Best Metal Riffs 2022

[@NikNocturnal]

*Smash like if you want Best Breakdowns of 2022 next week!* Comment your favorite riffs of the year below! EDIT: Sadly Machine Head had to be cut due to a publisher copyright claim...

[@yung_Blindy]

Angst by RAMMSTEIN

[@goodtimepoke]

Been digging new disturbed

[@someguywithaphone5921]

Riffity Riffity Riff Riff Riffoo. Also many yays for Breakdowns. Necky Snappy makes me happy.

[@houstilicious]

1984 by Slaughter to Prevail but idk what have you done to it lmao

[@tdieterman2159]

YESSSSS BEST BREAKDOWNS OF 2022 PLEASE!!!!!!!!

[@svnkiller]

The pure focus while playing Jason Richardson lol. Also while it may not be the most insanely technical riff, Shade Astray was one of the best songs of the year hands down

[@aaroncourier6452]

EXACTLY

[@aaroncourier6452]

to both things actually

[@NikNocturnal]

Was doing so much math fam

[@TheRedAnvil40]

@@NikNocturnal polyrhythms didn't even exist when I was in college. Damn I'm old...

[@connorchops710]

Agreed

[@AlexPies1]

0:00 Lamb of God - Vanishing 0:15 Machine Head - Choke on the Ashes of Your Hate 0:31 Paledusk - SLAY!! 0:42 Monuments - Cardinal Red 0:55 Invent Animate - Shade Astray 1:07 Disturbed - Hey You 1:26 LANDMVRKS - Death 1:43 For For An Autopsy - Higher Level of Hate 1:57 Bleed From Within - Levitate 2:10 Slipknot - Warranty 2:19 Arch Enemy - Sunset Over The Empire 2:30 Malevolence - On Broken Glass 2:39 Architects - Be Very Afraid 2:57 Bad Omens - The Grey 3:17 The Devil Wears Prada - Noise 3:29 Hollow Front - Comatose 3:46 Lorna Shore - Pain Remains I 4:01 In Flames - State of Slow Decay 4:17 Bullet For My Valentine - Omen 4:32 Amon Amarth - Dawn of Norsemen 4:50 Parkway Drive - Glitch 5:08 SiM - The Rumbling 5:21 Slaughter To Prevail - 1984 5:31 Polyphia - Bloodbath 5:48 Spiritbox - Rotoscope 6:03 Jason Richardson - Polyrhythmic Pug 6:12 Shadow of Intent - Elegy III 6:26 Chelsea Grin - The Isnis 6:40 Make Them Suffer - Doomswitch 6:53 Chris Turner - Juice 7:04 Northlane - Plenty 7:19 Meshuggah - I Am Thirst

[@jacobwalters]

I am watching him update it live as we speak

[@Odd1006]

@@jacobwalters lmaaooo

[@crovian1985]

No kreator? Lame

[@AlexPies1]

@@jacobwalters hope that was entertaining for ya

[@xRhev]

@Underoath-Define The Great Line Fan Account [5-8] it seems like people forgot ERRA released their deluxe edition and pull from the ghost this year 😔

[@Conundrums._]

The entirety of Fit for An Autopsy’s album is just riffage after riffage. Every riff on that album is absolutely amazing. Some of my favorite guitar work ever honestly.

[@HollowSentence22]

They are so talented it's insane. Easily one of my favorite bands ever

[@RedbeardMaximus]

That album just goes so fucking hard

[@randyeppyt]

truth

[@miredmind]

Agreed! They're so good

[@kirisutegomen12]

Yeah they are really talented

[@TheMostFoolish]

I love how the riffs have a tone that sounds like a nice cross between Nick’s style and the bands he’s covering

[@NikNocturnal]

:D

[@soup]

So sick 🤘

[@NikNocturnal]

Thanks dude!

[@razormaw]

holy shit its bubba

[@vexmythoclast6591]

Tis monke man

[@SaurianKing_]

that Landmvrks riff hits even harder in person. Immense band.

[@NikNocturnal]

They're dope af!

[@SaurianKing_]

@@NikNocturnal check out their labelmates Resolve too if you haven't already. They were the support when I saw Landmvrks, and their live version of 'Between Me & The Machine' is insaaaaaaane.

