Rolling 2021 Metal Thread

Nice review of the Dream Unending on Pitchfork today. This has very quickly become my probable AOTY.

that Dormant Ordeal album is hitting the spot. Thanks for the tip. Also loving the Worm and Dream Unending albums (which are hitting a different spot).

Dream Unending is indeed great.

I feel like I go through a cycle each time a good Greek black metal album comes out. While I end up enjoying it, there's never really that flashbang of inspiration or awe. Still I love most of it, and end up snapping up whatever's hot that year.

This however is a different (great) beast. While it has a lot of stuff that says, yes, we are in that tradition, not to mention some of the bands that created that tradition, there's a very "alive and breathing," open and relaxed feel to it. Bit of a curve at the beginning, though, haha, a six minute monologue (in Greek) and two of the slower songs on the album. Still that's part of what makes it stand out. When it was over I felt like I was dizzily walking out of a theater.

https://thyrathen.bandcamp.com/

Anna Von Hausswolff’s church shows cancelled after protest of “satanist” music

https://www.brooklynvegan.com/anna-von-hausswolffs-church-shows-cancelled-after-protest-of-satanist-music/

Surprisingly, this was not in America but in Europe.

https://www.catholicnews.com/wp-content/uploads/custom/2020-10-19T055454Z_58627254_RC2BLJ9TKES6_RTRMADP_3_CHILE-PROTESTS-ANNIVERSARY.jpg

Kinda surprised by how much I'm enjoying this new Cynic record. First few tracks were a bit jarring, but it gets really good about halfway through. Maybe helped that I had really low expectations going in...

new immolation incoming:
https://immolation.bandcamp.com/album/acts-of-god

teaser sounds like immolation, meaning it's sick and sound better than every other band

they played that song live when I saw them at Decibel Metal and Beer fest. so fucking excited.

and they're headlining touring next year!

oooooh… would love to catch them live!

last album was really interesting, broke some new ground for em. really excited to hear this new one.

and the new malignant altar delivers. “ceremonial decapitator” is so sick. love how much the drums swing on this record, esp the fills during the morbid angel-ey chugging on that track.

^holy shit, this RULES

seconding! great stuff, massive riffs

love the vox too. but I would, given this interview -

Your vocal style hearkens back to the days of death metal yore, before people figured out "splatter" vocals and instead expressed rage and disgust through a more natural and vaguely human sound. Who are your biggest influences from that era and why?

Dave Edwardson on "Locust Star" by Neurosis, Dave Vincent’s vocals on Covenant (especially "Lion’s Den"), Rottrevore’s dual approach, just about everything from Immolation, and Hevi-era Corrupted are my favorite vocals out there. They all enunciate while still sounding brutal and non-splattery, as you mentioned, without many effects (if any). Strictly power.

basically all my faves

oops, that's a quote from https://www.invisibleoranges.com/malignant-altar-premiere-interview/

Sněť – Mokvání v okovech (Czech Republic)

This is some great high-tempo, guttural death metal in the style of Undergang (better than their last one actually).

You know what I love that is usually not in my wheelhouse these days?
The new Pyrexia.

It's brutal Suffocation gas mask death metal (I call it that because the vocalist sounds like he's wearing one) really well done.

Yea it's really good. Ironically the death metal band improved after replacing its murderer vocalist.

Yeah, I pre-ordered that a while ago and liked it a lot.

If you like your metal florid and melodic, I recommend the new Temperance album, Diamanti, which I'm pretty sure will be my album of the year after hearing it all the way through just once.

Liking this a lot actually. Kind of like Ghost meets Andrew Lloyd Weber.

First you had me.... then you completely lost me.

Listening to the upcoming second album by Nite (it'll be out in March) and...I wish I liked it better. I almost do. It's got really good galloping old school riffs (very Iron Maiden, very Slough Feg, very Cirith Ungol) but instead of the clean, soaring vocals the material demands, the singer is a hoarse growler who sounds almost exactly like Rob "Just Asking Questions" Miller (Amebix, Tau Cross, dude who shouts out Holocaust deniers in his liner notes). Oh, well.

ta daaa

https://funeralmist.bandcamp.com/album/deiform

It's bonkers, as usual.

