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 – Eric Lussier (Writer) 🇨🇦
Hello Ladies and Gentleman!!! It’s been a while. Life happens and next thing you know the end of the year is upon us! We all know what that means here at CGCM Rock Radio!! It’s time for our Top 10 albums of the year!!!! Each one of us at the radio station takes the time out of our busy life and write up on what we think were the biggest best albums of the year!! Of course, we all have different opinions and this is what makes this Top 10 so wonderful. And now without any further ado here are Dr. Tardis‘ (Eric Lussier) Best of 2022.
10 – DERAPS – Deraps 🇨🇦
Deraps‘ self-titled debut album is the best way to start my Top 10. These guys took the Van Halen sound and made it their own. They are simply a joy to listen to and their music brings you back to the early days of Van Halen, of course with their own unique blend.
Deraps is: Jacob Deraps lead guitar and lead vocals, Josh Gallagher on drums and background vocals, and William Lachance on bass.
This trio are great; amazing riffs and beats pure classic rock sound! If you haven’t heard of these boys yet go where ever you get your music and add them to your playlist.
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
09 – GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail to the Heroes 🇮🇳
These guys are simply incredible. They have been around since 2009 and are an Indian rock band from Gangtok, Sikkim.
GATC are: Girish Pradhan on vocals, Yogesh Pradhan on bass, Suraz Sun on lead guitars and Nagen Mongrati on the drums.
Together they create a very powerful sound and Girish‘s voice is absolutely outstanding. GATC is a must in your playlist. I have to thank CGCM colleague Trevor McDougall for introducing me to this great band.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES – Hail to the Heroes (Dave Wilks)
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
08 – RUST N’ RAGE – One for the Road 🇫🇮
What a great album this is. These guys mean business, so much fun to listen to. I love every song on this album. Very solid rock band. One band that is on my watch list for a live show that’s for sure. They are on the rise.
Rust N’ Rage are Vince – vocals, Johnny – guitar, Eddy – bass Jezzie – drums. They come from Finland and now with Frontiers Music SRL, the sky is the limit. Add that to your daily music routine!
07 – MEGADETH – The Sick The Dying…and The Dead 🇺🇸
Now, this is a really awesome album! Megadeth has never sounded so good since the early days of the band. From the first day I put on the new album I fell in love with it. Megadeth really turns it up full power and delivers their message. Maybe it’s just me and my own opinion as well. This album really motivated me at the gym. Dave sounds great on the album. Another one on a playlist.
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
06 – PLAYHOUSE – Dancing at Funerals 🇨🇦
This is one hell of an album, I love it through and through. The local boys came out of the gate with a fantastic album. The album rocks and it is solid.
Peter and the gang hit a home run with this album. I saw them twice this year and every time I see them the shows get better and better with a bigger audience. Playhouse is fun to listen to, perfect summer music, and in the cold winter they warm you up and put a smile on your face.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: PLAYHOUSE – Dancing at Funerals (Dr Tardis)
05 – FELSKINN – Enter the Light 🇨🇭
Amazing album from this incredible Swiss band. From song number one through song number 12 Felskinn press on the gas pedal and never lets go. I had done a review back in December 2021 as a pre-release. I thought it was fantastic and still is now. If this is not on your playlist what the hell are you waiting for!!! Come on get to it!! These guys are soooooo freaking good!!!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: FELSKINN – Enter the Light (Dr. Tardis)
04 – GHOST – Impera 🇸🇪
It is very hard to explain how I feel about this band. I used to not be a fan at all, but they won me over! This album is near perfection! it is simply a spectacle to your ears! Listening to Impera puts me in another world altogether.
The album is absolutely beautiful. Not one bad song on the album. every song has this power that takes over you. After listening to this album I went into their back catalogue and listened to many more older songs. I asked myself why didn’t I like this band before? Why? I have become a big fan now. Ghost live is also very entertaining.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: GHOST – Impera (Britny Alfonzetti)
OFFICIAL GHOST WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
03 – BATTLE BEAST – Circus of Doom 🇫🇮
Shall I call this band power metal? If it is not it should be! Battle Beast delivers a whole entire new level! I previously wrote up a review on this band at the time they held the number one spot on my top ten but as you will see in a few paragraphs a few surprises happened that took Battle Beast out of the Number 1 Spot. Although this doesn’t take away the sheer aggressiveness of the band and the raw power they deliver. Circus of Doom is an absolute monster album. from start to finish. There is not one dull moment! tighten your seatbelt your going for a ride at 500mph!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: BATTLE BEAST – Circus of Doom (Dr Tardis)
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
02 – THE MIDNIGHT DEVILS – Never Beg For It 🇺🇸
I want to thank Doug Franklin of RFL Records for introducing me to this band! Doug was filming a live feed on Facebook of The Midnight Devils performing. Usually, I listen for 3 min then I get off and do something else, but it wasn’t the case with these guys! I was hooked from the moment I saw them perform.
