When a year goes by as quickly as 2022 does, it’s so easy to forget how much amazing music has come out – but damn, what a year it’s been! 2022 saw me break free once and for all of the corporate life and go out on my own, which has meant 12 months of non-stop music and I couldn’t be happier. Revisiting musical memory lane for this year in review has equally revealed the kickass quality of tunes in 2022 as well as my limited grasp on the concept of time. Let’s do this!
TOP 10 RELEASES OF 2022
10. Ocean Grove – Up In The Air Forever
9. Reliqa – I Don’t Know What I Am
8. Man-Made Sunshine – Man-Made Sunshine
7. Thornhill – Heroine
6. Meshuggah – Immutable
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK8LIlvnFS8
5. Parkway Drive – Darker Still
4. Dead Cross – II
3. Greg Puciato – Mirrorcell
2. Alexisonfire – Otherness
1. He Is Legend – ENDLESS HALLWAY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICUpwQ59h8I
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2022
10. Ways Away – ‘(I’m Not) Laughing with You’
9. Spiritbox – ‘Rotoscope’
8. Lamb of God – ‘Ditch’
7. Void Of Vision – ‘HELL HELL HELL’
6. Paramore – ‘This Is Why’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpl28kp5WVA
5. Halestorm – ‘Bombshell’
4. The Bronx – ‘Blowtorch’
3. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – ‘The Drugs’
2. Make Them Suffer – ‘Doomswitch’
1. RedHook – ‘Say’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDcLenwEdUI
TOP 5 MUSIC VIDEOS OF 2022
5. RedHook – ‘Jabberwocky’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Agw8FpphvWo
4. Alexisonfire – ‘Sweet Dreams of Otherness’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OPsL0wsNL4
3. Stray From The Path - 'Guillotine'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyVn13AXqXk
2. Cancer Bats – ‘Lonely Bong’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UECc6BJAR4
1. Make Them Suffer – ‘Doomswitch’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSW5gBfdR_8
BEST GIG YOU CAUGHT THIS YEAR?
Aussie Band: Sunk Loto kicking off their reunion show on the Gold Coast. Simultaneously a blast from the past and proof these guys are ageing like the finest of wines.
International Band: Deftones at Good Things. The sun was setting, Chino was in full rock god mode and hearing those songs that rattled my teenage brain finally live in action (yes, I missed them way too many times in the past)…well, that’s pretty hard to top.
Photo by Bec O’Reilly.
FAVOURITE CONTRIBUTION YOU PRODUCED?
Simultaneously juggling multiple PR jobs, writing for a heap of outlets and still running my own site The Soundcheck in the background has been interesting to say the least in 2022… but I am proud of the fact that I somehow busted out an unplanned second season of my podcast ‘Behind The Soundcheck’ this year amongst all of the madness. It started simply by interviewing the amazing Jacob Lee earlier in the year, and before I know it I had another 10 episodes under my belt featuring chats with some amazing people around the industry, including Jason and Luke from SunkLoto, Lucas from Hammers, DevinTownsend, Ben from Slowly Slowly and Mr Schuylar Croom from He Is Legend.
I was also extremely honoured and mildly terrified to be trusted to host and help launch the impending Good Things TV series, which resulted in 15+ interviews in one day on the ground at Good Things Fest in Melbourne. Sitting opposite some of my own musical idols and rambling with them about music for an entire day…well, it’s a genuine pinch-me moment for a girl who was once too afraid to chase her dreams because of what other people might think. And not too shabby for a hectic introvert.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ClhhXwkSqK5/
FAV NEW BAND/MUSICIAN DISCOVERED IN 2022
The Mysterines. A mate stumbled onto them on Spotify and showed me, and I was instantly hooked. I know I’m very late to the party since they’ve been around for a good couple of years, but cranking their tune ‘Life’s a Bitch (But I Like it So Much)’ gave me all of the dopamine on those days you just need a swaggering boost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfG5b8pW3pU
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2023
I think the secret is already very much out, but Reliqa are just primed to explode. Insanely talented musicians, clever songwriters and a live show that’ll melt your face off. Plus, they are some of the loveliest humans in the scene. 2023 is undoubtedly going to be massive for them, and I am entirely here for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le4RTcUsYYA
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023
Aside from all of the tours that are already raining next year, seriously Dallas Green is going to make me so poor coming out with both Alexisonfire and City and Colour…but I can confirm myself and a great mate Will Hunter will be launching our own artist management company in the new year, Clarity Creative, which means more music/less spare time. Beyond that, I’m looking forward to even more tunes, time spent with more epic people and the modest lower back pain that comes with being in your mid-30s and attending multiple gigs and festivals.
Written by Tiana Speter @tiana_elena
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