Top 150 Albums of 2022 Part VII: 40-31

Hey Everybody and welcome back to this monolith of a list that I call Heavy Debriefings' Top 150 Albums of 2022. For today, it's Part VII- 40-31. That's right we crack into the Top 40. If that's good enough for Decibel...I guess I gotta do almost 4x that in the whole list don't I? But seriously folks, thanks for coming around and seeing what albums will make today's segment of the list. Things are getting saucy and I'm so curious to see what you think going forward. Let's get into the rules and start with today's part of the countdown!

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 onto today’s segment of the list

40.) Soilwork- Overgivenheten
FFO- Melodic Death Metal, Progressive Death Metal

Soilwork's latest outing is one of the best to show off what the band is all about in recent times. Going between absolutely bonkers riffs and melodies in one song, to nearly AOR-style rock riffing, to their classic melodeath sound, sometimes all in the same song. Being a stupid American, this is the 2nd album where I have a hard time pronouncing the title of the album (which is even sadder considering my last name is Swedish), but don't be scared off fellow Americans, the songs are all in English and Speed continues to prove he has one of the best and smoothest vocal deliveries in all of heavy music. Sadly this is the last Soilwork album to feature guitarist David Andersson, so I really feel the next album will be the beginning of a new chapter of the band, but this is one hell of a way to say goodbye. It's hard to listen to knowing what happened, but it makes you appreciate all that he accomplished in his times with Soilwork and The Night Flight Orchestra. What a solid album.

39.) Zeal & Ardor- S/T
FFO- Experimental Metal

Zeal & Ardor has released their 3rd album and it's easily their most grandiose. You get everything from 2nd wave black metal to blackgaze to African American Spirituals mixed with the devil to digital manipulation and so much more. Every album from this band has hit me very hard and this album is no exception. I love that the band is not afraid to keep experimenting with their sound, but still maintain what brought them to the dance in the first place. It's evil, it's heavy, and it's a pure trip of the musical senses. Just give it a shot.

38.) The Antichrist Imperium- III Satan in His Original Glory
FFO- Progressive Blackened Death Metal

Considering the band is 3/4th members past and present of Akercocke and one member of The Berzerker. It's no shock to know that this album is as extreme as it gets in the right moments but still diverse enough to make the album feel like a hellish roller-coaster. The band's 3rd outing continues why the band was created in the first place...Satan….(drinks from wine glass). It's a progressive blackened death metal tribute to the lord of the underworld and speaks for his followers in a way only the UK outfit can do. As you may have guessed, this album is not for everyone and if you are turned off by the lyrical themes or the extreme experimentation going on, this won't be for you; but for those that dare to go beyond the black veil and see the hellish delights inside this album; you'll be more than happy with what you hear.

37.) Toehider- I Have Little To No Memories of These Memories
FFO- Prog

Oh boy, here we go. Is this an album or a nearly 48-minute song? It's one track, so is this just a single release? Is it an album that you can't skip track by track? Well, it's the length of an album so I'm counting it. So there. But seriously folks, this is a nearly 48-minute tribute to prog in all of its glory. No matter your flavor of prog from Queen to Opeth to Ayreon to Yes and so…so much more. This is a concept album (or song, whatever) that is a whirlwind of emotions, and musical styles all done by the legendary Mike Mills who is not only one of the best multi-instrumentalists in music in general but also has one of the greatest voices in music period! The cheeky lad can hit any note and do it with such passion behind it to make every note sung have real purpose and every note he plays no matter the instrument is hit in a way that no one else can do. If I haven't sold it enough, like every Toehider release to date, this is a journey of musical endeavors and now it's a lesson in Prog 101 with a very fun lyrical concept behind it. If you missed this and dare to hear a song that's over 3/4ths of an hour long; I implore you to check out the best epic of 2022.

36.) THEM- Fear City
FFO- Heavy Metal, Horror Metal

The next chapter in the KK Fossor story brings KK back from the dead and into the early 1980s in the town known at that time as Fear City, New York City. A band that of course has an obvious nod to King Diamond and Mercyful Fate expands the sound even further on this album with more 80s synths, hardcore elements, and even death metal blast beats and of course continues the horror-drenched adventures of KK Fossor that ties all the albums together so far an in a fantastic and horrifying package. It's an album that only improves with repeat listens and gives great power, thrash, death, progressive, and evil metal vibes throughout. Seriously, give this album a proper listen and enjoy.

