Wall of Sound presents: “2017 YEAR IN REVIEW” - by Wall of Sound Writer James ‘Plugga’ Birkin

Walladmin
Heavy Metal Wordsmith
Dec 18, 2017
7 min read

Compiling the annual 'Year In Review' list was no easy task. I was stoked to include 7 Australian artists in my Top 20 and to be honest a few unlucky ones on the periphery that I’ll probably kick myself later not to have included. Personally a very challenging year for myself. Sometimes life reaches these fork in the road moments and therefore I’ve found a lot of solace in listening to music and lyrics. Sometimes dark, sometimes inspirational. It’s that similar energy from music that has inspired the ever expanding group of writers and photographers at Wall of Sound, to the point where the once little webzine is now firmly entrenched amongst the biggest promoters, artists and managers in Australia as a “go to” website to promote their brands. Congrats to Editor-In-Chief, Paul ‘Browny’ Brown who continues to grow the website to what he envisioned just two short years ago, and I raise a beer to all staff and readers to the New Year and beyond. Killer content, done our way...

Top 20 Albums of 2017


1. EMINEM - Revival


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BXDsVD6O10&w=640&h=360]


2. THE BRONX - V

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASt7ZRSWiKo&w=640&h=360]



3. CAVALERA CONSPIRACY - Psychosis
4. POWER TRIP - Nightmare Logic
5. BARE BONES - Bad Habits
6. SCALPHUNTER - Lies
7. LO! - Vestigial
8. GET THE SHOT - Infinite Punishment


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  1. NE OBLIVISCARIS - Urn10. MASTODON - Emperor of Sand11. 360 - Vintage Modern12. CLOWNS - Lucid Again13. TRIVIUM - The Sin and The Sentence14. FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES - Modern Ruin

 

[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ne-obliv.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mastodon.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/360.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/clowns.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Trivium_Sin-4.png|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/frank-carter.jpg|" type="square"]

15. KENDRICK LAMAR - Damn
16. BODY COUNT - Bloodlust
17. ROYAL BLOOD - How Did We Get So Dark?
18. MEMORIAM - For the Fallen
19. PAPA ROACH - Crooked Teeth
20. MUNICIPAL WASTE - Slime & Punishment

 

[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/kend.jpeg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/bodycountbloodlustcd.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Royal-Blood-How-Did-We-Get-So-Dark.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/memoriam-for-the-fallen.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/papa.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/1000x10002.jpg|" type="square"]


Top 10 Songs of 2017


1. MASTODON - ‘Jaguar God
2. KENDRICK LAMAR - ‘Humble
3. MAKE THEM SUFFER - ‘Vortex
4. CLOWNS - ‘Not Coping
5. THEBRONX - ‘StrangerDanger

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvSPWG_mE4c&w=640&h=360]


6. 360 - ‘Tiny Angel
7. POWER TRIP - ‘Executioner’s Tax
8. BARE BONES - ‘Thick As Thieves
9. STONE SOUR - ‘Whiplash Pants
10. CAVALERA CONSPIRACY - ‘Insane

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuOhD_VB7y4&w=640&h=360]



Top 5 Music Videos of 2017


1. POWER TRIP - ‘Executioner’s Tax

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOWf8uqGf8A&w=640&h=360]


2. IRONREAGAN - ‘Bleed the Fifth

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN3gUZ8TMLY&w=640&h=360]


3. KENDRICK LAMAR - ‘Humble

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvTRZJ-4EyI&w=640&h=360]


4. TAYLORSWIFT - ‘Look What You Made Me Do

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tmd-ClpJxA&w=640&h=360]


5. LO! - ‘Locust Christ’

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzOJ5nx3YZo&w=640&h=360]



Top 5 Gigs of 2017


1. PENNYWISE/THE BRONXNovember 3rd @ Fremantle Metropolis (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Den Rad

 

[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pennywise-7.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20430101_1532410846779363_6038956678721866726_n.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/The-Bronx-11.jpg|" type="rectangular"]

 

2. MAX & IGOR CAVALERA - RETURN TO ROOTS 26th September @ Astor Theatre (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Den Rad

 

[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Max_Iggor-23.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/seppo-poster.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Max_Iggor-18.jpg|" type="rectangular"]

 

3. GUNS 'N ROSES 21st February @ Domain Stadium

gnr1440x430

 

4. FRENZAL RHOMB 16th June @ Capitol (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Kim Anderson

 

[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Frenzal-195.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/19247888_1408174622595040_1614585527123754545_n.png|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Frenzal-199.jpg|" type="rectangular"]

 

5. CLOWNS/NIGHT BIRDS 4th June @ Boston Nightclub (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Kim Anderson

 

[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/clowns-286.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/clowns-tour.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/clowns-132.jpg|" type="rectangular"]

 

What Are You Most Looking Forward To In 2018?


Some big tours that may make it to Perth including Metallica and Pearl Jam.


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TjDcibhdEE&w=640&h=360]



Who Is The Next Big Australian Band?


Pagan. A debut album is on the cards in 2018. Will be huge!


[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mncJCC5x7Tk&w=640&h=360]



Favourite Wall of Sound Photo from 2017?


The Smith Street Band 9th June @ Metropolis, Perth
Photo by Jerika Faithfull


The_Smith_Street_Band (13)



860178_10151454042168427_659041784_o.jpg


James 'Plugga' Birkin
Writer (Perth)


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