Dewinged's AOTY 2022
So I heard we making lists at this time of the year... I was gonna wrestle with the blog to make something cool and good looking like my brothers Sowing and Willie but I realized two things: I don't have the time, and I don't have the will. So here we are. Here are some of my jams this year, there's always more, isn't it. Big year for music, shitty year for the world. Here's hope that 2023 will put some things and some people in place, and if not, well, I guess we'll always have music, yes? Loosely ranked, blah, blah... |
| 100 |  | Mamaleek
Diner Coffee
Release date: September 30th
Genre: Noise Rock / Avantgarde
Label: The Flenser
Highlight: Boiler Room
Tom Waits would be proud, actually he might as well be. |
| 99 |  | Gaerea
Mirage
Release date: August 23th
Genre: Atmoblack Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Highlight: Salve
Do not release black metal in August. (Unless it's Portuguese) |
| 98 |  | Sylvan Esso
No Rules Sandy
Release date: August 12th
Genre: Electronic Pop
Label: Loma Vista
Highlight: Moving
Another Sylvan Esso album that leaves me wanting. Some great, great tunes, some not so, not so great. |
| 97 |  | Askeregn
Brennende Åkres Grøde
Release date: January 4th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: n/a
Highlight: I røyken fra brennende åkre
Raw BM, fresh from the oven. Reminds me lightly of that Devil Master demo, but slightly harder, more serious, less silly. |
| 96 |  | Battle Beast
Circus of Doom
Release date: January 21st
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Highlight: Eye of the Storm
Great year for lady fronted symphonic and power metal, and I'm sure pizzamachine would agree with me. Battle Beast managed to sign off one of my favorite songs of the genre this year (sea above). What an absolute banger. |
| 95 |  | Silversun Pickups
Physical Thrills
Highlight: Alone on a Hill
Considering for how long I have simp'd for Brian Aubert as the man with the golden rasp, I am surprised my favorite track of the album is actually sang by Nikki Monninger, which explains why this scored low this year. Something's still there, but there's a lot missing. |
| 94 |  | GGGOLDDD
This Shame Should Not Be Mine
Highlight: Like Magic
Her performance at Roadburn and the fact that Artoffact Records (Kaelan Mikla, Actors, Cloud Rat) were behind this release made me very excited about this album, and it didn't disappoint. |
| 93 |  | Kreator
Hate Über Alles
Release date: June 10th
Genre: Thrash Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Highlight: Midnight Sun
Yeah I'm pretty easy to please. Get a lady to sing some dark melody over some heavy riff and stamp the song with a dark souls sorcery name and I'll probably 4 it. Nobody's perfect, man. The rest is solid too, btw. |
| 92 |  | Druids
Shadow Work
Release date: June 3rd
Genre: Stoner / Sludge
Label: Pelagic
Highlight: Cloak / Noir Bloom
Pelagic knows their trade so I'd blindly trust them when it comes to bands I don't know. Druids were a pleasant surprise, be sure to, at least, check that closer, it's immense. |
| 91 |  | Zola Jesus
Arkhon
Release date: June 24th
Genre: Darkwave
Label: Sacred Bones
Highlight: The Fall
Not as strong as her Twitter game, not because the album is bad, it's actually great, but her Twitter prowess remains unmatched. |
| 90 |  | Goat
Oh Death
Highlight: Under No Nation
Disappointment of the year. I was incredibly thirsty after those two bangers included in their compilation of last year, and yes there are a couple of good songs, a few more when I wake up open minded and all that, but there's plenty of filler and wank too. |
| 89 |  | Hallas
Isle of Wisdom
Release date: April 8th
Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: RMV
Highlight: Gallivants (Of Space)
I close the year feeling this should have been higher on the list, even if loosely ranked, it's Hällas, for fuck's sake! Less inspired than the trio of albums that came before, but still... they're Hällas! |
| 88 |  | Krvna
For Thine Is the Kingdom of the Flesh
Release date: December 12th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Ancient Dead / Third Eye Temple
Highlight: T/T
Please release Black Metal in December, all of it. |
| 87 |  | Ghost Funk Orchestra
A New Kind Of Love
Release date: October 28th
Genre: Psychedelic Funk
Label: Karma Chief
Highlight: Quiet Places
Sweet find this one. Try to picture Lauyn Hill if she was dead and singing from the grave with an orchestra made of skeletons. Cemetery funk. |
| 86 |  | Veilburner
VLBRNR
Release date: December 2nd
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Highlight: Repulsed by the Light
