The month of May means Song Contests with Eurovision leading the charge being the biggest televised song contest in the world. And this year it also means we are hosting Wall of Sound's very first EuroSound Song Contest to celebrate the best European heavy rock songs from the last year.
In the past, we've failed at drumming up support for Australia to send a heavy/metalcore band as our Eurovision entry (one day Voyager and Parkway Drive... one day), so we have now decided to create our own thing and we need your help to vote!
We have listened to a wide range of acts from across Europe to pick the best songs that we wish were under consideration for the real event (and some that actually made the final cut) - so take a listen to the shortlisted songs below and select your top five in the poll to find out who will win the first-ever Wall of Sound EuroSound Song Contest!
A few rules.
- Songs must have been released as singles or on EPs/Albums since July 1st 2021.
- Bands and songs are listed under a country listed in their biography, even though members might have been born elsewhere.
Here are our contenders, ordered alphabetically by country. Enjoy your listening, share your votes with friends and encourage them to vote too. Voting closes Wednesday 11th May at Midnight Australian Eastern Standard Time - Scroll to the bottom of the article for the link!
Austria: Oceans - ‘The Awakening’
Post-Metalcore from Austria and Belgium with guttural and melodic vocals and a lyrical focus on mental health.
https://youtu.be/oVMJC_atS3g
Bulgaria: Intelligent Music Project - ‘Intention’
An 80s-influenced rock supergroup with huge vocals, a slick riff and a finger bending solo, representing Bulgaria in Eurovision 2022.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HySI2igCcx4
Denmark: Vola - ‘Straight Lines’
Progressive metal from Copenhagen with an impressive melodic range and djent-filled riffs.
https://youtu.be/DhcsSfCbl7Y
Finland: The Rasmus - ‘Jezabel’
One of Finland’s most popular rock bands who have entered this anthemic song in Eurovision 2022. You might remember them from their globally recognised 2003 hit 'In the Shadows' (or if you were a HIM/Bam Margera fan back in the day).
https://youtu.be/XtMfCf3vFbc
France: ten56. - 'Yenta'
Nu-deathcore newcomers fronted by Aarons Matts - ultimately a French metalcore supergroup delivering the heaviest, gnarliest jams you could ever imagine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HhNjLgbwHk
Germany: Electric Callboy - ‘Pump It’
A 2022 Eurovision entrant who didn’t make the cut sadly but they're a blast of electronicore with a sense of fun and worthy of your backing!
https://youtu.be/E0v84lZJmEg
Greece: Gus G - ‘Enigma of Life’
Guitar instrumental from Ozzy’s former guitarist and the leader of Firewind.
https://youtu.be/8xvN93PqPVM
Italy: Temperance - ‘Diamanti’
Symphonic Power Metal with 3 vocalists from across Italy. Triumphant.
https://youtu.be/EZ9WcVWmlnk
Malta: Marc Storace - ‘Lady of the Night’
Maltese rock vocal veteran, formerly of Swedish legends Krokus, with a pandemic anthem dedicated to health workers.
https://youtu.be/TU3HIn7I3Is
Netherlands: Charlotte Wessels - ‘Victor’
Dutch singer/songwriter, formerly of Delain, with a more subtle symphonic rock sound.
https://youtu.be/MbAjFlU6xQk
Norway: Enslaved - ‘Ruun II - The Epitaph’
Extreme metal with black and death influences from long time Scandinavian legends.
https://youtu.be/cdOaigtiXNQ
Poland: Decapitated - ‘Cancer Culture’
Technical death metal extraordinaires with the title track from their new album.
https://youtu.be/IG5nXhGptj4
San Marino: Achille Lauro - ‘Stripper’
A massive chart topping star in Italy, drafted in to represent San Marino in Eurovision 2022. A banger.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-RloZ-Fv38
Slovenia: Within Destruction - 'Nightmare'
Creatively thinking about deathcore, Slovenian outfit Within Destruction have shown what Eastern Europe can deliver.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2cSy-PCt5U
Spain: Rave in Fire - ‘Shout’
Hard rock quartet with classic metal sound that'll rock your socks off.
https://youtu.be/NDJzhDVM6iA
Sweden: Ghost - ‘Call Me Little Sunshine’
Rock’s hottest band with an absolute arena-ready earworm and flair for the dramatic. Their new album Impera is still on high rotation and they'd be a perfect addition for the actual song content.
https://youtu.be/DD2m_iqD7dI
Switzerland: Zeal & Ardor - ‘Death to the Holy’
Swiss-American avant-garde project led by Manuel Gagneux combining black metal, breakdowns & jazz-gospel.
https://youtu.be/L9G4HRGh8Ac
Ukraine: Jinjer - ‘Disclosure!’
An impressive djent metalcore banger from Ukraine’s best band with a fist pumping chorus. The track comes from their Wallflowers album - released on August 27th via Napalm Records.
https://youtu.be/OhxisV58nJw
UK: Bring Me The Horizon - ‘Die4U’
Electro-post-metalcore single from Britain's heavy rock kings who don’t worry about being heavy rock and do as they please.
https://youtu.be/IPUUbVhvqrE
And that's it, folks - we've set up an official voting system below for you to pick your top 5 and we'll announce the winner on Thursday 12th May following the closing of the polls.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4sp78DrFoP9PRmdQ4VoRcJ?si=152d91fbb27947b6
Love Eurovision as much as us? Stay tuned to Wall of Sound as we cover 2022's best rock/heavy entries from Monday May 9 to Sunday May 15, 2022 + join KJ Draven on Twitter to chat Eurovision live during the semi-finals (Wednesday 11th May, at 5am AEST and Friday 13th May at 5am AEST) before the grand final (Sunday 15th May at 5am AEST).
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w00c8KbQIME&feature=emb_title
