Best Metal of April 2021
Dark Depressing Doom and Bright Depressing Post-Hardcore Abound
There was a moment where I was worried that April would end up being one of our weaker metal months. Luckily, my fears were quickly squashed by one of the best weeks in metal this year and a number of standout records sprinkled throughout the month. Here’re the highlights from April 2021.
The Armed - ULTRAPOP
Rarely are albums as aptly named as ULTRAPOP. This magnificent album blurs the boundaries between metal and pop in a similar, though less tongue in cheek, manner to Poppy’s excellent I Disagree from 2020. The resulting mixture has all of the bombastic fury of a metal or punk record, but it’s imbued with the bright, addictive structures of pop music. Normally, attempts at blending pop and metal would be met with derision from our cloistered corner of the internet, but The Armed manage to make every element complement another, resulting in a record that is more listenable, more fun, more aggressive and more enjoyable than just about anything else.
Hail the Sun - New Age Filth
If you’ve been bitten by the post-hardcore bug then Hail the Sun has you covered with New Age Filth. This record feels like S/T era Saosin was plucked from 2006 and dropped into 2021 with all the knowledge of how post-hardcore changed in the past 15 years. New Age Filth has all the bold emotions and flashy guitars that defined the previous era of post-hardcore, but cuts it with a modern sensibility and sound palette that pulls it away from the brink of juvenility. It’s nostalgia without the guilt and god does it sound good.
Zao - The Crimson Corridor
Anyone who hates on metalcore is simply lying to themselves for clout. Zao’s The Crimson Corridor is a perfect example of how metalcore can be made to sound just as heavy as other genres of metal without sacrificing enjoyability. The screams are rough and full throated, the guitars are flashy and perfectly toned, and the drums hit harder than an 18-wheeler. It’s a record custom built for moshing and I can’t wait to get my nose busted at a live show. That a band can still be pushing themselves to create such interesting music 28 years after their formation is nothing short of remarkable.
Tenue - Territorios
Normally I’m not a fan of single track albums. This album broke through that personal barrier with a sledgehammer. Across the 29 minutes on Territorios, Tenue exposes us to atmospheric black metal, thrash-inspired breakdowns and ambient electronics. As eclectic as it is, the whole track comes together wonderfully. Its monstrous dynamic range prevents the runtime from becoming an albatross and turns it into a spirit-shaking journey. It’s a masterclass in song construction that demands your attention. It’s also available as a pay what you want release on Bandcamp, so don’t miss out on it.
(NAME YOUR PRICE ON BANDCAMP)
BIG|BRAVE - Vital
What could I possibly say about BIG|BRAVE that I haven’t already? Vital encapsulates everything that makes this band so necessary while adding enough of a twist to their formula that longtime fans will be thrilled by it. Apocalyptic sounds rain down upon you from the opening notes, often so loud that they demand a reduction in volume no matter what you were previously enjoying. Folky sounding guitars drown in an ocean of feedback and distortion that have enough force to disorient even the bravest of listeners. The only way I can think to describe this album is as a sudden thunderstorm rolling across the plains, all you can do is wait for the funnel cloud.
Body Void - Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth
Monstrous, gargantuan, oceanic, titanic, monolithic, tectonic, mountainous, hulking, seismic, all manner of synonyms for “large” fall short of adequately describing the heft of Body Void’s Bury Me Beneath this Rotting Earth. It takes doom metal to a cosmic scale that threatens the foundations of the genre. Despite this continent-shaking sound, the four-track album never feels bogged down by all that weight. A calculated delivery of harsh vocals and well-timed shifts in song structure ensure that each second of this bone-crushing monstrosity is properly attended to by your eardrums. Don’t be surprised when this album spawns dozens of imitators and ends up as one of the defining doom metal releases of the 2020s.
Gojira - Fortitude
Before jumping into the actual album I just want to note that this album beat DJ Khaled for the number one spot this past week and that fills me with so much glee. Getting into the album, Gojira once again proves why they’re the premier metal act of the past decade. While they’ve toned down the fierce experimentation for a more people pleasing sound, it remains cutting edge. Even those who preferred the more ambitious sounds of prior albums are forced to recognize the magnificent way that Gojira have made metal appealing without selling out the core sound. There’s nothing not to like about this album. It’s all you could have wanted and more.
Neptunian Maximalism - Solar Drone Ceremony
Last year, Neptunian Maximalism shook our understanding of what metal could be with the fantastic Éons. With Solar Drone Ceremony they continue that redefinition of the boundaries of our sprawling scene. The single track album, consisting of a 52+ minute eponymous track, weaves through ambient music, atmospheric black metal, jazz, doom, and drone metal without skipping a beat. The lengthy, harrowing journey is made manageable by the addition of numerous unorthodox instruments and frequent changes in structure. Don’t put on this record expecting it to immediately appeal to you. It is not a delicious cocktail sipped by the poolside, but rather an ocean that washes over you until it tastes sweet.