***
Before I present my new list please bear with me for a few seconds. I have been hacked and lost ownership of Metalised page, which is the Facebook page of my Blog (not hacked). I created this page 11 years ago and has been a labor of love. I can still post but I don’t know what the hacker’s intentions are. I have written several times to Facebook about this matter but of course nobody replies. I have created a backup page called Metalised Life so please head on there and follow it: https://www.facebook.com/Metalised-Life-112985154608128
But now, on with the main event.
Each year it seems like it will be impossible to top the previous year, but 2021 yielded another fine crop of incredible additions to the metal canon! Something evident from the exceptional quality of all the albums included in my list.
I have been going through this list for quite some time now (edited & updated throughout the whole year) and the albums, songs, videos etc. that made the list and their final rankings are the result of hard thinking and repeated listening/headbanging sessions! Rankings were determined by the level of musicianship, song writing, creativity, production, artwork, but above all from what I jokingly like to call “The Goosebumps Meter” which is the intensity of goosebumps given to me from each album!
I truly scan the whole planet to find the best new music for you! But keep in mind that, although I have listened to almost 600 of new releases during the last 12 months (I kid you not!), it is virtually impossible for anyone to listen to all the new Metal, Hard Rock & Progressive Rock releases in a year. Furthermore, this list had to be shortened to what I believe were the most essential ones. So apologies in advance, if in your opinion some important albums have been omitted, but feel free to leave a comment with your favorite albums from 2021.
Here are Metalised’s best Metal & Progressive Rock albums and also songs, videos etc. of 2021, presented without boring reviews that nobody bothers to read anyway!
***
TOP 20 METAL ALBUMS OF 2021:
Honorable Mention:
Mystic Storm – Из хаоса древних времен (From the Ancient Chaos)
Genre: Epic Thrash Metal
Origin: Russia
For Fans of: Nuclear Assault, Bathory
Listen To: Ночной кошмар – Nightmare
20. Khirki – Κτηνωδία
Genre: Stoner Folk Metal
Origin: Greece
For Fans of: Villagers of Ioannina City
Listen To: Raging Bull, Medea
19. Cryptosis – Bionic Swarm
Genre: Symphonic Sci-Fi Thrash Metal
Origin: Netherlands
For Fans of: Kreator
Listen To: Decypher, Death Technology
18. Kauan – Ice Fleet
Genre: Post-Metal
Origin: Russia
For Fans of: Cult of Luna
Listen To: Taistelu, Raivo
17. Mastodon – Hushed and Grim
Genre: Alternative/Prog Rock/Sludge Metal
Origin: USA
For Fans of: Baroness
Listen To: Pain with an Anchor
Skeleton of Splendor
16. Ice Nine Kills – The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood
Genre: Metalcore/Emocore
Origin: USA
For Fans of: Crown the Empire
Listen To:
Welcome to Horrorwood
Wurst Vacation
15. Poverty’s No Crime – A Secret to Hide
Genre: Progessive Metal
Origin: Germany
For Fans of: Dream Theater
Listen To: Hollow Phrases, Supernatural
14. Alien Weaponry – Tangaroa
Genre: Nu-Metal
Origin: New Zealand
For Fans of: Gojira
Listen To: Tangaroa, Buried Underground
13. Helloween – Helloween
Genre: Power Metal
Origin: Germany
For Fans of: Gamma Ray
Listen To: Skyfall, Fear of the Fallen
12. Dream Theater – A View from the Top of the World
Genre: Progressive Metal
Origin: USA
For Fans of: Haken
Listen To:
A View from the Top of the World
Answering the Call
11. Warrior Path – The Mad King
