It's high time surely, let's get 'em up. Just finalising mine . My favourite album of the year has been Todd La Torre - Rejoice in The Suffering, that was nailed pretty early on. I have forty three '21 releases hauled in this year so it's been a bitch to get it down to ten but I'm almost there. So yeah, let's see some lists folks...
Mefitis - Offscourings takes the top spot for me. There's a thread on them already but if you like early At The Gates, Nocturnus, Darkthrone's DM days then definitely check them out. Insane album that uncovers more with each listen.
Cauldron Born - Legacy of Atlantean Kings. Technically not a new release as it's a re-recording of 'And Rome Shall Fall' but it's incredible power/heavy metal. Almost as good as 'Born of The Cauldron'. Recommended if you like Watchtower, Slauter Xstroyes, Fates Warning.
Warmoon Lord - Battlespells. There's nothing novel going on here, just a solid dose of Emperor worship circa 'Wrath of The Tyrant', but the songwriting is tight and the album just keeps pulling me back in. Great use of keys too, it's the same guy behind Old Sorcery so some influence crosses over nicely.
Grabunhold - Heltentod. German black metal in the vein of old Nagelfar, old Enslaved with some clean vocals scattered throughout. Like the Hulder album from this year (or last year?) there's no reinventing the wheel, just great songwriting and memorable songs.
I haven't heard any of those, have the first Cauldron Born alright which is a cool album. I'll give that Mefitis a go later.
Can't bring myself to listen to a band called Grabunhold, same with Oldowan Gash. That in particular is too unintentionally funny for the music to ever trump it.
Mefitis and Warmoon Loard are great although I have to give the latter more time.
Qrixkuor - Poison Palinopsia
I have listened to other albums more but the sheer scope and perfect execution of it is unparalleled for me.
Antediluvian - The Divine Punishment
Pushing the oddness to new levels with this one. I don't think there's anything they'll do that I won't like. Said that about Mastodon earlier this year and that didn't work out. ha.
Lvcifyre - The Broken Seal
Thought the ship had sailed for Lvcifyre after being unmoved by the last EP but back with a vengeance on this, if you can just look beyond the cuntish artwork.
Suffering Hour - The Cyclic Reckoning
A step up from their great debut. Manage to make very memorable songs from a warpy style where most get lost in the warp. The next release is a fuckin trip as well.
Hexorcist - Evil Reaping Death
No frills old school death metal done right.
Also worth mentioning: Grave Miasma, Azothyst, Clandestine Blaze, Aenigmatum, Ad Nauseam, Black Spirit, Mefitis, Syning. Loads more that I enjoyed and loads more I need to go back to.
Ride For Revenge and Funeral Mist are still to release albums and I'm sure the former will be a highlight.
Skepticism, Antediluvian, Qrixkuor, Megaton Sword, Unto Others, Ceremonial Torture and Grave Miasma all kicked varying degrees of hoop. The Hinthial demo deserves a mention too.
I can't think of what other newly released albums I got into this year but there are probably a couple more that will come to me.
Edit. Dold Vorde Ens Navn of course, even if I kind of have to agree that the production takes away from it to a degree. More bite in the guitar would add a lot but I think the songs themselves are cool.
Grave Miasma, Ruins of Beverast, Qrixkuor, Suffering Hour, Mastodon, The Body/Big Brave, Kowloon Walled City and Emma Ruth Rundle prob the ones that I kept going back to from this year. The Mefitis sounds absolutely class, hadn't heard of that at all. Not given the new Antediluvian a go either.
I think the Qrixkuor prob the pick of them all though, it knows exactly what its trying to achieve and it nails it. Precise chaos, a great listen.
That Emma Ruth Rundle was a great record alright, much darker than before.
Qrixkuor, Mastodon, Kayo Dot, world class albums from all three this year. Couple of other decent albums I've heard, but mainly loads of stuff I haven't gotten round to at all.
Megaton Sword was 2020, I think.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the Qrixkuor LP. Hopefully it will suddenly click one day like 'Lunarterial' did for me.
