December Collective Collaborative Blog: Favorite Releases of 2022

Design by Andres Duarte

For the final collaborative blog of the year, members of the T&E collective share their favorite releases of 2022. With over eighty albums, EPs and singles from across genres, it's time to wrap up the year by celebrating the music the music we love!

Parisa's Picks
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What a fantastic year in music! Not only did we get countless of brilliant new releases, we also finally got the Weird Al biopic the world had been waiting for (truly my favorite thing to happen in music in 2022 and hands down the best biopic ever made). I'm thrilled that T&E started the New Music Drop series so I could push myself to stay on top of new releases. It's been a lot of fun, and be sure to stay tuned for New Music Drops blogs all throughout the new year!

Below is my year end list in no particular. Per my annual tradition, I've written my reviews in haiku format. My haiku reviews will also be made into a free mini-zine (coming soon), you can find details on that by clicking the "Zine" tab ahead. I've also included my favorite archival releases, which is a Top 10 in and of itself as I enjoyed those just as much as the general top list you see below. 

I also shared all my favorite global releases in the year end episodes of Global Rhythm Radio which streams right here. Thanks for reading, xoxo.
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​Album: Avalanche Kaito
Artist: Avalanche Kaito 
Favorite Song: “Douaga”

Ancestral knowledge
Deconstructed by noise punk
Pure data griot
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Album: Artificial Brain
Artist: Artificial Brain  
Favorite Song: “Celestial Cyst”

Harmonic mayhem
and ear splitting elegance 
Beauty in dark forms
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Album: Hiss
Artist: Wormrot   
Favorite Song: “Your Dystopian Hell"

Relentless blast beats 
Versatile masterpiece
Grind won’t be the same
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Album: Tafrigh (Vol. 2)
Artist: Otagh Band feat. Safir   
Favorite Song: “Ja’be”

Musighe Iran 
Man kheyli dooset daram
Vale delam sookht 

(Translation: Music of Iran, I really like you, but my stomach has burned (an expression in Persian to express heartache))
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Album: Aveilut
Artist: Scarcity
Favorite Song: the whole composition 

Matters of despair
Corporeal transcendence 
Leaving behind grief 
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EP: Sun’s Signature
Artist: Sun’s Signature 
Favorite Song: “Underwater”

Sublime frequencies
Unravel the cosmic veil
to a golden glow
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Album: Still Champion
Artist: Homeboy Sandman
Favorite Song: “Satellite” 

Champion the mind
Through peace, love and dope ass beats
Brooklyn rap is bliss
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Album: Topical Dancer 
Artist: Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupil 
Favorite Song: “Hey”

My identity
can be found on the dance floor
And there it will thrive 
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Album: Cave World
Artist: Viagra Boys
Favorite Song: “Troglodyte” 

De-evolving man
Grooves doused in adrenochrome 
Return to monke
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Album: Ugly Season
Artist: Perfume Genius
Favorite Song: “Teeth”

Hark, the angels speak!
‘Tis the season of ugly
Bask in its beauty

BONUS HAIKU!

My number one song of the year…
“Windowframe Cypher II” - Pete & Bas feat. Snooker Team
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​Hide your nans and pills
Snooker Team is out to kill
(If they don’t die first)

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Favorite archival releases: 
The Movers - Tau Special
Orchestre Massako - S/T
Phương Tâm - Magical Nights - Saigon Surf Twist & Soul (1964​-​1966)
Pape Nziengui - Kadi Yombo
V/A - Essiebons Special 1973-1984: Ghana Music Power House
V/A - Saturno 2000 - La Rebajada de Los Sonideros 1962​-​1983 (Analog Africa Nr. 34)
V/A - Sharayet El Disco - Egyptian Disco & Boogie Cassette Tracks 1982-1992
V/A - Classic Productions by Surin Phaksiri 2: Molam Gems from the 1960s​-​80s
V/A - Punk 45: I'm A Mess! D-I-Y Or Die! Art, Trash & Neon – Punk 45s In The UK 1977-78

Honorable mentions: Rosalia, El Khat, Just Mustard, Tzompantli, Faizal Mostrixx, Yanna Momina, Sirom, Immolation, Author & Punisher, Denzel Curry, Black Thought & Danger Mouse, Wet Leg, Freezing Hands, Sudan Archives, Hulder, Marina Herlop, Christian Blunda, Woodstock 99, Moor Mother, Automatic, Quelle Chris, The Comet is Coming, Saharan WhatsApp compilation, Sigh, Kikagaku Moyo, Jenny Hval, tran uy duc, all the Northern Boys singles, Jeshi, Soul Glo, Black Midi, and all the music that came from the Iranian revolution.

Favorite shows I saw:
1. Weird Al with Emo Phillips (meet and greet, baybeeee!) at the Fox Theater
2. Mdou Moctar at HOCO Fest
3. Carcass with Immolation at 191 Toole
4. Witch (Zambian) at Hotel Congress
5. Tim Capello at The Surly Wench (the most fun show!!)

