Top 10 Albums of 2022
13th year in a row. Let’s go.
Honorable Mention:
Bad Omens — The Death of Peace of Mind
Korn — Requiem
Paleface — Fear and Dagger
Animals as Leaders — Parrhesia
Misery Index — Complete Control
Machinehead — Of Kingdom and Crown
Caliban — Dystopia
Rammstein — Zeit
Upon a Burning Body — Fury
Hollow Front — The Price of Dreaming
Great American Ghost — Torture World (EP)
The Last Ten Seconds of Life — Self Titled
Corpsegrinder — Selftitled
Kublai Khan — Lowest Form of Animal (EP)
Northlane — Obsidian
Messhugah — Immutable
Saviour — Shine and Fade
Stray From the Path — Euthanasia
Kardashev — Liminal Rite
Fozzy — Boombox
Parkway Drive — Darker Still
Opponent — Sentinel
Spite — Dedication to Flesh
Behemoth — Opvs Contra Natvram
Amon Amarth — The Great Heathen Army
Wolfheart — King of the North
Heriot — Profound Morality (EP)
Ingested — Ashes Lie Still
Megadeth — The Sick, The Dying, The Dead
Life’s Question — World Full Of…
Miss May I — Curse of Existence
Fire From the Gods — Soul Revolution
A Wake in Providence — Eternity
Darko — Oni
Chelsea Grin — Suffer in Hell
Wake — Thought Form Descent
Within Destruction — Lotus
10. Decapitated — Cancer Culture
Twenty six years into their run, and first album in five years, Decapitated still find ways to reinvent themselves with catchy hooks and devastating riffs, all while never compromising their sound. This album is masterclass on groove, technicality, and brutality. ‘Hello Death,’ ‘Locked,’ and ‘Last Supper’ are a pure adrenaline rush that lead the charge for the moshpits around the world. As many years as these guys have been around, it’s awesome to see one of the trailblazers still at it all this time later.
9. Fallujah — Empyrean
I first saw these guys on back to back nights in Prague and Bratislava in 2016, and they blew me away. The sync and tightness of the guitars with the drums is some of the best I have ever heard; roaring solos, backup vocals, and some of the most atmospheric metal I’ve put ears on in the deathcore genre in a long time. ‘Into the Eventide’ is my favorite from the album, with ‘Soulbreaker,’ and ‘Radiant Ascension,’ following closely, but the entire record is a pure showcase of skill. Long under the radar and consistently producing top tier work, here’s hoping these guys keep rising in the years to come.
8. Bleed From Within — Shrine
The first of two quick rising UK bands here, Scotland’s Bleed From Within return to the list for the third consecutive time. Consistently strong song writing, unique riffs, and powerful vocals lead the charge yet again. ‘I Am Damnation’ is one hell of a opener and sets the tone for the next forty-eight minutes. ‘Levitate’ brings in chorus vocals, which add a haunting atmosphere with chaos, breakdowns, and blastbeats abounding on ‘Flesh and Stone.’ ‘Paradise’ is the perfect send-off for one of the current top metal bands on the planet.
7. Malevolence — Malicious Intent
When their debut album hit my ears back in 2013, I couldn’t stop headbanging. One album and EP later, the cornerstones of the band have been outlined, all layered like a declicious lasagna; filthy, raw riffs roaring over punishing drums and low end, bookended by Alex Taylor’s aggressive and gravely voice. As one of the leaders of the UK’s hardcore scene, what sets them apart, at least for me, is the accompaniment of guitarist Konan Hall’s raspy and hickory-smoked, melodic backing vocals to the mix, which only deepens their overall sound and impact. Tracks like single ‘On Broken Glass,’ get you moving, while ‘Karma’ is chuck full of double bass and features an absolute ball busting breakdown to close. Two Matt’s also appear on the album, one from Trivium and the other from Kublai Khan. The Sheffield, England crew can go full speed, downshift to a more melodic, slower style, or melt your face with solos. Whatever your speed, they can, and will, deliver.
