You can find the Collective List as well as all our Best of 2022 content including contributors’ individual lists, podcasts and radio DJ shows here: CGCM’s Best of 2022 (Year in Review)
BEST OF 2022 – B-Rock (Radio DJ) 🇺🇸
Top 10 lists have become a “go-to” beginning of the year ritual for us all to reflect on the past year, and also find what may have slipped past us. A Top 10 list is unique to the individual writing it, mine is not another’s. Also, we come to identify with one another as our tastes align, but, still, the list is different. Thank you for stopping by to check my list out and I hope you find it informative and possibly take a band or 2 you may not know, with you and possibly become a new fan!
ENJOY!
10 – DAN REED NETWORK – Let’s Hear It For The King 🇺🇸
This album made my Top 10 due to its ability to stand out from the crowd. Hard Rock fused with Funk is what this record is all about and Dan Reed Network makes it gel perfectly! Lyrically and musically this album is amazing! D.R.N. has been around since the 80s but this is hands down their hardest rockin’ album to date. If you are looking for something that is different, yet familiar, with many different depths working toward one goal, check it out. OH, that one goal is the preservation of unfucked Rock ‘N Roll!
Standout tracks: “Pretty Karma“, “Let’s Hear It For The King“, “Unfuck My World“, “The Ghost Inside“.
9 – SCORPIONS – Rock Believer 🇩🇪
The only thing that excited me about Scorpions since Crazy World were their once in awhile live shows. Sure, they had released albums since then but, for me, they fell flat. That changed this year with the release of Rock Believer! Scorpions are back! This release made me feel the STING again! Rock Believer brings back the feels from Blackout, Love At First Sting and Animal Magnetism. This is the album I knew they still had in them, the album I had been praying to the Rock Gods for! The mighty Germans have once again claimed what’s theirs and made me a Scorpions – Rock Believer once again!
Standout tracks: “Knock ‘Em Dead“, “Rock Believer“, “Call Of The Wild“, “Hot and Cold“.
8 – HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Abrakadabra 🇸🇪
There is NO DOUBT that when it comes to Hardcore Superstar, they have a fan base that is not only dedicated…they are RABID! I have always liked H.S. but a listen or 2 to their albums have usually been enough for me. The release of Abrakadabra changed that. This album is in my Top 10 this year because I feel this is stronger. This is the album I have been waiting for from H.S. Heavy, yet mature…sleazy and raw, yet well polished and refined. Yeah, that doesn’t sound right to me either but this album is so damn good who gives a shit how you describe it! Hardcore Superstar isn’t going anywhere any time soon, Abrakadabra just proves they still have so much to give and we have not heard or seen anything yet!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Abrakadabra (Rachel Leigh Vendetta)
7 – ICONIC – Second Skin 🇺🇸
What do you get when you take Joel Hoekstra and Michael Sweet and team them up with Marco Mendoza, Tommy Aldridge and Nathan James…well…you get something ICONIC! The vocal duality alone between Sweet and James would be great all on its own and is STELLAR! These 2 complement each other fantastically! Joel is a madman on guitar throughout and Mendoza and legendary drummer Aldridge lay down a thunderous foundation that is spectacular. THIS is the DEFINITION of Supergroup. This band was not dumped together in a studio to make a great single with alot of filler – this is a trademark “all killer, no filler” album.
Standout tracks: “Fast As You Can“, “Second Skin“, “Nowhere To Run“, “This Way“.
6 – GIRISH & THE CHRONICLES – Hail To The Heroes 🇮🇳
Remember back in 2020 when you first heard “Rock N Roll Is Here To Stay” from Indian rockers Girish and the Chronicles, and you were blown away? Well, get ready for an entire album of pure, kick-your-ass rock n roll from this band! Their sophomore release, Hail To The Heroes, is not just good, it is a MUST-HAVE piece of Hard Rock FANTASTICNESS! This Band got way better with this record and is only going up. Screaming guitars, scratchy, soaring vocals, a foundation full of thunder and ferocity are what define GATC and this band is just getting started.
