2022 was filled with a lot of high notes when it came to the hardcore/punk scene. Counting down from 10, these are my top picks for hardcore/punk releases in 2022. 

10. Shock Therapy - GEL

GEL is a New Jersey-based hardcore band with their first release dating back to a demo in 2018. The band consists of 5 members. In 2019, they released their first EP/Promo Tape and in 2021 their first album “Violent Closure” was dropped. Last year, on August 12, GEL released their EP “Shock Therapy” and left new and old listeners pleasantly surprised. Songs on this EP cover topics like mental health, unhealthy relationships, and navigating the aggravating parts of life. 

9. A Eulogy for Those Still Here - Counterparts 

While Counterparts is more so on the melodic hardcore side of things, their newest album “A Eulogy for Those Still Here” proved to be a hit. Counterparts, who are originally from Hamilton, Ontario, has been a band since 2007. This band is a cult favorite in the emo scene, so to see their new album doing well was only to be expected. According to front-man Brendan Murphy this album is about, “mourning the loss of someone that’s still alive or saying goodbye to something that hasn't left yet,” which I believe perfectly sums up the general feeling of this entire album beautifully. 

8. Pain into Power - Terror

From Los Angeles, California, Terror is a hardcore band that takes elements from rock, punk, and thrash metal and mixes it all into one. With Scott Vogel on vocals who was also the former vocalist for Despair, Sludgefest, and Buried Alive, Terror has been releasing bangers since April of 2002. Terrors' 2022 release which was their album “Pain into Power” left fans more than satisfied, even with the album being less than 20 minutes long in total. 

7. Unpleasant Living - End it 

 End It is a five-piece hardcore band from Baltimore, Maryland that originated in 2017. Taking a heavy influence from 90s hardcore, END IT likes to compare themselves to artists such as Leeway, Instinct, and Maximum Penalty. The EP “Unpleasant Living” released in July of 2022 is a fast-paced, thrilling listening experience that leaves you hyped just after just about 7 minutes of music. With 6 songs in total, this EP will have you listening on repeat. 

6. This is Blackout - Punitive Damage 

When I first listened to the album “This is the Blackout” by Punitive Damage, I was immediately blown away by the vocals, they gave me a similar feel to how the singer of Knocked Loose sounds. Punitive Damage is a hardcore punk band from the pacific northwest. Not only is this album's production beautiful, but musically and lyrically Punitive Damage went above and beyond. This was probably one of my favorites right off the bat when I first listened. 

5. Spaced Jams - SPACED

The album “Spaced Jams” is reminiscent of the 90s hardcore and punk bands that I would listen to as a teenager in the best ways possible. This album is as if Turnstile and Minor Threat had a baby and I love it. SPACED was able to stick to the old-school roots of hardcore while also adding contemporary elements. SPACED is a 5 piece hardcore band from Buffalo, New York that formed fairly recently, only in the year 2021. This first album has surely left fans impressed and waiting for more.  

4. This World is Going to Ruin You - Vein.fm

Anyone who is an avid hardcore and/or punk listener has probably already heard of and/or listened to Vein.fm’s newest album released March 4 of 2022, “The World is Going to Ruin You”. But, it felt crucial to add this album to this list because of how dang good it is. For those who don’t know, Vein.fm is a hardcore punk band that formed in 2013. From Boston, Massachusetts, Vein.fm became fairly popular due to their frequent touring and extremely put-together sound. If you haven't listened to this album yet, I would heavily suggest giving it a playthrough.

3. Gang Called Speed - Speed

The EP “Gang Called Speed” by the band Speed has a vigorous, upbeat sound to it that leaves you feeling energized and powerful. Speed is a 5 piece Australian band based in Sydney that formed in the year 2019. This EP really stood out to me because of its uniqueness. Similar to SPACED, they dug deep into the roots of hardcore. But, Speed does an extremely good job of taking that base genre and turning it into their own exclusive sound. According to Spaced, this EP is about “recognizing who you are in this world, taking ownership of that identity, and not letting anyone tell you otherwise.”

2. Heaven is Here - CANDY

“Heaven is Here” by CANDY is definitely leading more so into the metal side of things, but I had to include it on this list because of how legendary this release was/still is. CANDY does a great job of mashing up multiple different subgenres of metal, punk, and hardcore into one. Since 2017, CANDY has been crushing it in the hardcore scene, and this release was one of the most notable and well-known drops for hardcore in 2022. “Heaven is Here” feels heavy, callous, painful, and gratifying all at once. 

1. Diaspora Problems - Soul Glo 

Soul Glo is a hardcore punk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that originated in 2014. Without a doubt, “Diaspora Problems” was my favorite hardcore release of 2022. The album, almost 40 minutes in length is composed of 12 songs and leaves you at the end of it there was more. Soul Glo members consist of Pierce Jordan on vocals, GG Guerra on bass, and TJ Stevenson on drums. In 2021, Soul Glo was signed to Epitaph Records. More so than any other album on this list, give “Diaspora Problems” a good listen.