I'm going to try and avoid writing about how horrible 2020 has been because I'm sure we are all well aware. We all had a lot taken from us against our will however the one thing we had to help us through the difficult year that nobody can take away is music. My gratitude for the heavy music genres and the community it has created runs deep, which is one of the main reasons I am a writer for Wall Of Sound.
My second year with WoS has been a tricky one, as I am A Victorian, I was caught in the middle of one of the worlds harshest lockdowns. It was a profound effect on my creative output and general mental wellbeing, with that being said, I am incredibly proud of every piece I have written this year and I hope that everyone that had the opportunity to read some of my work enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed creating it.
I look forward to a fantastic 2021 on the Wall Of Sound team.
TOP 10 RELEASES OF 2020?
#10 - Invent, Animate - Greyview
#9 - Outloved - Be There For Me
#8 - Misery Signals - Ultraviolet
#7 - Left To Suffer - A Year Of Suffering
#6 - Justice For The Damned - Pain Is Power
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeruzkgsHl8
#5 - The Ghost Inside - The Ghost Inside
#4 - Bloom - In Passing
#3 - Make Them Suffer - How To Survive A Funeral
#2 - Alpha Wolf - A Quiet Place To Die
#1 - Saviour - A Lunar Rose
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shRuR-XeEHc
TOP 10 SONGS OF 2020
#10 - ATLVS - 'Sorrow'
#9 - Motionless In White - 'Creatures X: To The Grave'
#8 - Oceans Ate Alaska - 'Metamorph'
#7 - Confession - 'Twenty Twenty'
#6 - Breakdown Of Sanity - 'Traces'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdNCo1kB-yY
#5 - Justice For The Damned - 'Machine Of War'
#4 - Make Them Suffer - 'Fake Your Own Death'
#3 - Alpha Wolf - 'Ultra-Violet Violence'
#2 - Thy Art Is Murder - 'Killing Season'
#1 - Saviour - 'Souvenir'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-oYtXH7NUI
BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2020?
Saviour - 'Enemies'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZpCU168rsM
LAST GIG YOU CAUGHT BEFORE COVID?
It seems like a lifetime ago now but the last show I had the pleasure of attending was the Melbourne leg of the Polaris - The Death Of Me tour, which in fact is the biggest show I have reviewed to date (revisit here).
Despite all the chaos that occurred in the world once this tour concluded, I was left on a natural high knowing that I had covered one of, if not the biggest tour of 2020 in our heavy music community.
[gallery type="rectangular" ids="https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Polaris-2020-45.jpg|,https://wallofsoundau.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/polaris-sold-out.jpg|"]
HOW DID COVID/LOCKDOWNS AFFECT YOU IN 2020?
On paper, being a Victorian who lives alone should be a recipe for disaster throughout 2020. It was hard but for me, certainly not disastrous. I consider myself to be somewhat of a social butterfly and to have that aspect of my life taken away from me overnight definitely had quite a negative impact on me; I noticed a decline in my mental health, my creative output, as well as my motivation to do daily tasks. I had a lot of goals I wanted to achieve this year, which I never got the chance to achieve, which only means I get to make 2020 my year. As the Victorian government continues to ease restrictions, I continue to feel more like my old, usual self.
BIGGEST THING YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF IN 2020?
Having had an abundance of time to myself to reflect upon what is really important to me, 2020 has granted me the opportunity to prioritise what I want to achieve in the future, rather than just rolling with the punches. This year has also only cemented the thought that I am A resilient individual who can rise to the occasion, no matter what, I'll keep on truckin'!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDqrQYJJm4e/
FAVOURITE NEW BAND/MUSIC DISCOVERED IN 2020?
It has been difficult for me to discover new bands this year, I find that the best way to find new artists is to get to shows early and watch the support acts, which obviously hasn't been an option this year.
A band that recently came onto my radar that I am thoroughly enjoying is Earthbøund. Their clean cut metalcore sound is phenomenal. I have been kicking myself for not jumping in this band sooner.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2021?
To go to as many shows as humanly possible! Whether I have to sit, stand, or do handstands on hot coal, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be there! I also look forward to further refining my skills as a writer for Wall Of Sound, I still have so much to learn! After a quiet 2020 I eagerly await to see what direction life takes in 2021, I want to make the most of it.
Words by Adam Rice @adamrice1994