Honorable show mentions: Bongzilla and Danava at Heavy Psych Sounds, Meat Puppets w/ Mudhoney at 191 Toole, Steve-O Bucket List tour at Rialto Theater, The Hu at Rialto Theater, Melt Banana with Deaf Club and Psychic TV at The Rock, black midi with New Country, Black Road at Rialto Theater, and Viagra Boys with Shame at Hotel Congress

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Andrej's Picks

Top 10, in order from my #1 to #10 spot
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Album: Innate Passage
Artist: Elder
Favorite Song: “Merged in Dreams – Ne Plus Ultra”
 
Given that 2017’s “Reflections of a Floating World” and 2020’s “Omens” were each AOTY contenders in their respective release years, it should be no surprise that “Innate Passage”, a perfectly poised balancing act of the two, finds itself at the top of this year’s list. “Omens” saw Elder strip away even more of their stoner/doom foundations, honing in on a light, airy, and incredibly optimistic sound based almost entirely in progressive rock. “Innate Passage” on the other hand isn’t afraid to reexplore those heavier doom riffs and to rely on a deeper, more metal guitar tone. Overall, “Innate Passage” still has more in common with “Omens” than “Reflections…” though. The atmosphere, phrasing, and general flow of the 5 songs is now firmly progressive rock based, with the bands doomier past being reintroduced as an interesting and familiar lens through which their now considerably enhanced songwriting capabilities can be interpreted. This balancing of the two sides of the band is evident immediately in the opener “Catastasis”, with its booming, expansive stoner riffing that eventually dissolves into the lightness and intricacy we’ve come to expect. It’s also here that we notice the slightly heavier emphasis on keyboards – a standout element this time around – and we start to appreciate the more overt dynamic swings that characterize “Innate Passage”. Tracks like “Coalescence” and especially “Merged in Dreams – Ne Plus Ultra”, where the band really stretches their progressive legs, see Elder finely walk the line between darkness and light, between the two sides of the coin that characterize their now considerably expanded collection of musical tools. It’s remarkable how proficient Elder has become not only at writing deeply moving and engrossing songs, but at balancing and wielding so many different tonal ideas. Getting lost in “Innate Passage” is at times genuinely magical, and it’s undoubtedly the best album I’ve heard this year.
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Album: Blackbraid I
Artist: Blackbraid
Favorite Song: “Prying Open the Jaws of Eternity”
 
Blackbraid, the solo project of multi-instrumentalist Sgah'gahsowáh, is an American folk-influenced black metal project, steeped in atmosphere and haunting melodies from the perspective of Native American themes and traditions. Despite only forming this year, his debut, “Blackbraid I”, is one of the most interesting black metal albums of recent memory. Tonally, the album is very reminiscent of Mgła, especially in the guitars, which have an aggressive, scything edge but also a melancholic melodiousness that feels infused into the riffs themselves. What’s interesting though, is that Blackbraid’s usage of this guitar approach has such a different atmospheric character. It’s almost the opposite of the post-modernism and disgust of Mgła, being firmly entrenched in the nature and mysticism of the American frontier. Partly this is due to the folk interludes, “As the Creek Flows Softly By” and “Warm Wind Whispering Softly Through Hemlock at Dusk”, which make extensive use of acoustic guitars and Native American flutes. But even the clearly black metal numbers like “The River of Time Flows Through Me” and “Sacandaga” never lose the thematic throughline, instead expanding the atmosphere and adding a different dimension to the sound. These ideas all seem to coalesce in the epic closer “Prying Open the Jaws of Eternity”, which not only experiments with a slower, doomier tempo and starkly deeper, death metal vocals, but seems to more completely capture both sides of the folk/black metal style. The songwriting feels more fully realized and if anything, it makes you sad the record is coming to an end, as the combination of two excellent musical approaches seems to have created something greater than the sum of its parts. “Blackbraid I” is an incredibly original debut that not only delivers on an ambitious thematic project but gives you confidence that even better things are ahead.
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Album: Adumbration of the Veiled Logos
Artist: Verberis
Favorite Song: “Severed Paragon”
 
Adumbration of the Veiled Logos is directly out of the Deathspell Omega school of black metal, with its massive, imposing wall-of-dissonance soundscape, esoteric metaphysical lyrics, and death metal-influenced pseudo-freestyle rhythms. However, despite the on-paper strict adherence to tenets now common amongst third wave bands, New Zealand’s Verberis manages to carve out their own niche within this black/death metal style. The most apparent difference is the nature of their wall-of-sound. Yes, sharp and angular tones abound, but these lead guitar riffs seem to be almost riding at the edge of a much larger, murkier, and darker core created by the rhythm guitar and bass. It’s like darkened light escaping from a purely black and otherworldly center. One of the challenges of riffing in the ‘Orthodox’ black metal style is high-register dissonant chords are thin and, ironically, can lack variety without an appropriate counterbalance. Verberis’ guitar/bass interplay cleverly solves both these problems and ensures extended guitar passages are continuously engaging, even over the course of something like the monstrous 20-minute closer “I am the Father and the Tomb of the Heavens”. Despite the guitar-focused songwriting, the drumming on “Adumbration of the Veiled Logos” stands out. Jamie Saint Merat from Ulcerate fame is behind the kit, bringing not only a firmly death metal sensibility, but a restrained, complementary performance. While generally less expansive and center stage than in Ulcerate, the drums still have plenty of space to flex some chops or further compactify an already black hole-esque density of sound. On “Adamantine Amidst Transience”, the short, sudden bursts of machine gun-style tom rolls border on the edge of restraint, teasing the start of the mother of all solos, and adding a sense of unease to an already hair-raising intro. Whereas on “Severed Paragon” the drums pivot to a freer, swinging, borderline jazz style as the bass comes to the front and the guitars retreat to spend an extended amount of time inducing a trance-like state of affairs. Despite the comparatively limited sonic palette that they’re working with, Verberis has produced a remarkably varied and downright captivating experience that’s without a doubt one of the best albums in recent years.

