BEST OF 2022 – THE BEST RELEASES OF THE YEAR

Here’s the result of our BEST OF 2022 readers poll (thanks to everyone who sent in their lists).

01. AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
02. IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
03. THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow
04. IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
05. NEGATIVE PLANE – The Pact
06. DARKTHRONE – Astral Fortress
07. VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy
08. SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
09. THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Antichrist Reborn
10. EXHUMED – To The Dead

And, as usual, here’s what the VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE staff and a couple of musicians and label owners enjoyed the most in 2022 (in alphabetical order)…

Alfonso Perez

• ALTARS – Ascetic Reflection
• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• DRUID LORD – Relics Of The Dead
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
• MESHUGGAH – Immutable
• MISCREANCE – Convergence
• PHOBOPHILIC – Enveloping Absurdity
• SEDIMENTUM – Suppuration Morphogénésiaque
• UNANIMATED – Victory In Blood

Anders Peter Jørgensen

• BLUT AUS NORD – Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses
• DEATHSPELL OMEGA – The Long Defeat
• GAM – Hvisken Fra Skyggernes Vrå
• GRAND BELIAL’S KEY – Kohanic Charmers
• GRIGORIEN – Magtens Evangelium
• IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
• JERNVED – Hvor Natten Ej Med Dagen Skifter
• LIGFAERD – Salvator Mundi
• STRYCHNOS – A Mother’s Curse
• ULTRA SILVAM – The Sanctity Of Death

David Simonton

• ARCHGOAT – All Christianity Ends
• CRUCIFIER – Say Your Prayers
• DARKTHRONE – Astral Fortress
• EXHUMED – To The Dead
• GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven
• GRIEVE – Funeral
• HELLFIRE DEATHCULT – Al Nombre De La Muerte
• HULDER – The Eternal Fanfare
• QAALM – Resilience & Despair
• STORMRULER – Sacred Rites & Black Magick

Frank Stöver

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• DEATH BREATH – The Old Hag
• DISMA – Earthendium
• IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
• INCANTATION – Tricennial Of Blasphemy
• MASSACRE – Mythos
• PERDITION TEMPLE – Merciless Upheaval
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Antichrist Reborn

Julian Nunez

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CATHARTIC – Through The Abysmal Gates Of Subconscious
• DODSENGEL – Bab Al On
• GAEREA – Mirage
• GRAND BELIAL’S KEY – Kohanic Charmers
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
• MEGADETH – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
• PREDATORY LIGHT – Death And The Twilight Hours
• THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow

Kat “Shevil” Gillham

• AMORPHIS – Halo
• ARÐ – Take Up My Bones
• CELESTIAL SEASON – Mysterium I
• CELESTIAL SEASON – Mysterium II
• DOOMOCRACY – Unorthodox
• FRIENDS OF HELL – Friends Of Hell
• IN GRIEF – An Eternity Of Misery
• SUMERLANDS – Dreamkiller
• THE TEMPLE – Of Solitude Triumphant
• THY LISTLESS HEART – Pilgrims On The Path Of No Return

Michael Kujawska

• BLACKBRAID – I
• BLOODBATH – Survival Of The Sickest
• DARK FUNERAL – We Are The Apocalypse
• IN APHELION – Moribund
• KVAEN – The Great Below
• LORD BELIAL – Rapture
• MOONLIGHT SORCERY – Piercing Through The Frozen Eternity
• MORIBUND DAWN – Dark Mysteries Of Time & Eternity
• SARCASM – Stellar Stream Obscured
• THE HALO-EFFECT – Days Of The Lost

Mindaugas Lapinskas

• BLOODBATH – Survival Of The Sickest
• DESTRÖYER 666 – Never Surrender
• KREATOR – Hate Über Alles
• MASSACRE – Mythos
• MUNICIPAL WASTE – Electrified Brain
• PERVERSION – Dies Irae
• RATOS DE PORAO – Necropolitica
• SOULFLY – Totem
• THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Antichrist Reborn
• TORMENTADOR – Morte Negra

Mirco Szymyslik

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• BLASPHEMATORY – The Lower Catacombs
• CRUZ – Confines De La Cordura
• DEFLESHED – Grind Over Matter
• EXHUMED – To The Dead
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• MIDNIGHT – Let There Be Witchery
• PERDITION TEMPLE – Merciless Upheaval
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• ULTRA SILVAM – The Sanctity Of Death

Olaf Brinkmann

• AMON AMARTH – The Great Heathen Army
• AUTOPSY- Morbidity Triumphant
• BLOODBATH – Survival Of The Sickest
• GRIMNIR – Urfader
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• MANEGARM – Ynglingaättens Öde
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• SODOM – 40 Years At War
• STATIC ABYSS – Labyrinth Of Veins
• TANKARD – Pavlov’s Dawgs

