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 much 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 did 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 the 80s until I found heavier music. 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 "

the Top 10 Albums of 2022 ... So Far

 

This year has half slipped away from us. More comprehensive of what has been released than you might expect, considering that I am already getting promos for August releases in my in-box. There is a fair cross-section of genres represented as I already did my metal list so while there are some hard rock artists, this is the top 10 non-metal albums that have been released this year so far.  Pop, goth, indie rock, post -punk and progressive rock are all represented here in varied shades. All of these albums a solid shot for the number one spot at the end of the year, depending on how they grow on me.  I make the overall top ten for the year and at this rate December will be here before we know it. What makes them the best is how much I actually listen to them. I guess we will see how these albums hold up over the course of the year.  I am posting links to the reviews if you want to check these albums out.

10-Dead Register - "Alive" 

This album picks up where they left off, but in a more refined manner. The grooves are smoothly syncopated with an industrial stomp, but with none of the gear grinding abrasion. There is more of a 90s grunge influence in the drumming this time around. The blend of brooding shadows in the verses is streamlined as the song writing is more noticeably matured

Abysmal Hymns: Dead Register : "Alive"

9-Marissa Nadler- the Wrath of Clouds" 

This EP consists of three unreleased songs and two covers. The originals she had forgotten about during the "Path of Clouds sessions", She went back into the studio and emerged with this. It splits the difference between the more atmospheric tone of her early work and where she is currently at with a more layered sound.

Abysmal Hymns: Marissa Nadler : "Wrath of Clouds"

 

 8-Rumours - 'the Lower We Sink the Less We Care" 

This Swedish band are skilled weavers of sonic gloom, it's laced with a punchy 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. With a sound that is very much their own, at time they occupy a sonic space similar to Rope Sect . The vocals are more dynamics as the singer belts it out with a great deal of convincing power.

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

  7-Placebo- "Never Let Me Go" 

2006's "Meds" was the last album I want into by this British glam band.  I think 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. I think 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"

6-Christain Death- "Evil Becomes Rule" 

The band's 15th album, I like the Valor albums and I like the Rozz albums I think Valor has carried the spirit of what the band was doing over the years. They continue to move in a less punk more metallic and darker direction, though it wonderfully melodic and there is an excellent choice in sonic colors they paint the sounds of this entire album.  

'Abysmal Hymns: Christian Death : "Evil Becomes Rule"

 5- Midlake-" For the Sake of Bethel Woods" 

When I press play on their new album, I cannot for the life of me have good reason as to why I have not listened to them until this point. They are moody and melodic in all the way I like for this kind of music to be. Their drummer is really on it. There is a folk thing, but they are also very melancholy and thoughtful. 

Abysmal Hymns: Midlake : " For the Sake of Bethel Woods"

 

4-Zola Jesus -"Arkhon" 

One of my favorite singers of the past decade, I breathed a sigh of relief when I pressed play and found this album is another step into the darkness as she could have taken a poppier turn. This time rather than taking everything on herself she worked with producer Randall Dunn, and former David Bowie drummer Matt Chamberlin The former's influence can be felt the most. The second song moves with a more organic fluidity to its groove. Are some of her vocal passages more accessible here? Yes, but I am not sure I would call this pop music as it is more complex in both arrangement and laying

Abysmal Hymns: Zola Jesus : " Arkhon"

 3- Charli XCX- "Crash" 

Quirky British pop singer Charli XCX is back. This time she is showing us that she makes an album with a half dozen less songwriters and producers than the likes of the Weeknd or Lil Nas X . She does continue a slick 80s retro path and I am not sure any of the songs strike me as bumping as hard as she did on; "How I'm feeling now" . She has a knack of riding the beats with odd chanted vocal lines, which she works off of coming out of the gate. The best Pop album of the year so far. 

Abysmal Hymns: Charli XCX : " Crash"

  2- Hangman's Chair- " A Loner" 

The French band's 2018 album "Banlieue Triste" took the top spot as Doom album of the year. This time around things are dialed back in the metal department. They straddle the fence sonically in a zip code closer to post-nu metal Deftones and Katatonia. They know there is more than one way to be heavy  the album as a whole is more about capturing a mood, which they have. I respect that they did not try to recreate the previous album and made steps forward,

Abysmal Hymns: Hangman's Chair : "A Loner"

1-Tears for fears - "the Tipping Point" 

After 18 year silence , the dup found themselves bucking record label pressure in 2013, until they found who they were in today's world free of the radio trappings that could have been imposed upon them. This makes for a great deal of surprises as the album spans genres from the folky opener to the controls being set to sizzle as they reflect the new wave 80s vibe while working in modern electronics.

