# 2022 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2022.

## Bands formed

* Angus McSix
* Elegant Weapons
* Ibaraki

## Bands disbanded

* Battlecross (indefinite hiatus)
* Blessthefall
* Every Time I Die
* Mary's Blood (hiatus)
* Necronomidol (hiatus)
* Nuclear Assault
* Okilly Dokilly
* Ratt
* The Sword
* Tristania
* Twelve Foot Ninja (indefinite hiatus)

## Bands reformed

* A Skylit Drive
* Becoming the Archetype
* Biohazard
* Botch
* Coal Chamber
* Divine Heresy
* Gates of Ishtar
* God Forbid
* Northern Kings
* Pantera
* Prayer for Cleansing (one-off show)
* Symphony in Peril
* Watchtower
* With Blood Comes Cleansing
* Woe, Is Me
* Zero Hour

## Deaths

* January 4 – Andrzej Nowak, guitarist of TSA, died from a long-term illness at the age of 62.
* January 10 – Burke Shelley, vocalist and bassist of Budgie, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 71.
* January 10 – Gérard Drouot, promoter of numerous rock and metal bands including Deep Purple and Alice Cooper, died from leukemia at the age of 69.
* January 20 – Michael Lee Aday, singer and actor better known as Meat Loaf, died from COVID-19 complications at the age of 74.
* January 25 – Fredrik Johansson, former guitarist of Dark Tranquillity, died from cancer at the age of 47.
* January 26 – Kit Woolven, producer and engineer for albums by numerous rock and metal bands including Thin Lizzy, UFO, Cradle of Filth, Tony Iommi, Cathedral, and Steelheart, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 71.
* February 1 – Jon Zazula, co-founder of Megaforce Records, died from complications of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and osteopenia at the age of 69.
* February 6 – Bruce Greig, former guitarist of Misery Index and Dying Fetus, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 54.
* February 10 – Roman Kostrzewski, vocalist of Kat & Roman Kostrzewski and former vocalist of Kat, died from cancer at the age of 61.
* March 8 – Joe Moore, former drummer of Blood Feast, died from undisclosed reason at the age of 55.
* March 22 – Jayson Holmes, former vocalist and guitarist of Eso-Charis and former vocalist of The Handshake Murders, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 42.
* March 24 – Didier Séverin, former vocalist of Knut, died from undisclosed reasons.
* March 25 – Taylor Hawkins, former session drummer of Coheed and Cambria, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 50.
* April 5 – Adam Whited, former bassist of King Conquer, died from undisclosed reasons.
* April 12 – Ronnie Deo, former bassist of Incantation, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 47.
* April 26 – Randy Rand, bassist of Autograph, died from undisclosed reasons.
* April 30 – Gabe Serbian, drummer of The Locust and Head Wound City, former drummer and guitarist of Cattle Decapitation and former vocalist of Dead Cross, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 44.
* May 1 – Ric Parnell (also known as Mick Shrimpton), former drummer of Spinal Tap, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 70.
* May 4 – Howie Pyro, former bassist of Danzig, died from complications due to COVID-related pneumonia at the age of 61.
* May 11 – Trevor Strnad, vocalist of The Black Dahlia Murder committed Suicide at the age of 41.
* May 24 – Guillaume Bideau, former vocalist of Mnemic and Scarve, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 44.
* May 30 – Henrik "Hempo" Hildén, former drummer of John Norum, Don Dokken and Glenn Hughes, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 69.
* May 30 – Juha Tapio "Agathon" Hintikka, former drummer of Thy Serpent and founding member, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and cover artist of Gloomy Grim, died from brain tumor complications at the age of 53.
* June 3 – Ken Kelly, painter and cover artist for albums by numerous bands, including Manowar, Kiss, and Rainbow, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 76.
* June 3 – Lohy Fabiano, vocalist and bassist of Rebaelliun, died from cardio-respiratory arrest at the age of 44.
* June 5 – Alec John Such, former bassist of Bon Jovi, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 70.
* June 19 – Brett Tuggle, former keyboardist of David Lee Roth, died from cancer at the age of 70.
* June 19 – Uwe "Ahäthoor" Christoffers, former guitarist of Sodom, died from undisclosed reasons.
* July 1 – Andrew LaBarre, former vocalist and guitarist of Impaled and Ghoul, died from ALS at the age of 43.
* July 5 – Manny Charlton, founding member and former guitarist of Nazareth, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 80.
* July 11 – Olav Berland, founding member, guitarist, and drummer of Forgotten Woods, died from an unspecified illness at the age of 45.
* July 24 – Bob Heathcote, former bassist of Suicidal Tendencies, died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident at the age of 58.
* July 27 – Kaleb Luebchow, drummer of War of Ages, died from undisclosed reasons.
* July 29 – Michael Bloodgood, bassist of Bloodgood, died from a hemorrhagic stroke.
* August 3 – Nicky Moore, former vocalist of Samson, died from Parkinson's disease at the age of 75.
* August 15 – Steve Grimmett, vocalist of Grim Reaper and former vocalist of Onslaught, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 62.
* August 19 – Ted Kirkpatrick, drummer of Tourniquet, died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 62.
* August 22 – Stuart Anstis, former guitarist of Cradle of Filth, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 48.
* September 7 – Dave Sherman, vocalist of Earthride and former bassist of Spirit Caravan and The Obsessed, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 55.
* September 14 – David Andersson, guitarist of Soilwork, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 47.
* October 24 – Paul Stoddard, vocalist of Diecast, died from undisclosed reasons.
* November 4 – Andy Kaina, vocalist of Messiah, died from cardiac arrest at the age of 53.
* November 6 – Daniel Fawcett, former guitarist of Helix, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 52.
* November 8 – Dan McCafferty, former vocalist of Nazareth, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 76.
* November 28 – Mike Clement, guitar tech for Tony Iommi and Motörhead, died from undisclosed reasons.
* December 8 – Stian "Ben Hellion" Andreassen, former guitarist of Nocturnal Breed, died by suicide.
* December 30 – Bob Nalbandian, heavy metal journalist, historian, documentarian, and editor who contributed to hard rock and heavy metal magazines Creem, Music Connection, Hit Parader and BAM, died from mantle cell lymphoma.

