Vintage doom to power metal, mostly traditional heavy metal!
This is the result of countless hours spent listening to these albums. Hundreds upon hundreds of hours. Last year must be remembered in the annals of rock and metal as one of the greatest, if not the greatest in the last 3 decades. This is too good to pass on. Metal's 50+ years of history compressed in one year. Admittedly, together with the rock category, traditional metal was my main focus throughout last year. Ranks fluctuated, and titles were replaced, in the end, it is important to remember that any random 20 titles here would make a legit top 20. The difference in scores is no more than a couple of points (maybe 2.5) on a 1 to 10 scale. I hope that everyone will discover the beautiful uniqueness of these albums.
Let's begin the countdown to the 2022 Traditional Heavy Metal Album of the Year!
100.
THE CLAYMORE
St. Barbara's Light
Germany
Released on February 26
Studio album #4
Power metal
99.
SEPTEM
Pseudonica
Italy
Released on January 21
Studio album #3
Uncompromising, high-octane heavy metal. NWOBHM on steroids.
98.
MANIGANCE
Le Bal des Ombres
France
Released on March 18
Studio album #7
Female-fronted, melodic heavy metal, power-prog. En français.
97.
DARKNESS DIVINE
Departure
Scotland
Released on January 14
Debut album
Female-fronted, melodic/heavy metal. Act disbanded in June 2022
96.
STEELBALLS
The Neverending Fire
Argentina
Released on March 18
Studio album #2
Classic heavy/speed/power metal
95.
DEMON CHROME
First Contact
US
Released on October 30
Debut album
Vintage heavy rock/metal, FFO: NWOBHM, Thin Lizzy.
94.
MEMORIA
Memoria
Sweden
Released on April 29
Debut album
Rooted in the early (Euro) speed/power metal
93.
TRYCKVÅG
Legacy
Sweden
Released on December 13
Debut album
Melodic/heavy metal. Released 37 years after the band's debut single!
92.
HAGANE
Code ; 9021
Japan
Released on August 18
Debut album
All-female act. Melodic power metal FFO: Lovebites, Aldios, Mary's Blood.
91.
SCREAM MAKER
BloodKing
Poland
Released on January 27
Studio album #4
Quality heavy metal delivered with poise & aplomb!
90.
CELTIC HILLS
Huldufólk
Italy
Released on April 1
Studio album #3
Epic heavy/power metal by the Italian power trio!
89.
PLANESWALKER
Tales of Magic
US
Released on January 21
Debut album
Planeswalker is the brainchild of Sozos Michael & Jason Ashcraft. Euro/epic power/symphonic metal.
88.
ANGKOR
El Infierno Que Amamos
Colombia
Released on April 14
Debut album
Quality Latin American power metal. En español.
87.
DAWNRIDER
The Fourth Dawn
Portugal
Released on February 18
Studio album #4
Classic doom metal from Lisbon!
86.
DI'AUL
Abracamacabra
Italy
Released on March 18
Studio album #3
Excellent blend of 70s stoner/doom with 90s groove metal.
85.
CAIN'S DINASTY
The Witch & The Martyr
Spain
Released on May 1
Studio album #5
Dark fantasy via power metal by the Alicante act!
84.
HELLRIDER
Jinete Infernal
Chile
Released on April 16
Debut album
Overlooked, no-frills quality heavy/power metal. En español.
83.
FELSKINN
Enter The Light
Switzerland
Released on February 25
Studio album #4
Melodic heavy metal, hard rock. Great effort by the Swiss charting act.
82.
METAL FACTORY
Defeat All
Czechia
Released on February 22
Debut album
3 ex-Salamandra members, fronted by a duo of female singers! Heavy/power metal FFO: Crystal Viper, Battle Beast.
81.
ESCAPIST
The Maze
Argentina
Released on April 29
Studio album #2
Female-fronted. Symphonic power metal, neoclassical. Excellent balance of melancholy and powerful melodies!
80.
SALAMANDRA
Opus Bohemica
Czechia
Released on April 1
Studio album #7
The Czechs resurface after an 8 year-long absence with a new lineup. Well executed melodic power metal.
79.
WARCOE
The Giant's Dream
Italy
Released on March 19
Debut album
Groovy doom metal
78.
SHEWOLF
Shewolf
UK
Released on March 18
Debut album
Female-fronted. Melodic/symphonic power metal
77.
ACHELOUS
The Icewind Chronicles
Greece
Released on March 17
Studio album #2
Epic Hellenic heavy metal!
76.
SPITFIRE
Denial To Fall
Greece
Released on January 21
Studio album #3
Heavy/power metal. Legacy act.