Randolph Whateley

• BAFOMET – F.O.A.D.I.F.
• ERUPT – Left To Rot
• HAMMERED HULLS – Careening
• KONQUEST – Time And Tyranny
• LONG KNIFE – Curb Stomp Earth
• MERYL STREEK – 796
• NAPALM DEATH – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw of Throes
• PERSONAL DAMAGE – Ambush
• SUMERLANDS – Dreamkiller
• WÖMIT ANGEL – Sadopunk Finland

Rick Peart

• BLACK CILICE – Esoteric Atavism
• BLOOD MAGIC – Medieval Dark Arts
• CANDELABRUM – NOCTURNAL TRANCE
• COMPLOT! – Victimes Innocentes D’Une Furie Meurtrière
• CRUCIFIER – Say Your Prayers
• GRAND BELIAL’S KEY – Kohanic Charmers
• HEPATOMANCY – Ego Svm Radix Et Templvm Lvciferi
• LAMPIR – Demo IV
• LIPOMA – Horrors Of Pathology
• WITCHCRAFT – Ghastly Demonolatria

Steven Willems

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• DEAD HEAD – Slave Driver
• DESTRÖYER 666 – Never Surrender
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• MACERATION – It Never Ends…
• PROTECTOR – Excessive Outburst Of Depravity
• RAZOR – Cycle Of Contempt
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• SODOM – 40 Years At War
• VENOM INC – There’s Only Black

Thomas Meyer

• BURIAL CHOIR – Descension Of Firmament
• DEFECTED DECAY – Troops Of Abomination
• EXIT HUMANITY – Dismembering Art
• HELLSHOCK – Hellshock
• INVULTATION – Unconquerable Death
• MISÞYRMING – Með Hamri
• SCALPTURE – Feldwärts
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• VOID COLUMN – The Chasmic Death / Quiescence
• VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy

Vamsi Kanagovi

• AEVITERNE – The Ailing Facade
• BARN – Habitat
• DRUID LORD – Relics Of The Dead
• FACELESS BURIAL – At The Foothills Of Derilation
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• MISCREANCE – Convergence
• MOURNFUL CONGREGATION – The Exuvia Of Gods: Part 1
• SEDIMENTUM – Suppuration Morphogénésiaque
• SHAPE OF DESPAIR – Return To The Void
• VERBERIS – Adumbration Of The Veiled Logos

Wedekind Gisbertson

• ACOD – Fourth Reign Over Opacities And Beyond
• AVATARIUM – Death, Where Is Your Sting?
• DARK MILLENNIUM – Acid River
• KREATOR – Hate Über Alles
• MACERATION – It Never Ends…
• PROTECTOR – Excessive Outburst Of Depravity
• RIOT CITY – Electric Elite
• SCHIZOPHRENIA – Recollections Of The Insane
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Antichrist Reborn

Yoga Ghotama

• ARCHGOAT – All Christianity Ends
• COSCRADH – Nahanagan Stadial
• MASAKRE – Morbid Extinction
• MISÞYRMING – Með Hamri
• NEGATIVE PLANE – The Pact
• PREDATORY LIGHT – Death And The Twilight Hours
• QRIXKUOR – Zoetrope
• SÉPULCRE – Cursed Ways Of Sheol
• SPEGLAS – Time, Futility & Death
• THERIOMORPH – Diabolical Bloodswords

Aantar Lee Coates (DIABOLIC)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Trumphant
• BLOODBATH – Survival Of The Sickest
• DESTRUCTION – Diabolical
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• KRISIUN – Morten Solis
• NAPALM DEATH – Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw Of Throes
• PERDITION TEMPLE – Merciless Upheaval
• SODOM – 40 Years At War
• THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Antichrist Reborn
• UNDERGANG – Aldrig I Live

Andy Tan (KONQUEROR RECORDS)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CHARRED – Lasting In Pain
• CRYPTWORM – Spewing Mephitic Putridity
• DARKENED – The Black Winter
• ENCABULOS – Exhumed Abominations
• MORBUS GRAVE – Lurking Into Absurdity
• PHOBOPHILIC – Enveloping Absurdity
• TERATOMA – Purulent Manifestations
• THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow
• VRENTH – Succumb To Chaos

Bernd Reiners (SLAUGHTERDAY)