Abysmal Hymns: Tears For Fears - " the Tipping Point"

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. "Battle for the Sun" let me down in such a way that they feel off my radar. I think 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. I think 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.  

"The Prodigal" is the first song that makes me nervous as it touches on lighter happier tones. There are synth strings flowing in the background as it bounces along a spring road in England the lyrics ' you'll see that sorrow can set you free" is a pretty solid tone to set. At 49 he has beat the odds as a depressive rock star who did drugs up until 2006. So, 16 years of sobriety is nothing to sneeze at. It is also interesting that while he still carried the baggage gathered over the years, how it affected the albums that followed. But that song is the bar I want to set for the sonic joy conveyed for the band and do not want to hear anything brighter than that. They obliger this on "Surrounded by Spies ".  broods with a cinematic flare as it observes the post- Covid world around them. I like how they lock into a hypnotic repetition at times which is something they have used in the past.          

There is a straightforward rock to the amble of "Try Better Next Time". I do not think this song plays to what they do best and reminds me more of the moods from the ill-fated "Battle for the Sun", The first song that doesn't connect with me still makes this an improvement over their last couple albums. From the more dancey moments to the tense reflections on his "monkey mind being possessed by demons" all gives me what I want from them.  I really like the guitar tone on "Chemtrails" . The song could have come from "Blackmarket Music". The "Without You I'm Nothing" like ballad " This is What You Wanted" works without the band barrowing from themselves. While at times more along the lines of say Depeche Mode the album stays strong in it's moody shadows and gives me what I want from the band. I will give this album a 10 and see how it grows on me but as it stands now I am thrilled to have a band I love back.     

Mix Tape Mania : For the Vampires of Ashevillle

Some might say it is superficial or shallow to judge people by the music they listen. It is in fact just the opposite. Music is made of vibrations. The vibrations people respond to tell you what wave length they are on.Whatever you up in your head is what is going to come out of it.  Some people might tell you good music is subjective. First off I do not believe in good or bad , right or wrong, people are either effective of ineffective. So the finite qualities of music are measure by will it stand the test of time and do you return to it again and again.  The local hipsters ah the corner coffee shop might have all kinds of ideas regarding what is good  music or not, but 90 percent of music fads are gotten.  That is why good taste in music is non-negotiable for me. It's the sound track to the movie of life. Not many great movies have shitty sound tracks. So these songs have provide a sound track for me over the years, they are also filtered through the stream of what is good music for 300 year old vampires in Asheville who look like they are 19. Granted  soundtracks for vampire's are in my wheel house so this was easy.   .






"Vampire's Night Out -by Harley Poe







269 Soul Mates by Street Sects



 Special K by Placebo

   

 Fetisha by Strvngers

 

 "Love Song" By Snake River Conspiracy


  "

July" by Katatonia


 

 "Love in a Cold World" Beastmilk


 

 "Phone Call" by The Faint

 

"Jack You Up" by- Mindless Self Indulgence

 

 "Nocturnal " by New Years Day

 

The Return of the Weekly Shuffle

What the fuck is a weekly shuffle you ask. Well I hit shuffle mode on my iPod and review the first ten songs that pop up. It is back by popular demand so here we go.

the Last of the Famous International Playboys by Morrissey

This song is golden, smartly written though not as mean spirited as some of his solo work, but it is tons of fun none the less. People always call Moz depressing, but this song makes me smile every time.

Bulletproof Cupid by Placebo

Sure its a cool riff, but that doesn't make this a song . It feels more like the intro to the Sleeping With Ghosts album.

Ups by Cocteau Twins

This song flutters like fairy birds. She rolls her consonants strangely on this one and is speaking in tongue most of the time here , but that is the great thing about Liz is  she uses her voice more like an instrument rather than just the tired old verse chorus radio rock.

Saturday's Child by Brendan Perry

The male half of Dead Can Dance whose voice once reminded me too much of Neil Diamond, so I used to fast forward past his songs most of the time and now he is one of my favorite singers. Live the man is  an unsung powerhouse. I like this song because the way he transitions up into falsetto is very endearing.

