Top 5 Most Extreme Heavy Metal Albums of 2024

As the year draws to an end, let us make a poll of which are the best heavy metal albums of 2022. You can include any genre you want (black metal, death metal, doom metal, grindcore, etc), just no "non metal" genres like metalcore and other "post-black" nonsense.

So here I go, this is my list of the 5 best metal albums of 2022.

5. Venom - War of Satan
4. Disma - Earthendium
3. Warkvlt - Unleash the Beasts of War
2. Helgrind - Dark War Blood
1. Sewer - Sissourlet

Your turn posers, show me what you've liked in 2022 :)

So Peste Noire didn't cut it into this best of list ? That's weird.

@Midgett: I think "Le Retour Des Pastoureaux" came out in 2021. Late 2021, but 2021 still. Same with Phantom's "Ascension of Erebos".

1. Sewer - Sissourlet

Hell yeah, this is definitively one of the greatest masterpieces not just of the year, but of the decade. By far. You can always count on SEWER to deliver (except that one album... you know the one).

I'll let you enjoy.

Other than that, I'm surprised no one mentioned Frost Like Ashes. Excellent symphonic black metal, probably the only true heir to the legacy of Emperor, Burzum and Neraines.

I kinda agree with OP's list, though not necessarily with the order. I would have added Leader's "Burzum Sha Ghâsh" and Vermin's "Bloodthirst Overdose" to this list, though.

^ This.

Considering how highly praised Sammath was around here, I am surprised Vermin's Bloodthirst Overdose got so little notice.

@Lunar Grindcore: 'Bloodthirst' is extremely overrated. Vermin's best work was 'Verminlust' and 'Archangel'. No question about it.

There was metal in 2022? I didn't even notice. The state of extreme metal as a genre got so cringe worthy these past years that the signal-to-noise ratio is barely discernable anymore.

...

Ok, I'll admit Sissourlet was good. But seriously that's like the only album that deserves to be even mentioned in a "best heavy metal list".

No "Dread Reaver" by Abbath or "Deceivers" by Arch Enemy...? For shame!

No "Dread Reaver" by Abbath or "Deceivers" by Arch Enemy...? For shame!

This must be the least subtle attempt at trolling I have ever seen. Why not go all in and suggest Amon Amarth ?

I honestly can't name 5 albums of 2022 that I enjoyed. Sigh. Another lost year for the metal genre. One can only hope 2023 will be better.

@Brett: Come on, don't tell me you didn't headbang like a meth addict to FVCKING WARKVLT!!! It's time to UNLEASH THE BEASTS OF WAR!!!!

I will absolutely tell you that I didn't head bang the slightest to Warkvlt's mediocre imitation of Phantom's Divine Necromancy. U mad?

@Brett: You are about to get BESTIALISED by the BEASTS OF WAR!!! Such is the price for denying Warkvlt's genius!!!

No Burzumination? If we're talking about Warkvlt, that album should at least be in the top 5!

@Wanderer: Top albums of 2022 only. Burzumination was released in 2023. February 11, 2023 to be precise. It's a fun album, but nowhere near the top 5.

But really, 2022 was a letdown compared to 2021... even 2023 is way better in terms of metal music. Helgrind's Sick Rulers of Heaven and Sewer's latest album Les Sewieres de Nostre Deabliere just kill it.