Distorted Sound’s Albums Of The Year 2021…So Far

When 2020 kicked off, few would anticipate what the next 16 months would have in store. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon wave after wave of decimation to all facets of our society but it can be argued that the most severe casualty was the arts. With live music and international touring at a standstill due to the virus sweeping across the world, music fans suddenly had a huge gaping hole. Flash forward to the here and now and whilst things are certainly getting better, the pandemic is not over just yet. Luckily, to comfort us through these dark times is music. Yes, there might not have been the buzz from amplified noise, but the studio releases we’ve been treated to in 2021 has been utterly sublime. As we enter the second half of 2021 with what seems to be better days ahead, the Distorted Sound team take a look at what albums have stood out the most for us. This is Distorted Sound‘s Albums Of The Year 2021…so far.

James Weaver – Founder & Editor-in-Chief

When we look back at the past 16 months, we will remember it as a time of great turmoil, stress and anxiety. The pandemic has changed life as we know it and without the comfort of live music, for us music fans, these times have been brutally challenging. Fortunately though, the quality of releases from our world has been utterly sublime. The first half of 2021 has never stopped delivering the goods, with every sub-genre and distinct styling of heavy music producing stellar releases. From HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY to HOLDING ABSENCE, CRYPTS OF DESPAIR to URNE, heavy music has never been as strong as it is right now. And with a bumper batch of records on the horizon, there has never been a more prime time to be a fan of music.

1. Harakiri For The Sky – Mære
2. Crypts Of Despair – All Light Swallowed
3. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
4. Alustrium – A Monument To Silence
5. Celestial Sanctuary – Soul Diminished

Jessica Howkins – Deputy Editor & Editor-in-Chief of Distorted Sound New Blood

The past year and a half has been a mighty struggle getting by without live music to soothe our hearts. We saw the cancelling of tours, festivals, even the almighty music event Eurovision. When record releases started getting pushed back as well, it started feeling unbearable. What do you do when your whole life revolves around music and it starts to fall between your fingers? Well, thankfully most artists sat at home with nothing to do other than write and now 2021 is mending the hearts of music lovers once again with some of the most incredible albums we have seen in a long time. Here is to the light at the end of the darkest tunnel music has ever endured.

1. Alustrium – A Monument To Silence
2. Vexed – Culling Culture
3. Noctule – Wretched Abyss
4. Gojira – Fortitude
5. Seth – La Morsure du Christ

Fraser Wilson – Deputy Editor and Heavy Music History Editor 

The first half of 2021 has been a belter. In the wake of ruined release plans and pandemic-induced writing sessions from 2020, stellar albums have been coming thick and fast for the last six months – and things look set to boom even harder as the year progresses. Perhaps most exciting from an extreme metal point of view is the ever-fantastic old-school death metal revival. Unlike the retro-thrash explosion of the mid 2000s, there looks to be no sign of burn-out. Equally, the black metal scene is more exciting than ever just now, with legions upon legions of quality flying out on both an underground and more mainstream level. Viva brutality.

1. Wode – Burn In Many Mirrors
2. Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined
3. King of Asgard – Svartrviðr
4. Bewitcher – Cursed Be Thy Kingdom
5. At The Gates – The Nightmare of Being

Kris Pugh – Album Review Editor

Theoretically, every year is a good year for alternative music. Even the more barren years of the early 2010’s gave us MASTODON’s The Hunter, PARKWAY DRIVE’s Deep Blue, and The Blackest Beautiful by LETLIVE.. But it seems like a long time since a collection of heavy hitters as well as new blood frontiers have pushed metal to the heights it has hit in 2021. New death metal acts like CELESTIAL SANCTUARY and GATECREEPER pushed themselves to the forefront, and black metal sounds safe in the hands of WODE. At the same time – CANNIBAL CORPSE proved their legendary status, and RISE AGAINST returned to glory. Alternative music is moving from strength to strength, it’s been a while since it was this exciting to be on board.

