Wall of Sound presents: “2017 YEAR IN REVIEW” – by Wall of Sound Writer/Ranga Gareth Williams
BOOM! Another year at Wall Of Sound. It’s been a fun year, lots of highs and the odd low. This year I managed to catch up with a few of the Perth crew at different gigs and I even had a couple of beers with legend in chief Paul ‘Browny’ Brown. Looking back I found I’m working with some amazing and creative people, it’s actually a little humbling when I read the quality of reviews produced here. We also have some of the best photogs I’ve ever worked with, don’t believe me? Have a look through any of the galleries, there’s more than one creative genius armed with a DSLR.
As another year bites the dust, it’s always fun to have a look back at the highlights. With the sheer volume of fantastic releases, we saw in 2016 I didn’t think this year would be able to deliver. As usual I was wrong.
Sadly, we lost some amazing talented people along the way with Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington tragically leaving us way too soon. Aussie (immigrant) music legends and brothers George and Malcolm Young left a hell of a legacy behind. There are many many more I realise, but this is a year in review not obituaries in review.
So did 2017 deliver? Shit yeah! Read on for my musical highlights with my Wall of Sound 2017 Year In Review
Top 20 Albums of 2017
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1. FOZZY – Judas
2. TABERAH – Sinners Lament
3. SLEEPMAKESWAVES – Made Of Breath
4. CALIGULA’S HORSE – In Contact
5. BODY COUNT – Bloodlust
[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/alice-cooper-album-1.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/rexcover.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Cryogenesis-Cover-Art.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Mason-Impervious.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/SOEN-–-Lykaia.jpg|" type="square" columns="5"]
6. ALICE COOPER – Paranormal
7. REX BROWN – Smoke On This
8. TRIGGER – Cryogenesis
9. MASON - Impervious
10. SOEN – Lykaia
11. SILENT KNIGHT – The Angel Reborn (EP)
12. JOHN CARPENTER – Anthology (Movie Themes 1974-1998)
13. IN THIS MOMENT – Ritual
14. OVER-REACTOR – Cocaine Headdress
15. FIGURES – Cronos (EP)
16. KREATOR – Gods Of Violence
17. OVERKILL – The Grinding Wheel
18. DESTRUCTION – Thrash Anthems II
19. BLOOD – Then Comes Silence
20. CONTRIVE – Slow Dissolve
Top 10 Songs of 2017
1. Fozzy - 'Three Days In Jail'
2. Taberah - 'Child Of Storm'
3. Body Count - 'No Lives Matter'
4. Rex Brown - 'Buried Alive'
5. Alice Cooper - 'Genuine American Girl'
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py5w86I4zCw&w=640&h=360]
- Mason - 'Impervious'
- Caligula's Horse - 'Will’s Song (Let the Colours Run)'
- Trigger - 'Tethered To The Tide'
- sleepmakeswaves - 'The Edge Of Everything'
- Over-Reactor- ' Judgement Day'[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JALWemxbw5A&w=640&h=360]
- Top 5 Music Videos of 2017
- 1. Fozzy – 'Judas'
- [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqURPBtGJzg&w=640&h=360]
2. Body Count – 'No Lives Matter'
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlk7o5T56iw&w=640&h=360]
3. Caligula's Horse – 'Songs For No One'
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Wgxj5-q98&w=640&h=360]
4. In This Moment – 'Roots'
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfTz83yQ8hU&w=640&h=360]
5. Overkill - 'Goddamn Trouble'
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSbgxG-jLMU&w=640&h=360]
Top 5 Gigs of 2017
1. ALICE COOPER/ACE FREHLEY - October 17th @ Perth Arena (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Kim Anderson
[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Alice-Cooper-165.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Alice-Cooper-Bob-Geldof.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Alice-Cooper-001.jpg|" type="rectangular"]
2. DEVIN TOWNSEND - May 26th @ Amplifier, Perth (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Emanuel Rudnicki
[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/02-devin-townsend-101.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/dtp.jpg|" type="rectangular"]
3. SLEEPMAKESWAVES/CALIGULA’S HORSE - April 7th @ Badlands, Perth (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Josh Ludlow
[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/img_8931.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/smw.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/img_88801.jpg|" type="rectangular"]
4. GUNS ‘N ROSES - February 22nd @ Domain Stadium, Perth
5. SILENT KNIGHT/TABERAH/MASON - July 14th @ Amplifier, Perth (Review & Gallery Here) 📷: Vin Trik
[gallery ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/067A3689.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/067A3836.jpg|" type="rectangular"]
What Are You Most Looking Forward To In 2018?
There’s been a slew of tours already announced, but for me it has to be Swedish industrial outfit Pain hitting Australian shores in May with Witchgrinder
Who Is The Next Big Australian Band?
It’ll be some terrible metalcore band and everyone will lose their shit over it…
Favourite Wall of Sound Photo from 2017
Old mate Emanuel Rudnicki (Emanuel Rudnicki Photography) grabbed my attention with this one of Silent Knight in Perth.
Gareth Williams
Writer/Ranga (Perth)
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