Genre: Epic Power Metal
Origin: Greece
For Fans of: Manowar, Iron Maiden
Listen To: The Mad King, Don’t Fear the Unknown
10. Existenter – The Planet in the Universe
Genre: Progressive Metal
Origin: Russia
For Fans of: Queensrÿche
Listen To: Black Swan, Cool Summer Rain
9. Black Mass – Feast at the Forbidden Tree
Genre: Thrash/Speed/Proto-Black Metal
Origin: USA
For Fans of: Slayer
Listen To: Betrayal, A Path Beyond
8. Fractal Generator – Macrocosmos
Genre: Sci-Fi Death Metal
Origin: Canada
For Fans of: Morbid Angel
Listen To: Macrocosmos, Shadows of Infinity
7. MxAxMxA – Долгожданный первенец (Long-Awaited Firstborn)
Genre: Happy Grindcore
Origin: Russia
For Fans of: Napalm Death
Listen To:
Глубокое синее горе – Deep Blue Grief
Странники в Ку – Strangers in the Ku
6. Need – Norchestrion: A Song for the End
Genre: Progressive Metal
Origin: Greece
For Fans of: Fates Warning
Listen To: Circadian, Nemmortal
5. Gojira – Fortitude
Genre: Groove Prog Metal
Origin: France
For Fans of: Opeth
Listen To: Amazonia, Another World
4. Moonspell – Hermitage
Genre: Gothic Metal
Origin: Portugal
For Fans of: The Gathering
Listen To: The Greater Good, The Hermit Saints
3. Tales of the Old – The Book of Chaos
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Origin: Greece
For Fans of: Epica
Listen To: Contract of Blood, Heavens in War
2. Massen – Contraesthetic
Genre: Blackened Avant-garde Metal
Origin: Belarus
For Fans of: Arkona, Alcest
Listen To:
The Flock of Whores
By Water to the Sun
1. Thy Catafalque – Vadak
Genre: Avant-garde Metal
Origin: Hungary
For Fans of: Ihsahn, Univers Zero
Listen To: Szarvas, Gömböc
***
TOP 20 PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS OF 2021:
20. Ikitan – Twenty-Twenty (late 2020 release)
Genre: Heavy Prog/Post-Rock
Origin: Italy
Key Track: Twenty-Twenty
19. Atravan – The Grey Line
Genre: Crossover Prog
Origin: Iran
Key Track: My Wrecked House
18. Krokofant – Fifth
Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion
Origin: Norway
Key Track: Watcher of the Fries
17. Umphrey’s McGee – You Walked Up Shaking in Your Boots but You Stood Tall and Left a Raging Bull
Genre: Eclectic Prog
Origin: USA
Key Track: There’s No Crying in Mexico
16. Ciccada – Harvest
Genre: Prog Folk
Origin: Greece
Key Track: Queen of Wishes
15. Bastian Per – Way Back Home
Genre: Heavy Prog
Origin: Argentina
Key Track: Overture
14. Papangu – Holoceno
Genre: Zeuhl/Sludge/Avant-Prog
Origin: Brazil
Key Track: Ave-Bala
13. Jordsjø – Pastoralia
Genre: Symphonic Prog
Origin: Norway
Key Track: Skumring i Karesuando
12. Drifting Sun – Forsaken Innocence
Genre: Neo-Prog
Origin: France, Greece
Key Track: King of the Country
11. SKE – Insolubilia
Genre: Eclectic Prog
Origin: Italy
Key Track: La Nona Onda
10. RSM – NO!
Genre: Crossover Prog/Eclectic Prog
Origin: Poland
Key Track: The Beginning of the End
9. Accordo Dei Contrari – UR-
Genre: Jazz Rock/Fusion
Origin: Italy
Key Track: Tergeste
8. Detieti – Serious IV
Genre: Avant-Prog
Origin: Russia
Key Track: Z.O.V.
7. Diagonal – 4
Genre: Krautrock/Eclectic Prog
Origin: England
Key Track: Stellate
6. La Morte Viene Dallo Spazio – Trivial Visions
Genre: Psychedelic Space Prog
Origin: Italy
Key Track: Absolute Abyss
5. Acolyte – Entropy
Genre: Art Rock/Heavy Prog
Origin: Australia
Key Track: Clarity
4. Hunka Munka – Foreste Interstellari
Genre: Rock Progressivo Italiano
Origin: Italy
Key Track: Brucerai
3. Beautiful Bedlam – Beautiful Bedlam
Genre: Eclectic Prog/Heavy Prog
Origin: Australia
Key Track: Cocktail Crime Scene
2. Shamblemaths – Shamblemaths 2
Genre: Avant-Prog
Origin: Norway
Key Track: D.S.C.H.
