Breezy's Top 15 of 2012! Pt. 2

There was alot of great music released this year, so it wasn't a problem gathering a list of 15.  Here's the next batch of my picks of the year.

#12. Unisonic - S/T

If you were ever a fan of Helloween (which you must be), you will remember the original classic lineup had a brilliant vocalist in Michael Kiske and a uber guitarist in Kai Hansen.  There was a falling out many years ago, and fans were waiting for some form of a reunion.  Well, here it is.  This full length is the follow up to their Ep, which was also released this year. Is this Keeper Of The Seven Keys?  No.  But it does have some of the elements of the early Helloween classics, with a more modern hard rock approach,and occasionally pop rock elements. There is not a bad track on the album.  Lots of chugging guitars, great solos and choruses, and Kiske proves he still has the pipes.  Kai Hansen, along with guitar partner Mandy Meyer (Krokus),play to their strengths on tracks Never Too Late, Star Rider and the title track.
I like this album, mainly because I wasn't expecting them to take the more AOR/Hard Rock approach they did.  Lots of great stuff...buy it.

#11. Hardline - Danger Zone

In 1992, Hardline released what is one of my all time fave Hard Rock albums in Double Eclipse. The album, which featured Journey's Neal Schon, was a perfect slab of American hard Rock with an AOR vibe.  At the time grunge was ruling the airwaves, and kept bands like Hardline from reaching the top.
The band carried on the past 20 years (in one form or another, without Schon), and have arrived with another great album in Danger Zone. Like the debut, it's all melodies and great vocals.  The songs are all well written, and Johnny Gioeli's vocals are still leading the way.  Classic tracks like Stay, Fever Dreams, and What I'd Like carry the melodic torch high, and are a reminder that if you are a fan of melodic hard rock, that there are still lots of bands producing great music if you look for them. Already looking forward to the next release from Hardline.
Highly Recommended.

11. Testament - Dark Roots Of The Earth

If you're a fan of Metal, you are probably a fan of Testament.  One of the more underrated American thrash bands who would fit along nicely with The Big 4, if they ever made it The Big 5.  The past two releases are some of Testaments best work, and this one keeps up with it's predecesors.  Dark Roots Of The Earth is heavy, fast, and catchy.  Testament plays to their strengths, the guitars of Peterson and Skolnick, along with the bellow of vocalist Chuck Billy.  The headbanging starts right off the top with the opener Rise Up, and first single, Native Blood.  Skolnick and Peterson have never sounded better, as the album is filled with blistering, yet melodic guitar work.  The bonus edition contains covers of Scorpions, Maiden and Queen, so you can see where some of their influences lie.  Another great album from Testament.