1. Gojira – Fortitude
2. Teenage Wrist – Earth Is A Black Hole
3. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
4. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
5. Urne – Serpent & Spirit

Ellis Heasley – Assistant Album Review Editor

As much as we probably all hoped we’d have spent a little more time outside by now, at least 2021 has provided us with a tonne of great albums to keep us occupied. Plenty of up and comers have delivered on their potential in spades, while big dogs like GOJIRA have returned to remind us just what put them at the top of our scene in the first place. All the while, from the triumphant return of ARAB STRAP, to the stunning new album from BACKXWASH, the boundaries for gripping and forward-thinking alternative music seem to be pushed ever further.

1. Arab Strap – As Days Get Dark
2. For Your Health – In Spite Of
3. Backxwash – I Lie Here Buried With My Rings And My Dresses
4. Dvne – Etemen Ænka
5. Gojira – Fortitude

Laura McCarthy – Introducing Editor 

It’s already been an outstanding year for alternative music, not least when you consider the setbacks following on from last year. There’s been a huge variety of experimentation and boundary pushing in all genres; some revelling in extremes, others going to places you never thought they would. Many have put out their best work to date, and it’s very encouraging seeing the quality of releases only half way through the year. Music thus far in 2021 has had some real high points, in a year where we all need to keep reminding everyone that the music community still matters.

1. VOLA – Witness
2. Boss Keloid – Family the Smiling Thrush
3. Dvne – Etemen Ænka
4. Kamanjakah – A Book About Itself
5. Erra – Erra

Dan McHugh – Assistant Introducing Editor

Even though the world still feels like it is upside down we’ve been blessed by some incredible releases thus far and the great thing is we still have so much to look forward to. From newcomers to the old faithful there has been plenty to sink our teeth into and I don’t envy anyone having to compile an end of year list. The bar just keeps getting raised to even higher standards and I can’t wait to see what the remainder of 2021 has in store for us!

1. Interloper – Search Party
2. Fractal Universe – The Impassable Horizon
3. Beartooth – Below
4. Harakiri For The Sky – Maere
5. Osiah – Loss

Will Marshall – Assistant Introducing Editor 

To say it’s been a turbulent year and a bit would be an understatement. But as has been noted many, many times, the best art can come from the worst of times. Heavy music is arguably in a golden age right now; last year saw some incredible releases and this year is set to be no different with some truly stellar releases already across the genre spectrum. From epic, soaring black metal to uplifting proggy weirdness and all the way to life-affirming, cathartic metalcore, 2021 is already a special year – here’s five releases you better not have slept on.

1. Boss Keloid – Family The Smiling Thrush
2. Pupil Slicer – Mirrors
3. Noctule – Wretched Abyss
4. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
5. Vexed – Culling Culture

Sabrina Ramdoyal – Photography

The world is gently showing signs of healing. Whether they’re major-league or just the average underground act, you cannot help but celebrate the strong sounds embracing their expansive creativity to the listeners. Heavy music has not only done more than just deliver on new material, but it has also stepped up to the podium delivering transcendent value. Seeing furthermore for women, POCs and other communities breaking down barriers, it continues to embrace support and change to our ever-evolving atmosphere. Live shows are slowly coming back and we’re all living for it!

1. Seth – La Morsure Du Christ
2. Enforced – Kill Grid
3. Wardruna – Kvitravn
4. Gojira – Fortitute
5. Tribulation – Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

Sophie Maughan – Writer

With the exception of the Download Pilot, the first half of 2021 has been pretty fucking bleak for us music fanatics. There has however, been a shining light amongst the interminable gloom – and that’s been the albums we’ve had lovingly bestowed upon us so far this year. From records that offered up bowel cleansing brutality and blackened symphonic bombast, to multifaceted tech-death served with a side of soul-searching prog. Not to mention the stunning return of the godfathers of Swedish melodic death metal. I struggled to pick just five filthy cuts – god help me when December rolls around!