Blood Incantation are putting out an ambient record, Timewave Zero, in February.

Cosmic Death Metal band BLOOD INCANTATION have just announced the release of their first Ambient record, 'Timewave Zero', coming February 25, 2022. Recorded at World Famous Studio in Denver, Colorado, 'Timewave Zero' will be available as 180g Gatefold LP+CD, Ltd. CD+Blu-ray Digipak and on all digital platforms.

The Ltd. 2CD Digipak version will feature an additional 27-minute-long bonus track (“Chronophagia”) and contains a blu-ray with the full album as a 5.1 mix + over 40 minutes of visuals directed by Wayne Joyner (https://www.waynejoyner.com/).

The band comments: “An astute listening to our previous recordings reveals a gradual and deliberate increase of Experimental, Progressive and Psychedelic components. ‘Timewave Zero’ is the distillation of these elements into a concentrated piece; stripping away the Metal and emphasizing the Dark, Cinematic and exceedingly Cosmic atmosphere our music is known for.”

ta daaa

https://funeralmist.bandcamp.com/album/deiform

It's bonkers, as usual.

― Devilock, Friday, December 17, 2021 2:14 AM (seven hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

i was just coming in here to ask if anyone heard the new funeral mist

new fucking funeral mist!!!!!!

So this came out today...

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0267/8122/0924/products/846193ef4af36ae1b9e6fe4f2b37c483_500x.jpg?v=1635864754

Cirith Ungol "Frost and Fire (40th Anniversary Edition - Deluxe Artbook)" Boxset

Disc 1: CD - 40th Anniversary Remix
01. Frost and Fire (40th Anniversary Remix)
02. I'm Alive (40th Anniversary Remix)
03. A Little Fire (40th Anniversary Remix)
04. What Does It Take (40th Anniversary Remix) [Goldmine Mix]
05. Edge of a Knife (40th Anniversary Remix)
06. Better Off Dead (40th Anniversary Remix) [Goldmine Mix]
07. Maybe That's Why (40th Anniversary Remix)

Disc 2: CD - 2021 Remaster
01. Frost and Fire (2021 Remaster)
02. I'm Alive (2021 Remaster)
03. A Little Fire (2021 Remaster)
04. What Does It Take (2021 Remaster)
05. Edge of a Knife (2021 Remaster)
06. Better Off Dead (2021 Remaster)
07. Maybe That's Why (2021 Remaster)

Disc 3: CD - Demos
01. I'm Alive (Demo - April 23rd, 1977)
02. A Little Fire (Take 2 - April 23rd, 1977)
03. Edge of a Knife (Take 2 - April 23rd, 1977)
04. I'm Alive (Demo - Sept 1980)
05. A Little Fire (Demo - Sept 1980)
06. Edge of a Knife Demo - Sept 1980)
07. Maybe That's Why (Demo - Full Band - Sept 1980)
08. Frost and Fire (Demo - Unknown Date)
09. A Little Fire (Gtr Demo)
10. What Does It Take (Demo - Unknown Date)
11. Better Off Dead (Demo - Unknown Date)
12. Maybe That's Why (Demo - Unknown Date)

Disc 4: CD - Rare Interviews and Fan Tapes
01. KKBZ Radio Interview - Ventura, CA
02. KLOS Radio Local Show - Los Angeles, CA
03. Rock Punto 7 Radio Interview - CDMX, Mexico
04. Answering Machine Fan Messages

Frost Blue / Fire Orange Marbled Vinyl:
=================
SIDE A
01. Frost and Fire (40th Anniversary Remix)
02. I'm Alive (40th Anniversary Remix)
03. A Little Fire (40th Anniversary Remix)
04. What Does It Take (40th Anniversary Remix) [Goldmine Mix]

SIDE B
05. Edge of a Knife (40th Anniversary Remix)
06. Better Off Dead (40th Anniversary Remix) [Goldmine Mix]
07. Maybe That's Why (40th Anniversary Remix)

SIDE C
08. Frost and Fire (2021 Remaster)
09. I'm Alive (2021 Remaster)
10. A Little Fire (2021 Remaster)
11. What Does It Take (2021 Remaster)

SIDE D
12. Edge of a Knife (2021 Remaster)
13. Better Off Dead (2021 Remaster)
14. Maybe That's Why (2021 Remaster)

Deluxe Artbook Features:
+ 50-Page Hardcover Book (12" x 12")
+ 4 Compact Discs
+ Frost Blue / Fire Orange Marbled Vinyl
+ Artbook Contents: rare photos, flyers, memorabilia, as well as detailed liner notes and essays by the band
+ European Import

I am not one who gets vinyl but the only way to get the extra CDs is in this package (the standard CD is a double-disc set with both versions of the album and no bonus material) so I think I may have to bite the bullet here.

