MetalReviews

Awards 2021

1 reviewers shared their picks for 2021.

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Goat

Top Albums

  1. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  2. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  3. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  4. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  5. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  6. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  7. 1.
    Dordeduh - Har — Romanian blackened metal continues to set the standard.
  8. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  9. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  10. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  11. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  12. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  13. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  14. 2.
    Aetheria Conscientia - Corrupted Pillars of Vanity — Jazz, black; the crossover genius genre continues to enthall.
  15. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  16. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  17. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  18. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  19. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  20. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  21. 3.
    The Ruins of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires — Perhaps not the best album from this project, but a fascinating dive into darkness regardless
  22. 4.
  23. 4.
  24. 4.
  25. 4.
  26. 4.
    Code - Flyblown Prince — Progressive blackened metal at its best
  27. 4.
    Code - Flyblown Prince — Progressive blackened metal at its best
  28. 4.
    Code - Flyblown Prince — Progressive blackened metal at its best
  29. 5.
  30. 5.
    Altarage - Succumb — Deep, dark, death
  31. 5.
    Altarage - Succumb — Deep, dark, death
  32. 5.
    Altarage - Succumb — Deep, dark, death
  33. 5.
    Altarage - Succumb — Deep, dark, death
  34. 5.
    Altarage - Succumb — Deep, dark, death
  35. 5.
    Altarage - Succumb — Deep, dark, death
  36. 6.
  37. 6.
    Funeral Mist - Deiform — A late entry, but a compelling one
  38. 6.
    Funeral Mist - Deiform — A late entry, but a compelling one
  39. 6.
    Funeral Mist - Deiform — A late entry, but a compelling one
  40. 6.
    Funeral Mist - Deiform — A late entry, but a compelling one
  41. 6.
    Funeral Mist - Deiform — A late entry, but a compelling one
  42. 6.
    Funeral Mist - Deiform — A late entry, but a compelling one
  43. 7.
  44. 7.
    Panopticon - ...And Again Into the Light — Folk black never sounded so good
  45. 7.
    Panopticon - ...And Again Into the Light — Folk black never sounded so good
  46. 7.
    Panopticon - ...And Again Into the Light — Folk black never sounded so good
  47. 7.
    Panopticon - ...And Again Into the Light — Folk black never sounded so good
  48. 7.
    Panopticon - ...And Again Into the Light — Folk black never sounded so good
  49. 7.
    Panopticon - ...And Again Into the Light — Folk black never sounded so good
  50. 8.
  51. 8.
    Void - The Hollow Man — An album to come back to, again and again
  52. 8.
    Void - The Hollow Man — An album to come back to, again and again
  53. 8.
    Void - The Hollow Man — An album to come back to, again and again
  54. 8.
    Void - The Hollow Man — An album to come back to, again and again
  55. 8.
    Void - The Hollow Man — An album to come back to, again and again
  56. 8.
    Void - The Hollow Man — An album to come back to, again and again
  57. 9.
  58. 9.
    Asphyx - Necroceros — Pure death worship
  59. 9.
    Asphyx - Necroceros — Pure death worship
  60. 9.
    Asphyx - Necroceros — Pure death worship
  61. 9.
    Asphyx - Necroceros — Pure death worship
  62. 9.
    Asphyx - Necroceros — Pure death worship
  63. 9.
    Asphyx - Necroceros — Pure death worship
  64. 10.
  65. 10.
    Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness — Pure satanic worship, and a career highlight
  66. 10.
    Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness — Pure satanic worship, and a career highlight
  67. 10.
    Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness — Pure satanic worship, and a career highlight
  68. 10.
    Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness — Pure satanic worship, and a career highlight
  69. 10.
    Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness — Pure satanic worship, and a career highlight
  70. 10.
    Archgoat - Worship the Eternal Darkness — Pure satanic worship, and a career highlight
  71. 11.
  72. 11.
  73. 11.
  74. 11.
  75. 11.
  76. 11.
  77. 11.
  78. 12.
  79. 12.
  80. 12.
  81. 12.
  82. 12.
    Nunslaughter - Red is the Colour of Ripping Death — Death blast! What the underground was made for
  83. 12.
    Nunslaughter - Red is the Colour of Ripping Death — Death blast! What the underground was made for
  84. 12.
    Nunslaughter - Red is the Colour of Ripping Death — Death blast! What the underground was made for
  85. 13.
  86. 13.
  87. 13.
  88. 13.
  89. 13.
    Leprous - Aphelion — These Norwegians continue to impress album upon album
  90. 13.
    Leprous - Aphelion — These Norwegians continue to impress album upon album
  91. 13.
    Leprous - Aphelion — These Norwegians continue to impress album upon album
  92. 14.
  93. 14.
  94. 14.
  95. 14.
  96. 14.
    Darkthrone - Eternal Hails...... — The veterans haven't been so good in decades
  97. 14.
    Darkthrone - Eternal Hails...... — The veterans haven't been so good in decades
  98. 14.
    Darkthrone - Eternal Hails...... — The veterans haven't been so good in decades
  99. 15.
  100. 15.
  101. 15.
  102. 15.
  103. 15.
    Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined — These veterans neither, a death metal symphony.
  104. 15.
    Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined — These veterans neither, a death metal symphony.
  105. 15.
    Cannibal Corpse - Violence Unimagined — These veterans neither, a death metal symphony.

