The Staff's Top Picks of 2022
(Compiled by Duncan Glenday)
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(Click on each writer's name below to go directly to his list.)
Summarized List Of The Top 50 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff
Pete Pardo
Michael Popke
Eric Porter
Steven Reid
Simon Bray
Jon Neudorf
Tom De Val
Benjamin Dudai
Chris Reid
Malcolm Smith
Jose Antonio Marmol
Brandon Miles
Ben Collins
PETER PARDO
Top 50 Albums of 2022
Top 50 Albums of 2022. :
1. Queensryche : Digital Noise Alliance
2. Candlemass : Sweet Evil Sun
3. Cats in Space : Kickstart the Sun
4. Earthless : Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
5. Saxon : Carpe Diem
6. Michael Romeo : War of the Worlds Part 2
7. Elder : Innate Passage
8. Avatarium : Death, Where Is Your Sting
9. Jethro Tull : The Zealot Gene
10. Birth : Born
11. King Buffalo : Regenerator
12. Marcus King : Young Blood
13. Aurora Clara : Clear Dawn
14. Clutch : Sunrise on Slaughter Beach
15. Star One : Revel in Time
16. Stryper : The Final Battle
17. Bubblemath : Turf Ascension
18. Derek Sherinian : Vortex
19. Immolation : Acts of God
20. Voivod : Synchro Anarchy
21. Megadeth : The Sick, The Dying, & the Dead
22. Steve Vai : Inviolate
23. Seventh Wonder : The Testament
24. Spirits of Fire : Embrace the Unknown
25. Alter Bridge : Pawns & Kings
26. Magnum : The Monster Roars
27. Wucan : Heretic Tongues
28. The Dead Daisies : Radiance
29. Ghost : Impera
30. Marillion : An Hour Before It’s Dark
31. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation
32. Simon Phillips Protocol : V
33. Amorphis : Halo
34. Stratovarius : Survive
35. Fuzzbubble : Cult Stars From Mars
36. Tony Martin : Thorns
37. Satan : Earth Infernal
38. Zero Hour : Agenda 21
39. A- Z : A-Z
40. Glass Hammer : At the Gate
41. Meshuggah : Immutable
42. Wo Fat : The Singularity
43. Threshold : Dividing Lines
44. Evergrey : A Heartless Portrait - The Orphean Testament
45. Marbin : Dirty Horse
46. Rick LaBonte : Living It Up
47. Scorpions : Rock Believer
48. Big Big Train : Welcome to the Planet
49. Kreator : Hate Uber Alles
50. Virtual Symmetry : Virtual Symmetry
The Honorable Mentions:
Wilderun : Epigone
Lana Lane : Neptune Blue
Ten : Here Be Monsters
Michael Harris : Chemical Compositions
The Flower Kings : By Royal Decree
Jonas Lindberg & the Other Side : Miles From Nowhere
Ty Tabor : Shades
Hällas : Isle of Wisdom
Ann Wilson : Fierce Bliss
Robin Trower : No More Worlds to Conquer
Stick Man : Tentacles
Guild of Others : Guild of Others
Graham Bonnet Band : Day Out in Nowhere
Michael Schenker Group : Universal
Philosophobia : Philosophobia
Kryptograf : The Eldorado Spell
Iconic : Second Skin
Jorn : Over the Horizon Radar
Charles Griffith : Tiktaalika
Jalayan : Floating Islands
Naxatras : IV
Ben Craven : Monsters From the Id
Arch Enemy : Deceiver
King’s X : Three Sides of One
My Sleeping Karma : Atma
Pat Travers : The Art of Time Travel
Blind Guardian : The God Machine
Venom Inc. : There’s Only Black
The Tangent : Songs From the Hard Shoulder
The Cult : Under the Midnight Sun
Anima Morte : Serpents in the Fields of Sleep
Borealis : Illusions
Talas : 1985
Motorpsycho : Ancient Astronauts
Leatherwolf : Kill the Hunted
Arena : The Theory of Molecular Inheritance
Riot City : Electric Elite
The Aristocrats : with Primuz Chamber Orchestra
Journey : Freedom
Spell : Tragic Magic
James LaBrie : Beautiful Shade of Grey
David Longdon : Door One
Top Live Albums
Steve Hackett-Genesis Revisited Live: Seconds Out and More
Alice Cooper-Live From the Astroturf
KISS-Off the Soundboard Des Moines 1977
Creedence Clearwater Revival-At the Royal Albert Hall
Steve Hillage-The Glastonbury Experience-Live 1979
Al DiMeola/John McLaughlin/Paco DeLucia-Saturday Night in San Francisco
Thin Lizzy-The Boys Are Back in Town/Phil Lynott-Songs for While I’m Away
Allan Holdsworth-Jarasum International Jazz Festival 2014