## Events

* After two postponements, in 2020 and 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, heavy metal-related festivals such as Download, Wacken Open Air, Sweden Rock Festival and Hellfest returned this year.
* On January 10, Judas Priest announced the removal of Andy Sneap as a live member and that the band would continue as a four-piece. The decision was reversed less than a week later after fan backlash.
* On January 21, Testament announced the band was amicably parting ways with longtime drummer Gene Hoglan for the second time. Hoglan's previous stint with the band was between 1996 and 1997. About two months later, he was replaced by Dave Lombardo, who was previously a member of Testament between 1998 and 1999.
* On February 23, Tom Smith, guitarist of The Acacia Strain, announced that he will be leaving the band in early March following a run of shows ending in Albany, New York.
* On March 1, vocalist John Robert Centorrino, bassist Mike Menocker, and drummer Steven Sanchez departed The Last Ten Seconds of Life.
* On March 23, Skid Row announced the departure of lead singer ZP Theart, and that he was being replaced by former H.E.A.T vocalist Erik Grönwall.
* On May 3, Draconian announced the departure of singer Heike Langhans and the return of Lisa Johansson on vocals, as well as the addition of Niklas Nord on guitars.
* On May 4, Cradle of Filth announced the departures of guitarist Rich Shaw and keyboardist Anabelle Iratni.
* On May 6, Amen, co-founder and longtime guitarist of Lordi, announced his departure from the band.
* On May 16, longtime bassist and clean vocalist Josh Gilbert announced his departure from As I Lay Dying. Nearly a week later, on May 22, it was announced that Josh would be filling in, in place of Bill Crook, who had just left Spiritbox, for their 2022 shows. A month later, As I Lay Dying announced they had split with co-founder and longtime drummer Jordan Mancino.
* In July, it was announced Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown would be reuniting Pantera and headlining a number of major festivals across North America and Europe starting later in the year in December. Filling in for the late Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul are Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, respectively.
* In July, longtime Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse announced his departure from the band due to family reasons. Later in September, touring guitarist Simon McBride (formerly of Sweet Savage) was announced as a permanent member.
* On August 21, Nightwish announced the addition of bassist Jukka Koskinen as an official member. Koskinen was previously the band's session member for the Human. :II: Nature. World Tour, after the departure of longtime bassist Marko Hietala in January 2021.
* In August, Neurosis guitarist and founding member Scott Kelly announced his retirement from music, admitting in a social media post that he has "engaged in the emotional, financial, verbal and physical abuse" of his wife and children. The band responded with a statement that they stopped working with Scott in 2019 after learning about his behavior, but not sharing the information out of respect for his wife's request for privacy.
* In August, former Murderdolls members feud over the copyright after former guitarist Acey Slade bought it.
* On October 26, Mötley Crüe co-founder and lead guitarist Mick Mars announced his retirement from touring with the band due to ongoing health problems. The band subsequently announced John 5 (formerly of Marilyn Manson and Rob Zombie) as the live guitarist.
* On November 5, Judas Priest were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, playing a 3 song set alongside former members K. K. Downing and Les Binks.

