A Year In Review: Our 2021 Favorite Metal Albums

2021 was a year that weighed heavily on many shoulders, but metal delivered uplifting heaviness in return. As a new decade of music continues to unfurl, there has been a strong resurgence of classic heavy metal stylings as well as new releases from some of the genre’s titans. Newcomers have ambitiously faced the legacy of Iron Maiden and Flotsam and Jetsam while contending for recognition alongside those very same masters of the craft, while other legends yet have pulled themselves out of the shadows for fiery comebacks. 

Our end-of-year compilation weighs heavily towards the strong explosion of heavy metal and thrash metal, interspersed with offerings from furious death metal maestros and innovative doom outfits. No matter one’s preferences within metal’s welcoming umbrella, there are countless riffs ready to be devoured as we look back on a year brimming with talent and metallic fire. Continue reading to see Sonic Perspective‘s top metal albums of 2021. For our favorite metalcore albums, click here. 

OUR TOP 15 METAL ALBUMS OF 2021

15. The Pretty Reckless – Death By Rock and Roll (Fearless Records)

The Pretty Reckless stormed through 2021 with their fourth studio album “Death By Rock and Roll,” their first output with Fearless Records. This record solidifies the band’s reputation as stunningly consistent, evolving their sound without abandoning the solid groundwork of their style. From rollicking choruses reminiscent of glam rock to carefully crafted riffs with a progressive flavor, this album is a solid heavy-hitter without a weak track in the bunch. Vocalist Taylor Momsen is still at the top of her game, and adds rich charismatic flair to each verse. “Death By Rock and Roll” serves as a strong addition to an already impressive discography. The grunge-infused ‘Only Love Can Save Me Now‘ which features Soundgarden‘s Matt Cameron & Kim Thayil and the poignant and somewhat comforting ‘Rock and Roll Heaven’ are worth the price of admission alone.

14. KK’s Priest – Sermons of the Sinner (EX1 Records)

This metallic debut packs modernity and nostalgia in equal measure, pulling talent from Judas Priest history for some serious creative and reputational weight. Handling vocal duties is one-time Halford replacement and de facto studio mercenary Tim “Ripper” Owens, while drummer Les Binks provided creative contributions. In storybook fashion, what K.K. Downing has accomplished here can be best understood as an extended love letter to heavy metal that will ring highly familiar to fans of classic era Judas Priest. It’s basically the sort of album that would have ingratiated more fans to Tim Owens’ mighty pipes being part of the Judas Priest family had it been released in place of the somewhat controversial 1997 nod to 90s groove metal “Jugulator,” and a solid display of metal magic that argues strongly in favor of two Priest projects co-existing in the current metal scene. Check out our full review at this location. 

13. Swallow the Sun – Moonflowers (Century Media Records)

Masters of melodic doom Swallow the Sun have returned with “Moonflowers,” an album drenched in both melancholy and grace. Driven by the deeply personal mourning of guitarist Juha Raivio, there is no shortage of opportunity to drink in the beautifully crafted agony across an additional full instrumental album and string arrangements by the group Trio N O X. If there were ever an example of artists pouring their hearts and souls into their art, it would be “Moonflowers” – not just with its sonic brilliance, but evident in the cover art painted with Raivio‘s own blood. A beautiful display of finding beauty in suffering, this album is the sort that seeps into the listener’s very bones and lingers like a chill. 

12. Angelus Apatrida – Angelus Apatrida (Century Media Records)

After a career spanning nearly two decades, Spain’s aggressive thrashers Angelus Apatrida have finally released their self-titled album “Angelus Apatrida.” If the band was looking to make a statement with this decision, they certainly succeeded: this is an album defined by brutality and speed, digging deep into all of the classic thrash staples. For all of the age and wisdom they have gained in their years, Angelus Apatrida remain committed to never compromising. The album never falters in its course, delivering listener breakneck speed, face-melting riffage, and unrelenting vigor without faltering. While there may be little experimentation from prior albums, and the band sticks close to the classic thrash template laid decades ago, it serves to feel like a homecoming to both longtime Angelus Apatrida fans and newcomers alike. Relive their brutal and most recent live-stream event with our chronicle of the night here.

11. Volbeat – Servant of the Mind (Republic Records)

Pop rock sensibilities communicated through a metallic bullhorn are the order of the day for Denmark’s Volbeat, but their eighth studio effort “Servant Of The Mind” still offers up plenty of surprises for even the most experienced of ears. The presence of former Anthrax lead guitarist and Bronx native Rob Caggiano adds a nice technical edge to the fold, particularly when they veer into thrash metal territory, and with the addition of  longtime drummer Jon Larsen and recently recruited bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen, this albums shows a finely tuned, hard rocking machine with a penchant for wandering clear off the map. Heck, ‘Shotgun Blues’ might be one of the songs we all listened the most during the year. Read our full review of the album here. 