Album: The Long Road North
Artist: Cult of Luna
Favorite Song: “Cold Burn”
 
20+ year veterans of all things atmospheric and post-metal, Cult of Luna return to the forefront of the genre with their 8th full-length album “The Long Road North”. Alongside Neurosis, these Swedes are foundational to the post-metal genre, and at this point have substantially explored and experimented with the various directions their multifaceted sound can go. This unique position of being originators and continuing to refine their sound over the course of decades has allowed the band to ‘go around the block’ musically and revisit some old ideas with a fresh, but more mature set of ears. Starting with their last full-length, the equally excellent “A Dawn to Fear”, Cult of Luna have started to reincorporate the sludge metal that is at the root of their post-metal signature, bringing with it a renewed emphasis on emotion and passion. This is most easily heard in the throat-shredding vocal performance and the rhythmic, tom-focused drums. But the band’s previous exercises in atmospherics and varying tones are utilized to amplify the raw nature of the sludge, to act almost as palate cleansers at times, and allowing them to imbue this familiar sound with a diversity and originality that only comes from years of experience. Take for example, the haunting female vocals that dominate “Beyond (I)”, or the repeated Christopher Nolan-esque BRAAMS on either side of “Cold Burn”, which act as overt counterpoints to the more traditional sludge, punching their way into your attention, never letting your interest waver. Or more subtly, the continued revisiting of a sort of modern, pseudo-industrial tonality that surrounds the warmer center of the atmosphere, like a snow-filled park in the middle of an enormous, decaying metropolis. These ideas sound so distinct, so antagonistic, but somehow on “The Long Road North”, inseparable. Cult of Luna’s latest album is a masterclass in merging the old and the new, of revisiting and rebirth, and of the balance between the visceral and the measured.
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Album: Visions of a Dismal Fate
Artist: Rotten Tomb
Favorite Song: “Devourer of Life”
 
Rotten Tomb’s debut, “Visions of a Dismal Fate”, is an old-school death metal album that is as evil, onerous, and repulsive as it is authentic and genuine. Like the thrash revival before it, the OSDM revival has exploded in popularity to such a degree and is so often constrained to such a limited musical repertoire, that repetition and weariness abound amongst endless copycats. With each passing year and dozens upon dozens of new albums to sift through, finding high quality records, let alone fresh and original sounding ones, becomes ever more challenging. Thankfully, this year, Rotten Tomb seems to have accepted the call to revisit the decrepit and pungent crypts from which these ideas first emerged, gracing us with a vicious slab of death metal that makes you fall in love with this style all over again. While the production and mixing contribute to the cohesive and suffocating atmosphere that permeates “Visions of a Dismal Fate”, the guitars, with their doom-laden riffs and thick, lower range tone define the character of the album. Frequently staying on the lower end of the register and backed by a deep, rumbling, and thankfully audible bass tone, the riffs are content to crush and devour rather than to shred and rip. The timbre has a slight Swedish-chainsaw quality, but the intention is to be as massive as possible, with the few deviations being the soul-piercing guitar solos and leads like on “Devourer of Life” and “Human Paradox”. Similarly, the drums play a rather restrained, almost subdued style for much of the course of the album, letting the sheer weight of each pummeling hit macerate and mangle your insides. To bring back the production, one of the best parts of the album is the contrasting mix of the toms, which occupy a noticeably higher volume and range than even the guitars at time, providing plenty of stifling runs, seeking to extinguish the last bit of light at every turn. Visions of a Dismal Fate is like a macabre and putrid plaque put to sound, the sonic equivalent of opening a sealed tomb filled with grotesque horrors long since forgotten, and one of the truest to form additions to the extensive death metal corpus of recent years.

Album: Procreate Inverse
Artist: Black Fucking Cancer 
Favorite Song: “Obscene Lusting Dagger”
 
Oakland-based label Sentient Ruin Laboratories has continually caught my attention in recent years with releases by the likes of Dearth, DSKNT, Invultation, and Labored Breath. So, when a new record by another member of the roster, the questionably named Black Fucking Cancer, started to make waves, I (rightly) assumed it would end up on this year’s shortlist. “Procreate Inverse”, with its visceral, in-your-face, and crust-tinged black metal, is about as straightforward and evil as you would expect. Staying fairly neatly within the confines of Katharsis-worship, Procreate Inverse focuses on intensity, on black metal aesthetic and death metal ferocity. The multi-range vocals by guitarist Thrull are genuinely violent, managing to capture that elusive ability to convey disgust and anger while still retaining control and fitting into the ever-changing musical backdrop. The guitars follow a similar path, playing uncomplicated, maximum impact riffs with that black metal-meets-punk aesthetic, though on the longer cuts on the record, like “Obscene Lusting Dagger”, the extended runtime does afford some freedom to explore the ungodly, and surprisingly expansive, soundscape. Amongst the chaos, or perhaps aiding in its continued growth, are the equally monstrous drums. Steeped in the same crusty pessimism as everything else, they pummel, batter, and bruise the listener, staying right on the edge of in-control. It’s hard to distinguish sometimes whether the merciless barbarity of the drum hits is because the drummer is musically inspired or if it just comes from a purely rageful, remorseless assault on what’s in front of him. Procreate Inverse is a deeply acrimonious record, pissed-off and hateful, spewing blasphemy and perversion like a plague, and sure to please many a misanthrope this year.
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Album: Halo
Artist: Amorphis
Favorite Song: “Windmane”
 
