Rank And Style: Top 20 Albums of 2022

Often times, there's a fairly decent ratio of full-lengths to EPs and demos released in a year, but like I said before, 2022 was more of an album year. Because of that, I'd probably say that this was one of the toughest years in regards to narrowing it down properly at the end. Considering how huge of a year it was for the traditional metal outfits and the offshoots from it, there should be no surprise that those dominate this year's picks more than any other. So instead of rambling on further, let's hop to it!

20. Haunt - Windows Of Your Heart

Church Recordings - 7.5/10

Every year since 2018, the U.S. powerhouse Haunt has made its way onto my EOY lists. This year and last, they just managed to sneak into the twentieth slot. Although Trevor and co. have dipped a bit in the last few years (likely due to speed of output), there's still never been anything bad. Windows Of Your Heart is a step up from last year's effort, having a little more to distinguish itself, with the hint towards a shift in direction. Fun stuff. Listen Here

19. Sedimentum - Suppuration Morphogenesiaque

Memento Mori - 8/10

Ah, Sedimentum; the band that I didn't even realize wasn't in English until I went to check the lyrics. These Canadians boast a brutal and disgusting brand of death metal meant to invoke the harshest of environments. Treading on the doom side without fully submitting to it, the riffs of Suppuration Morphogenesiaque crush the smallest obstacle in their path, creating an experience matched plenty of times but worth indulging in regardless. Listen Here

18. Skumstrike - Deadly Intrusions

Caligari Records - 8/10

Canada's Skumstrike blew me away in 2020 with their EP Execution Void, and the same label this year delivered their first full length Deadly Intrusions. Sticking to the same harsh formula of discomfort, this outing is meant to continue the ungodly feeling of metal shards and piercing edges through unforgiving vocals, breakneck speeds, and blackened punk/metal energy. Though this formula works better with the shorter format, I couldn't not leave this one off of my list. Truly some of the most unlovable music possible. Listen Here

17. Ghost - Impera

Loma Vista Recordings - 8/10

The Swedish occult rock masterminds Ghost have landed a spot on my list every year they've put out an album. Though this one was admittedly a grower, and likely my least favorite of theirs, it has a lot to measure up to, and the hits here hit harder than ever. While Impera still held on to their pop roots with a firm grip, the integration of heavier songs and advanced tactics gave themselves a broader template. With a little more practice in this realm, they could probably surpass every album since Meliora. Listen Here

16. Kreator - Hate uber alles

Nuclear Blast - 8/10

It's truly amazing how many albums the German thrashers Kreator have managed to put out in the same vein without going stale. Hate uber alles may not be as strong as the last couple they did, but there really isn't a lot to complain about here. Keeping things to the clean side, antifascist anger and tributes to their years in the scene boast a healthy dose of riffs and anthems as always. The latter is what truly seems to keep them relevant, and if it aint broken, don't fix it! Listen Here

15. Armory - Mercurion

Dying Victims Productions - 8.5/10

Man, there's nothing like a good speed metal album that shows its roots without any extra aggression. Especially when it's done with an extra helping of intricacy, like Sweden's Armory. Mercurion takes a progressive step with their fast foundation, coating what's already firm with licks and solos that will fancy anyone with an ear for rhythmic intelligence. Never does it feel too pretentious, and you'll certainly need several listens to capture everything going on. Listen Here

14. Cryptivore - Celestial Existence

Awakening Records - 8.5/10

The Chinese label Awakening Records has managed to get at least one release on my list since my discovery of them, and one of this year's is the Australian one-man act Cryptivore. Celestial Existence is a furious death metal attack on the senses through overly guttural vocals and groovy riffs from start to finish. It's a very quick listen, but so much density is packed into the songs that it feels longer than it is. Another one that may be a bit to take in on first listen, but veteran fans of the genre will love this at first sight. Listen Here

13. Undeath - It's Time... To Rise From The Grave

Prosthetic Records - 8.5/10

Undeath have been on a serious hot streak since their first demo in 2019. The New York based U.S. death metallers have yet to put out a release that isn't impressive, and It's Time... To Rise From The Grave continues this trend. Chunky riffs that refuse to let go of groove under concise vocals and a touch of fun defines this band to the core. Nowhere are we let down, and while I may not quite measure it up to the debut full-length, their sophomore album is worth every minute. Listen Here

12. Begrime Exemious - Rotting In The Aftermath

Dark Descent Records - 8.5/10

I've said it before, I'll continue to say it. Every year, there's one (maybe two) incredible Dark Descent release amongst a bunch of generic death metal, and this year's standout is Begrime Exemious from Canada. Rotting In The Aftermath is a blackened death metal work of art that dials in the blackened elements in a way that doesn't grip the death foundation too hard. The unique output ends up being a gradient of shrieking evil and blasting drums over a majority riff-based record, churning out song after song under a thunderous production. If it's this genre, and it's adjacent to Necrophobic, then it's probably great. Listen Here

11. Roadhog - Gates To Madness

Ossuary Records - 8.5/10

Ever listen to something that seems a so generic that you have to describe it in comparison to other bands, yet they extract all of the best parts and accidently blend up a banger? That's Poland's Roadhog. Gates To Madness isn't their earliest outing, but these younger traditional metal freaks combine rock 'n roll aspects with speedier chugs and modern production for something that weirdly lands beautifully. Aspects of Manowar, Van Halen, or Rainbow come through clear as day, and the odd combo of these types works astonishingly well. Listen Here

