ReGen Magazine: Top 50 Albums of 20220

 
“So… much… music!” Such were the words uttered by ReGen Magazine editor-in-chief Ilker Yücel when the very prospect of assembling another list of the last year’s top albums had arisen. Still, succumbing to an innate masochism, and now with an oddly willing and enthusiastic contingent of opinionated minions to provide assistance… well, it was no less arduous a task. But all flippancy aside, the plethora of music that is being created now demonstrates the unmitigated power of this particular artform to thrive in the most dire circumstances; sure, the pandemic seems to have tapered off, but its lasting effects on our health – physical, mental, societal, economical – is quite palpable. Tours and festivals returned, revealing the potent desire of the masses to experience music in the live environment again, while also exhibiting the painful realities of our world in distress. Of course, debates about the true extent of causes and consequences would likely be more divisive than informative, not to mention that it would distract from the key point to be made here: the world thrives on music. Can it be said that more music is being made and shared now than ever at any point in our history? Oh yes, and we here at ReGen could not be happier about that.
So, here we present to you, ReGen Magazine‘s “Top 50 Albums of 2022,” as selected by all of the publication’s active staff members. As was the case in 2021, there was simply no possibility of relegating the list to a mere 20, nor would we dare to suggest that even these 50 alone are all the past year had to offer; rather, this listing is simply that sampling of albums that ReGen considers to have been exceptional releases in 2022. Nevertheless, it must be stressed that none of these entries are a ranking of merit or aesthetic quality… this is not a competition, but simply a showcase of those artists and albums worthy of attention and praise.
To any artists who may be displeased by your number placement, rest assured that it doesn’t mean we think your album was better than the one below you or worse than the one above you. All 50 of you are stars in our eyes, shiningly brilliantly!
We hope that you enjoy ReGen Magazine‘s “Top 50 Albums of 2022.”

1. 
   Author & Punisher
   Album: KR​Ü​LLER
   Label: Relapse Records
   Release Date: 2022-02-11

 
 

2. 
   Greg Puciato
   Album: Mirrorcell
   Label: Federal Prisoner
   Release Date: 2022-06-24

 
 

3. 
   ESA
   Album: Designer Carnage
   Label: Negative Gain Productions
   Release Date: 2022-02-14

 
 

4. 
   GGGOLDDD
   Album: This Shame Should Not Be Mine
   Label: Artoffact Records
   Release Date: 2022-04-01

 
 

5. 
   Rabbit Junk
   Album: Apocalypse For Beginners
   Label: Self-released
   Release Date: 2022-10-21

 
 

6. 
   KMFDM
   Album: HYËNA
   Label: Metropolis Records
   Release Date: 2022-09-09

 
 

7. 
   Silver Walks
   Album: Various Positions
   Label: Distortion Productions
   Release Date: 2022-06-10

 
 

8. 
   Wet Leg
   Album: Wet Leg
   Label: Domino Recording Co.
   Release Date: 2022-04-08

 
 

9. 
   Ashenspire
   Album: Hostile Architecture
   Label: Aural Music
   Release Date: 2022-05-27

 
 

10. 
    Panic Priest
    Album: Psychogoria
    Label: Midnight Mannequin Records
    Release Date: 2022-12-02

 
 

11. 
    Autoclav1.1
    Album: Gone Long Before the Death of the Sun
    Label: Audiophob
    Release Date: 2022-04-01

 
 

12. 
    PIG
    Album: The Merciless Light
    Label: Metropolis Records
    Release Date: 2022-09-23

 
 

13. 
    Kollaps
    Album: Until the Day I Die
    Label: Cold Spring
    Release Date: 2022-06-24

 
 

14. 
    The Soft Moon
    Album: Exister
    Label: Sacred Bones Records
    Release Date: 2022-09-23

 
 

15. 
    I, Parasite
    Album: Österlanden
    Label: Dark Vision Media
    Release Date: 2022-09-02

 
 

16. 
    Backxwash
    Album: His Happiness Shall Come First Even Though We are Suffering
    Label: Self-released
    Release Date: 2022-10-31

 
 

17. 
    Josie Pace
    Album: IV0X10V5
    Label: Negative Gain Productions
    Release Date: 2022-02-04

 
 

18. 
    Stabbing Westward
    Album: Chasing Ghosts
    Label: COP International
    Release Date: 2022-03-18

 
 

19. 
    Ho99o9
    Album: Skin
    Label: DTA Records / Elektra Records
    Release Date: 2022-03-11

 
 

20. 
    Black Magnet
    Album: Body Prophecy
    Label: 20 Buck Spin
    Release Date: 2022-06-14

 
 

21. 
    SRSQ
    Album: Ever Crashing
    Label: Dais Records
    Release Date: 2022-08-01

 
 

22. 
    Psyclon Nine
    Album: Less to Heaven
    Label: Metropolis Records
    Release Date: 2022-08-19

 
 

23. 
    Deaf Club
    Album: Productive Disruption
    Label: Three One G Records
    Release Date: 2022-01-06

 
 

24. 
    Kill Shelter
    Album: Asylum
    Label: Metropolis Records / Manic Depression Records
    Release Date: 2022-07-15

 
 