A few minutes shaved off this would have benefit this album greatly. Lots of great ideas, hilarious vocals, but also some unnecessary extra- weaving. |
| 85 |  | Kavinsky
Reborn
Release date: March 25th
Genre: Sytnh Wave
Label: Record Makers
Highlight: Zenith
One would expect a game-changing release from the French synth wave master but... this wasn't the case. It is pretty good, but don't expect Nightcall levels of good. |
| 84 |  | Watain
The Agony and Ecstasy of Watain
Release date: April 29th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Highlight: Ecstasies in Night Infinite
I can't find literally a single reason to dislike this album, no matter how hard all of you have tried this year. Praying that they come close to my lands next year. |
| 83 |  | Rolo Tomassi
Where Myth Becomes Memory
Release date: February 2nd
Genre: Post Hardcore
Label: MNRK
Highlight: Closer
I really hate to write this but the new Rolo didn't hit me as hard as I would have wanted. And God knows I've tried to get into it but I really can't see how this can be compared to its predecessor. There's an abyss in between and I hate it (the fact, not the album, I still like the album though). |
| 82 |  | Shearwater
The Great Awakening
Release date: June 10th
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: Self Released
Highlight: Empty Orchestra
Meiburg is a bottomless well of creativity, excelling with both Loma and Shearwater. This one doesn't top some of his previous releases but it still earned its place on the list. |
| 81 |  | Ruby The Hatchet
Fear is a Cruel Master
Release date: October 21st
Genre: Stoner Rock
Label: Magnetic Eye
Highlight: The Change
A very late contender, but hell, this is pretty much my sauce. A longer exposure would have resulted in a higher spot, I believe. |
| 80 |  | Polica
Madness
Release date: May 9th
Genre: Electropop
Label: Memphies Industries
Highlight: Violence
I never thought I'd say this but I do miss the autotune (the abuse I mean, they still have at it at reach, just in case). |
| 79 |  | Hammers Of Misfortune
Overtaker
Release date: December 2nd
Genre: Progressive Metal / Thrash Metal
Label: Self released?
Highlight: Vipers Cross
My first impression was a loud "HOLY FVCK!" but then it started to fade like stardust the more I listened to it. Can't wait to unveil the rest of their catalogue because it seems that's where the real magic is. |
| 78 |  | Mechina
Venator
Release date: January 1st
Genre: Cyber Metal
Label: Self Released / Tiberi and co.
Highlight: Praise Hydrus
You're not gonna believe this but they have confirmed a new album for January 1st 2023. What can I say, they're one of my many soft spots. I dig the fact that Mel has more presence but I wish her melodies were more defined. One can dream! |
| 77 |  | The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
Release date: September 16th
Genre: Art Pop? / Latin Prog?
Label: Clouds Hill
Highlight: The Requisition
Well this is a very different Mars Volta than the one we used to know, but I find really interesting what they've done with this album. Definitely unearthing roots and painting things with calmer strokes and somehow it works. |
| 76 |  | Threshold
Dividing Lines
Release date: November 18th
Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Highlight: Hall of Echoes
I wished I had more time with this record this year but it's always the problem with late releases. So happy to see they're still going. I still miss Mac (RIP), he was the voice of this band for me, but Glynn Morgan has proven to be a fine replacement. Will definitely revisit further down the line. |
| 75 |  | Venom Prison
Erebos
Release date: February 4th
Genre: Metalcore? / Deathcore? / Melodeath?
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Pain of Oizys
Great timing to write about this band, now that they're about to be cancelled. Well, honestly I had never cared much about them until this year and "Pain of Oizys" was the reason. I really hope they explore the vein they found with that song, that is, if they survive. |
| 74 |  | Skullcrusher
Quiet the Room
Release date: October 14th
Genre: Ethereal Folk
Label: Secretly Canadian
Highlight: Building a Swing
In all honesty, I have heard this ONCE, but I decided to include it because I don't wanna lose sight of it. Blame the staff crew. |
| 73 |  | Boris
Heavy Rocks (2022)
Release date: August 12th
Genre: Boris
Label: Relapse
Highlight: Chained
A strange album, even for Boris. I abhorred the the first two songs the moment I heard them and casted away the album. Some time later I gave it another chance and I realized the second half especially was top Boris, so there's that. |
| 72 |  | Fragments Of Lost Memories
Divagate
Release date: January 1st
Genre: Funeral Doom
Label: Self released?
