2021… The Year So Far – We Name Our Top 7 Releases
Well, here we are, halfway through what seems like groundhog day for heavy music in a COVID world. On one hand, things are slowly (like at a snail’s pace) returning to normal and some gigs have made it through the cusp of being allowed to happen – whereas others are being forcefully canned, postponed or limited in their capacity which is causing nothing but headaches and heartbreaks for the heavy scene. It is absolutely gut-wrenching to see so many of our fav acts get shut down – while sporting events continue to thrive at max capacity – we see you local governments and we’re not happy!
BUT, we’re not going to let them get in the way of showcasing our amazing community. Fans are supporting their favourite bands in droves and those bands are looking at innovative ways to get their music to the masses. The world is constantly changing, but somehow, we’re changing with it. Think about yourself last year and who you are now – two completely different people right? This is the future we’re living in and we need to make sure what we do next is going to have a positive impact on those around us. So with that said – keep your head up and keep reaching for that horizon because it’s only a matter of time before we’re back on track with an uncontrollable fire burning in our bellies and a craving for the mosh that’s going to result in a new-age big bang! Live Live the Scene and Long Live Heavy Music!
Paul ‘Browny’ Brown (aka @brownypaul) Boss Man/Owner/Editorial Manager (Bris)
1. Beartooth – Below
2. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
3. Amy Shark – Cry Forever
4. Belle Haven – Times Changes Nothing EP
5. Deadlights – The Uncanny Valley
6. The Devil Wears Prada – ZII EP
7. Starve – Nausea EP
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
That Angels & Airwaves album can’t come soon enough. Every Time I Die, Spiritbox and new Reliqa are both going to be amazing. I’m also going to judge Short Stack if their comeback isn’t as good as I’m predicting hahaha Full Tilt Festival so I can cry while watching Make Them Suffer for the first time in years. Ideally, I’d love for the Australian government to spend more attention on the live music scene and the Arts, because it is suffering with every show cancellation and postponement and it’s gut-wrenching seeing the heavy bands we know and love suffer during this time. (Sign the Play Fair Petition QLD). I wanna interview some more big names and truly test my own abilities as a shit music journo and eventually finish off my horror movie leg sleeve so I can start saving money again. Oh, and for Mark Hoppus to kick cancer in the dick!!!
Side Note: I’ve started a playlist with my fav songs released each week in 2021. Keep track of what I’m digging here
Recent Contributions
Shirley Manson – Garbage (Interview)
Beartooth – Below (Album Review)
Sam Carter – Architects (Interview)
Cait Macca (aka @cait_2tone)
Writer/Interviewer/TikToker (Bris)
1. While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society
2. AFI – Bodies
3. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
4. Olivia Rodrigo – SOUR
5. Rumours – If Only You Could Feel Something Too
6. Days Like These – Wide Awake
7. Beartooth – Below
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
Honestly is there any point in getting excited for anything anymore after a year and a half of COVID? Hahaha I kid (kinda). Fingers crossed Full Tilt will go ahead and I would LOVE for Good Things to happen, man, I miss heavy festivals. Seeing the UK have a smaller scale Download a couple of weeks ago made me super hopeful and very jealous. I am also looking forward to doing more and more on the WoS Tiktok account and interviewing as many rad bands as I can.
Recent Contributions
Jade Puget (AFI) – Interview
While She Sleeps – Album Review
In Hearts Wake – Gig Review
KJ Draven (aka @kjdraven)
Writer/Metalhead (Melb)
1. Gojira – Fortitude
2. Architects – For Those That Wish to Exist
3. The Hyena Kill – A Disconnect
4. The Pretty Reckless – Death By Rock n Roll
5. Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
6. Erra – ERRA
7. Soen – Imperial
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021
Please, please can we make sure Full Tilt goes ahead? I’m also taking myself along to KISS and Guns n Roses later in the year but getting some serious metal going at Full Tilt is first priority. In terms of releases, it would be great to hear new stuff from Northlane and Polaris before the year is out. I’m also pumped for At The Gates, Dee Snider, Nocturnal Graves, Denouncement Pyre, Times of Grace and, if Clown is to be believed, new Slipknot.
