Now that the year 2021 is coming to a close, we at Tuonela Magazine want to share the releases that we have enjoyed the most. Each of our staff members will share their own lists, so here is the list of journalist Sarah de Wolf…
2021 was a year the world had high hopes for. Although it was not full of all the festivals and vacations everyone had been waiting for, we were grateful for all festivals and live shows we were still able to attend in order to get a glimpse of normalcy. The other benefit to fewer live shows was that bands were able to focus on creating great albums and music videos. This year will always have a special place in my heart, as it is the year I moved to Finland from Canada. With the gigs of many international bands being canceled due to travel restrictions, I felt lucky there were many amazing local Finnish bands to see live. As we all know, the years may change, but Finland will always have the best metal in the world!
Top 10 International albums
10. Spectral Wound – A Diabolical Thirst
9. Cannibal Corpse – Violence Unimagined
8. Darkthrone – Eternal Hails
7. Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
6. Carcass – Torn Arteries
5. Einherjer – North Star
4. Thyrfing – Vanagandr
3. Negură Bunget – Zău
2. Dalriada – Őszelő
1. Wardruna – Kvitravn
Read more: REVIEW: Iron Maiden – Senjutsu
Top 10 Finnish albums
10. Oceanhoarse – Dead Reckoning
9. Riivaus – Hehkumaton
8. Archgoat – Worship the Eternal Darkness
7. Lord of Pagathorn – Age of Curse
6. Omnium Gatherum – Origin
5. Thy Row – Unchained
4. Haloo Helsinki! – Älä Pelkää Elämää
3. Isengrim – Maailmantappaja
2. Swallow the Sun – Moonflowers
1. Korpiklaani- Jylhä
Read more: Interview with Oceanhoarse — “A sonic storyline.” | REVIEW: Omnium Gatherum – Origin | Interview with Thy Row — “This whole album is about raw emotions and real stuff that has happened to us.” | REVIEW: Isengrim – Maailmantappaja | REVIEW: Swallow The Sun – Moonflowers | REVIEW: Korpiklaani – Jylhä
Top 3 Eps
3. Trollfest – Happy Heroes
2. Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky with Blood
1. Wolfheart – Skull Soldiers
Read more: REVIEW: Bodom After Midnight – EP: Paint the Sky with Blood | Interview with Bodom After Midnight — “You should enjoy every little moment you get with your friends and loved ones.”
Best livestream concert
Metsatöll – Viking Village Feast, April 30, 2021
Read more: 20.11.2021 Vetten Äpärät, Voidfallen & Metsatöll @ On the Rocks, Helsinki
Most promising act
Shereign
Read more: FEATURED SINGLE: Shereign – Against the Odds
Top 5 music videos
5. Pasi ja Anssi – Komiat pärjää aina
4. Отава Ё – Тимоня
3.Metsatöll – Tarede Vaikuses
2. Korpiklaani – Sanaton Maa
1. Korpiklaani – Tuuleton
Read more: 20.11.2021 Vetten Äpärät, Voidfallen & Metsatöll @ On the Rocks, Helsinki | Interview with Korpiklaani — “We wanted to make this album our ‘Painkiller.’”
Top 5 lyric videos
5. Dalriada – Huszáros
4. Thy Row – Unchained
3. Wolfheart – Skull Soldiers (feat. Petro Solovey)
2. Verikalpa – Taisto
1. Wardruna – Skugge
Read more: REVIEW: Thy Row – Unchained
Top 5 international songs
5. Trollfest – Happy Heroes
4. Батюшка – Письмо I
3. Negură Bunget – Brad
2. Metsatöll – Tarede vaikuses
1. Dalriada -Betyár-altató
Read more: 20.11.2021 Vetten Äpärät, Voidfallen & Metsatöll @ On the Rocks, Helsinki
Top 5 Finnish songs
5. Omnium Gatherum – Fortitude
4. Verikalpa – Taisto
3. Lord of Pagathorn – Crush the Holy Spirit
2. Isengrim – Gungnir
1. Korpiklaani – Tuuleton
Read more: REVIEW: Omnium Gatherum – Origin | REVIEW: Isengrim – Maailmantappaja | REVIEW: Korpiklaani – Jylhä
Top 5 best last-minute songs
5. Pure Wrath – The Cloak of Disquiet
4. Feuerschwanz – Warriors of The World United (feat Thomas Winkler, Saltatio Mortis & Melissa Bonny)
3. Swallow the Sun – The Void
2. Amorphis – The Moon
1. Verikalpa – Rautanen Herra
Top 5 cover art
5. Thy Row Band – Unchained
4. Bodom After Midnight – Paint the Sky with Blood EP
3. Isengrim – Maailmantappaja
2. Darkthrone – Eternal Hails
1. Korpiklaani – Jylhä
Read more: REVIEW: Thy Row – Unchained | REVIEW: Bodom After Midnight – EP: Paint the Sky with Blood | REVIEW: Isengrim – Maailmantappaja | REVIEW: Korpiklaani – Jylhä
Best collaboration
Wolfheart – Skull Soldiers (feat. Petro Solovey)
Top 5 most anticipated releases of 2022
5. Sonata Arctica – Acoustic Adventures Volume One
4. Battle Beast – Circus of Doom
3. Amorphis – Halo
2. Aurora – The Gods we can Touch
1. Verikalpa – Tunturihauta
Want to share your lists with us? Comment below with your lists.
The whole Tuonela Magazine team wishes you an inspirational 2022 filled with a lot of new music to discover. We hope to see you back next year!
