Reports from the Underground: 2021 Albums of the Year

Tier 4: The Great

We aimed to have our active writers choose at least a couple of albums for this section. I told everyone to think about what stood out to you this year, and if you would give it an 8/10 now, write about as many albums to your heart’s content. I even got former writers Chris and Dylan to make their contributions; making me feel all nostalgic. Essentially, these were the albums that have a special connection to each one of us but fall somewhere outside of our top three choices which you’ll see are separated into three consecutive parts.

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Azure – Of Brine And Angel’s Beaks (UK)
Style: Prog Rock, Pop, Prog Metal (Clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Mathis

The past few years have been rough with what seems like a new tragedy every week, never-ending political strife, and the cherry on top is a worldwide pandemic. An escape from all of the despair was much needed. Azure‘s Of Brine And Angel’s Beaks really helped me lighten my heavy heart, which is strange considering their lyrical themes such as curses, mermaid murders, poisoning oneself, and creepier stuff.

What really brought me joy was the happy (sounding) music, I didn’t even realize how dark the stories were at first. Azure has this incredible way of making everything feel so weightless and gleeful even if it isn’t. If you are looking for something a little more poppy and fun Of Brine And Angel’s Beaks is a great choice, however, it is also a great choice if you are seeking something dark and fantastical. I prefer the music over the lyrics because it helped cheer me up when I was down in the dumps, but it’s still cool to see how the music contrasts what is being conveyed through the lyrics.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Outrun God, Cup Of Poison, The Jellyfish, Self-Crucifixion
Recommended for fans of: Yes, Ayreon
You May Also Like: Others By No One, Sonic Desolution, Artificial Silence

Rototypical – Volume I: The Tactician (USA)
Style: Whack Progressive Metal (mixed vocals) 
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify 
Pick by: Zach

If there was ever a proggiest band name/album title to ever prog, it would progably (sorry) be this one. All I’m saying is I’d be shocked if you told me this band played atmoblack. I did all my praising of Rototypical in my original review, so I gotta make fun of them a little bit here. This album is completely insane from a compositional standpoint. These guys play a similar strain of insane-prog like their contemporaries and clear influences, BTBAM, but with a bit more melody involved. Now, that’s not to say BTBAM aren’t melodic when they want to be, but there’s a bit less chaos.

Rototypical have riffs they ride throughout the songs. They know that a switch up every five bars gets annoying to some, and know when they have a great riff to stick to. And when they reprise riffs, it’s even cooler. There’s some real theatricality to this album, and I’m not just talking about slapping some strings and clean vocals on it and calling it a day. I’m talking real grandiosity in the song structure, beautiful flourishes and calmer moments in contrast. My only gripe is they wear their influences on their sleeve, and I’d like to hear them experiment more in Volume II. 

You can read the original review here

Recommended tracks: Cyclic: Bereft to Sodden, the entire Honir suite, Lunacy 
Recommended for fans of: Between the Buried and Me, Native Construct, Protest the Hero, Haken riffs 
You may also like: A Novelist, Cryptodira, Cyborg Octopus, Replacire, Chronicles

Others By No One – Book II: Where Stories Come From (US-OH)
Style: Prog Metal, Rock Opera, Avant Garde Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sabrina

Book II: Where Stories Come From is a highly anticipated, and it seems, a highly controversial album. It’s in the same camp of Edge of Reality, Native Construct, and even Empath by Devin Townsend; this album excels in many of the same areas, but conversely, is cursed with many of the same downfalls. This is an album that is incredibly zany, creative, teeming with ideas, vastly unpredictable, and even something demonstrably unique. This is exemplified by the fact that this utilizes at least 12 different instruments, including a kazoo, and 14 vocalists. However, for many, this is an album that is un-tastefully incoherent, unfocused, and lacks overall unity. I fully empathize with where people are coming from with this point.