6. Slipknot — The End, So Far
With this being their final album for Roadrunner Records, many fans were left wondering what the Des Moines legends would come out with. We got snippets in the form of singles, ‘Chapeltown Rag,’ which came out ages ago, and ‘Dying Song,’ and ‘Yen’ both dropping about a month before the album. The consensus could basically go either way. The spacy opener ‘Adderall’ is one of the strangest, most Beatles on acid type song I’ve ever heard, yet it slowly grows on you, and is far beyond anything this band has done, aside from their inception (I’m looking at you, MFKR). The meaty middle of the album is classic ‘Knot and a great mixture of all previous releases; with the closer, ‘Finale,’ being the perfect one. One major standout is Jay’s drumming and V-Man’s bass, especially the latter, with it being way more prominent throughout every song. Now comes the assumed long wait to see what’s next for one of the most popular metal bands of the last quarter century.
5. Lorna Shore — Pain Remains
Will Ramos. That’s really all that needs to be said. The ascent of him, and the band, in the last year or so has been unfathomably metoric. Vids of him doing one take vocals showcasing his screams, growls, and squeals have blown up, and he seems to be popping up on every channel these days doing interviews. The absolute sheer and raw brutality this band produces sets them apart; crushing riffs, slamming breakdowns, and gut wrenching stop/start’s, plus, with Ramos at the helm of the discord, you never know what is going to come next. Truly a band that is going to be featured on tours and festivals more and more in the future.
4. Bodysnatcher — Bleed-Abide
The album name emanates from the first two songs, and throughout this album, you’re going to do both. I remember hearing this band years ago and thought they were quite generic, but now, it seems they are tightening, honing, and cleaning up their former muddled sound to produce pure unadulterated destruction. It’s been a while since I heard an album with this many breakdowns, and they literally keep coming out of nowhere. I’m sure the lady sitting next to me on the bus when I first listened to this album thought I was a mental patient; I could not sit still. The only thing harder than this album is a redneck at his family reunion.
3. Fit For an Autopsy — Oh What the Future Holds
The old constant. The one you can always rely on. Over a decade trudging past mediocre and inferior bands. Experimenting and finding new ways to amaze and surprise the listener. Unrelenting touring and exposure. This is Fit For an Autopsy. Two time winners of this list and have never placed outside the top five. No favortism here whatsoever, just consistent and ever evolving music that always feels fresh and never gets tiresome. Songs such as ‘Two Towers’ and ‘Collateral Damage’ bring the punishment, while on ‘Savages,’ higher backup vocals from Joe Bad are still allowed to complement the intricate riffs. This album is another feather in the cap of FAAA’s expansion and their never written a bad song streak continues.
2. Shadow of Intent — Elegy
Appearing early to mid last decade, the Hartford, Connecticut quartet started making waves with their own firebrand of metal; releasing albums in 2016 and 17, hitting their stride with their 2019 offering, and have shattered all expectations with this effort. While the entire band more than pulls their weight in the form of solos, sweeps, crunchy bass lines, and blast beats aplenty, Ben Duerr is an absolute gutteral monster; reaching abyssal depths on songs like ‘The Coming Fire’ and ‘Intensified Genocide.’ Contemporary Phil Bozeman from Whitechapel lends his peer services on ‘Where Millions Have Come To Die,’ while the lead single, ‘From Ruin…We Rise’ is one of the finest goosbumps inducing songs I’ve heard in a very long time; a cacophonous melody of symphonics, blackness, and fire. If you need further proof of their talent, they just released an instrumental version of this album.
- Lamb of God — Omens
Mentioned in the same breath as Pantera, in reference to being the flagbearer of modern metal back at the end of the 90’s and at the former’s unfortunate demise, Lamb of God have forged their own path through the metal world, garnering millions of fans worldwide. Albums unleashed two decades ago are still praised and heralded as classics with hundreds of bands using them as blueprints to orient their own success. But, even over a quarter century into their career, the five-piece Richmond, VA outfit continues to awe and amaze, especially with this effort. The opening trio of tunes, ‘Nevermore,’ ‘Vanishing,’ and ‘To The Grave,’ welcome and propel you on the journey. ‘Grayscale’ may be one of the heaviest songs they’ve ever written, and an easy choice for a “try not to headbang challenge.” The final track, ‘September Song’ is probably my new favorite of theirs. Lamb of God pulls no punches, consistently finds new ways to pummel the listener, and have harkened back to the early 2000’s feel and style, as they ascend to their rightful place atop the heap in 2022.