Noizze Presents: The Top 50 Albums Of 2022 – Part Two

We're into the big leagues now.

Following on from the first part of our albums of the year feature, we’re now into the second instalment, counting down from 30 to 11. If you’re yet to read the first part of the list, you can read it here. 

30. Stand Atlantic – F.E.A.R

Hopeless Records

In the oversaturated pop punk market of today, it is extremely difficult to stand out. So, what do you do? Like Stand Atlantic, you simply do whatever you wish. The band have experimented with their sound even more, pushing the boundaries of their music further and further including trap beats and chugging guitar riffs, all while still keeping Bonnie Fraser’s vocals front and centre. This album really has something for everyone, from those anthemic choruses that deserve to be yelled out by adoring fans, to the more aggressive ‘switchblade’, complete with ripping guitar solo. With F.E.A.R, Stand Atlantic have redefined what it means to be a pop punk band in the modern day. – Megan Jenkins

29. Coheed and Cambria – Vaxis Act II: A Window Of The Waking Mind

Roadrunner Records

In a totally unsurprising move East Coast prog-emo titans Coheed and Cambria brought their A game for their latest release, the second part in a promising five part continuation to their Amory Wars series of sci-fi concept albums. Despite the seemingly high barrier to entry newcomers and seasoned children of the fence will find plenty to love as Coheed lean into their most experimental yet accessible album so far, embracing 80s synths and poppy hooks. Vaxis II is a distillation of the incredibly deep, earnest, nerdy spirit of Coheed with splashes of Phil Collins and The Empire Strikes Back. – Tom Bruce

28. Cheerbleederz – Even In Jest

Alcopop! Records

No frills doesn’t necessarily have to mean no surprises. The debut LP from indie punk trio Cheersbleederz, Even In Just is 10 songs of ceaselessly bubbling melodies that also witness the somewhat supergroup deter from the norm in order to successfully undertake some risks in songwriting and production. Joyously giddy and unapologetic whilst also contemplative and self-aware, the tracks that form the record simply radiate a sense of well-natured fun despite their poignant nature. Ultimately though, it’s those aforementioned melodies that make this record so haplessly lovable. With ear-worms aplenty, the hooks of Even In Just will stay with you for a long time long after you’re originally ensnared. – Dan Hillier

27. Petrol Girls – Baby

Hassle Records

Feminist post-hardcore collective Petrol Girls have always revelled in controversy, their third full length is no exception, jumping between tongue in cheek jabs and calls to take to the streets. Lead single ‘Baby I Had an Abortion’ is a highlight of their career with buzzsaw guitar riffs and a sing-along chorus that’ll leave groups of grumpy, middle-aged men stomping out of venues around the country. Baby is among this year’s most important albums, full of anthems to be screamed at protests. Purchase this album if you want to be ready for the next few years of defending our rights. – Tom Bruce

26. Wormrot – Hiss

Earache Records

Wormrot made immense waves in the metal scene this year with their grindcore triumph Hiss. Vocalist Arif Suhaimi announced his departure from the group earlier this year after the record was announced, since he no longer had any interest in Wormrot, but you’d never know it from the insanity of this album. Twenty-one tracks and nearly as many genres blaze by in 32 minutes. Violin, courtesy of studio intern Myra Choo, provides further sonic depth to this instant extreme-metal classic. Wormrot ground to powder all other releases on the road to grindcore record of the year. – Josiah Aden

25. Bob Vylan – Bob Vylan Presents The Price Of Life

Ghost Theatre

After 2020’s inflammatory debut album We Live Here, London based grime-punk duo Bob Vylan return with their eagerly anticipated follow up. Their influences – from Stormzy to The Sex Pistols – have one thing in common, distain for the monarchy and Britain’s totalitarian governments, and Bob Vylan carry that torch into the 2020s and run with it. Standout tracks ‘GDP’, ‘Take That’ and ‘Bait the Bear’ all blend provocative rap with anarchic punk instrumentals and screamed choruses. The Price of Life is a timely and relevant statement carrying the working class DIY spirit with hard hitting rap verses and punk hooks. – Tom Bruce

