I can't believe another monster year is behind us. So much new music, it's insane. We covered around 500 new tracks and saw some of our favourite artists release new records. From the deathcore week in the first fortnight of January to the return of live music, it's just been enormous.
I got to interview some massive bands like Three Days Grace, Machine Head, Lorna Shore and Bring Me The Horizon just to name a few, and that list barely includes most of my deathcore sweethearts. Personally, I also married the love of my life and walked down the aisle to Metallica's 'Nothing Else Matters'.
I've tried to separate my top LP/EP artists from my top songs to help with variety, so here it goes.
TOP 10 RELEASES OF 2022
10. CABAL - Magno Interitus
9. Ocean Sleeper - Is It Better Feeling Nothing (EP)
8. Motionless in White - Scoring The End of the World
7. Miss May I - Curse of Existence
6. Chelsea Grin - Suffer in Hell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlC8O7YwMYA
5. Bad Omens - The Death of Peace of Mind
4. Fit For A King - The Hell We Create
3. Fit For An Autopsy - Oh What The Future Holds
2. Darko - Oni
1. Lorna Shore - Pain Remains
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxUSYa3u7rs
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2022
10. Suicide Silence - 'Thinking in Tongues'
9. In Flames - 'State of Slow Decay'
8. Currents - 'The Death We Seek'
7. Alpha Wolf - 'Hotel Underground'
6. The Halo Effect - 'Feel What I Believe'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC7Z-3k7fsA
5. Make Them Suffer - 'Doomswitch'
4. Void of Vision - 'Dominatrix'
3. Varials - '.50'
2. ten56. - 'Yenta'
1. Dayseeker - 'Neon Grave'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg7SUe8nOik
BEST GIG YOU CAUGHT THIS YEAR?
It's a toss-up between Fit For A King and Dayseeker who both headlined at Stay Gold within days of one another. Neither of these shows were planned well in advance and were announced on the back of their huge success supporting headlining Aussie artists. To see both of these metalcore giants in an intimate Melbourne venue was unforgettable.
FAVOURITE CONTRIBUTION YOU PRODUCED?
After so many years as a fan, I finally got to tick off the bucket list - interview Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes.
FAV NEW BAND/MUSICIAN DISCOVERED IN 2022
I discovered this crazy deathcore band called CABAL all the way from Copenhagen, Denmark. When I first heard them, I immediately heard a strong Thy Art Is Murder influence (who I also love) and when they finally released their 2022 record Magno Interitus, I couldn't get enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amj49T04FCQ
NEXT BIG AUSSIE ACT TO WATCH IN 2023
I first heard Ocean Sleeper on their recent Is It Better Feeling Nothing EP but they've been rockin' Melbourne clubs for years, just ask our writer Adam Rice who's seen a million of their shows. These guys are on the up-n-up and whatever comes next is going to be wild.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0syxf1sPyQE
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023
It was such a massive year for heavy music in 2022 but I'm expecting some exciting LPs from Aussie giants Thy Art Is Murder as well as Make Them Suffer. From the international circuit, I think we can imminently expect yet another Darko record and with a new Metallica record, I'm hopeful to finally interview Kirk Hammett, but let's see how things pan out.
In terms of touring, 2022 was a little taster of what's yet to come. I'm beyond ready for Deafheaven to return to Aussie shores as well as some debuts. I'm hopeful for ten56. and I reckon Alpha Wolf should bring them out and I'd also love to see Left To Suffer come down under.
Words by Ricky Aarons (@rickysaul90)
