Wall of Sound presents: “2019 YEAR IN REVIEW” – by Wall of Sound Writer Jim Birkin
What an epic year 2019 was, personally but music wise…wow. Download Australia was epic. I interviewed Cardinal Copia of Ghost (revisit here), witnessed Slayer’s farewell, then we finally heard new Tool music. Whilst the rumoured Guns ‘N Roses album is still just that…rumours….at least Slash toured with Myles and the Conspirators and though late to the party I finally discovered the band, Idles. All too late for the band’s Australian tour, but hey…at least I’m ready for next time. I popped my Polaris cherry and got to meet Dez of Devildriver in person. Yep, an epic year and it’s only getting better. 2020 is already looking huge!
** I didn’t include any live albums in this review, Slayer and Idles would of featured highly. Mainstream, folk and hip hop albums have been held out too – just too many good heavy albums in 2019. **
Top 20 ALBUMS of 2019
1. Northlane – Alien
2. Fit For An Autopsy – The Sea of Tragic Beasts
3. Pretty Vicious – Beauty of Youth
4. Korn – The Nothing
5. Cult of Luna – A Dawn to Fear
6. Clowns – Nature/Nurture
7. Killswitch Engage – Atonement
8. Slipknot – We Are Not Your Kind
9. Judiciary – Surface Noise
10. The Damned Things – High Crimes
11. Void of Vision – Hyperdaze
12. Dinosaur Pile Up – Celebrity Mansions
13. Soen – Lotus
14. MGLA – Age of Excuse
15. Life of Agony – The Sound of Scars
16. Fever 333 – Strength in Numb333rs
17. Tool – Fear Inoculum
18. Thy Art is Murder – Human Target
19. Bare Bones – Rival Minds
20. Sacred Reich – Awakening
Top 10 SONGS of 2019
1. Tool – ‘7empest’
2. Slipknot – ‘Unsainted’
3. Idles – ‘Mercedes Marxist’
4. MGLA – ‘Age of Excuse III’
5. Nails feat. Max Cavalera – ‘Endless Resistance’
6. Possessed – ‘Abandoned’
7. Killswitch Engage feat. Howard Jones – ‘The Signal Fire’
8. Northlane – ‘Eclipse’
9. SeeYouSpaceCowboy – ‘Late December’
10. Korn – ‘The Darkness is Revealing’
Top 5 MUSIC VIDEOS of 2019
1. Rammstein – ‘Deutschland’
2. Northlane- ‘Eclipse’
3. Idles – ‘Mercedes Marxcist’
4. Slaves – ‘One More Day Won’t Hurt’
5. SeeYouSpaceCowboy – ‘Late December’
Top 5 GIGS of 2019
1. Max & Igor Cavalera @ Fremantle Metropolis (Gig Review & Photo Gallery here)
2. Download Festival @ Melbourne Showgrounds (Coverage Here)
3. Devildriver @ Capitol, Perth
4. Karnivool @ Rosemount Hotel, Perth (Gig Review & Photo Gallery here)
5. Polaris @ Newport Hotel, Fremantle (Gig Review & Photo Gallery here)
📷: by Denis Radacic (@denocide).
Favourite Band Discovered in 2019?
Idles. Where the fuck have I been? Yes, they already have 2 albums. Yes, they’ve already toured Australia. Yes, I’m the moron who totally missed the boat. No more. This band stands for everything you would want in a band in 2020, politically and musically. I’ve lost how many hours I’ve watched these guys perform live on YouTube in the past 6 months, their performance at Glastonbury one for the ages.
Next Big Australian Band?
Polaris. Already making huge inroads both in Australia and overseas but with a new album out in 2020 these guys will be nothing short of MASSIVE. Those fortunate enough to have caught these guys in small venues will be talking about those days as old war stories come 5 years down the track.
Most Looking Forward to in 2020?
Not even mentioning Metallica. For me, it’s a new Idles album, but what about those tours coming! Download, Maiden, Slipknot (TBC), Tool 2020 is looking phenomenal.
Written by Jim Birkin @AllOutLife269