Highlight: Falling
You will only see this one here, believe me. This was the very first album I heard this year. Japanese funeral doom, surprisingly engaging. I have a clear memory of me washing the dishes while jamming this on headphones and thinking this year was gonna be a weird one, and here we are. |
| 71 |  | Ithaca
They Fear Us
Release date: July 29th
Genre: Metalcore
Label: Hassle
Highlight: You Should Have Gone Back
A little less than half of the album are highlights for me. Really nice balance of melody and brutality, although I'm not a big fan of some production choices. This band has come a long way though. Good for them. |
| 70 |  | Johanna Warren
Lessons For Mutants
Release date: October 7th
Genre: Singer Songwriter
Label: Carpark
Highlight: T/T
Missed my birthday for one day but this was a nice present. One of my favorite singer songwriters of this decade, and I wish more people here would give her a chance, This last one doesn't top "Gemini II" for me, but she tried a few new things while also doing what she does best. |
| 69 |  | The Butterfly Effect
IV
Release date: September 2nd
Genre: Alt Metal
Label: Self released?
Highlight: Visiting Hours
I have awaited thy return, Aussies. They brought back a lot of the nu-metal of their early releases but they still managed to craft something like "Visiting Hours", which is a nice call back to what I believe is their best album, "Final Conversation of Kings". Now, if only Fair to Midland... |
| 68 |  | Behemoth
Opvs Contra Natvram
Release date: September 16th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Highlight: Deathless Sun
Who doesn't like a greasy burger from time to time. No really, I like my fair dose of obscure, raw, punkish black metal, but I also adore the pomposity and grandiosity of the mainstream, and nobody does it better than Nergal and co. |
| 67 |  | Queensryche
Digital Noise Alliance
Release date: October 7th
Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Lost in Sorrow
Another album I had no hopes for, hell, I didn't even know it was coming until I saw it reviewed! Pleasantly surprised with how this one turned out, seems to bring the good days of Empire through a modern approach, couldn't really ask for more. |
| 66 |  | White Lung
Premonition
Release date: December 2nd
Genre: Punk Rock with a metal guitarist
Label: Domino
Highlight: Date Night
Bad time to get into this band it seems, First, this seems to be their worst album, and second, they are splitting. Oh well, I thought this was great. |
| 65 |  | Nocturna (IT)
Daughters of the Night
Release date: January 21st
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Label: Scarlet
Highlight: Blood of Heavens
Don't expect to see this on many AOTY lists but the Italians have something really cool going on. If they manage to polish some aspects of related to production, (or maybe if they had a bigger budget), this band could really become quite something. |
| 64 |  | Sumerlands
Dreamkiller
Release date: September 16th
Genre: Power Metal
Label: Relapse
Highlight: Twilight Points the Way
Stole this from some of my fellow staff members' lists. Really good old school power metal with a nice modern sound. Haven't spent much time with it but here it is for further inspection. |
| 63 |  | Wovenhand
Silver Sash
Release date: February 4th
Genre: Gothic Americana
Label: Glitterhouse
Highlight: Acacia
I will never get tired of David Eugene Edwards. |
| 62 |  | Mist of Misery
Severance
Release date: November 4th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Non Serviam
Highlight: An Ode to Solitude
If there was an artwork that encapsulated black metal in 2022 was this one. That's it, that's all there is, no Satan, no church burning, no blood, just a house in the middle of nowhere, bathed in snow, and severed from the world. |
| 61 |  | Wilderun
Epigone
Release date: January 7th
Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Woolgatherer
I have included and excluded this album several times this year. The truth is, even if I don't feel too attached to the Disney folk parts, the heavy sections are SO GOOD, that it's impossible to not have this on the list. |
| 60 |  | Everything Everything
Raw Data Feel
Release date: May 20th
Genre: Art Pop / New Wave
Label: AWAL
Highlight: Bad Friday
Lot of good things to be said about this band/album. There's definitely no one out there doing what they do and how they do it. |
| 59 |  | Rammstein
Zeit
Release date: April 29th
Genre: Rammstein
Label: Universal
Highlight: Zick Zack
Shout out to Till showing up at the train station to pick up refugees from Ukraine earlier this year, while releasing a hell of an album and preparing one if not the best live show of the planet. Huge W. |
| 58 |  | Jonathan Hulten
The Forest Sessions
Release date: December 16th
Genre: Folk
Label: Kscope
Highlight: A Dance in the Road (Roadburn version)
Technically not to be included since this is a reworking of Hultén's debut released last year. Still, this is a great collection of songs showcasing what has been going on for the ex-Tribulation axe-man. I absolutely love what he's doing by himself, both music and visuals, so I am really looking forward to new stuff from him, hopefully in the near future. |
| 57 |  | Dream Unending
Song of Salvation
Release date: November 11th
Genre: Doom
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Highlight: Ecstatic Reign
They didn't grab me with their debut, but this one felt somehow different, That guitar tone is sublime indeed. |
| 56 |  | Otoboke Beaver
SUPER CHAMPON
Release date: May 6th
Genre: Punk
Label: Damnably
Highlight: I checked your cellphone
What a great year for my labelmates. Very happy to see them blowing up everywhere they go. I've known them since they played local shows in the Kansai area in small venues and to see them headlining tours in the US it's just unbelievable. They're going back next year to both Europe and the States so don't miss their show if you have the chance! |
| 55 |  | Alexia Avina
A Little Older
Release date: April 29th
Genre: Singer Songwriter / Ambient Folk
Label: Lost Map
Highlight: Forgotten Angle
There's a good chance this is the first time you hear of this girl, so be sure to check her previous albums too, they are all great. |
| 54 |  | Grima
Frostbitten
Release date: July 29th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Naturmacht
Highlight: Into the Twilight.
