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

THE CRIPPLER - I'm Just Gonna Let Myself In review

 

THE CRIPPLER - I'm Just Gonna Let Myself In

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

OK this one wins hands down as the most hate filled album of the year. I'll get to that point later. But hey not surprising enough this is a side project from the members of Philadelphia, PA's EAT THE TURNBUCKLE. Although EAT THE TURNBUCKLE channel their violence via professional wrestling fandom and grindcore. THE CRIPPLER are more about slashers. 

Musically this is a cross between some groove laden death metal, old school grind and plenty of thrash rhythms. For me that's what I call the full fuckin package. The vocals are a mix of full on deep throat-ed aggression with harsh back ground screams. Add that to the riff package you get some cool cuts.

All in all this band puts out everything said earlier as well as some jazz touches, tech death mentions but a whole lot of in your face filth. Great stuff but I wonder how great their next album would be. 

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/im-just-gonna-let-myself-in

KRISIUN - Mortem Solis review

 

KRISIUN - Mortem Solis

Century Media Records 

Everyone's favorite Brazilian brothers of death metal return with their 12th studio album. I don't know but it seems like yesterday I was listening to 2000's Conquerors of Armageddon or Southern Storm from 2008. Actually it was a few months ago and yeah those are my favorite albums by KRISIUN. 

Over the past bunch of years KRISIUN have put out a handful of full lengths that fit the bill if you're a fan which I am. But they've fell into that signature sound category. It's KRISIUN you either like it or not. Fortunately I'm a fan and have liked every album they've put out. Albeit there are a few that have gathered some dust over the years.

Their last one, Scourge of the Enthroned, from 2018 was damm good. So this year when I saw KRISIUN was coming out with a new one I was excited. So on Mortem Solis the band seems to have taken a step back to the past as far as their sound and song structures. Sure it's fast and heavy but not blasting your head off.

There's some exciting riffs flowing throughout. Plus the lead guitar work is on that tolerable tech death scale. The vocals are still in that deep baritone, angry and filthy. And of course the drum work is amazing. Some cool songs on here are "Serpent Messiah" and "Swords into Flesh", either one would be a great opener when they tour next year with VADER.

Add to them I'd say "Tomb of the Nameless" is a sick blast from the past at times. "War Blood Hammer" fuckin rules. In the end it's not a perfect blast from the past. But it's a great reminder from KRISIUN that hey they still kick ass. Something I've learned over the past few years is that few bands from the past which I liked a lot don't excite me as much with their newer stuff. KRISIUN never disappointing.

https://www.centurymedia.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVkyxfpZABM&t=761s

MUNICIPAL WASTE - Electrified Brain review

 

MUNICIPAL WASTE - Electrified Brain

Nuclear Blast

For me MUNICIPAL WASTE can't do no wrong. I mean for starters it was this Richmond, Virginia band that started the whole thrash revival back in the mid 2000's. Their third full length, The Art of Partying, from 2007 was the album that broke em onto the minds of thrash fans everywhere. 

Now personally as much as I like that album, as well as their first two. Massive Aggressive from 2009 is the one I still consider fucking great. To me that one was like their Master of Puppets. Yeah sure some people don't care for that album but fuck em. At least after that album the band stayed true to thrash as opposed to METALLICA. 

But anyways since then the band's more recent releases (aka: The Fatal Feast from 2012 and Slime and Punishment from 2017) have been decent but not overwhelming. So when this dink came out I was hoping for more than their typical thrash attack. Thankfully Electrified Brain does that in a great way. 

OK sure the band's trademark crossover/punk/thrash appeal is all over these fourteen songs. But if you listen with mature ears you'll hear plenty of odes to metal's non thrash past. For example "Demoralizer" has a touch of old MAIDEN. Other cuts show off why Nick Poulos, who joined back in 2016, was a good pick to throw down some major lead guitar work. "High Speed Steel" is pure 80's underground metal worship. 

I could go on about the cool songs on here and "Last Crawl" plus "Ten Cent Beer Night" are major ragers. But the bottom line is that Electrified Brain is my new favorite MUNICIPAL WASTE album. It's not only the best album they've done in years but one of this year's best. 

https://www.nuclearblast.com/eu/

LISTEN HERE:

https://municipal-waste.bandcamp.com/album/electrified-brain-2

CASKET ROBBERY - Rituals of Death review

 

CASKET ROBBERY - Rituals of Death

Blood Blast Distribution/Nuclear Blast

Well let's just get a few issues out of the way. So this comes in described as "female fronted brutal death metal". OK I get it ya need to lay down a quick description. But to you the reader I'd like to point out that women in extreme metal are not a curiosity nor a celebration. Look after all of these years (and I'm not some SJW loser) it's a gimme. To me it's all about talent and not gender. 

