25. Lordchain - Surviving The Wicked Storm
Lordchain continues to make catchy, groove driven metal and hard rock a priority on its Roxx Records ninth album Surviving the Wicked Storm. The group also maintains its affinity for vocals ranging from smooth and mid-ranged to those with a courser, lower register feel.
25 (tie). Pike, Kevin - Guitar Graffiti
Debut solo EP from guitarist Kevin Pike (Arsenal) takes an eighties instrumental guitar shred heading. Former Stryper bassist Tim Gaines rounds out the Guitar Graffiti lineup.
24. Dale Thompson & The Boon Dogs - I See Red
Girder Music sophomore effort from band featuring vocalist Dale Thompson (Bride), bassist Bruce Campbell and a host of guest guitarists carries over the blues heavy rock tradition of its 2021 self-titled debut (also Girder). For fans of Glenn Kaiser Band, Stevie & the Saints and Sign Of Jonah.
23. Seventh Servant - The Tree Of Life
Roxx Records is home to Book of Revelation themed concept album (specifically the first three chapters) from the Seventh Servant project of former Iced Earth vocalist John Greely. Progressive metal is the focal point (track times are in the six to eight minute range and top out at sixteen), albeit not without a decided power metal basis. Another former Iced Earth vocalist Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens makes a guest appearance on the track “Jezebel”.
22. Angelic Forces - Arise
Traditional metal with aspects of power and melodic metal on No Dust Records debut full length from talented four-piece from the Netherlands. Upshot is tons of youthful energy to go alongside a riveting twin guitar attack.
21. Flames Of Fire - Flames Of Fire
Project from Narnia vocalist Liljegren lends a European metal flair leaning towards that on the power, traditional and neo-classical side of things. Well know musicians to join Liljegren include guitarist Mats-Åke Andersson (Zaragon), multi-instrumentalist Jani Stefanovic (Solution .45, The Waymaker) and bassist Per Schelander (House Of Shakira, Astrakhan & Pain Of Salvation).
20 (tie). Brown II, Jimmy P. - Novella 1 (EP)
Independent sophomore solo EP Novella 1 from Deliverance front man Jimmy P. Brown II traverses similar musical territory as his Retroactive Records 2018 solo debut full length Eraserhead: full on heavy, metal, dark and ultra creative but not thrash or speed metal. A who’s who of current and former Deliverance members perform on the album: guitarist Larry Farkas, bassist Manny Morales and drummer Jim Chaffin.
20 (tie). Images Of Eden - Weathered & Torn (EP)
Images Of Eden maintains its melodic heavy metal penchant on Weathered & Torn EP while branching out into more aggressive territory to also embrace modern metal, thrash and even occasional extreme overtones. Remaining unchanged is the groups mission to reinforce how, “each (album) is a chapter in the tale of a life's journey, dealing specifically with the trials and darkness that each of us must face in this world (and that) each track is meant to inspire the listener to overcome these obstacles through human perseverance strengthened by guidance from above”.
19. Roland Bühlmann - Emnalóc
Fifth album of ambient instrumental music with a progressive edge from Swiss multi-instrumentalist Roland Bühlmann, whom contributes electric and bass guitars, aeon sustainer, synthesizer & percussion. Enough creative variances present to keep the album a fresh listen despite a track time in excess of 70 minutes.
18. Sign Of Jonah - Day Of The Lord
Sign Of Jonah offers blues heavy rock with aspects of hard rock and Southern rock on its independent sophomore outing Day Of The Lord. For fans of Glenn Kaiser Band, Stevie & The Saints and Dale Thompson & The Boon Dogs.
17. Kerry Livgren - Q.A.R.
Standing for ‘Questions, Answers, Resolutions’, latest solo album from Kerry Livgren shines with a progressive and classic rock sound in which he draws upon all aspects of his musical repertoire to include Kansas, AD and his solo material. Opening two-song suite of “The Intelligence Theory” and “One Out Of One” represents some of the finest musical moments of the year. Of equal note are the guest vocalist to perform on the album in John Elefante, Warren Ham (AD), Greg X. Volz (Petra) and others.