## Albums released
### January

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 7 | Atrocity | Unspoken Names (Demo 1991) (EP) |
| 7 | Infected Rain | Ecdysis |
| 7 | Schwarzer Engel | Sieben |
| 14 | Enterprise Earth | The Chosen |
| 14 | Fit for an Autopsy | Oh What the Future Holds |
| 14 | Ilium | Quantum Evolution Event (EP) |
| 14 | Shadow of Intent | Elegy |
| 14 | Skillet | Dominion |
| 14 | Tony Martin | Thorns |
| 14 | Underoath | Voyeurist |
| 21 | Ashes of Ares | Emperors and Fools |
| 21 | Asking Alexandria | Never Gonna Learn (EP) |
| 21 | Battle Beast | Circus of Doom |
| 21 | Boris | W |
| 21 | Confess | Revenge at All Costs |
| 21 | Giant | Shifting Time |
| 21 | Iced Earth | A Narrative Soundscape |
| 21 | Kissin' Dynamite | Not the End of the Road |
| 21 | Sonata Arctica | Acoustic Adventures – Volume One |
| 21 | Tokyo Blade | Fury |
| 28 | Celeste | Assassine(s) |
| 28 | Cloakroom | Dissolution Wave |
| 28 | Dawn of Solace | Flames of Perdition |
| 28 | Emerald Sun | Kingdom of Gods |
| 28 | Krallice | Crystalline Exhaustion |
| 28 | Lana Lane | Neptune Blue |
| 28 | The Last Ten Seconds of Life | The Last Ten Seconds of Life |
| 28 | Lawnmower Deth | Blunt Cutters |
| 28 | Praying Mantis | Katharsis |
| 28 | The Quill | Live, New, Borrowed, Blue (compilation album) |
| 28 | Steve Vai | Inviolate |

### February

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 4 | Abysmal Dawn | Nightmare Frontier (EP) |
| 4 | Bevar Sea | The Timeless Zone |
| 4 | Hed PE | Califas Worldwide |
| 4 | Korn | Requiem |
| 4 | Mystic Circle | Mystic Circle |
| 4 | Persefone | Metanoia |
| 4 | Rolo Tomassi | Where Myth Becomes Memory |
| 4 | Saxon | Carpe Diem |
| 4 | Venom Prison | Erebos |
| 11 | Amorphis | Halo |
| 11 | Author & Punisher | Krüller |
| 11 | Cult of Luna | The Long Road North |
| 11 | Girish and The Chronicles | Hail to the Heroes |
| 11 | Napalm Death | Resentment Is Always Seismic – A Final Throw of Throes (mini-album) |
| 11 | Once Human | Scar Weaver |
| 11 | The Silent Wedding | Ego Path |
| 11 | Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators | 4 |
| 11 | Tersivel | To the Orphic Void |
| 11 | Voivod | Synchro Anarchy |
| 11 | Zeal & Ardor | Zeal & Ardor |
| 18 | Annihilator | Metal II |
| 18 | Bloodywood | Rakshak |
| 18 | Dagoba | By Night |
| 18 | Esprit D'Air | Oceans |
| 18 | Immolation | Acts of God |
| 18 | Matt Pike | Pike vs. the Automaton |
| 18 | Nightrage | Abyss Rising |
| 18 | Spirits of Fire | Embrace the Unknown |
| 18 | Star One | Revel in Time |
| 25 | Allegaeon | Damnum |
| 25 | Bad Omens | The Death of Peace of Mind |
| 25 | Blood Incantation | Timewave Zero |
| 25 | Corey Taylor | CMFB ...Sides (covers album) |
| 25 | Diablo | When All the Rivers Are Silent |
| 25 | Eight Bells | Legacy of Ruin |
| 25 | George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher | Corpsegrinder |
| 25 | Guns N' Roses | Hard Skool (EP) |
| 25 | HammerFall | Hammer of Dawn |
| 25 | Metalucifer | Heavy Metal Ninja (mini-album) |
| 25 | Scorpions | Rock Believer |
| 25 | Shape of Despair | Return to the Void |
| 25 | Svartsot | Kumbl |
| 25 | Tygers of Pan Tang | A New Heartbeat (EP) |