1. Depths of Hatred – Inheritance
2. At The Gates – The Nightmare Of Being
3. Mental Cruelty – A Hill To Die Upon
4. Brand of Sacrifice – Lifeblood
5. Abiotic – Ikigai

Daniel Fella – Writer

2021, wow. We’ve barely reached the mid-point, and already we are caught in a swell of new music so prolific, it feels impossible to divulge. Regardless of your individual tastes and interests, this year has already produced countless records that will live long in our psyche, and be remembered for years to come. ‘Album of the year’ lists are always painstaking to muster, but never have I struggled so much to whittle down my favourites after only six months. After such an atrocious 18 months, this should be a timely reminder that music has seen us through. It truly is a miracle drug.

1. Arlo Parks – Collapsed In Sunbeams
2. Baulta – Another Second Chance
3. Bruit – The Machine Is Burning And Now Everyone Knows It Could Happen Again
4. Dvne – Etemen Ænka
5. Humanity’s Last Breath – Välde

Graham Ray – Writer 

2020 was tough for bands. Not knowing whether to delay releases or even start something fresh but halfway through 2021, you can see that there may be a light at the tunnel and they’ve discovered that you must keep bringing the content in any way shape or form if you can. It’s incredibly impressive how many impressive debut records have turned up during the course of the pandemic (two of my five are debuts) especially with the world and music industry in such a volatile state. It’s also great to see the rebirth of deathcore with Unique Leader Records smashing every release so far this year. It’s been a wild first half with the second looking to be even more spectacular!

1. Boss Keloid – Family The Smiling Thrush
2. Brand Of Sacrifice – Lifeblood
3. Amenra – De Doorn
4. Celestial Sanctuary – Soul Diminished
5. Urne – Serpent & Spirit

Jack Moar – Writer

Art reflects the world around it. The music we have heard in first half of 2021 has been gestated in one of the most tumultuous periods in living memory. As isolation and loneliness have slowly given way to the steady exhaustion of uncertainty, it is no wonder that heavy music finds itself painted in weltschmerz. Listen closely though, and you can hear an urgent quivering for change in these albums; an acknowledgment of our circumstances, and a refusal to yield to them. Except for DARKTHRONE. DARKTHRONE are still doing their thing.

1. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – G-d’s Pee AT STATE’S END
2. Amenra – De Doorn
3. Bossk – Migration
4. Darkthrone – Eternal Hails……
5. BIG BRAVE – Vital

Sean Hubbard – Writer

From metalcore, to shoegaze, and even ultrapop, 2021 has been a corker of a year so far on the album front. With titans like GOJIRA, ARCHITECTS and CULT OF LUNA following their consistent trend of excellence with new offerings, whilst smaller bands are shining too. TEENAGE WRIST have one of the most fun sounds on offer today, big riffs and catchy choruses make Earth Is A Black Hole a solid contender. But it’s the sheer insanity of THE ARMED with ULTRAPOP that is easily the most exciting release of the year so far, practically creating an entire genre that spans from mathcore to pop.

1. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
2. The Armed – ULTRAPOP
3. Teenage Wrist – Earth Is A Black Hole
4. Gojira – Fortitude
5. Cult Of Luna – The Raging River

Naomi Sanders – Writer

Rock and metal has once again evolved and progressed so much, even within the six months that this year has shown. Despite the absence of live music still, the albums and EPs of this year showcased the immense amount of talent between many musicians, big and small, within all the sub-genres of rock and metal. It’s certainly an exciting time to be involved with the alternative genres of music that’s so diverse and accepting of everything different and new to the sound. So much about heavy music is changing and evolving, that 2021 encompasses this exciting time for rock and metal.

1. Lovehoney – Lovehoney
2. Diamante – American Dream
3. Crypta – Echoes of the Soul
4. Delilah Bon – Delilah Bon
5. Burning Witches – The Witch of the North

Matthew Tilt – Writer 

Despite thinking that NAPALM DEATH went a little too prog rock when they stopped writing one-second songs, my 2021 has been dominated by longer, but no less punishing, albums. It’s a welcome break from sitting with my own chaotic, discordant, 100mph thoughts. Perhaps turning 31 this year has matured me. Nah that can’t be it. The more likely reason is that we have seen some of the most inventive, beautiful, albums released in the first six months of 2021. It’s a good omen for the rest of the year, enough even to make a grouchy old bastard like me a little optimistic.