16. Midnight Worship - The Darkness
Sombre Holiday brothers Terry (lead vocals, guitars and keyboards) and Trevor Frieson (drums) return with independent sophomore Midnight Worship album The Darkness to continue the Gothic doom metal with acoustic and keyboard ambient themes of the group’s 2019 self-titled debut. Lyrically, The Darkness conceptually bases around the history of humanity from beginning to end with lyrics directly quoting from scripture.
15 (tie). Deliverance - Camelot In Smithereens Redux
‘Redux’ as in a re-recorded version to the 1995 Intense Records seventh Deliverance album Camelot In Smithereens to bring it up to current production standards and realize the albums original intention and vision in the process. In addition to the nine original tracks, the Retroactive Records released Camelot Redux comes with seven shorter ‘voice theatrical’ pieces to tie the albums storyline together. Improvement is equivalent to adding a coat of polish to a worn out old paint job.
15 (tie). Latter Reign - II
Roxx Records sophomore Latter Reign album recorded in follow up to the groups January of 2022 debut Live For The Day (also Roxx). II finds the Southern California based act playing to its eighties melodic metal and hard rock strengths with catchy hooks, soaring vocals, shredding guitars and commercial proclivity prevailing.
14. Les Carlsen - He’s Coming
Debut solo release from iconic vocalist Les Carlsen maintains the eighties metal and hard rock tradition to the band in which he previously recorded six albums, Bloodgood. Carlsen’s distinctive high end but raspy vocals lend further credence as does the fact each of the four guitarists to grace the Bloodgood lineup participate: David Zaffiro, Paul Jackson , Oz Fox & Craig Church*
* Craig Church played with BLOODGOOD in 1989 for the filming of The Rock Theater video in addition to contributing second guitar after Oz Fox left the band.
13. Time Horizon - Power Of Three
Aptly entitled Melodic Revolution Records third album Power Of Three from Manteca, California based Time Horizon upholds the group’s propensity for progressive rock with AOR underpinnings. Further value realizes in the form of some of the years most eye catching cover art.
12. Trinity - Memories Of The Ancient Presence
Czech Republic doom metal act Trinity is the project of multi-instrumentalist Bard and co-lead vocalists Judith and Mary. The epic length songwriting prevailing on the groups Soundmass Records debut Memories Of The Ancient Presence invites comparison to Candlemass, Solitude Aeturnus, Paramecium and Veni Domine.
11. John Elefante - The Amazing Grace
Escape Music fifth solo album from former Kansas vocalist maintains the melodic rock and AOR trending to his previous solo outing On My Way To The Sun and three albums with his Mastedon project. Elefante, as always, remains in fine form not just vocally but also songwriting wise in delivering another album without a bad cut.
10. All For The King - Let There Be Light
Metal and hard rock with a modern edge has been the winning formula for All For The King starting with its 2017 self-titled debut full length but also including 2022 Roxx Records sophomore effort Let There Be Light. Latter finds the Swedish group maintaining its penchant for composing songs with strong melodies while pushing heaviness to within metal territory.
9. The Brave - Gravedigger
Second independent comeback album from The Brave successfully maintains the eighties based melodic hard rock penchant to 2021 predecessor Evie’s Little Garden. Difference is how Gravedigger underscores a darker songwriting complexion in addition to highlighting some of the group’s most guitar driven material to date.
8. The Reconciled - Skin & Bones
The Reconciled finds iconic Bride vocalist Dale Thompson combining with multi-instrumentalist Todd Stevens (XL & DBD) for a foundation of blues based hard rock. Upshot of the Roxx Records released Skin & Bones is a work certain to appeal to fans of early nineties Bride albums Kinetic Faith (1991) and Snakes In The Playground (1992).
7. Flame Imperishable - Glory & Ruin
Symphonic power/progressive metal for Flames Imperishable and its independent debut full length Glory & Ruin. Comprising the husband and wife team of Jason (guitars, drums & bass) and Jennifer Greenberg (lead vocals), Flame Imperishable draws upon the influences of Opeth, Nightwish and Epica while making use of classical instrumentation, orchestral arrangements and even chip tunes hearkening back to vintage 80’s & 90’s video games. Lyrically, the group reflects a Christian worldview.
6. Preterist - Blood Moon Rising
Independent power/progressive metal from ‘one man band project’ of Swedish multi-instrumentalist Simon Kok, who handles lead vocals, drums, keyboards and orchestration. Rounding out the Preterist lineup is renowned Narnia guitarist Carl Johan Grimmark.
