BEST OF HEAVY MUSIC RELEASES IN 2022
It’s almost the end of the year and you all know what that means. That’s right, it’s that time of the year where we can brag about our Spotify’s best of whatever. Yes, that, and the list of our Best of Heavy Music Releases in 2022. This time I’m starting a bit early with the list, since it’s only the second half of November. But it doesn’t matter, because by the time I get to the end, it will be next year and I’ll catch up with some of the end of the year releases, so I can include them on this list as well.
Anyways, as was the case with previous list, this one is also based on my listening habits of the artists and bands that I’m currently following in regards to heavy music. Of course, your favourite album or a band might not even be on this list. If that’s the case, hit me up, send me something good to listen to, that I might have missed. There’s only so little time and so much music to listen to. And let’s be honest, to really appreciate the albums, you have to give them multiple listens, especially when they’re growers. It’s just so time consuming, but oftentimes well worth the listen.
To cut to the chase, here is the list of Best of Heavy Music Releases in the year 2022 made by yours truly. Sorted again by the release date, as I simply can’t choose a favourite album because of the genre and style diversity these bands and artists have. So here we go:
- Evegrey – Before the Aftermath (Live in Gothenburg) (January 28, 2022) – AFM Records
While I haven’t seen the livestream or the Blu-Ray release of this concert, I have listened to the live album a few times, and as a fan of the band, I can say the boys still got it. I’ve seen them live on their The Atlantic tour in Bratislava, so I can imagine the energy from the band, especially when they performed in front of only 45 people (but probably hundreds or thousands more during livestream as well). Great setlist that focuses on the last trilogy of albums with some older anthems intertwined in between.
Highlights: All of them, to me it’s like the best of current Evergrey live at this point.
- Dawn Of Solace – Flames Of Perdition (January 28, 2022) – Noble Demon
I won’t drag the speeches for this album, you can check my full album review here. Spoiler alert!: It’s awesome! Yes, Tuomas and Mikko have made another great melancholic Dawn of Solace album. Love this duo.
Highlights: White Noise, Erase, Event Horizon, Skyline
- Korn – Requiem (February 4, 2022) – Loma Vista, Concord
This record is, in my opinion, like a combination of everything great Korn possesses compressed into a 32-minute, in your face, no filler all killer of an album. Creepy guitar riffs, chuggy riffs, slappin’ bass tone (although not signature Fieldy’s, since he’s been absent from the band for a while now), Ray Luzier’s excellent drumming, JD’s vocals, along with his signature scatting (!), everything has its moment on the album. It’s heavy, it’s catchy, it’s groovy, it’s just a great Korn record.
Highlights: Forgotten, Let the Dark Do the Rest, Start the Healing, Worst Is on Its Way
- Nightrage – Abyss Rising (February 18, 2022) – Despotz Records
I believe I read somewhere that this is actually a third part in trilogy of albums by Nightrage, preceded by Wolf to Man and The Venomous before that. I’ll need to dig into this concept a bit more, since, you know, I’m a sucker for concept things. Concept aside, this album is a straight ode to classic old school, dare I say Gothenburg Melodic Death Metal! The riffs from the opening title song alone are enough to get you hooked on this album. Pure gold!
Highlights: Abbys Rising, Swallow Me, Nauseating Oblivion, Falsifying Life
- Allegaeon – Damnum (February 25, 2022) – Metal Blade Records
Oh man, what a beast (pun intended) of an album Damnum is. It’s brutal, it’s catchy, heavy, groovy. Also, am I the only one who got full on Opeth homage vibes on Called Home? It’s a glorious one too! It has to be intentional. This band does everything prefect on this record. One of the top albums for this year for me (obviously).
Highlights: Bastards of the Earth, Of Beasts and Worms, Into Embers, Called Home
- In Mourning – Live In Valley Sound Studio [EP] (April 1, 2022) – Dalapop
A great Live performance from these melancholic doom/death masters comes in the form of this Live EP. Focused on songs from latest album The Bleeding Veil, as well as songs from Garden of Storms and The Weight of Oceans, the band shines in this raw in studio performance, perfectly capturing the moods of the songs.
Highlights: All of them!
