Reports from the Underground: 2021 Albums of the Year

Tier 3: The Amazing

Now we get to “The Amazing” albums. In previous years, these would typically be the albums that scored either a 9/10 when it was reviewed or it would be scored at least a 9/10 by said reviewer if it were judged now in retrospect. However, I wanted to change it up a bit to give everyone fair representation; each reviewer (former writer Nick included) have singular choices for the next three pages, making “The Amazing” our decisive third favorite choices of 2021. I’d honestly consider these to either be criminally unknown, or modern prog classics.

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Moral Collapse – Moral Collapse (India)
Style: Technical Death Metal (harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Dan

This was a pleasant surprise! It comes off as almost a skronky, dissonant take on late-era Carcass. There’s squawky saxophone and highly unconventional violin, catchy vocal hooks (though honestly a tiny bit simplistic or repetitive at times), bright, clangy bass full of slapping and popping, high energy lead guitars, and rock-solid riffs. Combining some fairly well-worn stuff into a whole that feels refreshing is a tough feat to pull off, but these guys absolutely nail it. The songs meander through melodeath, skronk, blackened whatever, death’n’roll… all in an impressively natural way that’s never predictable, and never boring. They get a slight ding for fading out “Denier of Light,” but it’s still highly recommended if you’re bored by the massive swaths of safe, predictable death metal, yet still love what makes it death metal.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended Tracks: Suspension of Belief, Sculpting the Womb of Misery, Abandoned Rooms of Misspelled Agony
Recommended for fans of: Morbid Angel, Gorguts, Necrophagist, Carcass
You may also like: Sunless, Intonate, Diskord

Himmellegeme – Variola Vera  (Norway)
Style: Progressive rock (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Nick

Himmellegeme is a band who has sat in the back of my recommendations for forever, so when I found out that they were putting out another album I was excited to see what the hype was about and if it was deserved. Turns out, it absolutely is. This album is fucking fantastic full of psychedelic twinged prog rock. Songs like “Blowing Raspberries” have a kickass electronic pop twist to them while songs like “Let The Mother Burn” fall into an awesome experimental vibe that almost sounds like a mix between Radiohead, Everything Everything, and a bit of Pink Floyd. It’s seriously a wonderful album that I urge any fan of the more art rock side of prog rock to check out

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Blowing Raspberries, Let the Mother Burn, Heart Listening
Recommended for fans of: Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson, post-Fish Marillion
You May Also Like: Meer, Airbag, Glass Kites, Jerkyll

Subterranean Masquerade – Mountain Fever (Israel)
Style: Progressive Folk Rock/Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sam

This is a band that has held a special place in my heart ever since I saw them live in 2019 and the sheer energy they brought blew my socks off. This is their first outing I had the pleasure of reviewing since then. It’s hard describing this band without devolving into word and/or genre salad, but the core idea of their sound is fun. It doesn’t matter if it’s prog or folk or jazz or metal with this band, it always sounds joyous. It has its serious side for sure, but it never becomes heavy. Compared to their previous two outings, Mountain Fever has a more theatrical vibe, largely thanks to the change in vocalists (formerly Kjetil Nordhus of Green Carnation fame). Vidi’s eccentricities fit this band so well. Mountain Fever feels like the band finally found the sound they were destined to make. If they ever come to your area, make sure to catch their show.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Diaspora, My Love; Inwards, Ya Shema Evyonecha, Mangata, Mountain Fever
Recommended for fans of: Orphaned Land, Pain of Salvation
You may also like: OMB, Soul Enema, Exodus to Infinity

Kaupe – Cognitive Dissonance (US-FL)
Style: Classic Prog/Thrash (instrumental)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Dylan

Now this was quite a gem. Kaupe really took off a year where instrumental music reigned king over me, with an amazingly playful album that is a phenomenal display of musicianship whilst not forgetting how to write a great hook. An outstandingly delicious blend of classic prog chops with thrash thrown into the mix make the way this sounds immediately memorable, effectively getting over the hardest obstacle of an instrumental album which is not falling into “meh, ok studying music” category.

The songs are quite short but remain plenty progressive in their structure, effectively putting out multiple tracks that stick out to you like an arena rock chorus that you’ll only discover more layers in over time. Not only does this create multiple playlist worthy songs but also a seamless flow that gives this album a sense that it can be played just about at any time and you’ll find yourself deeply enjoying it. However you try to spin it, Cognitive Dissonance is an experience worth going through, as you’ll be unable to do anything but groove to this catchy and ambitious release that is absolutely one of the best albums of 2021.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Death Rattle, Cognitive Dissonance, Capsized
Recommended for fans of: Vektor, Ola Englund
You may also like: Canvas Solaris, Etrange, Step in Fluid, Essence of Datum

Acrylazea – A Cavalcade of Cosmic Calamity (USA)
Style: Avant-Garde Progressive Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Zach

If you don’t like this album, you hate fun. Plain and simple, I don’t make the rules. This isn’t the kind of avant-garde to make you cringe at the sound of five instruments dying. This is just the kind that’ll make your friends say “what the hell?”. But, if you aren’t singing along to this album after the second or third listen, you might want to get your pulse checked. So many catchy choruses and ear worm riffs that never sacrifice the weirdness that other avant-garde bands should take note. 

