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Here we are with the last installment of our Top 20 quarterly overview, which proved to be the most difficult yet. Bands and labels have been building up to this for a long time, dropping some of the undisputed AOTY contenders and setting the stage for an even bigger, bolder and louder 2023.
We have already went through the best that was on offer in 2022's Quarter 1, Quarter 2 and Quarter 3, so lets jump right into the hugely anticipated grand finale with the last quarterly rundown for this amazing year. Plenty of outstanding albums, killer singles and amazing videos came out in the last three months as the most fitting way to end a year that was anything hort of fantastic.
20. League Of Distortion - 'It Hurts So Good' (ft. Christoph Wieczorek of Annisokay)
A modern metal force in the making, League Of Distortion ledy by Exit Eden's Anna Brunner recruited Annisokay's and Sawdust Records' Christoph Wieczorek for the epic single 'It Hurts So Good' off their self-titled debut album.
19. Void Of Vision - 'HELL HELL HELL'
An unruly goth rave for the ages, everyone's favourite Aussie weirdos Void Of Vision dropped 'HELL HELL HELL' ahead of the third and final part Underworld of their genre-defying Chronicles EP series, that also gave us II: HEAVEN earlier this year.
18. TheCityIsOurs - 'Alive'
Easily one of the best comebacks this year, rising UK heroes ThisCityIsOurs marked the first anniversary of their last album COMA with the energetic banger 'Alive', and a great music video as a tribute to all of us gamers in the world.
17. Eyes Wide Open - 'We're The Walking Dead' (ft. Misstiq)
Preparing the deluxe edition of their 2022 LP Through Life And Death, Swedish metalcore gents Eyes Wide Open dropped the huge 'We're The Walking Dead', recruiting the fantastic Misstiq on her own quest to push modern metal to its most epic form.
16. Wolves At The Gate - 'Dark Cold Night'
As if they didnt already drop the magnificent Eulogies in March, Wolves At The Gate returned with their brand new single 'Dark Cold Night' ahead of the hugely anticipated Lowborn EP in November.
15. Borders - 'I GET HIGH'
Ending what has been a fantastic year in style, UK's finest rapcore outfit Borders dropped the bangers 'FIX THIS' and 'I GET HIGH' ahead of the official premiere of their sophomore effort BLOOM SEASON as the first amonts the stellar Arising Empire roster.
14. Gojira - 'Our Time Is Now'
Every now and then, Gojira comes up to drop an absolute mammoth of a single, reminding us this is their world and we just happen to live in it. Next year will see 2 years since the release of their magnificent Fortitude, and one could only hope for more new material.
13. August Burns Red - 'Ancestry' (ft. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage)
Considering that August Burns Red blew my socks off during their EU tour in November, including their monstrous new single 'Ancestry' was a no-brainer, especially featuring the one and only Jesse Leach from Killswitch Engage.
12. Caliban - 'THE SHADOW'
It hasn't even been a year since German powerhouse Caliban released their latest album Dystopia in April, before caming back to prime form with their signature melodies and neck-snapping breakdowns in brand new single 'THE SHADOW'.
11. Left To Suffer - 'Primitive Urge' (ft. Joe Bad of Fit For An Autopsy)
Hellbent on reaching the top of the new deathcore scene and assembling all of its legends on their way, newcomers Left To Suffer followed their tight EP And Dying Forever with the brutal single 'Primitive Urge' featuring Fit For An Autopsy's Joe Bad himself.
10. Windwaker - 'Left In The Dark'
First new single following their phenomenal debut LP Love Language, and first with Liam Guinane back on vocals and Connor Robins on synths, Windwaker made it pretty clear they are here to stay with 'Left In The Dark'.
9. AVOID - 'Can't Take This Away'
Unforgettable and umissable, 2022's loudest kids around the block AVOID had one more genre-bending banger to drop with 'Can't Take This Away' before revealing their album Cult Mentality in all its glory in November.
8. Fit For A King - 'The Hell We Create'
Finally dropping their monumental opus The Hell We Create at the end of October, Fit For A King gave us an extra treat with the official visualiser for their exemplary opening self-titled metalcore rager.
7. The Gloom In The Corner - 'Pandora's Box' (ft. Lauren Babic)
Easily the most innovative and magnificently weird band right now, The Gloom In The Corner continued their cinematic journey with 'Pandora's Box' featuring Lauren Babic, as the last installment before the grand reveal of their unmissable new album Trinity.
6. Lorna Shore - 'Pain Remains III: In A Sea Of Fire'
Having already emotionally abused with the first two parts of the 'Pain Remains', all that was left for Lorna Shore was to strike the final blow with 'In A Sea Of Fire' as the grand finale of their gut-wrenching trilogy and hugely anticipated self-titled album.
5. Brand Of Sacrifice - 'Exodus'
Menacing "you will not survive" intro, uncanny kids choir and the Demon King Kyle Anderson himself spitting fire, and just like that Brand Of Sacrifice were back to at full force with their latest pit-started 'Exodus'.
4. Architects - 'a new moral low ground'
Seamlessly reaching new audiovisual highs, Architects left the best for last with 'a new moral low ground' the final step before the official release of their brilliant and divisive new record The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit in October.
3. Make Them Suffer - 'Doomswitch'
Out of nowhere, the wild Aussies in Make Them Suffer appeared with their phenomenal single 'Doomswitch', presenting their newest recruit in former Drown This City singer Alex Reade, and the grand return of the electronicore keytards.
2. Bury Tomorrow - 'Abandon Us'
Building on the momentum of their previous 2022 singles, successful EU tour and a fully synced new lineup, English troopers Bury Tomorrow delivered the relentless 'Abandon Us' as the first official single off their upcoming 2023 record The Seventh Sun.
1. The Plot In You - 'Divide'
Just when we least expected it, The Plot In You returned to their unrivaled and glorious best with what could easily be one of the most hauntingly beautiful tracks of the entire year - 'Divide'.
All of these bands are naturally featured across the final 'Modern Metal' and 'Modern Alternative' playlists on Spotify, with most reviews linked in the article, and a final rundown of the Best of the Best for 2022 coming sooner than you think!
The Most Anticipated Records For Quarter 1 (2023):
Anti-Flag - Lies They Tell Our Children (Spinefarm), 6 Jan
ten56. - Downer, pt. 2 (Out Of Line), 13 Jan
Katatonia - Sky Void Of Stars (Napalm Records), 20 Jan
You Me At Six - Truth Decay (Underdog Records/AWAL), 27 Jan
In Flames - Foregone (Nuclear Blast), 10 Feb
Pierce The Veil - The Jaws Of Life (Fearless Records), 10 Feb
Chelsea Grin - Suffer In Heaven (ONErpm), 17 Mar
August Burns Red - Death Below (SharpTone Records), 24 Mar
Bury Tomorrow - The Seventh Sun (Music For Nations), 31 Mar
Wildcard: We Came As Romans - 'Promise You'
A special track that needs its own place, We Came As Romans payed a beautiful tribute to their close friend and late singer Kyle Pavone who passed away in 2018, as part of their latest album Darkbloom.
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