Top 150 Albums of 2022 Part IV: 90-71

Hello once again everyone and welcome to part 4 of this gargantuan and some say an unnecessary list of Heavy Debriefings' Top 150 Albums of 2022. To combat that, I will say that you saw some heavy hitters already in the first 60 albums shown off and those are albums I still very much enjoy and love, and it only gets harder and harder to narrow things down from here on out. With 90 albums to go, It's time to explore the next 20 here and in this part of the list, we finally hit the halfway point of the whole list at number 75. I wonder what it will be. Power metal perhaps? Maybe some more melodic death doom. Had mc chris released an album this year, would it land here? Well, dear friends, acquaintances, and those that don't want to know me on a deeper level than this let's get to the rules,. Then onto today's part of the list!

1.) This is a 10-part List running from November 28th to December 9th. The first week is Albums 150-51. 20 Albums a day in countdown order. The 2nd week is the Top 50 with 10 albums a day counting down all the way to number 1.

2.) There are no EPs, Live Albums, Remake Albums, Cover Albums, or Rarity Albums. It is a list of all brand-new studio albums released in 2022.

3.) The order of each entry is as follows: Band Name, Album Title, FFO (For Fans Of) Section, Paragraph or less description of said album.

4.) The list takes into account albums that are released between January 1st, 2022, and December 9th, 2022. Yes, the last few weeks of the year are not included and there is no reason you should be releasing music in that time frame if you want people to check out your album in a calendar year. That's on you.

5.) This list is mine and mine alone. I was not paid or asked to put any album on this list.

6.) As it is impossible to add every single heavy album in a single year, I can only add what I've heard and enjoyed. If an album is not on here that you feel should have been it is because either A.) I didn't hear it, B.) I didn't hear it enough, or C.) It wasn't my bag...baby.

7.) This is a list of my TOP 150 albums of 2022. Not just 150 albums I heard this year. I heard much more than that and narrowed things down to the ones that I want to showcase. Your favorite album or discovery from this list could be at 1, 23, 78, 104, or 150. You don't know unless you check the whole list and check out anything that may appeal to you. I'm just the messenger giving you good music and my own thoughts, but I really do enjoy every single album listed and recommend you check these out at your own discretion.

8.) Enjoy the ride, make some new discoveries, and check out some new music. If between all 150 albums listed you can't find one that you enjoy, you're reading the wrong list.

And now for Today's segment of the list

90.) Fallen Sanctuary- Terranova
FFO- Melodic Power Metal

It really is true that the more experience you have, the more likely it will sound like your first album with a band will sound like you've been doing it forever. That's exactly what's going on here with Fallen Sanctuary, I "supergroup" of power metal musicians who took what they are best at and decided to make their music as catchy and melodic as possible. It's almost a perfect starter album for someone new to power metal but wants something with modern production. Every song has hooks that just feel right and hit you in the best parts of your soul. Fallen Sanctuary proves that power metal is still in good hands in 2022 and so many years to come.

89.) Immolation- Acts of God
FFO- Death Metal

I can see a lot of people getting mad at me for having this so "low" on my list as this is one of the best death metal albums of not only 2022, but quite possibly the 21st century. And you are right for thinking so because it is that good. Perfect raw but clean production, superb songwriting, and some of the most intense and brutal riffs you'll hear from any death metal band still active. It's another reason why I wish people wouldn't look at this as "low" on my list and look at it as an album that is worthy of every single accolade it has and will receive. I can't say it enough, for straight up, no frills, brutal death metal, you can't get much better than Immolation, and to the dismay of some….No, I can't ruin things, just keep reading the list all the way through. But I can't say enough good about this Immolation released their best album to date. Bar none.

88.) Strigoi- Viscera
FFO- Death Metal, Crust Punk, Experimental

Strigoi has released their sophomore album and it takes everything that worked on their debut release and jacked it up tenfold. The songs are faster when they get fast, the songs get more brutal when they need to be more brutal, and little hints of experimentation throughout give this an album experience and not just some great songs and filler. Every track here is meant to be here and every song rules. There's not much I can add, if you want things fast, brutal, or both, you get it here with Strigoi.

87.) Sylvaine- Nova
FFO- Blackgaze, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post Rock

Easily the best Sylvaine album to date; Nova pushes the boundaries to its furthest reach to date. When it's soft, it's so hauntingly beautiful, when it gets into black metal territory, it feels like she is ripping your soul apart. It's no wonder this band keeps bringing people from across the world into their fold and gives you a dark experience you can only match with something like Alcest, but done in their own way instead. This will definitely hit all of the heartstrings in you to really make you feel something and the best music does that. Seriously, if this sounds interesting to you, go check it out.

86.) Ohth- None Shall Escape Death
FFO- Melodic Death Metal, Melodic Black Metal

The sophomore release from this one-man project is not afraid to wear influences on his sleeves. If you like 90s Swedish melodeath, you will love a good chunk of these songs, if you like melodic black metal, you will love the other chunk of these songs. The songs all have a great sense of groove to them that is missing in a lot of other bands that just focus on blast beats and chugging to their heart's content. This is indeed a passion project in all the best ways and if you want a good throwback, but contemporary look at melodic extreme metal; this is the album for you.

