This may be the first year I thought to start right away in January making notes of my favorite albums, so that when I start my month-long music binge in November to write this post, it isn’t so overwhelming. I’m glad I did, this was another great year for music of all genres, and especially for the area that grips my soul in a leather glove, heavy rock and metal.
There was definitely a resurgence of 80s/90s hard rock and metal, giving us really solid new albums by Accept, L.A. Guns, Dee Snider, Exodus, and others, as well as newer acts like Todd La Torre giving us some 90s style metal. Plus plenty of indie and international heavy rock, still arriving mid-December. It’s honestly been tough to keep up with it all, and I love it.
As usual, I feel like I need to give a disclaimer – these aren’t what my amateur ass considers to be the best albums of the year. I’ll leave that to Spin and Rolling Stone. These are my favorites from the year, the ones I kept coming back to, the ones I’ll keep coming back to, like I do with the albums that made my list in previous years. You know how your favorite albums make you feel. Merely good albums aren’t it. The ones that get you going and keep you coming back are it.
So, in no particular order (but kinda). The albums that got under my skin and demanded repeat listens, here are my favorite albums from 2021.
Death by Rock and Roll by The Pretty Reckless
TPR surprised me by making my list out of nowhere back in 2016 with Who Are You Selling For. I had barely heard of them, and they just blew me away. Well, Taylor Momsen and crew have dropped what I think is the Album of the Year with Death By Rock and Roll, with scorching emotional vocals on songs like 25, And So it Went (ft. Tom Morello), and the title track. Absolutely love this album top to tail.
Standout tracks: Death by Rock and Roll, And So It Went, 25, Witches Burn
The Burden of Restlessness by King Buffalo
This album was a little bit of a slow burn after hearing their hypnotic meditation “Silverfish”, but this excellent full length eventually earned the power position in my car CD player. Every song on The Burden of Restlessness is hypnotic and haunting, harmonic and heavy, which is the hallmark of this band. So glad I got to see them live this fall, my first concert since the “before times”, and I’m guessing the last time I’ll be able to catch these future classics in a small club.
Standout tracks: Burning, Hebetation, Silverfish
Exordium by Wytch
This was a very pleasant surprise, the debut by Finland’s Wytch, a female fronted heavy rock band dripping with 70s roots and reverb. The confidence and storytelling in these catchy songs sound like they’re spun by a veteran band. Fans of Ghost and Jefferson Airplane will dig this. And oh, the pipes.
Standout tracks: Black Hole, Savior, Warrior, Break You Down
Resolute by The Age Of Truth
What can I say about the Age of Truth, I love these guys, they’re the real deal, and their sophomore album Resolute rightly made a lot of year-end lists in 2021. I’m looking forward to many years of great songs, incredible musicianship, outstanding storytelling from this hardworking Philly band.
Standout tracks: Palace of Rain, Horsewhip, A Promise of Nothing
Secrets Of The Black Moon by High Desert Queen
At turns heavy and hypnotic, this future classic of stoner/psych rock grew on me quickly and was on repeat before long. Hats off to Austin’s High Desert Queen for this one.
Standout tracks: Heads Will Roll, As We Roam, The Mountain Vs The Quake
When Their Gods Come For You by Witchcryer
I loved Witchcryer’s debut Cry Witch, it was a workout staple for me pre-pandemic. I’d been looking forward to this followup for a while then was pleasantly surprised when it arrived, a concept album featuring various gods throughout history and civilizations, yet still rocking just as hard as ever. Keep an eye on this up and coming Austin doomy rock band.
Standout tracks: The Devil & the Deep Blue See, Hellmouth
Quest for Oblivion by Sun Crow
This one hooked me right away, solid stoner rock from Seattle’s Sun Crow. And there’s something about that spooky, simple album cover, looking like a skull and a moonscape at once. Great stuff.
Standout tracks: Collapse, Black it Out, Fear
Marriage by Deap Vally
I’ve been a fan of this post-punk duo since their debut, and this full length made up of new originals and the cherry-picked gems of recent EPs is one of their best. I’m hoping more people recognize the quirky genius of Lindsey and Julie, who somehow managed to do some of their best work while starting families in a pandemic. Hopefully we’ll get to see them on tour soon, as they’re amazing live!
Standout tracks: Perfuction, Billions, I Like Crime
Checkered Past by L.A. Guns
If there’s such a thing as a fresh throwback, this is it, an all killer, no filler album from one of the L.A. rock scene’s seminal bands, sounding as fresh as ever while still kicking it old school, 90s style.
Standout tracks: Cannonball, Bad Luck Charm
Dreamers and the Dead by Doctor Smoke
I’d never heard of Doctor Smoke before this started making the rounds this year, but the twists and turns of time signatures, melodies, and storylines wormed their way into my heart. Dreamers and the Dead conjures up some satisfying spells indeed.
Standout tracks: Reborn Into Darkness, These Horrid Things, Waking Dreams
Niratias by Chevelle
Chevelle keeps rolling along, putting in the work and putting out albums that keep riding under the radar. I first listened to this album looking for a standout gut punch like The Red or Face to the Floor, but what it really is is a teeth-gritted, restrained slow burn of rage beneath the surface that calls to mind Korn, Tool, and other outliers of alt-metal. Let this one grow on you.
Standout tracks: Verruckt, So Long, Mother Earth, Self Destructor
False Dawn by Spacelord
This one was a surprise, I simply asked Twitter what were their favorites this year and this came up in the responses. I hadn’t heard of this band from Buffalo, let alone heard the album. And though it didn’t sound like what I expected, I ended up putting it on repeat for a while. Touches of Clutch, Led Zeppelin, and even a bit of that Screaming Trees Seattle sound are all in there somewhere.
Standout tracks: Enemy Lines, How the Devil Got Into You
Onwards and Downwards by Alastor
Another slow burn, this mellow, melodically doomy album from Sweden’s Alastor settles into the back seat like it owns the place and stays there as long as it wants, smoking and telling haunting stories with a charming accent.
Standout tracks: The Killer in My Skull, Dead Things in Jars
Dark Majesty by Kal-El
Kal-El is another band that’s been around a while, but somehow managed to evade my radar until I heard Dark Majesty. This album is an unwavering demonstration of mastery of craft by this Norwegian stoner rock band. Fans of the Sword and Nekromant will dig this.
Standout tracks: Spiral, Hyperion, Dark Majesty
Moral Hygiene by Ministry
In Ministry’s best album since their classic Psalm 69, Al Jourgensen lets us know he still has plenty to be angry about, as we all do, but he still expresses it in the most heavily groovy way, asking us “how concerned are you?”
Standout tracks: Alert Level, Good Trouble
Honorable mentions – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy by Rob Zombie, Mammoth WVH by Mammoth WVH, Leave a Scar by Dee Snider, Too Mean to Die by Accept, Blood & Iron by Wolftooth, Great Fear Rising by Void Vator. Good albums that just didn’t make it into my heavy rotation. yet.
Bonus – once again, I’ve created a Spotify playlist of selected songs from the albums listed here, enjoy! Micropayments for everyone!
What are your favorite albums of 2021? Comment below or let me know!
