List your top 10 (or whatever arbitrary number you fancy) 2021 Albums

[twosuitsluke]

Some might consider it a little early, but I always like looking back on how my year evolved.

I'll start...

1. The Dirty Nil - Fuck Art
2. Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight
3. Steven Wilson - THE FUTURE BITES
4. Soen - Imperial
5. MegaRan - Black Materia: The Remake
6. Lizzard - Eroded
7. Need - Norchestrion: A Song for the End
8. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Pukebox
9. Loathe - The Things They Believe
10. Harakiri for the Sky - Mære
11. Cult of Luna - The Raging River
12. God is an Astronaut - Ghost Tapes #10
13. Null - Hiraeth
14. Tribulation - Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
15. Mogwai - As the Love Continues

Some of these have only had one spin but that's my start to the year 

[Zydar]

For me it has started off strong. Can't really rank them but here are my favourite so far.

Foo Fighters - Medicine At Midnight
Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe
Weezer - OK Human

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Some might consider it a little early, but I always like looking back on how my year evolved.

It's never too early. I think I started the 2019 Album thread in January. 

[NoseofNicko]

Have only listened to 4 2021 albums so far. I’d rank them like this:

1. Black Country, New Road - For the First Time (4/5)
2. Soen - Imperial (4/5)
3. Steven Wilson - The Future Bites (3.5/5)
4. Accept - Too Mean to Die (3/5)

[ThatOneGuy2112]

.

[Peter Mc]

Only bought two albums so far this year, in fairness though, they’ve cost me about £200!

Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe

Not sure what else is coming apart from LTE and DT.

[wolfking]

Iron Maiden - Senjutsu
Mastodon - Hushed and Grim
Flotsam and Jetsam - Blood in the Water
Tribulation - Where the Gloom Becomes Sound
Todd La Torre- Rejoice in the Suffering
Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix
Stortregn - Impermanence
Helloween - Helloween

[SwedishGoose]

1. Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe  - Forevermore
2. Transatlamtic - The Absolute Universe - Breath of Life







Way down Steven Wilson  - Future Bites

[SoundscapeMN]

Timmy Sean - A Tale from the Other Side
Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
Typhoon - Sympathetic Magic
The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings

[Nachtmerrie]

Cult of Luna - The Raging River
Soen - Imperial
Abiotic- Ikigai
Need- Norchestrion: A Song For the End
Humanity's Last Breath - Välde
Emptiness - Vide

[ariich]

I've never done it this early before, but fun idea!

Also I've now listened to exactly 10 2021 albums, so perfect timing.

Clear leader so far:
1. Soen - Imperial

Also excellent:
2. Weezer - OK Human
3. Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: The Breath of Life (abridged version)
4. Need - Norchestrion: A Song for the End

Good but not great:
5. Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight
6. Sia - Music
7. Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
8. Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: Forevermore (extended version)
9. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Shyga! the Sunlight Mound

Eh:
10. Bodies of Water - Is This What It's Like

[twosuitsluke]

9. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Shyga! the Sunlight Mound

I've just checked Spotify and I'm confused, when did the Pukebox EP get assimilated into this new album I knew nothing about?? 

Better go check it out.

[ariich]

9. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Shyga! the Sunlight Mound

I've just checked Spotify and I'm confused, when did the Pukebox EP get assimilated into this new album I knew nothing about?? 

Better go check it out.

I didn't even know about that EP. Weird that it was released only a couple of weeks before the album. Maybe it was like instead of releasing a bunch of singles like most bands do, they released them all on an EP instead?

[HOF]

1. Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe  - Forevermore
2. Transatlamtic - The Absolute Universe - Breath of Life







Way down Steven Wilson  - Future Bites

Heh, I think these are my rankings too (and the only new albums I’ve heard from 2021).

[Buddyhunter1]

9. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Shyga! the Sunlight Mound

I've just checked Spotify and I'm confused, when did the Pukebox EP get assimilated into this new album I knew nothing about?? 

Better go check it out.