So, why is this here? There is plenty to appreciate here in terms of mechanical value and quality songwriting, albeit in pieces. There are vocal choruses on this album that do take a bit to simmer up to and when they hit, they send you spiraling in emotional awe. This is excellently mixed and well-produced in a modern and polished way. And finally, there are a ton of very standout, and memorable melodies and hard-hitting climaxes on this thing that I can see becoming iconic. If only the band kept strong during the second half and tempered their sense of restraint more, this could have been an album for the books. 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: A Reverie to Quell the Giants, Right Side of the Brain
Recommended for fans of: Devin Townsend, Native Construct, Pink Floyd, SikTh, Between the Buried and Me
You may also like: Edge of Reality, Artificial Silence, The World is Quiet Here

Ad Nauseam – Imperative Imperceptible Impulse (Italy)
Style: Dissonant Technical Death Metal (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp
Pick by: Dan

Ad Nauseam writes dense, angular, dissonant death metal, in the vein of their influences and those they have influenced, but with an exceptionally skillful flair. The compositions weave in and out of hypnotic focus, with a decent balance between vocal-based passages and instrumental. They pace their riffs well, with excellent mastery of dynamics and album flow. They’re not afraid to completely destructure their hellish soundscapes into oppressive ambiance. Transitions and many sections are designed to be subtly manipulative – rhythmic hiccups and changeups coming in a beat early – showing some really thoughtful songwriting, in addition to the wild, skronky, squawky fretwork.

The production is unbelievably full of life and energy, truly standing heads and shoulders above others in the genre. The sharp-edged guitar tones are all well-suited to their parts and cut through in a deliciously filthy way. The bass is simultaneously clangy and rumbly, fitting the mix well. And while the lengthy compositions each cover tremendously varied ground in skillful arrangements with excellent dynamics, the jarring and atonal riffs don’t give the listener much to grab into during the whole wild ride. It’s a barrage of aural pyrotechnics that keeps you hostage for its duration, clinging on for dear life to anything you can find. For those listeners who resonate with this style of music, this is just about as good as it gets, but for those uninitiated, be warned – it’s not for the faint of heart! 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Sub Specie Aeternitatis, Horror Vacui, Human Interface To No God
Recommended for fans of: Ulcerate, Deathspell Omega, Gorguts
You may also like: Sunless, Noctambulist, Acausal Intrusion

Diagonal – 4 (UK)
Style: Progressive Space Rock (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Will

Boasting a rich, ‘70s tone and feel, Diagonal’s 2021 album 4 is a real treat especially considering the band releases albums at about the same frequency as Halley’s Comet!

Albums like 4 make it worth the wait, though. The album feels like a natural progression from Diagonal’s previous album, Arc, but forges its own distinct identity; bringing together elements of space-rock, post-rock, and classic prog together in a truly intoxicating mixture. The individual tracks on the album distinguish themselves with a unique character: space-rocky “Amon”, jazz-infused “Chroma”, and 70s prog anthem “Spinning array”. Some of the more experimental songs like “Totem”, which feature wordless ‘lyrics’ are genuinely fascinating to listen to as well as, simply, a dreamy experience.

From gorgeous album art to prog-infused space jams that border on the sublime, 4 has been the go-to chill-out album of 2021 for me and long may it continue.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Amon, Totem
Recommended for fans of: Hawkwind, Liar, Rush, Jethro Tull, Explosions in the Sky, Amon Düül II, Mogwai
You may also like: SE:UM (for the eclectic blend of jazz and eastern instruments), Acid Mothers Temple

Massen – Contraesthetic (Belarus)
Style: Progressive Black/Folk Metal (mixed, Belarusian male/female vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sam

I rarely get blown away by an album by sampling alone. In fact, it only happened twice. Once for Karma Rassa in 2018 and now for Massen in 2021. I was so blown away I bought the CD before the first real song was over. The combination of vile, aggressive riffs and swelling violin leads with emotive clean vocals blew my socks off. The songs are punchy as they are beautiful, with well-paced harsh-soft dynamics to keep you on your toes. If not for the obscenely loud mastering and somewhat awkward flow this would have been way higher up. Massen did an outstanding job with this one. Congrats.

[Also I should make a clarification about the sketchiness of this band, which I have made various claims about in the past. This band went under the previous moniker of Massenhinrichting, German for ‘mass execution’. They released on labels that also released NSBM, but there is nothing sketch from the band themselves. The band name signifies their lyrical themes of war, death, natural disasters, etc. It’s in German because it sounds cool. Furthermore, their current label Apostasy Records has a strict no-NSBM policy, so you can safely assume they are not nazis.]

