Top Ten Albums of 2021 / Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards

After living through all the hysteria and chaos of 2020, a year that shall go down in history as one of the most inconceivable years in the history of the world, people looked to 2021 as a year of redemption. In terms of hard rock and heavy metal music I felt as though 2020 was a decent year, but 2021 seemed to be the year where bands really stepped up their game. As much as people thought the return of CM Punk to professional wrestling was a historic and monumental moment, I personally found myself rejoicing to the news that artists like Old Tower and Wallachian Cobwebs were putting out new releases. Independent music labels like Sentient Ruin continued to promote hard working up and coming underground acts from around the world, which is always great to see compared to those labels still promoting aging rockers who look like they just escaped from the retirement home. 2021 may not have been exactly what we were expecting the world to look like after 2020, but I do think we can look back and appreciate some of the brilliant sounding albums that came out during the year. So here it is everyone, my top ten list for 2021....

10. Tower “Shock to the System”

This New York City based band displayed a tremendous amount of ballsy sounding hard rock and heavy metal attitude on their sophomore full-length album, “Shock to the System.” The high soaring vocals of singer Sarabeth Linden perfectly complimented the band’s feverish sounding guitar riffs. Overall, the album contains a strong and confident energy, which seems to grow from the beginning of the album until the very end. I also was extremely impressed by the band’s songwriting skills and I thought that the music sounded tight. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/10/tower-shock-to-system.html

9. When the Deadbolt Breaks “As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy” 

These Connecticut based musicians are an extremely creative act and one that took me by complete surprise after I listened to their new album. When the Deadbolt Breaks offers listeners a truly atypical sounding listening experience on, “As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy.” Their unique brand of psychedelic doom is very refreshing and they show a willingness to experiment with a variety of different sounding musical concepts. The dynamic arrangements hook you right from start by writing some haunting chord progressions along with a fair amount of trippy rhythms. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/10/when-deadbolt-breaks-as-hope-valley.html

8. Maze of Terror “Offer to the Fucking Beasts” 

I don’t know what it is about Peru, but there has been a decent amount of brutal sounding bands to come out of that country over the years. Maze of Terror is yet another band from the region that knows how to write some gruesome sounding pieces of raw brutality. The band mixes casket crushing old school death metal with some merciless black metal to craft an unholy sound which does not disappoint. Plus, the frantic lead guitar work adds to the over bloodbath of devastation laid down by the band’s skillful drummer. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys vicious sounding music with a blasphemous attitude that is sure to scare the hell out of a pack of Jehovah Witnesses. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/09/maze-of-terror-offer-to-fucking-beasts.html

7. Concilium “Desecration” 

Talk about HEAVY! This Portuguese extreme metal band knows how to lay down some juggernaut sized riffs along with some monstrous sounding drum parts. Of course, the band worked with Sentient Ruin on the release of this album, which should come as no surprise given the label’s history of finding the most extreme and profound sounding artists around. I think what stood out the most about this album for me was the band’s ability to get to the point and no overwhelm the listener with unnecessary arrangements. Sometimes you just want a meaty sized riff to come crashing down on you like an avalanche of distorted destruction leaving a trail of carnage in its path. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/06/concilium-desecration.html

6. Last Agony “The Imminent Slaughter”

Another band on the Sentient Ruin roster that knows how to unleash a tidal wave of face kicking insanity. Adrenaline pumping noise-punk with some blackened aggression is what this Canadian based band brings to the table on their debut full-length release. The songs on the album may be are short, but the band unleashes an insurmountable amount of chaos on each track. From the rebellious sounding guitar riffs to the singer’s unapologetic vocals, I swear that this band means business. Really hope they keep recording new music and building off of this album’s relentless sounding energy. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/04/last-agony-imminent-slaughter.html

5. Crawl Below “9 Mile Square”

This album came out earlier this year and I still find myself playing it over and over again. Overall, the compositors are extremely mesmerizing and wrap you in this veil of haunting tranquility. The musician behind this band, Charlie Sand Eyes, is a very creative artist who also happens to be in the band When the Deadbolt Breaks. I find Crawl Below to be a fascinating act, especially since the style of music seems to be influenced by a lot of bands that I really enjoy. In the end, Charlie tells these haunting musical tales that are inspired by the history of the area in which he resides located in Connecticut. Having lived in Connecticut myself for a couple years I was really impressed how he captured the spell casting natural beauty of the historic region through the album’s sound. Overall, an album worth checking out and the follow-up release that is coming out in 2022 is another phenomenal sounding release. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2020/12/crawl-below-9-mile-square.html