1. Divide And Dissolve – Gas Lit, Divide and Dissolve
2. The Body – I’ve Seen All I Need To See, The Body
3. World Peace – Come And See
4. Death Goals – The Horrible And The Miserable
5. Body Void – Bury Me Beneath This Rotting Earth

Kris Kielich – Writer 

2021 has already been a massive year for heavy music and some of the most anticipated releases are yet to come. SPIRITBOX, JINJER, DYING WISH, HOODED MENACE, ALIEN WEAPONRY (hopefully UNTO OTHERS) and so many more have records to come, and there are sure to be an abundance of surprises on par with the likes of what we’ve already gotten this year: an incredible new song from TRIVIUM and some of the finest MACHINE HEAD material in years for example. There’s been more inclusion, awareness and presence than ever before from bands with all races, sexual orientations, and genders this year in metal and rock, and I can only hope this trend continues onwards and upwards to close out the year and into the future!

1. Gojira – Fortitude
2. Vexed – Culling Culture
3. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake of My Life
4. Enforced – Kill Grid
5. Atreyu – Baptize

Gavin Brown – Writer

The first half of 2021 (which has been another uncertain and chaotic six months so far) has been typified by a quartet of records by DVNE, AMENRA, BOSSK and YEAR OF NO LIGHT that sound and feel massive in terms of their sound and scope. Although each of these records is it’s own being, they are united with just how huge they are in both sound and vision. It’s not only been vast and immersive listening experiences though as GRAVESEND stake their claim for the nastiest album of the year with an album that personifies the grime and dark underbelly of the chaos the world is in now.

1. Dvne – Etemen Ænka
2. Bossk – Migration
3. Year Of No Light – Consolamentum
4. Amenra – De Doorn
5. Gravesend – Methods Of Human Disposal

Katie Conway-Flood – Writer

The year so far as a whole for heavy music has been a weird one. Whilst live gigs have severely lacked and bands in the scene have had to adapt to online streams, it seems on the album release front, the rock and metal space has never been so strong. From ARCHITECTS and YOU ME AT SIX scoring number one records and catapulting this often overlooked style of music into the mainstream consciousness to the scene seeing some of the best new breakout bands making it in music such as CASKETS, DEATH BLOOMS and STATIC DRESS paving the way for the next generation in the UK’s heavy space. With the slow but sure return of live music imminent and many more albums set for release in the third and fourth quarters of 2021, this year for heavy music is set to go from strength to strength.

1. Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist
2. Royal Blood – Typhoons
3. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
4. Rise Against – Nowhere Generation
5. While She Sleeps – SLEEPS SOCIETY

Jack Press – Writer

In yet another year where global pandemics kept us imprisoned, peaceful protesting was questionably banned, and our industry continues to fight back against toxic cultures; the album releases have been absolutely stacked. From critically-acclaimed legends gatecrashing the UK charts to British bands ripping up rulebooks and flying the flag for a new breed of metal, from the reinvention and reinvigoration of post-metal to the indie-emo shifts into arena-rock narratives; it truly feels like a landmark year for alternative music.

1. Gojira – Fortitude
2. Beartooth – Below
3. Devil Sold His Soul – Loss
4. Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life
5. Heave Blood & Die – Post People

Tasha Brown – Writer

Let’s be honest, we came into this year on the back of listlessness and uncertainty. Forced to stop touring, musicians’ focus was pushed elsewhere. Strange to say but that shift was much needed. The music born of forced introspection has been phenomenal. We’ve seen the exorcism of demons to the tune of huge riffs. Anthems of universal catharsis bonded musician and fan alike. The scene banded together and celebrated across the board when ARCHITECTS’ For Those That Wish To Exist sailed to the #1 spot. We rejoiced when Download Pilot’s gates welcomed us home.
Heavy music made us feel human again.

1. While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society
2. Reach – The Promise Of A Life
3. Beartooth – Below
4. Another Now – OMNI
5, Midgar – Unity

And that rounds off our team’s top picks for our albums of the year so far! Be sure to keep posted to Distorted Sound as we present our full reflection on 2021 as the year draws to a close in December!