• ADRESTIA – IV: The Mark Of Cain
• GRACELESS – Chants From Purgatory
• INNUMERABLE FORMS – Philosophical Collapse
• KVAEN – The Great Below
• POWER FROM HELL – Shadow Devouring Light
• SICKRECY – Salvation Through Tyranny
• STATIC ABYSS – Labyrinth Of Veins
• STRIGOI – Viscera
• THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow
• VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy

Bill Venner (DISMA)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• BLASPHEMATORY – The Lower Catacombs
• BLOOD STORM – Cursedness Of The Cinder Witch
• CEMETARIAN / ABSCONDER – Split 7″
• CRUCIFIER – Say Your Prayers
• CRUENTATION – Cruentation
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• INCANTATION – Tricennial Of Blasphemy
• MANTICORE – Endless Scourge Of Torment
• PUTRIDARIUM – Dissemination

Chris Reifert (AUTOPSY)

• BONES – Vomit
• DARKTHRONE – Astral Fortress
• MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Universal
• OFF! – Free LSD
• ROLLING STONES – El Macombo 1977
• SATAN – Earth Infernal
• SAXON – Carpe Diem
• SCORPIONS – Rock Believer
• VARIOUS ARTISTS – The Absolute Fuckin’ Worst Of Backwoods Butcher Records
• VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy

Craig Locicero (THE BONELESS ONES / FORBIDDEN)

• BLIND ILLUSION – Wrath Of The Gods
• BONELESS ONES – Back To The Grind
• CLUTCH – Sunrise On Slaughter Beach
• EXHUMED – To The Dead
• GHOST – Impera
• KINGS X – Three Sides Of One
• LAMB OF GOD – Origins
• MACHINE HEAD – Of Kingdom And Crown
• REVOCATION – Netherheaven
• VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy

Dave Ingram (BENEDICTION)

• BRAIN BATH – Brain Bath
• BRANT BJORK – Bougainvillea Suite
• CELTIC FROST – Danse Macabre
• DESTRUCTION – Diabolical
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• MASSACRE – Mythos
• PAGANIZER – Beyond The Macabre
• STÖNER – …Totally
• STÖNER – City Kids / It Ain’t Free
• THE BUZZARDS OF FUZZ – The Buzzards Of Fuzz

David Mikkelsen (UNDERGANG)

• AEVITERNE – The Ailing Façade
• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CHAOTIAN – Effigies Of Obsolescence
• CORPSESSED – Succumb To Rot
• EXHUMED – To The Dead
• FACELESS BURIAL – At The Foothills Of Deliration
• IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
• MORTUOUS – Upon Desolation
• SEEP – Hymns To The Gore
• STRYCHNOS – A Mother’s Curse

Edwin Fölsche (GODDESS OF DESIRE / GUTWRENCH / PENTACLE)

• ACEPHALIX – Theothanatology
• CRYPTIC BROOD – Caustic Fetid Vomit
• MALIGNANT ALTAR – Realms Of Exquisite Morbidity
• MORTUOUS – Upon Desolation
• PHOBOPHILIC – Enveloping Absurdity
• SEDIMENTUM – Suppuration Morphogénésiaque
• VACUOUS – Dreams Of Dysphoria
• VOID ROT – Telluric Dismemberment
• VRENTH – Succumb To Chaos
• WITCHTHROAT SERPENT – Doom Sessions Vol. 666

Gene Palubicki (PERDITION TEMPLE / MALEFIC THRONE)

• ARES KINGDOM – In Darkness At Last
• DEATHSIEGE – Throne Of Heresy
• FATHER BEFOULED – Crowned In Veneficum
• MISGIVINGS – Misgivings
• MORBIFIC – Squirm Beyond The Mortal Realm
• NEGATIVE PLANE – The Pact
• OMEGA VORTEX / PIOUS LEVUS – Split
• RAVENOUS DEATH – Visions From The Netherworld
• SATAN – Earth Infernal
• THULSA DOOM – A Fate Worse Than Death

Jaime Perez (SEVERANCE)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• BLOOD INCANTATION – Timewave Zero
• BLOODBATH – Survival Of The Sickest
• DESTRUCTION – Diabolical
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• INHUMAN CONDITION – Fearsick
• JUNGLE ROT – A Call To Arms
• MIDNIGHT – Let There Be Witchery
• MORTUOUS – Upon Desolation
• SADISTIC – Rotting Eternal

Jens Finger (SLAUGHTERDAY)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CANDLEMASS – Sweet Evil Sun
• GHOST – Impera
• GRACELESS – Chants From Purgatory
• MANTAR – Pain Is Forever And This Is The End
• MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP – Universal
• SANHEDRIN – Lights Out
• SATAN – Earth Infernal
• STATIC ABYSS – Labyrinth Of Veins
• VOIVOD – Synchro Anarchy

