Best Records of 2022

There is being fashionably late and then there is just plain 'late' unfortunately i'm the latter. It took me a long time to sit down and write some in depth thoughts on some of my favourite records I heard in 2022. So after new year emanating into existence before i even realised it and then spending a month in Japan exploring the country and hitting various shows, i'm finally ready to publish my list...

Best Albums of 2022 

 

Sniffany and The Nits - The Unscratchable Itch LP
Prah Records

Brighton (United Kingdom)  

Sniffany and the Nits already hold an incredible pedigree of musicianship already within their ranks, with members being shared between Ex-Void, The Tubs and Joanna Gruesome. On 'The Unscratchable Itch' the band up the ante with some extremley snotty punky hardcore that had me dialled in straight from the get go. From the opening track (which the album takes its title) we are bombarded with rhythmic duelling guitars that breeze through at speed and over the course of the remaining tracks 9 tracks never really lets up, except for some less speedy but none the less interesting diversions to mix it up a bit. The lyrics are a perhaps a little more obscure in their nature however and occasionally center on terrible late 90's dramas. Musically i'm reminded of John Reis, Hot Snakes/Drive Like Jehu angular guitar attack if they were British and really enjoyed listening to the wide gamut of records on Dischord. Great release.

 

  

Ms. Machine - Vinter CD
Self Released.

Tokyo (Japan)

Ms.Machine return with their fourth release of chilly Nordic post punk via Tokyo. Two tracks of pulsing bass intersperesed with sombre wandering guitar, moody synths & pre programmed drums. It's slow, calculated and gives a sense of desperation and alienation. The lyrics are rather cryptic and interwoven with english and Japanese. This is the type of soundtrack i imagine when i think about the fringes of the 

Tokyo underground.

 

Foreseen - Untamed Force LP
Quality Control Records

Finland (Helsinki)

In 2014 i was introduced to Helsinki's Foreseen and their thrash attack firmly rooted in the crossover sounds heralded by bands such as Leeway and Cro-Mags and more modern fare such as Iron Age & Power Trip. Their third album (and second on London based Quality Control Records) doesn't dissapoint, with gnarly hardcore intensity ratcheting up the speed and guitar changes criss crossing and duelling throughout the 9 tracks on this release. I can really get behind a record that is as unrelenting as the material that features on this. I caught these guys at Damage Is Done III in London and they are every bit  as exciting as they are on record.

 

Nicfit - Fuse LP

Upset The Rhythm Records

Nagoya (Japan)

Nicfit from the industrial city of Nagoya located in Aichi prefecture, Japan, have steadily carved a spunky brand of oscillating music which gyrates between no wave and post punk. Some of these riffs remind me at times of DNA, Bush Tetras or ESG mixed in equal parts and you pretty much can ascertain the types of soundscapes Nicfit are creating.

 

SOM4LI- Escapism CD

Self Released

Tokyo (Japan)

SOM4LI play a style of Post punk with an indie rock inflection recalling to mind the aforementioned Nicfit, while at times i'm redminded of Ghum and Es from London and maybe and the less bombastic moments of Ex Girl mixed in for good measure. The basslines wander around from track to track and create a nice hauntingly intrinsic nature for this type of music and the vocals flow freely over the rest of the music. It must also be pointed to that the band also feature members of Ms. Machine among their ranks, however comparisons between the two end there.  I'm looking forward to seeing what this group release next...

   

Rashomon - Ningen LP

Iron Lung Records

Washington DC (U.S.A)

Rashomon continue with another slice of chaotic hardcore that sounds like it's giving a firm nod to Outo, Systematic Death and Gauze. Fast and furious hardcore that smashes through 6 tracks. I think this might be my favourite release of theirs so far. The packaging and screenprinted poster are also superb. Not much more to say about this, other than i consider it one of the essential releases of 2022.

 

Overpower - Overpower 2022 Tape

Nuclear Family Records

Bristol (United Kingdom)

Bristol's Overpower, have made an impressive EP of crossover thrash, with riff after riff of chunky metallic pounding intensity, executed at top speed, it's a classic formula bringing to mind Nuclear Assault, Foreseen and No Warning. I was lucky enough to catch them live at a dive bar earlier this year and they did not disappoint.

 

Nightfeeder - Cut All Of Your Face Off LP

Self Released

Seattle (U.S.A.)

One thing that is intially apparent about this record is the pummeling drums that are deliverd in timley fashion that mix rocky riffs that conjure up the likes of Wolfrbigade, Disfear and Motörhead with maybe a dash of Public Acid. It's a tried and tested style, but it's accomplished so well by Nightfeeder that I am drawn head first into their album. If you want an album that doesn't reinvent the wheel, but is a particularly competent example of this fast and old school hardcore, than look no further than this record.  

