photo by Art Wolfe
January is a time when many music publications, including metal-centric ones, publish lists of the new year’s “most anticipated albums”. We’ve done that here from time to time, but not in a long time. And don’t be mad, but we’re not doing it now either. I’ll explain in a minute.
Lots of albums are already now on people’s radar screens, thanks to announcements from late last year and the nearly 10 days of January that have already passed. Among the bigger names, 2022 will see new records from Amorphis and Dying Fetus, Voivod and Immolation, Lamb of God and Obituary, Rammstein and Terror, Cult of Luna and Ghost, YOB and Eight Bells, Crowbar and Arch Enemy, Allegaeon and Dark Funeral, and I’ve seen rumors of new albums coming from the likes of Amon Amarth, Behemoth, and Meshuggah. There are also new EPs on the way from Napalm Death, Abysmal Dawn, and Centinex, to name just a few.
Some, but certainly not all, of those releases will be of interest here at NCS, but we tend to focus on more underground names, and I think our readers do too. However, once you get past the names like those above, trying to prepare a “Most Anticipated” list becomes a project that’s a lot more daunting and time-consuming. Which is why I’m not doing it today (though I guess it’s possible some of our other writers might attempt it). What I’m doing instead is inviting YOU to leave a comment identifying 2022 releases that YOU are looking forward to.
That invitation goes out to the other NCS writers as well, since I didn’t tell them about this post in advance.
Our nearly-finished LISTMANIA series, including all the reader lists, always helps introduce avid metal listeners to things they missed from the year just ended, and I thought asking people to help create a “most anticipated” list of forthcoming releases would achieve a similar good purpose.
Of course, we’ll continue putting forthcoming releases on people’s radar screens in the ways we usually do, through advance reviews and round-ups of new songs from upcoming records (there will be one of those later today).
So, please let us and everyone else who stumbles across this post know what we ought to be paying attention to in the months ahead (including bigger names from the partial list above and others I failed to identify).
54 Responses to “THE MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2022 (DON’T BE MAD)”
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Boris – W (Jan 21)
Celeste – Assassine(s) (Jan 28)
Mossgiver – The Song Among Branches (Feb 4)
Det Eviga Leendet – Reverence (Feb 11)
Mountaineer – Giving Up The Ghost (Feb 25)
E-L-R – Vexier (March 11)
Of those i know the dates of that i’m mostly eager to hear now. Otherwise there are a bunch of bands already in the last finishing stages or said will release stuff this year like; Falls of Rauros, Krallice, Vanum, Anicon, Yellow Eyes and Izthmi and prob a heck load of more that i can’t name right know. There are also those i hope will come out something finally this year like Zhrine and Vemod foremost.
Thrilled to hear from the lists below that Starer, Wake, Misery Index, Bell Witch and Mournful Congregation will be, or might be, releasing albums or EPs this year.
Starer, Thumos, Glyph, Fire Messiah, and Lycopolis all have albums announced.
Mizmor – Wit’s End
Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory
Venom Prison – Erebos
Satan
Celeste – Assassines
Wiegedood – There’s Always Blood at the End of the Road
Strigoi – Viscera
Hangman’s Chair – A Loner
Zeal and Ardor
Triptykon? (please, please… I know Requiem is very important to Tom and is a unique recording, but one more to follow the amazing run of Monotheist, Eparistera Daimones and Melana Chasmata…)
I was in Tilburg as this was played, and to be honest I was a bit bored so left before the end.
Soliloquium and Suldusk have new albums recorded but no release dates yet. Gaerea have also been in the studio so hoping that’ll mean a late 2022 release.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Anaal Nathrakh announced a record, and I’d be very happy about that.
My most anticipated for 2022 is the same as it’s been every year since 2015:
Altar of Plagues
I have no reason for this other than my eternal optimism.
I don’t think any of the members even play metal anymore. Saw them a long time ago, still have the shirt and put on the albums now and again, solid stuff.
Drummer still does…Dread Sovereign, Conan, and Malthusian
Oh wow, jealous that you got to see them! I know they’ve gone their separate ways and there’s nothing indicating a return, but in this era of seemingly infinite metal festivals, I just keep hoping someone will throw a bunch of money their way for a reunion show, and that will inspire new music.
Wow. Would love to know more about the release date for Satan. I had also heard about Vanum releasing this year.
Not including that which has already been mentioned, this is what I have…
Karmanjaka – Gates of Muspel (2/11)
Schizophrenia – Recollections of the Insane (2/18)
Meslamtaea – Weemoedsklanken (2/25)
Hath – All That Was Promised (3/2)
Aeviterne – The Ailing Facade (3/18)
Kvaen – The Great Below (3/25)
Nechocwhen – Kanawha Black (??)
I have two others on my list for two years now. Hoping this year is the year for either.
Ingurgitating Oblivion
Terzij de Horde
I seriously have no idea how this happened, but when I submitted my comment it had Faceless Aeons name and email in the fields. It was too late to change. If someone could please both delete the Faceless Aeons comment that matches mine and help explain what happened I would love to avoid it in the future. Many thanks! And many apologies for somehow posting as you…. Thats a dangerous ability in the wrong hands.