Recent Contributions
Go Ahead And Die – Go Ahead And Die (Review)
In Case You Missed It… Rock Rules Eurovision 2021 (Feature)
Gojira – Fortitude (Review)
Tamara May (aka @citylightstam)
Assistant Editor/Pop Punk Enthusiast (Bris)
1. As Everything Unfolds – Within Each Lies The Other
2. Beartooth – Below
3. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
4. Waxflower – We Might Be Alright
5. Rivals – Sad Looks Pretty On Me
6. Days Like These – Wide Awake
7. Royals – A Spark To Ignite
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
Spiritbox, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, Trash Boat and Hot Milk round out my top 4 most anticipated releases for the second half of the year. Meet Me @ The Altar should be an interesting release too, given those kids are doing absolute wonders for the emerging easycore/pop punk revolution this year. A new Simple Plan song would be great news to wake up to, and I’m also waiting for the day the internet breaks upon the release of Avril Lavigne’s new single/album. Oh, and launching my first music app just in time for the summer (fingers crossed COVID calms down well before then)!
Recent Contributions:
As Everything Unfolds – (Album Review)
Taylor Momsen – The Pretty Reckless (Interview)
Alex Gaskarth – All Time Low (Interview)
Ricky Aarons (aka @rickysaul90)
Interview Fanatic/Heavy Writer/Metal Spin Class Founder (Melb)
1. Love And Death – Perfectly Preserved
2. Darko – Darko EP
3. Devil Wears Prada – ZII EP
4. Architects – For Those That Wish to Exist
5. Beartooth – Below
6. Gojira – Fortitude
7. Starve – Nausea EP
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
Is seeing Make Them Suffer live that ambitious? Really looking forward to Spiritbox’s album like everyone else, as well as the return of STRUCTURES with a brand new EP. Also excited for new Bullet For My Valentine, and have some high hopes that Fit For An Autopsy may release something. Maybe I’ll get to finally interview Metallica, who knows.
Recent Contributions
Serj Tankian – Interview
The Devil Wears Prada – Interview
Bury Me – EP Review
Ebony Story (aka @EbonyStory04)
Podcast Host/Writer/ProgLord (Bris)
1. ERRA – ERRA
2. Weightless – Turn The Page EP
3. Slowly Slowly – Race Car Blues Chapter 2
4. Beartooth – Below
5. Sly Withers – Gardens
6. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake of My Life
7. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
Oh boy, it’s gotta be Spiritbox’s debut album for sure! I’m also looking forward to growing the Educate Ebony podcast, and hopefully doing future seasons and exploring more music.
Recent Contributions
Educate Ebony – New Podcast Series
Courtney LaPlante – Interview
Karnivool – Livestream Review
Gareth Williams (aka @notgareth)
Senior Writer/Ranga (Perth)
1. Helloween – Helloween
2. Alice Cooper – Detroit Stories
3. Lord – Undercovers Vol.1
4. Gojira – Fortitude
5. Beartooth – Below
6. Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
7. Feed The Fire – Maybe You Need This!?
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
I could copy/paste the same thing I was looking forward to midway through 2020, because it still hasn’t fucking happened! That aside there are tours getting announced, so fingers crossed we’ll get to see a few land in Perth (between border closures). In the meantime I’m hitting local gigs hard, having a Jameson or two, loving thy neighbour and making the best of a bad situation – why don’t you join me?
Recent Contributions
Markus Grosskopf – Helloween (Interview)
20 Heavy Musicians Who’re Smarter Than You Think They Are
LORD – Undercovers Vol.1 (Album Review)
Carys Hurcom (aka CarysWoS)
Writer/Interviewer/Punk (Perth)
1. Rise Against – Nowhere Generation
2. Authority Zero – Ollie Ollie Oxen Free
3. NOFX – Single Album
4. Useless ID – Most Useless Songs
5. The Interrupters – Live In Tokyo!
6. The Offspring- Let The Bad Times Roll
7. Eurovision – 2021 Soundtrack
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
Matty Lewis rejoining Zebrahead… Ok that isn’t going to happen, but legit, that shook me in a way that no other member leaving a band ever has. Seriously, seeing more live music and getting my Descendents skate deck. Bring on 2022!
Recent Contributions
Authority Zero – Album Review
Rise Against – Album Review
NOFX – Album Review
Adam Rice (@_spicyyricey_)
Writer/Interviewer/Deathcore Connoisseur (Melb)
1. Seeker – Call It A Hatred
2. Deadlights – The Uncanny Valley
3. Starve – Nausea EP
4. Teeth – Dark Harvest EP
5. The Devil Wears Prada – ZII EP
6. Stepson – Help Me, Help You
7. Vulvocrania – Societal Lobotomisation
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2021?
Hopefully we get to experience Australia’s live music scene in its fullest capacity before the year ends so fingers crossed for that one. My expectations are high for new music from Signs Of The Swarm, ATLVS, Windwaker, and Mirrors so I cannot wait to listen to them.
