"Metal MarK" Garcia's Top Albums of 2022

As COVID-19 is decreasing, shows and festivals are happening throughout the world, and things are […]

December 22, 2022

As COVID-19 is decreasing, shows and festivals are happening throughout the world, and things are getting back to normal (although the sadness for those who lost their lives will be with all of us for the rest of our lives). This year, many releases surprised me a lot, some of them being so lovely that there are no first-place releases! Yes, my personal choices are all sharing the same position, and for this reason, I'll put them in alphabetical order by the band's name.

Band: Amorphis
Album: Halo
Genre: Progressive/Melodic Metal/Rock

Year of Formation: 1990
Label: Atomic Fire Records

As a longtime fan of the band, this choice isn't unexpected. Even presenting their music in a 'striped-off' form, the album shows lovely moments and the same personal traits of the sextet. And "On the Dark Waters", "The Moon" and "A New Land" are samples of this.

Band: Civil War
Album: Invaders
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Year of Formation: 2012
Label: Napalm Records

It's not a secret that the vocals of Nils Patrik Johansson are hard to deal with for many fans (including myself), so the change for the new vocalist made me pay attention to the band's music. And it became really great, and moments as "Dead Man's Glory", "Invaders" and "Warrior Soul" states that the change made the band's music improve a lot!

Band: Crazy Lixx
Release: Street Lethal
Genre: Glam Metal/Hair Metal

Year of Formation: 2002
Label: Frontiers Records

Ok, I know that this album belongs to the year of 2021, but as it was released in November, it's impossible to me to hear and review it until 2022. But this album is perfect! It's full of energy and a bears the same melodic appeal of the genre of the 80's, but in an aggressive and modern form. Listen to "Rise Above", "Anthem for America" and "The Power" to check as these words are true.

Band: Dynazty
Album: Final Advent
Genre: Heavy/Power/Glam Metal

Year of Formation: 2007
Label: AFM Records

As a chameleon, the Swedish gang came using a different and modern outfit that made things aggressive but bearing their same melodic care and sets of hooks. But's amazing how lovely songs as "Advent", "Yours" and "The White" are. "The Final Advent" came to place the band between the most relevant acts of the genre in the world.

Band: Dysnomia
Album: A Queda do Céu
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal

Year of Formation: 2006
Label: Independent

As things happen when a band has line-up changes, this album came to the world having to answer questions as 'how things would be now?', and the trio shows that things can become even more aggressive and relevant than before. Pay attention to "O SilÃªncio da Esfinge", "Insomnio" and "NecropolÃtica", and see what the Brazilian trio is up to.

Band: Freaks And Clowns
Album: We Set the World on Fire
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal, Hard Rock

Year of Formation:
Label: Metalville Band & Label Pool

The Swedish quintet came with their third album and reached a high level of quality, with aggressive and catchy songs. Balancing the modern aggressive insight of the band's music with catchy melodies and charming choruses, the album is really great, especially on moments as on it, songs as "Am I a Freak or Just a Monster", "We Set the World on Fire" and "Scream Until You Like It". Listen to it and prepare your brains!

Band: Immolation
Album: Acts of God
Genre: Death Metal

Year of Formation: 1986
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Since 1986 carrying the responsibility of being one of the most influential names of Death Metal, the quartet is living in a prolific period of their long musical career, and again they showed the reason for the respect they have in the scene. Songs as "An Act of God", "Noose of Thorns" and "Incineration Procession" are here to melt your ears!

Band: Kick The Wicked
Album: Drag Magnet (EP)
Genre: Rock 'n' Roll, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Year of Formation: 2020
Label: Independent

In the turn of the lights of this list, this EP came to my hands to review it. And I still repeat the same question: why not a full album? Songs as "Mr. Know It All", "Blinded by the Lie" and "The Journey" are more than enough to make we all ask for more and more of the band!

Band: Kreator
Album: Hate Ãœber Alles
Genre: Thrash Metal

Year of Formation: 1982
Label: Nuclear Blast Records

Even being an eroded genre, Thrash Metal still allows some experimental touches to be done. And, actually, the German quartet is one of the best Thrash Metal maestros, delivering the old and good aggressive insight of their music blended with defined and charming melodies. "Hate Ãœber Alles", "Strongest of the Strong" and "Midnight Sun" are songs that show that the band is one of the best (if it's not the best) Thrash Metal act of the moment.