Joseph Curwen (UNAUSSPRECHLICHEN KULTEN)

• ABHOR – Sex Sex Sex (Ceremonia Daemonis Anticristi)
• ATARAXY – The Last Mirror
• HEXORCIST / PUTRID – Profane Coronation
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• INANNA – Void Of Unending Depths
• MORTIFY – Fragments At The Edge Of Sorrow
• NECROLATRIA – Secrets From The Abysmal Chasms
• NEGATIVE PLANE – The Pact
• ROTTEN TOMB – Visions Of A Dismal Fate
• THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow

Malte Gericke (SIJJIN)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CRITICAL DEFIANCE – No Life Forms
• CURSED EXCRUCIATION – Beast Of Fire (Track)
• DEKAPITED – Destruccion Trascendental
• EXANIMATVM – Sollvm Ipsa Mor
• HELLISH – The Dance Of The Four Elemental Serpents
• NEGATIVE PLANE – The Pact
• PERDITION TEMPLE – Merciless Upheaval
• TEITANBLOOD – Purging Tongues 2022
• VENEFIXION – A Sigh From Below

Pete Slate (DRUID LORD)

• ASSUMPTION – Hadean Tides
• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CHAOTIAN – Effigies Of Obsolescence
• DISMA – Earthendium
• INNUMERABLE FORMS – Philosophical Collapse
• MALTHUSIAN / SUFFERING HOUR – Time’s Withering Shadow (Split)
• MORBIFIC – Squirm Beyond The Mortal Realm
• NIGHT HAG – Phantasmal Scourge
• PUKEWRAITH / INTESTIONAL HEX – Medieval Grime (Split)
• RITUAL NECROMANCY / FOSSILIZATION – Split

Sérgio Baloff Borges (HEADHUNTER D.C.)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CORPSESSED – Succumb To Rot
• ESCARNIUM – Dysthymia
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• PODRIDÃO – Plague, Misery And Putrefaction
• POISONOUS – Doomed Pillars
• ROTTEN TOMB – Visions Of A Dismal Fate
• SODOMA – Animaligna
• THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow
• THE CROSS – Act II: Walls Of The Forgotten

Stefan “Husky” Hüskens (ASPHYX / ROTTEN CASKET / CARNAL GHOUL / TRINITAS)

• CORPSEGRINDER – Corpsegrinder
• IGNITE – Ignite
• INFEST – Psychosis
• JUNGLE ROT – A Call To Arms
• LUCIFERICON – The Warlock Of Da’ath
• RAZOR – Cycle Of Contempt
• SLAUGHTERDAY – Tyrants Of Doom
• TOXIK – Dis Morta
• WOUND – Serpent Crown
• XENTRIX – Seven Words

Stephan Gebédi (THANATOS / HAIL OF BULLETS)

• ALTER BRIDGE – Pawns And Kings
• DEAD HEAD – Slave Driver
• DESTRUCTION – Diabolical
• GHOST – Impera
• GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• MEGADETH – The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
• MISERY INDEX – Complete Control
• SAXON – Carpe Diem
• WATAIN – The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain

Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan (VENOM INC)

• ABBATH – Dread Reaver
• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• BEHEMOTH – Opvs Contra Natvram
• DARK FUNERAL – We Are The Apocalypse
• DARKTHRONE – Astral Fortress
• DESTRUCTION – Diabolical
• MACHINE HEAD – Of Kingdom And Crown
• MUNICIPAL WASTE – Electrified Brain
• RAMMSTEIN – Zeit
• SIGH – Shiki

Victor Elian (ESCARNIUM)

• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• CHESTCHRUSH – Apechtheia
• CORPSESSED – Succumb To Rot
• DESOLATE SHRINE – Fires Of The Dying World
• ESCARNIUM – Dysthimya
• IMMOLATION – Acts Of God
• LIE IN RUINS – Monuments
• MASSACRE – Mythos
• ROTBORN – In Perspective Of Eminent Downfall
• VERMIN WOMB – Retaliation

Wannes Gubbels (PENTACLE)

• ARES KINGDOM – In Darkness At Last
• AUTOPSY – Morbidity Triumphant
• BLOOD STORM – Cursedness Of The Cinder Witch
• DEAD HEAD – Slave Driver
• DRUID LORD – Relics Of The Dead
• IMPRECATION – In Nomine Diaboli
• SODOM – 40 Years At War
• STATIC ABYSS – Labyrinth Of Veins
• THE CHASM – The Scars Of A Lost Reflective Shadow
• THE TROOPS OF DOOM – Antichrist Reborn