Written by Nejde on 08.02.2022 at 00:24

Since most categories are stacked with great albums I just want to drop some honorable mentions instead. Just some albums that I really enjoyed over the past year.
The Monolith Deathcult - V3 - Vernedering: Connect The Goddamn Dots (The most hilarious album of 2021 by far. The spoken parts cracks me up every time)
Obscura - A Valediction (Biggest snub this year but Radu admitted they forgot about it)
Le Chant Noir - La Société Satanique Des Poètes Morts ('Prière À Satan' is my second favourite song of 2021 and it's even better with the music video which is made of scenes from the 1926 German movie Faust)
Fractal Universe - The Impassable Horizon (Another saxophone in techdeath)
Maha Sohona - Endless Searcher (Psychedelic/desert rock with Thomas Hedlund of Cult Of Luna playing bass instead of drums)
Muse - Origin Of Symmetry (XX Anniversary RemiXX) (Okay, not eligible for the Awards but still one of the greatest albums ever made, remixed to perfection)
Vomitron - RighteousNES (Because we all love metal and video games)

Oh, and the biggest letdown without the slightest competition was Evanescence's The Bitter Truth. What a waste of Amy Lee's fantastic voice and that album cover was horrendous and didn't reflect the music at all.

I don't know, for me, the latest Diablo Swing Orchestra was the biggest letdown of the year, which I feel could at least hold a decent competition. I liked DSO's Pacifisticuffs but felt they underutilized the album's structure (too many filler bits) so was hoping for a lengthier release. To be sure, it has a lot of energy and the songs are there, you just have to walk through a haze of production issues. Still haven't gone back to relisten to it yet.

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Written by LifelikeAdvisor on 08.02.2022 at 02:25

Oh, and the biggest letdown without the slightest competition was Evanescence's The Bitter Truth. What a waste of Amy Lee's fantastic voice and that album cover was horrendous and didn't reflect the music at all.

I don't know, for me, the latest Diablo Swing Orchestra was the biggest letdown of the year, which I feel could at least hold a decent competition. I liked DSO's Pacifisticuffs but felt they underutilized the album's structure (too many filler bits) so was hoping for a lengthier release. To be sure, it has a lot of energy and the songs are there, you just have to walk through a haze of production issues. Still haven't gone back to relisten to it yet.

I don't really have a problem with the latest DSO. I like the album and the mixing and mastering that many have issues with doesn't bother me at all. That's an album that I'll return to like all DSO albums. The Bitter Truth on the other hand I probably won't listen to ever again.

Written by Nejde on 01.02.2022 at 13:11

Frummyrkrið's Dauðans Myrkri should've been nominated in black because it's an excellent album that deserves way more attention.

It was initially considered for extreme prog, but then the album completely disappeared and we could not nominate something that is nowhere to be found via any official channel. I sure am glad I got it when it was still online, following your recommendation.

Written by Nejde on 07.02.2022 at 20:26

This song has a flow and a rhythm that is almost meditative and highly addictive. Probably my most played song since the release in mid-December. Two months later and it's still on repeat. The album got my Black Metal vote and Debut Album vote. If anyone cares to bother give it a listen and tell me I'm wrong

Very good stuff indeed. Both the song and the album.

Written by nikarg on 08.02.2022 at 12:02

Written by Nejde on 01.02.2022 at 13:11

Frummyrkrið's Dauðans Myrkri should've been nominated in black because it's an excellent album that deserves way more attention.

It was initially considered for extreme prog, but then the album completely disappeared and we could not nominate something that is nowhere to be found via any official channel. I sure am glad I got it when it was still online, following your recommendation.

There seems to be a shroud of mystery surrounding both the band and the album. What I remember from when it was still on Bandcamp is that it was listed as an Icelandic band but it was recorded and mixed in Argentina by some guy with a Spanish name. So my guess is that it actually is an Argentinian one man project by that guy because the Icelandic song titles were grammatically incorrect which wouldn't be the case if they were from Iceland. The reason it got removed is impossible to guess and now the album is only available for listening on a couple of Youtube channels. So yeah, I'm glad I grabbed it too.

