2022 was still a covid-19 year, so not much concerts but a lot of great new albums, EP's and single's came out! During summertime it even felt like the best time of the year as almost everything ended up in my personal playlist! 2022 was also a year with important changes in my private life with changing jobs!
The year 2022 started with a mind blowing double album from Feuerschwanz. I called it out from day one as album of the year! But as the year passed by other great albums came along! The new Suicide Commando was a bomb! Placebo surprised me in the most possible way! I enjoyed the newest Thundermother, Donna Cannone, Svarta Sanningar, Sole Syndicate, Lacrimas Profundere & Aura. I reviewed all the albums this past summer and they made my summer playlist they it still sounds: with them topping and slowly climbing (just like all the bands I mention in this article).
Band of Spice, Corlyx, Little Kim, C-Lektor, Je T’aime (2 great albums in one year), Blacklist (excellent post-punk) and Too Dead to Die need a special mention. The new Editors is also a nice one (a good new step, but slowly getting good in this new sound).
As a single the choice was easy: best single of the year is 7 days by A Slice of Life (BE). It’s one of the catchiest tracks I heard, has a good tempo and goes to a high + the vocals are really top (Robert Smith in the spring of his youth). Their new album was also worth it (darker and with some hit potential)! Live always very strong and a real recommendation! Winston gets silver for their Rambo song (really feels like a powered up De Mens).
A special mention for Actors & Bootblacks FT. Leathers who teamed up for new gender-bending cover of David Bowie's "BOYS KEEP SWINGING"! It felt like hearing Bowie doing a 2022 and darker post-punk version of his own song and I also adored the way the clip showed the right message!
Subatomic Strangers released a very strong album and the best EP goes to Spiral of Silence (Naima Joris came close and gets silver)! Another great EP that gets bronze is for Virus Inhumanity/Skeletron withInfectious + Re-infected!
The best in Flemish sung album goes to De Delvers who really made me write nothing but very lyrical words about their second album as I loved them and still love them from the very first time I heard a note from them! This is the future of dark Flemish music (for fans of Doe Maar, Siglo XX, early Kreuners, the better version of De Brassers …).
Somehow I have the feeling this is the year with the best album releases (in global)!
With Covid-19 still holding us down I could still enjoy A-ha, Burning Witches, Stin Scatzor, the entire Kracken Rock & Metal Fest and Black Mirrors (my 8 years old daughter became a huge fan after seeing them on stage) on stage!
Can’t forget the Porta Nigra festival in Aarschot with Ordo RosariusEquilibrio (launched their second best album ever) as headliner (next to an amazing line-up)!
The most powerful gig was without any doubt Red Zebra (This is Not A Dark Fest, with also The Ultimate Dreamers, Ultra Sunn and Partikul) and gets them the title of best gig of the year! The Belpop tour was also something worth checking (with Red Zebra, Els Elewaut, Marcel Van Tilt and Jo Lemaire).
The best comeback album goes to Ugly Kid Joe! I really adore the new album who’s filled with gems and fired up when needed and fragile when it’s appropriated!
2022 was also a game changing year as I left the job I was doing for 27 years and work now in an hospital. This might change my point of view on certain things and might also cut down my review time. Reviewing is a hobby, working in an hospital is something I do with my heart and soul. It’s sometimes hard, sometimes funny, but the patients always come first. Stay safe and healthy and don’t be afraid of putting on a mask!