I didn't even know about that EP. Weird that it was released only a couple of weeks before the album. Maybe it was like instead of releasing a bunch of singles like most bands do, they released them all on an EP instead?

Pukebox was never an EP, just a single. It just got lumped together with all of the previously-released singles for the new album, which bands do a lot on Spotify for whatever reason.

I gave the full album one listen so far and it's alright, some good riffs but it sounds a lot like their last one. I unfortunately think this band may have peaked with their very first album.

[twosuitsluke]

9. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - Shyga! the Sunlight Mound

I've just checked Spotify and I'm confused, when did the Pukebox EP get assimilated into this new album I knew nothing about?? 

Better go check it out.

I didn't even know about that EP. Weird that it was released only a couple of weeks before the album. Maybe it was like instead of releasing a bunch of singles like most bands do, they released them all on an EP instead?

Pukebox was never an EP, just a single. It just got lumped together with all of the previously-released singles for the new album, which bands do a lot on Spotify for whatever reason.

I gave the full album one listen so far and it's alright, some good riffs but it sounds a lot like their last one. I unfortunately think this band may have peaked with their very first album.

Yea that makes sense, I know Spotify do that. I could've sworn I'd read about the release being an EP. Anyway, Mundungus is great.

[Crow]

unordered but here's some 2021 albums i've dug

FOUDRE! - Future Sabbath (ambient/drone)
Particle Thief - Ecdysis (progressive metal/djent kinda)
Grima - Rotting Garden (atmospheric/folk black metal
For Your Health - In Spite Of (screamo/emoviolence)

year's been off to a slow start but uuhh
march is looking Dense

[TAC]

We're off to a great start this year.


1. Tribulation-When Gloom Becomes Sound
2. Michael Schenker-Immortal
3. Null-Hiraeth
4. Accept-Too Mean To Die
5. Morari-I Am Devastation
6. Angelus Apatrida-s/t
7. Midnight Spell-Sky Destroyer
8. Simulacrum-Genesis
9. April Rain-Mirror Of Ether
10. Grima-Rotting Garden

[ProfessorPeart]

I only have 5 so far.

1. Soen - Imperial

No real order on the rest, but I have enjoyed them all so far. No stinkers yet.

Phantom Elite - Titanium
The Pretty Reckless - Death By Rock and Roll
Todd La Torre - Rejoice In The Suffering
Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe (all 3 editions)

On order or on the radar:

Epica - Omega
Anneke van Giersbergen - The Darkest Skies Are The Brightest
Smith/Kotzen
Blaze Bayley - War Within Me
Evanescence - The Bitter Truth
LTE3
Dark Horse White Horse (Marcela Bovio's new metal band)

[twosuitsluke]

Update on my top 20:


The Dirty Nil - Fuck Art
Gojira - Fortitude
NOFX - Single Album
Steven Wilson - THE FUTURE BITES
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END
Evil - Possessed by Evil
Grey Aura - Zwart Vierkant
Foo Fighters - Medicine at Midnight
The Vintage Caravan - Monuments
Lizzard - Eroded

Rob Zombie - The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
Loathe - The Things They Believe
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets - SHYGA! The Sunlight Mound
King Gizzard - L.W.
MegaRan - Black Materia: The Remake
Frost* - Day and Age
Bob Vylan - We Live Here
Keor - Tearoom
MONO - Beyond the Past
Liquid Tension Experiment - LTE3

[SoundscapeMN]

Midyear Favorite Albums/EPs
1. Kevin Gilbert - Call Me Kai
2. Ours - Ours
3. Ours - The Bella Fall/Right Here Right Now [EPs]
4. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee At STATE'S END!
5. Subterranean Masquerade - Mountain Fever
6. Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
7. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 3
8. Timmy Sean - A Tale from the Other Side
9. The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra - Flirting with Chaos
10. Typhoon - Sympathetic Magic
11. The Reign of Kindo - Wither [EP/Single]
12. The Besnard Lakes - The Besnard Lakes Are the Last Great Thunderstorm Warnings
13. Michael Nesmith - Different Drum: The Lost RCA Victor Recordings
14. Pat Metheny - Road to the Sun
15. Manchester Orchestra - The Million Masks of God
16. Vektor / Cryptosis - Transmissions of Chaos EP (Split)
17. Courtney Swain - FountainHead