10. Maule - Maule

Gates Of Hell Records - 9/10

Maule are a fresh Canadian heavy metal act that crafted a style that owes its roots to the classics but casts a harsher spell atop. Simply titled Maule, their debut is a compelling release that took a bit of time to full immerse into thanks to the odd combo of anger and hope. But because it's handled wonderfully, the finished product is wonderful just that as well. The basslines and heavy bottom are also crucial to holding up the higher momentum, which is understandable for certain bands that go the extra mile. It's the key to success with straightforward genres, and I love their vision. Listen Here

9. Venator - Echos From The Gutter

Dying Victims Productions - 9/10

Austria's Venator made a strong impression on me pretty early on with their debut Echoes From The Gutter. Despite being one of the more straightforward outfits, it's like they had traditional metal songwriting in their blood. Uplifting emotions and memorable choruses cross with catchy rhythms for a smooth ride that does all of the classic tropes nicely. There's a fuller feel with the addition of acoustics and toppings where needed, and the advanced solo work makes for some truly masterful passages. Worthwhile to anyone who likes the earliest styles. Listen Here

8. Predatory Light - Death And The Twilight Hours

20 Buck Spin - 9/10

There's gotta be at least one full on black metal release on every list, right? Look to the U.S. act Predatory Light for this year's strongest. Their second record Death And The Twilight Hours is extremely compelling and lays on doomier sides to a beautiful degree. Very seldom does a band like this win me over with catchiness, but all four of their songs sell me with exactly that. This type of writing obviously calls for longer tracks, and never do they feel like they should be broken down. Rather, progression and return to foundation is evident in every corner, and the sheer conciseness of something so harsh and crushing will win me over nine times out of then. Listen Here

7. Raptore - Blackfire

Dying Victims Production - 9/10

Care for some Latin American heavy metal? Argentina's Raptore are an outfit similar to Venator in their ability to take a basic traditional style and put their own unique identity to it. The sophomore full-length Blackfire is here on a silver platter, and man does it ever taste good. Staying as brief as can be, the special ingredient is injecting clean and uplifting lead guitar passages into a familiar style of riffing, and topping things off with memorable choruses. Not only does this set them apart, but it also acts as a breeding ground for some of the smoothest transitions into solo supremacy. Considering how typical this style is, they manage to do a lot. Listen Here

6. Species - To Find Deliverance

Awakening Records - 9.5/10

Have you ever wanted to listen to Atheist with more nods to thrash metal than death metal? If so, you're in luck. Species are a Polish outfit that squeeze in the same amount of jazz with a beefier dose of thrash, and their debut album To Find Deliverance is truly a masterpiece. Being one of the only albums on my list to fully immerse themselves into the progressive tag, they channel some of the most advanced bass work with spacy atmosphere you'll hear all year. The technology and science fiction obsessed group matches their abrasive vocals to the advanced rhythms, tying in wonderfully to leads that you can't get enough of. Every instrument is utilized to the fullest potential, and I can't get enough replay value out of it. Listen Here

5. Church Of Disgust - Weakest Is The Flesh

Hell's Headbangers - 9.5/10

Despite taking several releases to really sell me, the U.S. act Church Of Disgust managed to win the title of "best death metal record of the year." Weakest Is The Flesh tightened up all of the small complaints I've had about prior releases. Not only is the playing itself far more advanced and the crushing passages more mature, but the memorability and bounciness of the riffs are beautiful. Not too much production is done to drown out the actual musicianship, yet never does this really feel raw or undercooked. Vocally, things have peaked in matching the attitude with the filthy subject matter, and I really can't get enough of this one. If you want an OSDM album to stand out, this is the way. Listen Here 

4. Skull Fist - Paid In Full

Atomic Fire Records - 9.5/10

I've been pretty captivated by the Canadian heavy/speed metal act Skull Fist since Chasing The Dream, but Paid In Full have really given that one a run for its money. While they're typically focused on the speedy end of things, this sees a heavier nod towards the traditional metal passages. Powerful guitar leads and anthemic energy permeates every edge of this record, and the advanced writing shows that they're not afraid to step away from the basic idea that originally sold their fans. Some complained, but the uplifting energy on this gave them an entirely new way to channel their brilliance, and I'm now even more excited to see where things are taken in the future. Serious attention to detail becomes apparent, and anyone with an issue here is just full of themselves. Listen Here

3. Evil Invaders - Shattering Reflection

Napalm Records - 9.5/10

Evil Invaders are a Belgian speed/thrash outfit that I've been infatuated with for a few years now, and much like with Skull Fist, they've taken a slight leap towards something a bit more traditional oriented. Maintaining what made them great is still present, mixing well with the new direction. Blending softer styles and emotion into what feels contradicting has never worked so well. Palm mutes and harmonics are done in a way that don't overwhelm the listener. Epic power and vocal clarity have never met chaotic foundation so wonderfully, especially considering that the latter was the main sell with this band. Proper speed metal and bassline placement works as the icing on the cake, and I can safely say this is up there with Feed Me Violence. Listen Here

