ТОП 22 : Най-доброто от 2022-ра

2022 was a spectacular year in terms of new and quality music.
About 900 new titles were reflected in the pages of The Void Journal – each of them with a unique trademark and with more than  a good reason to be around, and most of all, there was another main reason for joy – the activity of our  native Bulgarian artists, from whom I really expect a lot more  in the future. You can check them out HERE.

Listed below are 22 favorite albums of 2022, in no particular order. I could add at least twice as many to that list, but the number 22  seems to be  the perfect end to Earth’s current orbit around the Sun.

Here they are, the most captivating titles of 2022 according to The Void Journal:

Drudkh : „Всі належать ночі“

Steeped in burning emotion and talent, Ukrainian black metal band Drudkh’s “All Belongs to Night” presents the poetry of the great Ukrainian poets Yakiv Savchenko, Antin Pavlyuk and Stepan Ben through the prism of black metal and virtuosic atmospheres born in the mind of Roman Sayenko and his comrades. It is difficult to write about such an album, in which the heart is so palpable and the performers carry such a  frank charge.
I recommend you get the album on physical media, no matter the format – the inserts contain the lyrics and additional artwork that add to the overall picture and bring much more value to what you hear.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

KHOLD : „Svartsyn“

Khold’s sound can hardly be mistaken . In “Svartsyn” the Norwegian cult line-up seems to erupt with twice as much ferocious malice and energy as before. With uplifting anthems like “Apostel” and “Bryt i Udåd Ut”, the album brings us some quality 90’s raw energy in the band’s tradition that delights the senses and guarantees just over forty minutes of throbbing blackness.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

Serpents Oath : “Ascension”

My Luciferian essence rejoices in every note of this album – every segment of the lyrics, every riff.
Serpents Oath absolutely spit fire with every screech of Tes Re Oth, the wild drums of Draghul and the guitar work of Daenum, Baelus and Mørkald. Fully living up to its name in both music and visuals, “Ascension” carries a sense of power and elevation above all.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

In Twilight’s Embrace : “Lifeblood”

The album gained even more value after I was able to hear In Twilight’s Embrace live and become  a part of the “Lifeblood” ritual.
In just over forty-seven minutes, the musicians take us through different atmospheres and moods, relying on both the harsh black metal sound and melodic structures.
In addition to them, ritualistic passages and an 80s old-school feel, very similar to the first wave of black with quite a lot of rock elements, give a feeling of floating in space and leave us weightless in certain parts of the album.
We have much more than music here, much more than well-arranged melodies and brutally good vocals – the Poles haunt the listener with raw energy,  fiery charge, turning the whole experience into a ritual of nihilism and rebellion against all religious deceptions.

“With lives as gimmicks
And souls at zero
All the mysticism is but smoke and mirrors

With actions as currency
And hearts at zero
Our great mysteries are just smoke and mirrors”

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

Blut aus Nord : “Disharmonium: Undreamable Abysses”

It’s always hard for me to write about Blut Aus Nord – I just feel the music too strongly to put the experience into words the way I would like to. So in a few words… In “Disharmonium: Undreamable Abysses” Vindsval once again sends us into the doors of unknown dark spaces, enveloping us in a hallucinogenic veil of psychedelic soundscapes and atmospheric, deep pieces, in which disembodied creatures lurk around almost every corner, and the ritualistic low and higher chants hypnotize us and lead us down the path, leaving us with no choice to turn back.
I love the reverb and delay setting on the musician’s fretless guitar, which makes it almost sound like a violin at times. I’m glad to hear this distinctive nuance again, as the magic is so excitingly presented, with a bottomless depth befitting the work.
I’ve always associated Blut Aus Nord’s music with mysteries from the outer space and even the occult if you will, but here the influence of the great H. P. Lovecraft universe is embedded in the very core of the work and literally makes you part of a dark cosmic journey into which you dissolve entirely.

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Dødsengel : “Bab Al On”

Dødsengel unleashed ritualistic black metal in an unusual and captivating form.
Dissonant chords and ferocious black metal riffs lead to unique artistic performances – ecstatic, at times even horrified screams, deep growls, desperate shouts  and majestic chants … and they all sing the song of the diabolical carnival that twists and turns beyond all frames.
Praising the goddess Babalon who also graces the cover of “Bab Al On”, Dødsengel take us through the portal of Life and Death. The spiritual quest in the work is mind-boggling at times and presented through the prism of music resembles a dark spectacle, a dance of shadows and blood-soaked cloaks. An immersive experience.