Reissues
Jon Anderson - Olias of Sunhillow (reissue CD + DVD)
Giraffe - Giraffe Box Set
The Mars Volta - Landscape Tantrums
Ours - Ballet the Boxer I [Remastered]
Ours - New Age Heroine II [Remastered]


Haven't heard, but mean to
The Anchoress - The Art of Losing
Isla - The Mediterranean Gardener
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - L. W.
Gleb Kolyadin  - Water Movements
Long Distance Calling - Ghost [EP]
Scott Mathews - New Skin
Motorpsycho - Kingdom Of Oblivion
Jasun Tipton - The Dream to Fly
Anneke van Giersbergen - The Darkest Skies are the Brightest

Unsure if I'll be spending time/more time with
Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe
God is an Astronaut - Ghost Tapes #10
Gojira - Fortitude
Micky Dolenz - Sings Nesmith
Dark Heavens - Nuclear Eagle
Sting - Duets

[Stadler]

I don't have much, but I like what I have heard:

1. Transatlantic (All three versions, but I think I prefer the Breath Of Life best)
2. LTE3
3. Anneka Van Giersbergen
4. Arc of Life
5. Michael Schenker - Immortal

[ReaperKK]

2021 top 8:

1. Ola Englund - Starzinger - 5 out of 5, awesome album
2. KOAN Sound - Chronos - 4.5 out of 5
3. Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 3 - 3.5 out of 5
4. BRUIT - The Machine Is Burning And Now Everyone Knows It Can Happen Again - 3 out of 5
5. Steven Wilson - The Future Bites - 2.5 out of 5
6. Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee AT STATE'S END! - 2 out of 5
7. Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: Forevermore - 1.5 out of 5
8. Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe: The Breath of Life - 1.5 out of 5

[cramx3]

2021 so far for me....

1. Epica - Omega
2. Gojira - Fortitude
3. Greta Van Fleet - The Battle at Garden's Gate
4. Orden Ogan - Final Days
5. W.E.T. - Retransmission
6. Blaze Bayley - War Within Me
7. Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix
8. Rob Zombie - The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy
9. Offspring - Let the Bad Times Roll

[nick_z]

2021 favorites so far, in no particular order:

Soen - Imperial
Meer - Playing house
Stortregn - Impermanence
Greenleaf - Echoes from a mass
Frost* - Day and age
Perturbator - Lustful sacraments
Evergrey - Escape of the phoenix
Paranorm - Empyrean

Plus other honorable mentions:

Turbulence - Frontal
Lake of Tears - Ominous
Iotunn - Access all worlds
Adamantis - Far flung realm (technically, this was independently released last year, but reissued in 2021)
Cryptosis - Bionic Swarm
LTE - LTE3
Terminalist - The great acceleration
White moth black butterfly - The cost of dreaming

[romdrums]

So far this year:

VOLA - Witness
Frost* - Day and Age
Bruit - The machine is burning and now everyone knows it can happen again
Gojira - Fortitude
Mogwai - As the Love Continues
God is An Astronaut - Ghost Tapes #10
March On, Comrade - The Architect of Such Brilliant Lines
Elsyne - Elsyne
Wheel - Resident Human

[jingle.boy]

I'll come back in 4 weeks and give my mid-year rankings.

[Buddyhunter1]

Don't have much for this year so far - the only full albums I've purchased up to this point are the new Gojira and VOLA. Gojira's definitely the better album between those two, but not sure if it's really AOTY material. I might end up buying the new Panopticon album, but I need one or two more listens first.