2. Sumerlands - Dreamkiller

Relapse Records - 9.5/10

Very seldom does something this late in the year fire up my list the way Sumerlands did. Being right in my backyard of Philadelphia, the U.S. rockers have combined AOR influence, traditional metal power, and cleanliness beyond belief into a disc of endless joy. Dreamkiller is the second album, expanding upon the debut immensely. Endorphins are touched through the aforementioned cleanliness, the catchiness of the vocal/guitar combos, and endless feelings of hope in a reality of despair. Albums that need zero hints of aggression to strike a hard chord will always impress me, but especially when it still lets in pockets of heaviness without fury. I may even go as far as saying that power metal ideas are used, but never does it become the center of attention. Truly an immaculate disc. Listen Here

1. Konquest - Time And Tyranny 

No Remorse Records - 10/10

And the award for album of the year goes to Italy's Konquest. Not only does Time And Tyranny basically touch the same feelings that Sumerlands does, but they do it entirely under the traditional metal umbrella. Their debut hardly impressed me, but this one surprised me by getting repeat listens one after another. Their Iron Maiden influence has always been clear, but never expanded upon in this way. Moving away from the reliance on choruses, their ability to utilize suspense and progressions in such a little amount of time proves to be immaculate. Brighter melodies take the forefront as often as the faster and more powerful bangers, and the way the two play into each other is god-tier. Imagery of cruising through time and space is nailed without pouring too much into subject matter, and the band's full capacity has been realized without a doubt. Heavieness, passion, suspense, emotion, endorphins, and integrity could all be descriptors, and never does one outdo the other. Listen Here

Album Review: Evil Invaders - Shattering Reflection

Evil Invaders - Shattering Reflection

Napalm Records - 2022

9.5/10

Evil Invaders have been a special love of mine since their last full length Feed Me Violence. Their unique vocal approach, ear for advanced riffing, and fun blend of traditional, speed, and thrash metal reaches heights that few others have pulled off. The Belgians have come forth this year with Shattering Reflection, an effort that boasts just the same tactics. Small tweaks to the formula are noticeable, but that’s all that’s needed for their brand. 

Really, this offers a little bit of everything. It becomes evident immediately on “Hissing In Crescendo” utilizing palm-mutes and harmonics that don’t cause a sensory overload. These heavier and more chaotic approaches sit nicely next to the calmer tunes. I’d nearly go as far as calling “In Deepest Black” a ballad coated in arms that protect against tainting the speedy aesthetic. Emotions run high here, and the way the lead guitars attach themselves to the vocals is honestly magical. Want some epic vibes that take the slow but powerful approach? Look to “Forgotten Memories” to fulfill this need.

More than anything, Evil Invaders combines these parameters so smoothly, not only from song to song, but within certain tracks. “Die For Me” rakes in energetic, Enforcer-like vibes with its speed metal meeting melodic, almost glammy progressions; the layers on this one are truly fantastic. The longer, borderline doomy “Eternal Darkness” flips all of the uplifting energy on its back, and acts as an anti-hero of the same aesthetic. Moreover, the advanced bass work and placement of the speed metal areas make this outstanding. Out of every album, the thrashing madness probably makes appearances the least on this record, but it’s really not needed this time around.

Without messing with the roots, Shattering Reflection matches the momentum of their last record beautifully. It takes a special kind of songwriting to achieve this outcome, and they’ve got every bit of it. Nothing pretentious, nothing over the top, nothing extreme, and nothing overly clean. Just fantastic musicianship and memorability from end to end. Easily recommended for fans of any traditional style, particularly if you fancy Enforcer, Beekeeper, Exodus, or Maule.

Listen -> Bandcamp

Album Review: Predatory Light - Death And The Twilight Hours

Predatory Light - Death And The Twilight Hours

20 Buck Spin - 2022

9/10

Like I say every year, there’s always an oversaturation of black metal albums hitting the market, but at least one that absolutely blows me away. This year’s platter was delivered by Predatory Light and their doom-laced brand that flattens whatever crosses its path. Death And The Twilight Hours is the U.S. based outfit’s second full-length. Having been around for nearly a decade, this is where a serious impression was made.

Much like many a death/doom masterpiece, this is only composed of a small handful of tracks, with two of them passing the ten-minute mark and swapping the “death” with “black.” It should come as no surprise that these songs work in phases, yet they manage to circle back around the slower pockets that act as the eye of the storm. The opening, thirteen minute epic “The Three Living And The Three Dead” keeps the exact same momentum for the whole run, making itself clear that it’s all one tune while breaking things up. Harsh tremolo chord progressions remain in line for the whole length, but never does it feel boring or repetitive. To top it off, the last two minutes or so doom out hard by slowing things down and rearranging the notes to feel like a proper outro that gives zero fucks about what’s in the way.

What really helps Death And The Twilight Hours is that there’s still a mild hint of melody in all of the guitars. Leads that I’d go as far as calling catchy manage to stay prevalent for the whole run. The fact that a genre usually delivered on such a piercing front can stay this smooth is beyond impressive. The blast beat drums work in and out of steadier riffs that pair together beautifully. On the flip-side, numbers that ride the doom waved like the title track feel extremely organic. The higher, dissonant guitars work with the black metal aesthetic, and the crawling collapse into an anthemic feeling war march vibe boost the entire song’s uniqueness. And don’t even get me started on the fret-happy solo at the end, because it gives a lot of classic metal solos a run for their money. 

