We're at the halfway point and goddamn what a year 2022 has been already, right? Whether it be the shake up in Aussie politics (finally), the return of international touring bands and musicians, the heartbreak of losing another heavy music festival due to the astronomical costs of living right now, or the intense array of fantastic Australian alternative music - which is keeping us on our toes on a daily basis - it's all systems go at Wall of Sound and we're not slowing down any time soon!
Quick recap: We premiered our first AfterFilm following Knight and Day Festival, we hit up UNIFY Gathering, Full Tilt (Melbourne and Brisbane) and have been present at the return of as many gigs as we could following our two-year spicy cough drought! Oh yeah, we also released our first-ever Digi-mag too with plenty more killer content to come (you ain't seen nothing yet).
So what albums, EPs and tracks are the WoS staff jamming? Take a look below, see if any line up with your preferences then stay tuned for what we predict to be a huuuuge second half of the year!
Paul ‘Browny’ Brown (aka @brownypaul)Boss Man/Owner/Editorial Manager (Bris)
Top 7 Releases So Far
1. Windwaker - Love Language
2. Betraying The Martyrs - Silver Lining EP
3. Ghost - Impera
4. Void of Vision - Chronicles II: Heaven EP
5. Pridelands - Light Bends
6. Motionless In White - Scoring The End of the World
7. Blood Command - Praise Armageddonism
Fav song on repeat at the moment?
Betraying The Martyrs - 'Embers' - suss out my Best Belters of 2022 playlist here
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
The return of Good Things Festival at the end of the year. New Parkway Drive, I Prevail, Fit For A King (hopefully some more tunes from Architects and Polaris too). New concepts for Wall of Sound content and maybe, just maybe, some progression on this WoS TV show idea we've been plotting behind the scenes...
Recent Contributions
Betraying The Martyrs - EP Review
Up Against The Wall 'Good Things Returns' Podcast
Op:Ed – Is Viral Socal Media Marketing Destroying The Music Industry?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyK-UytvpUQ&feature=emb_title
Ricky Aarons (aka @rickysaul90)
Co-Editor/Writer (Melb)
1. Fit For An Autopsy - Oh What The Future Holds
2. Bad Omens - The Death Of Peace Of Mind
3. Void Of Vision - Chronicles II: Heaven
4. Three Days Grace - Explosions
5. Secrets - The Collapse
6. Paleface - Fear & Dagger
7. Joshua Travis - Web of Lies
Special mentions to the enormous singles released in the first half of 2022, some of which have looming album/EP releases, and others that don't. Tracks that spring to mind include Darko's 'Ana' feat. Left To Suffer's Taylor Barber, Lorna Shore's 'Sun//Eater' and Dayseeker's 'Neon Grave' to name a few.
Fav song (on repeat) at the moment
Lorna Shore - 'Sun//Eater'
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
Albums from Darko, Lorna Shore and Miss May I.
Recent Contributions
Fit For An Autopsy - Album Review
Virtual Hangs: Will Putney
Three Days Grace - Album Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEicHBvqd2Y
Ebony Story (aka @EbonyStory04)
Podcast Host/Writer/ProgLord (Bris)
1.Windwaker – Love Language
2. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Pretty Good for a Girl Band EP
3. Void Of Vision - Chronicles II: Heaven
4. Pridelands - Light Bends
5. Motionless In White - Scoring The End of the World
6. Dream Widow – Dream Widow EP
7. Monuments – In Stasis
Fav song (on repeat) at the moment
Nighthawk - Windwaker
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
I’m really looking forward to releasing the prog edition of Educate Ebony with some guests I absolutely fangirled over. Wall of Sound TV will be pretty awesome, and Good Things Festival as well—I can’t wait to see and chat to so many of those bands.
Recent Contributions
Digi-Mag Interview with Teen Jesus
Educate Ebony Season 2 Announcement
DREGG - Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd2E7mFQ2wU
KJ Draven (aka @KjDraven)
Metal Man/Writer/Eurovision Tragic (Melb)
1. Ghost - Impera
2. Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor
3. Meshuggah - Immutable
4. Northlane - Obsidian
5. Ibaraki - Rashomon
6. Vio-lence - Let The World Burn (EP)
7. Decapitated - Cancer Culture
Special mentions to Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators - 4, Denouncement Pyre - Forever Burning, Watain - The Agony & Ecstacy of Watain, Saviour - Shine & Fade, Fit For An Autopsy - Oh What The Future Holds.
Fav song (on repeat) at the moment
At the moment it’s a tie between ‘Shrine of Wire’ by Nicolas Cage Fighter and Parkway Drive’s newie ‘Glitch’.
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
Finally getting to some gigs! Various conspiracies and inconveniences kept me from making my ticket bookings in the first half of the year but I am all in for Northlane, The Hu and hopefully Fit for an Autopsy, plus Kiss and GnR. Finally getting new albums from Arch Enemy, Machine Head and Soulfly too.