They are: Sam Spade on bass and lead vocals, Sniper on guitar and Jimmy Mess on drums. The thing is these guys are only 3, and they sound like a 4-piece. This band is absolutely amazing, they have the sound I have been wanting to hear for years, They are bursting with energy, their music is joy to the soul of a true rocker.
I was debating at what position to put them in my top ten, in the end. The Midnight Devils won my heart and they solidify their spot as number 2. Every song is great and fun to listen to. They are a true high-octane glam rock band. I hope they will make it to my home town one day!
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
01 – RAMMSTEIN – Zeit 🇩🇪
It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me. Rammstein has been one of my favourite bands since I discovered them. No other band gets to me as they do. Their melody has always been amazing and they blow me away every time. Rammstein is not at the number one spot because they’re my favourite band. If that was the case Kissin’ Dynamite and Shinedown would have made the list.
I will come to that a bit after why they are not in my top ten in my honourable mentions. The reason Rammstein‘s Zeit album is number one on my list is that the album is perfect! Every song on this album is spot on, the production value and sound is perfect. Once you translate the songs into English, you realize how deep and profound the songs are. Zeit gets to me and touches my soul like no other album. It is rare that music does that to me. Like Ghost‘s Impera, Rammstein‘s Zeit puts me in another realm floating above the land of chaos and order.
Whatever ADHD and disorder I feel inside me, listening to Zeit puts everything back in alignment. Till sings what I need to hear. Even if I don’t understand the language I understand the meaning. Zeit is their best album to date. I’ve always said Mutter was their best until this album came out. Zeit is simply amazing. If you have never seen Rammstein live you are missing something eclectic, and absolutely unforgettable, it’s a must-see event!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: RAMMSTEIN – Zeit (Dr Tardis)
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Honourable Mentions and stuff…
Now I can’t stop there at my top ten. There are some bands that didn’t make it that should have! But I had my reasons for my choices. For example, Kissin’ Dynamite should have been there but they were not. The reason is simple, their album Not the End of the Road is a really good album and really solid but… from what they previously released it wasn’t as strong. So this is the reason why they are not there. I love the album though don’t get me wrong.
Shinedown‘s latest album Planet Zero has maybe 4 very strong songs but the rest is ok, and having an intro clip on every song was bothersome.
Skid Row with Eric Grönwall put them back on the map, a really solid album and a fresh new start for them.
Other great albums out there to look out for:
Massive Wagons‘ – Triggered! is a high-octane ride, great album.
New Horizon – Gates of Gods is a great power metal album, really good to listen to in a gym while working out.
Madhouse – Down N’ Dirty is a great album and brings you back to that 80’s glam rock beats with an edge.
Wanted – Chain Reaction is the reincarnation of Dokken meets Great White. These young guns have crazy talent
Blind Guardian – The God Machine grew on me quickly and the only reason they are not in my top ten is that I had already established my picks. I am really looking forward to what they will do next, these guys kick ass, I really love their stuff.
White Tyger – This is the Life is very energetic, fun to listen to and puts a smile on your face.
Sorrow and the Spire – The Spire could’ve been in my top ten easily. This is the band to look out for. They are fantastic, I love all their songs on their E.P. Find them, give them a try. You won’t regret it.
Ozzy Osbourne – Patient Number 9 is a lovely album. I grew up on Ozzy, he is my ultimate idol. This album is solid and really good. It was way better than the last one which was disappointing. Patient Number 9 redeems itself with the special guests and all.
Scorpions – Rock Believer is probably the best album they have released since the late 80s early 90s. It is very solid and true to its brand. I really enjoy Rock Believer and they put on a great live show.
Rocking Into 2023
Anyhow here we are at the end of the year 2022. The world is back in business and started to rock! I hope you enjoyed my Best of 2022.
Now we will start anew and see what 2023 has in store for us!
Happy New Year Everyone !!!
Dr. Tardis signing off!
Check out my reviews and articles here. Dr Tardis
