Suzuki Junzo / Tetuzi Akiyama - Evaporation of Holy Water (2022)

Suzuki Junzo / Tetuzi Akiyama are two guitarists, prominent members of the Japanese psych rock music scene. On Evaporation of Holy Water (released by Utech Records) they join forces for a dual psych/noise guitar radical attack. Guitars, guitars, guitars, and that's all. But it's a lot! A powerful trip.   

The Bandcamp page.

 

Teething - Help (2022)

Help is the second album from Teething (We Will Regret This Someday five years ago was good also). The Spanish band plays some well crafted aggressive metallic hardcore, with a touch of beatdown and a touch of grind. Straight brutal. 

The BC page.

 

Faust - Punkt. (2022)

Punkt. has been released last year, but have been recorded fifty years ago. It was meant to follow the four album of the first era of krautrock pioneer's Faust. It's a nice reminder of why this band is so special, a good testimony of how they were noise before nearly everyone and in a way no-wave before punk even existed. And good at venturing into free jazz territory as well. Excellent album from a band like no others.

The Bandcamp page.

 

2022 in the rear-view

Don't have much time for "best of end year lists" this year, I did my usual grindcore one, of course, but for the rest I'll just share a quick lists of releases I found most memorable in 2022.

Alphabetical order, click to go to my review.

Bambara – Love on my Mind (EP)

 

Candy – heaven is Here

 

Chat Pile - God’s Country

 

Cryptworm – Spewing MephiticPutridity

 

Fret – Because of the Weak

 

Gnod – Hexen Valley

 

Ho99o9 – skin

 

Origin – Chaosmos

 

Show Me The Body – Trouble theWater

 

Snakes don’t Belong to Alaska

 

Voivod – Synchro Anarchy

 

Revenge - Venomous Vengeance (2022)

As you can guess this Revenge is not the War/black metal Revenge, nor the hardcore one. They play traditional heavy/speed metal, are from Columbia, and for the 20th anniversary of the band they released this album called Venomous Vengeance. There is a Iron Maiden / Judas Priest element, but I'd say the biggest influence would be early Metallica (Kill & Ride, mostly the first one). Fast, thrashy and aggressive heavy/speed. Very well crafted and enjoyable.

The Bandcamp page.

 

My favourite grind releases in 2022

Been doing it for more than ten years now, and have no intention to stop any soon : here's a list of my favourite grind releases from 2022. Many "usual suspects", but also new bands.

Alphabetical order. Click to read my review.

 

 

Antigama - Whiteout 

Beaten to death - Laat maar, ik verhuis naar het bos

Bifid Corpse - REAL RAW DEATH

 

Blame God - Blame God

 

Bowelfuck - Appetite Comes With Killing

 

Gets Worse - Teen Wolf

 

Incinerated - Portraits of Serial Killers

 

Kill Division - Peace Through Tyranny

 

Sachtu/Syntax -  split EP

 

Shock withdrawal - Shock Withdrawal EP

 

Skullshitter - Goat Claw

 

Trauma Bond - Winter's Light

 

Triac - Pure Joy - Numb Grief​-​stricken Animals

 

Vermin Womb - Retaliation

 

Whoresnation - Dearth

 

Wormrot - Hiss 

 

Blame God - Blame God (2022)

Been waiting for a first Blame God album since I discovered them witht heir second release Strategically Confined in 2017. And here it is, in all its glory, the album, self titled. And no disapointement, it's as good as their previous releases. Old-school grind with also a noisegrind touch, and often reminding good ol' Napalm Death, but with enough own personnality. This time again they'll fit perfectly among the best grind releases of the year.

The BC page.

 

Gnod - Hexen Valley (2022)

Gnod is one of the prominent bands of the strong British psych scene. Their new album Hexen Valley is an awesome sonic assault of bass driven droning/psych noise rock. Somewhere between Om, Unsane and Acid Mothers Temple. If I had the time to do it they would be featured on my "best of 2022" lists close to the top of both psych rock and noise rock sections, and overall list as well... A powerfull album. Can't recommend it too much.

The BC page.