That looks fantastic, but I don't think I can spring for the full thing - I hate when the dialed down 2xCD edition excises the good stuff, though I suppose that's the point.

Okay, I bought it. I was able to use a 10% off offer plus I qualified for four payments two weeks apart with no interest so that's not a big hit!

omg why didn't anybody tell me about this release this year

https://lavadome.bandcamp.com/album/conflagrate-the-celestial-refugium

they claim to sound like Morbid Angel and Angel Corpse, which isn't far off the mark, though I don't find them as occult and mysterious sounding as MA. it's just intense and rifftastic.

drumming is Krisiun like with basically blast beats just covering the music

from earlier this year: https://inoculation-maggotstomp.bandcamp.com/album/celestial-putridity

was described as similar to Deicide by the person who told me about it, but I don't hear it. very creative, catchy riffs. nothing new under the sun, but infectious af, and heavy.

I am doing last-minute albums of the year that I missed from the last Decibel Magazine.
I am glad I discovered the Alda record and plan on buying it when the Eisenwald store reopens after their holiday break.

http://open.spotify.com/album/1WX7fiFDOzSJceDvVnwQan?si=_9sMIsScSXSmHPMfjrxrag

They don't like the term "Cascadian black metal" but I like it as a descriptive term.

Also discovered in the Decibel year-end issue:

http://pan-amerikannativefront.bandcamp.com/album/little-turtles-war

Little Turtle's War by Pan-Amerikan Native Front
Pro-War, anti-Western imperialism Native American collective.
Solid black metal that sounds like the classic stuff but with flourishes unique to their passion and mission statement.

This was a "Record that tied for 41" incidentally.

Another one that I didn't check out is the Enforced record that Century Media put out in March.

http://open.spotify.com/album/7Ctn7LIvEDjR2etYrwsD3K?si=vXY2dlzlRnmQagbZEaOlTQ

Crispy thrash that reminds me at different times of classic Sepultura or mid-period Testament? Sign me up!

Possibly the last album of the year I am going to buy:

The new Pantheist album is the same quality ethereal Funeral Doom they have become known for, maybe with the added touch of desultory Ennio Morricone at times.

http://pantheistuk.bandcamp.com/album/closer-to-god

I'd never heard of <code> before, but "Flyblown Prince" is an agreeable slice of weird black metal with prog elements, recommended for fans of Khanus, apparently they have some kind of connection to that Finnish band:

https://codeblackmetal.bandcamp.com/album/flyblown-prince

The new Decapitated song is...kinda good. More tech-deathy than they've been in a while. Of course, it's called "Cancer Culture," so lots of dickheads are gunning for them on Twitter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocusYtiwuAE

Necrom - All Parts Are Left Here (Osmose Records, 25 March 2022)

This is getting released tomorrow, Ukrainian Entombed-worshipping OSDM from Kharkiv.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuno6605Aks

(ah using the wrong rolling Metal thread it seems!)

I just received last year's Panopticon album finally - they didn't do a standalone CD release this time, instead including it in with the vinyl, and I slept on the first pressing that immediately sold out. The second pressing finally made it into my grubby hands which means I have officially purchased every 2021 release I wanted on CD, LP, Tape, or Digital Download if all else failed.

As such, here's my list. It's late to the game but that's Panopticon's fault as far as I am concerned.

