Look, there’s no easy way to say this without sounding like a 6-foot parrot. Every year this gets harder. Just when I think new music has piqued, and the bar has nowhere else to go, along comes another slew of bands to put me in my place. Well, no one puts Davey in the corner. Except the late, great Patrick Swayze, obviously (dreamboat). So I’ll no doubt probably/maybe/most definitely say the exact same thing next year, but…WHAT A FUCKING YEAR FOR NEW MUSIC! I honestly thought, at the midway point of 2022, my end of year list had pretty much written itself. Little did I know, that the back half of the year would blow my wig clean off (look at my photo below if you don’t believe me!). In March, I had already labelled this as the ‘Year of Hardcore’ (I was maybe a tad premature with that statement), but I must admit, those Post-Metal/Doom/Sludge bands really levelled up and made this list even more difficult to compile.
So, without further ado, people of the internet…here are the end of year lists from the Metal Epidemic team:
Dave Buchanan
1. Dawnwalker – House of Sand Bandcamp / Apple
2. Hangman’s Chair – A Loner Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Chrome Ghost – House of Falling Ash Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Armed For Apocalypse – Ritual Violence Spotify/ Other
5. Mountaineer – Giving Up the Ghost Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Crippled Black Phoenix – Banefyre Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Big Muff 68 – Swing Metal Bandcamp
9. Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Conjurer – Páthos Spotify/ Bandcamp
Duncan McLeish
1. Author & Punisher – Krüller Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Chrome Ghost – House of Falling Ash Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Armed For Apocalypse – Ritual Violence Spotify/ Other
5. Mountaineer – Giving Up the Ghost Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Ithaca – They Fear Us Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. The Callous Daoboys – Celebrity Therapist Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Mantar – Pain is Forever and This is the End Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Spiritworld – DEATHWESTERN Spotify/ Bandcamp
Kyle Sevenoaks
1. Author & Punisher – Krüller Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Armed For Apocalypse – Ritual Violence Spotify/ Other
4. Fern – Intersubjective Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Septicflesh – Modern Primitive Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Kadavermarch – Into Oblivion Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Outright – Keep You Warm Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Magnatar – Crushed Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Row of Ashes – Bleaching Heat Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Earthrise – Until We Rest Beneath the Winter Way Spotify/ Bandcamp
Paul Cairney
1. Armed For Apocalypse – Ritual Violence Spotify/ Other
2. Tomb of Finland – Across the Barren Fields Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Ithaca – They Fear Us Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Cult Of Luna – The Long Road North Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Tuskar – Matriarch Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Decaptacon – For Those Who Died Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Lorna Shore – Pain Remains Spotify/ Other
8. Abrams – In the Dark Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Watain – The Agony and Ecstasy of Watain Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Big Muff 68 – Swing Metal Bandcamp
Ross Bowie
1. Kendrick Lamar – Mr Morale & The Big Steppers Spotify/ Other
2. Zeal & Ardor – Zeal & Ardor Spotify/ Apple
3. The Callous Daoboys – Celebrity Therapist Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Blood Command – Praise Armageddonism Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Electric Callboy – Tekkno Spotify/ Other
6. Bad Omens – Death Of Peace Of Mind Spotify/ Apple
7. Ithaca – They Fear Us Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Polyphia – Remember That You Will Die Spotify/ Band
9. Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. The Wonder Years – The Hum Goes On Forever Spotify/ Bandcamp
Paul Franklin
1. Sonic Flower – Me and My Bellbottom Blues Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Alexisonfire – Otherness Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Rokets – Break Free Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Kadavermarch – Into Oblivion Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Ginger Wildheart and the Sinners – Ginger Wildheart and the Sinners Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. ZZ Top – Raw (That Little Ol’ Band From Texas Original Soundtrack) Spotify/ Apple
7. Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach Spotify/ Apple
8. Parkway Drive – Darker Still Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Sick Joy – We’re All Gonna F***ing Die Spotify/ Apple
10. Skid Row – The Gang’s All Here Spotify/ Apple
Andy Spoon
1. Woe – An Abstract Illusion Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Schizophrenia – Recollections of the Insane Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Author & Punisher – Krüller Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Cold Night for Alligators – The Hindsight Notes Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Gaerea – Mirage Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Ironmaster – Thy Ancient Fire Spotify/Bandcamp
7. Ashenspire – Hostile Architecture Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Paganizer – Beyond The Macabre Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Bloodbath – Survival of the Sickest Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Werewolves – From the Cave to the Grave Spotify/ Bandcamp
Kira L. Schlechter
1. Amorphis – Halo Spotify/ Other
2. Manegarm – Ynglingaatens Ode Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Dynazty – Final Advent Spotify/ Apple
4. Bloody Heels – Rotten Romance Spotify/ Other
5. Hellfox – The Call Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Hexed – Pagans Rising Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Blind Guardian – The God Machine Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Power Paladin – With the Magic of Windfyre Steel Spotify/ Other
9. Oceans of Slumber – Starlight and Ash Spotify/ Other
10. Visions of Atlantis – Pirates Spotify/ Bandcamp
Mike Leighton
