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The fact that every metal writer’s list I’ve seen so far this year has been completely, wildly different is a sign that the genre is as healthy and eclectic as ever. Metal continues to broaden out in thousands of different directions, and whatever permutation of it tickles you the most, chances are you’ve been spoilt for choice. All of which will likely stay with me for years to come, but would perhaps be odd choices for the top spot on a list of the year’s best metal records.ĭon’t worry though, I’m not transforming into one of those joyless “metal is dying!” bores because it clearly fucking isn’t just because I struggled to settle on that coveted number one spot doesn’t mean there weren’t numerous contenders. Moor Mother’s Black Encyclopedia Of The Air is a delight too, combining the atmospheric hip hop of last year’s Brass with her more experimental free-jazz side to create an exceptionally tight half-hour opus that really shows off her range. Conversely, I loved Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s latest because of its uncharacteristically joyous and optimistic tone, perfecting the jammier, more rockin’ style of their post-reunion material whilst combining it with the denser compositional approach of their classic material.
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Emma Ruth Rundle’s Engine Of Hell came close, however, removing the heavier guitar focus of her Thou collaboration and producing her most vulnerable, quiet and harrowing set of songs yet. No other album captured the anxiety, frustration and exhaustion of 2021 more acutely than The Bug’s Fire, hands down. In all honesty, most of the records that really spoke to me over the last twelve months weren’t metal. The last few years have each yielded a clear stand-out, a record that instantly hooked me and resonated deeply, but I’ve ended up agonising over the top spot much more this time. Boiling a year’s worth of music down to a list of twenty records is always a daunting challenge, but I found this one particularly hard to compile.