24. FES – With Regards From Home

Small Pond Recordings

Math-pop; a hybridisation of a genre of contrasting and polarising conventions that shouldn’t amalgamate. Yet the debut from FES alchemises these genres like they’re chemically and atomically bonded from the onset. Equal parts arena-worthy pop melodies and intricate fretboard wizardry best suited for the underground pursuitits, In Regards From Home is a slick, high-energy and endlessly enjoyable lesson in genre chemistry that’s abound to fascinate and surprise even the most educated of musical listeners. Yet, despite it’s musically adventurous nature, it’s the lyrical themes and homely delivery that makes this album so brilliant. Full of ruminations on identity, mental health and grief, the way this band use their highly-technical output to narrate such relatable and universal themes is a testament to their inarguable skill at large. – Dan Hillier

23. PUP – The Unravelling Of PUPTHEBAND

Rise Records / Little Dipper

After shaking up the scene with their previous two albums Canadian punks PUP return to have an emotional breakdown in their most ambitions album yet. Laced with sardonic critiques of themselves and the wider music industry, The Unravelling Of PUPTHEBAND finally allows PUP to let loose, lure the listener into a false sense of security with catchy punk bangers and unleash the deepest, most experimental writing of their career. A high point on the album is the single ‘Robot Writes a Love Song’ which compliments some fantastic lyrics with bleeps, bloops and an earworm chorus. – Tom Bruce

22. Natalie Evans – Movements

Small Pond Recordings

In a year characterised by deafening noise in every manifestation imaginable, Movements is a welcome respite that’s abound to be revisited by many in the future. Gorgeous, minimalist and wholly refreshing, the meagre symphonies and softly-sung lines that bind this record gently implore one to take the time needed appreciate the velvetous textures on display here as well as the smaller pleasures in life. Yet, the inherent beauty of this record lies with it’s comforting nature. As Natalie Evans translates her personal tales across an array of carefully plucked strings and keys, it’s impossible not be comforted by the narrations on life elegantly articulated here. Possibly the only record on this list featuring driven by a harp and a crucially pacifying release amidst a year of chaos. – Dan Hillier

21. Cancer Bats – Psychic Jailbreak

New Damage Records / Bat Skull Records

Nothing can slow down the charging bull that is the Cancer Bats. Even with a shakeup to the bands member line up, this ever turbulent hardcore punk outfit put out their seventh full length record this year and it’s an absolute belter, crusty thrash punk noise from some of the best to ever do it. Chock full of riffs, barks, and unrelenting energy, the ‘Bats have long solidified their legacy as the kings of quality, Psychic Jailbreak easily holds its own even against the bands other classic albums like Hail Destroyer and Dead Set On Living. In short; there ain’t no party like a Cancer Bats party. – Elliot Grimmie

20. Skin Failure – Radillac

Small Pond Recordings

Part ex-Black Peaks, part Memory of Elephants, part fishmonger, Skin Failure came together this year to tell the tale of an interdimensional Jesus. This thrash come hardcore record is pedal to the metal throughout. Opener ‘Sleeveless Jesus / The Void’ is overflowing with riffs and skull shattering drums and it does not let up for the short run time of under half an hour. Hearing Will Gardner back with a mic in his hand is also a god damn delight. Before you know it, you are being spat out into space and leaving you wondering what the hell just happened. – Adam Vallely

19. Cult Of Luna – The Long Road North

Metal Blade Records

They’re inarguably the best post-metal band in the world; while others may have laid down the blueprint, Cult Of Luna have relentlessly pushed against its boundaries, as well as their own. A sudden burst of creativity in the past few years has continued their run of excellence, with latest album The Long Road North showcasing their brilliance at long-form, emotional upheaval once more. From cinematic opener ‘Cold Burn’ and its Zimmer-esque alarm to their collaboration with Hereditary composer Colin Stetson for tentpole track ‘An Offering to the Wild’ and outro  ‘Beyond II’, it’s relentlessly exploratory and dynamic. Listen, and be swept away by its majesty. – Will Marshall

18. Counterparts – A Eulogy For Those Still Here

Pure Noise Records

Their darkest record to date, Eulogy has proven that, even 15 years in, Counterparts are still able to produce something that will make you feel a physical wrench in your stomach. The ways in which vocalist Brendan Murphy allowed fans into his personal life in the lead up to its release helped conceptualise it further. Many relate to the grief and nihilism in his poetic lyrics that pre-mourn his now late cat Kuma and the toll his illness took on his own mental health. Meanwhile, any listener can feel pure catharsis through their newly evolved soaring clean vocals and melodic sound. – Heather McAleavy

