Another year has gone by and things are getting back into swing. 2022 saw a considerable amount of new music material from the hard rock and metal worlds. From Dream Theater’s ‘Lost Not Forgotten’ series seeing many additions. To Ghost’s amazing ‘IMPERA.’ 2022 has been a solid year of quality material. Here’s a look at a few notable mentions.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Unlimited Love/Return of the Dream Canteen
The Chili’s have accomplished a feat this year that no other musical acts in any genre have done. They released two separate albums in the same year and they both went No. 1. And ya know what? There’s next to zero press about it. That’s where rock, hard rock and metal are these days. Both albums saw the return of classic line-up guitarist John Frusciante. Making everything right in the universe. Seriously, it’s just so hard to buy into the Chili Peppers without him. Some bands can pull things like that off and find chemistry else where. Others can’t. And the Chili’s are in the latter category after the classic line-up formation. Both albums are strong. Featuring a plethora of different music angles. From the indie pop ballad, to the melodic smooth funk, to the rap funk and the harder edge tracks. It’s all there. ‘Return’ is a bit of a stronger album. As the Pepper’s re-embrace their psychedelic tendencies. The funk flows hard. While ‘Unlimited Love’ is more focused on the bands balladry. However, the best song on both albums, ‘Poster Child,’ is as strong as anything from ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magic.’ Welcome back Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Ghost – IMPERA
When Ghost mastermind Tobias Forge announced that the new album, ‘IMPERA’ would be the heaviest Ghost album, eyebrows were raised. He made the same claim for it’s predecessor, ‘Prequelle.’ And as we all know, it’s a far cry from Ghost’s heaviest material. But ‘IMPERA’ kept its promise. A masterful gauntlet of two ton melodic heavy metal. All you have to do is turn on ‘Twenties’ to understand what’s going here. The opening ‘Kaisarion’ is terrific. Just oozing with old school, fun, solid hard rock. Which I believe is the key to the bands success. Generation after generation have proven that there will always be a demand for timeless, melodic hard rock. And Ghost are flying the flag. ‘Watcher In The Sky’ has a great metal chug going on. Complete with traditional theatrical vibes that Forge displays. The album closes with ‘Respite On The Spitalfalls.’ A strong, progressive ballad that’s right in league with the single ‘Call Me Little Sunshine.’ Overall, the bands best album to date. And certainly on of the best of the year.
King’s X – Three Sides Of One
The legends of the metal underground have finally returned with their first new material since 2008. And they haven’t lost a beat. The soaring vocal harmonies are there. The phat grooves laid down by bassist Dug Pinnick and drummer Jerry Gaskill are ever present. Add Ty Tabor’s incredible guitar riffing and soloing, along with Dug Pinnick’s incredible gospel wail, and you’ve got a winning formula. One that’s original and uniquely accessible. For over three decades, this band has kept at it. Trudging through challenge after challenge. Never waivering. And it shows on ‘Three Sides of One.’ New challenges are presented to the band, such as age and vocal ability. The answer? Spread the lead vocals around more. And it works really well. ‘Flood, Pt. 1’ is just a killer throw down King’s X track. ‘Watcher’ raises hairs with it’s vocal harmonies. ‘All God’s Children’ keeps the serious subject matter alive while keeping the low end prominent. And ‘Swipe Up’ is just as throw down and out as any 90’s peak King’s X material. A default winner of an album.
Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos
Def Leppard have returned with their strongest material since ’99’s ‘Euphoria.’ ‘Diamond Star Halos’ recounts many of the elements that inspired Def Leppard. Writing the album remotely during the pandemic, Leppard went into it without any pre-conceived notions. Which is how they write best. And it’s been a while since they’ve approached an album in such a manner. And it pays off. While there are some clunkers: ‘Kick,’ ‘This Guitar’ and ‘Lifeless.’ There’s plenty of really good material to make up for it. The album opener ‘Take What You Want’ is the bands best since ‘Let’s Get Rocked.’ ‘Open Your Eyes’ is one hell of a catchy groove riff. ‘SOS Emergency’ is pop rock at its finest. And ‘From Here To Eternity’ closes the album with timeless class. And there’s plenty in between. While a lot of bands from Def Leppards era are either releasing nothing or sub par material, Leppard still show that they’re as passionate and capable as ever.
Dream Theater – Lost Not Forgotten Series
Dream Theater have released so many vault releases from soundboard recordings and the like that it was impossible to cover them all in the first round. First off, the late year release of the non-Metropolis pt 2 material from the ‘Distance Over Time’ tour in Berlin is spot on ace. But it’s nothing compared to the 2015 Wacken festival show. Where the band stole the evening from every other group that night. Including headliner Judas Priest. ‘As I Am,’ ‘Constant Motion’ and ‘Bridges In The Sky’ have never sounded better. ‘Burning My Soul’ is also a notable mention. The newly released Madison Square Garden show, while DT were opening for Iron Maiden, is also a boon to the collection. The future holds many live releases and rare vault moments. Here’s to Dream Theater keeping up the Lost Not Forgotten series alive for years to come.
