2022 was a great year for ep’s as well as albums so I figured I’d cover my favourites.
This will be a lot more concise than the album write up but that’s more to do with my time than the quality of music. Let’s get stuck in. The EPs are in no particular order.
El Moono
Temple Corrupted
Alt Metal
If you’re looking for some Deftones influenced alt metal then I can’t recommend this release enough. Melodic but still wielding some ridiculously huge riffs, Temple Corrupted hits really hard.
I’m not sure if this is an album or an ep but at 24 minutes it’s going on this list.
Jacques Greene
Fantasy
Electronica
I’ve never really connected with Greene’s music before, but Fantasy is world class electronica. Taurus is chilled with some lush post dubstep bass and haunting wordless female vocals that remind me of Orbital’s earlier work. Leave Home has an almost Burial feel with its vocal.
Fantasy has been on my end of year list since way back in February. This is a hug of an ep that is as warm as it welcome.
Sublime Sound
That Love Affair
Electronica
There’s no arguing that Sublime Sound is heavily indebted to Bicep but I’d make an argument that this EP is every bit as good as the N. Ireland duo. It has a lightness, a space to it that is just what I need at this time of year. It’s the perfect musical antidote to the cold and dark of winter.
I Can’t Run should go down as a dance classic.
Spectral Flux
Displaced Reality
Electronica
If you’re looking for a Cyberpunk soundtrack, look no further. This mix of cinematic electronica, glitch beats and a dash for guitar is the perfect accompaniment for neon reflecting off mirrorshades on rainy nights. (This is a Very Good Thing if you’re not understanding the reference.)
Haus Horo
Salvation ep
Shoegazing
The drummer from 65daysofstatic releases his debut ep and it’s goth tinged shoegaze. Not what I was expecting but it is fantastic. For the life of me, I cannot work out who the woman singing reminds me of, but she has a rich voice that really adds to an already atmospheric ep.
Long Island Sound
First Contact
Electronica
This is another release that leans heavily on Bicep’s sound but the Dublin duo manage to put their own stamp on things. This is a really high quality dance ep that swings between club tracks and home listening.
Origami Angel
Depart
Screamo / Hardcore
Depart is three songs and just over four minutes long. Depart does not fuck around. This is Hardcore / Screamo that swings between blastbeats and huge breakdowns. The lyrics are more than a little over the top with the threats of violence, but, I mean what’s not to love? Great fun but I will not be meeting you in the pit for this.
https://counterintuitiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/origami-angel-depart
Irist
Gloria
Thrash / Post Metal
If you combine the thrash of Machine Head with the huge riffing of Cult of Luna you’ll come out with something like this. Now it’s much more a post metal album than a thrash one but it has enough slow chug to make it stand out from the crowd.
Novere
Icarus
Post Metal
Novere only released one song this year, but it’s a very good one. It’s amazing that this is only the band’s second release, they’ve developed so quickly. Icarus is a perfect blend of fragile song writing and earth shaking riffs, all while carving out their own sound. This is a band I’m hoping for great things from.
Bicep
Water
Electronica
It would be pretty rude to have two acts that sound like them on here and not include Bicep themselves. Water was written for their live show and as such has a lot more energy than their usual album tracks. This is a proper hands in the air song to move dancefloors.
It’s what they do best and I hope this means that the next Bicep album will be a bit harder paced.
The ways of exile 