Miscellaneous Albums of 2022

1. Blind Guardian - The God Machine (Power metal)
   • I’d heard the name Blind Guardian for some time before I really finally gave them a listen. It was in the early 2000s, as A Night at the Opera was their current release. That album had some moments I enjoyed, but it really was going back and discovering Nightfall in Middle-Earth and particularly Imaginations From the Other Side that made me a fan of the band.
   • Most recent albums have had some moments, but have left me just a little cold, as that sense of immediacy from earlier albums seemed to be missing, in favor of really grandiose, epic music. I dig that as well, but still didn’t get in to their most recent albums all that much. That changed this year with the release of The God Machine.
   • First off, the songs, while not necessarily shorter in length, feel far more immediate. They tend to grab me right out of the gate, rather than needing some time to really get going. They feel faster and more aggressive as well, in a way BG hasn’t felt in a long time. This really pulled me in and made me a fan again. Also, the fact that the songs are based on works of fantasy or science fiction is a plus in my book. Can that conceit be cheesy at times? Of course. But BG pulls it off with so much intensity and sincerity here that it absolutely works.
2. Eruption - Tellurian Rupture (Thrash metal)
   • If you asked me, gun to head, to name my top 5 metal sub genres, thrash metal would absolutely be in that list. And so, it is a bit weird to me that this is the only real thrash album to make the list.
   • Eruption, for those who aren’t aware, are a thrash metal band from Slovenia. I discovered them 5 years ago with the release of their third LP, Cloaks of Oblivion, and instantly became a fan. They play a style of heavy, fast, thrashy metal with soaring vocals that harkens back to bands like my dearly beloved and sadly gone forever Nevermore. So, honestly, anything that makes me think of Nevermore is a win in my book.
   • This is just solid, energetic, banging thrash metal with some power metal overtones. It is a blast to listen to from start to finish, and with the band getting better and better on each subsequent release, proves that Eruption is a band y’all should be listening to.
3. Frayle - Skin and Sorrow (Doom)
   • Similarly, doom metal would also be in that top echelon of favorite types of metal for me. Yet there wasn’t a lot of doom that got its hooks deep enough into me that it made the list. One exception is Frayle.
   • I’ve been a fan of these doomers for really only a couple of years, when their last LP 1692 dropped. I’ve gobbled up all their singles and remixes, and find their music absolutely mesmerizing. Make no mistake, this is doom metal. The bass and drums plod along, with an immense weight to them. And good lord above, this things has riffs for days.
   • But what kicks this band, and this album, up to the top of the year are the vocals. Particularly the interplay between the vocals and the music. Vocalist Gwyn Strang keeps her singing almost exclusively in the falsetto part of her voice. Extremely light, airy and ethereal, the contrast between her haunting vocals and the doomy power of the music makes it a great listen. And if you want to really have some fun, go listen to their cover of the Johnny Cash classic “Ring of Fire”.
4. Machine Head - Of Kingdom and Crown (Groove/thrash metal)
   • Oh boy, what to say about Machine Head? I could almost be tempted to call them the most consistently inconsistent band I listen to. They have highs and they have some serious lows. Their 2007 opus The Blackening remains one of my go to albums when I just need something heavy, aggressive, and angry. Subsequent releases have seen diminishing returns, getting progressively less interesting to me.
   • But this year something was different. I don’t know what is going on in Rob Flynn’s life, but this was the album I was hoping for after The Blackening and Unto the Locust. Heavy, angry, thrashy, groovy, Of Kingdom and Crown is an exciting listen from start to finish.
   • Ostensibly a concept album, I haven’t bothered myself with diving into that concept. There are some short interlude type tracks that are part of the story that I could do without, but the actual songs themselves are straight up bangers. I was tentative when this was announced, given the dud that is Catharsis, but almost immediately my fears were assuaged and this became one of my go to lifting albums this year. Great return to form. Now, to see if the band can maintain that.
5. Master Boot Record - Personal Computer (Just MBR)
   • If you don’t know Master Boot Record, I don’t know what to tell you. If you do know, well, you know. Think 80s 8-bit video game music, crossed with Bach organ toccata, and a healthy dose of metal.
   • It sounds odd, but it works, and it works amazingly well. I always love MBR, and Personal Computer is no different. It is exciting, engaging, and just puts me in a good frame of mind every time I listen to it. If you aren’t familiar with MBR, this is a great place to start and to get familiar.
6. Zero Hour - Agenda 21 (Progressive metal)
   • I first became aware of Zero Hour with their album Specs of Pictures Burnt Beyond. If that title makes you scratch your head, much of the music found therein will as well. It was progressive, complex, varied music that didn’t exactly click with me at the time. Then their follow up album, Dark Deceiver dropped in 2008, and I was hooked. This led me to dig back into their catalogue and really start to appreciate their approach to prog metal.
   • Then they went silent. The bass player, the bassist and guitarist are twin brothers, suffered and injury and was no longer able to play. He improved to the point he could still play, but they were off doing other side projects, some of which I really enjoyed. But I missed Zero Hour.
   • I was stunned to see they were back, and they picked back up right where their amazing EP The Towers of Avarice left off many years ago. A new bass player, but with Eric Rosvold on vocals, it feels like a continuation of that version of the band. And honestly, that is their best album, so it is a pretty good place to pick up. I love this album. It has flaws, but it just feels so good to have Zero Hour back that I find myself ignoring them. The guitars are both beautiful and heavy, with some really crushing riffs. The vocals are powerful and have a certain edge, a sense of menace to them that makes everything that much more interesting. And the rhythm section is awesome, with the new bassist acquitting himself very well. It isn’t quite as flashy as it used to be, but it suits the music well and the whole album is a joy for me to listen to. So good to have these guys back.