Grump's 2021
Self-explanatory: list of my best finds and favourites. |
| 51 |  | Trouble
Trouble
RIP
An extra entry for the list, remembering Eric Wagner who has passed this year. Eric was a legendary singer and this album was my favourite which wasn't from 2021. |
| 50 |  | Esoctrilihum
Urionhsol (Seven Demons)
[blackened death metal]
Super impressive demo collection. |
| 49 |  | Ulver
Scary Muzak
[electronic / dance / ambient]
A Halloween special from Ulver. Go and figure. |
| 48 |  | Cryptosis
Bionic Swarm
[progressive thrash]
Endless waves of riffs. |
| 47 |  | Tribulation
Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
[gothic / black metal / rock]
I didn't know my life lacked some goth'n'roll until now. |
| 46 |  | Rota Fortunae
Hinterland
[dark folk]
Thank you, DungeonBoy! |
| 45 |  | Arcanist
Poseidonis
[Berlin-school electronics / dungeon synth]
Your playlist for a D&D night is here. |
| 44 |  | King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
L. W.
[garage rock]
The lizard wizard is the best. |
| 43 |  | Keygen Church
░█░█░░█░█░█░
[classical / electronic]
Do you even Bach, bro?
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83156/Keygen-Church-%E2%96%91%E2%96%88%E2%96%91%E2%96%88%E2%96%91%E2%96%91%E2%96%88%E2%96%91%E2%96%88%E2%96%91%E2%96%88%E2%96%91/ |
| 42 |  | Various Artists
Back in Black (Redux)
[stoner rock / metal and stuff]
I'VE BEEN TOO LONG, I'M GLAD TO BE BACK
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84184/Various-Artists-Back-in-Black-Redux/ |
| 41 |  | Lovi
Kirmukarmu
[neo-folk, medieval ambient]
Make folk music great again. This is most unique stuff. |
| 40 |  | A Compendium of Curiosities
Heaven Feels Like Floating Around in a Golden City
[drone / ambient]
An album for dreaming. |
| 39 |  | Eos (CAN)
Les Corps S'Entrechoquent
[avant-garde black metal]
Welcome to the MystÃskaos family! Artistic dissonance. |
| 38 |  | Mare Cognitum
Solar Paroxysm
[atmospheric black metal]
Say the aliens hi, and show them why atmoblack is the best genre. |
| 37 |  | Nordgeist
Frostwinter
[lo-fi black metal]
The album you hoped how "Geister" will sound. |
| 36 |  | Paysage d'Hiver
Geister
[lo-fi black metal]
A bit different, but still rules. |
| 35 |  | Hammock
Elsewhere
[chillbient]
Let your mind wander elsewhere. |
| 34 |  | Embryonic Slumber
In Worship Our Blood Is Buried
[atmospheric black metal / electronics]
Atmoblack and rave. |
| 33 |  | Slytherin
When the Darkness Comes
[atmospheric black metal]
Cheese! |
| 32 |  | Ancient Mastery
Chapter One: Across The Mountains Of ...
[atmoshperic black metal]
More cheese! |
| 31 |  | Qwalen
Unohdan Sinut
[black metal / punk]
The most agressive album of the year. Brutally savage and full of energy. |
| 30 |  | Castle Zagyx
Doors to the Battlefields of Ertbe
[neo-classical / dungeon synth]
Howard Shore plays Mount & Blade: the album. |
| 29 |  | Stormkeep
Tales of Othertime
[atmospheric black metal]
Emperor still sucks, and this is awesome. |
| 28 |  | Mork
Katedralen
[black metal]
Old Darkthrone, but younger. |
| 27 |  | Obscura
A Valediction
[technical death metal]
Tech death is normally doesn't really interest me, but this album was a fantastic find. |
| 26 |  | Cirith Ungol
Half Past Human
[hard rock / heavy metal]
These veterans still know how to rock. |
| 25 |  | Kyvon
Frozen Grimoire
[winter synth]
The most relaxing album of the year. |
| 24 |  | Conan
Live at Freak Valley
[battle doom]
Best metal live album of the year. |
| 23 |  | Boru
Kyth Wylag Felleyn
[avant-garde / black metal]
Surprise of the year. A truly hidden gem from a local band. They fucking slay live, I can assure you! |
| 22 |  | Elffor
Condemned to Wander
[atmospheric black metal / dungeon synth]
Keeping Summoning's legacy alive. |
| 21 |  | Mannveira
Vitahringur
[black metal]
The Icelandic scene is still on fire. |
| 20 |  | Fen Walker
Fare Thee Well Battle Winds
[Berlin-school electronics / dungeon synth]
Best album art of the year, and still the most consistently awesome Berlin-school artist. |
| 19 |  | Carcass
Torn Arteries
[melodic death metal]
Infinite replays value and lots of fun. |
| 18 |  | Warmoon Lord
Battlespells
[atmospheric black metal]
Still one of the most consistent bands nowadays. Epic and sorcerous. |
| 17 |  | Rothadas
Kopár Hant... Az Alvilág Felé
[death-doom]
Best local band of the year!