5. Reign Of Glory - All Will Bow
An all star project of sorts for Reign Of Glory on its Roxx Records debut All Will Bow in that front man Robyn Kyle Basauri (Red Sea, Die Happy) aligns with bassist Roger Martin (Die Happy), drummer Jim Chaffin (Deliverance) and guitarist Nick Layton (Firewolf, Layton & Martin). Gist is eighties metal and hard rock with a Whitesnake-ish vibe, referencing how Basauri lowers his register to reveal a David Coverdale like reflection.
4. True Strength - The House, The Holy, The Third
True Strength preserves its old school metal inclining on its Roxx Records fifth album The House, The Holy, The Third with an amalgamating of traditional to power to doom to progressive metal yielding the catchy riffs and hooks to separate with repeat play. A conceptual theme plays out in the process with a focus on the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel in staying faith to scripture as possible.
3. Thee Final Chaptre - So Let It Be Done
Thee Final Chaptre sophomore release on DiveBomb Records So Let It Be Done is not necessarily a new album per se but rather a recording of material written 30 years previous. The group maintains the traditional and power metal focus established on its 1991 debut EP It Is Written, which was re-issued on DiveBomb in 2016. Nine-minute epic “The Hallowed Hymn” challenges for song of the year.
2. Fear Not - Fields Of Sorrow
Fear Not embraces the melodic proposition to melodic hard rock on its Roxx Records second full-length album Fields Of Sorrow. Difference between its Pakaderm Records 1993 self-titled debut is how the group takes a bare bones hard rock trajectory in which it explores a bluesy albeit no less able facet to its songwriting.
1 (tie). Saint - Heaven Fell
Independent (Armor Records) twelfth studio album Heaven Fell finds the Salem, Oregon based traditional metal act firing on all cylinders. Manner in which each song separates and stands on its own allows Heaven Fell to rank alongside earlier releases Time’s End and Too Late For Living and turn of the century comeback albums Revelation and Hellblade as Saint’s finest work ever.
1 (tie). Stryper - The Final Battle
If The Final Battle is not the most powerful Stryper album, it is at the very least its most musically consistent in representing the apex of what has been an accomplished five album run from the group beginning with 2013’s No More Hell To Pay. Not compromised in the process is heaviness from how Stryper delivers a sound I identify with as ‘straightforward heavy metal with a melodic edge’.
Re-issues
What I said in my article outlining the top 25 albums from 2021 continues to hold true:
Due to the overwhelming volume of re-issues released in 2022 it was (sadly) not possible to review everything. That said, it deserves note the excellent job done by re-issue labels Girder, Retroactive and Roxx Records in that quality to re-mastering and packaging has never been higher. Following in my opinion are several of the year’s most notable re-issues (listed alphabetically):
Bride - Kinetic Faith Demos & Snakes In The Playground Demos
Credit Retroactive Records for re-release of demo material recorded by Bride for its acclaimed Kinetic Faith & Snakes In The Playground albums.
Judea - Out Of The Darkness: The Lost Sessions
A Roxx Records compiling to include the two well-known California Metal 2 tracks, “Heart Of Stone” and “Knock”, along with a variety of demo, session and previously unreleased material.
Knightriot - Beware The Knight
Arkeyn Steel re-release of the three custom cassette demos put out by the Los Angeles, California based straightforward metal act: Speak No Evil (1989), Beware The Night (1990) and Killing Time (1992).
Resurrection Band - Awaiting Your Reply & Rainbow’s End
Girder Music re-issue to first two Resurrection Band albums with detailed packaging staying true to the original vinyl releases.
Rez Band/Rez - Hostage & Between Heaven And Hell
Classic mid-eighties Rez Band/Rez albums saw the light of day again courtesy of Girder Music.
Siloam - Dying To Live
Re-issue to melodic metal and hard rock of sophomore Siloam album attributes to Retroactive Records.
Stryken - Precious Metal Box Set
Three disc box set on Retroactive Records covering the full spectrum of Stryken’s career, including its earlier material under the Stryker moniker, debut Blitzkrieg album and 14 song compiling under the title Once Lost… Now Found that includes altered version to seven songs and four previously unreleased.
