Where does the time go? 2022 can be called the comeback year of all time, with virtually every band on the planet getting back on track post-COVID. So it was one helluva year for heavy metal as the releases started to pour in and the bands started to hit your town after nearly three years of madness. It is time to unveil our annual BravePicks countdown, where the devout scribes at BraveWords cast their votes at the hits and misses of the year! So who will be our #1? You’ll find out as we count down the BravePick Of 2022 each day in December! 

Everybody has an opinion and it’s time for ours! And stay tuned in January for the writers’ individual Top 20s (new studio albums ONLY), Top 5 Brave Embarrassments (a fan favorite!), What/Who Needs To Stop In 2022? and Metal Predictions For 2022. All will be showcased come the New Year!

BravePicks 2022

2) KREATOR - Hate über alles (Nuclear Blast)

 

German thrash rules the day. With Destruction on its heels, Kreator delivered a blast of melodic of hybrid thrash/heavy metal in Hate über alles. Coming off the excellent Gods Of Violence in 2017, growler Mille Petrozza was dosed with a pleasure to kill with a 46 minute burst of hungry, inspired Teutonic metal made for the pits. Petrozza also throws a couple curveballs with new wave artist Sofia Portanet guesting on “Midnight Sun” and the power metal like “Strongest Of The Strong” (perhaps inspired by former DragonForce bassist Frédéric Leclercq?)

The Germans are unafraid to take chances with experimentation and it works as the album is a diverse effort showing an array of skills and enhanced songwriting. 2022 brings out the best in Kreator as the endless pain of Hate über alles takes #2 on our list.

Scribe Gregg Prat enthused in his 9.0 review:

They've also got batshit guitar solos mastered, as this song proves before it drops into a crushing halftime anthemic stomp und grind to the finish line. “Killer Of Jesus” then continues the slaughter at almost the exact same tempo, which is perfect, creating this feeling of thrash overpowering thrash overpowering your weak body and mind, while “Crush Of Tyrants” slows things down for a no-less-heavy mid-tempo slugger, with tons of great guitar work both rhythm and solo. “Strongest Of The Strong” shows just how great this band is at creating anthems, the chorus to this one just total perfection, the dynamics as it climaxes, man... Kreator have got this locked down. “Become Immortal” is stunning in its thrash clarity; “Conquer And Destroy” is another blood-pumping anthem, melodies in check, songwriting finesse incredibly fine-tuned.

BravePicks 2022 Top 30

2) KREATOR - Hate über alles (Nuclear Blast)
3) DESTRUCTION - Diabolical (Napalm)
4) WOLF - Shadowland (Century Media)
5) CANDLEMASS - Sweet Evil Sun (Napalm)
6) QUEENSRŸCHE - Digital Noise Alliance (Century Media)
7) WATAIN - The Agony & Ecstasy Of Watain (Nuclear Blast)
8) VENOM INC. - There's Only Black (Nuclear Blast)
9) VOIVOD - Synchro Anarchy (Century Media)
10) BLIND GUARDIAN - The God Machine (Nuclear Blast)
11) STRATOVARIUS - Survive (earMUSIC)
12) OZZY OSBOURNE - Patient Number 9 (Epic)
13) DECAPITATED - Cancer Culture (Nuclear Blast)
14) EVIL INVADERS - Shattering Reflection (Napalm)
15) AMORPHIS - Halo (Atomic Fire)
16) ARCH ENEMY - Deceivers (Century Media)
17) WEDNESDAY 13 - Horrifier (Napalm)
18) WHITESPADE - Whitespade (Independent)
19) MISERY INDEX - Complete Control (Century Media)
20) KRISIUN - Mortem Solis (Century Media)
21) RAZOR - Cycle Of Contempt (Relapse)
22) MEGADETH - The Sick, The Dying...And The Dead! (Universal Music Group)
23) TONY MARTIN - Thorns (Dark Star)
24) UGLY KID JOE - Rad Wings Of Destiny (Metalville / UKJ)
25) TRIAL (SWE) - Feed The Fire (Metal Blade)
26) SABATON - The War To End All Wars (Nuclear Blast)
27) SCORPIONS - Rock Believer (Vertigo)
28) CORPSEGRINDER - Corpsegrinder (Perseverance)
29) SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS - 4 (Gibson / BMG)
30) NORDJEVEL - Gnavhòl (Indie)
31) WITCHERY – Nightside (Century Media)
32) ABBATH - Dread Reaver (Season of Mist)
33) AMON AMARTH - The Great Heathen Army (Metal Blade)
34) RECKLESS LOVE – Turbo Rider (AFM) 
35) GOATWHORE – Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven (Metal Blade)
36) CAVE IN – Heavy Pendulum (Relapse)