2021… farewell, my twat of a friend

 

We have come to the end of yet another year. A strange one, I dare say. These last two years have been quite odd. Nonetheless, I am not talking about the obvious, but especially on how the obvious became a sort of radar for twats and pricks! Sides were chosen, and decisions made… thank you very much, dear Covid-19.

Buuut, nonetheless, it was possible to see a bright crawling out from all the darkness that we, Humans, pushed Humanity into: Music. Music is always the best. Feel sad? Music. Feel happy? Music. Feel feelings? Music. Music? Music. Is this a sort of Top _insert digits_ of the year? No. I did not check enough music to structure a decent list, but I can throw in a few releases that made me tremble down there.

Surprise, surprise: it will be mostly composed of Black Metal and Punk Hardcore, and many of the releases I did enjoy will surely be left out, for forget it I will… sadly. 

No Top 10, 20 or 666, just a few releases (and more) I believe people need to check, if they have not already:

The Chisel – "Retaliation" (La Vida Es Un Mus, 2021)

 

I am not a big fan of Football, but I have this very healthy fascination with what surrounds a game of Football: the firms, the chanting, all that passion, and the show fans put on. Maybe I have this very British perspective of the game, and this is where I fit The Chisel: a band you would listen to, before a match between Tottenham and West Ham, and The Hammers would destroy! Grab your pint, put on your Doc Martens, and head on for the stadium!

 

Awenden & Feminazgûl (Tridroid Records, 2021)

 

I have never been a massive fan of Splits, but this year I have more than one in my list. Black Metal from the USA has been growing to the point where you need it to stop. Sometimes too much is really too much. Wait: we still have stellar projects and musicians, but. Nonetheless, this is a partnership between artists that have a common perspective of Atmospheric Black Metal, with Feminazgûl's side being much "sweeter".

 

Common – "A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 2" (Loma Vista Recordings, 2021)

 

Growing up in the 80s, I reached the 90s at an age I was ready to absorb all the music that surrounded me. Living in a neighbourhood where the musical spectrum would go from Hard Rock to Rap, from Punk to Heavy Metal, this gives you a very broad vision of Music. Unfortunately my believe in Rap music died in the early 00s, to be only be rescued last year by Mr. Common ("A Beautiful Revolution Pt. 1"), and cemented this year with the follow up. Based in ChiTown, the man is classy as Hell, and has not lost his flow!

 

Black Cilice – "Tomb Emanations" (Iron Bonhead Productions, 2021)

 

Black Cilice is, in my opinion, one of the best Black Metal acts in today's worldwide scene, as simple as that! His Portuguese, which is a point in favour, but above all, he has a way to create Art that no one can reach, let alone top. Two songs that carry Black Cilice's brand mark, and will let you drooling for more.

 

Baxaxaxa – " Catacomb Cult" (The Sinister Flame, 2021)

 

These German lads have been around for ages but released very little over the years, which is a shame. "Catacomb Cult" is the band's first ever full-length, and it is an homage – not a deliberate one as I was told in the interview I did with the band – to The Old Ways of Black Metal. Rotten, melodic, dark and haunting, no joking around and pretending to be Evil… Evil is Baxaxaxa, not the other way round.

 

Etxegiña – "Herederos del Silencio" (AbArt Corruption & Vertebrae, 2021)

 

With the growth of NSBM, came the development of RABM. Etxegiña are a perfect example of Music fighting Fascist ideals, memories and tales. Basque Country, a territory invaded by the Spanish, many centuries ago (I am joking… geez), stands tall and proud, and its Music sounds exactly the way we need it to sound. Paying homage to the ones that suffered under Franco's Fascist regime, "Herederos del Silencio" tells History from the innocent's side. Atmospheric, Epic, Aggressive and Warm Black Metal.

 

Obsidian Grave & Herculean Death – "Bringers of Cascadian Death" (Atrocity Altar, 2021)

 

As stated before, I am not the biggest fan of this kind of release, but 2021 might make me change my mind in that sense. Obsidian Grave is one of those bands / projects that have not, yet, caught my complete and total attention. Given the absurd amount of Black Metal releases that pop up every single day, it is hard to keep up to date. Nonetheless, I managed to give this one a spin, and it spun for hours! Obsidian Grave's side is majestically epic, and beautifully atmospheric! Herculean Death is a much more recent act, but I see a great future for the man! A very balanced, melodic, yet dark and raw, Black Metal. Sort of in line with the lads in Obsidian Grave.

 

Turnstile – "Glow On" (Roadrunner Records, 2021)

 

Uhm… white clouds on a pink background?! On a Hardcore album?! Uhm… and dancing grooves?! Let me be honest: only Turnstile would pull this off with such class. And yes they did, and it shows how open-minded the Hardcore peepz are. Turnstile has been fucking up people's minds since day one. They are able to create such a fusion of sounds, that makes you go "WTF?!". Please check "Underwater Boi" for example. Thank you. This is one of Hardcore's best album of the year, no doubt. They make light denim seem pretty fashion, as well.

 

Mons Veneris – "Mons Veneris" (Signal Rex – Harvest of Death, 2021)

 

Mons Veneris is one of those acts that can be seen as the mastermind of a whole scene. If you look at the Portuguese (Raw) Black Metal scene, this man's touch is almost everywhere. Alongside Irae, Vetala, Decrepitude, and Rainha Cólera, he is part of the Black Circle, but outside this acts he is here, he is there, he is truly everywhere. One thing I really respect is his honesty towards the genre. True, I cannot confirm is dedication and whatnot, but I sort of extract it from his Music, from his Art.

Irae & Morte Incandescente – "Dangerovz Magick Zpells from the Mesziah of Death" & "Vala Comum" (Signal Rex, 2021)

 

Still on the Portuguese Black Metal scene: Irae and Morte Incandescente, Vulturius and Nocturnus Horrendus (no need to mention his resume, I reckon). Irae's most recent offer is a freaky Black Metal set of songs. Always in line with what Mr. Vulturius has offer us throughout all these years, I sense a stranger scent on this one, which might be justified with his affiliation to Vetala, and their "outside the box" Raw Black Metal structure. "Part. III" is a must, people, a must! Morte Incandescente is one of my favourite Black Metal acts in Portugal. They have a particular sound, that differs from most, and this ability to always surprise us. This time, besides Black Metal, we were offered some Thrash, some Heavy Metal, and even some Doom, all in very balanced doses, and never allowing us to forget who they are.

 

Antifascist Black Metal Network

 

YouTube channel dedicated to all Left Wing / Antifascist Black Metal. National Socialist Black Metal had been gaining ground for too long. The genre does not need politics involved in its core, in its creation, and I still in this concept. The issue is, too many Boneheads started using – in a much more vocal and visible manner – Black Metal to put out their messages.  I applaud everyone that takes a stand against Fascism, and Fascists, so all my support for these lovely chaps from France, if I am not mistaken.

I dare say a lot has been forgotten, and a lot more "ignored". As I said at the start of this post, I do not have the necessary time to dwell into all the music that is released today, and I truly believe that I am missing on amazing music...

See you all next year, with more music and more words. Hopefully I will be able to keep this (more) updated, and provide jolly good content for you all.

Do not drink and drive; stay in and enjoy the Music.

Danny