1. Paleface – Fear & Dagger Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Fit for an Autopsy – Oh What the Future Holds Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. The Gloom In The Corner – Trinity Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Ruins Of Perception – Shinigami Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Aviana – Corporation Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Hanging The Nihilist – Prophetic Blasphemy Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. A Wake In Providence – Eternity Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Saviour – Shine & Fade Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Worm Shepherd – Ritual Hymns Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Recoil In Horror – Amalgam Spotify/ Bandcamp
Trina Julian Edwards
1. Fit for an Autopsy – Oh What the Future Holds Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Blind Guardian – The God Machine Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Fallujah – Empyrean Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Revocation – Netherheaven Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Darko US – Oni Spotify/ Apple
6. Shadow of Intent – Elegy Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Exocrine – The Hybrid Suns Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Spite – Dedication to Flesh Spotify/ Other
9. Corpsegrinder – Corpsegrinder Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Paleface – Fear & Dagger Spotify/ Bandcamp
Rick Farley
1. Panzerfaust – The Suns of Perdition – Chapter III: The Astral Drain Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Ósserp – Els Nous Cants De La Sibil·la Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Immolation – Acts of God Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram Spotify/ Other
5. Obsidious – Iconic Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Celeste – Assassine(s) Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. High Command – Eclipse of the Dual Moons Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Black Lava – Soul Furnace Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Slaegt – Goddess Spotify/ Other
10. Devenial Verdict – Ash Blind Spotify/ Bandcamp
Mark Waight
1. Deathless Legacy – Mater Larvarum Bandcamp
2. Frayle – Skin and Sorrow Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. OCTO CRURA – Tagmata Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Lilli – Kintsugi Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Tigersclaw – Titans Dawn Spotify/ Apple
6. Empress – Fateweaver Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Splintered Throne – The Greater Good of Man Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Onyria – Feed the Monster Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Sick n’ Beautiful – Starstruck Spotify/ Other
10. Nocturna – Daughters of the Night Spotify/ Bandcamp 
Eric Wilt
1. Hath – All that Was Promised Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Soreption – Jord Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Phobophilic – Enveloping Absurdity Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Cobra the Impaler – Colossal Gods Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Fleshrot TX – Unburied Corpse Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Desolate Shrine – Fires of the Dying World Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Cosmic Putrefaction – Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Undeath – It’s Time…To Rise from the Grave Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Behemoth – Opvs Contra Natvram Spotify/ Other
10. Dischordia – Triptych Spotify/ Bandcamp
Ryan Payne
1. Motionless In White – Scoring The End Of the World Spotify/ Other
2. Malevolence – Malicious Intent Spotify/ Other
3. Lorna Shore – Pain Remains Spotify/ Other
4. Spite – Dedication to Flesh Spotify/ Other
5. Kanine – Karnage Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Memphis May Fire – Remade In Misery Spotify/ Other
7. Shinedown – Planet Zero Spotify/ Other
8. Oceans Ate Alaska – Disparity Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Machine Head – ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN Spotify/ Apple
10. Bad Omens – Death Of Peace Of Mind Spotify/ Apple
Hillary Wisniewski
1. Cave In – Heavy Pendulum Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Panzerfaust – The Suns of Perdition – Chapter III: The Astral Drain Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Long Knife – Curb Stomp Earth Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Clutch – Sunrise on Slaughter Beach Spotify/ Apple
5. Chrome Ghost – House of Falling Ash Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Krvna – For Thine Is The Kingdom Of The Flesh Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Ellende – Ellenbogengesellschaft Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Conan – Evidence of Immortality Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. Worm – Bluenothing Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Somali Yacht Club – The Space Spotify/ Bandcamp
Jason James
1. For The Storms – The Grieving Path Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Assumption – Hadean Tides Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. HEILUNG – Drif Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Rise To The Sky – Every Day A Funeral Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. MORBID EVILS – Supernaturals Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Dawnwalker – House of Sand Bandcamp / Apple
7. Black Royal – Earthbound Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Syberia – Statement on Death Spotify/ Bandcamp
9. HEGEMONE – Voyance Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Battalions – King of a Dead World Spotify/ Bandcamp
Joe McKenna
1. White Ward – False Light Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Zeal & Ardor – Zeal & Ardor Spotify/ Apple
3. Lorna Shore – Pain Remains Spotify/ Other
4. Pure Wrath – Hymn to the Woeful Hearts Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Cult of Luna – Long Road North Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Wormrot – Hiss Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Blackbraid – Blackbraid I Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Imperial Triumphant – Spirit of Ecstasy Spotify/ Other
9. Artificial Brain – Artificial Brain Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Kardashev – Liminal Rite Spotify/ Bandcamp
John Newlands
1. Psychonaut – Violate Consensus Reality Spotify/ Bandcamp
2. Mountaineer – Giving Up The Ghost Spotify/ Bandcamp
3. Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory Spotify/ Bandcamp
4. Brutus – Unison Life Spotify/ Bandcamp
5. Cult Of Luna – The Long Road North Spotify/ Bandcamp
6. Cave In – Heavy Pendulum Spotify/ Bandcamp
7. Crippled Black Phoenix – Banefyre Spotify/ Bandcamp
8. Dawnwalker – House of Sand Bandcamp / Apple
9. Author & Punisher – Krüller Spotify/ Bandcamp
10. Blood Incantation – Timewave Zero Spotify/ Bandcamp
