Now that the year 2022 is coming to a close, we at Tuonela Magazine want to share the releases we enjoyed the most. Each of our staff members will share their own lists and here is the list of our journalist, Andrea Crow.
If many of the albums released last year were more of a miss than a hit for me, the tables have turned this year, as there have been numerous highlights spread over these 12 months, among which I have to mention AMORPHIS, EPICA, SHINEDOWN, SEVENTH WONDER, DYNAZTY, POETS OF THE FALL, THE HALO EFFECT, LACRIMAS PROFUNDERE, and the discovery of the year, HEI’AN. So, yeah, 2022 was a magnificent year for metal!
Oh, as if all this wonderfulness wasn’t already enough, like the proverbial cherry on top, VV (Ville Valo) – the mastermind behind love metal icons HIM – decided to release new songs this year with a promise of his solo album, “Neon Noir,” to come out in January 2023, followed by extensive touring. This makes me extra excited (and giddy) for next year.
But to wrap up 2022 here are the year’s highlights arranged in lists for your reading pleasure…
Top 10 International albums
10. Evergrey – A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)
9. Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society
8. Hei’An – imago
7. Blind Guardian – The God Machine
6. Epica – The Alchemy Project
5. Shinedown – Planet Zero
4. The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost
3. Seventh Wonder – The Testament
2. Dynazty – Final Advent
1. Lacrimas Profundere – How to Shroud Yourself with Night
Read more: REVIEW: Evergrey – A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) | REVIEW: Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society | REVIEW: Hei’An – imago | REVIEW: Blind Guardian – The God Machine | REVIEW: Epica – The Alchemy Project | REVIEW: The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost | REVIEW: Seventh Wonder – The Testament | REVIEW: Dynazty – Final Advent | REVIEW: Lacrimas Profundere – How to Shroud Yourself with Night
Top 10 Finnish albums
10. Horizon Ignited – Towards the Dying Lands
9. Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition
8. The Rasmus – Rise
7. Brymir – Voices in the Sky
6. Battle Beast – Circus of Doom
5. Wolfheart – King of the North
4. Lost Society – If the Sky Came Down
3. Sonata Arctica – Acoustic Adventures Vol One & Two
2. Poets of the fall – Ghostlight
1. Amorphis – Halo
Read more: REVIEW: Horizon Ignited – Towards the Dying Lands | REVIEW: Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition | REVIEW: Brymir – Voices in the Sky | REVIEW: Battle Beast – Circus of Doom | REVIEW: Wolfheart – King of the North | REVIEW: Lost Society – If the Sky Came Down | REVIEW: Sonata Arctica – Acoustic Adventures – Volume One | REVIEW: Sonata Arctica – Acoustic Adventures – Volume Two | REVIEW: Poets of the Fall – Ghostlight | REVIEW: Amorphis – Halo
Top 3 EPs
3. Lord of the Lost – The Heartbeat of the Devil
2. Within Temptation – Don’t Pray for Me
1. Eleine – Acoustic in Hell
Read more: REVIEW: Lord of the Lost – EP: The Heartbeat of the Devil | REVIEW: Eleine – EP: Acoustic in Hell
Most promising act
Finnish: Horizon Ignited
International: Hei’An
Read more: REVIEW: Horizon Ignited – Towards the Dying Lands | REVIEW: Hei’An – imago
Top 5 music videos
5. Dynazty – The White
4. Xandria – You Will Never Be Our God ft. Ralf Scheepers
3. VV – Loveletting
2. Lacrimas Profundere – To Disappear in You
1. Tobias Sammet’s Avantasia – The Moonflower Society (ft. Bob Catley)
Read more: REVIEW: Dynazty – Final Advent | SONG OF THE DAY: Xandria – You Will Never Be Our God ft. Ralf Scheepers | FEATURED SINGLE: VV – Loveletting | Lacrimas Profundere – How to Shroud Yourself with Night | REVIEW: Avantasia – A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society
Top 5 international songs
5. Eluveitie – Exile of the Gods
4. The Halo Effect – In Broken Trust
3. Dynazty – Heart of Darkness
2. Lacrimas Profundere – Nebula
1. Shinedown – Daylight
Read more: Interview with Eluveitie — “At the end of the day, everything will be a bit more extreme.” | REVIEW: The Halo Effect – Days of the Lost | REVIEW: Dynazty – Final Advent | Interview with Dynazty – “I do believe in the longevity of quality music beyond current trends” | Lacrimas Profundere – How to Shroud Yourself with Night
Top 5 Finnish songs
5. Lost Society – Awake
4. Wolfheart – The King
3. VV – Echolocate Your Love
2. Bloodred Hourglass – In Lieu of Flowers
1. Amorphis – On the Dark Waters
Read more: REVIEW: Lost Society – If the Sky Came Down | REVIEW: Wolfheart – King of the North | REVIEW: Amorphis – Halo
Top 5 best last-minute songs
5. Elvenking – Rapture
4. Apocalyptica & Epica – Rise Again
3. Insomnium – White Christ (feat Sakis Tolis)
2. Redemption – I am the Storm
1. Katatonia – Austerity
Top 5 cover art
5. Poets of the Fall – Ghostlight
4. Blind Guardian – The God Machine
3. Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition
2. An Abstract Illusion – Woe
1. Hei’An – imago
Read more: REVIEW: Poets of the Fall – Ghostlight | REVIEW: Blind Guardian – The God Machine | REVIEW: Dawn of Solace – Flames of Perdition | REVIEW: An Abstract Illusion – Woe | REVIEW: Hei’An – imago
Best Collaboration
dArtagnan – We’re gonna be drinking ft. Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night)
Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2023
5. Katatonia – Sky Void of Stars
4. Xandria – The Wonders Still Awaiting
3. Delain – Dark Waters
2. Kamelot – TBA
1. VV – Neon Noir
Want to share your lists with us? Comment below with your lists.
The whole Tuonela Magazine team wishes you an inspirational 2023 filled with a lot of new music to discover. We hope to see you back next year!