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Cold Clouds, By Water to the Sun, Contraesthetics Pt. 1
Recommended for fans of: Ne Obliviscaris, Ensiferum, Arkona, Moonsorrow
You may also like: Windfaerer, In Human Form, Juodvarnis

Iotunn – Access All Worlds (Denmark)
Style: Melodic Death Metal, Power Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sabrina

If you are an active reader on this website, then you will most likely have already heard about this album as it was sort of like a beacon in the darkness during the beginning of 2021. But for those who do not know, Iotunn is a progressive metal band that combines the epicness of melodeath and power metal, sending the listener through a journey through space and the meaninglessness of existence. Yeah, this is simultaneously a triumphant, and melancholic album.

The formula that they seem to have is a brooding combination of saturated melodeath guitars and endless double bass drums which lead to big climaxes with the vocalist’s hypnotizing voice. Honestly, when they pull this off, they do it well. Similar to other albums in this prog-death space exploration area (cough cough Iapetus), the 10+ minute length of some of these songs with repetitive instrumentals may understandably bore some people. If I were to make some requests for Iotunn‘s sophomore album it would be to condense the more atmospheric tracks, and possibly raise the bass and drums in the mix.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: The Tower of Cosmic Nihility, Voyage of the Garganey I, The Weaver System
Recommended for fans of: Insomnium, Barren Earth, Borknagar, Wintersun
You may also like: Far Beyond, Iapetus, Athemon, The Advent Equation, Shylmagoghnar

Grace Hayhurst – Existence is Temporary (United Kingdom)
Style: atmo-sludge (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Dylan

In what was a year where I found little inspiration to consistently write/care about music, Grace Hayhurst’s debut managed to spark that passion inside of me with its ambitious musicianship and intricate songwriting. The atmosphere in this release is nigh-immediately captivating, with a lovely balance of destructive aggression in its riffs accompanied by a heavy dose of Steven WIlson inspired keyboard sections.

This two-ingredient formula carries the EP’s runtime expertly, add in an amazing spoken interlude to give meaning to the instrumentation’s balance and you’ve got a release that transmits a plethora of emotion without resorting to many words. I can only hope that we get a new release from Grace sooner than later, where all these insanely promising aspects are fleshed out to its full potential.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Negative Incline, The Search for Purpose
Recommended for fans of: Mastodon, Steven Wilson, Toska
You may also like: Dawn to Come, Giant’s Knife

Von Citizen – Outlier (China)
Style: Jazz Fusion, Prog Metal, Djent (Instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Mathis

Von Citizen is a new instrumental band out of China with no strict style… yet. Outlier is an absolutely awesome amalgamation of a plethora of instrumental styles from renowned acts like Plini, Animals As Leaders, David Maxim Micic, and plenty more. If you are a fan of Instrumental Djazz then do yourself a favor and check these guys out. I’m hoping they develop their sound a little more over time, but even if they don’t I am for sure going to keep track of these guys!

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Bliss, Flint, Turritopsis
Recommended for fans of: Arch Echo, Plini, Animals As Leaders
You May Also Like: Step In Fluid, Kinglet, PIXL, Chronologist

Athemon – Athemon (Brazil)
Style: Progressive Doom Metal (mostly clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Zach

This album can be summed up in one word. Massive. Absolutely fucking colossal. The biggest riffs I’ve heard all year. All the crushing atmosphere of doom and all the complexities and experimentation of prog. For those of you who haven’t been treated to this goliath of an album, my ears both pity you and envy you. This is prog-doom in the sense that I’ve never seen it before. Instead of fuzzy riffs in 7/4, it feels like a doom metal album with modern prog production and sensibilities. 