Next up, in my not so humble opinion this is not what I'd call brutal death metal. Maybe I'm old school (well yes I am) but brutal death metal to me is "BROOTAL" as in far more heavier than CANNIBAL CORPSE. So no this is more in the realm of modern death metal. And that's not a slag.

So what we have here is the second album by this Madison, Wisconsin DM act. Their debut album, Evolution of Evil, came out in 2016. That one had a different line-up and after giving it a listen (thanks Youtube) I found it to be fairly decent DM. 

Fast forward to this day with a newer line-up, CASKET ROBBERY come off as a savage nemesis to the top tier acts of DM supremacy. Yes the band's sound is modern DM. In other words the riffs are oppressive and angry. The guitar leads roll into the tech death realm. The vocals are aggro. And the rhythm section just bulldozes over ya. 

Be that as it may Megan Orvold-Scheider's vocals are ferocious. OK yeah she's an amazing vocalist. Megan has a varied extreme sounding range which covers the gambit of harsh gutturals as well as those ghostly cleans. Add to that you've got the low tuned guitars crunching. Plus some bass which comes across like thunder with drums. The music and the vocals are so in sync. 

In the end I have to say that CASKET ROBBERY are a huge surprise for me. In all honesty I have to admit that most newer sounding metal acts, especially in the DM realm, are not my thing. These Midwest maniacs have won me over simply because they're not generic. Ten cuts on here and every one is good. 

LISTEN TO AND BUY HERE:

https://casketrobbery.bandcamp.com/album/rituals-of-death

SHINING WIZARD - Tournament of Death EP review

 

SHINING WIZARD - Tournament of Death EP

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Metal and Wrestling (aka: the SPORT OF KINGS) has worked hand in hand for decades. OK I'll give ya the hate period when the big name shows played CREED. But hey ECW played some good stuff. Be that as it may I gotta be honest. I grew up watching wrestling in the 70's. I stuck with it till the end of the 90's. And I don't give a rats ass for it anymore unless I'm feeling nostalgic and start watching old Youtube Wrestling vids.

So what we have here is a Florida punk/grind band who do remember, most likely from Youtube vids than VHS tapes, some great heals from the Sport of Kings aka: Wrestling. Some of their faves rooted through song are questionable. New Jack was a piece of shit in my not so humble opinion. The big Boss Mann was an enforcer and a horrible wrestler in the ring. And don't get me started on Scott Hall. 

Now on the other hand musically this band's second EP is a total heal (in Wrestling terms it's a bad guy). To me it's more snarling punk than metal for the most part. I wonder if they like ANTISEEN? Not that they sound like em at all. But NC's ANTISEEN like their Wrestling as well. Six songs of very cool sounding and mean punk/metal. Yeah this is the type of band I'd like to see live. 

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/tournament-of-death

GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From the Arches of Heaven review

 

GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From the Arches of Heaven 

Metal Blade Records

Here we have the eighth full length by this long time blackened death thrash act from New Orleans, Louisiana. Just for the record I got into GOATWHORE with their third album. That was 2006's A Haunting Curse and to be honest it's still my favorite album by em. But I'm honest enough to admit that Carving Out the Eyes of God from 2009 was their breakthrough album. It put em on the top tier where they've stayed ever since. 

But that was then and afterwards what followed were a decent run of releases. Although I did think their last one, Vengeful Ascension, from 2017 was where the formula of their sound had run it's course. To me it was a beer coaster to say the least. So here we are five years later and have things gotten better? Well yeah actually and I think this album is pretty cool.

Aside from the worthless instrumental opener, "Invocation 3", the album kicks in a ferocious bite with "Born of Satan's Flesh". From that point onward I knew this was a comeback to when GOATWHORE were exciting. And of course it lies with the individuals. 

First and foremost is guitarist Sammy Duet. This guy is one of the best guitarists in extreme metal. It's his songwriting, the jagged riffs and the wild soloing style he creates. He's the main reason why I like GOATWHORE. Next up of course is vocalist Ben Falgoust. With a genre sound which is black, death and thrash metal his vocals reign. 

Drummer Zack Simmons has been with GOATWHORE since I got into em and has always been this powerhouse behind the kit. For a three genre style act he has always provided an amazing background performance. On this album he just has gone to a perfection level. New bass player, since 2017, Robert Coleman finds a few ways to stand out.

All in all GOATWHORE have returned to the exciting category in my opinion. Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven is eleven songs and that opening instro. The majority are hard hitting cuts. It's the return of extreme NOLA.

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://goatwhore.bandcamp.com/album/angels-hung-from-the-arches-of-heaven