The previous year saw a bitter struggle between Mastodon and Iron Maiden. The Americans had beaten the English by a narrow margin. In 2022, Porcupine Tree and Devin Townsend were the favourites... Until our reviewers delivered their verdict. These new albums of the two heavyweights have divided the editorial staff, being both ranked in the top and in the disappointments and are in the middle of the table. So it's a top 5 like the site (varied) that is revealed to you. There is something for everyone. And don't hesitate to give us your Top 5 !
1er
SOILWORK "Övergivenheten" (17 points)
Equal in points with the runner-up but cited more times, Soilwork narrowly wins the title of album of the year. The Swedes are at the top of their game and continue to renew themselves and offer unmissable albums, thus preserving their status as leaders of the melodeath scene (Struck). A nice gateway to their unique universe (Progracer).
2ème
JOURNEY "Freedom"(17 points)
The return of Journey did not go unnoticed and it was tied for second place. It only owes its second place by one hundredth of a citation. The Americans' 2022 vintage is a real joy. Praise be to them for showing, after so many years and so much success, such a desire to satisfy their fans who have been fulfilled here (Lynott). Great melodies, a lot of feeling from the musicians (Torpedo).
3ème
RED MOURNING : "Flowers & Feathers" (15 points)
The only French band in the top 5, Red Mourning justifies its third place thanks to an album that was a real favourite for the editors. Between rage, energy and melody, this record is a must-have of the past year (Thibautk). The French really turn a corner with this fifth album, a true condensation of their blues metal with irresistible charm (Struck).
4ème
DIRTY SHIRT "Get Your Dose Now" (14 points)
Let's go to Romania for this 4th place with the short but very efficient "Get Your Dose Now!" so symbolic. The metal-folk sounds of Dirty Shirt's sixth album never cease to make our ears sparkle (Adrianstork). A band that must be discovered on stage! (Struck)
5ème
SOUP "Visions" (12 points)
Fans of progressive and art rock are not forgotten in this ranking with Soup which once again confirms all the good things Music Waves thinks of them. If one had to find a synonym for the word "melancholy", "Soup" could easily do the trick. Spleen assured with this album which could well be the swan song of the Norwegian band (Corto1809).
Continuation of the ranking:
11 points
MUSE - "Will of the People"
RAMMSTEIN - "Zeit"
10 points
CHARLIE GRIFFITHS - "Tiktaalika"
WILDERUN - "Epigone"
MARILLION - "An Hour Before It's Dark"
ESTHESIS - "Watching Worlds Collide"
VERBAL DELIRIUM - "Conundrum"
KAZ HAWKINS – “My Life And I”
MALEMORT - "Château-Chimères"
STRATOVARIUS - "Survive"
ELVIS COSTELLO - "The Boy Named If"
OZZY OSBOURNE - "Patient Number 9"
WOLFHEART – "King Of The North"
HEART ATTACK - "Négative Sun"
9 points
BERLIN HEART - "The Low Summit"
8 points
GHOST - “Impera”
7 points
GRÄCE- "Hope"
JONAS LINDBERG & THE OTHER SIDES- "Miles From Nowhere"
JOE SATRIANI – “The Elephants Of Mars”
DEVIN TOWNSEND - "Lightwork"
DUSK OF DELUSION - “COrollarian RObotic SYStem [CO.RO.SYS]”
TREAT - "The Endgame"
TERAMAZE - "Fight Of The Wounded"
6 points
PORCUPINE TREE - "Closure/Continuation"
THRESHOLD - "Dividing Lines"
5 points
RONNIE ATKINS - "Make It Count"
COSMOGRAF - "Heroic Materials"
STEVE VAI – "Inviolate"
ATLANTIS CHRONICLES - "Nera"
SKID ROW - “The Gang’s All Here”
DARE - "Road To Eden"
BJORK - "Fossora"
BLIND GUARDIAN – "The God Machine"
3 points
SERIOUS BLACK - "Vengeance Is Mine"
D’VIRGILIO, MORSE & JENNINGS - "Troïka"
ANIMALS AS LEADERS – "Parrhesia"
SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE - "Back Home"
METRIC - "Formentera"
BATTLE BEAST - “Circus Of Doom"
RECKLESS LOVE - "Turbo Rider"
1 point
ETRANGE - "Enigme"
TEN - "Here Be Monsters"
GALAHAD - "The Last Great Adventurer"
PHILOSOPHOBIA – "Philosophobia"
ARCH ENEMY - “Deceivers”
MICHAEL MONROE - "I Live Too Fast To Die Young"
JETHRO TULL - "The Zealot Gene"
OCEANS OF SLUMBER - "Starlight & Ash"