We are still seeing who can take the slow burn of the world ending and 2022 offered no more hope than the previous year. We need music to match this feeling. I celebrate death, that is why I listen to doom. I mean the name of the genre says it all. If you are not down with despair, then get the fuck out of here. Ok now that that is out of the way, much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more.
After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. You can bitch and complain about your favorite band not being on the list. I listen to five new albums a day so yes, I heard your favorite album and was not impressed. No, I do not care what you think about it. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 Doom albums of 2022
10-Candlenass - "Sweet Evil Sun"
It is clear these guys are still master of the genre, that does not mean they are putting out the best doom music these days as the next 9 albums will attest, their original singer Johan returns with a lower grittier tone than the more operatic bellow of Messiah Marcolin. This gives the band a heavier more modern sound. Sometimes they easily live up to their legacy and benefit when they open things up and allow Johan to take on more of a croon. Even when they color by numbers, they get the job done better than most, but not better than all..
Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom - Candlemass: "Sweet Evil Sun"
9-Mournful Congregation-The Exuviae of Gods-part 1"
This Australian band is one of if not the best funeral doom bands. This set expectations high. I wanted a full length and got an Ep. One of song is a reworking of a song from their 1995, demo tape. Which was 27 years ago makes this for all practical purposes a new song. The first song is fourteen minutes long and the last is almost sixteen. With funeral doom it is easier to swallow since it's played at slower tempo the drone is in the hesitation. They do what they are great at I wish there was more. That is why it did not place higher.
Abysmal Hymns: Mournful Congregation: " The Exuviae of Gods - Part I"
8-Sundowning- "In the Light of Defeat , I Cease to Exist "
2022 was the year for atmosphere in sludge and doom, this German band meets at the crossroads of the two, there is a darker more mournful sound to the music and less of a punk rock aggression seething. The music often more minimal, under the growls that are traded off for actual singing. A beautiful album that is as sonically heavy as it is heavy metal.
Abysmal Hymns: Sundowning : "In the Light of Defeat, I Cease to Exist"
7-Famyne - "II-the Ground Below"
Candlemass pot the honorable mention slot this year, and truth be told these guys sound more like Candlemass than Candlemass did this year. They do not dwell only on the past and care a great deal about the songs, with the help of very impressive vocal power, it all adds up to earn their place here.
Abysmal Hymns: Famyne : "II: The Ground Below"
6-Shape of Despair - "Return to the Void"
One of my favorite bands from one of my favorite sub - genres. They continue to not be bound within the confines of the sub-genre in terms of the sonic colors brough to the table in the song writing process yet are very consistent in being consistent for their fans. Sure, there is a doom gazing element to the ambiance, but this is a pretty stunning album overall.
Abysmal Hymns: Shape of Despair : "Return to the Void"
Emerging from Indiana of all places with some killer death doom. They find the right balance of death metal grit with the somber melodic nature of doom. The riffs are catchy and serve the songs, while trudging forward with the deep growl of the vocals continuing their narrative. There are some powerful doom-colored punches being thrown, though the mood is one of the most impressive things the guitars capture. They hold your own against icons of the genre like Paradise Lost
Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Mother of Graves :"Where the Shadows Adorn"
4-the Otolith-"Folium Limina"
Made up of former members of SubRosa. They employ strings and folk inflected vocals. The drumming grooves and drones in equal doses to summon a dirge like quality as the storm brews. One of the key selling points is how the heaviness comes from the expressive drone of the atmosphere and hit you in that sonic sweet spot of the darkness making things heavy rather than just crunching out metal
3-Dream Unending- "Song of Salvation"
Progressive doom, with a mood more like funeral doom and plenty of shredding done in the most tasteful way. They weave some really beautiful reverb-tinged guitar sounds that drift over lingering drums and a low guttural growl crawling under it all. Sumerland drummer Justin DeTore handles both the drumming and the vocals, show of not only impressive chop but manage to write songs that shimmer with dynamics.
Abysmal Hymns: November is Doom- Dream Unending :"Song of Salvation"
2- Messa -"Close"
A logical progression in the next step of the band's songwriting, there are new tricks up their sleeve as forays into jazz and progressive rock color the dismal blues inflected exploration of their shadowy souls. Morose trippiness gives way to a more aggressive explosion than anything we have heard from them yet. Snake charming brass and Middle eastern passages are the norm to a backdrop that allows their singer to explore her upper register as well as go into harsh vocals at times. They jam out into some fairly remarkable guitar solos and pretty much have it all going for them here.
. Abysmal Hymns: Messa : "Close"
1-Hangman's Chair- "A Loner"
The French band's 2018 album took the top spot as Doom album of the year. Their reign of bleak continues, even though the more over metallic edges is dialed back. They make up for this is the mood they have captured which is as dark as the glory days of Katatonia. There is a driving riff when the opening track kicks in once the clouds of atmosphere have lifted. The lead single "Cold & Distant" is more accessible than anything we have heard from them thus far. Driving hooks with being too poppy. Songwriting is where they dominated and just because there is a more accessible slant to this album it is not a sign of weakness.
No comments:
Post a Comment