Don't release black metal in summ... well this is Siberia we're talking about so probably doesn't make much difference. I wish Russians were focused in creating black metal as good as this instead of, you know, invading another country. |
| 53 |  | Helms Alee
Keep This Be the Way
Release date: April 29th
Genre: Sludge
Label: Sargent House
Highlight: T/T
I feel it's not as strong as the last one but still, incredible album, incredible band. I was about to see them live when the pandemic hit and got cancelled, so still waiting for that to happen. |
| 52 |  | Saor
Origins
Release date: June 24th
Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Highlight: The Ancient Ones
Andy Marshall continues his streak of great albums with Saor. Not much left to say. |
| 51 |  | The Orielles
Tableau
Release date: October 7th
Genre: Indie Pop / Psychedelic Pop
Label: Heavenly
Highlight: Beam/s
One of the most surprising evolutions this year for me. Really blown away by some of the material including on this album, especially that song above. Bravo. |
| 50 |  | Besvarjelsen
Atlas
Release date: May 27th
Genre: Stoner Doom
Label: Magnetic Eye
Highlight: Clouds
Nordic stoner doom FTW! Double points for having a lady on vocals and stellar production! |
| 49 |  | Kelly Lee Owens
Lp.8
Release date: June 10th
Genre: Ambient Pop / Industrial
Label: Smalltown Supersound
Highlight: One
The instrumental tracks are really good but the ones featuring vocals are stunningly beautiful. |
| 48 |  | Ancient Mastery
Chapter Two: The Resistance
Release date: December 2nd
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Label: Self released
Highlight: City of Broken Dreams
And here is Chapter 2! I can't believe this appeared out of nowhere days after I bumped the thread of his debut. Interesting album, less focused on black metal and leaning even to power metal, prog and even folk. |
| 47 |  | Heilung
Drif
Release date: August 19th
Genre: Nordic Folk
Label: Season of Mist
Nordic folk is living a golden age thanks to bands like Wardruna, Myrkur and especially Heilung. Really amazing stuff that I hope I can complement someday with their amazing visuals and presence on stage.
Highlight: Anoana |
| 46 |  | Psychonaut
Violate Consensus Reality
Release date: October 28th
Genre: Post Metal
Label: Pelagic
Highlight: T/T
Can't really say this is better than the previous one. My gut tells me that it's not, but I also haven't heard as much as their last one. For what is worth, the tidal riffs and pristine musicality are there. These guys are amazing. |
| 45 |  | Devil Master
Ecstasies of Never Ending Night
Release date: April 29th
Genre: Black Metal / Punk
Label: Relapse
Highlight: The Vigour of Evil
Still one of my favorite spooky punkthrone acts nowadays but I got the feeling they lost smth with the line up change. Like they play better now, but because of that, they lost some of the raw magic of their demos. |
| 44 |  | 40 Watt Sun
Perfect Light
Release date: January 21st
Genre: Slowcore
Label: Svart
Highlight: Colours
I struggled greatly with this record. Until the very end of November I was almost sure the latest Bonobo would be included in its place but in the end, reason prevailed. |
| 43 |  | Misthyrming
Með hamri
Release date: December 16th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Norma Evangelium Diaboli
Highlight: Með harmi
What a great way to send off a great year for ALL kinds and branches and subgenres of black metal released this year. Very interesting album that doesn't limit itself to the old formula. |
| 42 |  | Hath
All That Was Promised
Release date: March 4th
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Willowtip
Highlight: Casting of the Self
Their last album was great and this one's even better. Undisputable musicianship and songwriting, these lads know how to keep the momentum throughout the whole album, with peak moments like that melodic break in the track above. |
| 41 |  | E-L-R
Vexier
Release date: March 11th
Genre: Post Metal
Label: Prophecy
Highlight: Three Winds
I still haven't wrapped my head around how good this is, or maybe it's just an illusion. Really disconcerting sound, lots of reverb, some blast beats... melody? screams? There's a good chance you don't know this one, give it a check. |
| 40 |  | Cave In
Heavy Pendulum
Release date: May 20th
Genre: Alt Metal / Sludge
Label: Relapse
Highlight: Blood Spiller
Remember when I made a fool of myself in the Bloodmoon review claiming Cave In were done for? Well, here we are. |
| 39 |  | Saya Gray
19 Masters
Release date: June 9th
Genre: Psych...d..elic... fo... folk?