Cactus-The Birth of Cactus-1970
Frank Zappa-Zappa ’75/Zagreb/Ljubljana
Big Big Train-Summer Shall Not Fade: Live at Loreley
Vanden Pals-Live & Immortal
Jimi Hendrix Experience-Los Angeles Forum
MICHAEL POPKE
Top 20 of 2022
1. Devin Townsend : Lightwork --
2. D’Virgilio, Morse & Jennings : Troika
3. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation
4. Ryo Okumoto : The Myth of the Mostrophus
5. Threshold : Dividing Lines
6. King’s X : Three Sides of One
7. Queensrÿche : Digital Noise Alliance
8. Galahad : The Last Great Adventurer
9. Fear Not : Fields of Sorrow
10. Ghost of the Machine : Scissorgames
11. Blind Guardian : The God Machine
12. Stratovarius : Survive
13. James LaBrie : Beautiful Shade of Grey
14. Stryper : The Final Battle
15. Arena : The Theory of Molecular Inheritance
16. A-Z : A-Z
17. Seven Kingdoms : Zenith
18. The Hu : Rumble of Thunder
19. Marillion : An Hour Before It’s Dark
20. Sabaton : The War To End All Wars
Honorable Mention
Alter Bridge: Pawns & Kings
The Brave: Gravedigger
Megadeth: The Sick, The Dying … And The Dead!
My Soliloquy: Fusion
Scorpions: Rock Believer
Reissues/Live Albums
1. Bound For Hell: On the Sunset Strip
2. Blondie: Against the Odds (1977-1982)
3. Bill Bruford: Making A Song and Dance �" A Complete-Career Collection
4. The Neal Morse Band: Morsefest 2021
5. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at the Fillmore 1997
Honorable Mention
Kiss: Creatures of the Night (40th Anniversary)
Little America: Anthology
Non-Genre Albums
1. Michael McDermott: St. Paul’s Boulevard
2. Tears for Fears: The Tipping Point
3. Bruce Hornsby: ’Flicted
4. Walter Trout: Ride
5. Midnight Oil: Resist
ERIC PORTER
Best of 2022
1. Derek Sherinian : Vortex
2. Protocol : V
3. Aurora Clara : Clear Dawn
4. Cameron Graves : Live From The Seven Spheres
5. Steve Vai : Inviolate
6. Fuzzbubble : Cult Stars From Mars
7. Stephan Thelan : Fractal Sextet
8. Marbin : Dirty Horse
9. The Aristocrats : With Primuz Chamber Orchestra
10. Juan Cortes : Wameru
Honorable Mention:
11. DiMeola, McLaughlin, DeLucia : Saturday Night in San Francisco
12. Miriodir : Elements
13. Earthless : Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
14. Marillion : An Hour Before It’s Dark
15. Dave Brons : Return to Arda
STEVEN REID
2022 Top 50
1. Cats In Space : Kickstart the Sun --
2. Arena : The Theory of Molecular Inheritance --
3. Marillion : An Hour Before It’s Dark --
4. Skid Row : The Gang’s All Here --
5. Ghost : Impera --
6. Elder : Innate Passage --
7. H.e.a.t : - Force Majeure --
8. Threshold : Dividing Lines --
9. Saxon : Carpe Diem --
10. Black Swan : Generation Mind --
11. The Tangent : Songs From The Hard Shoulder --
12. Galahad : The Last Great Adventurer --
13. Gandalf’s Fist : Widdershins --
14. Lillian Axe : From Womb To Tomb --
15. Lalu : Paint The Sky --
16. Neil Campbell : Faldum --
17. Charlie Griffiths : Tiktaalika --
18. Journey : Freedom --
19. Magnum : The Monster Roars --
20. Birth : Born --
21. Queensryche : Digital Noise Alliance --
22. Thunder : Dopamine --
23. Riot City : Electric Elite --
24. SAHG : Demon Born --
25. Audrey Horne : Devil’s Bell --
26. Star One : Revel In Time --
27. Pure Reason Revolution : Above Cirrus --
28. The Mighty Handful : Stasis - Vol I & II --
29. Opera Diabolicus : Death On A Pale Horse --
30. Scorpions : Rock Believer --
31. Seventh Wonder : The Testament --
32. Tronsonic Experience : The Shadow Vol I & Vol II --
33. House of Lords : Saints & Sinners --
34. Various Artists : Circle Of Friends - The Garden --
35. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation --
36. Earthless : Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons --
37. New Horizon : Gate Of The Gods --
38. FM : Thirteen --
39. Massive Wagons : Triggered --
40. Kaprekar’s Constant : The Murder Wall --
41. Ben Craven : Monsters From The Id --