75.
WASTED
The Haunted House
Denmark
Released on March 25
Studio album #4
Heavy metal. Legacy act.
74.
DRAGONHAMMER
Second Life
Italy
Released on November 4
Studio album #5
Epic power metal with symphonic elements. The band went through major lineup and stylistic changes.
73.
KYNDRA
Visions And Voices
Brazil
Released on November 11
Debut album
Power metal. Solid debut by the Brazilian sextet.
72.
MIDAS
Midas
US
Released on April 29
Debut album
Traditional heavy metal, NWOBHM. "Solid Gold Classic Metal from Detroit Rock City!" Perfectly captured vibe.
71.
SHAMAN
Rescue
Brazil
Released on April 15
Studio album #5
Melodic power metal with progressive elements
70.
I'LL BE DAMNED
Culture
Denmark
Released on November 25
Studio album #3
Groovy, southern flavored hard n' heavy. Pissed at a world gone mad, FFO: Clutch, Down, and Rage Against The Machine.
69.
OPERA NERA
Revelation
Italy
Released on January 17
Debut album
Melodic, eclectic alternative metal. Lyrics in English, Spanish & German.
68.
EVIL CONSPIRACY
The Demons Mark
Sweden
Released on June 3
Studio album #3
Traditional heavy/power metal. Often taking turns into epic territory.
67.
CONNECT THE CIRCLE
Mother Of Evil
Norway
Released on January 15
Studio album #2
Dark heavy metal with progressive elements. The balanced mix of epic & melodic would appeal to FO Witherfall.
66.
RUNA LLENA
AON
Spain
Released on April 21
Debut album
An excellent modern take on folk metal blended with symphonic elements and electronica.
65.
ROADHOG
Gates To Madness
Poland
Released on November 11
Studio album #3
Well done classic, old-school heavy metal.
64.
OLD NIGHT
Ghost Light
Croatia
Released on March 4
Studio album #3
Traditional/melodic doom metal
63.
FALLEN SYMMETRY
Rehenes
Peru
Released on March 14
Studio album #3
Power/progressive metal. En español.
62.
TIMELESS RAGE
Untold
Germany
Released on February 25
Debut album
Symphonic/power/heavy metal. A well-crafted release.
61.
SPITFIRE MkIII
Shadows Phantoms Nightmares
Italy
Released on September 29
Debut album (current formula)
Classic hard n' heavy FFO: Saxon, Judas Priest, Tony Martin. Veteran act.
60.
ANNIKEN
Climb Out Of Hell
Norway
Released on May 13
Debut album
Melodic heavy metal, hard rock. The talented singer's debut, co-written with Marius Danielsen (also guitar + bass)!
59.
WIND ROSE
Warfront
Italy
Released on June 10
Studio album #5
Folk/power metal. Starts in "anthemic" and ends in "epic"! Properly polished.
58.
SMED
Space Medicated Elevated Doom
Sweden
Released on February 18
Debut album
Psychedelic doom metal, heavily rooted in 70s stoner/doom. Sound to match!
57.
CHARGER
Warhorse
US
Released on March 18
Full-length debut
Vintage speed metal with a good dose of punk!
56.
FRIENDS OF HELL
Friends Of Hell
International
Released on March 18
Debut album
Doom metal. Traditional. This is the real, filthy deal, executed by musicians with pure and noble intentions.
55.
GREEN KING
Hidden Beyond Time
Finland
Released on December 16
Debut album
70s/80s inspired heavy/doom rock/metal, folk.
54.
BLACK MASK
Queen Of The Beasts
Mexico
Released on April 15
Debut album
Female-fronted. Traditional heavy/speed metal with clean, modern sound production. 80s Warlock/Doro.
53.
MAGISTARIUM
Dreamlord Opera
Germany
Released on June 1
Studio album #4
Top-tier symphonic power metal
52.
NORDIC UNION
Animalistic
Denmark/Sweden
Released on August 12
Studio album #3
Excellent studio effort by the Scandinavian duo! Their heaviest to date. Melodic heavy metal.
51.
DREAMTALE
Everlasting Flame
Finland
Released on April 1
Studio album #8
Super smooth melodic Euro power metal by the Finnish septet. New male/female vocal duo. Modern production.
50.
ADVENTUS
Saudade
Spain
Released on November 25
Studio album #2
Melodic heavy/power metal w/ progressive elements. En español.
49.
IBRIDOMA
Norimberga 2.0
Italy
Released on May 17
Studio album #6
Melodic heavy/power metal with progressive elements. Powerful musicianship and production.
48.
