While 2021 seemed to be an extension of the deep uncertainty that defined the year before it, there were at least a few steps in something that resembled progress. Vaccine rollouts allowed for shows to be a thing again on a wider scale (though we still have a way to go) and the various creative works that gestated during the pandemic were able to bear fruit. I myself was fortunate enough to have released albums with two projects this year, Christopher Steve’s Taken By The Tide and Lavaborne’s Black Winged Gods. But even if I can’t include my own efforts on a list like this, there were still plenty of excellent albums that dominated my playlists through the year.
- Khemmis – Deceiver
Khemmis is one of those bands who always seems to have a guaranteed spot on my lists no matter how late in a year a given album was released. While Deceiver takes a little more time to get used compared to 2016’s Hunted and 2018’s Desolation, it stands out on its own accord thanks to some cathartic performances and heavy concentration of extreme melancholic elements. That on top of the lumbering riffs, dueling clean/harsh vocals, and majestic twin guitar work that has come to identify Khemmis as one of the strongest bands in modern metal.
- Witchseeker – Scene of the Wild
There’s a whole lotta charm in Witchseeker’s take on the Classic Metal formula. The musicianship is thoroughly unhinged with clanking bass and seemingly tuneless vocals on top of the expectedly over the top guitars, but that same energy is what makes Scene Of The Wild such a standout. Add some incredibly infectious choruses and you’ve got a sheer winner. Sometimes you need to be challenged with out of the box innovation and sometimes you just need to turn your brain off and sing along to “Screaming In The Moonlight.”
- Scarecrow – Scarecrow II
Seventies Rock revivals may be common in the scene these days, but Scarecrow offers an approach unlike any other. Their second album is a kitchen sink that encompasses Symphonic Rock, Doom, Heavy Psych, Folk, Blues, and Proto-Metal on top of masterful guitar interplay and even more eccentric wails. I might have some personal bias since these guys are labelmates, but bands that tap into this sort of early Scorpions/Judas Priest spirit are nigh impossible to come by.
- Cave of Swimmers – Aurora
Aurora may be a rather short pick at only thirty-two minutes long, but it shows off Cave Of Swimmers as a flamboyant, off-the-wall Hard Rock duo. The fusion of Heavy Psych and Classic Metal with Alt Rock touches makes for an inherently unique style while the earworms on songs like ‘Double Rainbow’ and ‘My Human’ invite a great deal of replay value. The band could offer us something truly astronomical with a little more fleshing out, but this is an infectious listen in the meantime.
- Steven Wilson – The Future Bites
This might be the most controversial pick for my list. Steven Wilson’s forays into more pop-oriented material tend to be rather divisive by nature and the mix of social commentary lyrics and subsequent hot take interviews hasn’t exactly endeared him much further. However, Wilson has always had an ear for a catchy hook and The Future Bites is chockful of them. ‘Personal Shopper’ might be the catchiest song I’ve heard all year, ten minutes long and all. It may not have the deep impact of The Raven That Refused To Sing or Hand Cannot Erase, but it’s certainly grown on me.
- Trivium – In the Court of the Dragon
If you told me earlier this year that Trivium’s new album would be the biggest surprise of 2021, I probably wouldn’t believe you. Although In The Court Of The Dragon has been rightfully hailed as their best album since 2008’s Shogun, it might arguably be the strongest album they’ve ever put out. The guitar work is some of their most impactful in years, especially that beefy tone, and the song structures are among their most powerfully executed. The fact that this came out just a year after their last album, What The Dead Men Say, only reinforces its reigning status. All things considered; it’s been great to see the band making the most of some great momentum lately.
- Blackwater Holylight – Silence/Motion
Blackwater Holylight’s third album is the most developed iteration of their unique Doomgaze style so far. While the incorporation of harsher vocals on the bookending tracks and the occasional extra crunch makes for a heavier listen compared to past albums, it’s still subdued and even downright cozy in the grand scheme of Stoner Doom. But rather than working against the band, these elements make for a pleasantly hazy experience. Another effort that’s really grown on me with extra listens.
- Thronehammer – Incantation Rites
Like 2019’s Usurper Of The Oaken Throne before it, Thronehammer’s sophomore album seems tailor made for the Doomest of the Doom with its glacial song pacing and grandiose style. However, a careful ear for hooks and stronger pacing work to really set Incantation Rites apart from its predecessor. It may still be an acquired taste for some but songs like ‘Thy Blood’ and ‘Eternal Thralldom’ are some of the most driving that this sort of Epic Battle Doom style has to offer. I was already rooting for Thronehammer but this album is a dramatic improvement across the board.
- Helloween – Helloween
Helloween’s self-titled album features the sort of dream team that fans clamor for but might not expect to actually pan out in reality. The return of guitarist Kai Hansen along with the dual vocals of Michael Kiske and Andi Deris would be enthralling to hear regardless, but what makes this album work so well is the complete lack of ego behind it. Everybody puts in their best performances but there’s just as much deliberation in knowing when to let somebody else shine, resulting in some of the incredible synergy ever displayed by a veteran band. That on top of the songs making the most of the band’s signature catchiness and feelgood spirit. If your late era reunion doesn’t sound this joyful, don’t even bother.
- John Carpenter – Lost Themes III: Alive After Death
I started listening to Synthwave in 2021 and while I’ve still got some exploring to do in the genre, I’ve managed to find some strong staples. John Carpenter’s recent run of solo albums has proved to be a particularly interesting case; while he may still be better known as a cult horror director, it’s cool to see him contributing to a genre that he inadvertently inspired decades before with his iconic movie scores. Lost Themes III may be his strongest effort on this front to date, marrying his signature keys with a driving pace and effective Hard Rock instrumentation. Much like that beloved Halloween theme, a strong mix of ambient and catchy.