- Rammstein – Zeit (April 29, 2022) – Universal
The German Juggernauts are back at it again, not keeping us waiting long since their comeback self-titled album. Zeit, or Time in English, brings us everything we might expect from Rammstein. From industrial pounding humorous anthems to the emotional more serious songs, there’s something for every fan of the band. It’s not their best album for sure, but they never really had any bad album, did they?
Highlights: Armee der Tristen, Zeit, Zick Zack, Angst, Adieu
- Ibaraki – Rashomon (May 6, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
Ibaraki was born as Matt Heafy’s (Trivium) Black Metal solo side project originally called Mrityu until 2020. With a little help from nonother than Ihsahn himself, lending him producer duties with musical guest spots on couple of songs as well. The music itself is really something different as far as Black Metal goes. It’s more progressive, melodic and with clean singing as well as a bit of different screaming approach from what you can usually expect in this genre. A pleasant surprise for me, as I’m not really much into BM in the first place.
Highlights: Tamashii no Houkai, Kagutsuchi, Rōnin
- Evergrey – A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) (May 20, 2022) – Napalm Records
After the Live album at the start of the year, Swedish Dark progressive legends Evergrey continue their streak with yet another emotional journey that is this beautiful studio album called A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament). Heavy riffs, solos, grooves, Tom’s vocal performance, everything is here that makes this another modern classic Evergrey album for me, that I’ll always gladly come back to.
Highlights: Midwinter Calls, Ominous, The Orphean Testament (that reimagined callback riff to Ominous always gets me), Reawakening, Wildfires
- Decapitated – Cancer Culture (May 27, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
Following somewhat underwhelming Anticult, and a 5-year break between albums, I was a bit sceptical about Cancer Culture. But oh boy, was I wrong! In only 37 minutes of its run time, the album packs quite the punch. Decapitated sound as fresh as ever on this release. Cool heavy riffs, excellent drumming, perfect breakdowns, Rasta’s vocals and a couple of great special gusts as well. Saw them live at this year’s Brutal Assault festival in CZ, and they just reaffirm the quality of the songs from this album on stage. Absolute domination.
Highlights: Cancer Culture, Just a Cigarette, Hello Death, Iconoclast
- Tишина – Увод… (May 30, 2022) – Co-release between Hypnotic Dirge Records (Canada), Satanath Records (Georgia) & The End Of Time Records (Ireland).
Are you a fan of melodic doom/death metal? Than Tишина’s Увод…will definitely satisfy your needs. The project coming from Branislav (Bane [Serbia], Sicksense…) brings us melancholic melodies combined with harsh vocals, groovy riffs and occasional tasty basslines in its first release. Though lyrics are in Serbian language, it doesn’t take much from the listening experience. The only actual downside this album has is short running time. But with the title like Увод… (Introduction…), I’m sure we’ll hear more from this project in the future.
Highlights: The whole album!
- Bleed From Within – Shrine (June 3, 2022) – Nuclear Blast
This band hailing from Glasgow, Scotland finally caught my attention with their previous record Fracture, thanks to the YT video suggestion for the title song. That album is a banger front to back. Now we have this other beast of an album called Shrine. If you still haven’t, please go check it out. It’s modern metalcore at its finest. Cool, heavy and melodic guitar riffs, chuggy grooves, hard hitting breakdowns, catchy hooks with clean vocals, mosh-pit material, added string parts, they have it all!
Highlights:I Am Damnation, Levitate, Flesh and Stone, Stand Down, Temple Of Lunacy
- Kreator – Hate Über Alles (June 10, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
German Thrash legends return with their latest effort Hate Über Alles. I must admit, I was hesitant at first to give it a listen, and what a mistake that was! The band veers into some new territories here and there but still manage to retain the signature Kreator sound. Maybe not their best album by any means, but good enough for me to be on this list.
Highlights: Hate Über Alles, Crush The Tyrants, Midnight Sun, Dying Planet
- Coheed and Cambria – Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind (June 24, 2022) – Roadrunner Records
Creatively combining their music narrative with their in-universe comic books/novels, the band brings us second part to their planned Vaxis pentalogy (yes, that’s 5 planned albums!). As with any new Coheed album, you can expect pretty much everything now from them. But let me tell you, Act II is nothing like Act I. Or like any other Coheed record for that matter. Not in a bad way by any means. The first part was more darker, progressive and atmospheric, while the second part is pretty much all over the place. It’s more lighter in tone, with lot’s of genre shifting, not just between songs, but within the songs themselves! I had this album on repeat so many times since it was released, it’s insane. And the last trilogy of the song is just brilliant, not just musically, but in storytelling as well. Hell, the closing title song itself is like a rock opera!