Label: Dirty Hit
Highlight: Cervical Cedric
Last entry to the list. Snubbed this from the staff list. Wish that I heard it before, honestly, it sets the perfect mood for in-between extreme metal albums and just the general everyday madness of life. |
| 38 |  | The Halo Effect
Days of the Lost
Release date: August 12th
Genre: Melodeath
Label: Nuclear Blast
Highlight: Shadowminds
The ultimate Swedish melodeath revival with members of In Flames and Dark Tranquility. Tank the tech's reaction videos really hyped me for this one, the man's contagious. |
| 37 |  | Beach House
Once Twice Melody
Release date: February 18th
Genre: Dream Pop
Label: Bella Union / Sub Pop
Highlight: Through Me
The release format for this was so weird that it feels it belongs to 2022 as much as it belongs to last year. The first half is incredible, probably some of my favorite set of songs they have ever produced but by the time I'm navigating the second half the boat is already starting to sink. Take it in small doses (hence the release format, I guess) and this really works. |
| 36 |  | Nostromo (CHE)
Bucephale
Release date: October 28th
Genre: Metalcore / Grindcore / Math Metal
Label: Hummus
Highlight: IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder)
Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that the mighty Nostromo would release an album 20 years later after they went MIA. And what a comeback. |
| 35 |  | Artificial Brain
Artificial Brain
Release date: July 8th
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Profound Lore
Highlight: Celestial Gist
I can't say this brand of death metal is my favorite since it's just... too much to handle sometimes but I can also say that this album is probably one of the most engaging records I heard off this genre in particular. Really impressive stuff. |
| 34 |  | Amorphis
Halo
Release date: February 11th
Genre: Progressive Metal
Label: Atomic Fire
Highlight: The Moon
Closing the trilogy on a high note. "The Moon" is definitely one of my favorite songs of the year. Wish they would have called Anneke for that one though. |
| 33 |  | Motorpsycho
Ancient Astronauts
Release date: August 19th
Genre: Progressive Rock
Label: Stickman
Highlight: Mona Liza / Azrael
At this point, what's there to say about this band. They shit amazing records consistently, it's just in their system. I am happy they have been staying on this prog fever for some records now, becauseI know they are also able to get very weird if they want to. |
| 32 |  | Melody's Echo Chamber
Emotional Eternal
Release date: Aprl 29th
Genre: Psychedelic Pop
Label: Domino
Highlight: Pyramids in the Clouds
This girl has found her sound and now she's gonna overwhelm us with goodness for years. You've been warned. |
| 31 |  | Cloud Rat
Threshold
Release date: October 7th
Genre: Grindcore
Label: Artoffact
Highlight: Kaleidoscope
I've already said my piece on the staff list for this one, so go read it! |
| 30 |  | Black Midi
Hellfire
Release date: July 15th
Genre: Prog / Jazz / ummmm...
Label: Rough Trade
Highlight: Sugar/Tzu
Black Midi are unstoppable at this point. Haven't seen a young band gaining so much traction in such a short time in a while and it's all well deserved. Their songwriting gets even more intricated on this one, mixing prog pirouettes with big band jazz ala Duke Ellington. Also, Morgan (drums) is one of a kind, eyes on that kid. |
| 29 |  | Ibeyi
Spell 31
Release date: May 6th
Genre: r&b / Pop
Label: XL
Highlight: Made of Gold
That song above competely bewitched me for most of the year for some reason. I heard Ibeyi's music in the past but never stuck with me the way this album did. It's short and sweet and her combined voices are just ambrosia from the Gods. |
| 28 |  | The Neptune Power Federation
Le Demon De L'Amour
Release date: February 14th
Genre: Stoner Rock
Label: Cruz del Sur
Highlight: Loving You Is Killing Me
Severely underrated 70s rock meets Ghost with a witch on vocals. This grew on me a lot as the year went by, it took its time, so I am sure if it was released last month it probably wouldnt' be here. |
| 27 |  | Archive
Call To Arms and Angels
Release date: April 29th
Genre: Alt Rock / Pop
Label: Dangervisit
Highlight: We Are The Same
A mixbag of incredible songs and mildly confusing tracks that are good but only in the proper mood. Obviously, my favourite tracks are those featuring Lisa Mottram, Holly Martin or Maria Q. Really worth a listen, even if I know you won't love the whole thing, some songs will surprise you. |
| 26 |  | Big Thief
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Release date: February 11th
Genre: Indie Folk
Label: 4AD
Highlight: T/T
This has been the year of Big Thief. Few bands are so consistent and prolific like the 4-piece from NY. I can't say I love every track on this album, but pick up just the ones you dig and it will still be a 40+ minutes long record of pure bliss. |
| 25 |  | Cult of Luna
The Long Road North
Release date: February 11th
