Whilst Covid’s iron clutch on the music industry finally lessened, 2022 was – once again – a year fraught with turmoil. From socio-economic upheaval on our own shores to acts of horror on a global scale, 2022 has been another year of Earth slipping more off it’s axis. However, as always, music has been there as a perpetual comfort. And what a year for music it’s been.
We’ve seen legacy acts reinvent themselves, new names come screaming out the shadow with jaw-dropping work and acts breaking new ground by subverting redundant genre norms. With that in mind, it’s made compiling this list excruciating – but regardless – it’s here; the Noizze top 50 records of 2022.
Now, before we delve into our top 50 records of the year, a little disclaimer is needed. The eagle eyed amongst you may notice a discrepancy between the ranking of this list and individual review scores. Throughout this list a number of records we gave perfect 10/10 scores will be placed lower than albums we gave scores of 9 and 8. The reason for this is that whilst reviews are the opinions of a single writer, this list was decided as a collective. As you can imagine it took a lot of discussion, arguing and maybe one or two threats of physical violence, but we got there in the end.
Now with that out the way we present the first part of our 50 best records of 2020, beginning with 50 down to 31.
50. Eat Your Own Head – Neck-Deep In The Blyth
Drongo Records
Norwich based Eat Your Own Head have produced an engrossing, technically interesting melee of sound. Pulling inspiration from every corner of the alt-rock universe, Tracks like ‘Come Undone’ and ‘Bullets’ show their range from warmth and groove led riffs to heaviness and intensity. Even a lighter touch on ‘Winter Takes Its Toll’. This is a band to keep your eye on. – Adam Vallely
49. Bastions – Majestic Desolation
Church Road Records
After years of dormancy Bastions have erupted back onto the scene with Majestic Desolation, a slice of dark and gloomy, post-hardcore by the Welsh pioneers. Picking up where they left off, Bastions return once again weaving their dense, claustrophobic atmospheres that cast a sombre shadow over all in their path. – James Davenport
48. Kardashev – Lininal Rite
Metal Blade Records
Kardashev claim to have created an entire new subgenre of metal – and they’re right. Melding crushing death metal, soaring melodic vocals and atmospheric shoegaze, Liminal Rite excels at bringing two disparate worlds together seamlessly. Deeply philosophical, addressing memory, humanity and more, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that’s also jam-packed with riffs. – Will Marshall
47. Undeath – It’s Time…To Rise From The Grave
Prosthetic Records
Atmospherically fetid yet musically fresh, It’s Time…To Rise From The Grave see’s Undeath forgoing all the needless gimmicks within modern day death metal to return to the rotten roots of the genre in brilliant fashion. There’s no fat nor chaff to this record, just lean, pulverising slabs of old school death brutality in it’s most fun and viscera-coated form. – Dan Hillier
46. Cassels – A Gut Feeling
God Unknown Records
Continuously cementing themselves in the underbelly of the UK music scene, Cassels have gone from strength to strength with their new record and shows alongside the likes of legends Unsane. A Gut Feeling is musically angular and lyrically outspoken in their view on the world and those that inhabit its darkest corners. The stories of many fictional characters told and untold backed by some of the best post-punk around. – Adam Vallely
45. Gaerea – Mirage
Season Of Mist Records
Combining dizzying highs of grandeur, relentless aggression and vast atmospheres all draped in moments of sheer beauty, the anonymous, Portuguese extreme metal outfit Gaerea surpass all and any expectations with the absolutely, awe-inspiring triumph that is Mirage. – James Davenport
44. Kurokuma – Born Of Obsidian
Self-Release
A record of primitive brutality and esoteric psychedelia, the debut from Kurokuma doesn’t just engage the mind as much as it shatters it. A concept record portraying the violence and magic of Mesoamerican civilisations, Born Of Obsidian is an authentically visual record that transports one to the scenes of bloodshed that inspired it’s creation. A brilliant debut that see’s Kurokuma claiming their Tecpatl as one the best sludge bands in the UK. – Dan Hillier
43. Get The Shot – Merciless Destruction
New Damage Records
Merciless Destruction does exactly what it says on the tin. The Quebec 5-piece returned this year with an incendiary album that presents more opportunities to throw down than you can shake a stick at. Packing 11 tracks into 38 minutes, hardcore, thrash and death metal combine with furious results.- Jordan Aldridge
42. Jamie Lenman – The Atheist
Big Scary Monsters
After flirting and charming a range of genres in the past, The Atheist once again see’s the ever versatile Jamie Lenman circumventing yet another genre. Influenced by good-natured indie-pop, The Atheist is 11 arena-worthy belters that are impossible not be enamoured by. Charming, charismatic and above all else irrefutably catchy, this record is once agin Jamie Lenman doing what he does best; winning hearts and leading singalongs. – Dan Hillier
