Get into the ring with Tom ‘Crazy Collector’ Schmahl! For he has been the one and only Ringmaster at the mostly German written Rock Circuz since 2011 and delivers his keen eye and wisdom to Legacy Magazine and Nordmensch In Concerts. And ever since he joined the Doom Charts back in 2019 we have been honored to hear his words of wisdom on whatever metal, hardrock and all round classic release that has caught his ear. Tom, always on the search for coveted pieces of vinyl and always ready to whip some music through a hoop of fire on Rock Circuz grounds… Go check out what Ringmaster Schmahl dug most in 2022!

These albums just barely missed the top 20:

FUGITIVE – MANIAC EP
(if you like Power Trip…)

MYTHOSPHERE – PATHOLOGICAL
(with the great Dana Ortt)

(16) – Into Dust
(if you like Mastodon…)

DEAFHOUND – CROWS
(lovely Alternative, Rock, Pop)

HELLACOPTERS – EYES OF OBLIVION
(Rock n Roll)

“NO PARTICULAR ORDER EXCEPT FOR NUMBER ONE !!!”

20. GOODBYE JUNE – SEE WHERE THE NIGHT GOES
(Classic Rock, Blues, Soul, Rock n Roll)
(Nashville, USA)

“Pure Classic Rock with catchy tunes – awesome stuff”

19. MESSA – CLOSE
(Atmospheric Doom, Jazz, Folk)
(Cittadella, Italy)

“Atmospheric wonderful doom that is completely genre open”

18. PETH – MERCHANT OF DEATH
(Fuzz, Proto Metal, Doom, 70´s)
(Lago Vista, USA)

“Scratchy, fuzzy sound in a 70´s Proto-Metal garment”

17. SERGEANT THUNDERHOOF – THIS SCEPTRED VEIL
(Psych, Doom, Fuzz, Stoner)
(Bath, UK)

“What a powerful masterpiece in terms of fuzz, stoner, blues and metal – especially the somewhat calmer atmospheric parts are terrific”

16. FREEDOM HAWK – TAKE ALL YOU CAN
(Stoner, Hardrock)
(Virginia Beach, USA)

“Wonderful melodic heavy/stoner rock with outstanding melodies and riffs”

15. PARISH – PARISH
(Proto Metal, Doom, 70´s)
(London, UK)

“Oh my god, what a killer album for all proto-metal freaks – 70’s flair with unbelievable melodies and catchy tunes”

14. WARLUNG – VULTURE’S PARADISE
(Doom, 70´s, Psych, Heavy)
(Houston, USA)

“Exceptionally heavy psych album with incredibly great melodies and refrains”

13. THE MARS VOLTA – THE MARS VOLTA
(Jazz, Folk, Fusion, Latin, Blues)
(El Paso, USA)

“The Mars Volta are back, different than expected but still immortal – what wonderful heartbreaking songs

12. MUTAUTU – GRAVEYARD OF GIANTS
(Fuzz, Stoner, Doom, Heavy)
(Helsinki, Finland)

“Fuzzy hard rock with a cool underground flair”

11. SONS – SWEET BOY
(Rock, Garage, Heavy, Melodic)
(Antwerp, Belgium)

“Incredibly energetic post/punk-rock with wonderful catchy tunes – what a bombastic drum sound. Be sure to check out songs like ‘Nothing’, ‘Bike’, ‘Hot Friday’ or ‘Sweet Boy’”

10. DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE – ASPHALT MEADOWS
(Rock, Post Punk, Dream-Pop)
(Seattle, USA)

“They’ve outdone themselves this time – the beauty of this album just can’t be beat and they just barely missed the top position in 2022. Just listen to ‘Randy McNally’ and you’ll know what I’m talking about”

9. MOUNTAINS – TIDES END
(Heavy, Stoner, Doom)
(London, UK)

“Listen to ‘Birds On A Wire’ and it’s all said – post-doom, post-sludge, stoner rock. What a mighty board with great tender moments and wonderful choruses”

8. LYDSYN – LYDSYN
(Rock, 70´s, Blues, Psych)
(Copenhagen, Denmark)

“Super cool stuff by Uffe Lorenzen and his band. Classic/hard rock, sometimes bluesy, sometimes funky and always mixed in with a touch of psych – Danish lyrics”

7. WITCHFINDER – FORGOTTEN MANSION
(Doom, Fuzz, Psych)
(Clemont Ferrand, France)

“Slow, tough and fuzzy lava doom with great choruses in a dark atmosphere – a must-buy for all DOOMERs”

6. SUMERLANDS – DREAMKILLER
(Heavy Metal, Hardrock, 80´s)
(Philadelphia, USA)

“Waiting six years was worth it – what a splendid second album. If you like heavy stuff from the 70’s and 80’s, you won’t be able to avoid this album – not too cheesy and superimposed, just pure and modestly fresh – great”

5. ABRAMS – IN THE DARK
(Alternative, Rock, Post, Psych)
(Denver, USA)

“The band has their very own mix tour of genres ready, brings this across in a cool, relaxed manner and still sounds heavy and powerful – one of the surprises in 2022”

4. HONEYBURST – HONEYBURST
(Classic Rock, 70´s, Blues)
(Halmstad, Sweden)

“70s rock/hard rock work with wonderful organ sounds and great refrains – this band from Sweden will be one to watch out for. Check out the opener ‘Revelation’ and pay special attention to the incredible guitar solo”

3. MOON TOOTH – PHOTOTROPH
(Prog, Heavy, Hardrock)
(Long Island, USA)

“This completely underrated band has once again released a banger. Progressive Metal/Rock that is so much more and always thinks outside the box. Above all, the great singing and the associated refrains are unique. Try alpha howl and you’ll be hooked”

2. EARLY MOODS – EARLY MOODS
(Doom, Heavy)
(Los Angeles, USA)

“Classic Doom with a good pinch of NWOBHM”

1. CAVE IN – HEAVY PENDULUM
(Alternative, Hardcore, Grunge, Prog, Psych, Sludge)
(Boston, USA)

“There have been few albums in the last few years that I was really looking forward to, that I was really excited about. After the death of their bassist Caleb Scofield in 2018, CAVE IN only released a demo compilation in 2019. Now in 2022 the band is back with a new album and bassist Nate Newton (Converge). What the band has conjured up here on “Heavy Pendulum” is just divine. The new long player with its 14 tracks lasts 70 minutes and offers a collection of diverse genres. Whether heavy progressive, grunge, modern rock, sludge or even psych, the band simply destroys everything and is still very accessible despite all the complexity. The choruses are reminiscent of the 90’s, with a lot of feeling and fragility and also the music, catapults you back 20 years. Each song is a force in its own right and as such it’s very hard to single out any numbers, but check out the driving ‘Careless Offering’ (what awesome guitars) or the psychedelic ‘Nightmare Eyes’ (beautiful vocals and loving chorus) – just to kneel down. Those are just two check out tips from the existing 14 tracks, each of which is actually a potential check out tip. This album will hardly be topped this year and every music freak who can appreciate the already mentioned genre can’t avoid “Heavy Pendulum” – what a monster!!”