1. Gruppo Autonomo Suonatori – Omnia Sunt Communia
Genre: Rock Progressivo Italiano
Origin: Italy
Key Track: Omnia Sunt Communia
Listen to the Full Album: https://bit.ly/3eBJW4i
***
TOP 3 ROCK ALBUMS OF 2021:
***
TOP EP OF 2021:
Orbit Culture – Shaman
***
TOP LIVE ALBUM OF 2021:
Earth Crisis, Snapcase, Strife – The Return of the California Takeover
***
TOP NON-ROCK/METAL ALBUM OF 2021:
Hail Spirit Noir – Mannequins
***
TOP COVER ART:
Bend the Future – Without Notice
***
TOP 10 OFFICIAL VIDEOS:
1. Eskimo Callboy – We Got the Moves
2. Eskimo Callboy – Pump it
3. Extermination Dismemberment – Protonemesis
4. Black Midi – John L
5. Atvm – They Crawl
6. Space Chaser – Remnants of Technology
7. Sanguisugabogg – Dead as Shit
8. Arch Enemy – Deceiver
9. Hypocrisy – Dead World
10. Pizza Death – Pizza Death
***
TOP LYRIC VIDEO:
Poverty’s No Crime – Hollow Phrases
***
TOP LIVE VIDEO:
Kaira -Когда Солнце было Богом (When the Sun was a God) METALFEST
***
TOP 5 COVER SONGS OF 2021:
1. Sershen & Zaritskaya – Still of the Night (Whitesnake)
2. Wilderun – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Iron Maiden)
3. Feuerschwanz – Warriors of the World United (Manowar)
4. Moonspell – Darkness in Paradise (Candlemass)
5. Sabaton – Kingdom Come (Manowar)
***
TOP 5 EPICS OF 2021:
1. Dream Theater – A View from the Top of the World
2. Mahogany Frog – Theme from P.D.
3. Thy Catafalque – Vadak
4. Agusa – Sagobrus
5. Helloween – Skyfall
***
TOP 50 METAL SONGS OF 2021:
- Eskimo Callboy – We Got the Moves & Eskimo Callboy – Pump it
- Massen – The Flock of Whores
- Iotunn – The Tower of Cosmic Nihility
- Poverty’s No Crime – Hollow Phrases
- Orden Ogan – In the Dawn of the AI
- Gojira – Amazonia
- Warrior Path – The Mad King
- Fractal Generator – Macrocosmos
- Turnstile – Holiday
- Cryptosis – Decypher
- Unto Others – Heroine
- Atvm – They Crawl
- Moanhand – Serpent Soul
- Space Chaser – Antidote to Order
- Conception – Roll the Fire 2.0
- Extermination Dismemberment – Protonemesis
- Tales of the Old – Contract of Blood
- Manimal – Burn in Hell
- Vola – Head Mounted Sideways
- Sortilege – Sortilege (2021)
- Lizzard – Blowdown
- Therion – Eye of Algol
- Khirki – Raging Bull
- Nervosa – Under Ruins
- Stormkeep – The Seer
- Mammoth WVH – Stone
- Exodus – Persona Non Grata
- Andrew WK – Babalon
- Epoch of Chirality – Pyramid Cybergod
- Funeral Mist – Apokalyptikon
- Iron Maiden – Stratego
- Demon Head – The Triumphal Chariot of Antimony
- Inhuman Condition – Tyrantula
- George Constantine Kratsas – Clockwork Giant
- Creature – Consience Mécanique
- Mission Jupiter – Billion Miles Away
- 1914 – Pillars of Fire
- Trivium – Like a Sword Over Damocles
- Significant Point – Heavy Attack
- Sirenia – Voyage Voyage
- Black Soul Horde – Beware The Deep
- Architects – Animals
- Mystic Storm – Nightmare
- Scar of the Sun – Inertia
- Dvne – Towers
- Epica – Abyss of Time
- Esoctrilihum – Ezkikur
- Pharaoh – The Powers That Be
- So Hideous – The Emerald Pearl
- Crimson Fire – Judas
***
TOP 10 PROGRESSIVE ROCK SONGS OF 2021:
- Gruppo Autonomo Suonatori – Omnia Sunt Communia
- Hunka Munka – Brucerai
- Cast – Ortni
- Thy Catafalque – A Kupolaváros Titka
- Black Midi – John L
- Frost – Day and Age
- Mister Robot – Awakening
- Big Big Train – Apollo
- Osanna – L’Uomo del Prog
- A Formal Horse – This One’s Just a Warning
***
100 MORE AMAZING SONGS RELEASED IN 2021:
Cannibal Corpse – Inhumane Harvest
Wheel – At Night They Came Upon Us
Aephanemer – Antigone
Twelve Foot Ninja – Long Way Home
Archspire – Drone Corpse Aviator
Paladine – Between Gods and Men
Rezet – Populate. Delete. Repeat.