Day of Lords -by Joy Division

Damn, the Weekly Shuffle returns only for my iPod to pump out a bunch of goth, "Where will it end" laments Ian Curtis. This song is heavy even though its not metal. The bass really pumps nicely into the drums on this .

Obedience by Wreck and Reference

O.k something closer to metal. I am still not over the fact this band's name is not No Youth. This was a great almost industrial album that shows  much like Pinkish Black that you don't have to have guitars to be heavy. The tormented vocals that come close to screaming with out screaming are brilliant.

The Earth is My Witness by the Gathering

The golden years from these guys and ..gals. There is a dark yearning to this album that feels like snow to me. This was my first exposure to this band and really stuck with me , despite popular opinion their other albums fall short of this one.

Whiskey Funeral   by Darkthrone

The black and roll years of this band are sadly under rated much like Kiss' disco days or Vegas Elvis. I am a champion of the under dog when it comes to bands getting away from their comfort zones to find something else that works just as well as the sound you expect from them.

Christine Sixteen by Kiss

Speaking of Kiss...there's no use in pretending. I like Gene's creepy moment when he is talking to himself about how he has got to have her. The Lolita weirdness continues on Goin Blind. Musical it's catchy I'm not sure the under current of the Elton John piano line really works but thirty years later the song is in my iPod.

Into the Coven - Mercyful Fate

That intro is sweetly played as the calm before the storm. The riff is metal up to 11 no question. Fate is rawer than King's solo works and this appeals to people who are really into the first two Maiden albums as well, as long as they aren't pussies about becoming Lucifer's Child.


 

Placebo : " Love Like Loud"

A big fan of this band for well over a decade now but can't say I was too enamored with their previous album "Battle For the Sun" which seemed bland and a little too middle of the road. I was unaware this album was even coming out so it was a surprise when I across it. I believe it's getting a September 16th release in the States. The opening title track was a little daunting because it gave me flashbacks of the direction they went in on "Battle For the Sun" and I feared Brian had sobered up and lost his touch. Fortunately the rest of the album proves this isn't the case, though it does lack the drugged lamentation feel of their older work.

To say the song " Love Like Loud" is bad is  an overstatement it  comes to close to being banal radio rock for Placebo. "Scene of the Crime" is more on par with what is expected of the band. It's driving with the glam edges, the other layers in the sound , namely synths add to the sound rather than take away from it.

The lyrics have always been the bands strong point and the winks are some what blatant in the stabs taken at social media on "Too Many Friends". Brian isn't taking himself too serious with the opening line " My computer thinks I'm gay / I threw that piece of junk away".  The chorus is big and bright , almost too happy for how I prefer these guys but the other components make up for this.

At the onset I was concern that perhaps Brian had gotten sober and lost his touch as the songs lacked the certain brooding sardonic shadow side than begins to show it's smirk on " Hold Onto Me". In some sense he can't win for losing as by "Meds" the ballads about chasing the dragon had begun to get contrived, but with out that strung out yearning and the sense that his make up is tear streaked. But one of the albums strongest tracks "Rob the Bank"  recalls every element that made the bank great to begin with. The lyrics are smart and the hooks have an edge to them , while the guitar expands its sonic reach beyond the norm for commercial rock.

The piano accompanying "A Million Little Pieces" doesn't burden the rest of the arrangement and helps it to move as fluidly as when the band used similar elements on "Sleeping with Ghosts". Brian's voice also feel most comfortable here as the Geddy Lee like pitch to his often nasal tenor was bound to not age well, though he has handled it admirably even here, though the first signs of strain are showing as his youth isn't immortal, yet his singing style hasn't lent itself to change like say David Bowie's and was bound to face it's mortality.
The build on "Exit Wounds" finds his voice sounding as androgynous as ever but the more electronic sweep of the songs lends it self more readily to his delivery.

The albums final act maintains it's momentum even getting back to a familiar dark bleakness of contemplation on"Begin the End" that find the guitar being just as lyrical in its phrasing as the vocals. Though it seems the album goes out on a slight whimper with "Bosco"  though it's a better song than title track which opens the album but is nonetheless a piano ballad even though the lyrics go back to his self deprecating addictions this time its narrowed down to just drinking. This album  restores faith in the band after the last one and for the most part is pretty damn good so I'll give it an 8.5 though they have released 10s for most of their career so its bittersweet.