This is, without a doubt, one of my favorite doom metal albums of all time. Each listen has usurped classics that I’ve listened to for years on the doom hierarchy. This is just proof that prog doesn’t need to be a mile a minute shreds to be amazing music. My smallest nitpick is the last three tracks should’ve been condensed into one fourteen minute behemoth, but that’s just about it. This album is amazing, go get crushed by those riffs. 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Whispers, Seeds of Change, Different From What I Was Missing, I Voice of Mine 
Recommended for fans of: Candlemass, Nevermore, Saint Vitus, Howling Sycamore, Haken’s bass
You may also like: IOTUNN, Loch Vostok, Silver Talon

Overtoun – This Darkness Feels Alive (Chile)
Style: Old School Death Metal, Thrash Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sabrina

Back when we were cramming to get our “July Albums of the Month” post out, I felt like I needed to squeeze this album in because what I had heard from it appealed to me on an uncanny level. So much of it reminds me of a South American version of Death’s Symbolic; except better produced, more progressive, just as dark, and with the same quality of riffage. If you look back at my original review, you’ll see that I essentially couldn’t stop gushing about this thing.

I especially love how much content is packed into this without it resulting in a superfluous and bloated product. Every minute is utilized for a diverse variety of strong riffs, and guitar solos that really go outside the box. This takes the formula of progressive OSDM and brings it to the next level with its admirable, but subtle, creativity. This young band has made something really genuine, detailed, full of passion and energy, and I cannot recommend this enough for fans of progressive old-school death metal bands. 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Pitch-Black, Underneath, Alone, Humanity, Toxin
Recommended for fans of: Death, Revocation, Obituary, Sepultura, Atheist
You may also like: Contrarian, Paranorm, Siderean

Stone Healer – Conquistador (USA)
Style: Progressive Death Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Dan

This is a lovely and fresh blend of vaguely grunge-inspired, twisting, blackened, progressive as fuck death metal. Their influences, particularly that of Opeth, do tend to shine through a bit more obviously than a more mature effort’s might, but that’s a minor nitpick on an otherwise phenomenal album. The meandering mindfuck of these two brothers’ blackened bits is among the most satisfying journeys this side of Krallice, and when paired with massive dynamics and meaningful clean passages, it really hits home. The songwriting is outstanding, and the excellent production includes some clanky bass and really nice acoustic layers. I wish a few sections of the vocals were just a bit stronger, but overall, this is a noteworthy blend of styles, and executed quite well.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: One Whisper, Surrender, Until My Will is Gone, Into The Spoke of Night
Recommended for fans of: The deranged spawn of Opeth, Alice in Chains, Bask, and Krallice
You may also like: No Living Witness, Growth, Dessiderium

Prognostication – Collapse (US-MO)
Style: Progressive/Technical Death Metal (mixed vocals)
Related Links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Chris

I started the original review of Collapse lamenting how annoyingly stale newer technical death releases have been (outside of some gems I found by reviewing here). Collapse is one of those rare breaths of fresh air in a suffocatingly self-repeating genre, marked by its love affair with Native Construct or similar style jazzy, melodic sections sprinkled all over the place. While Collapse no doubt pays homage to its tech roots and demeanor with the growls, angular riffs, and ever moving drums, it gives ample time to sections of breathing room where the album really shines. All the tech death records have riffs, that’s not going to really set you apart unless it’s just completely insane. Instead, not being afraid to have some melody and lightness coupled with such riffing is really what made this one of the things I revisited the most this year. Are there some production misfires? Sure, but the great writing and performance underneath shines through any muddiness in that department. Check this out if you like a little jazzy melody as a side to your tech-death entree.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Contort, Eclipse, Voyage
Recommended for fans of: Native Construct, Obscura, Between the Buried and Me
You may also like: Dessiderium, Rototypical

Exodus to Infinity – Archetype Asylum (US-MI)
Style: Whack Prog Rock (clean vocals)
Related links: Spotify
Pick by: Sam

You thought Daniel Gildenlow rapping in Scarsick was a bad idea huh? Well this band is paying homage to that. It’s an example of the many bad ideas present on this album. Nothing here makes sense on paper, but somehow, it comes together in a way that does. I found this album later in the year despite being released in January and I’m very glad I did because it’s amazing. This is a whack as hell genre bending masterclass of an album that somehow is made by only one person. It goes from Iron Maiden to klezmer to Pain of Salvation to 80s disco and more, all while keeping the songs tight and grounded, somehow. This album seriously blew my mind, and if you have any love for fun music, check it out.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: King Other, The Body (…), Right Now
Recommended for fans of: Native Construct, whack Pain of Salvation, Cardiacs, Mr. Bungle, fun things in general
You May Also Like: Others by No One, Vladimir Bozar, Troldhaugen, 6:33

