the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2022

These albums are straight up rock, but not packing enough punch for the hard rock list. Much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year 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 rock albums of 2022

10- Scorpions - "Rock Believer " 

There is still a great deal of gas in their tank. the Scorpions were one of the biggest heavy metal bands of their day. Once they tasted big chart-topping success with their 1984 album "Love at First Sting" they became more of a rock and roll band losing a great deal of their metallic edge. This album is big 80s flavored rock that finds the band with their boots firmly planted in where they came from. This is album the first album with Drummer Mikkey Dee who played with both King Diamond and Motorhead. On this album he is collecting a paycheck as he gets nowhere near as aggressive with his playing. One thing that is impressive and perhaps the album's strongest selling point is the youthful nature of Klaus' vocals. At age 73 he can still get up there. 

Abysmal Hymns: Scorpions : " Rock Believer"

9-the Cruel Intentions - "Venomous Anonymous" 

Why the fact Lizzy from the Vains of Jenna went on the form this band go under my radar? Not that I actively seek out a ton of hair metal. I grew up listening to this sort of thing in 80s until I found music that was heavier. Compared to Vains of Jenna these guys are bigger and more polished sounding. They do what Steel Panther does but take it seriously. 

Abysmal Hymns: The Cruel Intentions : "Venomous Anonymous:

8-the Hellacopters -"Eyes of Oblivion" 

These guys have been doing this since the mid 90s. Former members of Entombed and Backyard Babies playing straight up 80s flavored rock n roll. There was once a more punk feel to it, but now they are totally almost party 80s rock. The opener is solid, surprised how slick of a production they have.

Abysmal Hymns: The Hellacopters : " Eyes of Oblivion"

 

5- Crashdiet- "Automaton"

This band has been in my awareness for some time, as I have watched the hair metal revival of the mid 2000s from the corner of my eye. Like most of the higher quality stuff in this vein, this band is from Northern Europe. These Swedes have been at it for over 20 years, so are still going pretty strong as this has a big sound and is very polished.

Abysmal Hymns: Crashdiet : " Automaton"

 

6- Rumours-"the Lower We Sink, the Less We Care" 

This album hooked me quick has tonally it owes more to rock than metal, but it does work off a grim tension that is still explosive. This Swedish band are skilled weavers of sonic gloom, it's still punchy with a hint of 70s rock. The instrumentation is warmly recorded in analog. The retro thing is not the band trying too hard to capture a bygone era. Great dynamic vocals that belt it out with a great deal of convincing power.

Abysmal Hymns: RUMOURS : "the Lower We Sink, the Less We Care"

5-the Cult -"Under the Midnight Sun" 

Their 12th album finds the band still strong with a darker and rawer sound. The key to their success is dependent on how well Astbury's vocals hold up at the age of 60. Billy Duffy has less on the line as his guitar tone has only continued to improve the years. Ian sounds strong, his trademark croon which at one time positioned him to fill in for Jim Morrison, for a Doors reunion of sorts. That Doors like element is still in play here, though the music has a more passionate creepiness to it

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober-the Cult: "Under the Midnight Sun"
 

4-Billy Howerdel- "What Normal Was" 

The brainchild of A Perfect Circle is back. This is not his first solo effort, as the Ashes Divide band was that as well. The only reason I can presume he is not releasing this as Ashes Divide is due to the departure from harder edged rock music here and something closer to Depeche Mode. This should not be surprising as A Perfect Circle covered "People are People" on "Emotive". There is a familiar moodiness here, though his songwriting continues to mature.  

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober-Billy Howerdel :" What Normal Was "

3-Greg Puciato- "Mirrorcell" 

Not a huge fan of Dillinger Escape Plan I do have a great deal of respect for them and have heard most of Greg's solo work. This album is a great deal different in that it does not try to emulate new wave from the 80s he has moved onto the 90s , drawing on an alt-rock sound that makes the most of hooky choruses. 

Abysmal Hymns: Greg Puciato : " Mirrorcell"

2-Placebo -"Never Let Me Go" 

2006's "Meds" was the last album I was into by this British glam band. By into I mean listened to every moment of the day as these guys were once numbered among my favorite bands. The key to Brian's success as a songwriter lies in his ability convey the struggle of his anger, darkness, metal health and addiction. It is in that struggle where their music has found its fire. Moloko succeeds in recapturing that moodiness on their new album. It is important that Stefan is still working with Brian as that duo is clearly Placebo and not just Brian Moloko solo album. There is none of the kinetic punk tension that colored their early work. It works off smooth grooves and melodies, with sonic layers of guitar embellish the dynamics.

Abysmal Hymns: Placebo : "Never Let Me Go"

1-Ozzy Osbourne- "Patient Number 9" 

Releasing album 13 at the ripe age of 73, Ozzy is holding up better than expected, especially when you consider the tour cancelling issues of the past few years. This album has less of a pop sheen and feels more like a rock record than "Ordinary Man". He brings Zakk Wylde back, along with Toni Iommi, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. So, the big guns of rock guitar.  They helped him crank out a batch of songs that I have not heard him get as catchy since "Ozzmosis"   

Abysmal Hymns: Ozzy Osbourne : "Patient Number 9 "