Recent Contributions
Colour & Shade – Hostile Grounds (EP Review)
Alex Reade – Drown This City (Interview)
Deadlights – The Uncanny Valley (Album Review)
Duane James (aka @duanejamestattoo)
Writer/Interviewer/Heavy Metal Bogan (Bathurst)
1. Cannibal Corpse – Violence UniMAGINED
2. Go Ahead And Die – Go Ahead And Die
3. Tomahawk – Tonic Immobility
4. BAEST – Necro Sapiens
5. GOJIRA – Fortitude
6. Capra – In Transmission
7. Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
New albums from CLOWNS, Every Time I Die, Black Rheno, Aborted, Alien Weaponry, KK’s Priest, Blood Command (now with former PAGAN singer Nikki Brumen), Carnifex, fuckin’ every other bastard that has pumped out new music whilst being unable to tour. The shit that’s already fucked about this year: – Frankies being shut down so Gladys can (light) rail Sydney up the arse. – Every state government endeavouring to destroy live music, and fun in general, using covid as an excuse whilst allowing 52,000 strong crowds to attend sporting events, whilst at times even bringing in Covid infected athletes from other countries. The absolute height of contradictory fuckwittery.
Recent Contributions
Igor Amadeus Cavalera – Interview
Black Rheno – Gig Review
Suspect208 – Call It Quits
Simon Valentine (@simonvalentineau)
Writer/Interviewer/J-Rock Appreciator (Central Coast)
Top 7 Albums/EP’s/Singles so far
1. Band-Maid – Unseen World
2. MxPx – ‘Can’t Keep Waiting’
3. Nemophila – Dissension
4. Scandal – ‘Ivory’
5. Fear Factory – Aggression Continuum
6. Bowling For Soup – ‘Getting Old Sucks (But Everybody’s Doing It)/Where’s The Love’ (Yep, a Hanson cover. But it’s awesome.)
7. The Offspring – Let The Bad Times Roll
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
I hear the mighty Devin Townsend is toiling away on a few projects at the moment, one of which we may see later in the year, and we’re also seeing a few albums hitting the big 30 getting some massive releases – Metallica’s ‘Blacklist’ project looks huge. If certain governments can spend less time worrying about people saying mean things about them on the internet and more time sorting a global pandemic out, hopefully that means we can get back to some regular live music. There’s some promising festivals coming up soon – Spring Loaded should be a treat with some legendary Aussie acts like Grinspoon, Frenzal Rhomb and You Am I, while Full Tilt will give heavy music fans the shot in the arm long needed after such a turbulent time.
Recent Contributions
The Offspring – Album Review
MxPx – Livestream Review
Goldfinger – Album Review
Will Oakeshott (aka @TeenWolfWill) Writer/Keith Buckley Lover (Adel)
No particular order…
Beastwood – The Long Road To Ho EP
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage
Luca Brasi – Everything Is Tenuous
Amenra – Dee Doorn
Soothsayer – Echoes Of The Earth
Zao – The Crimson Corridor
Sundrowned – Become Ethereal
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2021?
Every Time I Die’s new album (STILL!). Wolves In The Throne Room’s new album. Lingua Ignota’s new album. The Cure’s new album (STILL!). Emma Ruth Rundle’s new album. THRICE’s new album (hopefully out in 2021). Deafheaven’s new album. THE BRONX’s new album. There is probably a lot more to add to that list, which in turn, is very exciting. More live shows in general especially with my band SwordfishTrombone, festivals, movies, hopefully a government rehaul, a lot more surfing and more than anything, progress to return to a sense of normalcy that we have missed for too long.
Recent Contributions
Hjelvik – Interview
Killer Be Killed – Album Review
Deftones – Album Review
Bec O’Reilly (@bec.belles)
Photographer/Reviewer/Hippie (Gold Coast)
(in no particular order)
1. The Silencio – ‘Crossroads/You Are Not Alone’
2. Dog Radio – ‘Rockets/Fact Remains’
3. The Offspring – Let the Bad Times Roll
4. DZ Deathrays – ‘Golden Retriever’
5. Ghost Irish – Comatose
6. Minds?end – From Ashes to Embers
7. Royal Blood – Typhoon
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2021?
Having been waiting for some wonderful local bands who are on the verge of releasing albums so very much looking forward to that in the second half of the year. Have shot a few shows this year which is great to see some shows picking up again and cant wait for more live music. Here’s hoping for a musical summer this year!
Den Rad (@denocide)
Writer/Photographer/Screamer (Perth)
The Amenta – Revelator
Viagra Boys – Wellfare
Jazz Genghis Tron – Dream Weapon
ERRA – Erra
Dödsrit – Mortal Coil
The Hirs Collective – The Third 100 Songs
Bridge Burner – Disempath
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2021?
Releases by TEETH, Filth, Disentomb, ETID, Gadget and more…