41. Joe Appleford – Dystopian Dreams Utopian Nightmares
Awal
Dystopian Dreams Utopian Nightmares 2022 saw Joe Appleford rise out of the ashes of his former band and take the path less traveled to forge his own act, not under a new guise but with his own name on it. Fuelled by experience, craftsmanship and a drive to conquer alongside his debut album full to the brim with bangers ready to rock stadiums, it’s quite the statement and there is no ceiling for the future. – Jac Holloway
40. Carpenter Brut – Leather Terror
Universal Records
The album that has gotten goths dancing throughout 2022. The french synthwave master Franck Hueso (Carpenter Brut) set out to make his mark in both the metal and electronic world by dropping this interesting LP, taking you back in time with it’s 80s arcade soundtrack style songs blended with distorted guitars. – Adam Beck
39. Nova Twins – Supernova
Marshall Records
Continuing to dominate the soundwaves whilst simultaneously blazing the trail to true rock and roll divinity; the big smoke genre-annihilating duo Nova Twins shook the scene within an inch of its life with the unapologetic poundings of their aptly titled sophomore pièce de rèsistance, Supernova. – Bennie Osborne
38. Oceans Of Slumber – Starlight And Ash
Century Media Records
“The New Southern Gothic,” Oceans of Slumber describe fifth album Starlight and Ash as. Mostly jettisoning the death metal of earlier releases but keeping some of the prog, they injected gothic melodrama and even dashes of country. It’s a resounding affirmation of Oceans of Slumber’s sound and where they see themselves heading. – Will Marshall
37. A-Tota-So – Lights Out
bUTTONpUSHER
The second album from the once purely instrumental math-rock trio, Lights Out see’s A-Tota-So enlisting some of the best vocal talent in the contemporary UK and Ireland scene for their most versatile work thus far. Wide-angled and explorative, the record is a who’s-who of the best in European math, noise and experimental rock as well as a brilliant and varied offering from one the most criminally under-sung bands in global math-rock. – Dan Hillier
36. Superlove – Colours
Rude Records
Superlove have managed to bottle their energy and create a fun, earnest and deceivingly heavy record. Not afraid to mix it up and creatively embracing genre fluidity, they dropped one of the hidden gems of the year. Colours is an eclectic mix of charming ditty’s and noise pop bangers delivered with absolute heft. – Jac Holloway
35. Vein.fm – This Wold Is Going To Ruin You
Nuclear Blast Records
The followup to the acclaimed Errorzone, This World Is Going To Ruin You catapulted Vein.fm into hardcore superstardom with its groove and sheer savagery. It’s the ultimate hype album, delivering 90s nostalgia in its groove and stabs of nu-metal alongside its own take on modern hardcore fury. – Adam Beck
34. PENGSHUi – Destroy Yourself
MVKA
If there’s one statement we know to be true, it’s that nobody does it like PENGSHUi. Mashing up grime and punk noise like no others can, their second record Destroy Yourself saw the London trio double down on everything that makes them tick; tongue-in-cheek lyricism, filthy basslines, blaring electronics, sick bars and being easily the loudest band in the room. – Eliott Grimmie
33. Spiritworld – Deathwestern
Century Media Records
A crossover thrash concept record detailing the paranormal invasion of the wild west and one gunslinger’s godless fight against the powers of Satan – yes, the new record from Spiritworld is as fun as it sounds. Filled with more than enough thrash metal riffs to make Kerry King quiver in his cowboy boots, Deathwestern is a ridiculously fun time that’s crucial listening for fans of Power Trip, Creeping Death, Enforced and all things rooting and tooting. – Dan Hillier
32. Tuskar – Matriarch
Church Road Records
A hulking primordial beast of a record, Tuskar channeled the earth-shattering sounds of Earth’s very creation with their prog metal monolith Matriarch. A seismic juggernaut of sonic mass that’s illusive and progressive as it is all consuming, the juxtaposition between time warping density and intricate ambience present is masterfully executed here, something brilliant considering it’s only their debut. A joy to behold and a delight to be crushed by. – Dan Hillier
31. God Alone – ETC
Prosthetic Records
Directly inspired by dadaism – the art of rejecting logic and reason in favour of unpredictability and absurdism – ETC is a collage of sounds that when analysed, simply makes no rational sense. However, when viewed from a distance, it’s a piece of non-conformative art. Tapping into the madcap ley lines of frantic dance and noise etched by the likes of Fuck Buttons, Raketkanon and Talking Heads, the debut from Cork’s finest God Alone is nonsensical madness in it’s most articulate form. – Dan Hillier