The Best Albums of 2021

[Grim Reality]

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

[Eoin McLove]

The Diabolical Fullmoon was a winner.

[TheFlyingGiraffe]

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

[Makeshiftatomsmasher]

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.

[Cailleach]

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

[Carnage]

I didn't know Caina had come back, I have a bit of catching up to do.

[Snare]

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.

[Pentagrimes]

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..

[Carnage]

The Corr Mhóna album was probably my album of the year, fantastic stuff, great atmosphere to it.

[Jward]

The Grief (was that 21?)

And this track from DVEN:

https://youtu.be/M8EGyaPgEpU

[Caomhaoin]

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

[Carnage]

The Grief (was that 21?)

2020. Good album/EPs though.

[Cailleach]

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.

[Paul keohane]

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

[mickO)))]

Some new ones to add. The new Ifernach LP and both Reverorum ib Malacht albums.