42. Alter Bridge : Pawns & Kings --
43. Stryper : The Final Battle --
44. Tim Bowness : Butterfly Mind --
45. A-Z : A-Z --
46. Joe Lynn Turner : Belly Of The Beast --
47. Clutch : Sunrise On Slaughter Beach --
48. The Dowling Poole : Refuse --
49. Dare : Road To Eden --
50. Wolfsbane : Genius --
Honorable Mentions:
Eliminator : Ancient Light
Held By Trees : Solace
Perfect Plan : Brace For Impact
Tony Martin : Thorns
Michael Schenker Group : Universal
Jethro Tull : The Zealot Gene
Haven Of Echoes : The Indifferent Stars
Ian Hill : Arik’s Journey
Thundermother : Black And Gold
Todd Michael Hall : No Winner Takes All
Von Hertzen Brothers �" Red Alert In The Blue Forest
Def Leppard : Diamond Star Halos
Ann Wilson : Fierce Bliss
John Elefante : The Amazing Grace
Dynazty : Final Advent
Chez Kane : Powerzone
Kingfisher Sky : Walk The Plank
The Feeling : Loss. Love. Hope.
Edenbridge : Shangri La
. Muse : Will Of The People : --
Reissues/Live/Compilations
1. KISS : Creatures of the Night (Deluxe)
2. Rush : Moving Pictures
3. CJ Wildheart : Lives
4. Celtic Frost : Danse Macabre
5. Jerusalem : Jerusalem
6. Armored Saint : March of The Saint/Delirious Nomad/Raising Fear
7. Marillion : Holidays In Eden (Deluxe)
8. Hailmary : Disturbing The Peace
9. Pete Goalby : Easy With The Heartaches/I Will Come Running
. 10. Strangeways : Complete Recordings Vol 1 1985 : 1994 : --
Honorable Mentions:
Myke Gray : Classics Volume 1
ZZ Top : Raw
SIMON BRAY
Top 20 of 2022
1. Cats in Space : Kickstart the Sun
2. Massive Wagons : Triggered
3. Church of the Cosmic Skull : There Is No Time
4. Scorpions : Rock Believer
5. HammerFall : Hammer of Dawn
6. Dartagnan : Felsenfest
7. Arch Enemy : Deceivers
8. Kissin’ Dynamite : Not the End of the Road
9. Magnum : the Monster Roars
10. Amorphis : Halo
11. Saxon : Carpe Diem
12. FM : Thirteen
13. Sabaton : The War to End All Wars
14. Rammstein : Zeit
15. Journey : Freedom
16. Amon Amarth : The Great Heathen Army
17. Amberian Dawn : Take a Chance - A Metal Tribute to ABBA
18. Whiskey Myers : Tornillo
19. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation
20. Chez Kane : Powerzone
Live Albums:
John Lodge: the Royal Affair and After
Nashville Pussy: Eaten Alive
Box set:
Suzi Quatro: The Rock Box 1973-1979
Non-SoT friendly albums:
Bowling for Soup: Pop Drunk Snot Bread
Avril Lavigne: Love Sux
Half Man Half Biscuit: The Voltarol Years
Dubstar: Two
Hugh Cornwell: Moments of Madness
Toyah: Posh Pop
JON NEUDORF
Top 20 Albums of 2022
1. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation
2. Threshold : Dividing Lines
3. Glass Hammer : At The Gate
4. Pure Reason Revolution : Above Cirrus
5. High Desert Queen : Secrets Of The Black Moon
6. Ben Craven : Monsters From The Id
7. Knight Area : D-Day II - The Final Chapter
8. Tony Martin : Thorns
9. Samurai Of Prog : The Spaghetti Epic 4
10. Josiah : We Lay On Cold Stone
11. The Tangent : Songs From The Hard Shoulder
12. JIRM : The Tunnel, The Well, Holy Bedlam
13. Cosmograf : Heroic Materials
14. Pattern Seeking Animals : Only Passing Through
15. Valley Of The Sun : The Chariot
16. Time’s Forgotten : Shelter
17. Melanie Mau and Martin Schnella : Invoke The Ghosts
18. Alex Anthony Faide : Particles Of The Infinite
19. Sun Voyager : Sun Voyager
20. Wo Fat : The Singularity
TOM DE VAL
Top 10 of 2022
1. Midnight Oil : Resist
2. Motorpsycho : Ancient Astronauts
3. Arena : the Theory of Molecular Inheritance
4. Porcupine Tree : Closure/ Continuation
5. Threshold : Dividing Lines
6. Marillion : An Hour before it's Dark
7. Cave In : Heavy Pendulum
8. Black Midi : Hellfire
9. Queensryche : Digital Noise Alliance
10. Bloodbath : Survival of the Sickest
BENJAMIN DUDAI
My Favorite Albums of 2022
The top 2 were the clear standouts and most played from this list for me so for everything else the list order really doesn’t matter. All great albums in their own right and worthy of attention.