Despite Amorphis’ 32-year history, the Finnish progressive metal masters continue to impress on what is their 14th full-length. Mixing progressive and hard rock with death and power metal, and throwing in some folk for good measure, “Halo” sees Amorphis revisiting a tried-and-true formula with a songwriting originality and artistry we often take for granted. Concluding a thematic trilogy started with 2015’s “Under the Red Cloud”, on “Halo” the band spins familiar melodic and catchy epics, but with a decidedly heavier slant. One could argue this is one of the heaviest Amorphis releases of recent years with vocalist Tomi Joutsen’s more frequent use of his death growl in addition to trademark soothing cleans. But, like me, you’ll probably forget such distinctions quickly, as the band’s ability to seamlessly transition from one catchy section to another overwhelms you with riffs, licks, and choruses all competing for space in your memory. Be it the keyboard laden and soaring power metal choruses on either side of a decidedly Middle Eastern guitar mid-section in “On the Dark Waters”, or the beautiful and delicate vocal interchange with guest singer Petronella Nettermalm on “My Name is Night”, it seems like the entirety of “Halo” is designed to get stuck in your head. Amorphis’ power really lies in their ability to continue to simplify and refine what is ostensibly a pretty busy and diverse sonic repertoire. And this stems from their ability not just to weave memorable stories and ideas together, but to do so with a songwriting talent and consistency few wield to this degree. Halo is yet another masterpiece in the long and storied history of one of metal’s most important institutions.
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Album: No Life Forms
Artist: Critical Defiance 
Favorite Song: “Dying Breath”
 
Critical Defiance continue to keep the thrash revival flame burning and, in the process, provide yet another piece of evidence that the Chilean thrash scene is one of the world’s best. It’s immediately apparent No Life Forms is busier and more technical than the debut “Misconception”. The bass is noticeably more prominent, both in terms of its balance in the mix and its deviation from the guitar riffs. It’s not Ripper-levels of independence, but in tracks like “Dying Breath” and “Edge of Consciousness” it continues to shine and contrast against the guitars, happy to let the backing guitar pick up the rhythmic responsibilities. There’s even a wonderful little bass interlude, “We Were Never Here to Stay” – a short, fun homage to bass solo breaks popularized in US thrash by the likes of Metallica’s “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth”. Interestingly, despite its obvious inefficiency, “We Were Never Here to Stay” says a lot about the priorities and sensibilities of “No Life Forms”. On its face, the less than 30-minute run-time and sheer density of riffs ala Dark Angel gives a sense of intensity and punchiness above all else. And some tracks, such as “Warhead (Emotional Fallout)”, do boil down to this idea – it’s as close to a full-out assault put to wax as possible. But, the darker tone and aforementioned technical emphasis, sounding closest to fellow West Coast thrashers Sadus, show another side to “No Life Forms”. Critical Defiance are expanding their repertoire and evolving their sound, and simultaneously trying to cut-away any ounce of fat that could potentially slow down the forward momentum propelling them forward. And, as a whole, they succeed. Riffs are falling over one another trying to squeeze themselves into your ears. It’s almost like their holding you hostage at times and it’s as overwhelming as it is technically adept.
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Album: All That Was Promised
Artist: Hath
Favorite Song: “Lithopaedic”
 
New Jersey’s Hath piqued my interest early in the year with their excellent sophomore effort All That Was Promised. Continuing their progressive-tinged amalgamation of traditional death metal styles, the band’s second outing is a more mature, subtle, and rawer sounding record than the debut. Hath’s sound here is a different take on what we’ve come to expect from the progressive/technical death metal micro-genre (think Obscura, Beyond Creation). Whereas their contemporaries have the tendency to want to let everyone know exactly how technical their chops are or how progressive their songwriting is, Hath is content with slowly building up atmosphere and tension, letting dynamics and progressive elements naturally emerge from a dense, blackened, and abstruse soundscape. Album opener “The Million Violations” exemplifies these tenets with its heavy emphasize on shimmering guitar bridges between enormous, sludge-influenced death metal vaunts. From there, the palette expands, be it the full-throttle blasting found on “Decollation” and “Name Them Yet Build No Monument” or the off-kilter voicing in “Lithopaedic” and “Kenosis”, and lest we forget the soaring clean vocals and shred-tastic solos that continue to crop up. Still amongst all these excursions, the sound never seems forced or anything but natural. The consistently ominous atmosphere and tone certainly helps the progressive medicine go down smooth, but Hath’s songwriting must be given the credit it deserves. They’ve really nailed the duality that you need lots of musical space and austerity for your denser and more surprising ideas to have the room to arise, take center stage, and gracefully bow out. “All That Was Promised” is a wonderfully refreshing slab of well-written and memorable death metal that reveals subtle, beautiful details and dynamics the more you revisit it.
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Album: Le coeur de l'homme
Artist: Incandescence
Favorite Song: “La spirale de l'échec”
 
