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1.
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An Abstract Illusion - Woe
Not much to say about this that hasn't already been said, simply a phenomenal album! |
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2.
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Blind Guardian - The God Machine
This is my most played despite not being my #1, these songs are seriously catchy and addictive! |
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3.
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Wilderun - Epigone
Man I love prog! Opeth is my all time favorite band (did the username give it away?) and this is the closest band I've heard to them in a while. |
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4.
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Brymir - Voices In The Sky
It's melodeath and it's power metal (with a bit of black thrown in for good measure), these two subgenres combine to form something spectacular! |
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5.
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Immolation - Acts Of God
I really prefer Immolation's newer stuff to their older stuff (on the whole) and this album continues that trend. |
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6.
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Blut Aus Nord - Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses
I actually listened to this while reading a Lovecraft story and it nailed the atmosphere down to a T! |
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7.
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Disillusion - Ayam
More incredible prog songwriting. I wasn't too into the vocals at first tbh but eventually warmed up to them. |
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8.
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White Ward - False Light
This wasn't the only black metal album with saxophone that I listened to in 2022 (the other was Aenaon - Mnemosyne), not something I thought I'd be saying. Anyway I much preferred this one. |
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9.
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Tómarúm - Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons
Incredible debut from this prog black outfit! |
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10.
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Blackbraid - Blackbraid I
Now we have Native American black metal, has every culture from around the world added it's influence to this subgenre yet? Another stunning debut! |
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11.
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Sylvaine - Nova
When I listened to the opening track and the vocals almost made me weep, I instantly knew this had to make my top 20! For fans of Alcest (like me) this one is a no-brainer. |
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12.
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Kvaen - The Great Below
Some orgasmic meloblack riffs to be found here! |
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13.
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Persefone - Metanoia
Tasty prog melodeath from the tiny principality of Andorra. |
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14.
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Saor - Origins
I visited the Scottish highlands in September 2022 and this took me right back there. |
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15.
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Shadow Of Intent - Elegy
I'm not massively into deathcore but this symphonic stuff is fantastic! Kardashev and Lorna Shore's offerings were really good too despite not making the list. |
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16.
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The Halo Effect - Days Of The Lost
There were high hopes for this from former In Flames members and it did not disappoint! Let's hope Foregone doesn't either. |
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17.
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Allegaeon - Damnum
There were some clean vocals at the start that I found too cheesy but then the rest of the album proceeded to wow me! |
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18.
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Darkthrone - Astral Fortress
20 albums in and these black metal legends are (almost) as impressive as ever! |
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19.
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Soreption - Jord
I do love me some jawdropping tech death. There were others I enjoyed from the year, such as Fallujah's Empyrean and Psycroptic's Divine Council, but this is the only one I knew had to make the list. |
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20.
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Djevel - Naa Skrider Natten Sort
The atmosphere of this record engulfs you, as it should with any decent black metal record. It would go higher but the competition was just too stiff! |
