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

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Hitting somewhere within the region of 900 new albums that I've heard released in 2021, I've consumed a frankly ridiculous amount of music this year; I reckon things will return to a slightly more sensible level in 2022, but for now, these are the most impactful records from this year. I'd say the number of albums that truly stuck with me from this year is lower than 2020, but there were still gems to be found in 2021.

1.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

2.Dvne - Etemen Ænka

3.Heliocentric - Ishmael

4.Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon

5.Spaceslug - Memorial

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The most memorable albums from my first year on the Metal Storm crew. Loosely ranked in list order. If I forgot something, it's not worth mentioning and/or I'm being stupid. Likely "and". Or...?

1.Ophiuchi - Shibboleth

2.Pa Vesh En - Maniac Manifest

3.Godspeed You! Black Emperor - G_d's Pee At State's End!

4.Decoherence - System I

5.Thy Catafalque - Vadak

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1.Turnstile - Glow On

2.The Armed - Ultrapop

3.Lingua Ignota - Sinner Get Ready

4.Panopticon - . . . And Again Into The Light

5.Thirdface - Do It With A Smile

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2021 Playlist

1.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

2.Empyrium - Über Den Sternen

3.Iotunn - Access All Worlds

4.Wheel - Resident Human

5.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

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A list of Bands and Albums to check in 2021 in chronological(release) order

1.Need - Norchestrion: A Song For The End

2.Emma Ruth Rundle - The Helm Of Sorrow [Collaboration]

3.Soen - Imperial

4.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

5.Steven Wilson - The Future Bites

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My List of the releases made during 2021. Score based on the excel sheet i've made https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Hk_3gkpCfeKtdZNus_z3sxg-U8XJ_MqklfC8tbealaE/edit?usp=sharing

1.Decline Of The I - Johannes

2.Vokonis - Odyssey

3.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

4.Kanonenfieber - Menschenmühle

5.Stortregn - Impermanence

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1.Cult Of Luna - The Raging River

2.Antrisch - Expedition I : Dissonanzgrat

3.Erroneous - Submission

4.Melancholia - Static Church

5.Thank You Scientist - Plague Accommodations

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1.Cân Bardd - Devoured By The Oak

2.Thy Catafalque - Vadak

3.Iotunn - Access All Worlds

4.Aquilus - Bellum I

5.Dordeduh - Har

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In no particular order (after the top 5), here are my AOTY for 2021.
Some albums are not featured here, for which I've added description and Bandcamp link.
Enjoy :')

1.

2.First Fragment - Gloire Éternelle

3.Beast In Black - Dark Connection

4.Khirki - Κτηνωδία

5.Omnium Gatherum - Origin

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1.Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon

2.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

3.Iron Maiden - Senjutsu

4.Leprous - Aphelion

5.Soen - Imperial

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In rough order of personal enjoyment, the albums released in 2021 I've managed to listen to

1.Yoth Iria - As The Flame Withers

2.Gojira - Fortitude

3.Asphyx - Necroceros

4.Keys Of Orthanc - Of The Lineage Of Kings

5.Cult Of Luna - The Raging River

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It will get better. In the meantime, here is stuff to get me through.

1.A Death By The Seaside - A Death By The Seaside

2.Bossk - Migration

3.Breaths - Lined In Silver

4.Cult Of Luna - The Raging River

5.Decline Of The I - Johannes

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1.Trhä - Endlhëtonëg

2.Spectral Wound - A Diabolic Thirst

3.Suffering Hour - The Cyclic Reckoning

4.Ad Nauseam - Imperative Imperceptible Impulse

5.Belore - Artefacts

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1.Need - Norchestrion: A Song For The End

2.Therion - Leviathan

3.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

4.Soen - Imperial

5.Steven Wilson - The Future Bites

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