Mostly Metal's eoty countdown 2022

Since this year is coming to a close, list season is ahead ;-) And even though it is still too early to talk about any kind of aoty, I thought it could be some fun to do a 31 days, music-related challenge, starting on Dec 1st, to put some great songs, albums, videos artists... into the spotlight. 

Feel free to join in (over on Twitter, Insta, Facebook), check out my picks, add and share yours - Looking forward to this :-)



Day 31 - If you could plan your own festival, which bands would we see there? 

One can dream... Who'd join us for this line-up?


Day 30 - Most anticipated concerts in 2023

The calendar is already filling up nicely. Excited to see JESTER'S TEARS, ARCHSPIRE, THRESHOLD, HAKEN, NE OBLIVISCARIS and AYREON next year. The line-ups for PROGNOSIS FESTIVAL and PROGPOWER EUROPE are outstanding, counting the days :-)

Day 29 - Most anticipated albums in 2023

From those already announced, I'm most looking forward to NE OBLIVISCARIS, NEVERUS, HAKEN, HYPNO5E and ASHEN. News from SYMPHONY X, POEM and NOVERIA would be highly appreciated :-)

Day 28 - Album of the year (1-5)

What a blast!! Five wonderful records - Epic, mind-blowing, mesmerizing. Gonna leave them here in no particular order, but of course highly recommended :-)

DARKANE - Inhuman Spirits
Linktree

THRESHOLD - Dividing Lines
Linktree

XAON - The Lethean
https://xaon.bandcamp.com/album/the-lethean

PARIUS - The Signal Heard Throughout Space
https://parius.bandcamp.com/

MICHAEL ROMEO - War of the Worlds Pt.2
Linktree


Day 27 - Album of the year (6 - 10)

What an incredible year for new music! This one again comes along without instrumental releases an EPs, you can find them below

NICKLAS SONNE - Resonance
Linktree

MORTON - Horror of Daniel Wagner
Spotify

CHILDREN OF THE SÜN - Roots
https://childrenofthesunofficial.bandcamp.com/album/roots

THEORY- Obsidian Haze
https://theorymetal.bandcamp.com/album/obsidian-haze

ALLEGAEON - Damnum
https://allegaeon.bandcamp.com/album/damnum


Day 26 - Album of the year (11-15)

Gonna do this one without instrumental releases and EPs, as they appeared already below. 

OBSIDIOUS - Iconic
https://obsidious-band.bandcamp.com/album/iconic

BENEATH THE SILENCE - Black Lights
https://beneaththesilence.bandcamp.com/album/black-lights

AN ABSTRACT ILLUSION - Woe
https://anabstractillusion.bandcamp.com/album/woe

LOBATE SCARP - You Have It All
https://lobatescarp.bandcamp.com/album/you-have-it-all

AETERNAM - Heir of the Rising Sun
https://aeternam.bandcamp.com/album/heir-of-the-rising-sun


Day 25 - Favorite instrumental records

2022 was an incredible year for instrumental rock and metal, with releases in a wonderful diversity. Welcome to check out some of my highlights below: 

MENDEL - Equilibrium
https://mendelian.bandcamp.com/album/equilibrium

LUCA DI GENNARO - The 2nd Coming
https://open.spotify.com/album/6WDC9dOm1Wb3RLTCydXi6p?si=2mzpeyBSTfSSS6WsiE9vHw

MORGAN REID - Terran
https://morganreid.bandcamp.com/album/terran-digital-album 

ANDY GILLION - Arcade Metal
https://andygillion.bandcamp.com/album/arcade-metal

PAUL WARDINGHAM - Prototype
https://paulwardingham1.bandcamp.com/album/prototype

CYDEMIND - The Descent
https://cydemind.bandcamp.com/album/the-descent

ETRANGE - Enigme
https://etrange.bandcamp.com/album/enigme

GYPSIES ON PARADISE - Arturo's Sableness
https://gypsiesonparadise.bandcamp.com/album/arturos-sableness

GERALD PETER PROJECT - Incremental Changes Pt. 2
https://geraldpeter.bandcamp.com/album


Day 24 - A song that calms you down

GERALD PETER PROJECT - Timeless

From the keyboard wizard's mesmerizing new album "Incremental Changes Pt2", which offers wonderful instrumental prog inviting the listener to drift away for a moment

https://geraldpeter.bandcamp.com/track/timeless-13th-movement


Day 23 - Shout-out to a cover artwork creator

With his marvelous, surreal paintings and unique style, Mariusz Lewandowski clearly left a mark in the scene


Day 22 - Shout-out to a music blog

This one goes to The Man of Much Metal, The Progspace, Denim & Leather and Worship Metal for not only offering wonderful, musical content and discoveries, but also being a great inspiration. And in this context, I can't leave KmanRiffs aside. 

