While the world may still be a bit off the rails, music has been as good as ever. In no particular order, here is what I enjoyed most out of all the releases I checked out this year.

VELOSITOR – Obligatory self-promo #1. My new band, VELOSITOR, released two EPs in 2021, Back to the Future & Earth to Mars.

Jimmy NaNa – Obligatory self-promo #2. I released two solo albums this year, Revived Volume 2 (remix album) and 4-Dimensional.

On to the albums…

LANDMVRKS – Lost in the Waves: This is a band from France that I largely ignored for some reason, but has quickly become one of my favorites. Maybe I had them confused with another band or I just heard a song by them that didn’t hit me right away. But I’m glad I gave them a more attentive listen. This album is full of catchy and melodic choruses, memorable guitar riffs and brutal breakdowns. I went back in their catalogue and really enjoyed their last album, Fantasy, as well.

Limp Bizkit – Still Sucks: An album that everyone thought was never going to happen, and it did not disappoint. It’s not nearly as long as past Limp Bizkit releases (except The Unquestionable Truth Pt 1.) but it offers a dose of variety and even some new sounds. You get the old Limp Bizkit style along with a more modern sound for them. Hopefully this is not their last. The track “Goodbye” was stuck in my head for months.

Sleep Token – This Place Will Become Your Tomb: This is another band I slept on for awhile (pun?). I’d heard of them before their first album came out and liked some of their singles, but I just didn’t listen to them all that much since Sundowning was released. Their 2021 release took what was great about their sound and amplified it, adding a whole new dimension. Truly one of the most unique bands I’ve heard in years and the songwriting is always stellar.

The Spill Canvas – Conduit: Back in true form with their first album since 2012, it was worth the wait. Staying true to their brand of emotional rock/pop, while having some of the best production and writing they’ve ever had, makes this one of my favorite albums from them.

Silk Sonic – An Evening With: It’s obvious Silk Sonic is going for the classic R&B/Soul sound and that’s not a bad thing. It could fit in perfectly with a radio station of 70s tunes. At the same time, they manage to incorporate a modern flair into each track to make it fresh.

Sion – self titled: I haven’t preferred much of what Howard has done post “As Daylight Dies,” but Sion is him coming back with an all new level of energy. The modern production style of Dines lets the versatility of Howard’s vocals shine. Here’s to hoping this isn’t a one off album from the band.

Ed Sheeran – =: The lead singles taunted a new electronic production style but the album did end up being largely the classic Ed sound. I don’t expect to ever hear a bad Ed Sheeran album and the boundaries he pushes with his sound are welcome and well done. Another excellent batch of songs that leaves you wanting more.

Spiritbox – Eternal Blue: I initially gravitated toward the heavy sound of Spiritbox, but listening through their first full length album I found myself preferring their more melodic side. They are clearly versatile and while I don’t want them to completely abandon their metalcore roots, I also don’t think they need to continue solely in that direction to keep my attention.

Beartooth – Below: The interesting part about this album, while it still sounds very much like everything Beartooth does, is that it has a bit of throwback vibe going on. They continue to create riffs that are as catchy as the choruses, which is a bit rare in heavy music of the last decade or so.

Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever: This album sounds like modern pop but also like it could’ve been a pop album in the mid 90s. The styles and genres explored here are varied and well executed. There aren’t quite as many tracks that standout as the last album, but as a whole it’s an enjoyable listen beginning to end.

Cherie Amour – Internal Discussions: I first heard this band on an Instagram ad and from the 30 seconds it played of their first single I could tell I was going to like them. They mix a lot of genres, the songs are catchy and my only complaint is that it was too short.

Bitterwood – The Story, Episode 1: This band has that old school hardcore metal sound with a pristine modern mix.

Every Time I Die – Radical: With the breakup of the band shortly after Radical’s release it’s bittersweet that what may end up being their last album, may also be their best.

Like Moths to Flames – Pure Like Porcelain: A band that doesn’t change the formula too much, but continues to innovate within their sound. This is probably my favorite album since their very first one. Completely brutal and exactly what you expect from LMTF.

Phinehas – The Fire Itself: I tried to get into this band in the past after hearing a lot of good things about them, but this was the album that did it for me. The energy and performance by each member is incredible. There’s not a bad track on here. They invoke the sounds of some of my favorite bands like Machine Head, Slipknot and Avenged Sevenfold while still making it their own style.

Pulses – Speak Less: This is another band I found from Instagram ads and also instantly knew I was going to like. I didn’t realize they had been around for awhile so it was nice to find a few albums that I could get into right away. They have definitely refined their sound over time and Speak Less, while being way too short, is a real nice expansion of their style.

Silent Planet – Iridescent: Admittedly, I haven’t listened to this album as much as I would’ve liked to so far. There’s never enough time is there? I like everything this band has done, but I will say that the last album was feeling a bit like treading old ground. It’s a great album, but to me, didn’t offer a very different experience from the stuff they did before it. Iridescent, however, takes a fresher approach. In a way, it is reminiscent of their very first album. The bass sounds fuller, there are more atmospheric elements backing up the main instruments, and the breakdowns may be some of the heaviest they’ve ever done. There are also industrial elements incorporated that weren’t as present on previous releases.

Wage War – Manic: This album may be my favorite from the band. I liked the more melodic/electronic direction they started going with on “Pressure.” This retains that that while incorporating the heavier sounds from the first two albums and also some unexpected production elements, like electronic hip-hop beats. The title track was instantly stuck in my head.

Hurtwave – Night Therapy I: A synthwave project from the singer of Dayseeker, this very much sounds like Dayseeker minus the heaviness. Considering how much I like Dayseeker I have no problem hearing more like it.

Gizmachi – Omega Kaleid: This band basically disappeared 20 years ago. I liked their album then, but this is on a whole other level. With the Soilwork singer jumping in for this one, this album lives up to the 20 years I wasn’t exactly… waiting for it. But if you are going to be absent that long, you better make something as awesome as this is.

Architects – For Those That Wish to Exist: I didn’t listen to this album much at first, but am currently playing it a lot. My favorite Architects release is “The Here and Now,” which usually feels like an unpopular opinion. FTTWtE feels like the spirit of THaN wrapped in their more recent work, with the addition of more synthesized instruments. I would not be opposed to hearing them go further with this sound. The hooks on THaN were what kept my attention and it felt like they abandoned that for a long stretch.