Genre: Post Metal
Label: Metal Blade
Highlight: Into the Night
Great album as we wait for Mariner II. Cause Mariner II is still happening right? ... Right? AnakinPadme.gif |
| 24 |  | Pure Reason Revolution
Above Cirrus
Release date: May 6th
Genre: Progressive Metal / Alt Rock
Label: InsideOut
Highlight: Phantoms
I'm starting to feel that PRR is becoming more and more a solo project of Jon Courtney, with Chloe Alper occassionally showing up recording vocals from home but not participating on tours and Greg Jong returning from his long slumber to cover the spot of Jamie Wilcox. This is their second great album in a short span but already felt slightly weaker than "Eupnea" for me, I can't really pinpoint what it is. Still, I enjoyed this a lot and I wish they keep popping albums like there's no tomorrow. |
| 23 |  | White Ward
False Light
Release date: June 17th
Genre: Black Metal w/ Dark Jazz
Label: Debemur Morti
Highlight: T/T
I think I already blurb'd this album for some of the staff mixtapes, but I'll repeat myself: whatever comes out from Ukraine in times like this has my upmost respect. Add the fact that they are amaing band mixing two of my favorite genres these days: dark jazz and black metal. |
| 22 |  | Meshuggah
Immutable
Release date: April 1st
Genre: Djentlemen
Label: Atomic Fire
Highlight: Phantoms
Meshuggah are on their prime, but the fact is that they've been on their prime since their first album. Hats off to the kings. |
| 21 |  | Wormrot
Hiss
Release date: July 8th
Genre: Grindcore
Label: Earache
Highlight: Broken Maze
I'll tell you a secret now. I wish Wormrot would have occupied that Cloud Rat spot on the staff list. It's true, I love both albums, but these motherfuckers are just surreal. |
| 20 |  | Brutus (BE)
Unison Life
Release date: October 21st
Genre: Post Hardcore
Label: Sargent House
Highlight: Victoria
Brutus have cemented themselves as one of the most unique post hardcore bands of a very populated and rich scene. As a pad beater myself, I am in constant awe of Stef skills both on the drumkit and as a singer, something I always wanted to accomplish and something that my friends have politely snapped me out of. For the greater good. |
| 19 |  | Ghost (SWE)
Impera
Release date: March 11th
Genre: Hard Rock
Label: Loma Vista / Universal
Highlight: Spillways
That's it. Tobias made it. The Ghost of today is his childhood dream materialized, in honour of his brother, and against all odds. Personally, I love the direction the band has taken. It's a celebration of rock music as the biggest spectacle ever, and nobody is doing that better than Ghost. The album, in spite of not being my favorite, stilli includes some of the best songs Tobias has ever written. |
| 18 |  | Arch Enemy
Deceivers
Release date: August 12th
Genre: Melodeath
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Handshake With Hell
And talking about spectacle. What the actual fuck. What is Arch Enemy doing this high? Well, the truth is I hadn't heard a full album of this band until this one, but I've been a long time fan of Spiritual Beggars, and all I can hear here is Spiritual Beggars doing melodeath with an amazing lady on vocals, and I love it. |
| 17 |  | Elder (USA-MA)
Innate Passage
Release date: November 25th
Genre: Progressive Rock / Stoner Doom
Label: Stickman
Highlight: Catastasis
Elder had absolutely no right in dropping a monstrosity of an album like this one at thispoint of the year. Honestly, I felt offended, slapped and laughed at. Not only they have taken a massive step up from their last album, they also have crafted a record that's gonna take me another year to fully grasp, but first impressions matter and here they are. |
| 16 |  | Sylvaine
Nova
Release date: March 4th
Genre: Blackgaze
Label: Season of Mist
Highlight: Nowhere, Still Somewhere
I adore Alcest, that is the correct word. I don't "like" them or "love" them, I ADORE them at this point. And I don't think of Sylvaine as a branching off the Alcest sound in a disrespective way, all the contrary. I think the beauty of her music resides in how purely it stems out from Alcest to create something that resembles Neige's creation while at the same time it touches your inner chords in a completely different way. Blissful album. |
| 15 |  | Wiegedood
There's Always Blood at the End of the Road
Release date: January 14th
Genre: Black Metal
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Until It's Not
Whilte there's objectively better black metal to be found in the very generous strain of BM releases that have hit 2022, the "doods" came early with brandishing fire, the one capable of converting even the likes of Sowing to the dark arts. While we all miss Oathbreaker and pray for their return, let's rejoice we have at least half of them putting out incredible stuff like this album. |
| 14 |  | Chat Pile
God's Country
Release date: July 29th
Genre: Sludge
Label: The Flenser
Highlight: Pamela