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Darvaza : “Ascending Into Perdition”

“Ascending Into Perdition” is definitely one of the albums  with most memorable beats, especially when it comes to some of the tracks that directly bring out Darvaza’s most ferocious energy.
The album is pure cult – darkness, measured raw cruelty and mysterious majesty, displayed with extraordinary ease and technical precision, like a scalpel piercing an artery. Pure black metal attack, without any pretentious whims.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

Darkher : “The Buried Storm”

Darkher, the brainchild of musician Jayn Maiven, is a project with a very strong effect on the thinnest strings.
The new album “The Buried Storm” is a unique ritual that awakens the innermost essence, carves a melancholic sickle through the mind and heart of the listener, caressing their ears with the characteristic Darkher sound of  bowed guitar and cello… surrounded with  soaring vocals , as if coming from the open sea.
It’s something beyond,  something unique like a sound that can’t be heard anywhere else. It couldn’t even be fully defined as a  genre. But one thing is certain – it is magical, it will carry you to another dimension.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

Corpus Christii : „The Bitter End of Old“

“The Bitter End of Old” is a blasphemous opus in which we can enjoy more than thirty minutes of the traditional eruptive old-school black metal of Corpus Christii, supplemented by new, more experimental elements that contribute new nuances to the overall dark picture painted from the musicians. Darkness, purity and sincere emotion presented through the lens of black metal – that’s what you can expect from this album, no less.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

HATE FOREST : “Innermost”

The traditionally unannounced album turned out to be a great surprise for many fans at the end of 2022. “Innermost” is raw black metal energy in the style of Roman Sayenko, for whom  there has never been and never will be any  room for falsehood and pretensions in music. An all-absorbing title with erupting growls and soaring harsh vocals, heavy instrumentals moving from atmosphere to atmosphere, with brief acoustic passages sneaking in. HATE FOREST in its purest and coldest form.

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Panzerfaust : “The Suns of Perdition – Chapter III: The Astral Drain”

In the third part of the Panzerfaust tetralogy, things are very difficult to describe.
This is definitely PANZERFAUST – burning like a torch as always, but this time the flames are all-consuming and aimed at total destruction, at delineating a far darker and more uncomfortable side of the human condition, as once again the artists uncompromisingly capture and convey each  little accent through their music.
A transcendental adventure through the darkest corners of the metaphysical abyss – the one where lost souls float, with no chance of mercy.
True terror, revulsion, merciless rage and despair lurk around every corner of “The Astral Drain”.

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

Djevel : “Naa skrider natten sort”

Rhythmic and cold traditional black metal with an icy atmosphere and raw energy intertwined with mysticism. Lightly muffled heavy vocals, ethereal chants, cutting guitars – they all contribute to a specific nostalgic feeling. Quality music has always been released under the Djevel banner and their new album is definitely no exception. Epic and spectacular in its own way, “Naa skrider natten sort” envelops the space with its beautiful veil of silent transcendence.

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Hevvn : “Satanic Doctrine”

The new album of the Kharkiv based black metal project Hevvn – “Satanic Doctrine,  is a classic record that circulates primal rage, perfectionism and an interesting approach to songwriting.
Differing from much of the scene with a different lyrical theme of Satanism, the album presents a slightly different perspective from the traditional Ukrainian black metal scene, while carrying its core in every single song.
Tireless, omnipresent and extremely tense and vibrating in its essence, an album that does not leave you alone even for a second.

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Mimorium : “The Route of Haeresis”

Finns Mimorium are total savages musically and never let their fans down.
“The Route of Haeresis” is another shattering dose of blackness in the band’s style, another avalanche of ominous and haunting vocals, methodically performed cutting guitars and melodies – musical blasphemy in its purest form. An aggressive record reminiscent of the spirit of the second wave, combining different stylistic approaches, both vocally and instrumentally, making the album interesting to listen to and keep track on. If you still don’t know who Mimorium are, but you like to  hear metal  in the vein of Ars Veneficium, Watain, Dissection or Necrophobic – break “The Route of Haeresis” from listening, you’ll be very satisfied.

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Аura Mortis : „Aion Teleos“

A cosmic abyss into which consciousness slowly sinks, with each passing second of cosmic noise.
The deep ambient intro of “Aion Teleos” takes us to furious vocals and harsh black metal instrumentals in the vein  of bands like Whoredom Rife and Darvaza. Serbians  Aura Mortis have long been a factor within the confines of the underground scene, but with their debut ‘Aion Teleos’ they reach new heights in composing music and in their very expressiveness – in ‘Aion Teleos’ every element is dangerous and  carries a lot of emotional charge , as  the atmosphere is more fiery and raw than ever.
Within seven tracks we witness a brutal black metal attack, following the traditions of the old books and inserting elements of the new wave of black metal, without a drop of restraint and with very beautiful chords.
The band mainly deals with occult themes, and their sound is very close to the  Trondheim specifics – if you are a fan of Whoredom Rife, Darvaza, One Tail, One Head, Mare, Celestial Bloodshed and other similar artists, then surely the new album of Aura Mortis will impress you  with its fiery temperament.