ARKHAM WITCH
Swords Against Death
UK
Released on September 30
Studio album #4
Traditional heavy/doom metal. FFO: Cirith Ungol, Manilla Road, Witchfinder General.
47.
ETERNAL ASCENT
Reclamation
US
Released on January 22
Debut album
Top-tier symphonic/power metal, neoclassical, by the talented NYC duo & their esteemed guests! Matching sound!
46.
DARK MEDITATION
Polluted Temples
US
Released on January 28
Debut album
Dark occult sleaze/gothic metal by the Seattle grave rockers. FFO Idle Hands/Unto Others, Tribulation.
45.
RAVE IN FIRE
Son Of A Lie
Spain
Released on April 11
Debut album
Female-fronted. (80s) Melodic heavy metal, hard rock. Dokken
44.
FORTIS VENTUS
Vertalia
Greece
Released on June 3
Debut album
Extremely well-composed and produced symphonic metal w/ cinematic attributes by the female-fronted Hellenic assemble.
43.
ONWARD
Of Epoch And Inferno
US
Released on October 28
Toby Knapp returns with an excellent new album and a new singer, Robert van War (Attika). Heavy/power metal, neoclassical
42.
MAULE
Maule
Canada
Released on January 14
Debut album
Pure, aggressive traditional metal that captures the spirit of NWOBHM for the 21st century!
41.
SINSID
In Victory
Norway
Released on May 20
Studio album #3
The Norwegian true metallers journey into the varied traditional heavy metal realm! 80s headbanger!
40.
ENEMY EYES
History's Hand
International
Released on November 18
Debut album
New act fronted by vocalist Johnny Gioeli (Axel Rudi Pell, Hardline, Crush 40)! Melodic heavy metal.
39.
SPACE VACATION
White Hot Reflection
US
Released on April 29
Studio album #5
Melodic heavy/glam metal, solid 80s vibes, catchy melodies. Total headbanger!
38.
QUARTZ
On The Edge Of No Tomorrow
UK
Released on May 20
Studio album #5
Heavy metal, hard rock. NWOBHM legacy act returns with their 5th full-length effort!
37.
HELL THEATER
S'acabadora
Italy
Released on October 28
Studio album #2
Heavy metal FFO: King Diamond, Them, Attic. Horror themed. Concept album.
36.
IRIS Nelu Dumitrescu
Zodiac
Romania
Released on May 13
Studio album #2*
2nd* effort by drummer Nelu Dumitrescu's division of the legendary Romanian rock & metal act, IRIS. In Romanian. Hard & heavy
35.
SLEAZER
Deadlights
Italy
Released on November 7
Studio album #2
Melodic heavy/speed metal. New singer in 2020. Catchy, guitar-driven w/ gang vocals!
34.
BERIEDIR
AQVA
Italy
Released on January 21
Studio album #2
Melodic power progressive metal with modern sound production.
33.
SAXON
Carpe Diem
UK
Released on February 4
Studio album #23
Heavy metal
Legendary band's highest-charting record in the UK since 1983's Power & the Glory!
32.
AMOTH
The Hour Of The Wolf
Finland
Released on January 28
Studio album #3
Melodic/heavy metal with progressive elements, NWOBHM. FFO: Queensrÿche, Fates Warning
31.
RIZON
Prime Time
Switzerland
Released on March 11
Studio album #3
1st effort with new female co-vocalist. Melodic heavy/power metal FFO: Pretty Maids, Dynazty, even Avantasia.
30.
DEFIANT
No More Heart
Ukraine
Released on December 3
Studio album #6
Heavy/power metal. Bittersweet last chapter from the Ukrainians, due to the current situation, Putin's criminal invasion.
29.
CELTIC LEGACY
Redux
Ireland
Released on October 31
Excellent re-recording of the band's self-titled debut effort initially released in 1998. Their 1st album with singer John Bonham. Irish traditional heavy metal.
28.
LORD VIGO
We Shall Overcome
Germany
Released on July 1
Studio album #5
2nd part of a trilogy that started with Danse De Noir (2020). Epic cosmic doom metal.
27.
THE SILENT WEDDING Ego Path
Greece
Released on February 11
Studio album #3
Progressive-tinged melodic heavy/power metal. Modern production.
26.
THY LISTLESS HEART
Pilgrims on the Path of no Return
UK
Released on November 18
Debut album
One-man project! Epic/atmospheric doom metal. Splendid effort.
25.
VH FRENZY
Bleak Light
Finland
Released on July 1
Debut album
Melodic/progressive heavy metal w/ powerhouse vocals FFO: Fates Warning, Queensrÿche. Well done throughout.
24.
