My first blog anniversary! It was December 4th last year when I'd written my very first blog entry, venturing into the world of heavy metal. What a good opportunity to look back on this last year - where did my journey take me?
Well, obviously it led me closer to metal music. While I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of metal subgenres and not very hopeful to ever get my head wrapped around anything at first, it became very clear very soon that metal had a lot to offer. Wherever I was looking, I found music that absolutely got me. And with every new band I discovered and liked I became braver, bolder and more curious. It is safe to say that 2022 was my first metal year and it won't be my last.
In 2021 my Spotify Wrap was kind of weird. My Top 5 Artists and Top 5 Songs were a random mix of bands and songs I'd been listening to on various playlists. But there were no bands I'd really loved listening to. No songs that meant something. In 2021 I'd listened to 36.369 minutes of music and my Top Genre was Deutschpop [German Pop]. 2022 painted a very different picture and a much more accurate one. With 53.816 minutes I've increased my music consumption by 47,97 %. Not included in this number are the countless YouTube documentaries and album reviews I've watched.
Listening to music is good for your mental health and as I listened to my metal albums whilst taking a walk, it was definitely good for my physical health as well. Seriously, in the first four months of 2022 I've lost 10 kg of weight, simply by being out each day and walking it off. My Top Genre in 2022 was Metal, closely followed by Black Metal. Not sure what qualifies as "Schweizer Metal" [Swiss Metal] to be honest, but it has to be Samael, it is the only Swiss band I've really listened to regularly.
Black Metal being my second most listened to genre is what really shows my personal and musical growth I guess. This was the genre I was most afraid of and most intimidated by in the beginning. The genre I didn't even want to listen to. I'd spent a lot of time with Heavy Metal, NWOBHM and Glam Metal (as you can see with W.A.S.P. and Mötley Crüe being my numbers one and two). I was definitely stalling. In June 2022 I started with Bathory and I guess this was a good decision, because Bathory is still one of my favourite bands. Black Metal has become my favourite metal subgenre so far and several bands made it on my daily playlist, Alcest, Cradle of Filth and Mork ahead of everyone.
I love this because it showed me very impressively that you are never too old to discover something new, to get into something really different and most important of all - you can always surprise yourself!
In 2022 I've seen Samael & Diabolical in Berlin and Blind Guardian in Hamburg. My wardrobe changed in favour for more and more band shirts, I got my own black metal logo for my blog and the merch to come with it. So fun. I made a new friend bonding over metal. Listening to metal opened the doors to a community and subculture that helped me unearth my lost identity. A feeling I'd lost since my Gothic days back in 2004. It is save to say metal gave me guidance and a feeling of belonging again. I was always different than all the other moms around here. Now I at least look like it again. It is a part of my youth, a part of my not-so-assimilated self that finally managed to come out again. And I love it so much. I am feeling stronger, more confident and more in control than I've felt in a long time.
Next year I will hopefully see Kreator & Lamb of God in Hamburg and if possible I'd like to go to some more concerts. W.A.S.P. is playing in Bremen in March. Just a bit scared seeing them live now (at their age!) will kill it for me. I hope to make some more metal friends. I intentd to buy an electric guitar and learn how to play it. My metal highlight will definitely be W:O:A 2023. This will really push me out of my comfort zone, but I am so looking forward to it. My blog will continue in 2023 and I am still very curious to see where my journey will take me next. There is still so much to discover. Stay tuned!