My Favorite 2021 Metal(lic) Albums

Aduanten - Sullen Cadence
Alda - A Distant Fire
Animal Schoolbus - Going To Grammy's House!? 2021 Remix
Artillery - X
Big|Brave - Vital
Black Mass - Feast at the Forbidden Tree
Blasphemous Creation - Forsaken Dynasty
Bloody Hammers - Songs of Unspeakable Terror
The Body - I've Seen All I Need to See
The Body & Big|Brave - Leaving None But Small Birds
Bone Tower - We All Will Die Someday
Bongzilla - Weedsconsin
Carcass - Torn Arteries
Cirith Ungol - Half Past Human [EP]
Cirith Ungol - Frost and Fire (40th Anniversary Edition)
Cosmic Burial - …To The Past
Cradle of Filth - Existence is Futile
Craven Idol - Forked Tongues
The Crown - Royal Destroyer
Darkthrone - Eternal Hails…
Dead Neanderthals - Rat Licker
Deafheaven - Infinite Granite
Deceased - Thrash Times At Ridgemont High
Dola - Czasy
Dordeduh - Har
Dread Sovereign - Alchemical Warfare
Dusk in Silence - Beneath the Great Sky of Solitude
Enforced - Kill Grid
Evile - Hell Unleashed
Fiat Nox - In Contemptuous Defiance
The Flight of Sleipnir - Eventide
Fluisteraars - Gegrepen Door de Geest der Zielsontluiking
Full of Hell - Garden of Burning Apparitions
Gaunt Emperor - Femur
Graveyard Shifters - Head Turns First, Eyes Follow...
Haunt - Beautiful Distraction
Heavy Temple - Lupi Amoris
The HIRS Collective - The Third 100 Songs
Hot Breath - Rubbery Lips
Iceburn - Asclepius
Impaled Nazarene - Eight Headed Serpent
Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
Khemmis - Deceiver
King Woman - Celestial Blues
Knoll - Interstice
Korpiklaani - Jylhä
Krallice - Demonic Wealth
Lingua Ignota - Agnus Dei [EP]
Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready
Lucifer - IV
Lucifuge - Infernal Power
Lys - Silent Woods
Mastodon - Hushed and Grim
Melvins - Working With God
Mesarthim - Vacuum Solution [EP]
Mesarthim - CLG J02182–05102
Monster Magnet - A Better Dystopia
Mourners - Act I: Tragedies
Necromantical Invocation - Dogme el Rituel de la Haute Magie
Negură Bunget - Zău
Pan-Amerikan Native Front - Little Turtle's War
Panopticon - …And Again Into the Light
Pantheist - Closer to God
Paysage d'Hiver - Geister
The Pretty Reckless - Death By Rock And Roll
Pyrexia - Gravitas Maximus
Red Fang - Arrows
The Ruins Of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires
Sentinel Beast - Depths Of Death (Reissue)
S.H.I. - 4 死 Death
Skepticism - Companion
Sleep - The Clarity [12"]
Spectral Wound - A Diabolical Thirst
Steel Bearing Hand - Slay In Hell
Stone Deaf - Killers
Sur Austru - Obârșie
Throat - Smile Less
Thy Catafalque - Vadak
Thyrfing - Vanagandr
Towards Atlantis Lights - When the Ashes Devoured the Sun
Tribulation - Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
Wardruna - Kvitravn
Warish - Next to Pay
White Ward - Debemur Morti [EP]
Windfaerer - Breaths Of Elder Dawns
Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial Arcana
Youth Code / King Yosef - A Skeleton Key In The Doors Of Depression
V/A (Sisters of Mercy Tribute) - Black Waves Of Adrenochrome

No Meshuggah? I think the new one is great! Agree with the criticisms above that they aren't reinventing the wheel at this point, but I feel they've earned the right to simply skate along on the wheel they've already invented. They've simply honed and refined over time their groovy battering ram vibe, and sound as immaculate and uncompromising as ever. I dunno, I can never have too much of that sound.

This ended up being my top 5:

Asphyxiate - Altar of Decomposed
Deafheaven - Infinite Granite
Sněť - Mokvání v okovech
Temperance - Diamanti
Worm - Foreverglade

Dear anybody else who likes the school of black-ish metal-ish that sounds like the internal monologue of the last demon left in Hell after everybody else has moved away, check out the new Reverorum ib Malacht.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3pDeSwiNodraaR3tzEtbWV?si=skJrovsKSq661V6on4yYkQ