Written by nikarg on 08.02.2022 at 12:02

Written by Nejde on 07.02.2022 at 20:26

This song has a flow and a rhythm that is almost meditative and highly addictive. Probably my most played song since the release in mid-December. Two months later and it's still on repeat. The album got my Black Metal vote and Debut Album vote. If anyone cares to bother give it a listen and tell me I'm wrong

Very good stuff indeed. Both the song and the album.

That's a second opinion that weighs heavier than mine. Listen to uncle nik, boys and girls

Gone those days when MSA was the lone active forum within' a month(Feb to 1st March).

So what album(s) listed in the Awards blew your mind that you would never have discovered otherwise? For me it was Vorvaň's - Awakened (H/M/D) and Sol Draconi Septem's - Hyperion (Meloblack). I listened to them during the Awards' preparation and I believe I wouldn't have found them otherwise.

I've gone through half the categories so far and discovered a few unsuspected gems:
- Nishaiar - Nahaxar in Drone
- Wreche - All My Dreams Came True in Avantgarde (got my vote, too)
- Noctule - Wretched Abyss in Metalgaze (got my vote)
- Urne - Serpent & Spirit in Sludge

I really love that time of the year

Written by Deadsoulman on 10.02.2022 at 13:43

I've gone through half the categories so far and discovered a few unsuspected gems:
- Nishaiar - Nahaxar in Drone
- Noctule - Wretched Abyss in Metalgaze (got my vote)
- Urne - Serpent & Spirit in Sludge

I really love that time of the year

I believe I may be able to take credit for introducing this trio into awards consideration (definitely Urne and Nishaiar, I think Noctule too)

The albums I liked most that I found through suggestions during awards preparation were Resinator, Massen, Deha and Moriya

Written by nikarg on 10.02.2022 at 09:53
So what album(s) listed in the Awards blew your mind that you would never have discovered otherwise?

Ethereal Shroud!

Of course I cheated and started listening to while you guys were still working on the nominations but I discovered it through the awards just the same.

The same is true for Wolvennest, even though Temple was just a means to find Void for me. They've quickly become one of my frequent go-tos for late-night gaming or coding sessions. Just not the album I discovered them with but literally all others

For me Thy Worshipper was the most interesting find so far. Also Isor is pretty interesting, kinda reminds of Menace Ruine
Of course, there a lot of great other nominees on my fav categories, but I mostly have listened to them before.

This years categories are pretty messed up - First Fragment in prog section instead of tech... Swallow the sun is in gothic, although they were always labeled as doom and so on... I could accept this if there wasn´t the fact that if you open these bands bios, you´ll see that it just does not match (Swallow the sun are under melodic doom category)

Written by qnick90 on 10.02.2022 at 15:30
This years categories are pretty messed up - First Fragment in prog section instead of tech... Swallow the sun is in gothic, although they were always labeled as doom and so on... I could accept this if there wasn´t the fact that if you open these bands bios, you´ll see that it just does not match (Swallow the sun are under melodic doom category)

And the album itself is tagged melodeath
Genres are just sugestions. They overlap everywhere and it's very rare that one band sticks to one thing for their entire career. Even albums often spread multiple ones. The more specific it gets, the harder to apply general labels. Just chill about it

Written by qnick90 on 10.02.2022 at 15:30

This years categories are pretty messed up - First Fragment in prog section instead of tech... Swallow the sun is in gothic, although they were always labeled as doom and so on... I could accept this if there wasn´t the fact that if you open these bands bios, you´ll see that it just does not match (Swallow the sun are under melodic doom category)

For the first point - there is no 'tech' genre category, so I'm not sure where you're saying it should have gone. First Fragment is tech/prog-death, which is a niche that can often go similarly logically in either death or ex prog. First Fragment is a particularly prog-oriented tech-death album (I mean, it's got a 19-minute song on it), so we were inclined to put it in ex prog. In contrast, Archspire is also tech-death, but very much focused on the death - it's very technically proficient brutal death - so that went into death. Both categories can be argued for both albums, but I don't think either outcome is unreasonable.

