My initial rendition was looking at the USBM scene. Next I opted to dive into where it arguably all began… Norway. My most recent exploration was into Switzerland’s scene. Rather than repeatedly coming up with a new list, I thought I would blow it all up and start anew. This list will serve as my comprehensive findings on a country by country basis. It will allow me to move on more quickly rather than having to keep a small select group of bands on my Apple Music search history. This is not intended to simply start laundry listing every single band from across the globe. I will note below which country I’m currently dabbling in. Feel free to suggest within the confines of countries already listened to and the one currently being explored. Check back to see what is the next to be explored.

Categorized by country
Organized alphabetically
One album per band

Currently listing: Switzerland
Currently investigating: Germany
On deck: Austria

1.

2.Aaskereia - Dort, Wo Das Alte Böse Ruht

3.Balnasar - Ein Kalter Nachtgedanke

4.Brocken Moon - Das Märchen Vom Schnee

5.Cold Earth - Your Misery, My Triumph

      View entire list ››

For those interested in suggestions of albums by genre

Removed:
- Trolls
- Limp bizkit outside of Alternative category
- albums already nominated. After the results, I will add the nominated albums that don't receive enough votes to be displayed in the results, as "staff write-ins".
- albums with a release date not in 2021

1.

2.Heleven - Into The Oceans

3.Imminence - Heaven In Hiding

4.Lantlôs - Wildhund

5.Leprous - Aphelion

      View entire list ››

My very subjective ranking of all heard metal and metal-adjacent albums 2021.

1.Atvm - Famine, Putrid And Fucking Endless

2.Worm - Foreverglade

3.Noltem - Illusions In The Wake

4.Dream Unending - Tide Turns Eternal

5.Ad Nauseam - Imperative Imperceptible Impulse

      View entire list ››

A couple of years ago I was still at the point where the IPA Gods had not bestowed the appreciation of that type of beer upon me. Then. One fateful night in Denver, CO I had a Voodoo Ranger and it changed my opinion of IPAs.

It seems that 2021 is the year that I started to gain an appreciation for Avant-garde Black.

1.Mortiferum - Preserved In Torment

2.Ustalost - Before The Glinting Spell Unvests

3.Krallice - Demonic Wealth

4.The Temple (NZL) - The Temple

5.Worm - Foreverglade

      View entire list ››

welcome to my 2021 list of albums you all already know, which will in no way be abandoned halfway through the year, trust me guys

1.Cynic - Ascension Codes

2.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

3.Amenra - De Doorn

4.Skepticism - Companion

5.Japanische Kampfhörspiele - Neues Aus Dem Halluzinogenozinozän

      View entire list ››

Good morrow
This is Prnzo
this list is probably for...
idk, the more adventurous...
jack-of-all-trades listener
lots of apples/oranges here
hopefully this top list helps
at least one MS'er
and if not...
there's always next yr
...unless there's not

update: this list still reflected just releases from earlier in the year - I keep updating my list offline... but I'm never happy with some of the configuration/arrangement (due mostly to indecision or losing track of even a very good release here n there)

1.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

2.Dordeduh - Har

3.Adjy - The Idyll Opus (I-VI)

4.The World Is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die - Illusory Walls

5.Converge and Chelsea Wolfe - Bloodmoon: I

      View entire list ››

10 years of lists. No plans to slow down.

1.Sermon Of Flames - I Have Seen The Light, And It Was Repulsive

2.Ustalost - Before The Glinting Spell Unvests

3.Worm - Foreverglade

4.Lykhaeon - Opprobrium

5.Kwade Droes - Met Onoprechte Deelneming

      View entire list ››

After clocking well over 700 albums in 2020, I'm hoping 2021 will be a bit busier IRL and thus slightly less comprehensively covered in these lists, but let's see - with all the new strains emerging, who TF knows when we might return to a semblance of normality. Until then, I'll be trying to make sure that nothing noteworthy passes my radar.

1.Vulgaris - Asundre

2.Dvne - Etemen Ænka

3.Heliocentric - Ishmael

4.Decline Of The I - Johannes

5.Dordeduh - Har

      View entire list ››

This time around I'm only including albums rating 78.2% or higher to ensure only quality albums by my standards. This year is the first time I'm including a small description for each album rated around 83.0% or higher. Some below get an exemption because well, I had something to say about it. It's also the first time I'm including release date, record company, type (full-length, if blank), and volume. My volume by default is at 46 so + and - indicate how low or high it deviates from that.

1.Sol Kia - Zos Ethos

2.Victory Over The Sun - Nowherer

3.Peste Noire - Le Retour Des Pastoureaux

4.Chaos Echœs - Ecstasy With The Nonexistents

5.Dipygus - Bushmeat

      View entire list ››

1.Worm - Foreverglade

2.Mortiferum - Preserved In Torment

3.Gosudar - Morbid Despotic Ritual

4.Fluisteraars - Gegrepen Door De Geest Der Zielsontluiking

5.Ustalost - Before The Glinting Spell Unvests

      View entire list ››

1.Beast In Black - Dark Connection

2.1914 - Where Fear And Weapons Meet

3.Duskmourn - Fallen Kings And Rusted Crowns

4.Grima - Rotten Garden

5.Gojira - Fortitude

      View entire list ››

1.Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark

2.Bathory - Blood Fire Death

3.Master's Hammer - Ritual

4.Darkthrone - A Blaze In The Northern Sky

5.Immortal - Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism

      View entire list ››