Quote from: Squigs on December 15, 2021, 11:46:54 AM
Kowloon Walled City
Have seen the name around loads on music websites this year and ignorantly wrote them off as probably just another 'post metal' style band. Listened to the first couple of songs on the album after seeing it mentioned here, and sounds promising. Great guitar tones, kind of remind me of what Earth and Slint were doing with their sparse song arrangements, but in the context of that 'post metal' thing (for lack of a better term). Concise and to the point too, which was their intention from what I've been reading. Nice one. Will be giving this a proper listen now!
Slim pickings for me this year but I would have to say Akhlys - Melinoë
That was last year, though I only discovered it in January or February - otherwise it would have been my AOTY last year.
1. TODD LA TORRE - REJOICE IN THE SUFFERING
2.Hooded Menace - The Tritonus Bell
3.Carcass - Torn Arteries
4. Wolves In The Throne Room - Primordial Arcana
5.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
6. Portrait - At One With None
7.Dread Sovereign - Alchemical Warfare
8.Accept - Too Mean To Die
9.Nervosa - Perpetual Chaos
10.Exodus - Persona Non Grata
11.Worm - Foreverglade
12. The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires
13. Cradle of Filth - Existence is Futile
14.Obscura - A Valediction
15. KK's Priest - Sermons Of The Sinner
16. Therion - Leviathan
17. At The Gates - The Nightmare of Being
18.Asphyx - Necroceros
19. Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent
20. The Crown - Royal Destroyer.
Quote from: Carnage on December 15, 2021, 02:43:57 PM
That was last year, though I only discovered it in January or February - otherwise it would have been my AOTY last year.
Ahhh ok. Was told that it was released Jan of this year. I'll still count it anyways.
Mastodon, Unanimated, Hypocrisy, 1914... all great releases this year. The Maiden and Carcass albums were decent too I guess. The Yoth Iria album was a savage release too
Quote from: Blackout on December 15, 2021, 04:24:05 PM
Quote from: Carnage on December 15, 2021, 02:43:57 PM
That was last year, though I only discovered it in January or February - otherwise it would have been my AOTY last year.
Ahhh ok. Was told that it was released Jan of this year. I'll still count it anyways.
Fantastic album either way. Been meaning to check out the previous two, haven't gotten around to them yet.
I'm not sure it, but not impossible new Cynic and, more likely, Apsu albums might make it in. Both need a few more listens.
I only picked up a few new releases this year, but enjoyed them all
First Fragment - Gloire Eternelle
Enslaved - Caravans to the Outer Worlds
Hannes Grossman-To Where the Light Retreats
Rivers of Nihil-The Work
Archspire - Bleed the Future
Obscura-A Valediction
The new Cynic arrived in the post rhe other day but I've only given it a quick listen. And I've liked the songs I've heard from the Mastodon album but I'm still waiting on my pre order to arrive
Cynic was probably my surprise album of the year in that I'd left them behind ages ago and didn't expect to be buying anything by them again but 'Ascension Codes', fair play it's really been working for me.
The Zofos album was cool but maybe not the most exciting thing in the world either. I have yet to pick up the Zaratus album but it sounds really strong to me.
Need to sort through what albums came out early this year and not late last year, but Vermian and The Ruins Of Beverast are up there - as are Enslaved's live stream boxset and EP.
Quote from: Eoin McLove on December 15, 2021, 09:02:53 PM
The Zofos album was cool but maybe not the most exciting thing in the world either. I have yet to pick up the Zaratus album but it sounds really strong to me.