[@nebs13]

@@NikNocturnal and so amazing to see their in live 🔥

[@eclipse12121]

The live set they did on KZbin is amazing! Better than their recorded music

[@c4gob00m]

@@SaurianKing_ been a fan of Resolve since LANDMVRKS did the live-streamed show. Absolute incredible band

[@StoriesOfSolitude]

Been really getting into Bleed From Within lately, they slap.

[@laneschultz6545]

New age Parkway Drive

[@93goryl10PL]

Imo the riff from Stand Down should be there. It's soooooooooo much better than Levitate

[@NikNocturnal]

They're dope af!

[@shaneflutsch2270]

Bleed From Within is great! Their guitar work and drums as well on songs like clarity, or the end of all we know...especially the end of all we know. Man...they're got several songs that just really slap. I'm going to see them next year since they're coming to America and playing with August burns red. That'll be a GREAT several hours of solid metalcore...can't wait.

[@MAtloi]

Saw them live last week in Berlin for the first time, and holy smokes, they are equally great live. Insane!

[@Archeum94]

That paledusk riff you just played was trucking impressive bro!

[@NikNocturnal]

It took me so long...

[@ToddMurphyAU]

He really.... slayed!

[@ShoddyMussels706]

Elegy III riff is too good. Glad you included it. Great video!

[@ssvaiyn3187]

It's just incredible to see the creativity in some of the riffs that were played in this video. How those musicians come up with that stuff is beyond me. I would honestly have to say my favorite riff of the year goes to ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE - Bad Omens.

[@VeritabIlIti]

The fact that you were able to choose one riff off of SOI's Elegy is impressive. That album has so many amazing riffs it could be its own list

[@andrewpappas9311]

Honestly, the riff from Call Me Little Sunshine from Ghost was one of my personal favourites from this year and I also loved the main riff from the new Metallica song that came out last week or so

[@VeritabIlIti]

Ghost has this way with simple little riffs that makes them instant earworms while accessible enough for most people to play. Recipe for success

[@tiagocarneiro2001]

I smell bait

[@andrewpappas9311]

@@VeritabIlIti Agreed, simple yet effective

[@andrewpappas9311]

@@tiagocarneiro2001 What?

[@Lineage2Iowa]

I tried to hate them at first because theyre not really metal but its grown on me. Its catchy I like it

[@c4gob00m]

Doomswitch is my favourite riff of the year. Nick is an absolute riff god, Make Them Suffer have some of the catchiest songs I swear

[@Petrical]

Man that shadow of intent riff doesn't get enough credit 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@NikNocturnal]

[@VeritabIlIti]

You could throw a random number generator to pick any moment on that album and you'd get a banger riff 🔥🔥

[@KhaosEmeraldx]

As someone who totally fell off with modern metal a while back but is coming back to find new stuff, this is the perfect video, your playing is sweet!

[@cerberus6512]

this is the best way to discover new bands to listen. Thank nik!

[@NikNocturnal]

Glad to help! Be sure to share around to help others find new bands :D

[@ewan_leod]

the riffs in Cyberhex are still probably my favourites of the year

[@jwspitz35]

Fit For An Autopsy's new album is unreal, and that's easily my favorite riff from it too 🤟🏻

[@thefitnessward_]

I’m so glad you put Meshuggah’s I Am That Thirst in. It’s 100% my favourite riff.

[@RyanTabora]

I'd love to see a Spotify playlist with all of these songs in there

[@UnyonYT]

Nigh to Silence - ERRA Devils - Black Veil Brides Times Like This - Fit For A King Bad Things - I Prevail Slaughterhouse - Motionless In White Trenches - Windwaker 60cm of Steel - Alpha Wolf could've all easily made this list

[@robmortimer4150]

I was waiting for Doomswitch, such an epic riff on an amazing track. Definitely my favourite in a year full of great riffs

[@doulostheou777]

Great playing Nik. That Bleed from Within riff is killer! And that 'In Flames' riff reminds me of At the Gates - Blinded by Fear.