10. Accept – Too Mean To Die (Nuclear Blast Records)

“Too Mean To Die” is the essential record to display Accept’s past and present colliding in spectacular fashion, providing enough crushing riffs, amazing guitar solos and catchy choruses to bang our heads and shake our fists in celebration of glorious heavy metal. The teutonic terror never slows down and double the stakes in a fun, powerful outing that stands among their greatest efforts. This is a record that benefits from having just the right amount of music: all killer and no filler, a perfectly balanced journey through Accept‘s metallic past, present, and perhaps even a taste of its future. Although Accept began its journey in 1976, “Too Mean to Die” is proof that they don’t plan on slowing down any time soon. Read our full review of the album here. 

9. Khemmis – Deceiver (Nuclear Blast Records)

One of the more curious phenomena to arise from the North American doom metal scene, Khemmis recaps their unique composite of nearly every variation within the sub-genre’s umbrella with their Nuclear Blast debut “Deceiver.” This album delivers a thought-provoking slab of slow dirges and contemplative laments that far exceeds the standard expectations of a doom-metal billing.  The contrast of an extremely gritty and dark instrumental attack with what could best be described as borderline angelic vocals is an interesting twist on a style that is generally not known for its pristine crooning, but cements Khemmis as a unique force among their contemporaries. Check out our thoughts on the album here. 

8. Exodus – Persona Non Grata (Nuclear Blast Records)

Long breaks in output can often signal a career that is winding down, but nothing could be further from the truth in the case of Bay Area thrash metal pioneers Exodus if the latest studio installment of their 40 years plus career is any indication. “Too Mean To Die” delivers a politically charged, adrenaline steeped, hour long sonic boot to the face of the competition. The thunderous battery of kit maestro and co-founder Tom Hunting lays the foundation with the precision of a master architect, while the raunchy and glassy bass work of Jack Gibson augments the highly percussive character of the arrangement and sits high in the mix. Keeping to the frenetic spirit that typified the sub-genre at its early 80s inception, this fold goes about their business with the level of speed and fury normally exhibited by bands half their age. Check out our review at this location. 

7. Todd LaTorre – Rejoice In The Suffering (Rat Pak Records)

Though best known for being the current vocalist of Seattle heavy metal icons Queensryche, Todd La Torre is an artist of many layers. With “Rejoice in the Suffering,” this Florida-born up and comer takes the metal world by storm with a brilliant solo offering that runs the gamut of just about every subset within the metallic spectrum. Those who have largely experienced La Torre’s voice through the medium of Queensryche’s newer albums and most recent tours will find a familiar, albeit very different experience here.  It’s prime cut for power and progressive metal fans who like their music dark, forbidding, and with a technical edge, but pretty much any red blooded metal head will find something to like here. Read the full review here. 

6.  Hypocrisy – Worship (Nuclear Blast Records)

Hypocrisy brings to the table some of the most thoughtful and intentional death metal to come out of 2021 while simultaneously crafting lyrical themes of humanity’s brush with extraterrestrial life. “Worship” is a portrait of ferocity and fury, with vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren bringing out some of his most inhuman growls to date. The riffs bring with them memorable melodic qualities, complimenting the consistent percussive groove that shows the near-decade of work put into the album’s creation. While “Worship” does not stray into the realm of adventure or experimentation, each note seems to speak to what listeners have long been craving. Commonly inspired by the fusion of the modern and the ancient, HYPOCRISY has once more found a way to combine innovative ideas with classic sound in order to deliver another brutally vigorous collection of metal anthems. 

5. At The Gates – The Nightmare of Being (Century Media Records)

Continuing the rebirth of the vintage melodic death metal sound, At The Gates unleashes a tidal wave of woeful melodies and biting metallic anthems to recapture the heart of the mid-1990s with “The Nightmare of Being.” Drawing upon the bleak and cold intellectual musings of modern misanthropic philosophy, this is an album that similarly maintains the classic underpinnings of the original Gothenburg sound, yet remains of a more nuanced character, often compartmentalizing its softer and harsher moments to build a sense of crescendo and release. The organic journey across each track builds a story that draws the listener in, satisfying them with every apex and conclusion. Check out our full review of the album here. 

4. Trivium – In The Court of the Dragon (Roadrunner Records)

Trivium most probably be the busiest metal band in the planet right now. These guys had a truly hectic 2021, defying the ‘pandemic times’ by putting out several live-stream events, plus releasing their second studio album in as many years. “In The Court of the Dragon” serves as a remarkable milestone from a quarter whose pedigree is now long-renowned in the metal community. Two decades of experience shine brilliantly in an record overflowing with ambition and creativity in equal measure, drawing from across the many plains of metal for a sound that is as captivating as it is distinct. Packed to the brim with fiery riffs, bombastic percussion, and an indescribable web of sonic influences, “In the Court of the Dragon” is perhaps one of Trivium’s most impressive offerings yet. Seasoned with decades of expertise, but no shortage of ambition, the flame of metal burns bright throughout this latest venture. Read our full dissection of the album at this location. 

