Top 10 (or whatever) for 2022!

Might as well get the ball rolling. 

I’m including a couple of secular releases here. Hope everyone is enjoying ok with that. 

1. Sabaton: The War to End All Wars

SO CATCHY. I’ve spun this thing countless times. I also love the solos, which is not something I say often about power metal. The Valley of Death is my secular song of the year.

2. Civil War: Invaders

Power metal perfection. Gets better with every spin.

3. Preterist: Blood Moon Rising

Amazing album, and I’m a (light) dispensationalist! The best Christian power metal I’ve ever heard by someone not named Theocracy. Dying Star is my Christian song of the year. 

4. Reign of Glory: All Will Bow

This is just a great, consistent album that far exceeded my expectations. In a time of widespread apostasy, it’s so encouraging to hear Christian metal veterans praising Jesus Christ boldly.

5. All Things Fallen: Shadow Way

Excellent proggy metal. 

6. Stryper: The Final Battle 

They’re best since IGWT. Great, great album.

7. Saint: Heaven Fell

Lyrically rather poor, but musically awesome, almost pushing USPM at points. If the lyrics improve and they keep this sound going, they’ll be even more awesome than they already are.

8. Trinity: Memories of the Ancient Presence 

Haunting doom with great riffs. Such a good album.

9. Mosh-Pit Justice: Crush the Demons Inside

More great, solid thrash from these guys. My favorite modern thrash band.

10. MercyMe: Always Only Jesus

One of the few modern CCM artists I like. A far better album than last year’s. Very encouraging lyrics.


If you want a list without secular albums, take those off and add True Strength: The House, the Holy, the Third and Flames of Fire: s/t.

I just got Angelic Forces, but they could end up on my list.

I heard several more I enjoyed, of course. 

My only disappointment was The Brave. ELG was fantastic, but I only liked a couple of tunes on Gravedigger. Not sure what happened here.

Have at it!

Becoming the Archetype
Saint/Stryper. Can't pick between them. Is it 1985?
Terraphobia- Rise
All Things Fallen
The Brave. Pethead is nuts, it's really good.
RoG
Angelic Forces
Demon Hunter
Mosh Pit Justice

^^Several of those almost made my list. 

Great year for Metal. 

Bad year for The Brave.

Pfft

My disappointment is I really want to like that Preterist album more but for some reason it doesn't hold my attention.

Black Rider wrote:My disappointment is I really want to like that Preterist album more but for some reason it doesn't hold my attention.

It’s because you’re secretly a dispy 

Becoming the Archetype - Children of the Great Extinction
Preterist - Blood Moon Rising
Sorrowstorm - Triune Eminence
Kärv - Abominations of the Canaanite
Krig - Anthropos

There are probably other things I am forgetting. It was a tough pick between my first and second.

Pethead wrote:

Black Rider wrote:My disappointment is I really want to like that Preterist album more but for some reason it doesn't hold my attention.

It’s because you’re secretly a dispy 

Get behind me Satan.

I got a good chuckle out of that exchange... 

I'm still waiting for my CD of Marble Tomb's debut to arrive which I'm sure will be on my list... so I'll wait until I have a chance to digest it some before posting mine.  But indeed, 2022 was a mighty fine year for Christian metal.

Ard - Take Up My Bone
Becoming The Archetype - Children Of The Great Extinction
Brotality - The Woods Will End You
Flood - Polarized
Megadeth- The Sick, The Dying ... And The Dead
Mosh-Pit Justice - Crush The Demons Inside
Paterikon - The Way Down
Saint - Heaven Fell

1.Angelic Forces - Arise  AotY

Straight forward banger from start to finish with melodies, great hooks and straight forward Christian lyrics.

2.Seventh Servant - The Tree of Life

My most anticipated release of 2022 and runner up for AotY. The Book of Revelation set to Iced Earth inspired metal what more needs to be said

3.Testimony of Apocalypse - None Escape the Judgement

Terone killed it on this record coming back with a vengeance. Great groove based thrash with Christian from start to finish

4.Advocata Nostra - Per Viam

A genre that isnt normal in my wheelhouse, it grabbed me from the start. Its a killer record from some newcomers. Beautiful blend of Thrash and Death Metal!

5.Preterist - Blood Moon Rising

Wonderfully crafted Progressive/Symphonic metal that came out of no where and to top it all off its a one man project thats right up there with anyone.

6.All Things Fallen - Shadow Way

Wow great record all around. I love the vocal melodies and the way they match in syc with the guitar work

7.mosh-pit justice - Crush the Demons Inside

Thrash, THrash, THRash, THRAsh, THRASh, THRASH!!!! One of the most unique singers in thrash or metal in general.

8.True Strength - The House the Holy The Third

Yet another bibliclly based gem from a band that gets better every release.

9.Trinity - Memories of an Ancient Presence

Great doom record with haunting vocals. More than just doom and I dont listen to alot of doom but when I do this year its been this one.