But, despite the silliness (and there’s plenty to be had), I was constantly in awe of Acrylazea’s musical ability. The amount of switch-ups and surprises this album has in store keeps me beyond entertained the whole time. Speaking of surprises, the many segways and interlude tracks elevate this album to a whole other level. Something I usually hate brought this album up at least half a point in my score. And c’mon, ‘Ichorrr’. Still makes me smile. 

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: The Terrible Tale of Dr. Heinzlmensch, Complex Delirium, Ship of Fools, Dead Charades and Masquerades, Ad Aeternus
Recommended for fans of: UneXpect, Solefald, Arcturu, Sigh, Akphaezya 
You may also like: öOoOoOoOoOo, Phonopaths, Vulture Industries, Exxperior

Ophidian I – Desolate (Iceland)
Style: Technical Death Metal (Harsh vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Mathis

Until recently I didn’t give a hoot about tech death, I thought that all of the bands sounded the same. There are still only a few bands that really stand out to me, and Ophidian I is one of them. They played a huge role in my newfound love for tech death, I am happy to announce it is no longer a phase. I very regularly listen to Desolate, it is addicting.

Why do I like this album more than other tech death albums? This one is super heavy and super fast, like most, but it has these crazy beautiful melodies that come outta nowhere. I always felt like music this heavy would be scary, but instead, I feel empowered, elated, and inspired. I honestly am not well versed enough in the genre to review the Desolate fully, but I can tell you this: it is not like other tech death I have heard.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Diamonds, Storm Aglow, Sequential Descent, Jupiter
Recommended for fans of: Gorod, Obscura, Spawn of Possession, Decrepit Birth
You May Also Like: Equipoise, Augury, Ominous Ruin

Altesia – Embryo (France)
Style: Prog Metal (clean vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Sabrina

Altesia brings home another prog metal classic. In contrast to their 2019 album Paragon Circus, their sophomore album Embryo revolves around the brighter side of humankind. We may be doomed by opening Pandora’s Box, but perhaps there is a way out through self-reflection, clarity of mind, and embracing love and empathy. This contrast is reflected in the album’s aesthetic choices, including its crystal-clear mix and production.

This album contains all that a prog fan can ask for: a plethora of genre-bending interludes including, jazz fusion, classic funk, djent, and stuff that sounds similar to oldies parlor music. I’m also thrilled to hear instrumental solo, after instrumental solo in this album with their guitars, synths, saxophone, accordion, and violin. All packed into an album that is still super cohesive and unified under one sound which is very impressive. Even more amazing is the album’s closing epic track “Exit Initia” which is Altesia’s magnum opus and can join the ranks of some of the genre’s signature tracks. All in all, this is a gift for fans of any of the mainstream prog metal bands: Haken, Dream Theater, Caligula’s Horse, Between the Buried and Me, Opeth, Riverside, Leprous, etc.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Exit Initia, Mouth of the Sky, A Liar’s Oath
Recommended for fans of: Haken, Caligula’s Horse, Riverside, Opeth, Leprous, Dream Theater
You may also like: Novena, Turbulence, Wine Guardian, Keor, Moon Machine

Zych – Dante’s Inferno Pt. I (USA)
Style: Prog Metal (mixed vocals)
Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify
Pick by: Will

I’ll go out on a limb and say that Dante’s Inferno Pt. 1 is likely to be the proggiest album to prog my (or anyone else’s) eardrums this month, if not this year! A massive conceptual undertaking from start to finish, it boasts excellent musicianship (from a whopping nineteen contributing artists), wonderful attention to detail and it’s hard to not admire the sheer ballsy-ness of embarking on a multiple part musical adaptation of Dante’s Inferno.

If you want an album to spin up and get some real storytelling with your music, this is for you. If you’re a fan of big, conceptual Ayreon-esque albums then this is for you. I’d confidently say that even if you aren’t a fan of classic prog, there’s something you can find to love in this album.

You can read the original review here.

Recommended tracks: Canto V (Lust), Canto IV (Limbo)
Recommended for fans of: Dream Theater, Haken, Ayreon, Symphony XYou may also like: Maestrick