Let’s have a look at what interested us musically in the first half of the year.

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Wolf – Shadowland
A delightfully old school heavy metal album filled with great riffs and a touch of evil (RP – SftDS review).
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Aldous Harding – Warm Chris
Aldous Harding is a one of a kind songwriter who is constantly changing her sonics. On Warm Chris she turns this up a notch. No song is the same so get ready for more than a few surprises (WRM – SftDS review).
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Battle Beast – Circus of Doom
Calling Circus of Doom a return to form borders on being an understatement as Battle Beast delivers their best record since Unholy Savior (RP – SftDS review).
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Caroline – Caroline
A diamond in the rough is the best way to describe this Interesting debut. Caroline patiently blends traditions with improv so be sure to give it some proper time to settle in (WRM – SftDS review).
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Ghost – Impera
Ghost returns with another good collection of darkly symphonic rock/metal. It might lack a little behind its fantastic predecessor but is sure to satisfy fans all the same (RP).
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Messa – Close
Italy’s Messa delivers a very solid work of doom with a refreshing take on the genre. Expect slow heavy riffs combined with jazz, Oriental instrumentation, strong vocals and… more heavy riffs (WRM – SftDS review).
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Sylvaine – Nova
Beautifully haunting and deliciously evil at the same time, Sylvaine’s Nova is a highlight for anyone who likes their black metal more ambient and ethereal, or vice versa (RP – SftDS review).
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Raum – Daughter
Simply a beautiful, yet also unreviewable, work of ambient by Jefre Cantu-Ledesma and Liz Harris. Just give this one a spin if you can get a hold of a physical copy that is (WRM).
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Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s Star One – Revel in Time
Arjen Lucassen avenges himself after the disappointing Transitus with what might be the best Star One album in his career (RP – SftDS review).
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Kevin Morby – This Is A Photograph
This Is A Photograph is one of the best Kevin Morby albums to date that serves as a great soundtrack to the sunny months of this year or even, if you will, life itself (WRM – SftDS review).
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Now, let’s move onwards and see what the rest of 2022 will bring us.
Wander (WRM) & Ralph (RP) – 300622

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