Predatory Light is a great example of taking styles that have been matched together before and really spinning them to be something interesting. Almost never does an entity feel so dark and unsettling through an extreme scope while also holding catchy passages and melodic appeal. So much is squeezed out of so little, and you can never go wrong with that. I’d recommend this to anybody who has a hankering for extreme metal and heavy music that sticks to the melodic side.

Listen -> Bandcamp

Rank And Style: Top 5 EPs/Demos of 2022

2022 was one of the rare years where my purchases almost exclusively fell towards new full-length releases. Usually, there's a fairly even split, or at least a third of them come in the small format of demo or EP. This year, however, it wasn't nearly as hard to narrow it down to five as it was to narrow the full-lengths down to twenty. So what struck my interest in the form of shorties this year?

5. Malignant - Reign Of Decrepitude - 7.5/10

Malignant are an American death metal outfit that actually have two short releases to their name, 2018's Purity Through Putrefaction and this year's Reign Of Decrepitude. The two are now out in the form of a compilation, which I recommend picking up. Focusing on the latter, it's a very straightforward death metal attack that gives us two new tracks, as well as a banging cover of one of my favorite Cannibal Corpse tunes. Nothing overly innovative here, but this band shows some serious potential. Also, is that artwork not beautiful? Listen Here

4. Emaciated - Crucified From The Inside - 8/10

Emaciated didn't hit my radar until nearly the end of the year, another U.S. death metal outfit cracking my list at the last minute. This demo titled Crucified From The Inside is their very first release in any form beyond that of a single, and despite how disgusting and primitive it looks, things actually feel somewhat smooth. Burning hot guitars that know how to stay in their lane ride alongside clicking drums, with a small hint of breakdowns making an appearance. Again, nothing overly innovative, but also shows some serious potential. Listen Here

3. Dodskvad - Kronike II - 8/10

(disclaimer: please excuse the improper Norwegian character use, Blogger would not cooperate)

Getting more into the niche stuff, Norway's Dodskvad have followed up their debut 3-song EP Kronike I with four more tracks in Kronike II (translates to chronicle II). This is a style of death metal a little more towards the fantastical-meets-ancient history ground, and the second offering shows signs of being firm and sure of what they want. These unlovable tunes display a heavier helping of doom takes, alongside howling vocal releases and solos that still breathe a dense atmosphere. The percussion jumps through to a sharper degree than ever, and the tightness of this release makes me very eager for a full length. Everything is in Norwegian, and this also comes in a compilation form of both EPs, acting as a full-length. Listen Here

2. Scumslaught - Knives & Amphetamines - 9/10

Caligari Records really knocked it out of the park with the short releases this year. Scumslaught are a thrash act with crossover/punk leanings and blackened toppings from France. Their EP Knives & Amphetamines is as piercing and abrasive as it sounds. Channeling early Toxic Holocaust, this unforgiving act aims to attack the textural senses with extreme discomfort, dealing in harsh riffs to supplement painful and disgusting suffering. Crunchy aesthetic and mean vocal delivery manages to stay concise enough to take in this short blast to the face, coating itself in youthful rage and violent attitude. Definitely one of the most abrasive releases this year. They truly land what they were aiming for. Listen Here

1. Worm - Bluenothing - 9.5/10

Considering how much Worm blew me away last year with Foreverglade, it should be no surprise that the U.S. black/doom/death masterminds took such high praise from me with their EP Bluenothing. I didn't think the band would be able to measure up to their third full-length, but I'll be damned if this doesn't touch the same height. Really, it's a similar vibe with cooler colors and an atmosphere less dense. The black metal aesthetic is very pronounced, without ditching the cleaner wails and crushing foundation. But the amount of keys and higher leads contrast this all enough to give it an identity that isn't reflective to last year's masterpiece in an obvious way. Four songs scratch every itch, continuing the use of suspense and drawn out shrieks. Working in new tactics with what made them so great in the first place is the name of the game. If you want to match something you did so well before without it sounding like a repeat, this is truly the way to go. Listen Here

Album Review: Maule - Maule

Maule - Maule

Gates Of Hell Records - 2022

8.5/10

The Canadian heavy metal outfit Maule was brought to my attention in the midst of seeking out the massive bout of traditional metal albums that hit the scene this year. Having only a demo to their name, this self-titled debut album brings their simple foundation into bright fruition. It’s another one that makes its NWOBHM influence quite obvious from the start. 

Colorful leads and the obvious Iron Maiden flavors are revealed immediately. Musically, this lets on energetic and tasty flavors meant to invoke rising serotonin levels, tacking on the staple twin guitar attacks everywhere. What stands out is the raspiness of the vocals, something that usually isn’t paired with riffing as clean as this; if anything, it’s usually the opposite. I’ll admit that this combo took a hot minute to grow on me, but once it did, I was set.

If that isn’t enough, the basslines play a crucial role in Maule. “Summoner” especially lets this in with sharp ferocity, carefully placing the guitars atop with their already established noodly presence. Themes around the occult without feeling like a satanic panic gives this a lot of charm, which matches the semi-uplifting feeling. Moreover, catchy choruses that land a tough impression make their way onto almost every track, including the ones that lean a bit more towards the intricate guitar focus.

