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Writer's pictureEmil

2021 TOP 30 MODERN METAL ALBUMS

Updated: Jan 3, 2022

Genre-fluid non-traditional metal: pop to melodeath ... all at once!

2021 was an incredible year for rock and metal music with its incredible number of quality albums being released. As I was gathering details about the releases that were going to round up my end-of-the-year lists, I've run into a slight dilemma: a quite large number of albums contained music that spanned over genres and incorporated stylistic elements that were not necessarily associated with rock/metal. Further, these strays had two additional attributes in common: they were melodic and exuded modern productions. It became clear that, based on the strong crossover element and the two above-mentioned attributes, these albums deserved their own register. Strongly rooted in the planetary state-of-affairs lyrically, dark, yet dynamic, unorthodox, complex, these 30 genre-fluid metal records are in the now!



30

THEATRES DES VAMPIRES

In Nomine Sanguinis

Italy


Released on November 19, 2021

Album #11





29

PHANTOM ELITE

Titanium

International


Released on January 22, 2021

Sophomore album





28

ANOTHER NOW

Omni

Netherlands


Released on June 16, 2021

Debut album





27

VENUES

Solace

Germany


Released on August 27, 2021

Sophomore album





26

BELLE MORTE

Crime Of Passion

Belarus


Released on June 25, 2021

Sophomore album





25

ENEMY INSIDE

Seven

Germany


Released on August 27, 2021

Sophomore album





24

SKARLETT RIOT

Invicta

UK


Released on May 7, 2021

Album #3





23

THE DARKEST MOMENT

Blindsight

Denmark


Released on October 30, 2021

Sophomore album





22

HEMERA

Black Rain

Italy


Released on July 26, 2021

Debut album





21

INNER STREAM

Stain The Sea

Argentina


Released on July 16, 2021

Debut album





20

METALITE

A Virtual World

Sweden


Released on March 26, 2021

Album #3





19

WE ARE THE CATALYST

Perseverance

Sweden


Released on November 26, 2021

Album #4





18

NEW HAVEN

Vol I

US


Released on August 6, 2021

Debut album





17

EXSOM

Red Carpet To Paradise

Switzerland


Released on February 18, 2021

Debut album





16

OVERSENSE

Egomania

Germany


Released on September 17, 2021

Sophomore album





15

EDGE OF PARADISE

The Unknown

US


Released on September 17, 2021

Album #4





14

IGNITE THE FIRE

The Fallout

US


Released on March 5, 2021

Debut album





13

POP EVIL

Versatile

US


Released on May 21, 2021

Album #6





12

THEODY

Smoke And Mirrors

US


Released on August 27, 2021

Sophomore album





11

MY HAVEN

Until

Finland


Released on August 6, 2021

Debut album




10

TESSERACT

Portals

UK


Released on August 27, 2021

Album #5





9

SILENTHIVE

SilentHive

Australia


Released on July 15, 2021

Debut album





8

RESISTING VEGAS

Malevolent

US


Released on July 23, 2021

Sophomore album





7

DEAR MOTHER

Bulletproof

Netherlands


Released on July 17, 2021

Debut album





6

FELICITY

Dear Universe

US


Released on July 16, 2021

Debut album





5

MOLYBARON

The Mutiny

France/Ireland


Released on May 21, 2021

Sophomore album





4

VOLA

Witness

Denmark


Released on May 21, 2021

Album #3





3

NEONFLY

The Future, Tonight

UK


Released on June 18, 2021

Album #3





2

TEMPERANCE

Diamanti

Italy


Released on November 19, 2021

Album #6





1

BEAST IN BLACK

Dark Connection

Finland


Released on October 29, 2021

Album #3


Beast in Black are obviously known for their wonderful curveballs. Well, Dark Connection gets a few additional shots of modern melodic awesomeness. Listeners are literally moved by this body of music. While it might not be everyone's proverbial cup of tea, I'd find hard to believe, any objections to the insane talent these guys possess. Besides its power metal roots and strong pop affinities, Dark Connection takes enormous cues from the 80s Italo Disco and Euro Techno sound. The Finnish-Greek-Hungarian metallers might've delivered a newcomers gateway into the metal realm. One of the most enjoyable releases of the year & Modern Metal album of 2021!




© 2021 by Emil Chiru


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