 

Day 21 - Five favorite EPs 

PREHISTORIA - Cursed Lands
https://prehistoriaband.bandcamp.com/album/cursed-lands

MOTHER OF MILLIONS - Orbit
https://vicisolumrecords.com/album/orbit-ep 

THEANDRIC - Flight Among the Tombs
https://theandric.bandcamp.com/album/flight-among-the-tombs

MONOMANIC - Lágrimas
https://monomanic.bandcamp.com/album/l-grimas

BIOPLAN - Arcade Dreams
https://bioplan.bandcamp.com/album/arcade-dreams



Day 20 - A special physical edition

ARDARITH - Home

This one is absolutely beautiful, with much love for the details. It alos got a great booklet, the CD and poster inside. 

https://ardarith.bandcamp.com/album/home



Day 19 - A special piece of merch

Had a bunch of things in mind for this one, but I just got my first Mostly Metal "merch" as a gift, so please excuse the shameless self-promotion at this point ;-)



Day 18 - An expressive music video

MORGAN REID - Goliath Online

Fascinated by the dancers' smooth yet expressive moves, and how Morgan melts his versatile talents here that wouldn't be nessecarily connected together

Day 17 - An impressive playthrough

ANDY GILLION - Enter the Castle

This was the first, powerful impression he shared from his current album "Arcade Metal", and it also features Jeff Loomis and 66Samus. Fantastic playing, and great fun to watch: 

Day 16 - Favorite big festival

Sweden Rock

What a blast!!! Perfect conditions to fill our hearts with wonderful music. Saw 30 great bands during these four days, with Sorcerer, In Flames, Devin Townsend, Eric Gales and Orbit Culture being some of my highlights. 





Day 15 - Favorite small festival

Progpower Europe (NL)

Fantastic line-up including some of my all-time favorite bands as well as exciting new discoveries, great sound, and a wonderful relaxed atmosphere... Huge thanks to the PPE crew for making this happen! Meeting with old and new friends made the weekend even more special. 





Day 14 - Great concerts Pt. 2

What a blast from the past with Sepultura and Clawfinger, as well as happy times proudly presented by Terry Hoax. No pics from Leprous, Wheel, Long Distance Calling, Nile, and the Faces of Death tour, but hell yeah!!! did they all deliver





Day 13 - Great concerts Pt.1

2022 saw the return of live music around these parts, and one could often feel a rewoken enthusiasm in front of and on stage. Had a wonderful time seeing Fractal Universe / Evergrey, Holy Mother / Dynazty, Monomanic / Valley of the Sun and Arena





Day 12 - A song that tends to stick in your head

THRESHOLD - Complex

Powerful, expressive, yet catchy. Stuck in my head for days since its release - Love it!

https://youtu.be/3XZ4crYfzE0

Welcome to read my review for it here


Day 11 - A great opening act you saw but weren't familiar yet

HOLY MOTHER

No idea how this band slipped through my radar all the years, but they just nailed it when opening for Dynazty in spring. Having legendary drummer John Macaluso spontaneously fill in for this tour made the show even more special. Their music has been in regular rotation since then. 

https://youtu.be/Dc3DI8pBtcY


Day 10 - Best collaboration

STAR ONE - Revel in Time

Prog master Arjen Lucassen takes us through his favorite movies musically, feat. many illustrious guests - Take a seat and enjoy the ride... :-)

Linktree


Day 9 - A record that blew your mind at once

PREHISTORIA - Cursed Lands

The first who caught me straight away this year were powermetal band PREHISTORIA from the US. With their debut "Cursed Lands", they introduced themselves with a blast!!

https://prehistoriaband.bandcamp.com/album/cursed-lands

Welcome to read my interview with them here


Day 8 - Favorite cover artworks

Tough choice, as there have been many beautiful and expressive pieces. I'd go with four stunning examples from my favorite artists: 

Geezer by RYAN T. HANCOCK

Nightbearer by JUANJO CASTELLANO

Jade by ADAM BURKE

Borealis by REMEDY ART DESIGN


Day 7 - An older album that you just discovered

ANTHRIEL - Transcendence

Glad about this gem found its way to my ears, and straight into my proggy heart

Listen to "Transcendence" here

And welcome to read my interview with guitarist Timo Niemistö here


Day 6 - A song by an artist we lost this year

DAVID ANDERSSON 🖤

Want to share two of my favorite tracks from his feather, as the bands are just too different to leave one out:

Soilwork - Arrival: https://t.co/BAeB1osLg2

Night Flight Orchestra - Servants of the Air: https://t.co/WvIo7eIaC2


Day 5 - An album with a strong message

ARDARITH - Home

The international prog project founded by German guitarist, composer and producer Max Pfaffinger gives us wonderful music to dive in, following a man's journey on his search what "Home" is about: 

https://ardarith.bandcamp.com/album/home

Welcome to learn more about it here


Day 4 - A song that rocked your socks off at first spin

DARKANE - Inhuman Spirits

Was the first track I heard from their current, same-named album, and it caught me immediately with its high energy, opening the way for one of this year's most exciting records. What a blast!!!

Day 3 - A funny / entertaining video

NICKLAS SONNE - Spit out your pride

Can't deny a certain weakness for this kind of Viking madness ;-) The song is taken from his solo album "Resonance", welcome to read my review for it here

Day 2 - Five albums from 2021 you're still blasting regularly

AEONS - Consequences
https://aeonsiom.bandcamp.com/album/consequences 

FOTIS DELINIKOLAS - Alma
https://fotisdelinikolas.bandcamp.com/album/alma

TURBULENCE - Frontal
https://youtu.be/3J8T2_vHZ9I

ASTRAKHAN - A Slow Ride Towards Death
https://astrakhan.bandcamp.com/album/a-slow-ride-towards-death

CHARLES SOULZ - Split Mind
https://soulzproject.bandcamp.com/album/split-mind


Day 1 - A song that sums up 2022 for you

XAON - And Yet I Smile 

The music's expression nails it for me - Mindblowing and challenging due to its twist and turns, but nevertheless with a certain beauty.

From their brilliant album "The Lethean"

https://xaon.bandcamp.com/track/and-yet-i-smile

Welcome to check out my interview with Rob Carson here