Part of why the vocal contrast with the instrumentation took so long to grow on me is because of how odd the combo of hope and anger feels. This has certainly been done before, but very seldom do I see it pulled off so smoothly. “Father Time” really tackles the threatening punches through slow ascent into several angles of discomforting delivery, yet it always resolves itself. The swift “Red Sonja” on the other hand takes the aggression and speed to the point that it borders a thrash metal tune. The title track has an incredible slow-gallop that taps into victorious march vibes, and all of these approaches connect to each other very well. 

Despite Maule’s clear visibility with their influence, I think they’ve managed to cook something somewhat unique up. It took me several listens to really grasp it, and there is probably a little bit of room for growth. But ultimately, the Canadian group has strong appeal and a decent idea of how to piece together intricate ideas without overdoing it. Easily worth seeking out for fans of Phantom, Black Sites, Konquest, and of course, Iron Maiden.

Listen -> Bandcamp

Album Review: Begrime Exemious - Rotting In The Aftermath

Begrime Exemious - Rotting In The Aftermath

Dark Descent Records - 2022

8.5/10

A few things seem to take place without fail every year. One, a blackened death metal album that truly strikes a chord, and two, Dark Descent putting out one worthwhile record amongst many I’d deem “alright death metal albums.” Begrime Exemious are the lucky bastards that take the title of both, this year. The Canadian outfit have been around for nearly two decades, but their fourth album Rotting In The Aftermath was the first one to take hold of my attention.

Typically, the Necrophobic approach of leaning far into the blackened aesthetic is what I go after in this style. Begrime Exemious managed to sell me by leaning the other direction. Vocally, they certainly lay on the freezing shrieks of the Norwegian type, and there’s a nip in the air of blast-beats and speed-picking. But the latter point is more to fill in the cracks, leaving plenty of space for death metal riffs and pacing. Not enough? The production blends the two together in a way concise enough to properly digest all elements.

So it should come as no surprise that there’s an even amount of groove and grit. The wavy feel of blistering drumlines under smoother rhythmic clarity works wonders. “Hell’s Embrace” leaves such a hot streak with its thunderous atmosphere, spearheaded by a constant toss of piercing black shrieks and pummeling death metal chord progression. The bridges manage to capture the energy at its peak levels, and the slow emergence of a solo drives everything home. The dooming out of “Infected Mind” shakes the foundation a bit, throwing in some extra spice.

Easily, I can conclude that Rotting In The Aftermath has won my interest. Their integration of the black metal elements couldn’t have been better placed among the cracks of the surface, and tossing in doomy licks here and there gave it plenty of charm. Solid production, and knowing how to keep things clean enough to not taint it with overproduction are the key to its ability to stick. Extreme metal fans of all types should lend their ears.

Listen -> Bandcamp

Historical Narrative: Patriots, Traitors, And Empires - The Story Of Korea’s Struggle For Freedom, by Stephen Gowans

Korea has been the subject of controversy for many years, despite how little much of the population could accurately speak about in good faith. Very little is actually known about the East Asian peninsula; certainly not enough to measure up to how much coverage it receives. Koreans have struggled for their freedom for well over a century, and author Stephan Gowans has put together an incredible work that highlights everything around this subject; from Japanese rule, to the Korean War, through the cold war and into today. Titled Patriots, Traitors, and Empires, he states that there is only one Korea, but two Korean states. Each one claims the other as illegitimate, which is a popular topic of discussion in our society, often backed by very little research. This book clears everything up, being loaded with research to point to the whys, in attempt to break any misconceptions one might have. My goal with this piece is to bring to light the important points outlined by Gowans for easier consumption, mostly focusing on the cause of the struggle and why it still remains.

Japanese Empire

The start of the struggle takes its roots near the end of the colonial days, when Russia, the United States, and Japan all had their eyes on Korea. Along with being a strong geopolitical location, Korea has always been very rich in natural resources and arable land. Japan's own land in particular was getting difficult to provide for enterprise needs, likely due to its small island size, especially in comparison with the Russian Empire and the United States. In 1894, Japan went to war with China due to Korea being a tributary of theirs. This was known as the Sino-Japanese war, and Japan seized control of the peninsula barely a year following.

But it wouldn't be long before Russia's ambitions would come into fruition. By 1904, the Russo-Japanese War commenced, also ending with a quick victory for Japan. Much of this war took place in northeastern China, playing into Japan's conquering of Manchuria. In 1905, U.S. president William Howard Taft would recognize Japanese control of Korea for the sake of East Asian stability, strengthening U.S. control over the Philippines.

Japanese control over Korea following these events saw the beginning of Korean struggles for independence and brutal repressions by foreign powers. Uprising caused tens of thousands to be killed or imprisoned, which was followed by the outlaw of Korean culture. Their political organizations were disbanded, education now focused on Japanese history and interest, Korean newspapers and public gatherings were prohibited, Japanese names and language were forced on everyone, and the worship of Shinto shrines would replace Korean religious practices.

While the building up of mines, railroads, industry and economy is typically a good thing, this was not done for the interest of Korean people, but Japanese benefit. Since Koreans were seen as a "sub-human race," they were super-exploited as a workforce, especially following alienation from their language and culture. By 1938, nearly 70% of Korean rice was exported to Japan for their own gain. Additionally, as many as 200,000 Korean women were sent to "comfort stations" for sexual slavery to the Japanese military. All of this horrendous treatment of the Korean people by Japan lasted through the end of World War II.

