2022 - A Year in Review

2022 was a bit of a mental year in terms of music. We had some pretty huge new records, new bands come out of the woodwork and making history, and some truly earth shattering talent sadly leaving us. It's been an up and down year, but it finally called in the revival of live music, with festivals and gigs finally back in full swing. I thought I'd share some of my personal highlights from 2022, and my hopes for all things 2023.

(Iron Maiden performing live in 2022 - Image courtesy of Revolver)

Let's talk new albums first, because it's safe to say I have some highlights from all across last year. For me, the record that really takes the cake is Ghost's IMPERIA. This record encapsulated everything the genre needed from Ghost, from head banging classics to orchestral tongue in cheek ragers, IMPERIA blazed a path a lot of pro musicians have struggled to in fifty years of metal pedigree with serious ease and skill. Safe to say, all eyes are on Tobias Forge for the next tour cycle across Europe in 2023, with the band promising an exiting new change to their live presentations, but I have no doubt whatever comes next will be just as amazing.

I'd also be amiss not to mention The End, So Far, a Slipknot record so multifaceted and experimental that it divided maggot's opinions in two. Finally spreading their creative wings and throwing more curveballs than Papa Emeritus, Slipknot slammed through their final record with Roadrunner, with no two songs sounding similar, and every member of the nine getting their time in the sun. If you ever needed an excuse to get into Slipknot, your time is now, because they're headlining the final day of Download festival this year, and continue to tour across the world.

On another note, ladies and gents, the rumours are indeed true, The 1975 do keep getting better and better. With their new record Being Funny in a Foreign Language truly presenting a band at the top of their game. The band have really polished their signature style on this album, with songs like Looking for Somebody (To Love), Part of the Band and Happiness demonstrating the classic 1975 recipe still works to this day. All parts beautiful, lively and breath-taking, Being Funny in a Foreign Language is a showcase of what happens when amazing musicians collaborate to make amazing art.

Back to the metal-verse with this one, as Ozzy Osbourne released Patient Number Nine. A guitar-centric album packed with enough love letters to metal to make even Lemmy blush, Patient Number Nine was a hard hitting record with some very impressive vocal work from the prince of darkness himself. Filled with excellent song writing, some brilliant production, and more guitar solos you can shake a tremolo bar at, this was really a highlight of the year, and marked Ozzy once again (as if there was any doubt) as one of the all time gods of his craft. Ozzy and his band continue to tour throughout 2023, and I'm lucky enough to be seeing him at the O2 during his run - that gig can't come soon enough.

New kid on the block Brakence shattered everyone's expectations with new album Hypochondriac, me included. This passionate, emotional and sonically exquisite record is one of, if not the greatest pop adjacent records of this year. Merging hyper pop, R&B, rap and even some indie, this record proves Brakence is here to stay, and he has every right to be considered one of the greatest pioneers in his lane, which not a lot can admit to these days.

A record I've been shouting about personally, but not posted on this blog yet, FTHC is also a highlight for 2022. Introduced to him while working at one of his gigs, Frank Turner is a heavyweight of punk rock fusion, with a gravelly voice and true talent for emotive song writing. FTHC see's Turner's return to his hardcore punk roots, while telling a story of heartache and struggle over the past few years, and has since become one of my favourite records to date. Full of bitterness, anger and (believe it or not) hope, FTHC is a corker of an album, and deserves a listen if you haven't already.

Datura. What can I say? Boston Manor go strength to strength with every record they make, and this one is no exception. Getting some serious critical acclaim this year, the Blackpool band storm on and on, proving on this latest record why they deserve all the attention they've been receiving. Full of highlights and playlist rocking singles, Datura is proof that the UK rock and underground scene is alive and well, and in astonishingly good hands, and I'd know, I met Henry Cox.

As far as singles go, I have to say something about Peirce the Veil's new tracks that came out at the latter end of 2022. Pass the Nirvana is a return to their roots, with insane blast beats and enough meaty riffs to satisfy your withdrawals from listening to King for a Day for the thousandth time. It's a celebration of all that's good about this punk rock powerhouse of a band, and I hope they continue along both this course and the other, Emergency Contact. A more touching and slow jam, Emergency Contact is full of brilliant complex songwriting, perfect instrumentation and some really hard hitting vocal delivery. I'd check them both out, because I have a feeling they'll be coming back in a big way once they release their new record The Jaws of Life in the coming year.

Live music now, and safe to say I've certainly had bands to add to the list of concerts I've attended. From oddball bands like The Buzzcocks, The Jam and The Enemy to some really top class acts like Fall Out Boy, Green Day and Frank Turner, I've been so lucky to enjoy the live music I have in 2022. After the years of lockdowns, disappointment and uncertainty, live music came back in a massive way. Bands have been touring the globe, finally being able to do what they do best, play music to anyone who'll listen. I finally got to go to the Hella Mega Tour, and live out a dream I've had since I was 13 of seeing Fall Out Boy and Green Day live after two years of waiting patiently through lockdown. Have a peek at my list of gig's I've attended this year, I get to see a lot of bands through my work, and a lot of new music I found was from support acts and groups that came on before the headliners:

1. Green Day

2. Fall Out Boy

3. Weezer

4. Amyl and the Sniffers

5. Scouting for Girls

6. Pet Needs

7. Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls

8. The Enemy

9. Sports Team

10. CMFT

11. The Buzzcocks

12. The Jam

13. Brooke Combe

14. Blossoms

A wild mix, but still an amazing one, and I'm truly grateful for all the acts I've seen over 2022. I've only got one concert on the horizon for this year, that being Ozzy Osbourne at the O2 this June, but I'm waiting out for a couple of bands to announce their way back onto British soil, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed....

Sadly there can't be such amazing highs, without a few lows, and 2022 certainly had them. We lost a lot of amazing talent this year, including Taylor Hawkins , Meat Loaf, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pharoah Sanders, Jonny Z, Christine McVie, Olivia Newton-John, Coolio, Gal Costa, Lata Mangeshkar, George Crumb, Vangelis, Ronnie Spector, DJ Kay Slay, Maria Ewing, Mo Ostin and many many more. Each one left their own legacy on this planet through their art and their music, and will be remembered for the strives they made in an industry they loved. They will be missed.

So, overall 2022 was a wild ride, and left us with some truly amazing music. I'm really looking forward to 2023, and all it has to offer. Here's to a new year full of insane music, new strives, new gear, and some music by the bands we all love. And don't worry ladies and gents, I still don't have a life, so I'll review it all.