### March

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 4 | 10 Years | Deconstructed |
| 4 | Crowbar | Zero and Below |
| 4 | Eric Wagner | In the Lonely Light of Mourning |
| 4 | Flaw | Revival (covers album) |
| 4 | Sabaton | The War to End All Wars |
| 4 | Sunflower Dead | March of the Leper |
| 4 | Ty Tabor | Shades |
| 4 | Vein.fm | This World Is Going to Ruin You |
| 4 | Vio-lence | Let the World Burn (EP) |
| 4 | Warrior Soul | Out on Bail |
| 5 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | Made in Timeland |
| 5 | Troglodyte | The Hierarchical Ecological Succession: Welcome to the Food Chain |
| 11 | Black Pantera | Ascensão |
| 11 | Brandon Boyd | Echoes and Cocoons |
| 11 | Claustrofobia | Unleeched |
| 11 | Cloven Hoof | Time Assassin |
| 11 | Ghost | Impera |
| 11 | Grim Reaper | Reaping the Whirlwind (live album) |
| 11 | Kiss | Off the Soundboard: Live in Virginia Beach (live album) |
| 11 | Love/Hate | HELL, CA |
| 11 | New Horizon | Gate of the Gods |
| 11 | Shaman's Harvest | Rebelator |
| 11 | Wolves at the Gate | Eulogies |
| 12 | Dog Fashion Disco | Cult Classic |
| 18 | Agathodaimon | The Seven |
| 18 | Dark Funeral | We Are the Apocalypse |
| 18 | Dawn of Ashes | Scars of the Broken |
| 18 | Manigance | Le bal des ombres |
| 18 | Ronni Le Tekrø | Bigfoot TV |
| 18 | Ronnie Atkins | Make It Count |
| 18 | Stabbing Westward | Chasing Ghosts |
| 18 | Týr | A Night at the Nordic House (live album) |
| 23 | Deathspell Omega | The Long Defeat |
| 25 | Abbath | Dread Reaver |
| 25 | Animals as Leaders | Parrhesia |
| 25 | Architects | For Those That Wish to Exist at Abbey Road (live album) |
| 25 | BillyBio | Leaders and Liars |
| 25 | Crystal Viper | The Last Axeman (mini-album) |
| 25 | Eucharist | I Am the Void |
| 25 | Hardcore Superstar | Abrakadabra |
| 25 | Killing Joke | Lord of Chaos (EP) |
| 25 | Michael Romeo | War of the Worlds, Pt. 2 |
| 25 | Pist.On | Cold World EP (EP) |
| 25 | Reckless Love | Turborider |

### April

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Centinex | The Pestilence (EP) |
| 1 | Kublai Khan | Lowest Form of Animal (EP) |
| 1 | Lords of the Trident | The Offering |
| 1 | Meshuggah | Immutable |
| 1 | Nekrogoblikon | The Fundamental Slimes and Humours |
| 1 | Satan | Earth Infernal |
| 1 | Trick or Treat | Creepy Symphonies |
| 1 | Wolf | Shadowland |
| 8 | Destruction | Diabolical |
| 8 | Hällas | Isle of Wisdom |
| 8 | Incite | Wake Up Dead |
| 8 | Inglorious | MMXXI Live at the Phoenix (live album) |
| 8 | Mors Principium Est | Liberate the Unborn Inhumanity (compilation album) |
| 8 | Papa Roach | Ego Trip |
| 8 | Terzij de Horde | In One of These, I Am Your Enemy |
| 8 | Treat | The Endgame |
| 14 | Psychostick | ... and Stuff (compilation album) |
| 15 | Abated Mass of Flesh | The Existence of Human Suffering |
| 15 | Axel Rudi Pell | Lost XXIII |
| 15 | Cancer Bats | Psychic Jailbreak |
| 15 | Grand Belial's Key | Kohanic Charmers |
| 15 | JBO | Planet Pink |
| 15 | Månegarm | Ynglingaättens Öde |
| 15 | Monuments | In Stasis |
| 15 | Nazareth | Surviving the Law |
| 15 | Powerglove | Flawless Victory (EP) |
| 15 | Ronnie Romero | Raised on Radio (covers album) |
| 15 | Semblant | Vermilion Eclipse |
| 15 | These Arms Are Snakes | Duct Tape & Shivering Crows (compilation album) |
| 22 | Archgoat | All Christianity Ends (EP) |
| 22 | Caliban | Dystopia |
| 22 | Die Apokalyptischen Reiter | Wilde Kinder |
| 22 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | Omnium Gatherum |
| 22 | Märvel | Graces Came with Malice |
| 22 | Miseration | Black Miracles and Dark Wonders |
| 22 | Northlane | Obsidian |
| 22 | Ocean Grove | Up in the Air Forever |
| 22 | Primus | Conspiranoid (EP) |
| 22 | Skull Fist | Paid in Full |
| 22 | Somali Yacht Club | The Space |
| 22 | Speckmann Project | Fiends of Emptiness |
| 22 | Udo Dirkschneider | My Way (covers album) |
| 23 | Charlie Benante | Moving Pitchers (EP) |
| 23 | Kirk Hammett | Portals (EP) |
| 23 | The Lord | Forest Nocturne |
| 29 | Al-Namrood | Worship the Degenerate |
| 29 | Crashdïet | Automaton |
| 29 | The Gathering | Beautiful Distortion |
| 29 | Helms Alee | Keep This Be the Way |
| 29 | Heriot | Profound Morality (EP) |
| 29 | Rammstein | Zeit |
| 29 | Thunder | Dopamine |
| 29 | Void of Vision | Chronicles II: Heaven (EP) |
| 29 | Vulcano | Stone Orange |
| 29 | Watain | The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain |

### May

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 6 | Depressed Mode | Decade of Silence |
| 6 | Fozzy | Boombox |
| 6 | Halestorm | Back from the Dead |
| 6 | Ibaraki | Rashomon |
| 6 | Jani Liimatainen | My Father's Son |
| 6 | Jeff Scott Soto | Complicated |
| 6 | Lord of the Lost | The Heartbeat of the Devil (EP) |
| 6 | Puppy | Pure Evil |
| 6 | Three Days Grace | Explosions |
| 6 | Ufomammut | Fenice |
| 6 | Upon a Burning Body | Fury |
| 6 | Windwaker | Love Language |
| 13 | Demiricous | III: Chaotic Lethal |
| 13 | Graham Bonnet Band | Day Out in Nowhere |
| 13 | Jungle Rot | A Call to Arms |
| 13 | Misery Index | Complete Control |
| 13 | Primitive Man | Insurmountable (EP) |
| 13 | Visions of Atlantis | Pirates |
| 13 | Zero Hour | Agenda 21 |
| 18 | Novelbright | Assort |
| 20 | Anvil | Impact Is Imminent |
| 20 | Blut Aus Nord | Disharmonium – Undreamable Abysses |
| 20 | Cave In | Heavy Pendulum |
| 20 | Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky | Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky |
| 20 | Evergrey | A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) |
| 20 | James LaBrie | Beautiful Shade of Gray |
| 20 | Malevolence | Malicious Intent |
| 20 | Ratos de Porão | Necropolítica |
| 20 | Sadist | Firescorched |
| 20 | Septicflesh | Modern Primitive |
| 20 | Spheric Universe Experience | Back Home |
| 20 | Zinny Zan | Lullabies for the Masses |
| 25 | Man with a Mission | Break and Cross the Walls II |
| 27 | Baest | Justitia (EP) |
| 27 | Brutality | Sempiternity |
| 27 | Cadaveria | Emptiness |
| 27 | Crematory | Inglorious Darkness |
| 27 | Decapitated | Cancer Culture |
| 27 | Def Leppard | Diamond Star Halos |
| 27 | Holocausto Canibal | Crueza Ferina |
| 27 | Lord Belial | Rapture |
| 27 | Michael Schenker Group | Universal |
| 27 | Mournful Congregation | The Exuviae of Gods – Part I (EP) |
| 27 | Odd Crew | Dark Matters (Part 1) |
| 27 | Trollfest | Flamingo Overlord |
| 31 | Ribspreader | Crypt World |

### June

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 3 | The Algorithm | Data Renaissance |
| 3 | Astronoid | Radiant Bloom |
| 3 | Battlelore | The Return of the Shadow |
| 3 | Bleed from Within | Shrine |
| 3 | Gwar | The New Dark Ages |
| 3 | Killswitch Engage | Live at the Palladium (live album) |
| 3 | Las Cruces | Cosmic Tears |
| 3 | Memphis May Fire | Remade in Misery |
| 3 | Origin | Chaosmos |
| 3 | Red Handed Denial | I'd Rather Be Asleep |
| 3 | Thornhill | Heroine |
| 5 | Wolfsbane | Genius |
| 10 | Billy Howerdel | What Normal Was |
| 10 | Deadguy | Buyer's Remorse: Live from the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest (live album) |
| 10 | downset. | Maintain |
| 10 | Dragged Under | Upright Animals |
| 10 | Kiss | Off the Soundboard: Live at Donington 1996 (live album) |
| 10 | Kreator | Hate Über Alles |
| 10 | Michael Monroe | I Live Too Fast to Die Young |
| 10 | Motionless in White | Scoring the End of the World |
| 10 | Satyricon | Satyricon & Munch |
| 10 | Schandmaul | Knüppel aus dem Sack |
| 10 | Secrets | The Collapse |
| 10 | Seventh Wonder | The Testament |
| 10 | Severe Torture | Fisting the Sockets (EP) |
| 10 | Soreption | Jord |
| 10 | Tierra Santa | Destino |
| 10 | William DuVall | 11.12.21 Live-In-Studio Nashville |
| 10 | Wind Rose | Warfront |
| 13 | Tombs | Ex Oblivion (EP) |
| 15 | Dir En Grey | Phalaris |
| 15 | Rings of Saturn | Rings of Saturn |
| 17 | Civil War | Invaders |
| 17 | Infanteria | Patriarch |
| 17 | Jorn | Over the Horizon Radar |
| 17 | Oni | Loathing Light |
| 17 | Seven Kingdoms | Zenith |
| 17 | Tungsten | Bliss |
| 22 | Manowar | The Revenge of Odysseus (Highlights) (EP) |
| 22 | Spiritbox | Rotoscope (EP) |
| 24 | Alestorm | Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum |
| 24 | Betraying the Martyrs | Silver Lining (EP) |
| 24 | Between the Buried and Me | The Great Misdirect Live (live album) |
| 24 | Black River | Generation aXe |
| 24 | Black Stone Cherry | Live from the Royal Albert Hall... Y'All (live album) |
| 24 | Coheed and Cambria | Vaxis – Act II: A Window of the Waking Mind |
| 24 | Darkane | Inhuman Spirits |
| 24 | Dawn of Destiny | Of Silence |
| 24 | Enphin | End Cut |
| 24 | Khold | Svartsyn |
| 24 | Paganizer | Beyond the Macabre |
| 24 | Porcupine Tree | Closure/Continuation |
| 24 | Projected | Hypoxia |
| 24 | Victorius | Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 – The Great Ninja War |
| 30 | Bleeding Through | Rage (EP) |

