2022: Year End Shtick
Contrary to last year's wrap-up I will keep it short and simple this time around. 2022 has been a great year for new music, but the next few days of cherishing all those great records that came out, should be enough. Instead, I wanna talk about borderline fuckup in 2022.
Starting out in the deep depression that was the first lockdown in 2020, I didn't know what to expect. I appreciated some warm welcomes of old supporters, but honestly the blogs exposure didn't bother me that much, cause in that time it was intended as a relieve for me. And it was. In spring of 2021 I then decided to switch from German to the English language, and also took the move to Instagram. One and a half year later, I can say, that both decisions were good for me and the blog. It allowed me to connect with more people and once again dive a bit deeper "into the scene".
The last few years of digitization, de-socialization, Social-Media-bullshit-worshipping and an overall over-saturation definitely left a mark on life and this blog as well, but still, I'm very happy how everything turned out. 2022's highlights include two guest editors (Elias & Michael) contributing to this blogs content, hosting our first mixtape (set up by Michael) with more in the pipeline, connecting to a lot of new bands and people and last not least the "mEMOries"-series, that gave me the opportunity to meet even more folks.
Speaking about it, "mEMOries" no doubt was this blogs success story of 2022. Coming up from 7 dusted parts in May to the posting of the 25th part a week before christmas, is awesome as awesome can get. With the support of many lovely people this series, that was dead in the water for nearly 8 years, possibly sees its ending in 2023. We'll have a few more parts for the next year, before the work on the sampler will begin. "mEMOries" will be the big big project for the next year and I already have a few ideas in my mind, too many, I guess. I hope I can set it up the way I want it to be, taking a new job in January and getting near my bachelor's degree when summer hits. Eventually, everything will turn out fine.
At the end, I just wanna thank everyone for the massive support in 2022. Thanks for taking a part and thanks for caring. It was a pleasure. Now, I hope you enjoy my big recap of the year. Traditionally I'll start with favourite labels, demos, splits & songs and then will go on with best EPs and the AOTY-list...
xxx
// Labels of the Year //
That's a no-brainer. ZBR is on its way to the most impressive catalog ever in all of Hardcore! This year's highlights include LPs by PIRI REIS, MASSA NERA, ATAMEO, CROSSED or ANNA SAGE, EPs by THANK YOU DRIVER, BRAHM & PIET ONTHEL, and a shitload of awesome Splits like that 6-Way, the three APOSTLES OF ERIS-collabs or CROWNING/NAEDR. And don't forget about that LOFTUS-re-release!
>> Middle-Man Records
The second "evergreen" in this category, with LPs by ATAMEO, DE FACTO ENSCRIPTURE, AZZACOV & OVERO, and an EP by CAGES.
>> also check The Coming Strife Records for cool Metalcore out of the UK (most of the time)
// Demos of the Year //
3 // SANCTUARY
Nice metallic Hardcore from French, inspired by MORNING AGAIN et al. [Stream]
2 // SOUL PROVIDER (Trip Machine Lab.)
