The following is a list of notable events and releases that happened in Nordic music in 2022.
Events 7 January – US-born Finnish violinist Elina Vähälä gives the first North American performance of the original 1904 version of Sibelius's Violin Concerto, with the Minnesota Orchestra under Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä. 1 February The Royal Danish Orchestra announces that Marie Jacquot will be its next music director, effective with the 2024-2025 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. She is the first female conductor ever appointed to the post. The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet announces the appointment of Edward Gardner to the post of artistic advisor as its next music director. 19 February – In the final of Norway's Melodi Grand Prix 2022, the trio Subwoolfer is selected to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest, with "Give That Wolf a Banana". They finish 10th in the Eurovision final. 5 March – Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2022 is won by punk band Reddi with "The Show". It would be eliminated from the Eurovision Song Contest at the semi-final stage. 12 March – Melodifestivalen 2022 is won by Cornelia Jakobs with "Hold Me Closer"; at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, it would finish fourth. 22 March – Ulf Dageby tours for the last time with the Nationalteatern orchestra. 5 April – It is announced that Santtu-Matias Rouvali will end his tenure as chief conductor of the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra at the end of the 2022-2023 season. 12 April – Jukka-Pekka Saraste is appointed as the next chief conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra on a three-year contract effective with the 2023-2024 season. May – Guitarist Amen leaves Finnish band Lordi after disagreements with other band members. 3 May – Swedish doom metal band Draconian change their line-up, with the departure of singer Heike Langhans and the return of Lisa Johansson on vocals, as well as the addition of Niklas Nord on guitars. 27 May – The ABBA Voyage concert residency, with band members as virtual avatars, opens in London. The band make a personal appearance at the end of the first show. 29-30 July – The Uppsala Reggae Festival is scheduled to take place in Finland. Artists expected to appear include Max Romeo, Morgan Heritage and Gentleman. July – A version of Swedish band Ghost's 2019 song "Mary on a Cross" goes viral on TikTok. The band releases its own slowed-down version of the song, which tops the Billboard Hot Hard Rock streaming songs chart, and reaches the Hot 100 chart, their first such success. 20 September – The Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra announces that Matthew Halls will replace Santtu-Matias Rouvali as its chief conductor with an initial contract of 3 years. 3 November – Hannu Lintu is appointed chief conductor of the Gulbenkian Orchestra, effective with the 2023-2024 season. 30 November – Norway's Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra announces the appointment of Julian Rachlin as its next chief conductor, in succession to Nathalie Stutzmann. unknown date – The Reykjavík Recording Orchestra is founded, based at the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavík, Iceland.
Albums released January DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.14Live at Montreux Jazz Festival Anna von Hausswolff Southern Lord, Pomperipossa Records 15Extreme Molly Nilsson Dark Skies Association, Night School First album since 201821Circus of Doom Battle Beast Nuclear Blast Acoustic Adventures – Volume One Sonata Arctica Atomic Fire First acoustic album28Flames of Perdition Dawn of Solace Noble Demon Chimes at Midnight Madrugada Warner Motordrome MØ Columbia Records Live, New, Borrowed, Blue The Quill Compilation album
February DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.11Halo Amorphis Atomic Fire Records The Long Road North Cult of Luna Metal Blade Records Featuring guest artists Colin Stetson and Laurent Brancowitz Memoria Trentemøller In My Room Featuring Lisbet Fritze18Abyss Rising Nightrage Despotz Records 25Hammer of Dawn HammerFall Napalm Records 12th studio albumReturn to the Void Shape of Despair Kumbl Svartsot Mighty Music Records 15th anniversary album
March DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.4 By Royal Decree The Flower Kings Inside Out Music Double albumHjem fra fabrikken Andreas Odbjerg Universal Music Denmark debut studio album, debuted at No. 1 on the Danish albums chart The War to End All Wars Sabaton Nuclear Blast Records Concept album11 Impera Ghost Loma Vista/Concord Including "Hunter's Moon", which features in the film Halloween Kills Gate of the Gods New Horizon Frontiers Music Srl Erik Grönwall with Jona Tee 18 Bigfoot TV Ronni Le Tekrø TBC Records via Cargo Records First solo album for six years A Night at the Nordic House Týr Metal Blade Live album, recorded February 2020 25 Turborider Reckless Love AFM Records Postponed from February
April DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.1Avatars of Love Sondre Lerche Rough Trade Double album; includes a duet with Aurora Shadowland Wolf Century Media 9th studio album 8Isle of Wisdom Hällas Napalm Records 15 Ynglingaättens Öde Månegarm Napalm Records. Paradise Again Swedish House Mafia Republic Featuring 070 Shake, ASAP Rocky, Connie Constance, Jacob Mühlrad, Mapei, Seinabo Sey, Sting, Ty Dolla Sign & the Weeknd 22 Gult myrkur Guðrið Hansdóttir Nordic Notes Black Miracles and Dark Wonders Miseration Massacre Records Mixed and mastered by Plec
May DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.6How to Let Go Sigrid Music for Nations My Father's Son Jani Liimatainen Frontiers Music Srl Featuring Tony Kakko, Timo Kotipelto, Antti Railio, et al20Eyeye Lykke Li PIAS Recordings 27 Justitia Baest Century Media Records EP OMR Omar Rudberg Debut album Aerial Anna Thorvaldsdóttir Sono Luminus Caput Ens; Nordic Affect; Iceland SO / Ilan Volkov et al (originally released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2014) Flamingo Overload Trollfest Napalm Records
June DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.3Be Here Soon iamamiwhoamiTo whom it may concern First studio album for 8 years17Missaoui Cleo Random Bastards Over the Horizon Radar Jorn Mixed and mastered by Alessandro Del Vecchio Bliss Tungsten Arising Empire 24 Inhuman Spirits Darkane Massacre Records Svartsyn Khold Soulseller Records
July DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.8WisdomAltaria Reaper Entertainment 20th anniversary album (delayed by COVID-19) Lifestyles of the Sick & DangerousBlind Channel Century Media Records 15Elastic WaveGard Nilssen's Acoustic Unity ECM Records Featuring André Roligheten and Petter Eldh22NightsideWitchery Century Media Records 29DeceiversArch Enemy Century Media Records Dead InsideTorture Killer The Other Records EP - First release for 9 years
August DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.5The Great Heathen ArmyAmon Amarth Metal Blade Records 12Days of the LostThe Halo Effect Century Media Records Debut album Anti-Tank DogsWolfbrigade Agipunk / Armageddon EP19DrifHeilung Season of Mist Recorded at Lava Studios CopenhagenÖvergivenhetenSoilwork Nuclear Blast First album with Rasmus Ehrnborn as bassist26Voices in the SkyBrymir Napalm Records Life of a RainbowAura Dione Mermaid Records Final AdventDynazty AFM Records March of the ObsequiousTad Morose GMR Music Group Featuring Andreas Silén
September DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.2ÄlskarNina Nesbitt Cooking Vinyl With Jack & Coke and Shy Martin9Ei Meillä Ole Kuin LoisemmeVille Laihiala & Saattajat Sakara Records Debut solo album 16The Great SealSpiritus Mortis Svart Records 23SurviveStratovarius 30FossoraBjörk One Little Independent Records Inspired by the death of the artist's mother If the Sky Came DownLost Society Nuclear Blast Acoustic Adventures – Volume TwoSonata Arctica Atomic Fire
October DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.7 En Är för Mycket och Tusen Aldrig NogDungen Mexican Summer First album for 7 years If the Sky Came DownLost Society Nuclear Blast 14The Power of the NightstarDragonland AFM Records Acoustic in HellEleine Atomic Fire Records EP Dirt FemmeTove Lo Pretty Swede Records First independent release 21Death, Where Is Your StingAvatarium AFM Records Når sjælen kaster op Tobias Rahim Sony Music Denmark No. 1 on the Danish albums chart PandemoniumGothminister AFM Records Largely recorded in Kulturkirken Jakob, Oslo Tár (Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture)Hildur GuðnadóttirDeutsche Grammophon Recorded at Abbey Road Studios28Astral FortressDarkthrone Peaceville Records Grind Over MatterDefleshed Metal Blade Records Dystopia – Part IIRoyal Hunt NorthPoint Productions Released on October 26 via King Records (Japan/SE Asia) Leviathan IITherion Nuclear Blast
November DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.11Til Klovers TaktKampfar Indie Recordings Ninth studio album 18Sweet Evil SunCandlemass Napalm Records SeraphTine Thing Helseth LAWO Classics With Ensemble Allegria 25DiversumIn the Woods... Soulseller Records First album featuring vocalist Bernt FjellestadOfermodian LitaniesOfermod Shadow Records Mini-album
December DayAlbumArtistLabelNotes Ref.2Take a Chance – A Metal Tribute to ABBAAmberian Dawn Napalm Records ABBA covers album25This Is Heavy Metal, Plain & SimpleSnowy Shaw Compilation album 30AamongandrSatanic Warmaster Werewolf Records
Eurovision Song Contest Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022
Classical works Hildur Guðnadóttir – The Fact of the Matter Mats Larsson Gothe and Susanne Marko – Löftet (opera) Jaakko Kuusisto – Symphony, Op. 39 (completed by Pekka Kuusisto) Ville Raasakka – The Harvest, for chamber orchestra Anna S. Þorvaldsdóttir – ARCHORA Sauli Zinovjev – Piano Concerto
Film and television music Hildur Guðnadóttir - Women Talking Krister Linder – Boy from Heaven Marius Christiansen - Etterglød (Afterglow) Johan Söderqvist - Anatomy of a Scandal Mikkel Maltha and Leslie Ming - Triangle of Sadness
Deaths 18 January – Paavo Heininen, Finnish composer, 84 25 January – Fredrik Johansson, Swedish guitarist, 47 (cancer) 20 February – Nils Lindberg, Swedish composer and pianist, 88 23 February – Jaakko Kuusisto, Finnish composer, conductor and violinist, 48 (brain cancer) 22 March – , Norwegian singer, guitarist and songwriter, 50Spellemann-vinner er død 9 April – Birgit Nordin, Swedish operatic soprano, 88 9 April – Trygve Thue, Norwegian guitarist and producer, 71 6 May – Alf Hambe, Swedish writer, composer and singer-songwriter, 91 10 May – Kjell Lönnå, Swedish choirmaster, conductor and composer, 85 18 July – Povl Dissing, Danish singer, composer, guitarist, and harmonica player, 84 6 August – Torgny Söderberg, Swedish songwriter, 77 9 August – Jussi Hakulinen, Finnish musician and singer-songwriter, 57 10 August – Vesa-Matti Loiri, Finnish actor and musician, 77 15 August – Hans (Hasse) Magnusson, Swedish saxophonist, 73 16 August – Matti Lehtinen, Finnish baritone, 100 August – Kimmo Blom, Finnish rock singer and musician, 52 (cancer) 14 September (death announced on this date) – David Andersson, 47, Swedish heavy metal guitarist (Soilwork) 5 October – Ann-Christine Nyström, 78, Finnish Eurovision singer 30 October (death announced on this date) – Ryan Karazija, 40, American-Icelandic musician (Low Roar) 9 November – Mattis Hætta, 63, Norwegian Sami singer 23 November – Hugo Helmig, 24, Danish singer-songwriter 1 December – Tord Sjöman, 82, Swedish organist (Vikingarna). 3 December – Svenne Hedlund, 77, Swedish pop singer 26 December – Lars Lönndahl, 94, Swedish singer ("The Swedish Frank Sinatra")
References