Highlights: The whole album! Come on, it’s a concept band/album, of course I’m going to listen to the album front to back.
- Shinedown – Planet Zero (July 1, 2022) – Atlantic
Florida rockers Shinedown are back, this time with a concept album (yay me!) titled Planet Zero. Intertwined with little spacey intro and interludes, the album brings us a number of great songs that basically tell the story of current state of people’s lives in this world we live in. Musically it’s somewhat of a back to the roots, or more stripped down, rock-oriented sound. No Sleep Tonight, Planet Zero, Clueless and Dramatic are sure to bring out the adrenaline during their live shows. Welcome to Planet Zero.
Highlights: No Sleep Tonight, Planet Zero, America Burning, Daylight, The Saints of Violence and Innuendo
- The Halo Effect – Days of The Lost (August 12, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
Ah, the long-awaited debut album by the mighty Gothenburg veterans of the Melodic Death Metal scene, that gathered to form a band called The Halo Effect. If you follow this genre, then you probably need no introduction to the members. If yes, then google it, damnit! They said they got together to recapture the Gothenburg Melodeath magic in their songs, and the boys delivered. It’s nice to hear Jesper’s instantly recognizable riffs again after his latest band Cyhra (is he even in that band anymore?). Great addition into collection for every fan of these musicians.
Highlights: Shadowminds, Days of the Lost, Conditional, Feel What I Believe
- Soilwork – Övergivenheten (August 19, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
Sweden’s own melodic death (groove?) metal masters return with their 12th album Övergivenheten.Continuing the path made by their previous releases Verkligheten and A Whisp of The Atlantic EP, this one brings even more groove and catchy parts with it. The album clock at 65min mark, so it’s a lot to digest, but it’s definitely worth it. Another solid addition to their already impressive discography.
Highlights: Övergivenheten, Nous Sommes La Guerre, Electric Again, Is It in Your Darkness
- Krimh – The Eternal Return (August 22, 2022) – Unsigned
The Austrian multi-instrumentalist, mostly know as a beast of a drummer, returns (pun intended) with another solo album The Eternal Return. As a huge fan of his instrumental debut Explore, the addition of mixed vocalists on subsequent albums was sometimes distracting for me. However, having only one vocalist on this album, and a versatile one as well, feels like a perfect match. Silva Raziel’s (Thorns of Ivy) growls, screams and beautiful gothic-like cleans fit really well with Krimh’s songwriting.
Highlights: Melting Giants, Earthborn, In the Shadows Of Ashen Pillars
- Andy Gillion – Arcade Metal (September 3, 2022) – Self Released
Andy Gillion, the man of many talents, including making hilarious vlogs from tours and recordings. No, seriously, go check them out if you want to have a good laugh! There is one from making of Arcade Metal as well! What a great instrumental album. Thematically it’s set in the Arcade games era obviously, with a metal spin. A lot of homages to that era through chiptune melodies, keyboards, guitar riffs, it’s just prefect. And the guests on the album are amazing as well. Also, kudos to 66Samus for nailing the drums again. Such a cool combination with Andy’s songs.
Highlights: 1988, Glitch, Damn You Water Level!, Enter The Castle
- Wolfheart – King Of The North (September 16, 2022) – Napalm Records
Finnish melodeath wolfpack, led by Tuomas Saukkonen, return triumphantly with their 6th effort King of the North. This album feels more aggressive than Wolves of Karelia, but with a signature WH sound, that we all love. There are even cool vocal guest spots from Jesse Leech (Killswitch Engage) and Karl Sanders (Nile), to spice up already epic songs. Arguably one of their best albums to date.
Highlights: Skyforger, Ancestor, The King, Cold Flame
- Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram (September 16, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
Poland’s most notorious band is back at it again. Opvs Contra Natvram offers meticulously crafted blend of Black and Death Metal interwoven with haunting atmospheric orchestrations and choirs combined with Nergal’s signature vocals. It’s nothing we haven’t heard from them on their previous records, but the level of production, arrangements and dedication to the craft is just prefect, so the album never overstays its welcome.
