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