[
Some company for those ZZ Top albums Andy
Nomadic Rituals - "Tides"
Lingua Ignota - "Sinner Get Ready"
Genghis Tron - "Dream Weapon"
Kowloon Walled City - "Piecework"
Big Brave - "Vital"
Low - "Hey What"
Sunnata - "Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth"
The Ruins of Beverast - "The Thule Grimoires"
Converge - "Bloodmoon I"
Weedpecker - "IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts"
Kayo Dot - "Moss Grew on the Swords and Plowshares Alike"
Neptunian Maximalism - "Solar Drone Ceremony"
Qrixkuor - "Poison Palinopsia"
Divide and Dissolve - "Gas Lit"
Corr Mhóna - "Abhainn"
Black Midi - "Cavalcade"
I'm definitely missing something here but that's the majority of them anyway. Few there I have listened to to absolute death since release, and a few I loved and burned out when they came out but haven't had on since, so I'll be revisiting a couple of these this week to make sure they hold up.
Quote from: Thorn on December 15, 2021, 09:16:39 PM
Quote from: Eoin McLove on December 15, 2021, 09:02:53 PM
The Zofos album was cool but maybe not the most exciting thing in the world either. I have yet to pick up the Zaratus album but it sounds really strong to me.
[
Some company for those ZZ Top albums Andy
Exactly. The old Z shelf is a bit famished looking alright!
Panopticon
Corr Mhona
Tribulation
The Vicious Head Society
Maiden (my son loves this so on his behalf I'm including it)
I'm enjoying the new WITTR more than I expected too.
Nomadic Rituals is excellent too, albeit the 'artwork' is gay.
Thought the artwork was pretty deadly, it says nothing about what you're getting yourself into and stands out in a crowd of doom album covers.
I enjoyed the new albums by the following bands a lot...
ANIMAL MAN MACHINE (rips anything this year)
FORCE OF DARKNESS
DJEVEL
GRAVE MIASMA
SIJJIN
QRIXKUOR
MEFITIS
Warloghe, Absu, Vothana, Issolei, and Antediluvian. Hopefully Funeral Mist as well.
Forgot about Force of Darkness. Another beast. Gonna throw it on now.
Enjoyed that Issolei album as well. Only listened to it twice but will pick it up.
Have heard that the new FM is "over the top and super violent". Guess we only have to wait til tomorrow to find out but bodes well.
Quote from: ochoill on December 16, 2021, 10:24:01 AM
Thought the artwork was pretty deadly, it says nothing about what you're getting yourself into and stands out in a crowd of doom album covers.
It's different, but not for me, Jeff.
Only heard it a few weeks ago but favourite Irish release this year is Tides by Nomadic Rituals. Fantastic stuff.
Visceral Gleam would have to take that mantle for me. Didn't listen to fuck all Irish releases. Coscradh EP is cool.
Quote from: Ollkiller on December 16, 2021, 05:50:34 PM
Only heard it a few weeks ago but favourite Irish release this year is Tides by Nomadic Rituals. Fantastic stuff.
Just on a second listen on the spin, totally amazing album.
Quote from: Caomhaoin on December 16, 2021, 06:59:40 PM
Quote from: Ollkiller on December 16, 2021, 05:50:34 PM
Only heard it a few weeks ago but favourite Irish release this year is Tides by Nomadic Rituals. Fantastic stuff.
Just on a second listen on the spin, totally amazing album.
Yeah it is class. Glad to see it get some love here, relatively silent about it elsewhere on the Internet for AOTYs, but it's an absolute monster. Beyond favourite Irish release, it might be my favourite release outright. Some others on my list putting up some strong competition against it but "Tides" has stuck with me constantly all year and seeing NR's set at the Siege really sealed the deal. It was devastating.
Ya they were class at the siege.
Must give it a spin.
Tides by Nomadic Ritual
Savage live in Cork a few years back
Aye, Tides is up there alright. Soothsayer's album, too. Plus the For Ruin album/EP compilation, while we're in the south west.
Haven't had a lot of time to listen to new music the last while but I enjoyed...
Qrixkuor - Poison Palinopsia
Aenigmatum - Deconsencrate
Mortiferum - Preserved in Torment
Mastodon - Hushed and Grim
Need to give more time to the Converge and Emma Ruth Rundle albums.
Seems like it's been a bit of a slow year as far as standout albums go though.
