The Best Albums of 2021

[Carnage]

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.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

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.

[Trev]

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

[Thorn]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

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.

[Carnage]

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.

[Thorn]

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

[ochoill]

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.

[Eoin McLove]

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!

[Don Gately]

Panopticon
Corr Mhona
Tribulation
The Vicious Head Society

Maiden (my son loves this so on his behalf I'm including it)

[Caomhaoin]

I'm enjoying the new WITTR more than I expected too.

Nomadic Rituals is excellent too, albeit the 'artwork' is gay.

[ochoill]

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.

[O Drighes]

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

[mickO)))]

Warloghe, Absu, Vothana, Issolei, and Antediluvian. Hopefully Funeral Mist as well.

[open face surgery]

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.