25. 
    Tears For Fears
    Album: The Tipping Point
    Label: Concord Records
    Release Date: 2022-02-25

 
 

26. 
    Null Device
    Album: The Emerald Age
    Label: Distortion Productions
    Release Date: 2022-011-04

 
 

27. 
    BILE
    Album: Pot Farmer, Vol. 2
    Label: Self-released
    Release Date: 2022-08-15

 
 

28. 
    Minuit Machine
    Album: 24
    Label: Synth Religion
    Release Date: 2022-11-04

 
 

29. 
    SINE
    Album: Mantis Complete
    Label: eMERGENCY hEARTS
    Release Date: 2022-11-11

 
 

30. 
    Boy Harsher
    Album: The Runner (Original Soundtrack)
    Label: Nude Club Records
    Release Date: 2022-01-21

 
 

31. 
    FreqGen
    Album: Future 1990s
    Label: FiXT Neon
    Release Date: 2022-11-11

 
 

32. 
    genCAB
    Album: Thoughts Beyond Words
    Label: Negative Gain Productions
    Release Date: 2022-01-14

 
 

33. 
    Unkle
    Album: Rōnin II
    Label: Self-released
    Release Date: 2022-08-31

 
 

34. 
    Curse Mackey
    Album: Immoral Emporium
    Label: Negative Gain Productions
    Release Date: 2022-09-09

 
 

35. 
    Queen Kwong
    Album: Couples Only
    Label: Sonic Ritual
    Release Date: 2022-07-12

 
 

36. 
    SIERRA
    Album: See Me Now
    Label: Universal Music Group
    Release Date: 2022-10-25

 
 

37. 
    Then Comes Silence
    Album: Hunger
    Label: Metropolis Records
    Release Date: 2022-07-01

 
 

38. 
    iVardensphere
    Album: Ragemaker
    Label: Metropolis Records
    Release Date: 2022-02-04

 
 

39. 
    Blut Aus Nord
    Album: Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses
    Label: Debemur Morti Productions
    Release Date: 2022-05-20

 
 

40. 
    Vandal Moon
    Album: Queen of the Night
    Label: Starfield Music
    Release Date: 2022-08-19

 
 

41. 
    Noise Unit
    Album: Cheeba City Blues
    Label: Artoffact Records
    Release Date: 2022-10-21

 
 

42. 
    Collide
    Album: Notes From the Universe
    Label: Noiseplus Music
    Release Date: 2022-02-22

 
 

43. 
    Trace Amount
    Album: Anti Body Language
    Label: Federal Prisoner
    Release Date: 2022-04-15

 
 

44. 
    Encephalon
    Album: Echoes
    Label: Artoffact Records
    Release Date: 2022-06-03

 
 

45. 
    Eva X
    Album: I Dream of a Reality
    Label: Distortion Productions
    Release Date: 2022-09-09

 
 

46. 
    Billy Howardel
    Album: What Normal Was
    Label: Alchemy Recordings
    Release Date: 2022-05-27

 
 

47. 
    Tangerine Dream
    Album: Raum
    Label: KSCOPE / Eastgate Music
    Release Date: 2022-02-25

 
 

48. 
    Rhys Fulber
    Album: Collapsing Empires
    Label: Sonic Groove Records
    Release Date: 2022-05-06

 
 

49. 
    Carpenter Brut
    Album: Leather Terror
    Label: No Quarter Productions
    Release Date: 2022-04-01

 
 

50. 
    Sister Cell
    Album: Nemesis
    Label: Self-released
    Release Date: 2022-01-01

 
 

Of course, what would such a listing be without a few honorable mentions? As mentioned, narrowing down the list to 50 was not easy, and there were plenty of albums and artists with releases in 2022 that could also be counted among the best of the year. One such item would be ADULT., whose Becoming Undone was a prime example of the current wave of electro/punk, hearkening back to the early days of the genre, pushing forward into new fusions of sonic decay and aggression. The same could be said of the incomparable Mona Mur with her Snake Island album, a darkly melodic refinement of the brazen proto-industrial sound of her early years, or Stephen Mallinder with his tick tick tick album, demonstrating the same pioneering spirit he displayed with Cabaret Voltaire, updated for the modern era. Industrialized rock and metal gems like Derision Cult’s Mercenary Notes Pt. 1, Dread Risks’ Automated Disappointment, or Cult Hypnotica by longstanding coldwave manglers The Clay People, along with the emotive yet crushing ambient soundscapes of The Allegorist’s Blind Emperor or Zola Jesus’ Arkhon also stood out, as well as the legendary Chris Connelly paying tribute to the trailblazing majesty of Nico on his Eulogy to Christa. Darkher gave us the doom-laden The Buried Storm, Night Terrors plunged us into post-vaporwave industrial mayhem on Zenith, while Danny Elfman and HEALTH redefined their music with collaborative remix albums Bigger. Messier. and DISCO4 :: Part II, respectively.
We could go on, but we have 2023 to look forward to now, and there promises to be much more to behold and enjoy. ReGen extends its gratitude to all of you reading this; we hope you’ve enjoyed our “Top 50 Albums of 2022,” and that you’ll stick with us as we do our best to “ReGenerate Your Minds.”

 
Ilker Yücel (Ilker81x)
ReGen Magazine Staff

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