Standout tracks: “Children Of The Night“, “I’m Not The Devil“, “Lover’s Train“.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail to the Heroes (Dave Wilks)
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5 – QUEENSRYCHE – Digital Noise Alliance 🇺🇸
With every Queensryche release since Empire, I get excited, until I hear it. Well, with the release of Digital Noise Alliance this year, that changed! This is familiar ‘Ryche, this is what I have been craving for DECADES, and I finally got it! This is fresh, new Queensryche with hints and sprinkles of the classic sound! It is a definite feast for your ears and mind… that’s right…”The Thinking Mans Rock Band” has come to life! OH, and do yourself a favour and listen to this album at least once through headphones!
Standout tracks: “Nocturnal Light“, “Lost In Sorrow“, “Realms“.
4 – TREAT – The Endgame 🇸🇪
Consistency…that is what you get from Treat, and The Endgame is no exception. Treat consistently puts out great albums, under the radar and without a lot of recognition or fanfare. The Endgame is one of their hardest rockin’ ventures yet. This band combines Hard and Melodic Rock beautifully, add well-thought-out lyrics and you have a recipe that has been working for over 3 decades. The Endgame is their strongest yet and is a must for your music collection.
Standout tracks: “Carolina Reaper“, “Freudian Slip“, “Sinbiosis“, “Wake Me When It’s Over“.
3 – H.E.A.T – Force Majure 🇸🇪
A HEAVY foundation, SOARING vocals and guitars and harmonies to the MOON have always been expected from H.E.A.T and Force Majure does not deter from that super combination. Erik has left and Kenny has returned and this band continues to do what they do best, Melodic Rock with a hard edge. H.E.A.T continues to be a force in the Melodic Rock world. We were concerned as to what may come to this band when Erik left, but we all breathed a collective sigh of relief when our ears were treated to what Kenny did and brought to the band. The FORCE is strong with H.E.A.T!
Standout tracks: “Back To The Rhythm“, “Tainted Blood“, “One Of Us“, “Harder To Breathe“.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: H.E.A.T. – Force Majeure (Kryfar)
2 – SKID ROW – The Gang’s All Here 🇺🇸
When the first single, “The Gang’s All Here“, dropped back in March, we were hopeful. When the second single, “Tear It Down“, hit, we were excited. By the time the 3rd single, “Time Bomb” exploded, we were now chomping at the bit for the album! The Gang’s All Here landed in our lap in October and it took our ears prisoner. This is a total return to form for the Skid Row we know and LOVE! This is the album that makes you stand up and shout “THANK YOU” to the Rock Gods! The addition of Erik Gronwall to this band put this album over the top and made the whole rock world take notice and showed that good ‘ole Heavy Rock is not dead yet!
Standout tracks: “Resurrected“, “The Gang’s All Here“, “When The Lights Come On“, “Tear It Down“.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: SKID ROW – The Gang’s All Here (Kryfar)
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
1 – PERFECT PLAN – Brace For Impact 🇸🇪
The title of this album says it all, Brace For Impact. I surely was not prepared! Sometimes an album comes along that feels perfect in every way, Perfect Plan‘s 4th album overall featuring vocalist Kent Hilli is THAT album. No matter if Hard Rock, AOR or Melodic Rock is your fancy, this album will satisfy that hunger and more. Heavy-hitting Hard Rock, catchy hooks, amazing vocal harmonies and a HUGE sound has landed this album on top for me. Take a bow Kent, Rolf, Mats, Leif and Fredrik – This. Is. Perfect.(Plan)
Standout tracks: “Love Walks In“, “Can’t Let You Win“, “Devil’s Got The Blues“, “Stop The Bleed“.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: PERFECT PLAN – Brace for Impact (MetalMike71)