[@AkselSv]

My favorite riff this year is probably Meshuggah's ligature marks opening riff. It's pretty good

[@davidking6594]

My annual “what bands did I miss this year” video. But god damn that meshuggah riff 😂

[@randbstudios961]

Been looking forward to this one since the 2021 came out. Can’t wait for some Breakdowns

[@NikNocturnal]

Next week ;)

[@benwaardenburg]

Hey I recognize that Jason Richardson riff he used that in Jared Dines Djent 2020 video. 6:05

[@fliproleluwu5602]

2022 was, in fact, a great year for metal; love to see FFAA in the list, they deserve so much more love than they get

[@christianclements1370]

The excitement and fan girl in me that screamed when I saw you included Hollow Front. Lee stays providing GOAT riffs.

[@rybo995]

the whole malevolence album was so good

[@NikNocturnal]

^^^ Yes

[@cemakkartal]

That riff from Malevolence - On Broken Glass is so good that I ALMOST stopped the video to listen to the full song.

[@fountane]

Northlane - Plenty is my favourite of the year. The riff under the chorus though. I love so much. I put that one in an A-Z riffs video I did.

[@VeritabIlIti]

While not my favorite album of the year, the fact that Northlane was able to produce that album entirely on their own during lockdown is amazing

[@BOOSTkdv]

That was my favorite as well. Love that song!

[@KRayxKodessA]

Totally respect how you played the Jason Richardson clip with his sig, and *promptly* got tf outta there

[@jocab564]

4:50 my mans feeling that one lol

[@scarux]

Alter Bridge - Silver Tongue song is sick but the opening 40 seconds are just bliss

[@bigbaconburrito6064]

You should definitely check out Worm Shepherd. I think, they could become very popular in the scene. They just started out, and already have lots of bangers. And their drummer is just playing at speeds, so their kicks become one single sound

[@umarsultan9241]

This reminded me that 2022 was a far better year than I recall. Thanks for that...Also still waiting for your Architects "Alpha Omega" reaction/cover!

[@epicmatter4555]

Really good list imo, Levitate is probably my favourite out of this. If you're doing the breakdown video i definitely expect Forever Bloom by Chealsea Grin in there. Unleash Hell by Enterprise Earth and Caved in by Spite are also good canditates in my opionion ^^

[@Defekcija]

Where my AOT fans at?? I often forget the racoon man with puberty voice cracks is a killer guitarist. Great video! The Levitate riff is by far my favorite!

[@cloudparter]

Surprised nik missed Barberryans by Berried Alive. The riff on that track is amazing.

[@RollMeOne_Kenobi]

The solo from Hawaiian Punch by Berried Alive is probably one of my favorite riffs of the year. But then again Neurotica was full of bangers too lol

[@SaurianKing_]

It's awesome to see MLV being included. Great to see them finally getting the recognition they deserve.

[@rtef6404]

On Broken Glass is easily my favourite song of the year

[@drummerbum1398]

1st time I've seen Malevolence on Niks channel. I've been trying to shine some light on them on this channel for awhile now.

[@SaurianKing_]

@@rtef6404 check out their older stuff before Malicious Intent. They're incredible.

[@pedromoresco93]

Hey man, great video! Always wait for these to come out! I missed night stalker from Megadeth and Ana from Darko, but the list is already golden!

[@jleighwolfe]

Love that you got bloodbath on here 🤘 such a sick riff

[@benstanfill363]

I gotta say one of my favorite riffs lately is actually from shinedown. Their song "no sleep tonight" has a dope verse riff.

[@Agent-3310]

Nik you should show us your sick guitar collection 🤤

[@christian2994]

Synthwave Vegan - Veil of Maya Some Things You Should Know - Spite The Death We Seek - Currents Signal - Silent Planet Phantom Power - Varials Some of my favorites

[@Harsyn]

Thanks for these as always! Love the twitch content, but it's nice to see the old style vids once in a while!

[@NikNocturnal]

Love doing them too! They just take DAYYYS to finish which sadly nowadays I don't have time and have been spending ANY time finishing new TERMINA

[@OperationMegalodon]

This list is absolutely amazing, so many good riffs. This year was actually pretty good for metal listeners. Would’ve loved to see the main riff from Two Towers - Fit For An Autopsy on here as well.

