2021 – The year of older metal
While listing my top metal albums of 2021, it was pretty obvious that 2021 was a year of older bands. We have Iron Maiden, Unanimated, Hypocrisy, Cynic, Exodus, Helloween, Asphyx, Massacre, Unleashed, Cannibal Corpse, At The Gates, and Cradle of Filth. All bands at least 30 years old, release new albums. I’m not sure if that’s more than usual, but it feels like it.
It’s not all old guys releasing great new albums, and I think that’s where things get interesting.
Here’s my top 10 best metal albums of 2021
- HELLOWEEN – Helloween
This is the most epic return to form! Not only is original singer/guitar player Kai Hanson (Gamma Ray) back, but the incredible vocals of Michael Kiske are also back! What about long time singer Andi Deris? He’s still there! You would think so many singers would sound muddy and incoherent, but it feels perfectly balanced. This is an absolute joy to listen to. for those who are into the ‘Keeper of the Seven Keys’ albums, this one is for you. I really couldn’t ask for anything more. Check out our video review. - FROZEN SOUL – Crypt of Ice
Cold Thrower! Yeah, this driving, catchy, headbanging Bolt Thrower worship. Seeing them at Soda Bar reaffirmed that this band is the real deal. Mid-paced death metal the way it should be. - TRIBULATION – Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
Melodic black/death metal that flows beautifully that conjure up memories of Dissection’s “The Somberlain” album. Fantastic from beginning to end. This album has an amazing flow to it. - STORMKEEP – Tales of Othertime
A welcome throwback to the late 1990s melodic black metal albums like “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant,” by Dimmu Borgir, and “The Pagan Prosperity” by Old Man’s Child, with some enchanting interludes that remind me of Summoning. Catchy riffs with epic darkness. I welcome more music in this direction. Check out Eric’s review for more details on this unique release. - UNTO OTHERS – Strength
Formerly called Idle Hands, Unto Others mix 80s goth rock with epic doom metal. Singer Gabriel Franco does some amazing grunts, howls and barks, that seems to take the torch from Tom G. Warrior in Celtic Frost. I had the pleasure to see them a few weeks ago at Brick by Brick, and they lived up to the albums. - WORM – Foreverglade
This death/doom band is from the mossy swamplands of Florida, and it shows. It has keyboards that are eerie, and really contribute to the guitars and vocals that are dripping with reverb. Also, it has an amazing album cover by Brad Moore. - 1914 – Where Fear and Weapons Meet
Black metal that sets a mood and tells stories from World War I. This time with their best sounding record yet. Check out Todd’s review of this album for deeper dive. - FLOTSAM & JETSAM – Blood in the Water
Flotsam & Jetsam are another band that’s over 30 years old, but are at the top of their game. Their top-notch riffs and vocals. Thrash metal in the purest sense. Check out Luis’ review. - EXODUS – Persona Non Grata
After 7 long years, Exodus are back with a new album. Pretty good tempo variance, and some absolutely sick riffing, and love the tongue-in-cheek sound by vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza. - PANOPTICON – …And Again Into the Light
Really, no other band sounds like Panopticon. Their blend of black metal with American bluegrass and folk is what defines this band as very original. Sometimes is furious black metal blast beats, other times it’s melancholic steel slide guitar and banjos. It’s music that paints multiple pictures.
Who didn’t make the cut?
While I did enjoy a bunch of other albums including Iron Maiden, Primordial, Havukruunu, Hooded Menace, Gojira, Mastodon, Massacre, Spectral Wound, Cave Bastard, and Hypocrisy, they just were not in my top 10. I know, I know… I should have put Carcass in my top 10, but with all the other new releases, I didn’t have much desire to re-listen to Torn Arteries. Could it be possible that I am getting bored of their sound? What do you think of this list, and what is your top 10 metal albums of 2021?
A lot of older bands (>30 years) did indeed put out albums, but I’m not so sure many of them were especially notable.
The new Carcass is identical to the last Carcass. At The Gates, riding high on the waves of respect from seemingly every metalcore band in existence, make a new go of it — with fairly indifferent results. Hypocrisy has been talking about alien abductions and anal probes for so long I’m not sure Peter really knows how to write about anything else. As has been the case with every album since the “Brave New World” days, Iron Maiden once again puts out an [double] album that is entirely too long and too bloated. Cannibal Corpse has never not written the exact same album year after year. And so on, and so forth.
While Asphyx and Exodus can do no wrong in my book, the new Helloween and Flotsam & Jetsam are great, and the new Cynic and Unleashed are interesting for what they are, on the whole “2021 may have been the year for older bands”…., to perhaps start think about moving on and letting the next generations live large and in charge. 😉
Hey Todd. I agree with most of what you said, I’m not sure I’m ready for these old bands to hang it up. That said, the more I listen, the more I’m enjoying the new Darkthrone album. It has an 80s doom metal feel.
It’s not my favorite of the latest few releases from Darkthrone (I really like the “Blackened Celtic Frost + Cirith Ungol” vibes those previous albums have)…, but the new one is still a mighty fine and fun listen indeed.