With a myriad of highly-anticipated albums and a handful of surprise releases, 2021 was a year of recovery for the music scene. Bands found creative ways to connect with fans, new inspiration to fuel their songwriting, and — for some — a way back to the stage.
Among the releases, no genre was untouched. Whatever you wanted to listen to this past year appeared by way of the innovations in songwriting and recording mixed with the creative need to push through those difficult moments with output. Short releases were packed with flavor; bands who would appear on the Mount Rushmores of any major heavy music list put out new music; sophomore and debut releases gave us a new approach to music. It was a rainbow of taste, and it is years like 2021 that yield lists like this one and remind us how vibrant music can be across the spectrum.
These are HM’s selections for the Best Albums of 2021.
25
Wage War
Manic
No. 25 — Wage War – Manic
These guys are always fun, with a reminiscence of Fit For A King and August Burns Red. Despite their melodic roots, they are also quite heavy, gritty, and willing to push the boundaries. Their newest album, Manic, may be their best release to date. There is a maturity that can be attributed to their longevity as a band and their consistent production of great metal. Such a powerful album, deserving of a top 25 spot for 2021. —Andrew Voigt
24
Meadows
In Those Days & Also After
No. 24 — Meadows – In Those Days and Also After
A prominent face in the Mid-South hardcore scene, Meadows pulled out all the stops in their label debut release, In Those Days & Also After. The album has a live feeling to it that brings you back to the first wave of shows you saw in some small, dark basement venue — where you fell in love with hardcore. The raw, jagged edges of the record’s confidence are laced with genuine confessions, distress, and grief that speak to the band’s breadth of capacity as both artists and storytellers. —Naø Lewandowski
23
Love and Death
Perfectly Preserved
No. 23 — Love and Death – Perfectly Preserved
Nu metal, alternative, and a lot of straight-up metal are blended into this melodic record from Love and Death. Fronted by Brian “Head” Welch of Korn, the band is perfecting their own distinct sound that gives them their own identity. Quite honestly, the band’s musical style is more palatable to a wider audience than Korn, despite whether or not they become as big as the mothership. Head has done a great job with this project. We hope it continues. —AV
22
Employed to Serve
Conquering
No. 22 — Employed to Serve – Conquered
A rising star in the hardcore world (yes, hardcore!), Employed to Serve’s newest release, Conquering, is incredibly catchy metal with Norma Jean vibes that are impossible to ignore. There is something incredibly heavy about this band that is hard to put a finger on. Whatever they’re doing, they better keep doing it, because we need more bands that remind us how wonderful hardcore is as a genre in the midst of a metalcore-heavy scene. —AV
21
Julien Baker
Little Oblivions
No. 21 — Julien Baker – Little Oblivions
Arguably one of the greatest songwriters of the day, Julien Baker revisits her full-band roots in her new record, Little Oblivions. With lines that leave you breathless, melodies that leave you singing, and dynamics that make your chest collapse, this songwriter’s ability to target the souls of the masses is nothing short of astounding. —NL
20
Mangled Carpenter
Under The Shadow
No. 20 — Mangled Carpenter – Under the Shadow
Deathgrind is a genre very few bands can truly claim without blurring the lines of so many other sub-genres. A band that practically embodies the genre to a fault is Mangled Carpenter, especially in their 2021 release, Under The Shadow. Brutal, pounding, and aggressive, this album will satiate all of those desires you have inside you to have crunchy, apocalyptic metal wrapped in a whirlwind of death metal. Definitely a top extreme metal record of 2021. —AV
19
Idle Threat
Blurred Visions
Idle Threat
In their 2021 full-length record, Blurred Visions, Idle Threat speaks to the heart of a generation plagued by pain, doubt, and a crisis of faith. The band masters their use of push-and-pull tension in their latest release, leveraging every ounce of their lifeblood to unleash these songs into the world as they intend them. Unafraid of what may break, and inspired by what may mend, their relentless spirit is a live wire fueling every shout, strum, crash, and silence, producing what could be the band’s most monumental moment in music. —NL
