Heavy 2022 (So Far)
This Shit Rips.
Maybe it’s something in the air, or maybe it’s just depression, but I’ve been craving nothing but aggressive music the past few days. I figured why not break my streak of no-posting on The Discover Tab with a quick list of the heavy records from 2022 that have been scratching that itch for me.
Hope you find something to enjoy and let me know what you have been listening to in the comments or on Twitter.
Ithaca - They Fear Us (Hassle Records)
To say I followed the rollout of Ithaca’s latest album closely would be an understatement. Every single release had me totally energized. When it landed, it was even more obvious how big of a step forward They Fear Us was for the band. They continue to prove that they are one of the most exciting and talented bands in the genre, bar none. I’m also loving the art direction on both the album art and their music videos for this release. So, so sick.
Chat Pile - God’s Country (The Flenser)
Chat Pile’s album wasn’t exactly on my radar; I hadn’t really given their acclaimed 2019 Remove Your Skin Please EP much time, even though I had heard their split with Portrayal of Guilt from this year. God’s Country hit me like a bomb though. Any band that can write something like “Pamela” (at first glance one of the most raw and emotionally intense songs of the year, and that’s before you realize it’s actually about Pamela Voorhees from Friday the 13th… I damn near applauded) will have my attention for years to come.
Escuela Grind - Memory Theater (MNRK Records)
The album art for this caught my eye in the new release bin in late-September. With a band name that included “grind” I figured I knew what I was in for, but still Memory Theater really surprised me. The songs rarely exceed two-and-a-half-minutes, and stack on top of each other in fascinating ways. It’s not all blast beats and power violence, there’s a ton of experimentation and damn-near melody buried in here and excavating it has been thrilling.
Snuffed - Coping Human Waste (Another City Records)
Snuffed play straightforward hardcore/punk through and through. They remind me of some of my favourite albums in recent years by bands like SLANT and Power Alone, which should make you pretty stoked to hear this album if you’re into those bands, trust me.
Mindforce - New Lords (Triple B Records)
10 songs, 17 minutes, and barrels of heavy as shit riffs. When I first saw the cover to this album I kind of expected that cheesy NWOBHM revival thing but Mindforce take brutal hardcore and mix in a little 80s metal and thrash touches. It’s super fun, and super heavy.
Easy Prey - Unrest (Hellminded Records)
Easy Prey play a blend of political post-hardcore that also absorbs influences from 90s noise rock and the passion of early-screamo vocalists. I can hear some post-rock and shoegaze influence going on in some of the guitar tones on songs like “Radical Self Loathing” too, but they never stray far from their pummeling attack into something that becomes boring or over-indulgent.
Otoboke Beaver - Super Champon (Damnably)
I was a big fan of 2019’s ITEKOMA HITS so obviously their 2022 effort Super Champion was going to be up my alley. It’s everything you could want rolled up into one catchy, noisy, angry, fun, experimental, loud record.
Bitter Branches - Your Neighbors Are Failures (Equal Vision Records)
This band is what it would sound like if members of Calvary, Deadguy, Lifetime, Lighten Up, Kiss It Goodbye, No Escape, Paint It Black and Walleye dressed up as The Jesus Lizard for Halloween and harassed you all night, drinking tall boys in your backyard or whatever. It’s really good!
Helpless - Caged in Gold (Church Road Records)
Helpless’ new album Caged in Gold comes a full five years after their 2017 release Debt, and it was worth the wait. Here’s another band playing super aggressive grindcore, but with enough groove and slight metalcore elements thrown into the mix to truly stand out. The drumming on this release in particular always catches me off guard, there’s always something fascinating happening at every twist and turn.
Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems (Epitaph)
Definitely one of the most hyped albums of the year, and for good reason. There’s so much going on here that I still don’t think I’ve got a good hold on it. For some people that might make it hard to pin down but it’s what I think will make this release one that is spoken about for years and years.
Cloud Rat - Threshold (Artoffact Records)
Self-described on their Bandcamp page as “grindpunk,” that’s about as apt a description as I’d ever be able to dream up. Brutally heavy, but with depth that begs for repeat listens. This is one of those bands where you have heard the puzzle pieces they’re playing with before but the way they wield them feels like a complete breath of fresh air.
That’s it, that’s all. Be excellent to one other.