the Top 10 Hard Core Albums of 2022

Given the state of 2022 it might be surprising that hard core did not get angrier this year. Not that I am into political music, but most of this is rather emotional. This year punk and hard core are getting separate lists. 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. 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 hard core albums of 2022

10-Inclination - "Unaltered Perspective" 

One of the dudes from Knocked Loose is in this band and there is a who's who or hard core that has a guest spot on this album, but at the end of the day what it comes down to is the songs. They are hard core, which means they are angry. We have the screamed vocals which are convincing. Even though they have captured a sound it does not mean they have abandoned all song writing, as there are still moments that give the in-your-face hyper aggression structure.

Abysmal Hymns: Inclination: "Unaltered Perspective"

9-Drug Church-"Hygiene" 

With each album this band has fine-tuned their songs just a little more. This album is a culmination of all the work they have put in since forming in 2011. There is sometimes a Mudhoney like swagger amid the dense fuzz of guitars, sometimes in this is a brighter hope to it like a less whiskey-soaked version of Hotwatermusic. The album hurtles forward with more reckless abandon Is it more punk? Sure, you could say that. The guitars are more sonic and not as layered. Overall, this has proven to be a burlier album than anything we have heard from them thus far.

Abysmal Hymns: Drug Church: " Hygiene"

8-Bitter Branches- "Your Neighbors are Failures"  

It is surprising this album did not garner more buzz considering it features former members of Deadguy and Kiss it Goodbye, this band from Philly has both brains and brawn when it comes to playing modern hard core. Equal Vision released this which is equally surprising as I did not know that label was still pumping out, music, The bass is burly and compliments the rowdier noise rock attitude. They sometimes employ a more herky jerky angular manner of attack when it comes to the riffs. There is some nice dissonance to even their warmest chords. 

Abysmal Hymns: Bitter Branches : "Your Neighbors are Failures"

 

7-Fleshwater- "We're Not Here to be Loved" 

Perhaps the most melodic album on this list it is where post -hardcore meets post-grunge. The band features members of Vein.Fm. It is sometimes in the neighborhood sonically of older Deftones.  The higher pitched crooned vocals, have the sleepy emoting of early Smashing Pumpkins. You can hear traces of bands like Failure and Quicksand, in the winding sinew of the riffs that snake around the crash of dynamic punches.

Abysmal Hymns: Fleshwater : "We're Not Here to be Loved"

 

6-Norma Jean - "Deathrattle Sing For Me" 

The band adds a great of nu metal like groove to their sound. More melodic yet creating an in-your-face explosion that comes closer to what you might typically expect from this band. While they are more neatly in the confines of what commercial mainstream metal core is doing, they have really perfected their song writing skills as this is superior to their previous album. Sure, there are some formulated metal core tropes in place but in terms of the overall sonics they are hitting you with this time around it is more interesting.

Abysmal Hymns: Norma Jean : "Deathrattle Sing For Me"

5-City of Caterpillar -"Mystic Sisters" 

This album by the screamo veterans blends atmosphere, emotion and intensity that I have not heard since Planesmistakenforstars were around. They build the explosions rather than being as overt and formula bound as the kids who followed in their footsteps. They use chaos rather than relying on unlocking a certain guitar sound. The second song find them with the kind of calculated musical mess that Fugazi used to create for themselves in their rowdier early days.

Abysmal Hymns: City of Caterpillar : "Mystic Sisters"

4- KEN Mode - "Null" 

What I liked right off the bat about the new Ken Mode album is it is darker and heavier. Random sax in the background gives more of an unsettling atmosphere. I also appreciate the lyrics which call out the trends of the present-day world that does not want to be called out unless it follows the witch hunt of the day is a powerful statement.  I wish more bands would find the balls to do this.

Abysmal Hymns: KEN Mode : " NULL"

3-Bloodclot- "Souls" 

Despite being the original singer of the Cro-Mags, the name goes to Harly who is doing ok with it. This is a blessing in disguise as I do not see John Joesph straying away from the Cro-mags more New York hard core sound to make a thrashing banger like this. Surprisingly more meat and potatoes hard core, but they do it well, since they invented it, the songwriting proves it.

Abysmal Hymns: Bloodclot : "Souls"

2-Callous Daoboys- "Celebrity Therapist" 

This Atlanta bands brings a spastic brand of screamo, that works in mathy passages amid the chaos. I can appreciate the weirdness being kicked around here. Is Mr. Bungle by way of Dillenger Escape Plan an influence?  This album was a lot of fun and grew on me with each listen. The scope of what they do beat out Bloodclot. 

Abysmal Hymns: the Callous Daoboys : "Celebrity Therapist"
 

1-Birds in Row- "Gris Klein" 

This French hard-core band is ready to live up to the anticipation for their newest album bringing all the explosive energy and urgent emotional catharsis. The shouted vocals are very serious even though their anguished screams at time sound more like punk than what we think of as hard core today, but the term hardcore, used to be hard core punk, and this is a good example of what that is, while not just sticking to the most commonplace blueprint. The sonic passages, feel more like what screamo bands have been doing over the past twenty years. Even in the fact of all the intensity they are expelling in these outbursts, they have still crafted dynamic, melodic songs. The nuanced interplay between the bass and drums, proves what great musicians these guys are. They do not need mathematic acrobatics but work of jerking grooves. This album is a must for anyone who wants emotional hard core with a sense of adventure

Abysmal Hymns: Birds in Row: "Gris Klein"