When I just reloaded the page, Faceless Aeons name and email were in the fields again. Something weird is happening.
Rolo Tomassi – Where Myth Becomes Memory
Conjurer’s new album
Celeste- Assassines
Coheed and Cambria’s new album
Cult of Luna- The long Road North
Most of all I’m looking forward to finding new bands or being surprised by bands that I didn’t know were releasing an album.
I’d forgotten about Conjurer, but Mire was a great album.
Confirmed (? = and rumours)
Kostnatění > Oheň hoří tam, kde padl
Internal Bleeding (?)
Misery Index (?)
Belphegor (?)
Blood Incantation – Timewave Zero
Embryonic Devourment > Heresy of the Highest Order
And, I´m eager to hear the new works of Yob and Dying Fetus 🙂 Thanks for the announcement!
You sir are in luck cause belphegor just came with a absolute banger of a album
I’ll go classic and say Megadeth.
I’m a long time fan and Dystopia came out when I was in hospital after a car crash and it’s the first album I could listen to after intensive care!
And Immolation of course, my pants are already wet in anticipation 🙂
As far as stuff that has been released/officially announced:
Wilderun – Epigone (01/06)
Nocturnal Graves – An Outlaw’s Stand (01/06)
Wiegedood – There’s Always Blood At The End Of The Road (01/14)
Descent – Order Of Chaos (01/14)
Druid Lord – Relics Of The Dead (01/21)
Sarcasm – Stellar Stream Obscured (01/28)
Vicious Knights – Altereation Through Possession (01/28)
Celeste – Assassine(s) (01/28)
Vorga – Striving Toward Oblivion (02/04)
Abysmal Dawn – Nightmare Frontier (02/04)
Cult Of Luna – The Long Road North (02/11)
Voivod – Synchro Anarchy (02/11)
Napalm Death – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes (02/11)
Mortuary Drape – Widom – Vibration – Repent (02/11)
Ultra Silvam – The Sanctity Of Death (02/15)
Pure Wrath – Hymn To The Woeful Hearts (02/18)
Immolation – Acts Of God (02/18)
Schizophrenia – Recollections Of The Insane (02/18)
Shape Of Despair – Return To The Void (02/25)
Blood Incantation – Timewave Zero (02/25)
Allegaeon – Damnum (02/25)
Hath – All That Was Promised (03/04)
Non Est Deus – Impious (03/04)
Midnight – Let There Be Witchery (03/04)
Dark Funeral – We Are The Apocalypse (03/18)
Slaegt – Goddess (03/18)
Aeviterne – The Ailing Facade (03/18)
Abbath – Dread Reaver (03/25)
Kvaen – The Great Below (03/25)
Nite – Voices Of The Kronian Moon (03/25)
Eucharist – I Am The Void (03/25)
Sentient Horror – Rites Of Gore (04/22)
Undeath – It’s Time… To Rise From The Grave (04/22)
2022 Releases Yet To Be Announced
Misery Index – TBA
Witchery – TBA
Nightfell – TBA
Lykotonon – TBA
Horrendous – TBA
Gaerea – TBA
Saor – TBA
Kreator – TBA
Obituary – TBA
Dying Fetus – TBA
Revocation – TBA
Suffocation – TBA
Autopsy – TBA
Mortuous – TBA
Watain – TBA
Hyperion – TBA
Hulder – TBA
Blut Aus Nord – TBA
Vanum – TBA
Behemoth – TBA
Cosmic Putrefaction – TBA
Mournful Congregation – TBA
Tzompantli – TBA
Tomb Mold – TBA
Incantation – TBA
Nile – TBA
Imperial Triumphant – TBA
Bell Witch – TBA
Goatwhore – TBA
Exhumed – TBA
Temple Of Void – TBA
Ripped To Shreds – TBA
Cloak – TBA
Panzerfaust – The Suns Of Perdition Chapter III
Nechochwen – Kanawha Black
Uada – Crepuscula Natura
Dream Unending – Song Of Salvation
Wake – Thought Form Descent
Oceans Of Slumber – Starlight And Ash
Strigoi – Viscera
New Dream Unending already? Didn’t expect that happening so soon. You know anything if it’s a new LP or EP perhaps?
It’s a full length, Derrick Vella spilled the beans in Decibel Magazine’s new issue (where they have a list of their Top 20 Most Anticipated Albums). Apparently he’s almost done with the writing, the plan is to release it sometime in the fall.
Thx for this extensive liste HGD
Tomb Mold is official? I was told they’re on “indefinite hiatus”.
20 Buck Spin hinted in a Q&A they did on their Instagram account that there may be something new coming from them this year. It’s not 100% confirmed or anything but I figured it was worth mentioning.
Someone mentioned above already – but super psyched for Strigoi as well as Voivod and YOB. Also stoked for new Septicflesh. Goatwhore is due as well, right?
