Since Metal Meltdown's inception in late 1997, I have always paused at the end of the year to count down my favorite releases of the moment. Looking back at these lists would surely cause me to reevaluate both which albums are missing and the individual rankings, and for that reason each list is simply presented here as it was given to the radio audience at the time.
Top 23 Albums of 2012
1) Sabaton - Carolus Rex
2) Sonata Arctica - Stones Grow Her Name
3) Testament - Dark Roots of Earth
4) Eluveitie - Helvetios
5) Freedom Call - Land of the Crimson Dawn
6) Kamelot - Silverthorn
7) Striker - Armed to the Teeth
8) Damnation Angels - Bringer of Light
9) Orden Ogan - To the End
10) Icarus Witch - Rise
11) Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol
12) Unisonic - Unisonic
13) Threshold - March of Progress
14) Mago De Oz - Hechizos, Pocimas y Brujeria
15) Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending to Infinity
16) DragonForce - The Power Within
17) Elvenking - Era
18) Grand Magus - The Hunt
19) Overkill - The Electric Age
20) Rebellion - Arminius: Furor Teutonicus
21) Bloodbound - In the Name of Metal
22) Civilization One - Calling the Gods
23) Korpiklaani - Manala
2) Sonata Arctica - Stones Grow Her Name
3) Testament - Dark Roots of Earth
4) Eluveitie - Helvetios
5) Freedom Call - Land of the Crimson Dawn
6) Kamelot - Silverthorn
7) Striker - Armed to the Teeth
8) Damnation Angels - Bringer of Light
9) Orden Ogan - To the End
10) Icarus Witch - Rise
11) Paradise Lost - Tragic Idol
12) Unisonic - Unisonic
13) Threshold - March of Progress
14) Mago De Oz - Hechizos, Pocimas y Brujeria
15) Luca Turilli's Rhapsody - Ascending to Infinity
16) DragonForce - The Power Within
17) Elvenking - Era
18) Grand Magus - The Hunt
19) Overkill - The Electric Age
20) Rebellion - Arminius: Furor Teutonicus
21) Bloodbound - In the Name of Metal
22) Civilization One - Calling the Gods
23) Korpiklaani - Manala