4. Wallachian Cobwebs “Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased” 

If you are a reader of this blog then you will remember how much I enjoyed Wallachian Cobwebs’ debut album, “Hearken to the Moon Whisper.” This one-man dungeon synth artist took vampiric lore and created a masterpiece of an album, so once I heard there was going to be a follow-up, I was simply overcome with excitement. The new album, “Night Sobbed a Potion Diseased,” takes the story of Frankenstein’s Monster and creates this haunting soundtrack which I thought was very creative. Every sound grabs your attention and creates these vivid mental pictures as if you were witnessing this tale of terror firsthand. The cinematic like environment is perfectly recorded, so anyone who desires a powerful ambient/dungeon synth release should check this album out.   

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/03/wallachian-cobwebs-night-sobbed-potion.html

3. Graveland “Hour of Ragnarok” 

One of my favorite bands, Graveland, did not disappoint this year with their new album, “Hour of Ragnarok.” The band really went all out with this new album and recorded a true masterpiece in my opinion. Rob Darken’s vocals along with the triumphant sounding instrumental arrangements throws you into this bombastic realm full of epic sounding music. You do hear the early Graveland sound at times, but the band has definitely evolved and become so much more dynamic in terms of their recording techniques and overall production quality. Conceptually this is probably one of the most impressive albums I have heard over the last couple years. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/09/graveland-hour-of-ragnarok.html

2. Old Tower “The Old King of Witches” 

I can say without hesitation that Old Tower is one of the most accomplished and exceptional dungeon synth/ambient artists around. For fans of this style of music, Old Tower has become one of the most recognized artists around the world. The Specter who is the mysterious artist behind Old Tower, is a true genius and this new album reinforces everything that I have said about Old Tower from day one. “The Old King of Witches,” takes a turn down an even darker road, leading listeners into an ambient world shrouded by a sinister energy that I believe creates a truly insidious atmosphere. When listening to this album is the dark you become bewitched by the music’s malevolent charm. I am so glad that I ordered this album on vinyl, even if I have to wait a while due to shipping delays. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/11/old-tower-old-king-of-witches.html

1. Abstracter “Abominion” 

Picking an album for the number 1 slot this year was not an easy task, but in the end Abstracter’s “Abominion” is the album that stood out above all the rest. The Bay Area based band has been a favorite of mine ever since they released their debut full-length album and I was very pleased when they started working Sentient Ruin. Abstracter is such an extremely talented group of musicians and their songs combine a plethora of savage sounding creativity. Each composition hits you with tremendous apocalyptic sized force, especially the riffs on this new album. There are no filer tracks, or cheap sounding compositions, because every riff and every sound demands you attention. “Abominion,” is truly flawless in my opinion and is an album that I expect to be playing on my turntable for many years to come. 

Complete Album Review: https://rockandmetaltemple.blogspot.com/2021/09/abstracter-abominion.html

Rob "The Metal Guy" Awards 

 

Best EP of the Year: Rude “Outer Reaches” 

Best Compilation of the Year: Snow Wolf Records “This Wretched Earth” (Global Black Metal Compilation Album)

Best Label of the Year: Sentient Ruin Laboratories

Best Cover Song of the Year: Hemotoxin for their cover of Death’s “Crystal Mountain”

Best Music Video: Venom Prison “Pain of Oizys” 

Best Record Store: Discology in Reno, NV 

Most Brutal Wrestler of the Year: Roman Reigns

Biggest Douche of the Year: Tony Khan 

Graveland "Hour of Ragnarok"

 

    The hour of ultimate extreme sounding annihilation is upon us! The wait was well worth it, because Graveland’s new album, “Hour of Ragnarok,” is a cataclysmic release that will sweep listeners into an apocalyptic battle field of triumphant sounding black metal. 

