2021 was an interesting year for rock. The quarantine creativity outbursts from many bands were still getting to see the light of day. A new wave of nu-metal has come while the OGs like Papa Roach, Disturbed, and (Hed)PE still continue to create. Tours were rescheduled, started and stopped, and reimagined amongst the various challenges presented by the continuous Covid-19 pandemic and ever changing regulations and protocols. As it is approaching the end of the calendar year, my focus will be on my favorite albums from the past year. Critic darlings Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden won't be found below. They just didn't rock me. Friends and followers may not be surprised by many familiar favorites, but I surprised myself with how the top 10 ended up after going through my library to re-listen to song after song to try to come to a consensus.
1. Chevelle - NIRIATIAS
Five years after their last studio album, industrial influenced North Corridor, Chevelle returned to their riff rock revelry with plenty of angst and commentary on anti-science (Self Destructor), space travel (Mars Simula), and the ridiculous notion that we could leave the blue planet for a red one (So Long, Mother Earth). This, to me, is one of Chevelle's best albums, and that is saying a lot from one of my favorite bands that has 9 incredible albums in their catalogue. See my full breakdown here
2. Tremonti - Marching in Time
Every time I think that Mark Tremonti has peaked, he surprises me again. His songwriting keeps getting better, and his playing is phenomenal. This album has accompanied me on many cooking and cleaning weekends. It is great front to back with awesome guitar work and big choruses.
3. Volbeat - Servant of the Mind (Deluxe)
The regular version has 13 songs. The deluxe version contains 18 songs including some alternative versions (Shotgun Blues and Dagen Før) and some more originals. This album has divided fans on the Facebook fan page, but I don't see what the dissenters have to complain about. There are some pop leaning songs, but Volbeat has always had that, and there are some heavier songs too (Lasse's Birgitta, Return to None). It also shows more range than previous albums, and Volbeat have been critcized in the past for making albums that all sound the same. This one is more versatile and complete while still keeping their Blues and Rockabilly influenced metal sound.
5. Wage War - Manic
This one snuck up on me. I have listened to Wage War for a while now, but I completely missed the release of this one in late October. When researching to compile this list I actually got to listen to the whole album and I was blown away. They got heavier, and I think the songwriting is top notch. There are some straight bangers. "Never Said Goodbye" is an emotional one that still rocks. "If Tomorrow Never Comes" is a strong closing track for an awesome album start to finish.
6. Architects - For Those That Wish To Exist
This was an early contender for album of the year. I'm kind of surprised that it dropped to sixth on my list. The main reason is because there are too many slower songs. "Dead Butterflies" is pretty cool, and helped them expand their audience. A bit too much of a pop turn with additional slower tempo tracks did not do them any favors with me because I liked them for being fast and extreme - in your face. That said, the lyrics are more introspective, and they show off their range from brutal to beautiful. The closer is contemplative and provides a nice bookend to this album that sounds like its own movie soundtrack.
7. Ice Nine Kills - Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2
Sequels are rarely as good as the original, but Ice Nine Kills repeat the magic of the Silver Scream with more horror-inspired alternative metal. They also have cool collaborations with the likes of Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach), Corpsegrinder, Brandon Saller (Atreyu), and more.
8. Wolftooth - Blood & Iron
They are the new Black Sabbath and produced a better album than Zakk Wylde who didn't do too shabby himself. The vocalist is not going to blow you away, but if you like groovy stoner rock, bass lines for days, and Nordic-themed lyrics, these are your guys.
9. Bullet for My Valentine - s/t
"Knives" goes so hard!!!! "Rainbow Veins" is a more melodic song with a cool metaphor. The whole album is good, and this is another band that I keep getting prepared to be disappointed by and they just continue to prove me wrong.
10. Of Mice & Men - Echo
This album also vaulted into my top 10 for consistency and headbangability. I like albums that I can listen to without skipping a bunch of tracks. This is in my wheelhouse. "Obsolete" is a standout with great beats, mosh-inducing meter, and a killer chorus. "Bloom" says "there is no honey made from fake bouquets" and contemplates the meaning of life with dynamic mosaic song structure.
Honorable Mentions:
Black Label Society - Doom Crew Inc. (almost made top 10; even the ballads are good; "Ruins" was inspired by the likes of Cream, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin and you can certainly hear elements of these in the music. Zakk jokes you don't need 64 crayons to make a nice picture. He said keeping his songs to good riffs and a good chorus are important to him. This album doesn't have as many flashy solos as some, but is still a solid album.)
Buckcherry - Hellbound (a return to form; their best album since 2006)
Gemini Syndrome - 3rd Degree: The Raising (excellent album; IDK and Die With Me are standouts; a few slower songs kept this out of my top 10, but support them if you can; great live band)
Mammoth WVH - s/t (Wolfgang Van Halen's 14 track debut on which he plays all of the instruments. It sounds a lot like an Exies album, which isn't a bad thing in my opinion. "Distance" is the tribute to his father Eddie, and if you haven't heard it yet, check it out.)
Rise Against - Nowhere Generation (IYKYK)
Spiritbox - Eternal Blue (Female fronted; unique alt-metal sound that made waves this year)
Weezer - Van Weezer (the more rocking of their dual releases this year; see track by track breakdown here)
Zero 9:36 - ...If You Don't Save Yourself (rapping and singing melded together like early Linkin Park; collabs with Travis Barker and Hollywood Undead; bright future)
For albums to look forward to in 2022, check out this article from Revolver