Exodus - Persona Non Grata
Flotsam & Jetsam - Blood in the Water
Helloween - Helloween
KK's Priest - Sermons Of The Sinner
Lovebites - Glory, Glory to the World
Mordred - The Dark Parade
Orden Ogan - Final Days
Rage - Resurrection Day
Space Chaser - Give Us Life
The Crown - Royal Destroyer
It usually takes me a long time to get abreast of whats been released (I am still discovering and heavily rotating releases from 2020) but here's a few standouts for the year in no order.
Havukruunu - Kuu Erkylän Yllä (EP)
Gravesend - Methods of Human Disposal
Spectral Lore - Ετερόφωτος
Stormkeep - Tales of Other Time
Hulder - Godslastering...
Wormwitch - Wolf Hex
Mystras - Empires Vanquished and Dismantled
Koldovstvo - Ni Tsarya, Ni Boga
Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready
Genghis Tron - Dream Weapon
Aenigmatum - Deconsecrate
Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial Arcana
Haven't listened to enough of the following releases but have been really enjoying them so far:
Ustalost - Before the Glinting Spell Unvests
Morgue Blade - Fell Sorcery Abounds
Surprisingly no death metal there. What have been the standout dm releases this year?
Thought that Paranorm - Empyrean came out last year, but it seems not so definitely one for my list of 2021. Brilliant techy thrash in the Vektor mould
Quote from: boozegeune on December 21, 2021, 01:03:41 PM
It usually takes me a long time to get abreast of whats been released (I am still discovering and heavily rotating releases from 2020) but here's a few standouts for the year in no order.
Havukruunu - Kuu Erkylän Yllä (EP)
Gravesend - Methods of Human Disposal
Spectral Lore - Ετερόφωτος
Stormkeep - Tales of Other Time
Hulder - Godslastering...
Wormwitch - Wolf Hex
Mystras - Empires Vanquished and Dismantled
Koldovstvo - Ni Tsarya, Ni Boga
Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready
Genghis Tron - Dream Weapon
Aenigmatum - Deconsecrate
Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial Arcana
Haven't listened to enough of the following releases but have been really enjoying them so far:
Ustalost - Before the Glinting Spell Unvests
Morgue Blade - Fell Sorcery Abounds
Surprisingly no death metal there. What have been the standout dm releases this year?
Some excellent shouts there. That Koldovstvo is a great listen. Can't go wrong with Lingua Ignota either, some lungs on her.
Worm - Foreverglade
Aenigmatum - Deconsecrate
Suffering Hour - The Cyclic Reckoning
Mefitis - Offscourings
Hexorcist - Evil Reaping Death
Qrixkuor - Poison Palinopsia
Corr Mhóna - Abhainn, great show at the Siege too
1. Beyond Time - through the vastness of the universe.
Spacey, cosmic, astral black metal with that great deeper Polish style vocal. The opening track is something else. 30 seconds and you'll know if it's for you or not.
https://youtu.be/zfgVK5SZy8c
2. Diabolical Fullmoon - the pagan wolves will rise again.
Polish BM in the vein of Veles, Graveland, infernum.
https://youtu.be/lEcELKjh5n8
3. Caverne - La fin de tous les chants
Superb final album from this French BM act. Grand, epic, melancholic, mighty, defiant. Encapsulates the modern French sound very well.
https://youtu.be/JZf4p8snglI
The Diabolical Fullmoon was a winner.
Diabolical Fullmoon was fucking class +1 for that.
Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness
Tribulation - Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
Panopticon - ...And Again into the Light
Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst
Caverne - La Fin de Tous Les Chants
Auld Ridge - Consanguineous Tales of Bloodshed and Treachery
Nunslaughter - Red is the Color of Ripping Death
Morgal - Nightmare Lord
Cradle of Filth - Existence is Futile
Wanton Attack - Wanton Attack
Vothana - Hành Động Bây Giờ, Tương Lai Đảm Bảo / Action Now, Assured Future
Tyrannic - Mortuus Decadence
Warmoon Lord - Battlespells
Ride for Revenge - Feed the Infamy
would be my top 15 picks I'd say
I quite enjoyed
At the gates: The nightmare of being and
Everytime I die: Radical.
