STAGE SLAYERS

The top 10 performances that rocked our planet in 2017

From Black Sabbath to Burgerkill, and from Gojira to Ghost, we revisit the 10 greatest gigs of the year. Did your favourite make the cut?

Oathbreaker

UnderwOrld, lOndOn January 20 Following the breakthrough success of their third album, Rheia, in September 2016, Oathbreaker returned to the UK for a packed-out show. Caro Tanghe’s stunning vocals transmuted from aggressive to ethereal as she worked her way through her most personal set of songs yet, making it feel as though she was singing to each person in the room individually. The Belgians have since announced they’re taking a break; fingers crossed we haven’t seen the last of them.

avenged SevenfOld

the 02 arena, lOndOn

January 21

After surprise-releasing their seventh studio album, The Stage, in October 2016, Avenged Sevenfold brought a full-scale, space-themed production to our arenas. Following solid support slots from In Flames and Disturbed, Rocket Man and Space Oddity came through the speakers before the band took the stage to launch into their title track. From the expansive new songs to a massive floating video cube and a giant astronaut, it was a night to remember from a band at the top of their game.

black Sabbath

birmingham genting arena, birmingham february 4

Black Sabbath being gone from our world is something we’re still getting used to, but it was an aura of celebration over mourning that marked their final show. Birmingham (naturally) was treated to the likes of After Forever, Into The Void and Dirty Women for the very last time, and as Paranoid rained down to bring Sabbath’s career to a close, there were plenty of tears within the cheers.

gOJira

02 academy briStOl, briStOl march 18

The most talked-about tour of the year, with support from

New Yorkers Car Bomb and the ferocious Code Orange worth the ticket price alone. But by unveiling songs from 2016’s album of the year, Magma,

Gojira justified all the praise heaped upon them. The final night of the UK run found band and crowd in perfect unison, from the cerebral celebrations of The Shooting Star to Vacuity’s ominous cavalcade.

amenra

rOadbUrn, POPPOdiUm 013, tilbUrg, netherlandS april 21

Brought back to Roadburn for the second year running – this time at the behest of the guest curator, Baroness’s John Baizley – Amenra weren’t just ordained as standard bearers for a festival given to fearless sonic adventurism; they proved a binding force beyond compare.

“unveiling songs from magma, gojira justified the praise heaped upon them”