[@EightPenguins]

Nik!! We love you. Couldn’t imagine the time and effort this took but I hope you know it’s appreciated and I hope I speak for everyone when I say I’m thankful for your content. Some of my favorite bands today I found through you

[@DeanJG-Guitar]

Kill or Be Killed by Muse had some shockingly heavy riffs! That was my fav metal song of the year

[@JaMbizard]

Some sick riffs in there for sure but how Sylosis haven't made the list is utter madness!

[@DeathColdBeer]

Came here to say the same. Nice.

[@BrunoSuicida]

or how none of METAL: HELLSINGER's riffs is in this

[@franko3472]

Yo! Thanks for putting me on some shit. Gave me all the eargasms!

[@TYLERtheMAGGOT1]

Bigger crime is not including metallica or megadeth. Megadeth released one of the best thrash metal albums of the year.

[@Alex-oh6lj]

This is why I love your channel Nik. You always help me stay informed of what is heavy in the scene! Thanks again!

[@ZL1LoVeR]

This year with its ups and downs still gave us the gift of amazing music 😌 Thank you Nik for the reminder 🙏🏽 Also missing Termina riffs but ok 💜

[@jo_sh6798]

This song wasn’t in there but I do recommend it if you guys like melodic riffs, it’s called Midnight Rain by Dreamwake

[@SplinterCell521]

Even though they're probably the most "butt rock" on this list, it's impossible to make a riff list without Disturbed. Stricken 4eva

[@Michele-Elise]

You are blowing my mind!!! What great musicianship! I’m so impressed with your ability to cover all these songs. What a treat that was to watch! Thanks Nik for putting the time and effort into this.

[@Michele-Elise]

Nice try

[@k0st4sspap]

the new polyphia album is actually 🔥

[@NikNocturnal]

Facts

[@benit0yo]

Its nice to see Nick finally be able to play a Polyphia song.

[@thegameslave2]

All great choices. I know you can't possibly get everything in, but it makes me a little sad that there's no Revocation on the list. Dave Davidson is a fuckin' riff machine and Netherheaven is filled with incredible tracks. Lessons In Occult Theft is 1 track off that album I'd highly recommend.

[@Eaggradruide]

Hah, I also wanted to write about Revocation. I've been hearing them for weeks, and only them! (Ok there is also a bit Decapitated in my playlist which are also missing on this list)

[@Tyelkormoko]

Amazing compilation and execution! Added bonus: some new bands to check out and the jarring drop in audio quality at the end, when you talk to the mic in your room? Just a cherry on top!

[@zaynebonshire4860]

I’m shocked that Korn is not in this, they’re riffs from requiem are sick, especially lost in the grandeur

[@NikNocturnal]

I had "Forgotten" on the bigger list actually

[@zaynebonshire4860]

@@NikNocturnal oh damn lol

[@aikidogaming5034]

The backing riff to JTs parts in Nigh to Silence are fun

[@d3athperception828]

Megadeth had some of the best riffs of this year too.

[@NikNocturnal]

True

[@_Mephistopheles_]

When the gods came from Amorphis is one of my favs this year. And Ghost with Call me little Sunshine

[@drakoulias5634]

These are definitely some of the Metal Riffs of 2022!

[@NikNocturnal]

Yes

[@WHOREHAMMER_OFFICIAL]

CORE IS METAL

[@dravenripley9468]

@Dragon Ball fans can't read typical core hater.

[@WHOREHAMMER_OFFICIAL]

@Dragon Ball fans can't read yea it is

[@WHOREHAMMER_OFFICIAL]

@Dragon Ball fans can't read being elitist gives you no credibility. Lol core is metal

[@SnappyDiagram]

I almost never listen to Metal because it doesn't come up on my playlists, but now I want to go through most of the songs in this video and check them out. Thanks Nik.

[@januszo.2180]

great work in showing that some riffs clearly stand out (creative or headbangers or both) and some as repetetive AF (I will not tell you which not to trigger criticism). Seriously its so refreshing to compare them side by side.

[@valorjoz]

Glad to see LOG and Slipknot get shout outs both were stellar cuts from this year. Surprised that there wasn't one MIW riff from EoTW, there were definitely a ton of bangers there And, in that vein, surprised Disturbed got a shout out. Haven't dug a riff of theirs since Immortalized came out. Not mad just observing. Stellar tunes regardless. 🤘

[@kvernon08]

Vanishing rips. Its the best song on an album in which every track is a fucking banger. Well done.