### July

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Derek Sherinian | Vortex |
| 1 | Greg Puciato | Mirrorcell |
| 1 | Haunt | Windows of Your Heart |
| 1 | Holy Dragons | Jörmungandr – The Serpent of the World |
| 1 | Massacre | Mythos (EP) |
| 1 | Municipal Waste | Electrified Brain |
| 1 | Randy Holden | Population III |
| 1 | Saint Asonia | Introvert (EP) |
| 1 | Shinedown | Planet Zero |
| 1 | Superheist | MMXX |
| 6 | Coldrain | Nonnegative |
| 8 | Altaria | Wisdom |
| 8 | Blind Channel | Lifestyles of the Sick & Dangerous |
| 8 | Powerwolf | The Monumental Mass – A Cinematic Metal Event (live album) |
| 8 | Wormrot | Hiss |
| 13 | Obituary | Cause of Death – Live Infection (live album) |
| 13 | Obituary | Slowly We Rot – Live & Rotting (live album) |
| 15 | Antigama | Whiteout |
| 15 | Jack Starr's Burning Starr | Souls of the Innocent |
| 15 | Mantar | Pain Is Forever and This Is the End |
| 15 | Senses Fail | Hell Is in Your Head |
| 15 | Sinner | Brotherhood |
| 22 | Hatriot | The Vale of Shadows |
| 22 | Imperial Triumphant | Spirit of Ecstasy |
| 22 | Karl Sanders | Saurian Apocalypse |
| 22 | Oceans of Slumber | Starlight and Ash |
| 22 | Palisades | Reaching Hypercritical |
| 22 | Scar for Life | Sociophobia |
| 22 | Witchery | Nightside |
| 28 | Bad Wolves | Sacred Kiss (EP) |
| 28 | Incantation | Tricennial of Blasphemy (compilation album) |
| 29 | Belphegor | The Devils |
| 29 | Black Magnet | Body Prophecy |
| 29 | Chat Pile | God's Country |
| 29 | Krisiun | Mortem Solis |
| 29 | Stick to Your Guns | Spectre |
| 29 | Torture Killer | Dead Inside (EP) |

### August

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 4 | Tom Hunting | Hunting Party (EP) |
| 5 | Abaddon Incarnate | The Wretched Sermon |
| 5 | Amon Amarth | The Great Heathen Army |
| 5 | Dub War | Westgate Under Fire |
| 5 | Einherjer | Norse and Dangerous (Live... from the Land of Legends) (live album) |
| 5 | H.E.A.T | Force Majeure |
| 5 | Psycroptic | Divine Council |
| 5 | Soulfly | Totem |
| 5 | Toxik | Dis Morta |
| 5 | Vanden Plas | Live & Immortal (live album) |
| 12 | Arch Enemy | Deceivers |
| 12 | Boris | Heavy Rocks |
| 12 | The Halo Effect | Days of the Lost |
| 12 | Hollywood Undead | Hotel Kalifornia |
| 12 | Jackyl | 30 Coming in Hot (compilation album) |
| 12 | Locrian | New Catastrophism |
| 12 | Locrian | Ghost Frontiers (EP) |
| 12 | Norma Jean | Deathrattle Sing for Me |
| 12 | Wolfbrigade | Anti-Tank Dogs (EP) |
| 14 | Melvins | Bad Mood Rising |
| 19 | Conan | Evidence of Immortality |
| 19 | Five Finger Death Punch | AfterLife |
| 19 | Heilung | Drif |
| 19 | I Prevail | True Power |
| 19 | Lillian Axe | From Womb to Tomb |
| 19 | Parasite Inc. | Cyan Night Dreams |
| 19 | Psyclon Nine | Less to Heaven |
| 19 | Russian Circles | Gnosis |
| 19 | Soilwork | Övergivenheten |
| 19 | Spirit Adrift | 20 Centuries Gone (compilation album) |
| 26 | Becoming the Archetype | Children of the Great Extinction |
| 26 | Brymir | Voices in the Sky |
| 26 | Dynazty | Final Advent |
| 26 | Grave Digger | Symbol of Eternity |
| 26 | Lacrimas Profundere | How to Shroud Yourself with Night |
| 26 | Long Distance Calling | Eraser |
| 26 | Machine Head | Of Kingdom and Crown |
| 26 | Santa Cruz | The Return of the Kings |
| 26 | Sigh | Shiki |
| 26 | Soil | Play It Forward (covers album) |
| 26 | Tad Morose | March of the Obsequious |
| 27 | Imperial Age | New World |