All hail our sputbrother Pjorn, the first sputter to actually make it to the big leagues, including Obama's top 10 albums of the year. Chat Pile dropped in July and immediately became the soundtrack of the scorching heat of the city. I hate the fucking heat, and it just feels even more miserable when you have to suffer it for hours on the way to work. Chat Pile became the sound of my worst thoughts this year, the darkest place, the voice of everything that's fucked up in the world consuming me on a daily basis with a big, loud WHY. |
| 13 |  | Crippled Black Phoenix
Banefyre
Release date: September 9th
Genre: Gothic Post Rock
Label: Season of Mist
Highlight: Everything is Beautiful But Us
"Banefyre" marries perfectly the CBP of old with their newly acquired strengths after what they achieved with "Ellengæst" two years ago, which ended up being my AOTY in 2020. With a re-adjusted line-up that maintains Belinda Kordic as the main voice, now sharing duties with Joel Segerstedt, the band from everywhere has crafted once again a remarkable album, generous in length, rich in content and maybe too slow-paced for many of you, but I'm someone that goes everywhere walking in videogames, so I guess it all falls into place. |
| 12 |  | Oceans of Slumber
Starlight and Ash
Release date: July 22nd
Genre: Alt Metal / Blues / Doom
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Red Forests Road
The band led by the stunning voice of Cammie Gilbert has finally crafted the album I knew they had in them. It wasn't a doom album, or post metal, the band needed to find a way to infuse their sound with a r&b/ bluesy feel through Cammie's voice and up the tempo a bit and there it was, "Starlight and Ash". The album has boasts one of the best production works I've heard this year, so credit to Joel Hamilton (Battle of Mice/A Storm of Light) for his job at the controls. |
| 11 |  | Messa
Close
Release date: March 11th
Genre: Doom
Label: Svart
Highlight: Suspended
And let's continue down dewi-core avenue with another incredible output by the Italian squad Messa. Superb album, capturing that Black Sabbath evil magic with the little jazz and trip hop touches the band have always played with, all topped by the bone-shattering voice of Sara. The band suffered a very ugly accident somemonths ago, so I hope they are pulling through and back on their feet soon. |
| 10 |  | Ethel Cain
Preacher's Daughter
Release date: May 12th
Genre: Gothic Americana / Singer Songwriter
Label: Daughters of Cain
Highlight: American Teenager
Few words left in me that can match what fellow staffer wrote for this album on our staff picks list this year so I'd suggest you go and read that one for a proper blurb. All I have to say is that this album is bewitchingly beautiful, but also cruel and heartbreaking. It's one of the few albums I've heard several times with lyrics at hand and by the time it reaches the end it's all too much. As fictional the character of Ethel Cain might be, her pain feels as real as it can be. |
| 9 |  | Nite
Voices of the Kronian Moon
Release date: March 25th
Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Season of Mist
Highlight: Kronian Moon
One should never denies their roots, and the more you age, the more meaning they carry. I've grown up on the 80s, exposed to a ridiculous amount of heavy metal in a time where there wasn't even internet, but a few moments of music videos making their way through the dying signal of some MTV stream accidentally hitting the local TV on my grandpa's house in the deep south of Spain. A band like Nite makes my blood boil, it awakens dreams of yesterday, and the moment I watched the video for "Kronian Moon"almost by accident I kenw this album was gonna be special for me. |
| 8 |  | Aurora (NOR)
The Gods We Can Touch
Release date: January 21st
Genre: Pop
Label: Decca
Highlight: Cure for Me
Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are that the Norwegian girl that speaks to trees made it to the top 10. There's something strangely charming on this album, something that kept alluring me throughout this year. "Cure for Me" was my SOTY until a certain someone broke the spell (which was also expected). |
| 7 |  | Dreadnought
The Endless
Release date: August 26th
Genre: Doom / Progressive Rock
Label: Profound Lore
Highlight: Midnight Moon
Looking at the whole list now, and after checking some albums I have missed or that I should have spent more time with, I realized I needed to streamline a bit in the future, focusing on a narrower field of genres instead of trying to reach out and hammering myself with stuff I don't like until I like it in order to fit into the general hype. This band, and this album are 100% my thing, no surprises there, and probably the reaosn why I will be revisiting, adding and modifying some past years' list. Yes, it hit me that hard, lol |
| 6 |  | Jenny Hval
Classic Objects
Release date: March 11th
Genre: Singer Songwriter
Label: 4AD
Highight: Cemetery of Splendour
