A year of much adaptation, improvisation, and overcom(ing?) within Twin Peaks Sessions found the scrappy operations moved to a suburban New Jersey basement, while still connecting to the Bay Area remotely and through random visits of "just being in the area!". That being said, Twin Shrieks fest 2022 occurred and ROCKED, a handful of sessions were filmed.

On air for this end of year recap, friends of the radio show Josh of Spinning Out Podcast and Steven of Behind the Vinyl Pod teamed up with me to count down our favorite EPs and albums. For the sake of this blog post/list, mine are below, but click the episode link to hear us fellas banter!

EPs

Greet Death -New Low

The death bois go a little softer and more acoustic on this EP that formed from scattered singles, but the riffs and existential dread are still there. One of my favorite bands not only in the shoegaze resurgence, but god tier in general.

End It - Unpleasant Living

The most fuck off intro into quick and painfully fun hardcore that will get the blood pumping in all directions. Baltimore HC is thriving, and this is proof.

Yume - Ambitious Cards

Let's keep things in Baltimore, but it make drummer shrieking skramz and a little emo tinkles? Insert, Yume.

GEL/Cold Brats - Shock Therapy Split

NJ HC on top! Keep tabs on Gel in the states and Cold Brats from Romania, splits like this truly give hardcore that international sensation feel.

trauma ray - Transmissions

I am a sucker for Smashing Pumpkins worship, but combine that with Hum worship and Texas riffers trauma ray continue to prove why they are the best in today's space rock. Back to back years they've topped my list of best EPs in year end lists.

ALBUMS

Drug Church - Hygiene

If you listen to Twin Shrieks Radio, you have received plenty of information on joining Drug Church. It's still not too late. Interview w. PK coming soon ;)

Topiary Creatures - You Can Only Mourn Surprises

I have had this record on repeat since I discovered it last February by clicking on an album review simply because I enjoyed the album artwork. This has everything, from emo riffs to hardcore yells and full on Nintendocore / chiptune beats, dive in and get lost in this mythical world of mournful dread and insomnia. Bay Area shout-out to the track September 9, 2020... if you know... you know!

Alex G - God Save the Animals

I purposely didn't include this during the radio show because everyone else is... but I gotta give a nod to my Philly brother Alex G on this actual masterpiece. "Runner" will be a song that will be remembered and played for decades.

Kal Marks - My Name Is Hell

Vocal range I haven't heard since Mike Patton joined Faith No More. Northeast DIY legends Kal Marks are back with a new lineup, and it is fierce as fuck. Must see live band. Exploding in Sound records for life.

Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There

The only thing more devastating than these lyrics of longing and emotional turmoil is the fact that the lead vocalist has left the band and we may never witness these songs live. An instant classic of a record. Dive in on a cold, lonely, winter day...but don't send that text.

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