Kim Il-sung

All of this repression is what would lead to the patriot movements, most notably Kim Il-Sung. Because Woodrow Wilson's "Doctrine Of Self Determination" did nothing for Koreans, this guerilla fighter looked to Lenin's model in the USSR. Born Kim Sung-ju, he would later change his name like Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, and other leftist figures had done. Kim was born in 1912, the son of a guerilla fighter who also rejected Japanese colonization. His father was jailed for a short time, and upon release moved north to Manchuria. For a while, Manchuria acted as a safe-haven prior to becoming another Japanese puppet in 1931. Kim Il-sung joined the Chinese Communist Party, after spending years studying the works of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin, which explains why Koreans made up such a large portion of fighters in Manchuria. 

From this point forward, Kim devoted his life to fighting for Korea's freedom. Western propaganda would have you believe that he became a puppet of Joseph Stalin, despite it being clear that Koreans themselves saw him as the fit leader for their people. By 1936, at the young age of 24, Kim Il-sung became a communist party leader, the commander of the Third Division. His role was so significant that the Japanese military sought to hunt him down personally. A year later, he had gained so much popularity that even the U.S. turned their attention towards him. By now, he was commander of the Sixth Division of the Anti-Japanese Army. 

Lifted from the book, Kim Il-sung
greeting Women's International Democratic
Federation in 1951

United States Occupation

Japan's largest hit came upon entering World War II, as they would lose many of their assets. The eventual surrender is what lead to the Korean split. In 1945, John J. McCloy, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of War, ordered colonels to divide the peninsula for the Soviets in the north and the United States in the south in order to accept Japanese surrender. The 38th Parallel was strategically chosen to place the capital of Seoul in the south, where the United States would occupy, since Washington deemed Koreans incapable of governing themselves. Once again, the dehumanization of Koreans was taking place. 

No Korean wanted their land split between superpowers, considering the possibility of future war between socialist and capitalist forces. So it was understood that after five years, both superpowers would end occupation and let Koreans govern themselves. Three years later, in 1948, the Soviets left. They recognized the indigenous government structure, leading to the north becoming what it is known as today, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or the DPRK, with their capital being Pyongyang. The United States didn't grant the south the same liberties. Instead, they denounced the north, refused to recognize people's committees that formed in the south, and imposed a military occupation.

Throughout Japanese occupation, Japan enlisted Korean traitors to fill their ranks and rule over their own people, acting as puppets to the Japanese state to carry out their interests. When the U.S. entered the picture, it became as simple as swapping them out for Washington's interests. When the south went under U.S. military control, they were integrated into roles for the same reason.

Democratic People's Republic Of Korea

Considering how far Korea's efforts had come with expelling Japan's parasitic occupation, the United States would reverse as much as they could. As U.S. forces marched onto their land after not spilling an ounce of blood against Japanese occupation, the DPRK looked to the Soviets once more for inspiration, especially since they did play a role in assisting with liberation. 

Korean people groups quickly took formation to enact democratic reform. This included redistributing land to workers from landlords, nationalizing large industries that previously belonged to Japan, and reducing the working day to eight hours. Kim Il-sung took the leadership role in provisional government as early as 1946, following his return from Manchuria to a now liberated Korea. The Korean peoples' admiration for his liberation struggle was what got him this role, reaffirming that it was not orchestrated by the USSR.

Autonomous leadership came out of the aforementioned people groups, which is easy to understand when you consider the four decades of hardship and humiliation by Japan. Kim was highly designated for his role in this, but it should also be noted that Soviet efforts between 1945 and 1948 didn't go unnoticed, either. By the time the North Korean state took formation, landlords would flee to south, where parasitic lifestyles were far more acceptable.

Republic Of Korea

Things were a bit different in the south, which would become the Republic of Korea, or the ROK. John R. Hodge was the commanding general of U.S. forces in Korea, and he proposed a four-point plan to stop the independence movement in the south for America's own gains. This consisted of building an army of former Japanese officers, rebuilding their former national police, strengthening right-wing collaborations/anti-egalitarian alliances, and jailing opponents of the new U.S. imposed regime. Uprisings, strikes, and rebellions would form. By 1949, as many as 30,000 leftists were rounded up and jailed. Prisons would get so full that the puppet government resorted to establishing concentration camps. Simply forming a union strike could land you in one.

American occupation forces and their Korean military puppets would have anywhere between 100,000 and 200,000 Koreans killed by 1950. After spending several decades in the United States, while Kim Il-sung was fighting Japan in Manchuria, Syngman-Rhee would take power in the south. He was seen as the perfect puppet-leader in the south due to still having some anti-Japanese sentiments, working in the new puppet state's favor. Declassified CIA documents reveal that there were strong communist movements in the south, which needed to be dealt with. The National Guidance League was set up to coerce patriots into disowning their commitment to revolution. When the Korean War broke out, many were never heard of again, up to 300,000.

Syngman Rhee

National Security Law is something that still exists today, a product of this campaign enacted in 1948. It's used against patriots committed to the liberation of their country, or showing sympathy to the DPRK. It paints the north as a state illegally occupying the peninsula, despite the DPRK's government being made up of Koreans, not remnants of Japan or the United States. Sending money to anyone in the north, forming movements against the ROK, or even publicly speaking statements that are made in Gowans's book can land you in jail.