Despite this being their 4th full-length, Montréal’s Incandescence only this year came across my radar as a side-project of drummer Philippe Boucher of Chthe'ilist and Beyond Creation fame. Starting from a base of second wave black metal with expansive, modern drums very reminiscent of Death Fortress, Le coeur de l'homme adds to it some trademark Quebec black metal flavor. Intensely atmospheric, but melancholic, cold, and bordering on DSBM at times, from the guitars alone, you could pinpoint exactly the region from where Incandescence hails. However, whereas bands like Gris or Sombres Forêts tend to amplify the atmosphere and simplify the instrumentals, in the case of the rhythm section, “Le coeur de l'homme” goes a wholly opposite path. The drums burst with energy and sustained intensity, propelling the songs forward. Familiar dark and haunting tremolo passages like in “Écroulement vers l'abîme” take on an entirely different character when they are juxtaposed with a fresh and varied rhythmic counterpoint, liberally incorporating interesting hi-hat and cymbal interchanges, sudden, booming tom runs, and quasi-death metal blasts. All these points are further underlined by the choice of soundstage, where the drums are at the very front of the sound, with every part of the kit louder than the guitars. This has the effect of shifting the guitars to a supporting role, entirely preoccupied with a sharp and icy backdrop. One of the best examples of this is “La spirale de l'échec”, where the entire story of the track is told by the drums, with the guitars content to support and even further retreat for a somewhat rare, pronounced bass role to emerge. Taken together, Le coeur de l'homme is an innovative take on a familiar sound. Incandescence leverage the space afforded by the trademark Quebec black metal sound to bring in a busy, varied, and wholly interesting drumming performance that kept me spinning this album all year.
 
Honorable Mentions
 
11. Ripped to Shreds – 劇變 (Jubian)
12. White Ward – False Light
13. Dream Unending – Song of Salvation
14. Wake – Thought Form Descent
15. Sphere – Blood Era

Alex's Picks
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Album: Otherness
Artist: Alexisonfire  
Favorite Song: “Sweet Dreams of Otherness”
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It’s been 13 years since Alexisonfire last graced us with a studio album, and man it feels good to have them back. Clean vocalist/guitarist Dallas Green has enjoyed continued success with his alternative folk project, City and Colour, in the meantime, and the rest of the band are now grizzled veterans of the hardcore scene, so it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that Alexisonfire’s career trajectory has them sounding more and more like a crunchier version of City and Colour. And I’m here for it. There’s significantly less hadcore/punk on this album compared to their previous albums - instead, Otherness owes a lot of its sound to the likes of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. The album shines the most when Green’s bittersweet howls cut through and soar over the rest of the band's psychedelic grunge, and hardcore vocalist George Petit’s snarling, gravelly screams provide a welcome sense of counterpoint. Elsewhere, songs like “Conditional Love” and “Reverse the Curse” show that Alexisonfire are still in touch with their post-hardcore roots, and that they can bring their old sound with them into the future.
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Album: Fierrro
Artist: Kinky 
Favorite Song: “Sólo Tú”
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I really got in touch with my heritage this year. Going to Mexico for the first time in over a decade definitely played a role in that, but one of the biggest ways I started tapping into my culture was by diving into Mexican alternative rock for the first time in my life. One band that I became obsessed with almost as soon as I started listening to them is Monterrey’s Kinky, who released their seventh set of studio bangers this year. The band is known for their infectious mixture of indie, funk rock, electronic dance music, and traditional Mexican music, and the awesomely-named Fierrro is a solid addition to the rest of their fun and groovy catalog. I binged this band’s discography when I started listening to them, and Fierrro is up there with 2011’s Sueño de la Máquina for my two favorite Kinky albums. I feel like it's pretty rare to find a band that keeps their sound this fresh 20 years into their career. Kinky are one of Mexico’s bands for the ages, and it's easy to see why they've enjoyed so much success this deep into their career.

Album: Rotoscope EP
Artist: Spiritbox  
Favorite Song: “Rotoscope”

You know how the Academy Awards have a habit of giving Oscars to actors/actresses/directors because they got snubbed in the previous year and now it’s “their turn?” That’s kind of what I’m doing here. I did enjoy Spiritbox’s 2021 album Eternal Blue, but this band REALLY grew on me in 2022. Luckily they also released new music this year, and on the Rotoscope EP, the band is showing signs that they're already building and improving on the ideas that they established on last year’s release. Spiritbox is bringing something to the table that extreme metal has always been sorely lacking - accessibility. Finn McKenty described Rotoscope as “Djent Billie Eilish,” and honestly, I can see it. With gatekeeping finally going out of style, the scene needs bands like Spiritbox to mix punishing riffs with poppy hooks that will satisfy metalheads and also attract new fans to the genre. Their next tour is coming to a mid-sized theater here in Sacramento and the show sold out in less than 8 hours. I have a feeling that it’ll only be a matter of time until Spiritbox starts headlining much bigger venues.
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Single: “Like That”
Artist: Seamus D 

This song was released on December 10, 2021, but I didn’t catch wind of it until early this year. And what a BANGER from Dublin, Ireland’s Seamus D. “Like That” is simple and catchy with a focus on massive beats, and despite its simplicity, it doesn't get repetitive. Even after listening to it on repeat for a year, I still can't get enough of it. I don't really have a bucket list of DJs that I absolutely want to see live, but… if Seamus D ever comes to town, I'm making every effort to go just so I can hear this song live.
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Album: I WANT BLOOD / i want love
Artist: Jeris Johnson 
Favorite Song: “Going Ghost”

I already wrote a Song of the Week entry about Jeris Johnson’s AWESOME reimagining of “Kryptonite” by 3 Doors Down a few weeks ago, but I’d be remiss to not also talk up his first full length album, “I WANT BLOOD / i want love.” Jeris got famous for his Papa Roach and Bring Me The Horizon remixes, and for his song “Damn!” that went viral on TikTok, but this album puts his songwriting chops front and center, and he particularly shines on songs like “Afterlife,” “27 Club,” and “Life is Underrated.”  It's easy to draw comparisons between him and Post Malone (he even shares the latter’s love for badass swords), but Posty's music doesn't even remotely celebrate the second stage bands of Ozzfest lineups past the way Jeris’s does. It's an era of rock and roll that doesn't get the most love even in our nostalgia-obsessed pop culture, and this kid is on a mission to bring that sound back in a new and exciting way. Gen Z might have their own Kid Rock in Jeris Johnson. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank God. 