1. Decapitated : Cancer Culture
2. Persefone : Metanoia
3. Toxik : Dis Morta
4. Obsidious : Iconic
5. Immolation : Acts Of God
6. Kreator : Hate Uber Alles
7. Bloodbath : Survival Of The Sickest
8. Sadist : Firescorched
9. An Abstract Illusion : Woe
10. Sceptic : Nailed To Ignorance
11. Xentrix : Seven Words
12. Allegaeon : Damnum
13. Voivod : Synchro Anarchy
14. Tony Martin : Thorns
15. Aeternum : Heir Of The Rising Sun
16. Amorphis : Halo
17. Belphagor : The Devils
18. Exocrine : The Hybrid Suns
19. Soreption : Jord
20. Fallujah : Empyrean
Remixes that would rank highly but aren’t technically new albums:
1. The Beatles - Revolver (Super Deluxe)
2. Pink Floyd - Animals (2018 Remix)
3. Melechesh - Epigenesis (The Instrumentals)
EPs
1. Worm - Blue Nothing
2. Severe Torture - Fisting The Sockets
3. Vio-Lence - Let The World Burn
CHRIS REID
Best of 2022
1. Imperial Triumphant : Spirit of Ecstasy (Avant-garde Progressive Death Metal)
2. Lalu : Paint the Sky (Progressive Rock)
3. Haunter : Discarnate Ails (Progressive Death/Black Metal)
4. Immolation : Acts of God (Death Metal)
5. Altars : Ascetic Reflection (Progressive Death Metal)
6. Voivod : Synchro Anarchy (Progressive Metal
7. Devin Townsend : Lightwork (Progressive)
8. Hath : All That Was Promised (Progressive Death Metal)
9. Evergrey : A Heartless Portrait - the Orphean Testament (Progressive metal)
10. White Ward : False Light (Progressive Black Metal)
11. Parish : Parish (Pastoral Proto-Doom)
12. Psycroptic : Divine Council (Technical Death Metal)
13. Glaswegians : Quaternary (Instrumental Progressive)
14. Silent Skies : Nectar (Ambient/Progressive)
15. Megadeth : The Sick, They Dying and the Dead (Thrash Metal)
16. Steve Vai : Inviolate (Instrumental)
17. Drudkh : All belong to the night (Atmospheric Black Metal)
18. Star One : Revel In Time (Hard Rock/Progressive)
19. High Command : Eclipse Of The Dual Moons (Thrash/Crossover)
20. Elder : Innate Passage (Stoner/Psych Rock)
MALCOLM SMITH
Best of 2022
1. Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids : Charm Offensive
2. Cats in Space : Kickstart The Sun
3. Farrington : Church of the Solar Kids
4. Gyasi : Pronounced Jah-See
5. Marc Valentine : Future Obscure
6. Chez Kane : Powerzone
7. Valensia : Air Twister
8. Stryper : The Final Battle
9. Robby Valentine : The Black Dog Album
10. Reckless Love : Turborider
11. Ann Wilson : Fierce Bliss
12. Ken Sharp : I`ll Remember the Laughter
13. Marillion : The Hour Before it`s Dark
14. FM : Thirteen
15. Envy of None : Envy of None
16. Coheed & Cambria : Vaxis Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind
17. Todd Rundgren : Space Patrol
18. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation
19. Circle of Friends : The Garden
20. Dan Reed Network : Let`s Hear it for the King
JOSE ANTONIO MARMOL
Best of 2022
1. Queensrÿche : Digital Noise Alliance
2. The Dear Hunter : Antimai
3. Seventh Wonder : The Testament
4. Ghost Of The Machine : Scissorgames
5. Pattern Seeking Animals : Only Passing Through
6. Big Big Train : Welcome To The Planet
7. Marillion : An Hour Before Its Dark
8. Oak : The Quiet Rebellion Of Compromise
9. Birth : Born
10. Hallas : Isle Of Wisdom
11. Six By Six : Six By Six
12. Limite Acque Sicure : Limite Acque Sicure
13. Threshold : Dividing Lines
14. Daal : Daedalus
15. Alan Parsons : From The New World
16. House Of Lords : Saints And Sinners
17. Edenbridge : Shangri La
18. JPL : Sapiens Chapitre 3/3 : Actum
19. Jetrho Tull : The Zealot Gene