Jenny Hval is not weird anymore, that's bad news for a lot of people. Personally, I am beyond delighted to hear her songwriting prowess taking a more... "musical" direction, Every song included on this album speaks volumes of her talent both as songwriter and performer. Her voice has never sounded so good, her melodies have never carved that deeply in my soul and there's an impressive work of percussion, orchestration and pop sensibilities behind this album that needs to be appreciated, not to mention her sharp lyricism, that's the only thing that hasn't changed. |
| 5 |  | Metric
Formentera
Release date: July 8th
Genre: Pop
Label: Metric
Highlight: Doomscroller
This album had every chance to be ignored. The title, "Formentera", god, it callsback to that drug-fueled filthy rich Eurodance scene in Ibiza which I am not very fond of (although it's also the smallest island of the archipielago and it's beyond beautiful). It also opens with a 10:29 track. A pop album, opening with a ten minute track is just showing off. Well, it turns out, it not only became a top 5 track this year, it also served as a rite of passage for what it is one of my favorite pop albums of the year, an impressive work for a band (or duo) this far in their career and proof that sometimes, opening the door to the unexpected can result in a really good time. |
| 4 |  | Gospel
The Loser
Release date: May 13th
Genre: Post Hardcore / Progressive Rock
Label: Dog Knights
Highight: Deerghost
"I feel so alive", that's the first thing you'll hear Adam Dooling scream like he is waking up from a 17 year slumber like it was nothing. Gospel, the legend, they are back. Suprisingly they didn't break the site as much as I thought this album would do. It's not "Dead Moon", agree, but it has been 17 YEARS, that's easier said than done. To come back from such a gap and being able to record an album like "The Loser"is nothing short of impressive. Also, no other band marries prog with hardcore like these lads do and Vincent Roseboom might be one of my favorite drummers nowadays. Please Gospel, dont wait 17 years for the next one, I might not make it. |
| 3 |  | Bjork
Fossora
Release date: September 30th
Genre: Clarinet driven tecno pop
Label: One Little Independent
Highlight: Fossora
You have to be a fool to think Bjork wouldn't go straight in y top 10 this year. She has finally produced the album I've been waiting since maybe Vespertine, and managed to surprise me in a way I didn't foresee. The instrumentation credits for this album are beyond ridiculous, but somehow she made it all work in a way only Björk knows. Her voice remains unchanged after all this year, which is impressive, but to me, it means more than that. I wrote about this album back in September and It's my most hated review this year, since I feel I failed to transmit what it meant to me. The parallels between her mother's passing and mine's, her connection to her home, to Iceland, to her roots, they are all themes that I failed to convey, but I like to think I learned from the experience, from that review, and I hope I can bring back the writing next year. |
| 2 |  | Imperial Triumphant
Spirit of Ecstasy
Release date: July 22nd
Genre: Death Metal / Jazz
Label: Century Media
Highlight: Mercury Gilded
This was decided the moment they announced this album. There are two things I've been getting into these last couple of years. Dark Jazz and all that noir stuff and extreme metal, the latter being greatly thanks to two sputters that are not with us anymore, Spirit and Papa Universe. With this album, the NY dissodeath trio have perfected the formula with impressive musicianship, outstanding imagery and even recruiting sax legend Kenny G for one of their songs in what it was one of biggest "the universe is folding and I don't know anymore" moments of the year for me. This album is opulence in every sense of the word, irrigated with champagne and vilified with filth. |
| 1 |  | Darkher
The Buried Storm
Release date: April 15th
Genre: Dark Folk / Ethereal Wave
Label: Prophecy
Highlight: Immortals (SOTY)
I was in a very weird place when I wrote the review for "The Buried Storm" back in April. War in Ukraine was in full swing and I was getting bombed with the worst of humankind on a daily basis. Yes, it's not the first war, it's not the only war, but its somber aura just prevailed over everything else, and no matter what I did, where I'd go or who I'd be with, I felt like part of me was slowly withering as I watched my two year old daughter playing in her room while thinking the kind of world I have brought her to. Darkher's return after six years was the sound of that grief, but it also allowed for the breathtaking feel of listening to something beyond beautiful, one of those enrapturing moments when listening to a song for the first time, and that song was "Immortals". Don't let those who disregard Jayn Maven as a Chelsea Wolfe clone to deceive you. Darkher is way more than that. |
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