There's been some interest in this list of mine in the past, so just for the hell of it I'm going to post it again. This is my 2022 top 50 albums of the year, check it out and see if you find anything you like!
50) Liv Moon - Our Stories: One of my favorite Japanese power metal bands are back after a long hiatus, with an excellent album beautifully accented with violin. Akane Liv’s voice remains stellar. ()
49) Michael Romeo - War of the Worlds: Part 2: This powerful album showcases Romeo’s incredible guitar skills, shredding through a long runtime with ease. ()
48) Judicator - The Majesty of Decay: Judicator gets ever more ambitious with each new album, creating yet another intricate clinic in high-concept progressive power metal songwriting. ()
47) Titanskull - Titanomachy: Blistering retro thrash, this album is simultaneously old-school and refreshingly modern. Recommended for anybody who likes paint-peeling riffs. ()
46) Eternal Ascent - Reclamation: Power metal that delivers straight up the middle, this guitar driven attack is worthy of a serious look. ()
45) Mechina - Venator: Mechina continues to defy genre categorization, veering even further away from their death metal roots with another hypnotic, melodic metal masterpiece. ()
44) Celldweller - Satellites: Industrial rock/metal that brings a range of electronic elements and catchy grooves that lives up to the long wait for this album to drop. ()
43) Miseration - Black Miracles and Dark Wonders: I'm a sucker for just about anything Christian Alveston does, and this is no exception. Brutal melodeath that takes full advantage of Alvestam's breathtaking vocal range. ()
42) All Things Fallen - Shadow Way: Excellent melodic prog/power metal that flows nimbly from track to track, with great melodies that make it stand out from the crowd. ()
41) Threshold - Dividing Lines: Threshold’s brand of smooth melodic prog metal delivers the goods again, balancing musicianship with emotional heft. ()
40) Soilwork - Övergivenheten: Soilwork continues to break new ground with this expansive, diverse modern metal offering. Nobody does it quite like them. ()
39) Infidel Rising - A Complex Divinity: Power/Prog metal in the old school vein of Queensryche and Symphony X, this sophomore album is dense and complex in the best kind of way. ()
38) Threads of Fate - The Cold Embrace of the Light: Symphonic/gothic metal with a gloomy tone and a mix of clean/harsh vocals, this album is a good listen for anybody who likes their metal melodic, mournful, and maybe a little bit brutal. ()
37) Nocturna - Daughters of the Night: Short but sweet, this symphonic/power metal album from the mastermind of Frozen Crown showcases two dazzling singers. ()
36) The Ferrymen - One More River to Cross: Melodic power/AOR from Magnus Karlsson and Ronnie Romero that burrows into your brain with catchy melodies, this is their best album by far. ()
35) Star One - Revel in Time: More progressive than Star One’s previous albums, this feels like Ayreon-lite from Arjen Anthony Lucasson, as he utilizes multiple vocalists to create a time-travel themed concept album. ()
34) Empress - Fateweaver: Magnificent symphonic power metal, this debut album showcases a wide range of talent among the members, not least of which is effortless songwriting skill. A band to watch for the future. ()
33) Planeswalker - Tales of Magic: Soaring melodic power metal that follows in the footsteps of bands like Rhapsody of Fire, this features inspired writing and soaring vocals from Sozos Michael. ()
32) Bloodhunter - Knowledge Was the Price: Ferocious melodic death/thrash that follows in the footsteps of classic Arch Enemy, bringing a fresh energy to the genre in an album that slipped under the radar this year. ()
31) Sede Vacante - Conium: A refreshingly dark and heavy take on symphonic metal, this is a must hear if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary. Hauntingly beautiful and just slightly weird. ()
30) Hammerfall - Hammer of Dawn: Ever reliable, Hammerfall doesn't disappoint with an album of crisp power metal anthems. No surprises to be found here, but there’s absolutely nothing to complain about. ()
29) Allegaeon - Damnum: Aggressive, technical melodic death metal that attacks with a purpose. A dense, grim atmosphere permeates this excellent offering by one of tech-death’s titans. ()
28) Riverwood - Shadows and Flames: Symphonic progressive metal with middle eastern folk elements, this ambitious double album soars with long songs that wind through a multilayered soundscape. ()
27) Lastera - From the Ashes: Old school melodic progressive metal with a mellower sound, this is an under-the-radar gem from Denmark that harkens back to the early 2000s power/prog sound. ()
26) Induction - Born From Fire: Sounding like a cross between Gamma Ray and Beast in Black, this album crackles with energy and steps up their game in a big way. ()