85.) Serious Black- Vengeance is Mine
FFO- Melodic Power Metal

Sometimes a shakeup in a band's lineup brings out the best in the band. And that's what happened here. Without question, this is the best album of the Serious Black catalog to date with their catchiest songs to date. The production is pristine and you can hear everything if you listen to it. The vocals soar like never before and the band has a new life that has been pumped into them. Again, bad situations can lead to some positive outcomes, and in this case, Serious Black, they have weathered the storm and come out in its strongest form so far. Now, let's see what that next album has in store for us all.

84.) Wake- Thought From Descent
FFO- Blackened Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Extreme Metal

Going from a grindcore band into a quite extreme and more progressive blackened death metal band is no easy feat. It has to come from the heart and it has to be something you want to create. That's what happened here with Wake. The band releasing this monolith of an album has taken the extreme metal world by storm and has created critical acclaim for the band like never before. If this is where the band is right now, I am all for it as it is extreme but cohesive and I can only imagine that now that they know this formula works for the band, their next release may be their best release ever and one that contemporaries could only hope to compete with. This album pulls no punches it wrecks you hard musically and lyrically and sometimes that's the thrill ride you just need to take. Give this one a proper listen.

83.) Conjurer- Pathos
FFO- Post Metal, Doom Metal, Experimental

This album is a tearjerker when you listen to the lyrics, and a mammoth undertaking of musicianship when you listen to it musically. With all the songs dealing with the end in one way or the other, be it life, memory, or more; Conjurer took their time with this album and it did nothing but justice for the final product. It is one of the heaviest albums sonically and emotionally you're gonna hear this year (though, keep checking out this list if you want more tearjerkers). It's not an easy listen, but it is one of the most cathartic you will experience if you are dealing with dark times.

82.) Shroud of Bereavement- A Beautiful Winter
FFO- Funeral Doom Metal, Death Metal, Gothic Metal

Follow this timeline. Started in 1995, their first album in 2007, and their sophomore release came out back in July of this year. To say this is a band that does not rush things would be an understatement. But you can't argue with the results. This album is filled with dirges that will make even the strongest-willed weep. The soundtrack to death is in full display here with moments for fans of Draconian, Skepticism, and Novembers Doom begging for more. It's dark, it's heavy, it feels like you are falling further into your grave, and it's perfect as I'm writing this up and see nothing but snow for as far as my eyes can see. For you funeral doom fans like myself, this is a can't-miss.

81.) Iatt- Magnum Opus
FFO- Progressive Blackened Death Metal

This is another band that has made quite the transformation over the years; going from more metalcore vibes to raw black metal to now refining their sound to become what may be their true form. The title is not misleading in the slightest. When you listen to this album, it really feels like the magnum opus of not only the band but of their contemporaries as well. The production is their best ever, and the songwriting has everything that a fan of Opeth, Ne Obliviscaris, Cradle of Filth, and Ihsahn need in their lives. This is a band that has gone through a metamorphosis and I don't see them not continuing to expand their sound in the future, but all of that said; this is a crowning achievement in the extreme metal world and you should not miss out on this one if this sounds up your alley.

80.) Wind Rose- War Front
FFO- Heavy Power Metal, Fantasy War

Wind Rose is the Dwarven metal band that either you knew you needed or didn't realize you needed until you hear them. With their 2022 album, they have continued to refine their sound and keep forging toward their finest work. The songs are varied and diverse while still being very heavy power metal and give you that grand landscape that you experiencing war that you can't even comprehend. It's also a super fun album. If you are in with the fantasy tactics, then this is an album you shouldn't ignore and even if you just dig power metal or want something heavier in the same vein, check out Wind Rose as soon as you can because this hits all the checkmarks and then some.

79.) Ibaraki- Rashomon
FFO- Extreme Progressive Metal

Ever imagine hearing Matt Heafy, and Ihsahn writing Ronin/Samurai-inspired metal together and having Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance doing black metal vocals over it? Well sit down and let me explain further. A project that Heafy has wanted to do for such a long time has finally come to fruition with Trivium helping out on several tracks (and Alex Bent playing drums on every track), occasional guest spots from the aforementioned Ihsahn and his family, and again, Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance doing black metal screams in the song Ronin. If you dig your metal with some different kinds of folklore than you normally hear; I highly recommend giving this at least a shot, you may be won over more than you could have ever imagined.

78.) Stormruler- Sacred Rites & Black Magick
FFO- Black Metal

If you love your black metal melodic, sounds like it came from Norway in the 90s, and has a central story going on through half of the tracks, then you need to check out Stormruler. The sophomore release from this American duo hits you right in your nostalgia with its intense love of 90s 2nd/3rd wave black metal with better production. Had this come out earlier in the year, this would be another album that ranks higher on the list as this just hits that sweet spot of straight-up melodic black metal for me. Definitely an album for those black metal gatekeepers who say there wasn't been any good black metal since 1999. This album (and so many more, I could name off the top of my head) can prove that theory wrong.