My review:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83942/Rothadas-Kop%C3%A1r-Hant...-Az-Alvil%C3%A1g-Fel%C3%A9/ |
| 16 |  | Esoctrilihum
Dy'th Requiem for the Serpent Telepath
[progressive blackened death metal (or something like that)]
Also best album art of the year, and the best "what the hell man" moments. |
| 15 |  | Wolves in the Throne Room
Primordial Arcana
[cascadian black metal]
Best WitTR, and I don't care if you still love Two Hunters more because you're wrong. |
| 14 |  | 200 Stab Wounds
Slave to the Scalpel
[death metal]
Best "pure" death metal album of the year. |
| 13 |  | Darkthrone
Eternal Hails
[blackened doom]
Fenriz and Nocturno Culto just can't stop releasing awesome stuff.
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83418/Darkthrone-Eternal-Hails/ |
| 12 |  | Ethereal Shroud
Trisagion
[atmospheric black metal]
Thank you, DarkNoctus. |
| 11 |  | Ulver
Hexahedron
[drone / experimental / electronic]
Best live album. |
| 10 |  | Gatecreeper
An Unexpected Reality
[death-grind and death-doom]
This year started incredibly strong with an album like this. Doesn't matter it was "just" an EP, but the overall package outshined lots of full-length releases with ease.
Also:
SONG OF THE YEAR: "Emptiness" |
| 9 |  | Mirthquell
Return of the Ancients
[dungeon synth]
The best apprentice of Depressive Silence and ambient Burzum in the year. This is truly magical. |
| 8 |  | Thy Catafalque
Vadak
[avant-garde? (progressive metal / folk / ambient)]
Kátai Tamás did it again, and even more: clearly outshined Naiv from last year. Vadak is a punchier, yet equally diverse album where he with the help of many guests managed to deliver one of the most exciting and adventurous album in 2021.
Köszönet mindenért. |
| 7 |  | Monolord
Your Time to Shine
[doom]
This was also an easy choice, since it was definitely my favourite doom album from the year. Great flow with a special emotional touch.
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84015/Monolord-Your-Time-To-Shine/ |
| 6 |  | Taake
Avvik
[black metal and dark folk]
Hoest was really active this year, but Avvik absolutely outshined every other work of his. Even though it is mostly a collection of split appearances and some covers, but the diversity within is fantastic. Also, the acoustic version of "Nattestid Ser Porten Vid 1" was the most enchanting dark folk piece of the year. |
| 5 |  | Hooded Menace
The Tritonus Bell
[death-doom]
The grower and the earworm of the year. The Tritonous Bell sneakily became one of my most regular jams, as I caught myself returning to it almost every week (or every other day for a while). |
| 4 |  | Kekht Arakh
Pale Swordsman
[black metal]
Black metal and romanticism. Pale Swordsman is the perfect melancholic black metal album for the rainy days. The similarities to the early Burzum albums' vibe is priceless.
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83116/Kekht-Arakh-Pale-Swordsman/ |
| 3 |  | Oublieth
À l'Ombre du Royaume en Cendres
[dungeon synth]
It was an unquestionable why Oublieth took the dungeon synth-crown this year. Flawless and gorgeous journey with a truly magical atmosphere.
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/83579/Oublieth-%C3%80-lOmbre-du-Royaume-en-Cendres/ |
| 2 |  | Archgoat
Worship the Eternal Darkness
[black / death metal]
The Finnish veterans have released their best album so far. A filthy and epic blackened ritual.
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/84131/Archgoat-Worship-the-Eternal-Darkness/ |
| 1 |  | Null (USA)
Hiraeth
[atmospheric black metal / folk]
In the end, I had to go with this one since I've been listening to this A LOT. This album appeared in my life just in time, delivering the needed positive energies in the most preferred form: music.
My review here:
https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/82824/Null-USA-Hiraeth/ |
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