### September

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Oceans Ate Alaska | Disparity |
| 2 | Blind Guardian | The God Machine |
| 2 | The Callous Daoboys | Celebrity Therapist |
| 2 | The Hu | Rumble of Thunder |
| 2 | Mad Max | Wings of Time |
| 2 | Mantic Ritual | Heart Set Stone (EP) |
| 2 | King's X | Three Sides of One |
| 2 | Megadeth | The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! |
| 2 | Mike Tramp | For Første Gang |
| 2 | Miss May I | Curse of Existence |
| 2 | Novelists | Déjà Vu |
| 9 | Allen/Olzon | Army of Dreamers |
| 9 | Bloodbath | Survival of the Sickest |
| 9 | Fallujah | Empyrean |
| 9 | Holy Fawn | Dimensional Bleed |
| 9 | Kiss | Off the Soundboard: Live in Des Moines 1977 (live album) |
| 9 | KMFDM | Hyëna |
| 9 | Mezarkabul | Makina Elektrika |
| 9 | Ozzy Osbourne | Patient Number 9 |
| 9 | Parkway Drive | Darker Still |
| 9 | Revocation | Netherheaven |
| 9 | Stray from the Path | Euthanasia |
| 9 | Trauma | Awakening |
| 9 | Ville Laihiala & Saattajat | Ei Meillä Ole Kuin Loisemme |
| 9 | Until I Wake | 'Inside My Head" |
| 16 | The 69 Eyes | Drive (EP) |
| 16 | Behemoth | Opvs Contra Natvram |
| 16 | Clutch | Sunrise on Slaughter Beach |
| 16 | Destrage | SO MUCH. too much. |
| 16 | The Devil Wears Prada | Color Decay |
| 16 | Edenbridge | Shangri-La |
| 16 | Electric Callboy | Tekkno |
| 16 | Epoch of Unlight | At War with the Multiverse |
| 16 | Hartmann | Get Over It |
| 16 | Hetroertzen | Phosphorus, Vol. 1 |
| 16 | House of Lords | Saints and Sinners |
| 16 | Marco Mendoza | New Direction |
| 16 | Omega Diatribe | My Sphere (EP) |
| 16 | Spiritus Mortis | The Great Seal |
| 23 | KEN mode | Null |
| 23 | Moonspell | From Down Below – Live 80 Meters Deep (live album) |
| 23 | OvO | Ignoto |
| 23 | Razor | Cycle of Contempt |
| 23 | Silent Knight | Full Force |
| 23 | Stratovarius | Survive |
| 23 | Venom Inc. | There's Only Black |
| 30 | Autopsy | Morbidity Triumphant |
| 30 | Drowning Pool | Strike a Nerve |
| 30 | Rage | Spreading the Plague (EP) |
| 30 | Raven | Leave 'Em Bleeding (compilation album) |
| 30 | Sammy Hagar and the Circle | Crazy Times |
| 30 | Sceptic | Nailed to Ignorance |
| 30 | Slipknot | The End, So Far |
| 30 | Sonata Arctica | Acoustic Adventures – Volume Two |
| 30 | Tankard | Pavlov's Dawgs |

### October

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Acid Witch | Rot Among Us |
| 5 | Liturgy | As the Blood of God Bursts the Veins of Time (EP) |
| 7 | Blind Illusion | Wrath of the Gods |
| 7 | Borealis | Illusions |
| 7 | Charlotte Wessels | Tales from Six Feet Under, Vol. II |
| 7 | Counterparts | A Eulogy for Those Still Here |
| 7 | The Cult | Under the Midnight Sun |
| 7 | Ellefson–Soto | Vacation in the Underworld |
| 7 | Goatwhore | Angels Hung from the Arches of Heaven |
| 7 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava |
| 7 | Lamb of God | Omens |
| 7 | Lost Society | If the Sky Came Down |
| 7 | Queensrÿche | Digital Noise Alliance |
| 7 | Wednesday 13 | Horrifier |
| 12 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | Laminated Denim |
| 14 | Alter Bridge | Pawns & Kings |
| 14 | Bloody Hammers | Washed in the Blood |
| 14 | Dragonland | The Power of the Nightstar |
| 14 | Eleine | Acoustic in Hell (EP) |
| 14 | Gun | The Calton Songs |
| 14 | Lorna Shore | Pain Remains |
| 14 | Nothing More | Spirits |
| 14 | Outline in Color | Coast Is Clear |
| 14 | Skid Row | The Gang's All Here |
| 14 | Sleeping with Sirens | Complete Collapse |
| 14 | Varials | Scars for You to Remember |
| 14 | We Came as Romans | Darkbloom |
| 21 | Architects | The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit |
| 21 | Avantasia | A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society |
| 21 | Avatarium | Death, Where Is Your Sting |
| 21 | Black Veil Brides | The Mourning (EP) |
| 21 | Brutus | Unison Life |
| 21 | Exhumed | To the Dead |
| 21 | Gothminister | Pandemonium |
| 21 | In This Moment | Blood 1983 (EP) |
| 21 | Sahg | Born Demon |
| 21 | Serj Tankian | Perplex Cities (EP) |
| 21 | Stryper | The Final Battle |
| 21 | Ugly Kid Joe | Rad Wings of Destiny |
| 21 | A Wake in Providence | Eternity |
| 21 | WarCry | Daimon |
| 21 | White Skull | Metal Never Rusts |
| 24 | Galahad | The Last Great Adventurer |
| 26 | Fear, and Loathing in Las Vegas | Cocoon for the Golden Future |
| 28 | Brant Bjork | Bougainvillea Suite |
| 28 | Darkthrone | Astral Fortress |
| 28 | Dead Cross | II |
| 28 | Defleshed | Grind Over Matter |
| 28 | Demon Hunter | Exile |
| 28 | Despised Icon | Déterré (EP) |
| 28 | Dr. Acula | Dr. Acula |
| 28 | Fear Factory | Recoded (remix album) |
| 28 | Fire from the Gods | Soul Revolution |
| 28 | Fit for a King | The Hell We Create |
| 28 | Joe Lynn Turner | Belly of the Beast |
| 28 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | Changes |
| 28 | Royal Hunt | Dystopia – Part II |
| 28 | Sodom | 40 Years at War – The Greatest Hell of Sodom (compilation album) |
| 28 | Therion | Leviathan II |