77.) Blackwater Drowning Sonder//Satori
FFO- American Melodic Death Metal

Take the love of bands like Arsis and The Black Dahlia Murder, mix it with the European melodeath we all know and love, and give it just the slightest tinge of flavorings and you get Blackwater Drowning. This just gives a great spirit of melodeath that you just don't hear so much in America anymore and really need to come back. This hits that in strides and you can easily tell that with this being their debut album, the diversity and creativity are only going to flourish from here on out. Absolute quality melodeath that should not be missed out on.

76.) I Am The Night- While The Gods Are Sleeping
FFO- 90s Melodic Black Metal

Take some of my favorite musicians in the Finnish melodeath scene and have them make a tribute to 90s meloblack and you have a recipe for a stellar album. Featuring past and present members of Omnium Gatherum, Horizon Ignited, Opeth, and Insomnium and you have a star-studded cast of musicians that really set the bar for not only nostalgia-driven black metal but just quality black metal in general. This easily feels like it was written in 1995 and just remastered for 2022 and it's an album that is quintessential worship of bands like Emperor and Dissection. I simply couldn't ask for anything more and I really hope this is not a one-off. I need more.

75.) Fellowship- The Sabrelight Chronicles
FFO- Symphonic Power Metal

Past and present members of Rezinwolf and Power Force have joined forces in Fellowship and if you couldn't tell by the name alone, you are in for some mythical and adventurous symphonic power metal. This debut album shows a love of high fantasy and you get that from the second this album kicks in. It's all of the best elements of power metal done to a perfect T and there is a lot to be said for that. It's fast, fun, and filled with wonder. If you need more than that in your power metal, I question your loyalty to the Fellowship of the ri...I mean this band!

74.) Empress- Fateweaver
FFO- Symphonic Power Metal, Progressive Metal

This might be a little presumptuous to say, but I think it's an accurate statement that I'll stand by wholeheartedly. This is the best American symphonic power metal band going right now. This album sinched that for me and this album has instant replay value over and over again. It's a step up in quality that other bands in America need to take notes on because even with this being the debut album, it blows so many other bands that have been around for decades putting out music this year out of the water. I can't say it better than that, this is how you make a symphonic power metal album stand out and be something to be proud of. I simply can't wait to see what they do next, because as good as this is, the next album will be even better.

73.) Dawn of Solace- Flames of Perdition
FFO- Melodic Doom Metal

Sometimes, you love an album and sadly it falls to the wayside for no reason other than you simply forget it. That's what happened here with Dawn of Solace. A band that I truly love released an album that I had since last year and I heard it so much, I forgot it came out this year and thought it was a 2021 album, so I set it off to the side and forgot about it till I made this list. I will say that this album is a bit of a different take than their previous album, but it's done in a way that arguably makes for stronger songs and more emotions being toyed with to make you on the verge of tearing up. This album is an emotionally driven melodic doom album that deserves your love. No growls or screams, all clean vocals, but just as heavy but done with a sense of brevity that others bands simply miss. Don't do what I did and forget this album, listen to it now and their previous work and be floored by what you hear.

72.) Kardashev- Liminal Rite
FFO- Deathgaze

So you know blackgaze right? Black metal meets shoegaze to create black metal with a more atmospheric and post-rock feel. Take that, but replace the black with death metal and you have Kardashev. The band's first album in 7 years showcases how much the band has progressed and really come into its own. The songs are more confident, the vocals are more devastating and the lyrics are….oooof they hit you right in the feels. The production has been a point of contention I've noticed from others; for me? I think it fits with the atmosphere created and gives the emotion coming out a bit more of a raw feel. I hope it won't take another 7 years to make a new album as I've been waiting for this follow-up for a long time and it delivered everything I hoped for. Now, let's see what's next for the band.

71.) Kuolemanlaakso- Kuusumu
FFO- Death Doom, Experimental

This band is something I discovered this year and I wished I had discovered them earlier. Finnish death doom hits as hard emotionally as it does musically. While I would lie if I said I understood the lyrics, I understand the tone being presented, and it is devastating. I truly appreciate that the band also shows off some great diversity as well occasionally showing some atmospheric moments or funeral doom moments, even black metal elements; but it all works in a melancholic disharmony. For those that love death doom, but want an extra kick (and if you don't mind that you don't know Finnish to truly grasp the lyrical content), then I implore you to check this album out!


And there you have it, folks, another 20 albums done, we are halfway through the list, which is weird because this is part 4 out of 10, and we are 80 albums down. Coming up tomorrow is the last segment of 20 albums a piece where we showcase Part 5 of Heavy Debriefings' Top 150 Albums of 2022: 70-51. Until then, this is Josh Rundquist saying, See Ya!

- Josh Rundquist (Heavy Debriefings)