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Hetroertzen : “Phosphorus Vol I”

HETROERTZEN reproduce ritualistic magic – a portal to other worlds.
With each of their titles, the Chileans provide balm for the soul of any Luciferian and connoisseur of deep music that envelops all the senses.
In tracks like “The Hall of Wonders”, the riffs and their reverb sound unearthly in combination with the traditional artistry of the vocals, reminiscent of a shamanic sermon.
“Phosphorus vol 1” carries a majestic feeling of sprawling beyond space and soaring above the earthly, created thanks to numerous beautiful riffs, tons of expressively delivered messages and interestingly written memorable tracks.
HETROERTZEN don’t just offer music to your ears, they involve you into a dark, deep and secret ritual. And you have no choice but to see it through to the end.

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Nordjevel : „Gnavhòl“

With a martial rhythm and an esoteric knowledge pulsating in the atmosphere, Nordjevel present their new ritual in a captivating and haunting way, with incredibly well-honed dynamics and emotional charge.
Khaos Design’s cover art perfectly describes what you’re about to hear – an almost apocalyptic aural picture, a struggle between tyrannical dark forces and a chaotic whirlwind of furious melodies.
Immerse yourself in the hellish story  of “Gnavhòl” and shudder at the darkness lurking in its corners…

Hear the album | Read the review (Bulgarian & English)

The Lovecraft Sextet : „Miserere“

The Lovecraft Sextet is a genius Dutch project, brainchild of the spectacular  Jason Köhnen, thanks to which we have the pleasure to enjoy the magic of the  ‘dark jazz’ sound.
“Miserere” is a unique embodiment of horror, the subtle beauty of noir culture, the rawness of black metal and the sensuality of jazz. This work of art grabs you and pulls you into its own universe from the beginning to the end of its duration, taking you into an entire story that you empathize with the performer, as if you are participating in an intensive scene, directed by the beloved David Lynch and Lovecraft. It is interesting to hear such a combination of creeping fear, despair, sensuality and brutally pure beauty.
Words could hardly describe the artistry and thought put into this title – the music on this album is beyond words, even beyond the senses.
Stop and listen, experience “Miserere” with an open mind and perceptions.

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KATHAARIA : „To Be Shunned by All​.​.​.​ As Centres of Pestilence“

“To Be Shunned by All​.​.​.​.​ As Centers of Pestilence” is the first album of the Germans KATHAARIA after nearly 14 years of silence and one of the most pleasant surprises of 2022. Smoothly entering its essence with rhythmic, pulsating melodies, the title leads us into a maelstrom of sharply presented nihilistic storm with the first track “Agenda Nihil”.
The album is not traditional, but even very artistically and diversely written, featuring direct and darkly emotional lyrics, fast organic drums, heated and emotionally charged vocals, volcanic guitars and even recognizable short speech samples from movies, including the song ” Oh willow waly’ from the 1961 horror classic ‘The Innocents’, which appears briefly on the track ‘Never Dead Enough’.
There are also more atmospheric and touching moments for contrast, and the general impression of the album is of a raw and deep venture into uncharted waters, gradually revealing its dark secrets.
Fascinating  work.

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Piołun : “Rzeki Goryczy”

PIOŁUN is a newly formed black metal band, the successor of the well-known Oremus project, inspired by the Scandinavian and Polish black metal scene of the 90s, with a slight hint of the modern black metal scene as well.
Translated, PIOŁUN means “wormwood” and perhaps it is precisely the aroma and the bitter taste of the herb and its symbolism as a source of bitterness and sorrow that embody what the performers want to convey through their work.
The founder of PIOŁUN is also known as XCIII – guitarist for Blaze of Perdition and Oremus (as well as live guitarist for Manbryne).
It can be said quite frankly that this is one of the most impressive works  of 2022, and it is  really hard to believe that it is a debut.
39 minutes of emotionally charged and dynamic traditional Polish black metal with ambient elements, furious vocals and pounding instrumentals.
Primitive album of pure and unadulterated darkness, presented in a brutal and  uncompromising way.

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Misþyrming: “Með hamri”

Misþyrming’s “Hammer” attacks  once again with a huge dose of raw energy, fast guitars and an all-sweeping charge. The album has the traditional atmosphere of the band, as however , with “Með hamri” the musicians managed to subtly expand the limits of their extremity, reaching an even more distinct expression.
An organic and intense album, created with a very  noticeable attention to the last detail.

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Mortuus : “Diablerie”

The third full-length album by Swedish black metal duo Mortuus presents four lengthy tracks composed with Scandinavian precision. Majestic and cold guitars and strong ferocious  vocals tear apart the space, following different dynamics. Occult black metal dedicated to darkness, Lilith and all that lies in the hidden corners of the unknown. Ritual “Diablerie” is a remarkable and eerie anthem that seems to rise from the deepest abyss and easily haunts the mind of the listener.

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In case you’re curious, in the “New Albums” category you can do a little retrospection and see the most interesting albums of  2022, discover new additions for your collections or just browse for something that escaped your attention : https://bit.ly/new-albums-the-void .

May 2023 bring us a triple dose of captivating music!

P.S.  What are your favorite titles of 2022? Share your obsessions!