Metalcore out of NY with members from KOYO or RAIN OF SALVATION. [Stream]
1 // CAPE FADE (New Morality Zine)
This is the site project by Nick from MINDFORCE. Jay (who sings in their main band) does the drumming, Nick does everything else. This could definitely appeal to MINDFORCE-fans, though it's more oldschool-sounding and in the vein of BURN, INDECISION or early SNAPCASE. [Stream]
// Best Splits //
5 // CROWNING/NAEDR - Rayau-LP (Zegema Beach Records/Left Hand Label)
One of the best Splits when it comes to Screamo. CROWNING from Chicago with four tracks of their playful, driving style, while Singapore's NAEDR further blend Screamo and Post-Rock like ENVY or HEAVEN IN HER ARMS did it. [Stream]
4 // OTHER HALF/NEGATIVE MEASURES - 7inch (Venn Records)
OTHER HALF warm up for their second album with two quality tracks of noisy, yet melodic Post-Hardcore, and their buddies from NEGATIVE MEASURES offer a pair of fast, rough and groovy Hardcore-Punk. [Stream]
3 // ENNUI/APOSTLES OF ERIS - 7inch (Zegema Beach Records/Day Zero Collective)
All three APOSTLES OF ERIS-splits (the others with ENCARSIA & GOSSIP) would deserve a mention, but this is my personal favourite. ENNUI out of Italy deliver raw, emotional Screamo with a bit of chaos and enough melody to balance things out, while APOSTLES OF ERIS stick to one song this time around, but it's one of their best yet, blending Screamo, Post-Rock and mathy/proggy stuff. [Stream]
2 // THE PATH/GONE WRONG - 7inch (State of Mind Recordings)
GONE WRONG continue their way of fucked up 80s-Hardcore and they're still some of the best doing it right now. It's unbelievable how abrasive these guys sound at the age of 16 to 19. Their Split-partners THE PATH were new to me. They're a more seasoned band, but they make a perfect match with GONE WRONG, feeling just as powerful and harsh. Can't decide which site is better?! [Stream]
1 // HOME IS WHERE/RECORD SETTER - Dissection Lesson-Cass (Father-Daughter/Topshelf Records)
No doubt, this is my favourite Split of the year. I'm MORE than curious if these two songs are a precursor to HOME IS WHERE's future or just a "one-off", cause this is full force Screamo/Emoviolence at times, and pretty different than last year's "I became Birds". They're a special band, that is able to surprise anytime! Even more surprising is the fact, that RECORD SETTER are not buried by this momentum, instead they hold up with two very good songs of emotional Hardcore. [Review/Stream]
// Favourite Videos //
// About 2023 //
Records I'm looking forward to...
>> FADING SIGNAL-LP
>> HOME IS WHERE-LP
>> INFINITY LAND-LP
>> MEAN SEASON-LP (29 years after their sole LP, that's crazy!)
>> MILITARIE GUN-LP
>> MOSEY JONES-LP
>> MSPAINT-LP
>> PAINT IT BLACK-LP (is that still a thing?)
>> RID OF ME-LP
>> SAD PARK-LP
>> SPITE HOUSE-LP
>> THE VAN PELT-LP (unreal, isn't it?)
>> WALKING-RACE-EP (or... LP?)
>> ...other stuff waiting to be released
// Songs of the Year //
AMORA - "Dollar Store Christ"
ATAMEO - "Why did you leave me behind? Now it's gone forever"
BRIGHT, LITTLE STARS - "Do you feel the same?" / "Forgiveness"
CHAT PILE - "Why"
COMEBACK KID - "Heavy Steps"
COOL LIVING - "Wholesome Prison Blues" / "On Tiptoe"
DENZEL CURRY FEAT. T-PAIN - "Troubles"
FEELS LIKE HEAVEN - "Do you feel it?"
FLIGHT MODE - "Togetherness"
GILLIAN CARTER - "Drowning in Poison"
KENDRICK LAMAR - "N95"
KENDRICK LAMAR feat. BLXST & AMANDA REIFER - "Die Hard"
KENDRICK LAMAR feat. Taylour Paige - "We cry together"
L'APPEL DU VIDE - "Delirium"
MEAT WAVE - "What would you like me to do"'
MINDFORCE - "New Lords"
MOMMA - "Brave" / "Rockstar"
MT. ORIANDER - "If only something would go right for a Change" / "We are not in this alone"
MUTTERING - "21st Century" / "Only Destructive"
NAS - "Legit"
NEAL SHARMA & THE SAGEBRUSH - "Curtains" / "I am with you now" / "Shiver in the Sun"
NNAMDI- "Anti" / "Dedication"
OSO OSO - "Describe you"
OTHER HALF - "Slab Thick" / "If you write the Way you talk"
PEMBROKE - "Not ok"
PIRI REIS - "Curse on Pasumpahan Island"
PROPER. - "Milk & Honey" / "Done Talking"
SABA feat. BENJAMIN EARL TURNER - "If I had a Dollar"
SIGNALS MIDWEST - "All Good Things"
SILENT DRIVE - "God vs. I" / "Abandon Ship"
SOCIAL CATERPILLAR - "Anti-Prayer"
SPITE HOUSE - "Awake" / "Deep enough"
TO BE GENTLE - "Impulses"
VILLAIN OF THE WAR - "Heart"
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