Zeus 7997 Posted December 22, 2012 It's becoming somewhat of a tradition for me to do this. The end of 2012 is drawing near and it's time for me to put together my list of things I liked from this year. Turns out that I liked a whole lot! Since I don't want to leave anything out, I'm going to change my format from the middle of this year. More music, less words. That way, no one feels overwhelmed with how much I found. I'm also going to break it up into four parts, with this one being the second. This list encompasses what I call Tier 3 releases: these are things I rated between a 3.5 and a 3.9. Think of it like a pyramid. The base is the biggest and the tip is the smallest and everything gets smaller as you go up. So accordingly, higher tiers will have less releases. Makes sense, right? I'll also follow it up with a (very) short blurb of what it sounds like, to give you an idea of what to expect. Looking for something new? Looking for something like something else? Just looking? Don't worry, the Zess has your back. Note: This list only encompasses albums and mini-albums. Zess' Tier 3 Album Picks of 2012 Epica - Requiem for the Indifferent iJwVyeDcNw0 Sounds like: your standard European power metal with a hot vocalist and a growly dude egoistic 4 leaves - aluva fT2TxdxvEak Sounds like: instrumental jazz with some post-rock elements Lament. - TOTENTANZ rv9IizTnLcs Sounds like: vk-styled gothic metal Alhambra - SIEGFRIED Gx37g9jXCmA Sounds like: power metal with female fronted vocals S.S.H. - BLAST FROM THE PAST jyaGImJx3ns Sounds like: god tier guitar wankery with some liberal use of synth mudy on the 昨晩 - Zyacalanda bGYwMjsLnoo Sounds like: instrumental indie rock Fugenn & The White Elephants - Prays kfR0Tt2Qsso Sounds like: Electronic, IDM Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music 6lIqNjC1RKU Sounds like: underground rap & hip hop 東京事変 - color bars PIRzYoWbxuE Sounds like: jazz JiLL-Decoy Association - Lovely bq7-KpKWiY4 Sounds like: jazz pop, acoustic 女王蜂 - 蛇姫様 XNaB5nUd1Xk Sounds like: crazy punk with a transgendered vocalist. seriously. LIPHLICH - SOMETHING WICKED COMES HERE AGAINST YOU -8bQx0X_25U Sounds like: art rock, some world music elements 八十八ヶ所巡礼 - ○△□ 3KdjPIRrYZs Sounds like: punk infused indie rock Sigh - In Somniphobia ECtL35qZ-dE Sounds like: avant-garde metal, black metal Stolen Babies - Naught uuOgCMyQRns Sounds like: avant-garde metal, twisted carnival music Feel free to leave any feedback here and look forward to Tier 3 coming in a few days! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peace Heavy mk II 7200 Posted December 22, 2012 Also, I love how art-kei is becoming a thing now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeus 7997 Posted December 22, 2012 More or less the same. It's missing an instrumental or two and the production is much better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fitear1590 2414 Posted January 4, 2013 Your Tier 3 seems to correspond to my tastes the most, interesting. I think I'll give Lament a try. The preview's nice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CAT5 9075 Posted January 14, 2013 Ok, so from this, I REALLY need to try LAMENT. You already know I love 88kasyo, and I can also vouch for mudy on the sakuban, fugenn, and killer mike. egoistic 4 leaves was a nice release, and I don't regret purchasing it, but a good amount of the album wasn't a memorable as i hoped it would be. I was sad to Tokyo Jihen go, and although color bars wasn't their best, there are 2 or 3 tracks on it that will remain on my playlist. Jill-decoy honestly disappointed me in 2012. They released 3 albums...everyone riddled with annoying Engrrrrish. I hope they return to the course they were on in 2010. I also liked stolen babies, but not quite as much as the first! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeus 7997 Posted January 14, 2013 Lament. is such an underrated up and coming VK band that it's not even funny. I totally agree that you should try them out. Also, yes I agree about Jill-decoy. I ended up liking this small EP more than anything else, which is why this is the only one of the three releases you see here. And after the awesomeness that was There Be Squabbles Ahead there was no way I was expecting Stolen Babies to top it but I do think they came really close. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CAT5 9075 Posted January 14, 2013 Ya, the new stolen babies was good, but just not AS good as the previous one, but you gotta love them. They have a great sound Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