17. Holy Fawn – Dimensional Bleed

Wax Bodega

Holy Fawn’s latest release Dimensional Bleed delves further into their nature inspired, pedal driven bag of tricks. For fifty minutes the Arizona quartet lead you through Deftones-esque soundscapes, down contemplative acoustic gullies and into swirling black metal maelstroms. Despite this, you never feel exhausted thanks to Ryan Osterman’s haunting vocals cutting through the heady effects laden mix. A perfectly executed dichotomy between elegance and musical apocalypticism that must be heard at the earliest opportunity. – Rob Bown

16. Alexisonfire – Otherness

Dine Alone Records

It’s never easy making a ‘comeback’ album. It’s even less easy when there’s been 13 years since your last album’s release, and you have the pressure to prove to your audience that you still have what it takes to keep afloat in the cutthroat music industry. Canadian post-hardcore giants Alexisonfire have well and truly returned, packing their new release full of groovy guitar riffs, technical drumbeats, and refined harmonies that truly showcase everything that makes this band great. The especially poignant ‘Sans Soleil’ takes Otherness to another ethereal level, with George Pettit and Dallas Green’s vocals coming together to raise goosebumps on the spine of fans old and new. – Megan Jenkins

15. Stray From The Path – Euthanasia

UNFD

It’s a surprise to absolutely nobody that Stray From The Path’s new album is extremely political – and why not? If you have the stage and audience, then why not use it for good instead of letting it go to waste. They take on some of the things that make this world awful, including predatory army recruitment or overabundant support for law enforcement, whilst keeping that groove and rap-rock hardcore energy that they are so well loved for. Frontman Drew York fuels this energy, spending close to 40 minutes spitting down the microphone with a vicious vigor that does nothing but spur on anyone who gets too close to the speakers. – Megan Jenkins

14. Bleed From Within – Shrine

Nuclear Blast Records

The third record since their comeback, Shrine is a culmination of all that makes Bleed From Within one of the best metal bands around today. Soaring choruses (The festival ready ‘Levitate’), masterful drumming (‘Flesh and Stone’) and addictive riffs (‘Stand Down’) flow through the record and make it a non-stop headbanging album that deserves to be played in arenas. The best straight ahead metal album of the year, and one that sees the Scotsmen cement their place firmly in the upper echelons of the UK’s metal scene. They’ve been overlooked for a long time, but their luck is surely about to change with Shrine. – Chris Earl

13. Brutus – Unison Life

Hassle Records

Brutus’ social media bio says “trouble comes in threes. So does Brutus”. It’s disarmingly affable, and spot on. The Belgian trio play a hybrid of post-rock, post-hardcore, shoegaze and whatever else they fancy that’s shimmeringly beautiful and emotionally raw. Third album Unison Life pushed those boundaries even further; from the fragile ‘What Have We Done?’ to the heartwarming ‘Victoria’ and the brutally honest ‘Liar’, the band delivered their most essential and most Brutus album yet. Exploring their own emotions and lives as much as providing something for people to relate to, it’s beautiful, stirring music full of crescendos and light/dark dichotomy. Essential. – Will Marshall

12. Birds In Row – Gris Klein

Red Creek Recordings

This year saw French post-hardcore three-piece Birds in Row return with the release of their thrid full-length album, Gris Klein, and boy, what an album. From start to finish, Birds in Row deliver ferocious, punishing post-hardcore that tears chunks out of the listener’s soul before gently piecing it back together; a musical declaration of war on loneliness that restlessly shifts between sounds and styles across the span of this album, whilst delivering a cohesive experience that absolutely never lets up the momentum and energy. By the end, you can’t help but feel just a little more hopeful in this world. – Ryan Ward

11. The Wonder Years – The Hum Goes On Forever

Hopeless Records

For some, The Hum Goes On Forever is just an album title. For others, it’s a mantra encapsulating life itself. Named after the fluctuating yet ever-present state of ennui and sadness that has plagued frontperson Dan Campbell since childhood, the seventh album from The Wonder Years is a stunning masterclass in storytelling though the art of songcraft. Simultaneously returning to their more pop-punk roots whilst further treading down the more experimental and adventurous musical avenues explored on their later efforts, the way Campbell and Co intricately and poetically detail the stories that formed them as a creatives is beyond compare not only within their genre but the wider musical industry itself. Whilst applying such a genre tag feels criminally restricting, this is hands down the best pop-punk album of 2022. – Dan Hillier