Apologies for the delay, but we’ve got one hell of a lineup of metal albums from a jam packed February. This list includes everything from noise to tech death and classic stoner doom. Whatever your taste in metal, it’s on this list, now lets dive in.
Black Sheep Wall - Songs for the Enamel Queen
If you listen to one single metal album from the first quarter of 2021, it should be this one. Smashing together elements of post metal, sludge metal, and post hardcore, the Moorpark, CA based outfit has managed to do the unthinkable on this record. The lyrics are fierce, direct and potent, they often utilize repetition to drive messages home and in those repetitions they find a sickening heaviness that undergirds the overall themes of depression, fear and pessimism. With each spin I find something new to love about this record, and I’m confident you will too. But if you only listen to one track from this record, make it “Ren.”
Abiotic - Ikigai
As a big fan of tech death metal I’m always stoked when a good tech death band drops something. But the genre can tend to be a bit reductive at times. That’s not the case on Ikigai, which goes exactly as hard as you need this style of music to go, but then decides that it needs to go twice as hard. Of particular note is “Covered the Cold Earth” which bursts between manic verses and spoken word sections where almost all the instrumentation drops away. It’s a masterful use of sound and space. But when that silence ends, bring up your guard, because Abiotic will joyously beat you to death if you don’t.
Black Dresses - Forever in Your Heart
I’m playing a bit fast and loose with the definition of metal on this one, but I feel vindicated in doing so considering that Black Dresses’ Forever in Your Heart is among the heaviest things released this year. Combining elements of hyperpop, metal, and power electronics, Forever in Your Heart is a roller coaster ride of emotions, most of which are gloriously negative. But for all the negativity, there are flashes of hope and humour throughout the album, from the frontwoman complaining that there’s nowhere to spit in the studio, to the uplifting chorus of album opener “PEACESIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” this album has everything you could possibly want.
Svdestada - Azabache
Working in the exceedingly rare style of black ‘n’ roll, Svdestada’s Azabache is a rollicking record from start to finish. It feels purpose built for moshing at times, particularly on album highlight “Fuga” but it knows how to keep those black metal vocals and atmospherics close at hand. The resulting record is something I can’t wait to witness in person. What impresses most is their firm grasp on when to deploy the more abrasive elements of their songwriting and when to hold them back. It’s just really damn good, and you should check it out.
Fange - Pantocrator
Wow that album cover is disgusting, I absolutely love it. Working primarily in sludge metal, which is a rather unique choice for a band from France, they bring a suffocating heaviness to each of their tracks. The tones they use on the guitars are nearly as crushing as last year’s iconic record from Vous Autres, Sel de Pierre, but they implement a huge wave of electronics that keep the tracks from becoming too one note. This blistering combination will hang out in my ears for far longer than the super gross album cover will stay in front of my eyes.
For Your Health - In Spite Of
As a child born in the early ‘90s who spent most of the late aughts developing their music taste it should come as no surprise that the post-hardcore of groups like Fall of Troy and Dance Gavin Dance. For Your Health revitalizes the spirit of both of these bands, but especially the former. Chock full of manic riffs, panicked screams and just general insanity, this is one of my personal favorite albums of the year. It’s just an absolute trip that is sure to catch more than a few of you off guard.
Dopelord - Reality Dagger (EP)
After last year’s nigh-perfect Sign of the Devil, I’m just about ready to throw every Dopelord project on my year end list from now to eternity. While Reality Dagger isn’t quite as satisfying as the full length Sign of the Devil it still shows the group operating at the absolute pinnacle of stoner metal. Over 22 minutes of thick, soupy, chunky riffs, Dopelord tries their absolute best to give you a contact high. There’s a good chance they’ll pull it off.
Senyawa - Alkisah
Alkisah does some truly fantastical things with metal that I’ve never heard in my entire life. It’s almost difficult to discuss the album with how original and off the wall it is. It mostly focuses on repetitive patterns and Middle Eastern inspired chants and drum patterns, but adds in some off-the-wall sounds and enough forceful shouts to make you shit your pants and you’ve got one of the most confounding, and compelling, metal records of 2021.