Honorable Mentions:
The 1975 - Being Funny in a Foreign Language 
Lorna Shore - Pain Remains
Emarosa - Again EP
Taylor Swift - Midnights 
Dance Gavin Dance - Jackpot Juicer (RIP Tim Feerick)
Mothica - Nocturnal
Underoath - Voyeurist
Norma Jean - Deathrattle Sing for Me

Noe's Picks
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​Album: The Vanity Project 
Artist: Iceboy Violet
Gnarly and emotional, cutting edge hip hop
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​Album: Living Torch 
​Artist: Kali Malone
Solemn ritual of transcendental beauty
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Album: Xtasis 
Artist: Nick Leon & DJ Babatr
Club banger of the year. Raptor house fire from Venezuela

Album: Spiro World
Artist: Time Wharp
Understated, beautiful songs about prescription drugs for trans women and other things
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Album: Eternal Stalker
Artist: Merzbow & Lawrence English
Like entering The Zone from Stalker

Album: Picture Music 
Artist: Picture Music
Beautiful nighttime landscapes
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Album: NEXWOMB
Artist: nexwomb
Crushing destruction of abysmal brutality. Very much needed.

​Album: Talisman
Artist: Jake Muir & Evan Caminiti
Dark ambient death metal interludes fully realized!
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Album: Qubits 
Artist: Erik Urano & Merka Bae
The future is here! Banger hip-hop, short and sweet
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Album: Cheat Codes
Artist: Danger Mouse & Black Thought
Fantastic verses and beats come together

Honorable Mentions

Electronic
Cruda - Siete Catorce
Fauna - DJ Fucci
Seodra - Lighght
Desire Path - Lila Tirando a Violeta
Plonk - Huerco S
Trans Feminist Symphonic Music - Gavilán Rayna Russom
Torn Relics - Refracted
Lost In Time - Zvrra
High Exposure - Jdotbalance
Vesta - Azu Tiwaline
Delirio - Bitter Babe & Nick Leon
In The System - Oscar Osorio & 3 Payments
Self Oscillation - Nicola Cruz
Speed Dembow II - Siu Mata & Amor Satyr
Escándalo - Regal86
Time Cow / Ossia remixes - Time Cow & Ossia
Functional Designs - Deepchord
Rompe el silencio - TAYHANA
Mantis - Lujiachi

Reggaeton / Dembow
2022 Edits - Nick Leon
La Sustancia X - Villano Antillano
Amor En Los Tiempos De Odio - MJ Nebreda
Morir/Matar - Romeo Diablos & domino

Ambient / Experimental
Children of the Apocalypse - ONY
Sukistan - EMÆNUEL
CH002 - MOBBS
wouldn’t have to hurt - claire rousay
New Catastrophism - LOCRIAN
29 Speedway: Channel Plus - Various Artists
stand quietly and be consumed within, as the fever path leads the way to liberation (chestnut branch inoculation) - Yyed

Metal / Industrial
Kanawha Black - Nechochwen
Gauze - Burial Hex
Consecration of the Spiritüs Flesh - Esoctrilihum
Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain

Other
Saturno 2000 / La Rebajada de Los Sonideros 1962-1983 - Various Artists (Cumbia)
NO THANK YOU - Little Simz
The Midas Touch - June Chikuma
Ideas of Space - Tess Roby
Devil’s Curse - Josh Willis
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Chelsea's Picks

​This year was loaded with great new music. I created a playlist to help narrow down my picks, which, of course, only made it more difficult to choose. However, these are the releases that made the most impact for me, in no particular order. I was lucky enough to see and photograph a handful of these picks throughout the year, and that definitely helped reinforce my choices. I know there are probably more records I could add to the Honorable Mentions category, but I worry if I start adding many more, that I won’t stop! 
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Album: Dark Sun
Artist: Dayseeker
Favorite Song: "Dreamstate"
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From beginning to end, every song on Dark Sun is a banger. On the surface, the opening song, "Dreamstate" is an upbeat and dancy tune. But if you dig deeper, it’s full of truly heartbreaking lyrics about losing someone you love so much, only to have these vivid lucid dreams where you can’t decipher reality from dream. Rory Rodriguez’s vocals are equally haunting, beautiful, and angry - composing heartbreaking lyrics in a way that sounds so beautiful. The music video for “Crying While You’re Dancing” is gorgeously glitter filled - and who doesn’t love neon colors and shimmer?
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Album: The Hunna
Artist: The Hunna
Favorite Song: "You Can’t Sit With Us"

The band’s fourth studio album was anticipated by an angsty, anti-establishment attitude with the single “Trash”. Calling out many of the unfairnesses in the music industry. I knew from the minute I heard this single, the album would be at the top of my list. The cynical humor is displayed across the album, with some softer tracks like “Circles” and “Untouched Hearts” to round it out. The multifaceted record offers upbeat rock anthems and heartwarming ballads, alike.
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Album: Nocturnal
Artist: Mothica
Favorite Song: "Last Cigarette"