    Ever since the band announced the release of this new album I have been patiently awaiting its release. Without a doubt, this is an album that I was extremely looking forward to hearing and for good reason. Graveland has been firing on all cylinders ever since the release of, “1050 Years of Pagan Cult,” where the band decided to rework some of their classic material and give the songs even more profound and epic edge. The band's early years of raw black metal have evolved into a more pagan metal sound, but the end result combines such brilliant sounding compositions that feel almost cinematic at times. Founding member and the true driving force behind Graveland, Rob Darken, has done a tremendous job over the years and creativity of this band never ceases to amaze me as a fan. 

    “Hour of Ragnarok,” is the culmination of years and years of hard work and constant drive to make solid recordings. As much as I deeply enjoy, “Thousand Swords,” which I consider to be one the greatest black metal releases of all time, I have really enjoyed the band’s evolution and creative direction by exploring pagan mythology in a way that vividly stands out. The attention to detail and strong emphasis on production quality is what separates them from a lot of other bands and I also respect them for not wanting to putting out the same sounding release year after year. 

    The album’s opening track, “The Wolf of Twilight,” is quite possibly one of the most profound statements in terms of an opening track. Right away you are thrust into this destructive sounding world with a thunderous rush of bombastic drum arrangements and skull splitting riffs. Rob’s distinct vocal style adds to the barbaric sounding onslaught and elevates the song’s cinematic like vibe. Holding nothing back the band is able to brilliantly transition into the next song, “Hour of Ragnarok,” conjuring up a devastating composition. The riffs are very percussive and inject a tremendous amount of unapologetic force into the overall arrangement.

    “Conspiracy of the Wizards,” is another monumental sounding piece of music and one where I can hear those slight touches that made “Thousand Swords” such a classic. This band gets what it takes to compose music that conveys a raw, yet larger than life atmosphere. During the track, "Children of Hyperborea," the band incorporates some epic sounding background vocals to contrast with the fearsome sounding instrumental arrangements. The themes on songs like, “Following the Azure Light,” and “The Three Gifts of the Gods,” are executed with a plethora of attention to detail, so in the end the music flows with a truly unique and confident synergy. 

    “Hour of Ragnarok,” is an album highly worth checking out and arguably one the most impressive Graveland releases to come out in recent years. Now, I’m not saying that some of the albums prior to this release are completely forgettable, however, I firmly believe that this release is on an even greater level. Graveland’s decision to rework their classic material on, “1050 Years of Pagan Cult,” was a brilliant idea, and pushed the band in this new direction musically, which has allowed the band to compose some utterly powerful recordings. 

    Sadly, Graveland gets a lot of criticism from the metal community for past statements and continuous attacks from social justice warriors that claim the band promotes a certain extremist ideology. If you actuality listen to the music there is no fascist ideology being incorporated into the albums, especially on this new release. Sometimes I wonder if it is jealously that fuels the Graveland hate, because no matter how many times Rob Darken denounces any pro-Nazi or fascist ideology associated with the band, people continue to throw around these cheap claims with very little evidence. 

 

    When it comes down to it, let the music do the talking, which Graveland has done extremely well given the quality of this new release. This band does not need support from supposed CVLT metal publications that kiss the asses of hipster black metal fans, because in the end the die hard and loyal fans of Graveland will continue to support the band and appreciate the artistic creativity that comes from this band. 

Check out the entire album below via the band's Youtube Channel: 

Recommendation: Graveland "Thousand Swords"

    After wanting to own a physical copy of Graveland’s “Thousand Swords” for many years, I was finally able to acquire the album on vinyl from Hells Headbangers. “Thousand Swords,” is one of my favorite black metal albums and in my opinion features some of the most profound black metal recordings one can find. I've decided to write a recommendation in hopes of getting more people to check out this classic black metal release that I find to be extremely enjoyable.

    Released in 1995, the album was the band’s second full-length album following their debut, “Carpathian Wolves,” along with a handful of killer demos. When comparing “Thousand Swords” to their previous works one can hear where Graveland finally forms their unique musical identity. Rob Darken the main driving force behind Graveland composed what I consider to be the soundtrack for an assault on Christianity by a Pagan army of merciless warriors. Along with drummer, Capricornus, the songs contain a raw and unholy sound of distorted bombastic terror.