Psyched for the new year!
Stuff I’ve heard is supposedly coming out this year:
Midnight
Undeath
Nocturnal Graves which is either already out or just about to come out
Blood Storm (I’ll believe it when I see it)
Cosmic Putrefaction
Enforcer
Saor
Wolf
Hulder
Mirror
,,,also, everyone getting all worked up about new Blood Incantation does know that they said it was some kind of ambient shit, right? Like, you are not getting Starspawn 2.0 or anything awesome like that.
Hope it’s somewhat moving and not just two tracks of static ambient noise..
That said, i’m mostly prepared for the latter outcome.
Hope it’s somewhat moving and not just static ambient noise..
But i’m mostly prepared for the latter outcome.
Yeah, I’m fully aware of that but I like artists like Tangerine Dream and Popul Vuh so I’m totally on board with them putting out an ambient record. Paul Riedl has a ton of ambient side projects already so they have some experience making ambient music.
Not a question of if it would be any good…I thought his Hanging Moss stuff was pretty cool myself.
The point is, they’re releasing it as Blood Incantation and people seem to be getting excited about the “new music” part and are ignoring the “ambient” part, which I think is going to lead to some irritated fans who didn’t adjust their expectations.
Sanzu
Dischordia
Stil waiting for the new Slugdge album.
Top 3: Meshuggah. Cult of Luna, Yob. But, there are many other good ones slated to release (yeah, I’m going to add Fit for an Autopsy, coming next week).
It’s going to be good year (for metal music, at least…not sure about the rest).
It was mentioned on that massively long list above, but Temple of Void has a new album they recorded with Arthur Rizk that’s coming out on Relapse. It and the art is done and turned in, waiting on a release date. Learned all that on their Facebook page.
Also new Vein.fm (formerly Vein) is coming March 4. First single is lots of kicks in the face.
Uada!!! That’s all. Gonna be hard to top Djinn
Some that I’m really looking forward to:
Sentient Horror
Soreption
Schizophrenia
Demiricious just posted that they finished their new album, too.
Thoughts, though none have been confirmed, rumored, or even discussed.
We’re in an even numbered year and Anaal Nathrakh have been pretty fucking consistent about putting a disc out every other year since Vanitas with four of the five releasing in the month October, the only oddball being A New Kind Of Horror, which was late September. So maybe new Anaal Nathrakh in October of this year.
I would dearly love to have some new Make Them Die Slowly although two singles and two albums is a decent hunk of material already.
It’s been five years since Dyscarnate’s With All Their Might. I feel like if I keep mentioning it maybe I can will some news into existence.
Same goes for Ireland’s Weed Priest. It’s been five years for them as well.
Maybe new Schammasch, it’s been a decent chunk of time since Hearts Of No Light.
Man Must Die have been heavily hinting at 2022 activity as well, now that the Bring Me The Head Of The King single seems to be doing good for them.
MMD confirmed this year would be the one.
Yeah, my only hesitance with that is the part where its always ‘this is the year guys!’ and then deafening silence. I know there’s always stuff behind the scenes that we don’t see so I don’t speculate too much but its resulted in me taking a very believe it when I see it approach.
Speaking of, new Khonsu is another thing I would like to will into existence.
Also new Gloson is due in MarchI believe and new Persefone is around the corner. Both of those are exciting.
Also …and oceans were threatening new stuff here soon as well, which is half-mast worthy at least.
Persefone
Disiillusion
I keep it short
Véhémence “Ordalies” in march
Ne Obliviscaris
Anciients
Well I hope!
Jon hinted in his comments on AMG (replying to the aggregated top 10 list) that Hamferd would have something out this year.
Frozen Soul – pretty sure they mentioned working on stuff on their insta
Wharflurch – hellyeah ooooogh
Hulder – now on 20 buck!
Dream Unending AND Tomb Mold? Can’t believe it.
Blood Incantation – trip me out guys. I’m in. Imagine though if the last two minutes were just blasts like at the end of the last deafheaven. Just an hour of edging and then that.
Horrendous? Absolutely
There is an outside…and I mean VERY outside chance that Dead Congregation and Cruciamentum could release new music this year.
Supposedly Dead Congregation has a new one finished, but needs to get it recorded, and Cruiciamentum is supposedly heading into the studio this year to record their new one
Take those with a grain of salt, and even if they are true I think it’s more likely we’d see the releases in 2023
Rolo Tomassi
Darkspace, definitely no news of it being planned for 2022 and it’s one of unknowner unknowns when it will be released..
I already pre-ordered the new albums of Hath, Last of Lucy and Fit For An Autopsy,
Also pretty stoked for Meshuggah and Shadow of Intent.
I think Ceremony of Silence are writing new stuff and I’m hoping for some new Burial Invocation, Tallah and Greyhaven
YOB, Nile and Scar Symmetry.
Scar Symmetry is still around!?
Yes sir!. New album is gonna be called “The Singularity (Phase II – Xenotaph)”