For Swallow The Sun - their genre according to the genre categories on their band profile hasn't changed since 2000 apparently, but I think it would be a bit wilfully ignorant to suggest that their sound hasn't changed in a significant way between The Morning Never Came and Moonflowers. Moonflowers is pretty clearly gothic doom, at least to my ears; there's perfectly valid arguments to be made for it to go into either doom or gothic, but whilst When A Shadow... was considered for the doom category, this album is quite a bit more gothic, and thus we ultimately reached a consensus that the gothic side was more of a leading element than the doom.

Written by corrupt on 10.02.2022 at 13:55

Void

I get a +3 bonus in happiness every time someone mentions this album. Definitely in my top 5 of the 10's

Written by musclassia on 10.02.2022 at 13:52

I believe I may be able to take credit for introducing this trio into awards consideration (definitely Urne and Nishaiar, I think Noctule too)

Please take all the credit you want. Especially Urne is not close to leaving my playlist!

Written by Deadsoulman on 10.02.2022 at 17:54
I get a +3 bonus in happiness every time someone mentions this album. Definitely in my top 5 of the 10's

Absolutely! It's eerily attractive. The music is amazing to begin with, but I thought I'd really hate the vocals when I first heard them. But then totally didn't
It is beautiful because it is imperfect.

Written by nikarg on 10.02.2022 at 09:53

So what album(s) listed in the Awards blew your mind that you would never have discovered otherwise? For me it was Vorvaň's - Awakened (H/M/D) and Sol Draconi Septem's - Hyperion (Meloblack). I listened to them during the Awards' preparation and I believe I wouldn't have found them otherwise.

I second Vorvaň. Musclassia happened to recommend their album during the preselection process, long before anyone had bothered to add their band profile, and I'm still in awe of the sheer power and energy Awakened bears within.

Furthermore, I really should have read Radu's excellent review of Dream Unending's Tide Turns Eternal (extreme doom), but apparently I didn't. All the better that I stumbled across it while preparing for the Awards, otherwise I would have missed it completely.

Also great to see Sol Draconi Septem and Massen (meloblack), Déhà (extreme doom), Moriya (post) and Isor (industrial/cyber/elctronic) being mentioned here. I already knew their albums prior to the Awards, but these bands deserve all the love they can get.

My most favorite last minute discovery is reserved for Khirki though. Κτηνωδία is easily among the very best hard rock albums of the last few years and I never would have known their debut without Uxküll praising it just a few days before we were setting up the MSA categories. This band was flying way below everyone's radar, which just goes to show how important user comments are before, during and after the awards.

Written by nikarg on 10.02.2022 at 09:53

So what album(s) listed in the Awards blew your mind that you would never have discovered otherwise?

Karmanjaka but without the h at the end. Was looking up Karmanjakah but found another Swedish band instead with the same name. And they're from my hometown so I was a little surprised that I hadn't heard of them before. They play very enjoyable melodic black. Still gonna check out Karmanjakah too.

Written by nikarg on 10.02.2022 at 09:53

So what album(s) listed in the Awards blew your mind that you would never have discovered otherwise?

So many. It's hard to believe.
Fargue - Ruines, Irradees in noise. I was surprised how much I liked this. Generally, this is not a category I get excited by.
Brii, Five the Hierophant, and Wreche from Avantgarde
Aztlan, Can Bardd, Ruadh from Folk (awesome category in general).
Evadne in Gothic.
Silver Lake in Heavy Metal
Fallensun in Melodeath
Just listening to the MeloBlack category now and it's got a bunch of beauties. And I thought Yoth Iria was a lock going in.
These are great. You guys have outdone yourselves again.

