EXTREME METAL MANIAC'S BEST METAL RELEASES FOR 2022

 

EXTREME METAL MANIAC'S BEST METAL RELEASES FOR 2022

Now for the obligatory opening words. As far as Metal was in 2022 I'd say it was typical. In other words you had a plethora of releases out there to choose from regardless of genre. And as usual you had a bunch of decent releases from well known acts. Some are included in my Favorites list below. Also there were some bands I have liked before who put out sub standard or absolute shit releases. Thankfully you had more Extreme bands filling in the gaps. 

Here's a shocker. Death Metal and Black Metal were not my go to genres this year. Although there are plenty of Death Metal and Black Metal releases in my Top 40 Favorite listings. But this year it was fuckin straight up Metal acts and ones that mixed things up who were my favorites. Add to that my Top 3 releases are bands that I saw perform this year. Yeah people ya need to go to those smaller shows. Unfortunately I only have a Top 40 list for full length releases. So there was some good stuff that didn't make the cut but were damm good. 

For example, TONY MARTIN had a cool solo album which was great for a SABBATH nostalgia fix. On a similar note the band SANHEDRIN had a great straight up Metal album which came out on Metal Blade Records. Some other names who in the past would've easily made it on my Favorites list but didn't this time around were DEATHHAMMER, MINNERIKET and SATANIC WARMASTER. The latter one came out on Dec. 30th. Also the full length by THE CRIPPLER was almost there. 

Now as far as the releases that are not on here but YOU think should've made the cut. Well obviously they didn't come in for review nor did I buy em. As for that latter point I never heard the new ones by KAMPFAR, SIGH, AUTOPSY, THE HELLACOPTERS or BLUT AUS NORD. I really wanted to check em out. Now on the other hand there were plenty of releases by known bands that just were not good enough in my not so humble opinion to make the list. And yeah I've been watching some of these Best Of 2022 shows on Youtube and thinking "you're a mainstream fuck" or "you've got an agenda". The latter point is understandable. 

I know this is Extreme Metal Maniac (formerly Scumfeast Metal) and I believe my listings are good. My Top 40 full length album picks are (in my not so humble opinion) fucking amazing. So here ya go.   

MY TOP 40 FAVORITE ALBUMS FOR 2022

1. SAVAGE MASTER - Those Who Hunt at Night

(Shadow Kingdom Records)

Their fourth and finest album to date.

2. EARLY MOODS - Self Titled

(RidingEasy Records)

Think of early CANDLEMASS, TROUBLE and MC-5 all rolled into one.

3. ARES KINGDOM - In Darkness at Last

(Nuclear War Now! Productions)

A tour de force of blackened death thrash.

4. DESTROYER 666 - Never Surrender

(Season of Mist)

Australian and anti-everything.

5. DEVENIAL VERDICT - Ash Blind

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

The template of modern Finnish death metal.

6. VENOM INC - There's Only Black

(Nuclear Blast) 

Foregoing the past to stand on their own.

7. MIDNIGHT - Let There Be Witchery

(Metal Blade Records)

MOTORHEAD and VENOM worship never sounded so good.

8. LIVE BURIAL - Curse of the Forlorn

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

The mantle of English extreme metal has been passed.

9. CAUCHEMAR – Rosa Mystica

(Temple of Mystery Records)

Amazing traditional metal/doom act from Quebec. Like PAGAN ALTAR with female vocals.

10. NEGATIVE PLANE - The Pact..

(Invictus Productions)

The blackest in black metal for the year.

11. ERIC WAGNER - In The Lonely Light of Mourning

(Cruz Del Sur Music)

Released after his death, this is an amazing ode to his legacy.

12. EXHUMED - To The Dead

(Relapse Records)

US death grind vets return with a beast.

13. EREB ALTOR - Vargtimman

(Hammerheart Records)

Blackened pagan metal with the spirit of BATHORY.

14. PAGANIZER - Beyond The Macabre

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Keeping the spirit of old school Swedish DM alive and fresh.

15. MANEGARM - Ynglinga Attens Ode

(Napalm Records)

Swedish folk metal vets put out an opus.

16. ORGAN TRAIL - Appetite For Dissection

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

Death Grind done to perfection by a bunch of musicians who don't live near each other but came together to put out something amazing.

17. BEGRIME EXEMIOUS - Rotting in the Aftermath

(Dark Descent Records)

Old school DM from Canada.

18. CASKET ROBBERY - Rituals of Death

(Blood Blast Distribution/Nuclear Blast)

Midwest maniacs second album of modern death metal.

19. HEGEROTH - Sacra Doctrina

(Self Released)

Polish act revisiting Scandinavian black metal from the mid 1990's with a few subtle personal touches.

20. VIANDE - L'abime devore les ames 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

A sinister, claustrophobic and dark atmospheric type of death/doom from France.

 

21. ANTIGAMA - Whiteout

(Selfmadegod Records)

Poland's grindcore masters

22. PERSECUTORY - Summoning the Lawless Legions

(Godz Ov War Productions)

Amazing black metal from Turkey. 

23. NOCTURNAL GRAVES - An Outlaw's Stand

(Season of Mist)

A punch in the face of Australian blackened death metal.

24. GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From the Arches of Heaven 

(Metal Blade Records)

The return of extreme NOLA.

25. BLIND GUARDIAN – The God Machine

(Nuclear Blast)

German power metal vets return to their old ways.

26. RIOT ACT - Closer to the Flame 2xCD

(Global Rock Records)

The embodiment of RIOT's past greatness meets modern day acceptance. 

27. KRISIUN - Mortem Solis

(Century Media Records)

Twelth full length by the Brazilian brothers of death metal.

 

28. MEDIEVAL DEMON - Black Coven

(Hells Headbangers Records)

The resurrection of symphonic Greek black metal.

29. RIOT CITY - Electric Elite

(No Remorse Records)

NWOBHM worship from Canada.

30. VEHEMENCE - Ordalies

(Antiq Records)

French black metal getting medieval.

31. ABYSSUS - Death Revival 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

This Greek band loves OBITUARY so much they practically borrowed their logo.

32. EXILIUM NOCTIS - Fragments Of Apocalypse 

(Sleaszy Rider Records)

Debut album by this Greek black metal act.

33. CORPSESSED - Succumb To Rot

(Dark Descent Records)

Purveyors of the old school Finnish death metal/death doom and gloom.

34. ERNIA - How To Deal With Life And Fail 

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Spanish avant-grind gone to the hilt.

35. MUNICIPAL WASTE - Electrified Brain

(Nuclear Blast)

Best album they've done in years. Thrash and more.

36. DRUDKH - All Belong to the Night

(Season of Mist)

A master class in Ukrainian atmospheric black metal.

 

37. ATARAXY - The Last Mirror

(Dark Descent Records)

Old school death doom influenced by ASPHYX, BOLT THROWER and an inquisition dungeon.

 

38. SENTIENT HORROR - Rites of Gore

(Redefining Darkness Records)

90's style old school death metal from New Jersey.

39. PHARMACIST - Flourishing Extremities On Unspoiled Mental Grounds

(Bizarre Leprous Productions)

Japanese two piece act reinterprets the gore death grind era of CARCASS.

40. SAXON - Carpe Diem 

(Silver Lining Music)

Andy Sneap's production work is like Viagra to legacy bands.

TOP EPs FOR 2022

1) SHINING WIZARD - Tournament of Death 

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

Grindcore meets Professional Wrestling.

2) VICIOUS BLADE - Siege of Cruelty 

(Our Ancient Future)

Thrash and old HC from the singer of CASTRATOR.

3) BERATOR - Elysian Inferno 

(Dark Descent Records)

Midwest blackened death.

4) GREYHAWK - Call of the Hawk 

(Fighter Records)

Heavy fuckin Metal from Seattle, WA.

5) FRIGHT - Self Titled 

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

Jersey/Philly supergroup going old school Thrash and Crossover.

SPLIT RELEASES

BLACK ALTAR & VULTURE LORD - Deathiah Manifesto 

(Odium Records)

COMPILATIONS

INCANTATION - Tricennial of Blasphemy

(Relapse Records)

All of their rare stuff in one package. 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Transcending Obscurity Records Label Sampler 2022

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

Always a great place to start with this label.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Faster Than the Fucking Devil

(Wise Blood Records)

Yeah it's fast.

REISSUES

RAVEN - Rock Until You Drop (4 CD Over The Top Edition)

(Hear No Evil Recordings)

Mandatory for any RAVEN fan. I picked this up at their show this year.

FAVORITE LABEL IN 2022

Transcending Obscurity Records

FAVORITE NON METAL BAND OF 2022

ANTISEEN

AND NOW THE SOLO CATEGORIES

BEST BLACK METAL ALBUM OF 2022

NEGATIVE PLANE - The Pact..

(Invictus Productions)

BEST DEATH METAL ALBUM OF 2022

DEVENIAL VERDICT - Ash Blind

(Transcending Obscurity Records)

BEST DOOM ALBUM OF 2022

EARLY MOODS - Self Titled

(RidingEasy Records)

BEST GRINDCORE ALBUM OF 2022

ORGAN TRAIL - Appetite For Dissection

(Horror Pain Gore Death Productions)

BEST THRASH ALBUM OF 2022

MUNICIPAL WASTE - Electrified Brain

(Nuclear Blast)

BEST METAL ALBUM OF 2022

SAVAGE MASTER - Those Who Hunt at Night

(Shadow Kingdom Records)

BEST FOLK METAL ALBUM OF 2022

MANEGARM - Ynglinga Attens Ode

(Napalm Records)

BEST POWER METAL ALBUM OF 2022

BLIND GUARDIAN – The God Machine

(Nuclear Blast)

HOTTEST THING IN METAL FOR 2022

SAVAGE MASTER

WORST THINGS IN METAL FOR 2022

1. That WATAIN album really sucked!

2. That AMON AMARTH album really sucked! But you figured it would.

3. That BELPHEGOR album sucked and that pissed me off.

4. MEGADETH's album sucked even though there was some great lead guitar work on it.

5. Getting put in Facebook Jail for saying BURZUM on a Metal group site was pathetic. 

NUFF SAID