The Korean War

Both states saw the entire peninsula as its own jurisdiction, projecting any movement over the 38th parallel as an act of aggression by the other state. The ROK's very foundation was seen as an act of war by the north, considering that Koreans didn't want to be part of another empire, but instead wanted self determination. These complications also make it difficult to note which side crossed the line first, but it makes little difference considering that hostilities existed several months before with both states claiming full sovereignty.

The Korean War started on June 25th of 1950. Within literal weeks, Seoul was liberated and the ROK collapsed rapidly. Syngman Rhee and some of his forces fled, while others defected to the north. By August of that year, 9/10 of the peninsula was freed, with the ROK only maintaining control in Pusan in the southeast tip. Kim Il-sung would call for the restoration of people's committees, organization of land reforms, and redistributing property that was handed to landlords from prior Japanese occupation. Most of this was simply taking what already occurred in the north and applying it to the south

About a month later, Douglas MacArthur, the General of the Army for the United States, landed in the Inchon portion of Seoul to recapture it. On president Harry Truman's authorization, he marched north towards the Yalu River, which acts as the border with China. This caused China to enter the war, and Mao Tse Tung deployed an army force of 300,000 to help prevent the occupation of U.S. forces. Many see this as a mini-war within the Korean War, known as the Sino-American War. U.S. forces had been pushed back to the 38th Parallel by December.

This action caused Truman to declare a national emergency. MacArthur would call for the use of a nuclear strike, much like was done in Japan five years earlier. Truman declined this request, but the damage done over the next two years was more than equivalent to that of a nuclear attack. MacArthur was told to "create a wasteland, and burn to the ground every city, factory, and village between the 38th parallel and China." Roughly 635,000 tons of bombs were dropped, including 32,557 tons of napalm. Nearly 10% of the Korean population died or were injured from this action.

By the end of the war in 1953, only single modern buildings remained standing amidst the rubble in the northern cities. 8,700 factories, 5,000 schools, 1,000 hospitals, and 600,000 homes were destroyed. Subterranean methods of survival became necessary in this time period, which is why it's said that by autumn of 1952, the DPRK had been sent "back to the dark ages." If this wasn't enough, irrigation dams along the Yalu River became targets by the U.S. Five reservoirs were destroyed, and acres of farmland and towns were flooded. Today, this is still considered an imperialist war. Open hostility still exists, since the war "ended" in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

Anti-Communism And The Police State

Following complete devastation of their state, the DPRK's focus would have to shift from full sovereignty over Korea to a defensive narrative against Washington's threat. The ROK became a full military dictatorship, once again suppressing Koreans' goal of sovereignty over themselves. They were in the hands of Japan from 1896 until 1945, and the grip of the United States ever since. Kim Il-sung's picture became banned from publication, and his story was told to be placed by the hands of the USSR.

Brainwashing didn't end there. Syngman Rhee and the National Security Law caused this to go on for decades. A poet named Kim Chi-ha was arrested simply for writing about class division in the 1970s. In 1976, Koreans who signed the declaration commemorating up-rise against the Japanese were imprisoned. The law even permitted university students reading about DPRK ideology to be arrested. Demonstrators against unemployment and economic crises were arrested by military leader Kim Dae-jung, one that would defect amongst a death sentence, and later return to become president. Kim Suk Hyun served 32 years in prison for refusing to denounce the DPRK, being released at the age of 79.

On the other hand, in 1960, Kim Il-sung proposed a re-unification of Korea under two governments of one single state. This was meant to maintain both systems, but rid the peninsula of foreign troops occupying their land. It greatly displeased the United States, considering that the ROK was (and is) their largest power projection in the east. Upon rejection, a crowd of 100,000 angry citizens and students gathered outside of Syngman Rhee's presidential palace. Police opened fire into these crowds.

Rhee would eventually flee, leading to military leader occupation of the government for the next 32 years. Park Chung-hee took over next, commencing the writing of a new constitution, banning any criticism of government and allowing himself full control over the government. This lead to the prevention of work stoppages, and eventually to the economic crises in 1979. The KCIA (Korean CIA) disposed of him.

General Chun Doo Hwan took over in the form of a coup at the command of the U.S. general John J. Wickham Jr. In the spring of 1980, students protested this, and the government sent out paratroopers to murder indiscriminately. This resulted in 1,500 deaths, including that of women and children. A year later, he was inaugurated as president, when he mentioned Nazi Germany's effective use of concentration camps to terrorize the left. A system like this was then set up in the mountains of South Korea, and he remained in power until 1993.

U.S. Power Projection And DPRK's Alternative

Due to the collapse of the USSR (read more about this here), political space opened up for Korea. Command was handed to Koreans in the south in 1993, keeping all prior laws in tact. The U.S. was also still allowed to intervene, should a time of war erupt again. This is where rumors of the DPRK being a threat, rather than being threatened, came about. This is a fallacy, considering that the ROK military already severely outdid that of the DPRK. In fact, the DPRK's entire military budget is equivalent to that of the New York City Police Department. The ROK has the ability to blast the DPRK "to oblivion" (again). This should be enough proof to show that the U.S. presence in Korea isn't out of defense, but to project power. They've even used South Korean military arms to fight wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq for their own interests.

The DPRK's constitution is that of a socialist state, said to represent all Koreans, guided by an ideology called Juche. Juche is about self-autonomy and independence, stressing the importance of patriots' national history and not relying on world powers, since that let them down with Woodrow Wilson's doctrine. The ROK's constitution is one of "democracy" and "freedom," two terms that it fails to define. If you look at the ROK's history, it becomes obvious that this is exclusive to right wing collaborators only. It should be noted that the DPRK uses the term "re-unification," while the ROK uses "unification."

