Mostly Metal's Favorites 2021
Oh what a year for music 2021 has been! Loved it :-)
Here we go with a selection of 30 releases that got a lot of playing time at Mostly Metal's headquarter over the past months - for different reasons, but all brightened my days in an incredible way. Some artists impressed with their technical skills or mesmerized me with beautiful melodies, others offered a great time while rocking out to their music, and some of these albums caught me in this special way that only music can do.
How about some fun facts? ;-) Among these thirty, you can find:
- Four EPs
- Eight solo projects (some are real "solo" albums, others collaborations)
- Six instrumental releases
- Thirteen debut records (which is really impressive imho)
- Six bands are from Sweden, five from the USA, three live in the UK and Italy, and we have two artists from Tasmania, as well as Greece and Finland
Welcome to check them out, maybe you find something for your listening pleasure you missed so far. There's always a direct link to Bandcamp or a Linktree, and in case I wrote a review or did an interview, you'll find a hint for it too.
Dive in, have fun \m/
AEONS
Consequences
UK
September 10th, 2021
My aoty2021: Mind-blowing progmetal from the Isle of Man. Are you ready to cross the Rubicon?...
TURBULENCE
Frontal
Lebanon
March 12th, 2021
The concept behind this excellent, 2nd album by the Lebanese prog band is based on a true story
ASTRAKHAN
A Slow Ride Towards Death
Sweden
April 23rd, 2021
The Swedish proggers created an expressive piece of music and take the listener on an intense ride
FOTIS DELINIKOLAS
Alma
Greece
May 28th, 2021
Blending a wide range of styles, this is a gem for fans of sophisticated and virtuoso guitar playing
FIERCE DEITY
Power Wisdom Courage
Australia
September 3rd, 2021
The one-man project impressively proves that stoner and powermetal go well together
AEON ZEN
Transversal
UK
September 24th, 2021
AEON ZEN's final release offers 30 minutes of prog magic and a splendid vocal performance
ODD DIMENSION
The Blue Dawn
Italy
March 26th, 2021
Excellent prog album with fantastic singers, about space travelling and a struggle to survive
PAUL WARDINGHAM
Cybergenesis
Australia
November 21st, 2021
The guitar wizard delivers another firework of futuristic cyber metal shredding
SUBTERRANEAN MASQUERADE
Mountain Fever
Israel
May 14th, 2021
A stunning prog release, melting a colourful bunch of musical influences to a beautiful, new whole
EPHEMERALD
Between the Glimpses of Hope
Finland
February 19th, 2021
Epic symphonic melodeath from Finland, about new beginnings and attempts to break free
KHIRKI
Κτηνωδία
Greece
May 20th, 2021
The Greek trio offers you their musical goblet with pure, groovy rock'n roll and some surprises
MANUEL BARBARÁ
Moonrise
USA
March 19th, 2021
Highly technical instrumental progmetal; dark and heavy, but brightened by mystical sound worlds
KING BUFFALO
The Burden of Restlessness
USA
June 4th, 2021
Another year lost in the wasteland, caught musically with this incredibly atmospheric album
CHARLES SOULZ PROJECT
Split Mind
Brazil
October 22nd, 2021
A concept album for fans of beautiful melodic, yet sophisticated prog, telling an imaginary story
NANGA PARBAT
Downfall and Torment
Italy
March 23rd, 2021
Inspired by natural forces, the Italian band takes us on a ride through real and rough emotions
EXODUS TO INFINITY
Archetype Asylum
USA
January 8th, 2021
This one-man project offers a musical journey for weirdos, thinkers, empaths and dreamers
OPERA DIABOLICUS
Death on a Pale Horse
Sweden
November 26th, 2021
An epic horror musical about witchcraft, the black death and revenge, ffo mighty organ sound
PLEXIMENTS
The Maze Within
Russia
April 9th, 2021
A great, (mainly) instrumental debut about dealing with our inner selves and the voices in our head
SEVENTH DIMENSION
Black Sky
Sweden
June 18th, 2021
Progmetal at its finest from Sweden, dealing with personal, social and spiritual topics
SOLUM
Encountering Murk
Sweden
November 10th, 2021
Mesmerizing instrumental prog by VULKANS' guitarist Christian Frederiksson
IGNEA ERSEDU
Bestia
Ukraine
October 21st, 2021
Dive into the Ukrainian mythology, told with symphonic melodeath by two powerful singers
MÜTHERLOAD
Ü
USA
July 9th, 2021
MÜTHERLOAD introduce themselves with a blast - short, but mind-blowing
ART OF ILLUSION
X Marks the Spot
Sweden
January 29th, 2021
Melodic rock with some musical surprises and outstanding vocals like a ray of sunlight
NOVENA
The Stopped Clock
UK
October 1st, 2021
With the song "The Stopped Clock", NOVENA share an epilogue to their brilliant debut album
ETERNITY'S END
Embers of War
Germany
November 26th, 2021
Vocals aside, this is a powermetal beast with outstanding guitar work
THY ROW
Unchained
Finland
September 24th, 2021
The Finnish quintet comes up with an amazing debut packed with passionate, pure rock'n roll
MOLYBARON
The Mutiny
France/Ireland
May 21st, 2021
Modern progressive groovemetal, dealing with social and personal struggles
COEVALITY
Multiple Personalities
USA
April 9th, 2021
After 10 years in the making, the progrock fusion trio from LA published a mesmerizing first album
EASTERN HIGH
Halo
Sweden
July 30th, 2021
With a little bit of horror and a little bit of hope, the Swedish quintet plays dark, melodic metal
SYLVATICA
Ashes and Snow
Denmark
April 20th, 2021
Melodic epicness, mixed with lots of shredding and a good pinch of Viking madness
DAWN OF A DARK AGE
La Forche Caudine 321 a.C. - 2021 d.C.
Italy
September 24th, 2021
Amazing folk/death metal, building up a special atmosphere with the dark, warm clarinet sound
This selection comes along with my great appreciation towards those who gave these musical treasures a chance to be discovered with their posts, recos, promos, reviews, and inspiring discussions.
A special shout-out to all who followed my journey here from the beginning, and a warm welcome to those who joined over the past months, hope you enjoyed it so far. Your feedback and support means a lot!
And of course: horns up for the bands and artists! Thank you for the music from the bottom of my heart \m/
 |