Some other new releases that I've listened to but didn't exactly wow me:
- Steven Wilson
- Perturbator
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor
- Liquid Tension Experiment (probably the best of these)
- King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
- Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
- Porter Robinson

[kirksnosehair]

GREAT
LTE3
Transatlantic - The Absolute Universe


GOOD
Soen - Imperial
Phantom Elite - Titanium
Frost* - Day and Age


OK
Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix




LOL WTF?
Steven Wilson - This Album The Future Bites

[Elite]

1. VOLA - Witness
2. Adam Neely & Ben Levin - Beautiful & Tragic EP / How I Loved My Cat EP
3. Mdou Moctar - Afrique Victime
4. Autarkh - Form in Motion
5. Gojira - Fortitude
6. Steven Wilson - The Future Bites
7. Transatlatic - The Absolute Universe
8. Liquid Tension Experiment 3


That’s basically me ranking the albums I have heard so far, which as you can see isn’t a lot.

[jingle.boy]

I ran through the albums I've purchased, and saved on Spotify so far.  Not sure I've listened enough to rank them yet.  Typically, the reason I *only* save the ones on the Spotify list (instead of out right purchase them), isn't due to the quality, but the quantity - most of them are only in the 40 minute range.

Spotify-Saved:
Brother Against Brother - s/t
Kings Company - Trapped
Timo Tolkki's Avalon - The Enigma Birth
Crowne - Kings in the North
Thunder - All the Right Noises
Robin McAuley - Standing on the Edge
Starmen - By the Grace of Rock 'n' Roll
Myles Kennedy - The Ides of March
Ronnie Atkins - One Sot
Phantom Elite - Titanium
Sweet Oblivion - Relentless
Arion - Vultures Die Alone
Sunstorm - Afterlife
Michael Schenker Group - Immortal

Purchased:
Evergrey - Escape of the Phoenix
Evership - The Uncrowned King: Act 1
Frost* - Day and Age
Magnus Karlsson's Metal Opera - Heart Healer
Joel Hoekstra's 13 - Running Games
Labyrinth - Welcome to the Absurd Circus
LTE - LTE 3
Need - Norchestrion: A Song for the End
Neonfly - The Future Tonight
Octavision - Coexist
Povertys' No Crime - A secret to Hide
Todd La Torre - Rejoice in the Suffering
Transatlantic - The Breath of life
Witherfall - Curse of Autumn

[nick_z]

I'm reprising my list from a little over a month ago, now that we are past the mid-year mark (bolding the most recent additions):
 
2021 favorites so far, still in no particular order,

Soen - Imperial
Meer - Playing house
Stortregn - Impermanence
Greenleaf - Echoes from a mass
Frost* - Day and age
Perturbator - Lustful sacraments
Evergrey - Escape of the phoenix
Paranorm - Empyrean
Helloween - Helloween

Plus other honorable mentions:

Turbulence - Frontal
Lake of Tears - Ominous
Iotunn - Access all worlds
Adamantis - Far flung realm (technically, this was independently released last year, but reissued in 2021)
Cryptosis - Bionic Swarm
LTE - LTE3
Terminalist - The great acceleration
White moth black butterfly - The cost of dreaming
Silver Talon - Decadence and Decay
King Buffalo - The Burden of Restlessness
Thy Catafalque - Vadak
Pharaoh - The Powers That Be

It will be interesting to see if some of the honorable mentions move up (and vice versa) by year-end...and what else the year has in store over the next few months!

[Stadler]

Clearly none of you have heard the new Wolfgang, because it's not on your lists!   

1. Transatlantic (All three versions, but I think I prefer the Breath Of Life best)
2. Mammoth WVH
3. LTE3
4. Anneka Van Giersbergen
5. Arc of Life
6. Michael Schenker - Immortal

[nick_z]

Clearly none of you have heard the new Wolfgang, because it's not on your lists!   

I did!  I actually commented on your post in the other thread. I enjoyed it very much. I just haven't sat with it long enough, but it's good, good stuff. Definitely surprised me.

[Stadler]

Clearly none of you have heard the new Wolfgang, because it's not on your lists!   

I did!  I actually commented on your post in the other thread. I enjoyed it very much. I just haven't sat with it long enough, but it's good, good stuff. Definitely surprised me.

Haha, I know; I was just coming in hot.