CRYSTAL BALL
Crysteria
Switzerland
Released on January 28
Studio album #12
Melodic heavy metal, hard rock. Swiss legacy act.
23.
WIZARDS
Seven
Brazil
Released on November 11
Power glam! Hard rock, power metal. Beautifully accessible! Sound production to match.
22.
KNIGHT & GALLOW
For Honor And Bloodshed
US
Released on March 17
Debut album
Traditional heavy metal, early USPM. Sound to match.
21.
CONFIDENTIAL
Devil Inside
Norway
Released on March 25
Debut album
Female-fronted. Symphonic metal. Very well crafted.
20.
SAINTS 'N' SINNERS
Rise Of The Alchemist
Turkey
Released on April 8 Studio album #2
Melodic heavy/power metal
19.
MASTERCASTLE
Lighthouse Pathetic
Italy
Released on January 10
Studio album #7
Female-fronted. Melodic heavy metal with neoclassical and power metal influences.
18.
TERRA ATLANTICA
Beyond The Borders
Germany
Released on September 16
Studio album #3
Melodic power metal w/ strong neoclassical/symphonic traits. Concept.
17.
AZEROTH
Senderos Del Destino
Argentina
Released on October 14
Studio album #6
Top-tier melodic power metal en español. Wonderful arrangments. Cinematic.
16.
AQUILLA
Mankind's Odyssey
Poland
Released on February 22
Studio album #2
Heavy metal. Concept album.
15.
FORBIDDEN SEED
On Blackest Wings
Shadow Of The Crow Pt. 1
Greece
Released on February 25
Studio album #3
Symphonic heavy/power metal
14.
ARRAYAN PATH
Thus Always to Tyrants
Cyprus
Released on December 9
Studio album #9
A true concept album by the Cypriot act. Top-tier epic power metal.
13.
ÁNGEL NEGRO
El Despertar
Spain
Released on April 22
Debut album
Melodic heavy/power metal. Well-crafted material with superb, top-tier vocal delivery. En español.
12.
TROOPER
X
Romania
Released on May 20
Studio album #10
Heavy metal. Premier Romanian metal act! Influenced by Iron Maiden, but very original. Feat. an ethno/folk metal suite.
11.
COMMONER
I
UK
Released on August 5
Debut album
Sludgy doomcrust! Smokin'!
10.
THE FERRYMEN
One More River To Cross
Released on January 21
Studio album #3
International metal supergroup: Karlsson, Romero, Terrana. Melodic heavy/power metal.
9.
HELIOS
Touch The Sun
US
Released on May 13
Debut album
Pittsburgh trad. metal collective led by legendary vocalist Tim Aymar! Catchy heavy metal. US power metal. Clean mix.
8.
MYTHIKA
Unholy Glory
Paraguay
Released on October 28
Studio album #2
Heavy/power metal. Top-tier material with matching sound production.
7.
LEGIONS OF THE NIGHT
Hell
Germany
Released on November 4
Studio album #2
Power trio! Heavy/power metal. FFO: Savatage, Witherfall.
6.
KINGCROWN
Wake Up Call
France
Released on March 25
Studio album #2
A must for Euro (Teutonic) & US power metal fans. Top-tier.
5.
LORDS OF THE TRIDENT
The Offering
US
Released on April 1
Studio album #6
Top-tier heavy/power metal. Medieval concept.
4.
CIRCLE OF SILENCE
Walk Through Hell
Germany
Released on May 27
Studio album #4
Power metal. This one checks all the boxes! Top-tier power metal! FFO: Brainstorm, Primal Fear.
3.
SILENT KNIGHT
Full Force
Australia
Released on September 23
Studio album #4
A perfect blend of melody/aggression: power/thrash metal w/ soaring vocals, ripping solos, and breakneck speed!
2.
STRAY GODS
Storm The Walls
Greece
Released on April 18
Trad. heavy/power metal. Debut album. Acclaimed metal musician and producer Bob Katsionis's new music project. A true homage to Iron Maiden's glory years!
1.
FIREPHOENIX
Firephoenix
Germany; Released on November 11, 2022
Splendid studio debut effort by the German metallers! Okay. So here we have four dudes with a wide range of individual influences. That's easily heard on the record. The sound is very fresh. They touch on a variety of topics lyrically. You can read my friend Katha's interview with the band's guitarist on her blog, Mostly Metal. All songs are excellent. No weak spots. That's songwriting and performance-wise. Now, if you excuse me ... I'ma go airbrush that firebird ... err ... firephoenix, on the hood of my BMW! 2022 Heavy Metal Album of the Year!
© 2023 by Emil Chiru