I listened to and considered over 250 albums for this year’s top twenty. Whittling this list down from an obscene number of incredible releases is a challenging exercise each year, but there’s always a handful of albums that naturally bubble to the top of the list. These are the albums that were in the heaviest rotation throughout the year. The albums that I think will stand the test of time. You’ll find a good mix of classic doom, proto, progressive, stoner, heavy blues, and heavy psychedelic amongst my favorite albums of the year. I hope you enjoy these albums as much as I do.
20. Novaturia
Nashville, TN USA
On their sophomore studio effort, Novaturia, Nashville genre benders The Swell Fellas explore eerie sonic territories through effects-heavy low end, a potent rhythm section, scorching guitar solos, and vocals that float over the top of it all. An absolutely riveting album for fans of heavy psychedelic music.
Released June 17, 2022
19. Levitating
Shreveport, LA USA
Hazy, occult vibes and evil undertones slither in the dark, organs interlaced with doomed riffs and classic heavy grooves on Levitating, the debut album from Shreveport, Louisiana power trio Holy Witch.
Released Feb 09, 2022
18. This Sceptred Veil
Bath, UK
On This Sceptred Veil, Sergeant Thunderhoof’s third studio full length, Daniel Flitcroft’s powerful vocals stretch from soaring to strained, as shimmering guitar tones and hard-driving rhythms create a stunning psychedelic soundscape. This is modern heavy psychedelic at its best.
Released June 03, 2022 on Pale Wizard
17. Weight of the World
Athens, Greece
The Same River channel influences from the modern heavy underground and psychedelic 70s into a moody collection of bluesy, dark, lumbering grooves.
Released May 13, 2022
16. II
Oxford, UK
Heavy progressive and desert influences seep through on II, the sophomore long player from UK’s The Grand Mal. II is a dynamic, enthralling concoction of sludgy riffs, frantic freakouts, and groovy breakdowns.
Released Nov 04, 2022 on APF Records
15. Ambos Mundos
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona-based power trio CACHEMIRA serves up vintage heavy blues with smoldering guitar solos and groovy swagger. Claudia González’s fiery, soulful vocals add a new dimension, making Ambos Mundos one of the most irresistible albums of the year.
Released June 24, 2022 on Heavy Psych Sounds
14. Cosmic Tears
San Antonio, TX USA
Texas crushers Las Cruces return after a twelve year hiatus to deliver a classic doom record for the ages.
Released June 03, 2022 on Ripple Music
13. (HEAVY ON THE COSMIC)
Barrie, Ontario
AAWKS paint a trippy, sonic masterpiece on their debut (HEAVY ON THE COSMIC). A kaleidoscope of buzzy, mind-bending tones, fantastical storytelling, and warped, heavy 70s grooves burrow in, and take you on a cosmic sonic journey. The definitive heavy psychedelic album of 2022.
Released June 10, 2022 on Black Throne Productions
12. Equations For The Useless
La Spezia, Italy
Equations For The Useless, the third studio album from Italian heavyweights Oreyeon, is an essential album for fans of hard-driving low end, surging waves of doom-inspired riffs, and powerful vocals.
Released June 17, 2022 on Heavy Psych Sounds
11. Foolish Fires
The Hague, Netherlands
Baardvader delivers an intoxicating blend of immense, distorted riffs, strained vocals, and an undertow of dark brooding energy on their sophomore long player, Foolish Fires. This is the album that’s going to burst your eardrums.
Released Oct 01, 2022
10. Hair Of
San Diego, CA USA
Hair Of, the intoxicating debut from El Perro, is for fans of heavy blues, gritty, soulful vocals, and vintage 70s funky grooves.
Released June 03, 2022 on Alive Naturalsound
09. Sun Voyager
New York
Sun Voyager’s self-titled sophomore LP is a hard-driving, fuzzed out soundtrack to a high-speed joyride across the scorching desert.
Released Oct 07, 2022 on Ripple Music
08. The Eldorado Spell
Bergen, Norway
These Norwegian badasses continue to build their proto doom chops with the dynamic, spellbinding follow up to their 2020 debut (my #1 album of 2020).
Released Feb 25, 2022 on Apollon Records
07. The Sapient
Vancouver, British Columbia
This three piece from the Pacific Northwest delivers a devastating wall of sound on their debut long player, The Sapient. A perfect mix of bone-rattling riffs, scorching guitar solos, towering vocals, and cosmic jams. I can’t get enough of this one.
Released Nov 11, 2022
06. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fetish
Philadelphia, PA USA
Members of Yatra and Heavy Temple join forces to create an engaging and outlandishly rowdy doomed rock and roll album. The vocals are strained and stretched. The grooves are irresistible. And the riffs are combustible, and as grimy as it gets. You’ll want to take a shower after you get through this beast of an album.
Released Aug 05, 2022 on Seeing Red Records
05. From The Fathomless Deep
Los Angeles, CA USA
The sound of being dragged to the bottom of the ocean. You might survive, but not before being turned inside out by frightening growls, and a swirl of irresistible, pummeling progressive grooves. A truly intense listening experience from one of today’s most exciting heavy underground bands.
Released July 15, 2022 on Ripple Music
04. Early Moods
Los Angeles, CA USA
Los Angeles up-and-comers Early Moods storm onto the modern doom metal scene with a stunning self-titled debut, kneeling at the throne of classic doom legends while carving out their own unique sound.
Released Aug 05, 2022 on RidingEasy Records
03. The Space
Lviv, Ukraine
A tranquil sadness hovers over The Space, the latest studio release from Ukrainian trio Somali Yacht Club. Ihor’s sparse, serene vocals float over shimmering guitar tones and a mesmerizing rhythm throughout The Space. Songs slowly build and release into a beautiful sonic landscape that washes over the listener. An exquisite collection of songs for fans of progressive psychedelic music.
Released Apr 22, 2022
02. Regenerator
Rochester, NY USA
“I feel alive as the morning comes, regenerated by the warming sun” Sean McVay whispers in the first verse on the opening title track of Regenerator. Their third album in just over a year, Regenerator projects a serene and uplifting mood. Songs swell and ebb, slowly building and releasing tension, backed by the hypnotic rhythms and synthesizers intertwined with McVay’s bluesy guitar licks and hushed vocals. A sense of transformation washes over the closing notes of “Firmament” with a growling intensity, reminding me once again why King Buffalo is one of my very favorite bands on the planet.
Released Sept 02, 2022
01. Innate Passage
Berlin, Germany
Delicate, dense, expansive, and complex. Elder strikes the perfect balance of progressive and heavy on Innate Passage. Never uneasy. Never forced. Gracefully expanding and intensifying. An absolutely captivating composition. This is Elder’s finest work yet.
Released Nov 25, 2022
Listen to the DoomyRiffs.com Top 20 Singles Playlist
- Wet Cement – The Swell Fellas
- Death Machines – Holy Witch
- Absolute Blue – Sergeant Thunderhoof
- Voyage\\TheGreat Sea – The Same River
- Seas of Glory – The Grand Mal
- Ambos Mundos – CACHEMIRA
- Cosmic Tears – Las Cruces
- Star Collider – AAWKS
- Downward Spirals – Oreyeon
- Prolong Eternity – Baardvader
- Breaking Free – El Perro
- Some Stranger – Sun Voyager
- Creeping Willow – Kryptograf
- Return to Descension – Eye of Doom
- The Mole – Grave Bathers
- Spirit Taker – Behold! The Monolith
- Curse The Light – Early Moods
- Echo of Direction – Somali Yacht Club
- Hours – King Buffalo
- Coalescence – Elder