18
Sleep Token
This Place Will Become Your Tomb
No. 18 — Sleep Token – This Place Will Become Your Tomb
Sleep Token’s second record, This Place Will Become Your Tomb, connects human existence with human emotion in ways that many artists only dream of. While this release is much more nuanced in its impact, there is no doubt this band is still rooted in the same depths that brought us Sundowning in 2019. Overflowing with visceral imagery and resting in the void of the band’s identities, what’s left is music at its largest and humanity at its essence. —NL
17
Unreqvited
Beautiful Ghosts
No. 17 — Unreqvited – Beautiful Ghosts
We addressed the wisdom and beauty of Daygraves, a blackgaze mastermind. Let’s introduce you to their counterpart, Unreqvited. After listening to way too many blackgaze artists, Beautiful Ghosts from Unreqvited absolutely calls for prominence in the genre for 2021. A little less dark than Daygraves, this is pure mystical blackgaze that takes you to another realm. For many fans of metal who also love ambient music in the vein of Vangelis, this is about as perfect a concoction that you can find in the scene. —AV
16
Atreyu
Baptize
No. 16 — Atreyu – Baptize
Their latest timely release, Baptize, brandishes all the elements that have made Atreyu a household name in rock music for the last two decades. From party songs and ballads to colossal rock anthems, each moment uniquely testifies to the band’s recent journey and the universal changes within the music industry. —NL
15
The Undertaking!
Funeral Psalms
No. 15 — The Undertaking! – Funeral Psalms
Reckless, chaotic, fun — synonyms for the music of The Undertaking!, a band out of the San Diego metal scene. These guys are just pure metal with no holding back. If you ever wanted a metalcore band to push the edges of the genre, The Undertaking! is just that — a band with no restrictions. Melodic is not a fitting description, but insane would suit it well. —AV
14
Of Mice and Men
Bloom
No. 14 — Of Mice and Men – Bloom
Of Mice and Men’s new three-song EP, Bloom, titled after the single previously released and the second song on the EP, pulls no punches — musically or philosophically. In their latest release, these hard-hitters prove that brevity and substance can not only coexist, but meld into strength. —Andrew Witmer
13
Daygraves
Imperishable
No. 13 — Daygraves – Imperishable
Blackgaze is a genre few have discovered, yet one that is absolutely captivating and mystical, as if a metal band formed in a magical realm where dark, light, ambiance, and tranquility abound. In the midst of this rising genre is Daygraves, an artist who has mastered the art of blackgaze, black metal, and the musical unknown. Imperishable, their newest EP, is a record that arguably tops the list of any blackgaze release in the past year or two, despite the numerous artists inhabiting the micro-genre. If there is a standard in such a young scene, Daygraves sits at the top. —AV
12
Sleep Waker
Alias
No. 12 — Sleep Waker – Alias
No longer does the band rely on a pure beatdown style of metal. The title track provides no better evidence of this with its unprecedented incorporation of clean vocals. While their earlier work could have benefited from pushing a few more boundaries in the metalcore formula of juxtapositional elements, “Alias” maintains the best aspects of Sleep Waker’s previous musical identity while embracing change with the self-awareness required to really take advantage of it. —AJ Gustern
11
Phinehas
The Fire Itself
No. 11 — Phinehas – The Fire Inside
Through therapy and self-realization, Phinehas embarked on their first record solely about themselves. The result of their efforts became The Fire Itself, a transparent outpouring of vocalist Sean McCulloch’s internal thoughts. Intentional, painful, and wholly authentic, the album presses into what it feels like to be a broken human being from his perspective. Instrumentally, the album is just as thoughtful but with a sharper edge than records past. Focusing less on individual parts and more on how the songs operate as a whole, Phinehas created a record that cuts straight to the core of who they are. —NL
10
Pantokrator
Marching Out of Babylon
No. 10 — Pantokrator – Marching Out of Babylon
Death metal and Sweden are basically blood brothers, deeply connected in the rich history of the genre. Pantokrator continues that tradition with their record, Marching Out of Babylon. This is pulsating, catchy, and aggressive death metal in the vein of Dark Tranquility. For fans of the genre, this is a must-listen from 2021. —AV