Unity with people all around the world who wish to defend their independence is also considered important in the DPRK. They run two different types of economy; one through the state, and co-op enterprises. The eight hour workday is even shorter for what's considered "arduous tasks." They are allowed to work based on their skills, and are paid according to how much they contribute. On the contrary, workers in the ROK often work 60+ hour weeks, and many don't take paid vacations.

Weakening of the DPRK is carried out through Washington via aggressive military pressure and isolation. The former takes this position by threatening them with military presence at the borders, causing a need to flow cash from civilians to military efforts for security. The latter is the effect of a network of sanctions to prevent vital economic input. Hunger and malnutrition in North Korea has caused more deaths than the atom bomb in Japan, which can be directly linked to this isolation and military threat. 

There's a long history of economic growth under socialism until the point of outside invasion or sabotage; see the USSR, China, or Cuba. A report in 2010 by Amnesty International blamed the sanctions' effects on the current state of the DPRK, saying that it could not protect nor fulfill the health needs of its citizens. Military border hostility includes warships patrolling DPRK maritime borders, flying close to its airspace, and keeping nuclear weapons on the peninsula (prior to the north acquiring their own nuclear capability). In summary, you could say that the U.S. boosted the ROK economy as much as it could, giving them aid, and trying its best to cripple the north as much as it could. 

My Conclusions

Personally, I found Stephen Gowans's Patriots, Traitors, And Empires to not only be one of the most eye-opening books I've ever read, but one that also made me sick to my stomach at some points. Everyone knows how bad the horrors of war can get, but certain aspects seem exponential in comparison even to that; the Korean War is no exception.

It often begs the questions; "Why is North Korea so weird?" "Why are they so isolated?" "What actually goes on there?" etc. Seldom does the explanation include U.S. meddling and colonial roots to explain the problems that a nation faces in capitalist media. The DPRK is perceived in horrible light to many Americans, including some self-proclaimed "leftists" who tend to be liberals that won't do a lick of research on something that might seem too bizarre to be true. Odds are, it is. The power projection mentioned several times in this book shows the sourcing of our information on North Korea commonly coming from the south, where a claim is picked up, fabricated, and viewed as truth despite it either being entirely false or mostly false by leaving out crucial context. It's far easier to get clicks and clouts by bringing up some nonsense claim about a nation that's projected as a crazy one-man dictatorship, rather than proper logic and research that would explain the undeniable issues of an isolated third-world nation. You have to wonder how journalists can be okay with being this dishonest.

DPRK capital, Pyongyang

All things considered, the DPRK is a state that rose from the ashes of brutal Japanese suppression. It then suffered through a complete obliteration of their land at the hands of the United States within living memory. It then rebuilt and recovered amongst merciless sanctions, and still continues to live under U.S. threat at the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) and surrounding areas today. I'd wager that the only reason the U.S. hasn't launched another direct attack is because of them attaining nuclear weapons for the sake of defense. Infrastructure has since grown tremendously, cities have popped up, and when you look at the nation's history, it becomes easy to see why they have the problems they face.

There are plenty of valid criticisms around North Korea, Kim Jong-un, and the state. None of them line up with the popular picture that is painted of the DPRK, and while this is usually where I would discuss them, we're going to save that for another time, considering that it gets enough invalid criticism as is. The focus here is Korea's struggle for freedom, not what I think should change in the DPRK. Issues that are valid, along the lines of hunger, poverty, and state laws are brought up time and time again, yet almost none of them will link to the horrendous history they've faced, nor the sanctions imposed to prevent vital needs. The amount of money that the U.S. dumps into South Korea's economy and how much they control it is also left out every time. Ridiculous, and often times racist rumors are peddled to the point that I'm baffled that grown adults believe it. The plague of looking to anecdotal evidence and nothing else runs rampant in America, and North Korea is no exception. Stories of trying to escape the impoverished nation due to its imperialist struggle will be told, yet nobody will mention why things are the way they are. Furthermore, no mention of the cash incentive for defectors to demonize the DPRK to media gets brought up. You could escape a poor situation in any country and weaponize it against that nation itself. Never will the mention of South Korean military dictatorships and mass suppression of socialists hit the surface. At the end of the day, the goal is to paint the DPRK as this horrid, underdeveloped, haunting state that acts as a world threat, while painting the ROK as a developed nation of their own accord, as if it wasn't propped up by the world's largest superpower, and all but completely controlled by it. Such narratives about many countries have taken hold all throughout U.S. history, particularly in countries they either invaded, meddled in, or funded death squads for. This book does an incredible job of showing that role in Korea's case, and I can't recommend reading the book yourself enough.

Koreans have struggled for freedom for well over a century now, and only half of the peninsula has self-autonomy, made very difficult by capitalist powers. The other half is stuff under occupation, keeping the entire peninsula at war. North Korea is far from perfect. It's a third world country that faces all of the issues that any third world country would face. There is so much to understand about it, and to get a good idea of how the nation operates theses days, check out this Youtube channel. To any educated individual, it would make sense that the DPRK faces so many issues, but it's equally important to understand its history, its culture, and view things in a nuanced sense that aren't so black and white.