It’s the end of the year, so time for an end-of-year music list. This is the same list I’ve submitted to the RockReport end-of-year poll. My rankings don’t often match theirs as I tend to listen to more hard rock and less AOR.
These rankings come from Last.fm and are my most-played albums of 2022 that were released in 2022.
Ghost goes mainstream with songs that feel both familiar and new at the same time.
Diamond Star Halos - Def Leppard
My all-time favorite band was back in 2022 with a great new album.
Force Majeure - H.E.A.T.
These guys can do no wrong and transitioned to back to their new (old) singer without missing a beat.
Final Advent - Dynazty
They just keep getting better.
Saw them in concert back in April. Amazing live band!
A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society - Avantasia
This is my favorite Avantasia album so far.
Darker Still - Parkway Drive
A couple stinkers, but overall I’m a fan of modern PD.
Circus of Doom - Battle Beast
Not much new or different here, but thoroughly fun.
It was surprising to see another WWI album from Sabaton and also a bit surprising to to me that this was so highly ranked. It’s not bad, just kind of same-old.
Not the End of the Road - Kissin’ Dynamite
A pleasant surprise for me. This German band is an 80s delight.
To me, play count is what is most important. After all, if I played it a lot, I must have liked it a lot!
Honorable Mentions
These are other 2022 albums I enjoyed (in no real order):
The Cage - Billy Idol
Gate of the Gods - New Horizon
Boombox - Fozzy
Fallen Sanctuary - Terra Nova
Make It Count - Ronnie Atkins
Enigmatic - Gathering of Kings
Brace for Impact - Perfect Plan
Afterlife - Five Finger Death Punch
Survive - Stratovarius
Wait for the Night - Wicked Smile
Notables
These albums were not released in 2022, but still got a lot of plays in 2022:
Servant of the Mind - Volbeat
This was released in December 2011 so many of its plays actually happened in 2022. I like this album as it is pretty heavy overall, but retains the smooth catchiness of Volbeat songs.
Abyss - Unleash the Archers
This album is actually from 2020, but I keep coming back to it. I don’t think I even know of Unleash the Archers back in 2020, but the more I listen to this album the more I love it. The Wind That Shapes the Land is becoming one of my all-time favorite songs.
Dark Connection - Beast in Black
Release in October 2021, I still really like this.
In the Court of the Dragon - Trivum
Also released in October 2021 and my album of the year for 2021, this also still gets a lot of plays.
Pyromania - Def Leppard
Easily my favorite back catalog album, this gets lots of plays every year. It is pretty much the template for all my favorite music.
Paul, since you are a metalhead, you should check out my Song of the Year. Best,
Interesting list. I don't know how you find the time to check out so much new stuff, but there are a few here I'll have go find. I had no idea Def Leppard had even put out something new...