Surprises of the Year

  1. 1.
  2. 1.
  3. 1.
    Eximperitus - Sahrartu — Too long name, too good death metal
  4. 1.
    Eximperitus - Sahrartu — Too long name, too good death metal
  5. 1.
    Eximperitus - Sahrartu — Too long name, too good death metal
  6. 1.
    Eximperitus - Sahrartu — Too long name, too good death metal
  7. 1.
    Eximperitus - Sahrartu — Too long name, too good death metal
  8. 2.
  9. 2.
  10. 2.
    Fractal Generator - Macrocosmos — Tech-death upstarts worth watching
  11. 2.
    Fractal Generator - Macrocosmos — Tech-death upstarts worth watching
  12. 2.
    Fractal Generator - Macrocosmos — Tech-death upstarts worth watching
  13. 2.
    Fractal Generator - Macrocosmos — Tech-death upstarts worth watching
  14. 2.
    Fractal Generator - Macrocosmos — Tech-death upstarts worth watching
  15. 3.
  16. 3.
  17. 3.
    Thermohaline - Maelström — Experimental blackened chaos, in a good way
  18. 3.
    Thermohaline - Maelström — Experimental blackened chaos, in a good way
  19. 3.
    Thermohaline - Maelström — Experimental blackened chaos, in a good way
  20. 3.
    Thermohaline - Maelström — Experimental blackened chaos, in a good way
  21. 3.
    Thermohaline - Maelström — Experimental blackened chaos, in a good way
  22. 4.
  23. 4.
  24. 4.
    Demoniac (CHL) - So It Goes — Thrash, but prog?! Whatever will these latinos locos come up with next?
  25. 4.
    Demoniac (CHL) - So It Goes — Thrash, but prog?! Whatever will these latinos locos come up with next?
  26. 4.
    Demoniac (CHL) - So It Goes — Thrash, but prog?! Whatever will these latinos locos come up with next?
  27. 4.
    Demoniac (CHL) - So It Goes — Thrash, but prog?! Whatever will these latinos locos come up with next?
  28. 4.
    Demoniac (CHL) - So It Goes — Thrash, but prog?! Whatever will these latinos locos come up with next?
  29. 5.
  30. 5.
  31. 5.
    Ferriterium - Calvaire — Sweet black angels.
  32. 5.
    Ferriterium - Calvaire — Sweet black angels.
  33. 5.
    Ferriterium - Calvaire — Sweet black angels.
  34. 5.
    Ferriterium - Calvaire — Sweet black angels.
  35. 5.
    Ferriterium - Calvaire — Sweet black angels.

