \u2013 some people may roll their eyes at the simple chords and neat, catchy riffs but that\u2019s their loss. Mixtapes<\/strong> play with feeling untouched by the majority of this year\u2019s albums and they play well. Structurally awesome, massive sounding songs from the heart \u2013 nothing more and nothing less than what rock and roll has always claimed to be.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The first part of the double album from prog concept masters Coheed And Cambria<\/strong> brought an absolutely welcomed return to form, and a welcomed return to Josh Eppard on drums. ‘Ascension’\u00a0<\/em>depicted, well, the ascension of Sirius Amory. Musically we had the heavier side of things with ‘Domino The<\/em> Destitute’<\/em>but also the ever so stunning delicately played title track. It was this new feel that was reminiscent of recent albums, but the groove laden ‘Goodnight, Fair Lady’<\/em> that was seeping of past Coheed<\/strong> releases.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Following up 2011’s ‘Shed’<\/em> was never going to be an easy task but with ‘Floral Green’<\/em>\u00a0Pennsylvania’s Title Fight<\/strong> expanded their hardcore punk sound with depth and fullness.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As if they couldn’t be any more ferocious, Every Time I Die<\/strong> loosened the collar on this monstrosity and showed the world that they were far from over, unleashing possibly their heaviest record to date. Ryan ‘Legs’ Leger was the new sticksman and brought with him a whole dose of speed; up the tempo on every track you’ve enjoyed from the band’s discography and you’ll find it’s new counterpart on ‘Ex Lives’.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
They just get better and better. ‘A Flash Flood Of Colour’<\/em> was the band crossing the genres of rock and dance even further and making sure they made sweet, sweet love in the process. Hardcore, punk and post hardcore influences were all there for the mosh whilst dubstep, drum and bass and trance all played huge parts in the euphoric essence that the band utilise so well.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Don Broco<\/strong> are a band that you can’t pinpoint to a specific genre, but they do what they do very well.\u00a0‘Priorities’<\/em>\u00a0is all killer, no filler, and with a great live show to go with it, its not surprising to see how successful these guys are becoming.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
As consistent as always,\u00a0Deftones<\/strong> made their return late in the year and in a big way as ’Koi No Yokan’<\/em> proved to be a focused record that\u00a0mixed heavy, sharp riffs of their early days and comfortably blended it with a dynamic, atmospheric approach.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never did shit that you shouldn\u2019t, never did things that you said that you wouldn\u2019t, never said shit wish that you hadn\u2019t now.\u201d \u2013 \u2018The 26\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n
Released way back in February, The Menzingers<\/strong>’ Epitaph\u00a0d\u00e9but\u00a0is the most consistent, perfect record of the year with many tendencies that make it rare, unique and even timeless.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n