25) Battle Beast - Circus of Doom: Battle Beast brings their best effort in a while, pushing forward with their signature metal anthems that stick in your head with ease. ()
24) Tristan Harders' Twilight Theater - Drifting Into Insanity: Straight up power metal anthems from the singer of Terra Atlantica, and if you’re a fan of that band this will sound familiar, but with enough variety to distinguish itself as a solo project. ()
23) Power Paladin - With the Magic of Windfyre Steel: Heavily guitar driven power metal that invokes the likes of Hammerfall and Gamma Ray, with a twist of irreverence and fun. ()
22) Terra Atlantica - Beyond the Borders: Straight up German power metal, their third album showcases some of their best work yet with a heavy yet intensely melodic sound. ()
21) New Horizon - Gate of the Gods: A loving tribute to classic European power metal, this is a terrific piece of work, made with a clear reverence for the genre’s titans. ()
20) Kamijo - Oscar: Highly theatrical and dramatic Japanese power metal from the unique voice of Kamijo. Anybody who liked Versailles should definitely check this one out. ()
19) Magistarium - Dreamlord Opera: Although the vocals here are a little rough, the epic instrumentals make this a worthy listen for anybody who likes bombastic symphonic power metal. ()
18) Dynazty - Final Advent: Dynazty’s formula pays off again with a silky smooth album of power metal anthems. Nothing new here, but the songs are all excellent earworm material. ()
17) Machine Head - Of Kingdom and Crown: Machine Head hasn’t made me want to punch a wall this hard since I first heard Burn My Eyes. Alternately ferocious and somber, this is a tour de force of progressive thrash metal. ()
16) Xaon - The Lethean: Richly orchestrated symphonic death metal that showcases the epic scope of what the genre can do. Massive sounding and punctuated by soaring choruses. ()
15) The Midgard Project - The Great Divide: An underrated power/prog project that mixes in symphonic elements with a Symphony X style of music, this didn’t make much noise this year but it deserves a serious listen. ()
14) Dragonland - The Power of the Nightstar: A triumphant return for these genre luminaries, this album is an epic journey packed with powerful choruses in an hour long runtime. ()
13) Victorius - Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War: Sheer ridiculous fun, I don’t care that the lyrics are deliberately stupid, the songs are great and the album is a wildly good time. ()
12) Seventh Wonder - The Testament: This album tones down the progressive elements, making for a strong melodic metal album that brilliantly utilizes Tommy Karevik’s amazing voice. ()
11) Avantasia - A Paranormal Evening With the Moonflower Society: A power metal feast, Toby's effortless songwriting skill pays off again with a wonderful album of catchy hits. A must listen for power metal heads. ()
10) Sabaton - The War to End All Wars: Overall their strongest album in a while, Sabaton throws in just enough new elements into their formula while still delivering high-octane battle hymns throughout. ()
9) Blind Guardian - The God Machine: Blind Guardian goes old school, stripping off the symphonic elements but retaining the complex songwriting for a fascinating mix of new and old sounds. ()
8) The Halo Effect - Days of the Lost: Melodeath done to perfection, this lineup of veterans delivers an album of effortlessly polished retro tunes that bring out the best the genre has to offer. ()
7) Crystal Gates - Torment & Wonder: The Ways of the Lonely Ones: Rich, lushly orchestrated symphonic power metal, these songs all have a full bodied soundscape that leans into the beauty of the genre. ()
6) Stabbing Westward - Chasing Ghosts: One of my favorite bands is back after 21 years! Stabbing Westward provided the heartbreak anthems I needed this year, driven by the ever soulful voice of Christopher Hall. ()
5) Wind Rose - Warfront: Galvanized by a relentless, driving rhythm throughout, Wind Rose have refined and distilled their sound into a heavy, powerful formula that steamrolls ever forward. ()
4) Kissin' Dynamite - Not the End of the Road: A hard rock/AOR masterpiece, this is nothing but good vibes. Unstoppably catchy choruses drive an album of sheer, joyous fun. ()
3) Emetropia - Equinox: A masterful debut from these Swedish newcomers, Equinox is a triumph of intricately layered symphonic elements and high quality musicianship that lands every note. ()
2) Visions of Atlantis - Pirates: Symphonic metal at its best, this album is just relentless quality track after track, every song swelling with weight and power. Headlined by two charismatic vocal performances. ()
1) Fellowship - The Saberlight Chronicles: Another year, another power metal debut at the top of my list. Pure, joyful power metal that revels in the most uplifting side of the genre, this is a debut for the ages. ()
Edit: Didn't think it would post ALL the YT links as embedded media. Sorry about the length!