### November

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 4 | 96 Bitter Beings | Synergy Restored |
| 4 | Black Anvil | Regenesis |
| 4 | Dayseeker | Dark Sun |
| 4 | Depresszió | Vissza a Földre |
| 4 | Devin Townsend | Lightwork |
| 4 | Disillusion | Ayam |
| 4 | Frank Bello | Then I'm Gone (EP) |
| 4 | Ingested | Ashes Lie Still |
| 4 | Voivod | Ultraman (EP) |
| 8 | Vinnie Moore | Double Exposure |
| 11 | Arallu | Death Covenant |
| 11 | Chelsea Grin | Suffer in Hell |
| 11 | Drudkh | Всі належать ночі |
| 11 | Enuff Z'Nuff | Finer Than Sin |
| 11 | Epica | The Alchemy Project (EP) |
| 11 | He Is Legend | Endless Hallway |
| 11 | Kampfar | Til Klovers Takt |
| 11 | Last in Line | A Day in the Life (EP) |
| 11 | Leatherwolf | Kill the Hunted |
| 11 | Ring of Fire | Gravity |
| 11 | Xentrix | Seven Words |
| 18 | 16 | Into Dust |
| 18 | Aurora Borealis | Prophecy Is the Mold in Which History Is Poured |
| 18 | Autograph | Beyond |
| 18 | Candlemass | Sweet Evil Sun |
| 18 | Disturbed | Divisive |
| 18 | Nickelback | Get Rollin' |
| 18 | Ronnie Atkins | Symphomaniac (EP) |
| 18 | Saint Asonia | Extrovert (EP) |
| 18 | Soen | Atlantis (live album) |
| 18 | Tallah | The Generation of Danger |
| 18 | Threshold | Dividing Lines |
| 18 | U.D.O. | The Legacy (compilation album) |
| 18 | Wolves at the Gate | Lowborn (EP) |
| 25 | Elder | Innate Passage |
| 25 | Hibernus Mortis | The Monoliths of Cursed Slumber |
| 25 | In the Woods... | Diversum |
| 25 | Judicator | The Majesty of Decay |
| 25 | The Last Ten Seconds of Life | Disquisition on an Execution (EP) |
| 25 | Leather | We Are the Chosen |
| 25 | Lee Aaron | Elevate |
| 25 | Ofermod | Ofermodian Litanies (mini-album) |
| 25 | Sword | III |
| 28 | Necrodeath | Singin' in the Pain |

### December

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 2 | Amberian Dawn | Take a Chance – A Metal Tribute to ABBA (covers album) |
| 2 | Deströyer 666 | Never Surrender |
| 2 | Eisregen | Wiedergänger (EP) |
| 2 | Hammers of Misfortune | Overtaker |
| 9 | Lionheart | Welcome to the West Coast III |
| 9 | Ripper | Return to Death Row (EP) |
| 9 | Serenity | Memoria (live album) |
| 14 | Nemophila | Seize the Fate |
| 15 | Rotting Christ | The Apocryphal Spells, Vol. I (EP) |
| 15 | Rotting Christ | The Apocryphal Spells, Vol. II (EP) |
| 22 | Rudra | Eight Mahavidyas |
| 25 | Snowy Shaw | This Is Heavy Metal, Plain & Simple (compilation album) |
| 30 | Lord of the Lost | Blood & Glitter |
| 30 | Satanic Warmaster | Aamongandr |