Highlights: Post-God Nirvana, The Deathless Sun, Thy Becoming Eternal, Versvs Christvs
- Lamb Of God – Omens (October 7, 2022) – Nuclear Blast Records
After the glorious return of Lamb of God with their self-titled record, I didn’t think they could outmatch that with another album so soon. Well, they could and they did! While the band didn’t invent hot water here, they’ve managed to bring their blend of heavy, thrash, groove hybrid to perfection. Catchy hooks, chuggy breakdowns, Randy’s signature screams, a classic LoG.
Highlights: Nevermore, Vanishing, Ditch, Omens, Grayscale
- Lorna Shore – Pain Remains (October 14, 2022) – Century Media Records
The hype surrounding their last year’s breakout hit To the Hellfire, debuting newcomer on vocals Will Ramos, made the expectations high for this album, to say the least. And Pain Remains delivers. While the majority of the album is pretty much established Lorna Shore symphonic, over the top fast drums, and somewhat samey guitar riffs/melodies and breakdowns sound, it’s nicely arranged. But the highlight comes at the end with Pain Remains trilogy of songs, that are throwing some curve balls here and there, mostly in the emotions expressed through melodies and lyrics themselves.
Highlights: Welcome Back, O’ Sleeping Dreamer, Sun//Eater, Pain Remains Trilogy
- Alter Bridge – Pawns & Kings (October 14, 2022) – Napalm Records
American rockers brought us another heavy release, with a compact 10-song album (I believe this is their shortest album in terms of song count). From hard-hitting opening song This is War, through catchy Silver Tongue, proggy Sin after Sin and Fable of Silent Son and closing title song, Alter Bridge brought us their best album since Fortress. Every member of the band has his moment on the album and the tight, modern production shows this pretty well.
Highlights: This Is War, Silver Tongue, Holiday, Fable of The Silent Son, Pawns & Kings
- Architects – the classic symptoms of a broken spirit (October 21, 2022) – Epitaph Records
With only about year and a half since their last release, Architects released another album, and showed us another step in the evolution of their sound. Going even more in the modern pop/industrial/arena rock direction, but still retaining that heavy/angry edge, the band managed to come up with great catchy songs yet again. Don’t worry haters, there are enough breakdowns in here and Sam even threw one ‘Bleigh’ for old times’ sake. Don’t like the change they made? Not ‘heavy’ or ‘old school Architects’ enough for you? Move on, no one cares. The album slaps!
Highlights: deep fake, spit the bone, when we were young, doomscrolling, a new moral low ground
Hornorable mentions:
- Amorphis – Halo (February 11, 2022) – Atomic Fire Records
- Oceans Of Slumber – Starlight and Ash (July 22, 2022) – Century Media Records
- Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army (August 5, 2022) – Metal Blade Records
- Arch Enemy – Deceivers (August 12, 2022) – Century Media Records
- Megadeth – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead! (September 2, 2022) – Tradecraft
- Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9 (September 9, 2022) – Sony Music
- Parkway Drive – Darker Still (September 9, 2022) – Epitaph Records
- Slipknot – The End, So Far (September 30, 2022) – Roadrunner Records
- Polyphia – Remember That You Will Die(October 28, 2022) – Equal Vision Records
- MMXX – Sacred Cargo (November 11, 2022) – Candlelight Records
- Soen – Atlantis [Live Album] (November 18, 2022) – Silver Lining Music
It’s been quite a year for heavy music. We had some surprisingly great releases from few newcomers, but also some a bit disappointing or rather underwhelming ones from more established bands as well. I’m sure that I missed some great releases, as its always the case with me, being the lack of time or a mood for a certain genre/band/artist. I’m sure I’ll check them out sooner or later. But for the time being, these are the ones that stayed with me the most for the good part of the 2022 (and moving forward as well). As it’s nearing the end of February (that’s right, this took me almost 3 months to write, mostly due lack of time and/or motivation, but it is what it is), there are already a few contenders for AOTY! Onwards with 2023!
Mikro IMP
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