Step into the world of your sleep paralysis demon with Mothica’s second album, Nocturnal. The record opens with gentle introductory ballad, “Sleepwalk”, directly followed by a handful of dancy, dark pop tracks. The music videos and visualizers feel as though Tim Burton created a Cryptid, while the lyrics tackle difficult topics such as addiction, suicide, and trauma. Tim Henson of Polyphia features on “The Reckoning”, bringing calculated, dark riffs. Mothica showcased her intent to experiment sonically, with every song interesting and anthemic in its own way. 
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Single: "The News"
Artist: Paramore

First of all, I must say - I love creepy Hayley! The music video for Paramore’s latest single is creepy in a subtle way. The combination of lighting, cinematography, and special effects make it feel almost like an old school horror flick. The song brings classic Paramore guitar riffs along with new vocal techniques, making it feel nostalgic, yet still new and interesting. If you didn’t listen to Hayley Williams’ solo albums, released over the pandemic, I highly suggest you do that now. It is clear that her solo work is influencing the new Paramore sound, entering them into a new era. 

Album: Viva Las Vengeance
Artist: Panic! At the Disco
Favorite Song: "Sugar Soaker"

After 3 years of silence from P!atD, they have returned with a rock ballad filled album. The entire album was recorded on tape, giving it a nostalgic flare. But that’s not all that makes the record feel nostalgic. You can hear the 60s, 70s, and 80s rock influences throughout the album, especially in tracks “Don’t Let the Light Go Out”, “Star Spangled Banger”,  and “God Killed Rock ‘N’ Roll”. This rock opera-esque record will make you want to slide around your house in socks, belting into a hairbrush microphone.
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Album: Holy Fvck
Artist: Demi Lovato
Favorite Song: "FREAK (feat. Yungblud)"
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Demi Lovato returns to her rock roots, going heavier than ever with latest record Holy Fvck. Opening with “FREAK” sets the tone for the whole record, immediately high energy and full of rage. The bottom half of the record is sex fueled and angsty, with songs like “HEAVEN”, “CITY OF ANGELS”, and “COME TOGETHER” making that abundantly clear. Then, there are songs like “29” and “DEAD FRIENDS” that pull in the heavier topics, such as rape, abuse, and addiction. Full of dichotomy, this album is rage and redemption, unified by love.

Album: Painted World
Artist: Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers
Favorite Song: "HELP"

This 3 song EP is dancy and groovy - just what I needed to get up and move. I was yelling “H-E-L-P HELP!” in my car for days after the release. Then I got to see the Rainbow Seekers perform “HELP” and “What I Want” two days in a row, and I couldn’t get either of the songs out of my head. Because the band is known for their live performances, the jamming made the songs even more special.

Honorable Mentions (in no particular order)
Arctic Monkeys - The Car
Yungblud - Yungblud
Scene Queen - Bimbocore Vol 1 & 2 
Jack White - Fear of the Dawn 
Rivals - Bleeding Star 
Lizzo - Special
Lokella - As We Unravel
Grace Theisen - Master of Fire

Best Shows of 2022 (Top 5 - in no particular order)
Local Spins Fest - Studio Park, Grand Rapids, MI - 05/21/22
Jack White “The Supply Chain Issues Tour” Opening Night - Masonic Temple, Detroit, MI - 04/08/22
Riot Fest - Douglass Park, Chicago, IL - 09/16/22 - 09/18/22
Lady Ace Boogie / Jordan Hamilton / Cabildo - Bell’s Back Room, Kalamazoo, MI - 03/12/22
Dragged Under / Rivals “The Upright Animals Tour” - Sanctuary Detroit, Hamtramck, MI - 08/22/22 

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A. Iwasa's Picks
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Album:  S/T split
Artist:  Domestic Immunity and Malicious Algorithm
Favorite Song:  the whole Domestic Immunity side!

Everything I like about the grindy side of ‘90s death metal sounds, without the sketchy sound titles.  I picked it up for the Malicious Algorithm tracks, but when I play it, I listen to the whole thing, then repeat Domestic Immunity tracks because I think they’re that good and it’s kind of short. To borrow from an old review of Emblamer, “Growls so low the frogs can’t hear them,” though with some good high end shrieks and hardcore licks to boot. 

Album:  Guv III & IV
Artist:  Young Guv
Favorite Song:  “Couldn’t Leave U If I Tried”

When COVID went pandemic, Young Guv ended up getting stuck in the American Southwest while on tour, and making these albums while living on an Earthship in the New Mexican high desert.  I think the improvements from the preceding GUV I & II really shines through because of the wild circumstances that led to their creation. 
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Album:  Believe This Rain
Artist:  Dogbreth
Favorite Song:  “How You Did That” or “Like A Wallet Chain”

“How You Did That” was on my best of list as a single last year, and it was great to hear the rest of the album.  Thoughtful lyrically, nicely sung and musically solid alternative rock.  A saxophonist and keyboardist really add to it all.
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Album:  Liquid Ranch
Artist:  Golden Boots
Favorite Song:  “Sedona” 

If you’re a rocker who likes a little country twang, but not necessarily the genre in and of itself, Golden Boots might be for you.  Think ‘90s Beck meets The Eagles.  As I write this I’m waiting for their new compilation CD in the mail, which if the five tracks I’ve heard so far are any indicator, it’s going to rule.
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Album:  feather river canyon blues
Artist:  pigeon pit
Favorite Song:  “soup for my family”

