Metal hammer looks back at some of the best clips from a belter of a year for heavy music. Ah, memories…

While 2011 saw some incredible albums, historic reunions and life-affirming gigs take place in a class year for metal, let’s not forget that there have been some pretty epic videos throughout the year too!

Here are just some of our favourites we’ve seen over the past twelve months…try not to get all misty-eyed, now…

Black Sabbath Return

There were no words to describe how we felt when we saw this video confirming that Black Sabbath were back, and that they’re headlining Download 2012, but here are a few attempts: excited, euphoric, elated, hyperactive, nervous, terrified, horny, ecstatic, glorious, hungry, expectant.

The Mini Band

Who could forget one of the best new bands to emerge in…well…ever, to be honest? Jokes aside, seeing these youngsters smashing through ‘Enter Sandman’ filled our jaded hearts with joy and assured us that the future of metal is definitely in safe hands. Also – how god damn cool must their teacher be?!

Iron Maiden On Jim’ll Fix It

We thought this legendary clip had been lost in the sands of time forever, so imagine our little faces when it popped up again – and when we realised it featured none other than Hammer writer Dom Lawson! Epic scenes.

Metal Hammer – Iron Maiden – Jim’ll Fix It – Dom Lawson on MUZU.TV

Rammstein Do Baywatch

Is there any metal band on the planet who put out videos that are so consistently hilarious, controversial or outright ridiculous as Rammstein? The German pyromaniac industrial metal legends raised the bar once again with the release of ‘Mein Land’ earlier this year to mark the arrival of their new greatest hits package. We don’t know what we loved more about this one: the Baywatch-themed hilarity or the epic-looking beach party near the end (WARNING: Contains fire and boobies)

Tommy Lee Gets His Drum Rollercoaster Out

Now this is how you do a show. When we heard that Tommy Lee was bringing over his new drum rollercoaster for Motley Crue’s UK tour with Def Leppard, shit-eating grins were plastered on our faces for the next two months. What a guy.

Corey Taylor Rips Rick Rubin A New One

We all knew sparks would fly at some point when Corey Taylor said he was going back on the road with some more solo shows, and truth be told, it’s been tough to pick a particular moment that’s stuck out from his tour, but this classic of him dropping some truth bombs on legendary metal producer Rick Rubin takes some beating. Corey, don’t ever change, mate.

Kvelertak Get Animated

Just in case we hadn’t made it obliteratingly obvious over the past 18 months, Kvelertak are one of our very, very, very favourite new bands. And, somehow, they managed to win us over even more with this ace animated video for the brilliant ‘Blodtørst’. Nice.

Metal Hammer – Kvelertak – Blodtørst (Metal Hammer Exclusive!) on MUZU.TV

Hill Loses It On The Metal Hammer Podcast

What happens when you allow a cynical 21st century metal fan to listen to a Puddle Of Mudd covers album? This happens. Sorry, Hill.

Metal Hammer – Vodcast 166 – part 4 on MUZU.

Dom Lawson Tears ‘Lulu’ To Shreds

There were a lot of opinions voiced on this one – most of which quite rightly gave it a verbal kicking – but few amused and delighted us as much as this beaut of a review from Hammer’s own Dom Lawson. Nicely done, Domothy.