So we have seen through the first quarter of 2021. There are always ongoings in the world of heavy metal, and with Architects hitting number one on the UK album chart with latest album For Those That Wish To Exist, and Rob Zombie seeing his highest achieving album to date – with number one on Billboard album sales charts, rock is certainly not dead. So it feels like time for a look back what we have seen so far.
Standout Albums
There has been some terrific metal releases so far this year. Considering the impact of 2020 on the recording industry, it’s amazing how bands have adapted to continue to release music. There has been an uptake in the release of EP’s too, as opposed to full album releases. In the age of music streaming, less and less people are actually buying physical (or digital) copies of albums. With so much music now ‘on-demand’, it’s much easier to release music in single and EP format without costing the consumer additional funds.
As far as full on LPs go, for me these are the standout releases so far this year:
Immortal Guardian – Psychosomatic
Progressive power metal wizards Immortal Guardian took things back to square one on their latest album Psychosomatic. Following the outbreak of the global pandemic, and the lockdowns that followed, they changed up the album to focus on the metal health realities of dealing with isolation and fear. What they ended up with was an album of the year contender. Full of expertly arranged composition, layering and breathtaking musicianship.
Immortal Guardian – Psychosomatic Album Review
Nervosa – Perpetual Chaos
Rising through persecution and stereotypical views on heavy metal musicians, the Brazilian women of Nervosa released a brilliant piece of death-cross-thrash metal much in the same vein of Legion of the Damned. Perpetual Chaos has a fantastic array of riffs on offer throughout. Harking back to unrefined thrash of old, but still feeling organic and contemporary. An album that begs for repeated listening.
Nervosa – Perpetual Chaos Album Review
Epica – Omega
After 5 years waiting, Dutch symphonic metal titans Epica released their latest album Omega in early 2021. Taking grandiose arrangement to another level, Epica have released their best album since their terrific debut The Phantom Agony. No-one does the female clean/male death growl vocal combo better than Epica. On track Rivers, lead vocalist Simone Simons puts on a breathtaking display of vocal technique and ability.
Old School Death Metal Continuing Its Resurgence
Old school death metal has a special place in the heart of heavy metal fans. The raw, brutal sound is unlike anything else, and harbours an energetic and passionate fanbase. 2021 has continued the trend of modern bands turning back the clock on some lo-fi head banging vigour – with a liberal sprinkling of Boss HM-2 debauchery.
Beast are continuing this trend with the release of their latest album Necro Sapiens, providing an excellent slab of traditional barbarity. Reminding us of how destructively brilliant the combination of death growls and chunky riffs can still sound. Similarly USA’s Frozen Soul released their debut LP Crypt of Ice – 39 minutes of no nonsense, mid tempo, in your face death metal. If I had to describe it in 3 words it would be riffs, riffs and riffs.
Continuing the death metal, UK’s Infested Angel released their blackened death metal debut EP Nourish Me, Satan to brutal effect, with lashings of sludging, guttural filth, and high tempo wailing black metal savagery. Finland’s Ghastly are due to release their third album Mercurial Passages. Winning a turn of Metal Track of the Week as a result of their excellent Parasites single release to boot.
Are you looking to add some complete chaos to your musical library? Belgum’s Verwilderd brought their brand of blackened death metal to assault your very existence. The release of their debut EP Homo Homini Lupus Est throws you straight into the pit with no messing around. The 5 track EP blends genres in a devastating opening offering.
Baest – Necro Sapiens Album Review
Frozen Soul – Crypt of Ice Album Review
INFESTED ANGEL unleash brutal debut EP NOURISH ME, SATAN
GHASTLY to release third album MERCURIAL PASSAGES
Verwilderd unleash chaos with debut EP Homo Homini Lupus Est
Metal Icons We Lost
We lost a number of heavy metal icons in early 2021. Most notably former Children of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho, who passed away in December 2020 (the world finding out in early 2021) and Entombed frontman L-G Petrov. Pioneering the neo-classical melodic death metal guitar style, and influencing countless musicians throughout his career, Alexi Laiho will be most remembered for his career with Children of Bodom, and was due to continue with Bodom After Midnight. Alexi is one of the reasons I (and no doubt many others) listen to heavy music, and his contribution to the industry will be sorely missed.
Death metal would not be what it is without Entombed. Right from their debut album Left Hand Path, using a dimed Boss HM-2 pedal and a host of crappy instruments, Entombed showed that simple, brutal energy can blow away all in front. Frontman L-G Petrov influenced a whole host of death metal vocalists, and helped lay the foundation for the raw ‘Stockholm sound’ of Swedish Death Metal. The resurgence of old school death metal today is a direct descendent of Entombed‘s pioneering work. His passing this year is a heavy loss to the metal community.
Notable Appearances
Ever one to be a tidal wave of vocal dominance, the legend that is Howard Jones gave us a stunning turn (when does he ever not) in his new band SION with YouTube guitarist Jared Dines on The Blade. A unique and easily recognisable voice, Howard Jones slays at everything he puts his name to. Whether that be in Killswitch Engage, Light The Torch or this new project. Forming part of a longer release due later this year, it can only be nothing short of amazing with a certain Mr Jones at the helm.
Do you need a hero in your life? In particularlar, do you need a band of superheroes to bail you out of a life threatening situation? Then please for God’s sake never call the kings of True Norwegian Balkan Metal from Trollfest. If you have seen the video for Happy Heroes, you know their attempt at playing heroes went down as well as using a brick to perform brain surgery. But hilarious nonetheless.
The king of party rock Andrew W.K. signed with metal label Nuclear Blast in 2020. Surprisingly (for me at least), whilst I was expecting the party thrash treatment, we actually got a much darker release. I was unsure of new single Babalon at first. Andrew W.K. is a favourite of mine, and it was such a sharp change. But after repeated listening now, I am really diggin’ the broody new track and can’t wait to see what the full album delivers.
OUT NOW: Trollfest release their Happy Heroes EP
Andrew W.K. Unveils His Darker Side On New Single Babalon
What to Expect for 2021
Cannibal Corpse have their new album out later in April. I can honestly say that I have not been that bothered by Cannibal Corpse post-Chris Barnes. Their first 4 albums are amazing and were always going to be hard to follow, but I am genuinely intrigued by their upcoming album Violence Unimagined. The NSFW album cover gives me hope for some old school over the top brutality!
For more old school, the return of Evile will culminate in Hell Unleashed being released at the end of April. From the single releases they are slaying on their rebirth, and I am expecting some delicious old school thrash on display. On the same day we get 2 albums I am expecting to be album of the year contenders. Tetrarch‘s sophomore album Unstable will unleash a heavy dose of old school nu-metal. The mighty Gojira will be releasing Fortitude, and I am expecting no less than a storming force of nature to consume my consciousness on first listen.
Other notable forthcoming releases are Helloween‘s glorious self-titled return, and Beartooth‘s latest LP Below both released in June. Wizardthrone, a supergroup consisting of members of Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Aether Realm and others join forces to combat the forces of evil on debut album Hypercube Necrodimensions. If you are not excited about Extreme Wizard Metal then we cannot be friends. Sorry, dems d rulz.
So we have seen an eventful 2021 so far in the world of heavy metal. What else can we expect for the remainder of the year? So long as rock and metal keeps throwing out quality releases, and new bands continue to emerge, the world is a little bit less of a terrible place. Ah, the issue with having a nihilistic outlook on life….or watching too much Rick and Morty….
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