- Amigo the Devil – Born Against
If this list was going by lyrics alone, Born Against would be sitting at the top without question. There are so many brilliant lines throughout this album that range from poignant, hilarious, and melancholic with even more turns of phrase encompassing all of the above. Of course, the music itself is pretty damn strong in itself, expanding Amigo The Devil’s sonic palette with extra instrumentation and flashes of Tom Waits-esque disorientation and eclecticism. It may be a short listen at just thirty-three minutes long, but I truly love how much it has to say in that time.
- Jakethehawk – Hinterlands
Jakethehawk is another Stoner Rock band with a decidedly more mellow approach to the style, combining Heavy Psych with hearty helpings of Southern Rock, Alternative, and Prog. I especially love how sunny the songs get over the course of Hinterlands as the fuzz provides an ethereal atmosphere that reinforces the loose structures while the King’s X-esque vocal layers give the proceedings some extra heart. Another excellent example of a band making do on the promising foundation set up by their previous efforts while offering more to anticipate in the future.
- 1914 – Where Fear and Weapons Meet
Having moved to a bigger platform with each of their releases, 1914’s third album takes their World War I themed formula to its highest peak yet. The heaviest songs are some of their aggressive and most bombastic to date, the expanded dynamics allow the emotional contrasts to run even deeper, and the guest performances breathe even more life into an already powerful style. It’s impressive how the band has been able to keep their fixations so potent and as somebody that tends to be picky about Death/Doom, they just might be the genre’s strongest contributors.
- Silver Talon – Decadence and Decay
Silver Talon is an easy sell for me as a fan of groups like Nevermore and Symphony X, putting in similar Power/Prog Metal fusion with a strong concentration of Neoclassical flair. Decadence And Decay is an incredibly over the top affair with three guitarists putting in a near constant array of shredding and melodramatic vocals that deliver the choruses in bellowing fashion ala Warrel Dane. This template could’ve been a disaster in the wrong hands, but the band demonstrates a careful ear for arrangements with plenty of memorable sweeps and melodies to sort through. I’ll always miss Nevermore but Silver Talon does an excellent job of filling in the void and always remembers to have fun with it.
- Pharaoh – The Powers That Be
Pharaoh may have been a top tier Heavy Metal band through the 2000s but with nine long years having passed since 2012’s Bury The Light, it seemed uncertain whether The Powers That Be would live up to those lofty standards. Fortunately, the band overcame those setbacks and put in yet another excellent release with their signature mastery. The songs are multi-faceted while culminating to a varied whole, the song structuring is intricate yet memorable, and the musicianship is right in line with their beloved technical prowess. Pharaoh may be a veteran in the modern Power Metal scene, but their voice is as unique as ever.
- Monolord – Your Time To Shine
I seemed to have a thing in 2021 for Stoner Doom bands that weren’t afraid to go soft and with Monolord having already established themselves as a leading authority over the last decade’s rising crop of bands in the genre, I suppose it’s only fitting for them to have been the best at it. The Swedish trio’s trajectory has been defined by elements of Psychedelic Rock gradually seeping into their Electric Wizard worship and Your Time To Shine sees their mellow side completely take over. The textures are lush, and the melodies are stirring even amidst the loosest structures. It’s the sort of evolution you could see coming from a mile away but is nonetheless satisfying.
- Sunnata – Burning In Heaven, Melting On Earth
Props to Sunnata for releasing a song about Dune months ahead of the movie! All jokes aside, their fourth album is a masterful work of Stoner-Sludge that perfectly captures a desert ritual aesthetic. Their mix of OM-esque mantras, Alice In Chains-inspired vocal harmonies, and occasional shifts into Kyuss-derived attitude results in a sound that is very of its influences but also allows for a deeply immersive experience. An excellent no-nonsense album perfect for tripping out in the desert.
- Blazon Stone – Damnation
Blazon Stone is certainly not the most original project around with a self-admitted homage mission statement, but their albums are always bursts of Speed/Power Metal fun. While Damnation doesn’t do too much to alter the foundational formula, its more expanded lineup gives an inherently strong set of riffs and choruses even greater power. Considering how their source of inspiration Running Wild also released a new album this year, it’s amusing to confirm that their acolyte does this style better than the real thing. The student has indeed become the master.
- Lingua Ignota – Sinner Get Ready
Perhaps the most purposeful and “aesthetic” choice on my list, Sinner Get Ready represents a dramatic step forward for Lingua Ignota. The painful catharsis that defined albums like 2019’s Caligula is still out in full force though presented through a drastically different lens; the Industrial and Harsh Noise textures and tortured shrieks completely give way to more pastoral Folk instrumentation while the themes of personal tribulation are dressed in layers of rural religious flourishes. Throw in a mix of samples detailing attitudes expressed by and toward certain Christian figures and you’ve got a topical yet deeply personal exploration of faith. For all the Metal I get in every year, nothing scares the shit out of me quite like Lingua Ignota.
- Crystal Viper – The Cult
Much like the albums on this list from Trivium and Helloween, The Cult is a dramatic shot in the arm for a band whose best years seemed to be behind them. While Crystal Viper’s brand of Power Metal doesn’t seem too stylistically different on the surface, a combination of electrifying musicianship and infectious songwriting results in a fun, refreshing listen. The hooks are relentless in both pacing and catchiness, though with enough variety to keep things from getting too samey while the vocals, guitars, and drums are delivered with a great deal of enthusiasm. It reaches the heights that Crystal Viper set with their earliest albums and even excels in terms of sheer power. While the recent departure of drummer Ced Forsberg, also of Blazon Stone, makes one wonder if the band will be able to keep the momentum, it’s great that they were able to give us such a strong slab of Classic Metal either way.