Lord of the Lost – For They Know Not What They Do
Evergrey – Eternal Nocturnal
Vokonis – Blackened Wings
Animals as Leaders – Monomyth
Green Lung – Graveyard Sun
Ad Infinitum – Unstoppable
Beast in Black – Moonlight Rendezvous
Flotsam & Jetsam – Brace for Impact
Swallow the Sun – Enemy
Employed to Serve – Exist
Inner Stream – Massive Drain
Boom Dox – Hit N’ Run
Spiritbox – Circle with Me
Eldritch – Circles
Hypocrisy – Dead World
Vajra – Sever the Tie
Vector of Underground – Your Boyfriend Sucks
Phantom Elite – Diamonds and Dark
Accept – Zombie Apocalypse
Vintersea – Spawn Awakening
At the Gates – Cosmic Pessimism
Overdrivers – High Mountains
Arch Enemy – Deceiver
Aborym – Stigmatized
Acid Mammoth – Caravan
Memoriam – Onwards into Battle
Sabaton – Defence of Moscow
Fear Factory – Fuel Injected
Midhaven – Primal Song
Seven Spires – Gods of Debauchery
Gus G. – Chronesthesia
Vexed – Hideous
Crypta – Dark Night of the Soul
Year of no Light – Aletheia
Serj Tankian – Electric Yerevan
Quicksand – Inversion
Evile – Hell Unleashed
Unreqvited – Autumn & Everley
Four Stroke Baron – Sundowner
Slaughter to Prevail – Baba Yaga
White Void – Do. Not. Sleep.
Ignea/Ersedu – Mermaids
Rapture – Predatory Menace
Scorpions – Peacemaker
Legions of the Night – Lie
Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky With Blood
Bloodywood – Gaddaar
KK’s Priest – Sermons of the SInner
Morgul Blade – A Last Waltz of Gevaudan
Porcupine tree – Harridan
Lorna Shore – To The Hellfire
Running Wild – Diamonds & Pearls
Between the Buried and Me – Fix the Error
Devoid – Lonely Eye Movement
Can Bardd – Une Couronne de Branches
Powerwolf – Dancing with the Dead
Northtale – Future Calls
Infinity Shred – Was
Temple Balls – T.O.T.C.
Soen – Monarch
Wardrum – Mavericks
W.E.B. – Dark Web
Spirit Adrift – Forge Your Future
Arion – Out of my Life
Enforced – UXO
Guns N’ Roses – Hard Skool
Nekromantheon – Faustian Rites
Lantlos – Vertigo
Labyrinth – Live Today
Eisbrecher – FAKK
Paranorm – Empyrean
Witherfall – The Last Scar
Aрия – битва
Silver Talon – Deceiver, I Am
Wraith – Cloaked in Black
Amigo the Devil – Murder at the Bingo Hall
Converge – Blood Moon
Hippotraktor – Manifest the Mountain
Vector Seven – Electric Blood
Zornheym – Keep the Devil Away
Frozen Soul – Crypt of Ice
Nestor – On the Run
MØL – Serf
As Everything Unfolds – On the Inside
Varego – Limbo
Herzel – Maîtres de l’océan
Exxiles – Unstoppable Rising Tide
The Lions Daughter – Curtains
Project: Roenwolfe – Something More
Daylight Misery – Cancerworm
Kemmis – Living Pyre
Tribulation – The Funeral Pyre
Eternity’s End – Hounds of Tindalos
METALISED! 