35.) Borealis- Illusions
FFO- Progressive Power Metal, Melodic Metal

Borealis is one of the most underappreciated bands in the prog and power genres today. They are easily one of the best bands rolling yet I don't see nearly enough people talking about them. Maybe this album will turn the page? Illusions are without question their masterwork. Combining what made them great, to begin with, a dark tinge of symphonic, orchestral, power, and prog metal with some of the catchiest riffs and choruses you'll find in those genres. There is a pure power going on throughout these songs that can only be experienced to truly appreciate. Of course, it helps that Vikram Shankar added his orchestral touch to this album to give these already great songs to make them phenomenal. In short, if cheesy is not your kind of prog power, Borealis is a band that you just may need in your life if they aren't already in your music-listening experience. This is how it's done, folks!

34.) Deathwhite- Grey Everlasting
FFO- Gothic Metal, Melodic Doom Metal

If you are a fan of Paradise Lost, Katatonia, Woods of Ypres, or any of those bands that has that gothic and doom tinge that makes you weep, you need Deathwhite in your life. The band's 3rd album in 5 years is their darkest, saddest, and most cathartic listen-to to date. The production is on that border of too raw and just perfect to give all the songs a very uneasy feeling like you are just about to hear 2nd wave black metal songs, but then you hear those sad, low cleans that can bring you down to your knees and beg to the sky for help. Seriously the vocal delivery mixed with the lyrics is so somber and satisfying. As you can tell this is not an album about sunshine and lollipops; it's dark and such an appropriate album for 2022. Give this one a spin and make sure you have some tissues in case you start weeping uncontrollably.

33.) Shape of Despair- Return to the Void
FFO- Funeral Doom Metal

In speaking of doom metal that will make you weep like never before; Shape of Despair is back after 7 years to deliver their darkest album to date. This is a masterclass in funeral doom metal, mental health struggles, and existential crises. This is what depression sounds like. Plain and simple. I can't get through this without choking up and I'm honestly shocked it's not even higher up on my list. It's slow, it's brooding, it feels like you are fading into nothingness and all you see is blank. If you need a good ugly cry for this holiday season, I highly recommend putting on Return to the Void and giving yourself that cathartic cry that will help you feel better at the end. This album gives you no hope, but sometimes you just need to know others feel the same way just to get by.

32.) Agathodaimon- The Seven
FFO- Gothic Metal, Symphonic Black Metal

After nearly 9 years, Agathodaimon returns with their 7th album and it is their most expressive and hauntingly gorgeous album to date. While the album does hit all kinds of extremes, it does showcase their diversity over the years, no doubt it helps with a lineup change to really showcase where the band is right now. The songs are simply sinister and give you that feeling of either falling in love or falling in love with death. The instrumentation is top-notch here with absolutely no filler and all killer. It's one of the most complete-sounding albums of the year and I love every second of it. If you want your black metal with a touch of goth romance and sinister hellish evil; The Seven is an album you need right now.

31.) Dog Fashion Disco- Cult Classic
FFO- Horror Metal, Experimental

The first proper Dog Fashion Disco album in 7 years sees the band return with one of their heaviest sounds on the record. The fun-filled horror is still on display and every song sounds just as demented as it is delightful, just as a good Dog Fashion Disco song should be. I feel like this is a great starter album for anyone new to the band or maybe for someone who is only familiar with Polkadot Cadaver and wants to hear a more metal-tinged side those members bring to the table. It's not as wacky and a little more straightforward, but that's what this album calls for. All the more reason this is a good one for first-timers. A great album with hooks and melodies plenty and a wicked sense of talent. Seriously, if you never heard of DFD, change that now…and I mean NOW!

And there you go folks, Part VII is closed for Heavy Debriefings' Top 150 Albums of 2022. Tomorrow we crack on into the Top 30 albums of the year with Part VIII 30-21, until then, for Heavy Debriefings, this is Josh Rundquist saying See Ya!

- Josh Rundquist (Heavy Debriefings)