Band: Marenna
Album: Voyager
Genre: AOR/Melodic Hard Rock

Year of Formation: 2014
Label: Lions Pride Music

Those who think that AOR died on the 80's must rethink their concepts, because the Brazilian quintet shows that this idea isn't right. Blending the 80's catchy AOR melodies with a young and savage energy (and a heavy outfit in some moments), this album is really a surprise. Listen to "Out of Line", "Gotta Be Strong", and "Hold Me" to have the clear idea of what this album is up to.

Band: Mystic Circle
Album: Mystic Circle
Genre: Black Metal

Year of Formation: 1992
Label: Atomic Fire Records

This release bids welcome to a German Black Metal legend. If you never heard about albums as "Morgenröte - Der Schrei nach Finsternis", "Drachenblut", and "Damien" before, you must for sure listen to songs as "Belial is My Name", "Hell Demons Rising" and "Darkness in Flames" (hear the entire album, don't be lazy). After such an experience, you will be asking the same question I usually do about the band: why in the blazes don't Black Metal fans pay them the respect they deserve?

Band: Nightrage
Album: Abyss Rising
Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Year of Formation: 2000
Label: Despotz Records

After 22 years in the scene, the music of this Greek quintet didn't become more polite or accessible, but sharp and aggressive as a blade. And on this album, they show to their fans worldwide that there's life after the departure of their former singer, Tomas Lindberg (and that the band isn't a side project as well). Take a bit on songs as "Abyss Rising", "Dance of Cerberus" and "9th Circle of Hell" and see what they're offering.

Band: No Return
Album: Requiem
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal

Year of Formation: 1984
Label: Mighty Music Records

Even after almost 40 years of career, this insane French quintet is always evolving and fitting in new models, refusing to lie in their own 'comfort zone', but are still aggressive and destroying ears. And songs as "The Only One", "Affliction" and "Nobody Cares About You" are hymns to the apocalypse. What are you waiting for?

Band: Ratos de PorÃ£o
Album: NecropolÃtica
Genre: Crossover, Hardcore, Thrash Metal

Year of Formation: 1981
Label: Shinigami Records

After the sadness and disgrace sewn by the actual Brazilian government with its allies (religious and military leaders) who stole almost 700,000 lives in the pandemic, and of destroying the poor, the Brazilian quartet created a masterpiece criticizing the government. And songs as "AglomeraÃ§Ã£o", "NecropolÃtica" and "Bostanágua" are causing revolt on those who call themselves 'conservative rockers', although their place isn't in the Metal scene.

Band: Saxon
Album: Carpe Diem
Genre: Heavy Metal

Year of Formation: 1978
Label: Silver Lining Music

The English quintet came with their twenty-second studio album, so what one can expect of them that isn't the most pure and melodic form of traditional Heavy Metal made in NWOBHM? But even without causing new revolutions with their musical work, the band brought wonderful songs as "Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)", "Remember the Fallen" and "Black is the Night", showing that they're alive and ready for action!

Band: The Cruel Intentions
Album: Venomous Anonymous
Genre: Glam Metal

Year of Formation: 2015
Label: Indie Recordings

The long awaited second release of the Norwegian quartet came to kick some goddamn asses! The band's music is a nasty and melodic form of Glam Metal with musical reference on acts as MÖTLEY CRÃœE and HANOI ROCKS, but in an explosive and catchy form. Taste the poison that drips from "Venomous Anonymous", "Kerosene" and "Goddamn Monday", and become addicted!

Band: The Dead Daisies
Album: Radiance
Genre: Hard Rock

Year of Formation: 2012
Label: SPV GmbH

If no one knew, the quartet could be seen as a 70's Hard Rock band. But on this new album, their mission to keep Hard Rock alive and in great shape was accomplished in a wonderful form, as stated by "Shine On", "Radiance" and "Courageous". Another masterpiece of the quartet!