Recent Contributions
Ghost - Album Review
EuroSound - WoS Heavy Song Contest
Meshuggah - Album Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtkaUZvMaG8
Carys Hurcom (aka @CarysWos)
Writer/Punky Rammstein Fan (Perth)
1. Rammstein – Zeit
2. Set It Off – Elsewhere
3. Ignite – Ignite
4. The Linda Lindas – Growing Up
5. Frank Turner – FTHC
6. A Wilhelm Scream – Lose Your Delusion
7. Bowling For Soup – Pop Drunk Snot Bread
Fav song (on repeat) at the moment
Probably ‘Anti-Complicity Anthem’ by Ignite, but it changes depending on my mood, so when you’re reading this it will likely be something else.
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
I’m heading to Europe for some gigs in July and August, specifically Rammstein in Lyon, France (which I have had tickets for since 2019) and Brakrock Fest in Duffel, Belgium to see Descendents, Lagwagon, Zebrahead, The Last Gang, Useless ID etc, which just happens to be on my birthday too. To say I am excited is an understatement!
Recent Contributions
Rammstein - Album Review
The Linda Lindas - Album Review
Set It Off - Album Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thJgU9jkdU4
Gareth Williams (aka @notgareth)
Senior Writer/Ranga (Perth)
1. Dream Widow - Dream Widow EP
2. Kreator – Hate Uber Alles
3. Rammstein – Zeit
4. Fozzy - Boombox
5. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Unlimited Love
6. Def Leppard – Diamond Star Halos
7. Abbath – Dread Reaver
Fav song on repeat at the moment:
Kreator – Hate Uber Alles
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
Do you know what we haven’t had for the last 9 years? A Federal Minister for The Arts. Imma try not to get political here but if there’s one industry that needed support during the pandemic it was The Arts. Much has already been written on this subject so I’ll save you another rant. But the one thing above all I’m looking forward to is having an actual Arts Minister and so far the message coming from Tony Burke is a positive one, here’s hoping it continues.
Recent Contributions:
Mastodon - Album Review
Sicksense - 'Kings Today'
Fierce Deity - 'A Dragon, Gold'
Tamara May (aka @citylightstam)
WoS Weekend Editor/Pop Punk Expert (Bris)
1. Stand Atlantic - F.E.A.R.
2. Simple Plan - Harder Than It Looks
3. Avril Lavigne - Love Sux
4. State Champs - Kings of the New Age
5. Paperweight - Green Lotus Blooms EP
6. Bellwether - Impermanence EP
7. As It Is - I Went To Hell & Back
Fav song on repeat at the moment:
State Champs featuring Mitchell Tenpenny - 'Act Like That'
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2022:
Heading back to my favourite gig playground in the USA (Vegas!) for WHEN WE WERE YOUNG FESTIVAL. I am also super keen for The Offspring/Sum 41's rescheduled Australian tour in December, but first let's kick things off this September with the best pop punk tour of the year featuring State Champs, The Maine, Hot Milk and Paperweight!
Recent Contributions:
Short Stack - Album Review
Chuck Comeau - Simple Plan interview
Bonnie Fraser & Miki Rich - Stand Atlantic interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT5cjp7pCwI
Andrew Kapper (aka @andrew_kapper)
Writer/Reviewer/ Br00tal Metalhead (Bris)
Animals As Leaders - Parrhesia
Watain - The Agony and Ecstasy of Watain
Absent in Body - Plague God
Baest - Justitia (EP)
Dark Funeral - Let The Devil In
Decapitated - Cancer Culture
Terror - Pain Into Power
Fav song on repeat at the moment:
Greg Puciato - ‘Never Wanted That’
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2022?
Releases from Greg Puciato, Behemoth, Nicholas Cage Fighter and Organectomy!
Recent contributions
Animals As Leaders - Album Review
Decapitated - Album Review
Baest - Album Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGDXjY8ARLY
Will Oakeshott (@teenwolfwill)
Writer/Interviewer/Keith Buckley Frother (Adelaide)
Totally Unicorn - High Spirits//Low Life
Cancer Bats - Psychic Jailbreak
Cult Of Luna - The Long Road North
Cave In - Heavy Pendulum
Zeal & Ardor - Zeal & Ardor
Comeback Kid - Heavy Steps
Zola Jesus - Arkhon
Fav song on repeat at the moment:
Heilung - 'Anoana'
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2022?
Behemoth's new album. The Cure's new album (STILL!). Myrkur's new album (hopefully out in 2022). The new album from A.A. Williams. New material from Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster. Greg Puciato's new album. Heilung's new album. IDLES Australian tour. There is probably a lot more to add to that list, which in turn, is very exciting.
The new project from Jordan Buckley, Andy Williams, Stephen Micciche and Clayton Holyoak (former ETID). More live shows, growth, recording and hopefully touring with my band SwordfishTrombone, more festivals, more movies, more international tours, a lot more surfing and riding and hopefully a lot of progress in finally ending this pandemic.
