My Top 10 Favorite Rock songs of 2022 · 2:32am Mar 1st, 2023
This may be three months late, but I don’t care. It’s no question that 2022 brought a lot of good music for rock, metal, etc. So I thought I’d go through my picks for my ten favorite songs to come out in 2022.
For this list, I’ll only be looking at songs that fit into rock, metal, alternative, or indie. I’ll also be excluding covers, as this narrows down the choices a little. Also, neither I nor anyone has heard every single song to come out in 2022, so leave a comment telling me what your favorite song of 2022 was
#10
“Welcome to the Circus”
Five Finger Death Punch
The opening track off of 5FDP’s ninth studio album AfterLife is today’s opener. While I didn’t really enjoy AfterLife that much, I really dig this style. Sure, there’s more chugga-chugga and less actually coherent guitar work here, but it’s used as a really catchy club-style riff. And while Ivan Moody didn’t sound 100% for the majority of the album, his vocal style really shines here
#9
“Ruin My Life”
Simple Plan ft. Deryck Whibley
The lead single and by far the best song to come from Simple Plan’s newest album Harder Than It Looks, I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this song. The guitar riff is pretty stock, but Pierre Bouvier has clearly improved his vocal ability. And of course, Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley sounds amazing as well. The chorus is extremely catchy, and I like how the song builds speed over time. Not quite the best song I’ve ever heard from Simple Plan, but a fun listen nonetheless
#8
“Sleepwalking”
All Time Low
I cannot wait for the release of All Time Low’s new album Tell Me I’m Alive. I can see an argument for this not being rock, but at the very least, it’s rock adjacent. I’m honestly impressed at All Time Low’s ability to stay relevant without being a long time running big name. The song maintains a fun beat throughout, and Alexander William Gaskarth‘s vocals work really well. Even if I don’t love the studio filter, the vocals and instruments mix with it perfectly.
#7
“ZOMBIFIED”
Falling In Reverse
This was one of the first songs to come out in 2022, and I haven’t stopped listening to it since. Admittedly, I am not a fan of Falling In Reverse, and especially Ronnie Radke’s behavior, but he’s really turned it around in the last few years. The music is mixed really well, and Radke sounds better than he has in years. I’d even argue that this song is even better than their 2020 hit “Popular Monster.” It just sucks that the lyrics hold as true as they do. Either way, between this and their other recent singles, Falling In Reverse has a lot of momentum moving forward, and I hope they don’t screw it up
#6
“Black Summer”
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The lead single of RHCP’s 2022 album Unlimited Love, which I didn’t love as much as I’d hoped. But it’s this song, and specifically the return of John Frusciante’s guitar work that I really enjoy. The lyrics are kinda dated at this point, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sing along to this whenever it comes it. Anthony Keatus, as always, gives it his all on the vocals, and the song in general manages to give a sort of “modern-retro” vibe
#5
“Miracle”
A Day To Remember
It’s no question that ADTR dug themselves a really deep hole after all of the drama concerning their 2021 album You’re Welcome, which caused a ton of people to turn in their fan cards. But they proved to everyone they weren’t done yet with their 2022 single “Miracle.” I can’t say I’m a die hard fan of ADTR, but man, does this song slap. The drums are really what stick out more than anything, but everything else is well done as well
#4
“EDGING”
blink-182
It’s the reunion no one asked for but everyone secretly wanted. I love California and NINE, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss Tom DeLonge. His boyish vocals lend a lot of fun to this song and play really well off of those of Mark Hoppus. And, as per usual, the drumming from Travis Barker is amazing. It is a bit of a shame we haven’t heard anything from the band since this song’s release, but I’m sure longtime fans of blink, including myself, will be more than happy when something does finally release
#3
“Lux Æterna”
Metallica
Is this just a big band who made a comeback getting all the recognition? Yeah, probably. But this song is still amazing and deserves… most of the praise it gets. Hetfeild’s vocals sound incredible along with the very fast paced music. Honestly, it feels good to just be able to enjoy a Metallica song without everyone picking it apart and criticizing the smallest details. Let’s admit it, a lot of people hate on Metallica, and while I don’t think they’re the greatest band of all time, they definitely deserved a break. New album coming out in a few months, can’t wait to listen
#2
“Just Pretend”
Bad Omens
I’m not even gonna pretend I’d ever heard of Bad Omens before this song’s release. By far the biggest song on their 2022 album The Death Of Peace Of Mind, this song resonated with a lot of people. While I don’t have that much of a connection to this song, I can appreciate the sheer depth of the lyrics. The buildup to the chorus, as well as the chorus itself, is honestly one of the most emotional deliveries I’ve ever heard in rock. An amazing breakout for a band that had a decent following in general
#1
“Undefeatable”
Tomato Ohtani ft. Kellin Quinn
Is this a shameless cop out? Yeah, probably, but it’s my list here. I’ve already talked about this song at length in my EP review of the Sonic Frontiers OST, and my opinion hasn’t changed. You have Quinn’s great delivery for the first verse (Welcome to the mind of a different kind, where we’ve been growing slowly!), the iconic lead-in to the chorus (It’s time face your fear!), and the chorus itself! Sonic Frontiers was robbed at pretty much every single game award this year, including best soundtrack. So I don’t care if this isn’t an official single or by an official band, it’s still my favorite song to come out in 2022
My only honorable mention for this list is Mark Tremonti’s cover of “My Way.” A cover that shouldn’t work, but really does. Anyhow, that was a look at my personal top 10 favorite songs of 2022. What’d you think? What was your favorite song of 2022? Did I miss one? Let me know down the comments below!
The fact that Red Hot Chili Peppers have been putting out consistently good music since the early '80s just shows how much of an amazing band they are. Loved both Unlimited Love and Return of the Dream Canteen!