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 – The Meister (Radio DJ/Writer) 🇨🇦
Well, my friends, another year is in the rearview. And for me personally, a far superior year to the fiascos of the preceding couple. But as always with every passing year comes awesome music. Music shapes my life and I literally cannot get through the day without it! Many of you understand and feel similar, I know. Many do not and that’s fine too. Life is what you make of it friends, find what makes you happy and do whatever you can to feed and follow that happiness. No need to be snarky or bitter or jealous of me and my travels. (Yes, I’ve received a few messages to the like!).
There, that little diatribe is out of the way! Now let’s get down to my favourite albums of 2022. These are my faves, they may not be yours. But hopefully, you find something here that becomes your new favourite. As usual, there were so very many amazing releases in 2022 and I basically kept a regular floating list of 40 or 50 that had the potential to place here. But I had to narrow it down and so we achieve my top ten.
A few worthy album mentions:
RE-MACHINED – Brain Dead / FURY – Born To Sin / PERFECT PLAN – Brace For Impact / CRYSTAL BALL – Crysteria / WANTED – Chain Reaction / CROSS-EYED LOVER – Blonde Zombie / SAVAGE MASTER – Those Who Hunt At Night / CRUEL INTENTIONS – Venomous Anonymous / GUNSHINE – Gunshine
10 – SINNER – Brotherhood 🇩🇪
Sinner has been around since 1982! They were formed by bassist Mat Sinner, probably most known as a future member of Primal Fear. Sinner have a catalogue of at least 20 studio albums! And yet they remain in the shadows for the most part (as does a great portion of my list even….lol). Brotherhood continues the tradition of top-notch, catchy, riff-oriented heavier-edged melodic rock the band is known for. Giorgia Colleluori from (IT’sALIE) I believe is still a member of Sinner although she seems not to appear on Brotherhood.
BUY: Links
9 – WOLF – Shadowland 🇸🇪
A last-minute entry…..on account that I’d forgotten this was released in 2022! Even though it was April issued, I, in my head, thought 2021 for some reason! Another blistering traditional metal album from Sweden’s Wolf. While not my favourite from the boys, it’s a worthy addition to their catalogue.
BUY: Links
8 – JADED HEART – Heart Attack 🇩🇪
A divided fan base to my understanding sees folks either on the Jaded Heart side or the Michael Bormann side (former lead vocalist). Since Bormann‘s departure, Jaded Heart have moved steadily in a heavier direction while still maintaining the melodic side. Heart Attack seems to me to be a continuation of that, but a step or two above the previous record (Stand Your Ground) in songwriting. Great album that I was compelled to write about here in my blog style review.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: JADED HEART – Heart Attack (The Meister)
BUY: Links
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7 – SKID ROW – The Gang’s All Here 🇺🇸
The debut of Erik Gronwall taking up the mic and providing vocals for the 80s band. This is exactly the album that I have wanted and wished for Skid Row to make after Slave To The Grind. Enough with the experimentations and forrays into style changes. Gronwall also seems to have rejuvenated the band on stage as well bringing his inimitable energy and swagger. I am very excited to see what happens on the next Skid Row album if Erik also gets involved with the writing process.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: SKID ROW – The Gang’s All Here (Kryfar)
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
6 – HCSS – Abrakadabra 🇸🇪
I didn’t love the previous album from the Swedish Sleazers but Hardcore Superstar strike back in top form! Starting off with the title track the Swedish sleaze masters offer up 10 slabs of high-energy, fist-pumping perfection. The first time I heard the title track I misheard a lyric to be “watch my privates grow“! And now I shall always hear it as such…..doh!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: HARDCORE SUPERSTAR – Abrakadabra (Rachel Leigh Vendetta)
5 – KARDANG – We Ain’t Dead Yet 🇳🇴
A fun discovery mostly thanks to CGCM Rock Radio‘s Ivan Galesic and his show The Power Chord. These unknowns out of Norway hit the scene with this awesome slice of solid hard rock. At points during the listen of this album, the band KIX floods to mind. Top track for me is “Junkie Jane“. Oh, and “Turbo Prince“. But not to count out “Magic” nor the title track….dammit, the whole album!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: KARDANG – We Ain’t Dead Yet (Ivan Galesic)
4 – SWORD – III 🇨🇦
Knowing about and having heard the Metallized album what seems like 1000 years ago, I wanted to check out this Canadian band’s resurgence. I purchased the lead single “(I Am) In Kommand” for airplay during my radio show without even hearing it. The minute it played in the show, I was hooked! The album advance promo arrived shortly afterwards and before the first spin was completed I knew I just had to write a blog review for this release. Great album and comeback and hoping to see Sword in Montreal in January 2023.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: SWORD – III (The Meister)
BUY: Pre-Order Links
3 – CORELEONI – III 🇨🇭
Absolutely shocking entry for me. I’d skipped directly past the band’s first two albums. No real reason, they just never appealed to me but also, I knew nothing about the band. Just a feeling I guess. So I got around to cueing up III ahead of my planned attendance at Indoor Summer Festival where CoreLeoni was due to hit the stage. During this I learned the Leoni was none other than Leo Leoni of Gotthard. Like a “Fist In My Face” the album smacked me across the mug with a wet fish. “Like It Or Not” is in my top 3 favourite songs of the year. Oh, and they kick ass live too having seen them twice in 2022. Not sure what kept me away but that was a huge mistake.
2 – FELSKINN – Enter The Light 🇨🇭
This band out of Switzerland first hit my radar a couple of years back thanks to CGCM listeners and friends, The Baumgartners. This fourth album from the melodic hard rock band is leaps and bounds over the previous effort production and progression-wise. Felskinn has upped their game here considerably and unleashed this gem in February. It’s stayed in my wheelhouse all year long! Unfortunately, I believe the band is on an extended break (hopefully not break-up) currently. “Darkness In Your Eyes” leads a charge that doesn’t let up.
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: FELSKINN – Enter the Light (Dr Tardis)
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj0466fsJj8AhVFD1kFHV1BDXgQ3yx6BAgUEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DwOmemd1z2K4&usg=AOvVaw2coaGznQLKD65IH8qmPJY4
1 – SAXON – Carpe Diem 🇬🇧
Straight up, although Saxon is one of my fave bands, I’ve not fallen in love with their albums post-2013’s Sacrifice. I thought they were ok, solid even, but not favourite or top ten material. Well, I guess the “Barnsley Boys” said, “fuck that guy!” They come out swinging on this latest effort. Right away when I heard the lead single and album’s title track “Carpe Diem” I knew this was going to be something special. Tracks like “Pilgrimage” have been compared to and deemed the modern “Crusader“. The entire album whips by with a vigour and fury melded with catchy sing-alongable choruses. Saxon destroys all comers with this album and should it be their final, what a high note to go out on!
CGCM Rock Radio Album Review: SAXON – Carpe Diem (Maddog)
BUY: AMAZON.ca / AMAZON.com / AMAZON.co.uk
Cheers,
The Meister
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