3. Iron Maiden – Senjutsu (Parlophone Records / BMG)

There are few end-of-year lists neglecting the latest output from metal’s most famous name, and rightfully so: this is not a placement wrought from fame, but from continued skill. “Senjutsu” is many things, but above all it is brave, it is ambitious, it is unapologetic, and it is most definitely Iron Maiden. The length of the album gives listeners much to digest over repeated listens, allowing each of the carefully composed choruses and melodies to bond with the soul. “Senjutsu” is mature and thoughtful and tries a number of brave new things, while still knowing how to rock, keep up the tempo, deliver impressive guitar work, and write sections of songs that will get fists pumping at arena shows in tours to come. Check out the full review here. 

2. Gojira – Fortitude (Roadrunner Records)

“Fortitude”, the latest claw of ferocious Gojira, is a daring, defying, and provocative record full of aggressive, heavy, and technical moments that ingeniously converge with melodic hooks. The resulting output is a collection of anthemic tracks that seem to explode at the touch, and promise to set the stage afire in future live performances. This record continues in the same vein that the French behemoth has followed throughout its discography, in which its music constantly defies all categorization and typecasting. Furiously dynamic and unflinchingly ambitious, “Fortitude” skillfully tackles the environmentalist themes Gojira has long been known for while dipping into pure sonic darkness. Without an ounce of compromise, “Fortitude” takes a top spot as one of the year’s most unforgettable records. Read more of our thoughts here. 

1. Flotsam and Jetsam – Blood In The Water (AFM Records)

The metal masters from the hot Arizona desert have done it once again, this time around rightfully claiming the number one spot in our list of metal releases for 2021, with a blistering album, chock full of fast, heavy, neck breaking riffing and meaty hooks, crisp guitar solos; daunting bass lines, relentless, tight and almost insane drumming and the vocal delivery of one of the best ever singers in metal. From start to finish “Blood In The Water” is a more powerful and aggressive continuation of their exceptional release “The End Of Chaos“. Ambition brings unrelenting speed alongside thoughtful mid-tempo bangers, further illuminating Flotsam and Jetsam’s place in metal’s hallowed halls. Flotzilla only gets hungrier as years pass, and if this one doesn’t leave you tired, sweaty, with a broken neck and wanting for more, you definitely need to check your pulse! Read our metal album of the year full review here.

METAL COMEBACK ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Massacre – Resurgence (Nuclear Blast Records)

Massacre‘s history has been punctuated with periods of frustrated silence, with prior studio albums released in 1991, 1996, and 2014. The struggle to reform has finally culminated in “Resurgence,” as the band has reformed under the leadership of its now restored helmsman and a new contingent of British and Scandinavian veterans. From its earliest moments, this album goes to impressive lengths in creating an elaborate visual of a world of dread and mystique. Not even a hint of their many setbacks remain, as the music stands strong in and of itself. Nostalgia hounds will find a grand smorgasbord of decrepit death metal entrees here that will take them back 30 years plus in an instant, while the current generation will find something powerful enough to sink their ghoulish teeth into, so let all eat in moribund health. Read more on this historic comeback here. 

METAL LIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Armored Saint – Symbol of Salvation Live (Metal Blade Records)

Continuing the tradition of classics never getting old, California heavy metal trailblazers Armored Saint unveil treasures from the recent and more distant past, culminating in a riveting, 2018 live rendition of their acclaimed 1991 LP “Symbol Of Salvation” in its entirety and a smattering of lost treasures from the songwriting sessions of said album. The youthful vigor and fervor of this event would suggest a band in their 20s rather than their 50s, and when combined with the experience level that comes with more than 30 years bringing metal to the masses, culminates in a truly riveting experience in both the visual and auditory mediums. Between the thunderous roar of the rhythm section providing the foundation of each mighty anthem and the dueling six-string battles of Phil Sandoval and Jeff Duncan after the spirit of Adrian Smith and Dave Murray in their 80s prime, there isn’t a dull moment to be had. Check out a full review here. 

METAL EPs OF THE YEAR

Spirit Adrift – Forge Your Future (Century Media Records)

Keeping the metal end up in the continental United States, one of the more curious doom turned old school heavy metal projects from the southwest delivers a streamlined yet highly effective dose of metallic traditionalism that dovetails quite closely with the ongoing New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal craze. “Forge Your Future” splits the difference between the grandiose character of classic heavy metal entries and the more working class ideals of the rougher end of the NWOBHM almost evenly, leaving a fruitful foray through nostalgia with the benefits of modernity. While only consisting of three songs that culminate in just less than 20 minutes of music, Spirit Adrift nonetheless provide a highly expansive listening experience. Check out our thoughts on the EP here. 

Cirith Ungol – Half Past Human (Metal Blade Records)

Whether incidentally coinciding with said movements or inspired by them, the archaic and fantastical sounds of one of metal’s best kept secrets, namely Cirith Ungol, re-emerged following a mid-2010s reunion and culminated in a 2020 comeback in “Forever Black.” “Half Past Human” dredges up four forgotten odes to high fantasy, channeling the mystique of their 70s doom metal roots. It embodies elements of just about every blues-based and melodic variant of metal that has been enjoying a renaissance of late, and despite the technically archaic origins of the material itself, is very much a current powerhouse for the current day. Read the full review at this location.

If you are still here, and you are curious about our picks in some other genres, make sure to check out the lists below!

Our Favorite Metalcore Albums of 2021