How am I supposed to find the time to listen to the new Cult of Luna (or Amorphis for that matter)? I may have to take a detour today from MS Awards.
New Cancer Bats tune dropped this week and it's a good one. I'm very excited about this new album.

Written by Rage10000 on 11.02.2022 at 15:38

How am I supposed to find the time to listen to the new Cult of Luna (or Amorphis for that matter)? I may have to take a detour today from MS Awards.

I broke my rule this morning and listened to the new CoL. I'd say it's totally worth taking an hour off the Awards

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I broke my rule this morning and listened to the new CoL. I'd say it's totally worth taking an hour off the Awards

You were right. It's excellent!

I'm done with "best album by genre".
The more categories I want to vote in - "best debut" (there were quite a few), "biggest surprise" and "best artwork".

Do the pages with the 10 staff picks and their descriptions exist for past MS awards? e.g. https://metalstorm.net/awards/categories.php?cat_id=2&cb=6208c503866f6

Written by _RustyCoal_ on 13.02.2022 at 09:45

Do the pages with the 10 staff picks and their descriptions exist for past MS awards? e.g. https://metalstorm.net/awards/categories.php?cat_id=2&cb=6208c503866f6

Nope.

Written by _RustyCoal_ on 13.02.2022 at 09:45

Do the pages with the 10 staff picks and their descriptions exist for past MS awards? e.g. https://metalstorm.net/awards/categories.php?cat_id=2&cb=6208c503866f6

If you are looking for the descriptions, unfortunately they are not accessible anymore because past Awards get archived. The past nominations for each category and the results do exist though; on the top of this year's Awards main page, we have links to all the previous years. You've seen that though, haven't you?

What does "clandestine cut" mean?

Written by nikarg on 13.02.2022 at 10:27

If you are looking for the descriptions, unfortunately they are not accessible anymore because past Awards get archived.

Maybe that's a thing we should look into and re-evaluate in the future.
I mean, technically all the write-ups are still there, they are just not available for the public anymore. I've always found the idea of writing round about 250 short reviews but only making them available for 28 days of the year to be very unfortunate. No one would ever consider deleting news articles once their content has become obsolete, however, we do delete write-ups whose content I believe remains relevant.
This is such a waste and it doesn't really make any sense either.

Written by nikarg on 13.02.2022 at 10:27

Written by _RustyCoal_ on 13.02.2022 at 09:45

Do the pages with the 10 staff picks and their descriptions exist for past MS awards? e.g. https://metalstorm.net/awards/categories.php?cat_id=2&cb=6208c503866f6

If you are looking for the descriptions, unfortunately they are not accessible anymore because past Awards get archived. The past nominations for each category and the results do exist though; on the top of this year's Awards main page, we have links to all the previous years. You've seen that though, haven't you?

Yeah I just meant the descriptions and seeing the 10 picks for each category. Thank you though

Written by RockwiththeDoc on 13.02.2022 at 11:22

What does "clandestine cut" mean?

It's a feature we have every month for demos and EPs by new, independent, unsigned, and underground bands. The latest one is here. Every month we post an article with six releases and users can vote for their favourite one. The ones with the most votes of every month are nominated in the Awards come the end of the year. This is why the Clandestine Cuts category is the only one in the Awards that has 12 nominees. It is also the only category that the nominees are chosen by the users.

Written by Starvynth on 13.02.2022 at 11:28

Maybe that's a thing we should look into and re-evaluate in the future.
I mean, technically all the write-ups are still there, they are just not available for the public anymore. I've always found the idea of writing round about 250 short reviews but only making them available for 28 days of the year to be very unfortunate. No one would ever consider deleting news articles once their content has become obsolete, however, we do delete write-ups whose content I believe remains relevant.
This is such a waste and it doesn't really make any sense either.

They stay for a whole year, until the next Awards are up, but your point still stands and I couldn't agree more.