[@prflash23]

Glad I started finding metal youtubers just started exploring the music about a year ago

[@Cookie4yabro]

I was very fortunate to get tickets to one of the lives from the Concrete Jungle Tour (Bad Omens) and Make Them Suffer was insanely good!

[@martijnvanderark4117]

I mean like every riff from bleed from within their new album shrine could be on here. The main riff of sovereign and stand down are sooooo good. Love the vid

[@minhcranel6605]

damn, really like your Rumbling riff. Giving SiM recognition in the metal community

[@Justin-sg2ix]

Awesome to see Fit for an Autopsy get some love! Awesome video!

[@Tommy_Stewart]

Glad to hear Meshuggah make the list at the end there…cos I was hearing a LOT of Meshuggah in the riffs leading up to it. 😆

[@mattywrecks8727]

Glad to see Chris Turner made it, some of my favourite riffs to play this year came from Steezy, hooks for days

[@collofe2297]

5:31 is god, i mean the raw sound of the guitar without the other musical arrangments changes completly the song, but still a banger

[@ZackAttackYouTube]

Something from I Prevail, True Power (Like Choke) should have been included imo, but MMMM there are def some meaty riffs in here regardless

[@xXcheapdeathXx]

There were so many great releases this year. Can I get an honorable mention for A Killing Word - Norma Jean? The riff that starts after the intro about 40 seconds in. It's so sick.

[@themilkynipple2801]

Damn man 4 of the songs i suggested were included in this list im glad you agreed with me! Almost put hey you from disturbed as simple yet effective glad to see that on here. Dont know how you learn these so fast but it is impressive, awesome vid 🤘🏽

[@optionrush5050]

Man that cardinal red riff to shade astray gave me some bulb vibes

[@rat-boi-zen5162]

I like how the Bad Omens song is called The Grey while being extremely similar to Asking Alexandria - The Black

[@FairyCRat]

I love how this one is like no intro, just RIFFS

[@Altroburst]

1:58 Still one and only my favs riffs of 2022, especially that breakdown part. ugh nasty !

[@smartgamerai8680]

in flames state of slow decay TOP1 RIFF 2022

[@izarus1075]

Debatable if it's metal, i would count it, but Foreign Anchor from Greyhaven is my favourite riff 2022. The band in general was my discovery of the year with my favourite album of the year :D

[@sahinlandman4667]

Mathcore is definitely metal

[@izarus1075]

@@sahinlandman4667 i just thought they were post hardcore, but a bit more prog

[@josephhanretty888]

Into Oblivion - Miss May I The hell we create - Fit for a king Glass hands - crooked royals September song - Lamb of god

[@pkvarvelon]

In this year very heavy riffs i think is Five Finger Death Punch's songs: Welcome To The Circus and "breakdown" in middle of Gold Gutter (which remind me Godsmack's Awake riff also in the middle of the song).

[@ned9542]

For breakdowns I love the early-ish one in "Body Bag" by I prevail

[@isador21]

YASSS of all the sick Bad Omens riffs, you chose my fav

[@mystermuffz8850]

My favorite riff is a variation of the intro riff from Gladiolus. I didn't know Krosis came out with a new album until a couple weeks ago, and I'm hooked

[@alloounou6900]

Glad you included Devil Wears Prada. That album is solid.

[@worshipguitardictionary7677]

I love these riffs of the year vid 🔥. Cant wait for niks content through out next year

[@aespaandiverthebest]

Metal riffs keeps getting better and better by year

[@Еслипельмениточтобыпобольше]

So many bands i've never heard before. So many new songs in my playlist in the nearest future Bravo

[@seanmanaloto3222]

Chorus riffs from Soilwork's Overgivenheten are my top 2 of the year.

[@daoyang223]

holy shit that paledusk riff was on point lmao! I didn't think anyone can actually cover that chaotic ass riff.

[@NikNocturnal]

It is a crazy riff

[@joecool811]

Nik Nocturnal: Making complicated riffs look easy since 1972