 

Only The Last Song/Heth Split Tape - Intentions

Fired Stomp Records

Tokyo/Kashiwa (Japan)

 

A split of power violence and thrashy grinding hardcore madness from Japan between Only The Last Song & Heth. Only The Last Song crank out a more straight forward power violence attack while Heth have more of a grind attack that escalates into mad barking vocals apparent on some of the shorter tracks which feature on this release. It's over almost as quickly as it began, but it's a superb blast of intensity.

 

Kumo99 - Body N. Will CD

Self Released

Los Angeles (U.S.A.)

Kumo 99 came of nowhere for me, in fact I actually found out about them after seeing them stick out on a lineup of fast hardcore at a show in Tokyo. After researching them further I found out that they play a hybrid of D&B/techno with an absolute DIY punk infused attack of sampled sounds and loops. I have to be honest the styles i mentioned here aren't usually the type of music I generally gravitate towards, but Kumo 99 do it so well and it sounds so calculated and well executed that it grabbed my interest quickly. Although based in the USA, the lyrics are all in Japanese which gives it another interesting edge. Some of their approach reminds me of Godflesh on their 'Us and Them' album, while Youth Code might also be a reference at least from a sonic point of view. 

 

KLL MRR IMG - Kill Mirror Image! (Digital)

Self Released

Bath (United Kingdom)

KLL MRR IMG are based in the ancient British city of Bath, which while not necessarily known for it's consistent punk rock output compared to it's neighbour Bristol, does infrequently crank out a solid release such as this. This EP (sadly digital only as of writing) combines the music of Nick Cave, Gun Club, Joy Division & even a bit of Small Brown Bike (at least in the bass playing department) 5 tracks of melancholy drenched post punk that will hopefully satify most jaded music listeners. For my money, it's an impressive debut.

 

Dinosaur Skull - Tales From The Heath LP

Anthrax Records

London (United Kingdom)

Electronic drums, crunchy bass and choppy guitars are the prevailing sounds found on this album which breezes by at a nice pace and flip flops between a few different genres. If you musically imagine something like a cross between Crass, Yumi Yumi & The Dead Kennedy's then you're halfway there. Lyrics are quite introspective and reflect on life and the world we live in, musically elements of synth pop and straight forward punk can be found on this release with many tracks being particularly memorable due to their poppy hooks. Features Members of Werecats and Hagar the Womb for anyone keeping score.

 

Isolation - Fabric Tear 7"

Crew Cuts Records

Falmouth (United Kingdom)

Isolation play just the right brand of garagey hyperkinetic punk rock 'n' roll i can get firmly behind. The energy on this 7" leaps from the wax and you can hear the band attacking their instruments with expert precision as if their life was depending on it. Expect to hear throbbing bass, frenetic guitar and frantic drumming that thunders along at a great pace. The Red Dons are once again a good comparison here, as are The Smog from Osaka. 

 

Ä.I.D.S - The Road To Nuclear Holocaust LP

La Vida Es Un Mus Records

(Sweden)

'The Road To Nuclear Holocaust' is a slab of apocalyptic synth D beat madness, kind of what I imagine Depeche mode's Speak and Spell crashing head long into Discharge's 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' would sound like. For these jaded ears, it's an entirley memorable record doing something a little different with what is at this point a well trod path. If i wanted to name drop some more bands they remind me of, i'd also say Inepsy with a dash of Tiger Junkies. From repeated listens I figure this album will continue to age well over the years. It's well worth your time seeking out this release at your favourite indie. 

 

Fuera De Sektor - Mundo Sigue Tape

La Vida Es Un Mus Records

Spain (Barcelona)

Superb top tier, punk rock from this Barcelona based group, who act as another example of the excellent burgeoning Spanish DIY scene. Presumably named after Argentian band Los Violadores third album and a suitable musical cue for the type of music they play, where every track on this 4 track release arches in amped intensity, with plenty of rocky riffs and bonuncing bass. The fact they also remind me of Ebba Grön also gets some plus points in my book. 

 

Nütt - Noise Is Law (Digital)

Self Released

California (U.S.A.)

Nütt from California play raucous hardcore punk with an 80's feel, ala Negative Approach but definitley also firmley planted alongside contemporaries such as S.H.I.T. Warthog and feature traces of that crunchy speed that Infest did so well. This is the first of two releases the band created during 2022 but this particular digital only release struck me more than their second release due to its speed and rawness.