20. Lugnet : Tales From The Great Beyond
21. Moon Letters : Thank You From The Future
22. The Flower Kings : By Royal Decree
23. Ghost : Impera
24. Saxon : Carpe Diem
25. Black Space Riders : We Have Been Here Before
26. Porcupine Tree : Closure/Continuation
27. Iconic : Second Skin
28. Allen/Olzon : Army Of Dreamers
29Days Of WineDays Of Wine
30ScorpionsRock Believer
Honorable Mentions:
The Aristocrats - with Primuz Chamber Orchestra
Magnum - The Monster Roars
Earthless - Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
Amorphis - Halo
D'Virgilio, Morse & Jennings - Troika
Devin Townsend - Lightwork
The Cult - Under the Midnight Sun
Skid Row - The Gang's All Here
Arcade Fire - We
Journey - Freedom
BRANDON MILES
Top 10 of 2022
1. Wind Rose : Warfront
2. Blind Guardian : The God Machine
3. Stratovarius : Survive
4. Amorphis : Halo
5. Avantasia : A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society
6. Ghost : Impera
7. Amon Amarth : The Great Heathen Army
8. Dragonland : The Power of the Nightstar
9. Fellowship : The Saberlight Chronicles
10. Battle Beast : Circus of Doom
BEN COLLINS
Top 10 Studio Albums 2022
1. Saxon : Carpe Diem
2. Cirkus Prutz : Blues Revolution
3. Perpendicular : Human Mechanic
4. Scorpions : Rock Believer
5. Mentalist : Empire’s Falling
6. Joe Satriani : Elephants of Mars
7. The Fixx : Every Five Seconds
8. ThunderMother : Black & Gold
9. Crown Lands : White Buffalo
10. Jani Liimatainen : My Father's Son
Top 3 live albums
1. The Rolling Stones- Live at the El Mocambo
2. Ringo Starr- Live at the Greek Theater
3. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- Live at the Fillmore
Summarized List Of The Top 50 CDs, From All Of The SoT Staff
1 Porcupine Tree : Closure/ Continuation
2 Threshold : Dividing Lines
3 Marillion : An Hour Before It’s Dark
4 Saxon : Carpe Diem
5 Cats in Space : Kickstart the Sun
6 Queensryche : Digital Noise Alliance
7 (tied) Amorphis : Halo
7 (tied) Ghost : Impera
9 Scorpions : Rock Believer
10 Immolation : Acts of God
11 Stryper : The Final Battle
12 Elder : Innate Passage
13 (tied) Birth : Born
13 (tied) Voivod : Synchro Anarchy
15 Steve Vai : Inviolate
16 Magnum : The Monster Roars
17 Arena : The Theory of Molecular Inheritance
18 Seventh Wonder : The Testament
19 Tony Martin : Thorns
20 (tied) Devin Townsend : Lightwork
20 (tied) Star One : Revel in Time
22 (tied) Blind Guardian : The God Machine
22 (tied) FM : Thirteen
24 Ghost Of The Machine : Scissorgames
25 Aurora Clara : Clear Dawn
26 Bloodbath : Survival Of The Sickest
26 Lalu : Paint The Sky
28 (tied) Derek Sherinian : Vortex
28 (tied) Pattern Seeking Animals : Only Passing Through
30 Galahad : The Last Great Adventurer
31 The Tangent : Songs From The Hard Shoulder
32 Amon Amarth : The Great Heathen Army
33 Chez Kane : Powerzone
34 The Dead Daisies : Radiance
35 Pure Reason Revolution : Above Cirrus
36 (tied) Journey : Freedom
36 (tied) Sabaton : The War to End All Wars
38 Megadeth : The Sick, The Dying, & the Dead
39 Stratovarius : Survive
40 Earthless : Night Parade of One Hundred Demons
41 (tied) Fuzzbubble : Cult Stars From Mars
41 (tied) Massive Wagons : Triggered
43 Glass Hammer : At the Gate
44 Ben Craven : Monsters From The Id
45 House of Lords : Saints & Sinners
46 (tied) Decapitated : Cancer Culture
46 (tied) Imperial Triumphant : Spirit of Ecstasy
46 (tied) Midnight Oil : Resist
46 (tied) Slyder Smith & The Oblivion Kids : Charm Offensive
46 (tied) Wind Rose : Warfront
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