Best Debut Album 2022: Vanaheim
It was a tight race until the last points from the USA, Sweden, UK and the Netherlands were counted. This year’s winner is:
1. Vanaheim – ‘Een Verloren Verhaal’
What a first full length album created Vanaheim with this one. What a hell of a month February was this year for Folk-metal. Three February-releases in the top 3 of our Best Debut Album 2022 list. With 37 points very close to the maximum of 40 points. The favourite debut of two of us.
Juergen was exited as well and wrote: “it is really amazing on which high level the band can perform. Even that most properly the symphonic and orchestral parts are coming from the keyboard the quality of the sound is simply amazing, also keeping in mind that Vanaheim is still an independent band. The big variation in their songs, the perfect mix between orchestralic, symphonic,folk episodes and chants combined with their very impressive metal makes this album a pleasure to listen.”
We can only wish Vanaheim all the best and hope to see them shine at many concert next year! Congratulations!
2. Bloodywood -‘Rakshak’
Another one from February, instantly a contester for debut-album of the year. 33 Points, what a score, Matthew’s favourite and the runner up for two others.
Juergen was overexited and wrote: “I just can say whatever Bloodywood do, they do it right! For me it is really incredible how the fusion of Indian Folklore and Metal is working out. The next song “Endurant” is just the next best example for this great combination… …While listening to this album the time is really flying by as every single song is exiting and the album had no weak points or album fillers.”
What a great album!
3. Firn – ‘Frostwärts’
On the third place the great debut of Firn. It was only February, but my first thought was “Is this the debut album of year already?”. With a total of 31out of 40 points it appeared to be a highly appreciated album.
It was again Stu who wrote in his review: “All of this is done without contrivance. In fact, the opposite is true as every song on the album is a beautifully crafted piece of work and there isn’t a weak moment to be found. That this is the band’s debut album is nothing short of breathtaking and I look forward to seeing them grow and develop their enormous potential.”
4. Kryvoda – ‘Kryvoda’ (2022)
The youngest album in this list is the self-entitled debut-album of Kryvoda.
Read what Stu had to say about it: “This album is certain to be an instant hit for fans of the aforementioned Obtest and Skyforger, but there is enough quality here to reach out to a whole new fan base. As I said previously, I had no idea of what this was going to sound like, but Kryvoda have gained a new fan here. This is a very high quality and very cleverly put together album. There isn’t a bad song and as soon as it was over, I immediately put it on again. This is, no question about it, the debut album of the year for me and will be certain of a place in my top 5 albums of 2022.”
Kryvoda din’t only gather 27 points, but as Stu mentioned it was his favourite debut-album of this year.
5. Ritva Nero – ‘Immortal Tradition’
With 25 points Ritva Nero managed to get a nice spot in this list with their instrumental music.
Michel wrote: “The instrumental songs remind a bit of instrumental pieces of Schandmaul here and there. But looking at the whole album you can say Ritva Nero managed to create their own style of folk. Something nice for all kinds of festivals, danceable happy folk-music.
Something different, that’s for sure. If you don’t insist on fierce and heavy tunes, Ritva Nero is something you should give a listen!”
6. Skál – ‘Brew of the Gods’
At the sixth place in this list Skál with their EP ‘Brew of the Gods’ an album which received 24 points. Leo wrote: “Cheerful and powerful. This is the EP that Skál presents us from Finland. A sound that can remind us of the style of other bands from that country, with happy overtones and all the energy from metal.”
These Fins made a nice start.
It’s that time of the year again. Time for lists. Well we should not overrate them, but they’re nice to give you an impression of what we like. Which bands are in the competion? Well we nominate the first album of a band, even if this is an EP and the first full length albums. Four members of our team rated them with a maximum of 10 points. So 40 points is the maximum score for an album. These members are from USA, Sweden, UK and the Netherlands.
A little flashback to last year. You probably8 have bought it all. But who won the title in 2021?