10.The Lightness - Let There Be

Sadly just a 3 song EP at release but they added some instrumentals later. This is my sleeper of 2022 and I cant wait to see what they bring in the future

Honorary mentions:

Saint - Heaven Fell. Just didnt grab me like The Calf. Its a good record, just didnt find myself listening as much as the others
Omega Shift - Lazarus Brigade. As I said earlier I dont listen to alot of doom so this one slips through. One of the most beautiful voice in Doom or metal for that matter. If it was a little higher tempo of music it would probably be in my top 3.
Thee Final Chaptre - SO Let it Be Done. Close to perfect and is "technically" on the top 10 list but I bought the digital in 2021 so I left it off.
The 2 Motivik singles Harbringer of Demise and The Man I Am are GREAT songs but not albums. Their relase in 2023 is something Im greatly looking forward to.
Theandric - Flight Among the Tombs

This may have been the most competitive year in Christian Metal ever

Didn't know about All Things Fallen with Markus Sigfridsson. I'm a big Darkwater and Harmony fan, so I'm excited to check it out!

^I still need to check them out.  I recently became a 7days fan and keep hearing great things about ATF here.  Are they considered a Christian band?

Kerrick wrote:^I still need to check them out.  I recently became a 7days fan and keep hearing great things about ATF here.  Are they considered a Christian band?

I would say its a little more esoteric but I feel like the undertones are there.

Testimony of Apocalypse would be my number 11. I'd be curious to see how these lists look in six months.

mothy wrote:

Kerrick wrote:^I still need to check them out.  I recently became a 7days fan and keep hearing great things about ATF here.  Are they considered a Christian band?

I would say its a little more esoteric but I feel like the undertones are there.

Right on; thanks!

My list is a little bit different. Before I joined the CMR in February, I had not explored very much new Christian metal in 20 years or so. So there were many, many 2022 albums for me this year! My list is made up of my favourite albums I discovered because of the CMR this year. There may be some 2022 releases that should make it on this list, but I just have not listened to all the albums enough yet. 

1) Sevenoneself - The Treasure of the Crucible. This is the first commercial quality music I have ever released. It was a huge accomplishment for me given my geographic location, mental health condition and financial challenges. 

2) Holy Soldier - Last Train. 

3) Impelletteri - Screaming Symphony.

4) Muse - Will of the People.

5) Temple of Blood - Overlord (Remastered). Since I began seriously working on my own music about 7 years ago, I've grown very partial to underground/indy/part-time hobbyists/artists/musicians. What an awesome album to discover here on the CMR and also to be able to personally visit with the person behind this.

6) Living Sacrifice - Nonexistent (Remastered). 

7) Sabaton - The War to End All Wars. 

Impelletteri - The Number of the Beast.

9) Neal Morse - Sola Gratia

10) Becoming The Archetype - Terminate Damnation

Honorable Mentions (no specific order):
Stryper - The Final Battle
Megadeth - The Sick, The Dying and The Dead
Holy Soldier - s/t
Trytan - Blood of Kings
S91 - Behold the MAnkind
Magdallen - Big Bang
Saint - Heaven Fell
BtA - Children of the Great Extinction

I don‘t listen to all new stuff so I have a short albeit fantastic list of three releases from 2022, in no particular order:

Stryper 
Flood
BTA

I am surprised  Flood hasnt made many lists

mothy wrote:I am surprised  Flood hasnt made many lists

I liked it, but I thought it was overhyped. Top 20 album for me this year, but not top 10. (There were so many good releases this year; last year it would’ve easily been top 10). I’m definitely on board for any future albums they do, though.

Pethead wrote:

mothy wrote:I am surprised  Flood hasnt made many lists

I liked it, but I thought it was overhyped. Top 20 album for me this year, but not top 10. (There were so many good releases this year; last year it would’ve easily been top 10). I’m definitely on board for any future albums they do, though.

Yeah it never clicked with me but I know alot of people rave and raved about it so it made me curious if it just got lapped because it was early in the year?

mothy wrote:

Pethead wrote:

mothy wrote:I am surprised  Flood hasnt made many lists

I liked it, but I thought it was overhyped. Top 20 album for me this year, but not top 10. (There were so many good releases this year; last year it would’ve easily been top 10). I’m definitely on board for any future albums they do, though.

Yeah it never clicked with me but I know alot of people rave and raved about it so it made me curious if it just got lapped because it was early in the year?

That could be part of it. I even posted a question earlier this year to see if the hype had worn off for people, but it didn't seem as if it had. 

Again, I think it's a good album, but people were comparing it to Stop the Bleeding, which is insane.

Sevenoneself wrote:5) Temple of Blood - Overlord (Remastered). Since I began seriously working on my own music about 7 years ago, I've grown very partial to underground/indy/part-time hobbyists/artists/musicians. What an awesome album to discover here on the CMR and also to be able to personally visit with the person behind this.

Thanks a lot man.    

I'm also mostly interested in the underground these days as I think this is where almost all the interesting music gets made.