9
Convictions
I Won’t Survive
No. 9 — Convictions – I Won’t Survive
Metal has never been a genre to shy away from difficult topics. It explores the deeper, darker questions of the human story. Ohio-based Convictions is no different, and, on their latest release, I Won’t Survive, they deliver a much-needed discussion about mental health, addiction, pain, heartache, and the reality of hope. —AV
8
Zao
The Crimson Corridor
No. 8 — Zao – The Crimson Corridor
Zao’s poignant delivery is unmistakable in their new record, despite five long years since their last release. Dan Weyandt’s timeless animalistic snarl still sets Zao miles apart from their successors, along with the band’s proven prowess. There is no shortage of tight, frantic riffs, blasting rhythms, and the occasional rich, contrasting melody. All the best of Zao has shown up for the next phase of their legacy, with the added intensity of spectral leads and ethereal textures that bring a new depth to their musicianship. —NL
7
Impending Doom
Hellbent
No. 7 — Impending Doom – Hellbent
The deathcore scene was graciously gifted a spectacular product from Impending Doom this Fall in their release, Hellbent. For fans of the band and the genre, it’s not irrational to claim this as the best release from the band after all these years. Some bands become too redundant over the years to remain relevant to new listeners. Instead, Impending Doom both appeals to long-time fans, as well as offers new listeners a reason to jump on the doom train. —AV
6
The Drowned God
Pale Home
No. 6 — The Drowned God – Pale Home
By far the darkest album from The Drowned God thus far, Pale Home is a fine blend of black metal and metalcore, resulting in a mystical, brutal album that is incomparable to most peers in the industry. It is rare to find the elements of black metal merged into metalcore, but these guys do it to a degree that seems natural and fitting. Let’s hope this album influences the trend of blending these two genres more frequently. —AV
5
Invent, Animate
The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was
No. 5 — Invent, Animate – The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was
Though brief, Invent, Animate’s 2021 EP, The Sun Sleeps, As If It Never Was, carries tremendous weight from beginning to end, with atmospheric reverence and strong riffs that drive the band’s unique brand of storytelling. Invent, Animate also paired the EP with a double-feature music video, spanning over 10 minutes and reaching far into every sonic and visual landscape in which the band has proven their prowess. —NL
4
The Devil Wears Prada
ZII
No. 4 — The Devil Wears Prada – ZII
ZII doesn’t just bring back the sound of its origin story either. From the raw aggression of Dead Throne, the imaginative themes of the Space EP, and the mosh pit energy of Plagues, to the tight and polished delivery of Transit Blues and the full-body weight of The Act, each chapter of the band’s history makes an appearance in some small moment in their latest collection. —NL
3
ERRA
ERRA
No. 3 — ERRA – Erra
ERRA’s self-titled album is one of the best metalcore records we’ve heard in quite some time, reminiscent of early Memphis May Fire, mid-era Underoath, and a hint of Bring Me the Horizon. Despite the heaviness of many tracks, there’s also a melodic balance that simply reflects how talented this band has become over the years. Fantastic record from a brilliant band. —AV
2
Spiritbox
Eternal Blue
No. 2 — Spiritbox – Eternal Blue
Spiritbox is the “it” band in modern metal, and their latest full-length is clear evidence of their success and rapidly growing fanbase. Courtney LaPlante’s haunting and ferocious vocals are setting new standards for all. With critically acclaimed singles like “Holy Roller,” “Circle With Me,” and “Constance,” Eternal Blue had fans on the edge of their seat all year, and Spiritbox delivered the full record with no shortage of brutality or emotion. —NL
1
Silent Planet
Iridescent
No. 1 — Silent Planet – Iridescent
Intimately personal experiences, fears, perspectives, and cultural context are all melded into poignant poetry in Silent Planet’s 2021 album, Iridescent. As to be expected, the themes are complex and cerebral, and the delivery — even more so. Fueled by the band’s ever-sharpening musicianship and shaped by Garrett Russell’s vulnerability and generosity of self, it is certainly one of the band’s strongest releases to date and the best album released in 2021. —NL