Bloomcore – Conduit (Australia)
Style: Post/Atmospheric (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify

Pick by: Dylan

Bloomcore was an unexpected gem that I found in a forum that tries to highlight great prog artists that aren’t quite rock or metal. And yeah, let’s just say Conduit is a tough one to describe. I’d say it is defined by a sense of continuous flow, an intricate usage of “sonic space” and silence to further add to the atmosphere, and conventional instruments that constantly change their tone/vibe due to this EP being mostly electronic (a.k.a programmed/recorded directly to computer feed) meaning the way it sounds is easily changed around to the artists’ liking. 

What this creates is a cinematic experience that is absolutely a joy to listen to. A perfectly paced, chilled out adventure that takes us through musical landscapes worthy of accompanying with a car ride into the sunset, or a journey through the mountains.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Wonderflow, Projections Fatigue, Pollinated Stardust
Recommended for fans of: Mogwai, The Mars Volta (Octahedron era)
You may also like: Pothamus

Syncatto – A Place to Breath (US-CA)
Style: Prog Rock/Metal, Latin Acoustic (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sebastian

For those who are fans of Artificial Language and have not yet listened to Syncatto, I don’t know what you’ve been doing. This is Charlie Robbin’s solo project, where he lets his ideas run a little looser than his guitar work in something like Now We Sleep. However, what I love in Artificial Language is all still here: short, sugary-sweet, catchy songs with sharp progressive/djent/neoclassical riffs. Seriously, some of these songs are straight-up earworms. And you’ve got to admire both the technicality of his musicianship and the level of restraint he has in writing short but effective songs. I think Syncatto has been stacking up to be able to compete with some of the great instruDjental solo artists like Plini and David Maxim Micic. If you like instrumental prog metal solo artists, this is definitely something to check out.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Let Us Dance, Up & Down, Red Velvet
Recommended for fans of: Artificial Language, Plini, David Maxim Micic, Jakub Zytecki
You May Also Like: Hecla, Thrailkill, Cody Clegg

Epiphanic Truth – Dark Triad: Bitter Psalms To A Sordid Species (UK)
Style: Avant-Garde/Post-Metal/Experimental (mixed vocals, mostly harsh)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Chris 

One of the more obtuse and dense records I listened to this year, Dark Triads is a well textured example of blending the avant and post metal styles while still allowing for some heavier times along the way. Great usage of repetition (as is the staple of post metal!) without falling into boring or overbearing territory helps this record maintain a sense of relatability throughout despite the avant tag. Most songs have that fun blend of skip through the song and you will have no idea how you got anywhere, but listen to the whole thing and everything makes perfect sense in the moment. It’s definitely a bit tough to digest and wade through, but each time I did I appreciated it more. Plus, who doesn’t love a 22 minute song every now and then?

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: An Inescapable Verdict
Recommended for fans of: Enslaved, Oranssi Pazuzu, Akercocke
You may also like: maudlin of the Well, Will’s Dissolve

Polars Collide – Grotesque (Denmark)
Style: Groove Metal, Technical Death Metal, Djent (mixed vocals)
Related links: Spotify
Pick by: Sabrina

I understand that this may be my most controversial pick as far as album of the year contenders go, however, this is one that I felt I needed to be talked more about. Polars Collide concoct their sound out of heavy chugs and wicked gutturals akin to Meshuggah, Lamb of God, and Gojira (think Terra Incognita) as well as progressive, technical riffs from extreme prog influences like Opeth and Death to form something worthy of interest.

The general vibes that this album gives off from the sinister instrumentals and tongue-in-cheek lyrics is something that is exaggeratedly dark and eldritch but in a self-aware manner that makes it kind of comical. This band has a long way to go for them to surpass their idols but from the creativity in their riff-writing, song structures, unpredictable build-ups, and overall passion and energy, I believe they have a lot of potential. Moving forward, sharpening up their instrumental skills, implementing polyrhythms, and paying for a professional mix and master of future albums would go a long way.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Cancer, Spider and Fly, Rejected
Recommended for fans of: Meshuggah, Lamb of God, Gojira, Sepultura, Decapitated
You May Also Like: At Odds, Intercepting Pattern, Khabal