Vildhjarta : Måsstadan under vatten is cool, but still getting into it.
Ferriterium – Calvaire
Misotheist – For the Glory of Your Redeemer
Caverne - La fin de tous les chants
Caïna - Take Me Away from All This Death
Cân Bardd - Devoured by the Oak
Archspire - Bleed the Future
Kekht Arakh- Pale Swordsman
Wormwitch - Wolf Hex
Frost - Winterblood
Skratte - Akt 1: Ein Feuer entfacht
Zaratus - In the Days of Whore
Zofos - Erevothen
Mavorim - Non Omnis Moriar
I didn't know Caina had come back, I have a bit of catching up to do.
Quote from: Cailleach on December 27, 2021, 07:07:51 PM
Cân Bardd - Devoured by the Oak
This one hasn't hit the spot for me yet, unlike the first two being instant hits. How do you rate it compared to the other ones? I preordered it as soon as announced but I probably need to spend more time with it anyway.
In terms of metal the Aenigmatum album absolutely ruled 2021. Suffering Hour, Worm, Siderean, Antediluvian, Worm, Mortiferum...the Incessant ep was great too. Ixias and Phrenelith were both great, too late for the end of year lists..speaking of which REVEAL! absolutely ruled all once again with the new one.
Have to mention the MUTTERLEIN album that just came out (like it came out on Dec 31st) as it's fucking amazing. I'm sure it'll sneak onto a lot of "best of 2022" lists next year though..
The Corr Mhóna album was probably my album of the year, fantastic stuff, great atmosphere to it.
The Grief (was that 21?)
And this track from DVEN:
https://youtu.be/M8EGyaPgEpU
Havukruunu - Uinous
I'm also unsure if that was released in 2021, I know the subsequent EP definitely was.
Either way, what a choon - https://youtu.be/_KZopQlA7Mk
Quote from: Jward on January 03, 2022, 01:34:54 PMThe Grief (was that 21?)
2020. Good album/EPs though.
Quote from: Snare on December 27, 2021, 08:50:19 PM
Quote from: Cailleach on December 27, 2021, 07:07:51 PM
Cân Bardd - Devoured by the Oak
This one hasn't hit the spot for me yet, unlike the first two being instant hits. How do you rate it compared to the other ones? I preordered it as soon as announced but I probably need to spend more time with it anyway.
For me it's their best album so far.
Lots of DM for me last year;heres what i particularly enjoyed from 2021.
Asphyx
Worm
Grave Miasma
Malignant Altar
Hyperdontia
Alchemy of the flesh
Corr Mhona (best irish release in years imo)
Cerebral Rot
Some new ones to add. The new Ifernach LP and both Reverorum ib Malacht albums.
.
Top of the bunch for me was the Steel Bearing Hand album - 'Slay in Hell'.
Absolutely fucking rips from beginning to end. I think it has now fully fused with the car's CD player. Honestly didn't get tired of it the whole year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UPYLaaBfYk
Quote from: ResidentOfBok on January 19, 2022, 03:24:04 PM
Top of the bunch for me was the Steel Bearing Hand album - 'Slay in Hell'.
Absolutely fucking rips from beginning to end. I think it has now fully fused with the car's CD player. Honestly didn't get tired of it the whole year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UPYLaaBfYk
That's quality. The riffs! Good jaysus.
Quote from: Pentagrimes on January 03, 2022, 11:55:07 AM
In terms of metal the Aenigmatum album absolutely ruled 2021. Suffering Hour, Worm, Siderean, Antediluvian, Worm, Mortiferum...the Incessant ep was great too. Ixias and Phrenelith were both great, too late for the end of year lists..speaking of which REVEAL! absolutely ruled all once again with the new one.
Have to mention the MUTTERLEIN album that just came out (like it came out on Dec 31st) as it's fucking amazing. I'm sure it'll sneak onto a lot of "best of 2022" lists next year though..
Agreed, I gotta say that REVEAL! is the best for me last year