    The album’s intro builds up great anticipation for the first song, “Blood of Christians on My Sword,” and once the main riff begins you feel drawn into the harsh sounding assault of musical carnage. There are some clever tempo changes that demonstrate how the band does not just come up with straightforward tremolo picking black metal riffs. The next song, “Thousand Swords” continues the war like theme with more fearsome sounding riffs and drum parts. There are these horns that blare  over the music as if signaling for an attack upon a helpless village and adds to the albums strong theme.

    “The Dark Battlefield” and “The Time for Revenge,” maintain that raw black metal sound by unleashing more extreme sounding pieces of distorted grim chaos. I also find Darken’s vocals to be some of the most haunting black metal vocals and they work well with the instrumental compositions. On “Born for War,” you can hear the unapologetic attitude of the band come through the vicious main verse section. “Black Metal War,” is a short yet aggressive sounding track and declares war against those who are the enemies of this type of music. The final song, “To Die in Fight,” features some powerful lyrics that tell of falling in battle and awaiting the journey to that hall up high with the other fallen warriors.

    Overall, I find “Thousand Swords” to be such an underrated black metal release that deserves more attention. We have given too much exposure to the Norwegian black metal scene and all there albums, and I feel it is important to focus on the accomplishments of Graveland who have been very influential over the years amongst the underground black metal community.

    I also want to bring attention to how I am disgusted my Antifa and all those SJW morons who have labeled Graveland’s music as racist and a tool for promoting white supremacy. These groups don’t have a clue, because not once on “Thousand Swords” do you hear the band trying to promote Nazi ideology. The music is about paying homage to their European Pagan ancestors, so the whole they are Nazi sympathizers needs to stop. In conclusion, check out this album if you have not and remember to ignore those Antifa jerks who are the real fascist... and pieces of shit.

Antifa: The New Fascists and New Enemies of Rob “The Metal Guy”

Graveland "Thousand Swords"

    I guess you could say I am late pertaining to the whole Graveland and Messe Des Morts music festival situation, however, after seeing some more anti-fascist activity that in my opinion looks pretty darn close to actual fascist tactics, I am finally expressing my thoughts on the subject. If we can all be honest with ourselves, throwing rocks and resorting to terror like tactics to shutdown a concert because one band is accused of having a certain point of view, comes across as more fascist than anti-fascist.

    Since the Graveland show cancelation in Canada has past, I will try not to dwell too much on it, but the main points of the situation should be discussed. If you do not know what happened here is the quick rundown: Graveland is a Polish black metal band that has been labeled a national socialist black metal band(NSBM), which is false since the band constantly denounces any affiliation with NSBM, so people need to get over this false narrative. A bunch of Canadian Antifa(anti-fascist psychos) protestors used their terrorist like tactics to shutdown an entire black metal festival the band was playing at, and screwed over fans who paid money to see some good black metal acts perform that night. In the end, their actions were childish and Graveland was not going to put on a pro-Nazi performance like those Antifa jerks claimed would happen.

    See, I am worried that this is not just a metal related issue, but a societal one. I am not afraid if I lose readers over this piece, because I honestly think that I am speaking from my heart. Racism is wrong and supporting Nazi ideology is wrong, but you can’t go around covering your faces and throwing objects to silence others for having an extreme point of view. In this world you have to deal with different points of view no matter how silly or outrageous they might be to you. Using aggressive force to silence them is no different than what the Nazi party did when Hitler was around. Also, to reference the Graveland case again, we can point out how the protestors were acting on false information about the band being NSBM. Now that is scary, because people are jumping to action without knowing the entire facts!

    Again, I worry about how the metal community and society will be able to move forward if people are going to be running around acting like the gestapo because one band is “accused” of having a certain extreme point of view. If a band actually advocates for the physical harm of a group of people, I can see where that is serious matter that should be looked into right away. However, that is not what happened with the Graveland situation and most of the Antifa incidents involve the anti-fascist protestors doing most of the physical harm.

    In conclusion, I am a fan of Graveland and will not stop supporting them because some Antifa whack jobs believe they are a racist band. If you want to believe the false narrative of them being NSBM, you can choose not to support them. One day I would like to see everyone put on their big boy/girl pants and just do what they want to as long as it does not physically hurt someone else. Now, go listen to Graveland my people!...or write a comment insulting me. Either way, you have the freewill and option to do so.