Disappointments

  1. 1.
  2. 1.
  3. 1.
    Emptiness - Vide — Boring ambience is not what we've come to expect from this project
  4. 1.
    Emptiness - Vide — Boring ambience is not what we've come to expect from this project
  5. 1.
    Emptiness - Vide — Boring ambience is not what we've come to expect from this project
  6. 1.
    Emptiness - Vide — Boring ambience is not what we've come to expect from this project
  7. 1.
    Emptiness - Vide — Boring ambience is not what we've come to expect from this project
  8. 2.
  9. 2.
  10. 2.
    Iron Maiden - Senjutsu — Epic and grandiose and overblown and too long, we've had it all before. Nowhere near as good as hailed
  11. 2.
    Iron Maiden - Senjutsu — Epic and grandiose and overblown and too long, we've had it all before. Nowhere near as good as hailed
  12. 2.
    Iron Maiden - Senjutsu — Epic and grandiose and overblown and too long, we've had it all before. Nowhere near as good as hailed
  13. 2.
    Iron Maiden - Senjutsu — Epic and grandiose and overblown and too long, we've had it all before. Nowhere near as good as hailed
  14. 2.
    Iron Maiden - Senjutsu — Epic and grandiose and overblown and too long, we've had it all before. Nowhere near as good as hailed
  15. 3.
  16. 3.
  17. 3.
    Dream Theater - A View From the Top of the World — Tripping the light familiar, and not in a good way
  18. 3.
    Dream Theater - A View From the Top of the World — Tripping the light familiar, and not in a good way
  19. 3.
    Dream Theater - A View From the Top of the World — Tripping the light familiar, and not in a good way
  20. 3.
    Dream Theater - A View From the Top of the World — Tripping the light familiar, and not in a good way
  21. 3.
    Dream Theater - A View From the Top of the World — Tripping the light familiar, and not in a good way
  22. 4.
  23. 4.
  24. 4.
    Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent — Punk doesn't have to mean low effort! Come on, guys.
  25. 4.
    Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent — Punk doesn't have to mean low effort! Come on, guys.
  26. 4.
    Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent — Punk doesn't have to mean low effort! Come on, guys.
  27. 4.
    Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent — Punk doesn't have to mean low effort! Come on, guys.
  28. 4.
    Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent — Punk doesn't have to mean low effort! Come on, guys.
  29. 5.
  30. 5.
  31. 5.
    Moonspell - Hermitage — Tired sounding and close to death, let's hope Moonspell can do better.
  32. 5.
    Moonspell - Hermitage — Tired sounding and close to death, let's hope Moonspell can do better.
  33. 5.
    Moonspell - Hermitage — Tired sounding and close to death, let's hope Moonspell can do better.
  34. 5.
    Moonspell - Hermitage — Tired sounding and close to death, let's hope Moonspell can do better.
  35. 5.
    Moonspell - Hermitage — Tired sounding and close to death, let's hope Moonspell can do better.

Words / Final Thoughts

  1. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless.
  2. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless.
  3. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless. Still, a year in which Metalreviews.com helped me survive and thrive, and still a cause for celebration that underground metal has a lifespan beyond ours. May 2022 be the year we finally manage to tell COVID-19 to FUCK OFF, and resume our lives, and appreciate them all the more. God and Satan bless you all. RIP -
  4. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless. Still, a year in which Metalreviews.com helped me survive and thrive, and still a cause for celebration that underground metal has a lifespan beyond ours. May 2022 be the year we finally manage to tell COVID-19 to FUCK OFF, and resume our lives, and appreciate them all the more. God and Satan bless you all. RIP - LG Petrov, DMX, Andrea Meyer, Alexi Laiho, Mike Howe, Joey Jordison, Dusty Hill, Eric Wagner, Charlie Watts, Hank von Hell, and others
  5. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless. Still, a year in which Metalreviews.com helped me survive and thrive, and still a cause for celebration that underground metal has a lifespan beyond ours. May 2022 be the year we finally manage to tell COVID-19 to FUCK OFF, and resume our lives, and appreciate them all the more. God and Satan bless you all. RIP - LG Petrov, DMX, Andrea Meyer, Alexi Laiho, Mike Howe, Joey Jordison, Dusty Hill, Eric Wagner, Charlie Watts, Hank von Hell, and others
  6. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless. Still, a year in which Metalreviews.com helped me survive and thrive, and still a cause for celebration that underground metal has a lifespan beyond ours. May 2022 be the year we finally manage to tell COVID-19 to FUCK OFF, and resume our lives, and appreciate them all the more. God and Satan bless you all. RIP - LG Petrov, DMX, Andrea Meyer, Alexi Laiho, Mike Howe, Joey Jordison, Dusty Hill, Eric Wagner, Charlie Watts, Hank von Hell, and others
  7. 0
    — Another year where we were all driven underground and left suffering a lack of good music as a result; yet some bands strove through and rewarded us regardless. Still, a year in which Metalreviews.com helped me survive and thrive (and procure a fiancee, which was a nice bonus!) and still a cause for celebration that underground metal has a lifespan beyond ours. May 2022 be the year we finally manage to tell COVID-19 to FUCK OFF and resume our lives, and appreciate them all the more. God and Satan bless you all, particularly comrades Alex and Andy who help me keep this site's light lit. Slava Ukraini!

    RIP - LG Petrov, DMX, Andrea Meyer, Alexi Laiho, Mike Howe, Joey Jordison, Dusty Hill, Eric Wagner, Charlie Watts, Hank von Hell, and others