At its best, folk punk lies somewhere in between the genres, perhaps incorporating the best of both worlds.  Pigeon pit is one of those bands!
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Album:  I Just Want To Be Wild For You
Artist:  Maita
Favorite Song:  “You Sure Can Kill A Sunday, Part I”

Strongly reminiscent of the better 1990s alternative rock I was too pissed off for most of the decade to appreciate.  Good melodies and musicianship, pleasant vocals, and mellow material that is just as good as the upbeat; something most bands I find can’t pull off. If you’re the kind of music fan who seeks out bands by label, make note this album is on Kill Rock Stars and make no mistake!  Maita rocks just as much as many of their label mates.
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Album:  Don’t Budge
Artist:  Kelsey Magnuson
Favorite Song:  “Coulda Made Out”

I really like Magnuson’s voice.  I think there was something a lot of singer-songwriters were going for in the mid-to-late ‘00s that I didn’t get, that Magnuson hits on the head.  Insightful lyrics and fun music.
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[No streaming link available]

​Album:  10 More Steaming Piles of Hit
Artist:  Cleveland Steamers
Favorite Song:  “Walkin’ With You”
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Five songs about love, five about hate, delivered in a rock ‘n’ roll tinged, straight forward punk sound.  Funky guitar work and a harmonica player who really knows what he’s doing show the direct lineage of old school punk from rock ‘n’ roll today is alive and well.
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Kurt B. aka El Toro's Picks
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Album: White Trash Revelry
Artist: Adeem The Artist
Favorite Song: “Going To Hell” 

In a year full of top-notch queer Americana albums (see also: Jake Blount), this non-binary, Southern, Christian songwriter delivered one of the finest. 
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Album: Topical Dancer
Artist: Charlotte Adigéry & BOLIS PUPUL
Favorite Song: “Thank You” 

Like the Greek goddess Eris rolling her golden apple of discord onto the dance floor.
 

Album: RENAISSANCE
Artist: Beyoncé
Favorite Song: “Break My Soul”

Teenage Me felt seen, heard, and loved every time this one played.

Album: Back Home
Artist: Big Joanie
Favorite Song: “In My Arms”

Black feminist punk trio pushes its songwriting and performances in new direction on superlative second album. 

Album: The New Faith
Artist: Jake Blount
Favorite Song: “Give Up The World”

A startling fusion of bluegrass, blues, gospel, hip-hop and Afro-futurism; Sister Rosetta Tharpe meets Cormac McCarthy. 

Album: All of Us Flames
Artist: Ezra Furman
Favorite Song: “Forever in Sunset”

A magical spell of protection but it’s a record album.  

Album: Look Up!
Artist: The Harlem Gospel Travelers
Favorite Song: “Fight On” 

Uplifting gospel-soul protest anthem that’d make the Staple Singers and Freedom Singers proud.  
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Album: Linger Awhile
Artist: Samara Joy
Favorite Song: “Nostalgia (The Day I Knew)”

How can a 23-year-old sing with such wisdom and finesse? 

Album: Happiness Not Included
Artist: Soft Cell
Favorite Song: “Polaroid” 

With memorable melodies, pointed lyrics, and some of Marc Almond’s finest singing, the UK synth pop duo’s first new album in twenty years ranks alongside 1982’s classic Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. 

Album: Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This? 
Artist: The Soft Pink Truth
Favorite Song: “Moodswing” 

Swoon-inducing cocktail disco, deep house and queer culture filtered through the sexy aesthetics of Matmos’ Drew Daniel. 
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Noa's Picks
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Album: Sexy
Artist: Coco & Clair Clair 
Favorite Song: “U + Me”

Pop duo Coco & Clair Clair fulfilled all expectations with this dream pop, rap album. The Atlanta duo has been at it for years, and this latest release has brought them closer to the following that they deserve. They self-describe their genre as “Demon Glam Rock.” Though that encompasses their vibe, their sophomore album, Sexy, has bedroom pop and rap elements embedded throughout it.

With women maintaining a strong presence in rap throughout 2022 (Rico Nasty, Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Milli), Coco & Clair Clair are no exception. They embody real hot girl shit with that “I know your man wants me, but I’m gonna let you have him” mentality. That being said, let’s be real, this release is for the girls, gays and they’s because the boys simply can’t keep up.

What sounds like it was made by the popular girls in school was actually created by two girls that met on Twitter. Clair Clair followed Coco after her witty tweets caught her attention. This “fun comes first” mentality that initially attracted the two remains present throughout this project. What makes this album good is just that - it’s for them. It’s not made to impress a label, to catapult them into fame, or to show off their talent. They’ve simply mastered portraying the persona of that cocky, standoffish, hot girl we all need to tap into every so often through music. 

Wake and bake to “8AM” with that sliding bassline. Pregame in your bedroom to “U + Me”, “Be With U”, or “Pop Star.” Drive around with your girls and listen to “Cherub”, “Love Me”, or “Lamb.”
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All the while, keep a keen ear out for Coco’s clever one-liners. Enjoy. 


Honorable Mentions:

Jimmy Jolts - Holy Faint
Nymph - Shygirl
Ali -  Vieux Farka Touré and Khruangbin
Billie Toppy - Men I Trust

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What were your favorite releases of 2022? Leave us comments below.
And thank you for another year of supporting T&E!

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