Recent Contributions
Dallas Green - Alexisonfire Interview
Chelsea Wolfe - Gig Review
Loz Taylor - While She Sleeps Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVbc_Fwbt50
Kim Anderson (aka @onedayillwearearplugs)
Photographer/Time Waster/Horror Movie Junkie (Perth)
TOP 7 SONGS SO FAR
- Subwoolfer – 'Give That Wolf A Banana'
- Waterparks - 'Funeral Grey'
- Alvan feat Ahez – 'Fulenn'
- Wallows – 'At The End Of The Day'
- Cannons – 'Hurricane'
- Pale Waves – 'Lies'
- Cassyette – 'Dead Roses'
Fav Album at the moment
The Birthday Massacre - Fascination
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2022?
Halloween Ends because Michael Myers needs to kill everyone in Haddonfield because of that one dumb bitch who brought an iron to a fight. I got put in Facebook jail for a month over that hot take!
The last concert I went to was Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes in January 2020 so really I’d just be happy if any band I liked actually came to Perth. I was keen for Idles but their concert sold out which is basically unheard of in these parts. Guess I’ll see how I go with KISS when the time comes. In my dream world though I do hope the Rattlesnakes or AFI announce a tour for their albums that came out during Covidpocalyse– I REALLY want to hear 'STICKY' live! Also with Palaye Royale touring I’m hoping they make a few stops over here. Preferably to Perth. If I could have had 8 songs ‘Broken’ would have been on the list. However I would also settle for knowing when their album is coming out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDvXhZtcp0w
Den Rad (@denocide)
Writer/Photographer/Screamer (Perth)
Venom Prison – Erebos
Drug Church – Hygiene
Zela Margossian Quintet – The Road
Meshuggah – Immutable
Thornhill – Heroine
Void of Vision – Chronicles II: Heaven EP
Fit For An Autopsy - Oh What The Future Holds
Fav songs on repeat at the moment:
Voyager - Dreamer, Viagra Boys – Ain’t No Thief, Origin – Nostalgia For Oblivion, Fit For An Autopsy – Two Towers, Rolo Tomassi – Drip, Venom Prison – Pain of Oizys
Most looking forward to in the second half of 2022?
Releases by Psycroptic, Wormrot, Karnivool
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEicHBvqd2Y
Simon Valentine (@simonvalentineau)
Writer/Interviewer/J-Rock Appreciator (Central Coast)
- Nemophila - 徒花 -ADABANA-
- My Chemical Romance – 'The Foundations Of Decay'
- Halestorm – Back From The Dead
- Jaret Ray Reddick (frontman from Bowling For Soup) - 'Just Woke Up'
- Eddie Vedder – 'Earthling'
- Redhook - 'Jabberwocky'
- Spiderbait – 'My Car’s A UFO'
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
Devin Townsend has Lightwork penciled in for October. Apparently this has been his most challenging album to date so it will be interesting to see the result. Hopefully I’ll also make it to Good Things to catch what will probably have escalated to a steel cage match between the reunited TISM and Regurgitator, along with other missed bands including One Ok Rock, NOFX and Millencolin. Other than that, just surviving the start of my fourth decade on the planet, really.
Recent Contributions
Ocean Grove - Album Review
Halestorm - Album Review
An Icon Has Fallen - Joey Jordison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxYiOwsu6wU
Alex Sievers
Writer/Reviewer/That guy! (Vic)
1. Rolo Tomassi - Where Myth Becomes Memory
2. Underoath - Voyeurist
3. Port Noir - Cuts
4. Alexisonfire - Othernes
5. Greyhaven - This Bright and Beautiful World
6. Zeal & Ardor - self-titled
7. Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future
Fav song (on repeat) at the moment
Not sure about a song on repeat but one that’s in my head a lot lately is “Naatu Naatu.” It’s the first big, super catchy musical number from the 3-hour, genre-bending Indian epic, RRR. Easily one of my favourite films of 2022, behind Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Most Looking Forward to in the Second Half of 2022?
Dir En Grey’s new album is high on my radar, one of the most iconic Japanese heavy groups ever. Pianos Become The Teeth are putting out another record and my heart is full, praying it’ll be good. While I know that it’ll just be much more of the same, the next Stray From The Path record feels even more relevant and necessary than usual, so I’m down. New He Is Legend, if Schuylar Croom gets his vocals tracked sooner rather than later. I’ll tentatively say Parkway Drive, as I quite liked Ire and Reverence and I want them to do newer and weirder shit, but that new single was rubbish. Also Polyphia, whenever it comes out, as 2018’s New Levels New Devils was a really good, quite unique progressive/instrumental math-rock album and I’m excited to see how that vision has (hopefully) widened.
Recent Contributions
Rolo Tomassi - Interview
Rolo Tomassi - Album Review
Underoath - Album Review
