December 31, 2021
Features & Interviews

As 2021 draws to a close, it has once again been quite a year for music. With 2020 seeing a cataclysmic change in the landscape ‘thanks’ to a global pandemic; the world became a different place, live music all but disappeared, albums were delayed and bands that lived in different locations could not travel to be together. Whilst the world still remains in the grip of a pandemic, live music has returned to a degree with UK festivals early in the year such as Glastonbury being cancelled and Download became a ‘pilot’ with a reduced capacity. Later in the year, Sheffield’s Tramlines managed full capacity and in August Bloodstock was totally sold out. There were other festivals that did take place such as New Day and other live shows did happen but at the same time, many tours have throughout the year moved to other future dates. Bands did find other ways to maintain a presence and embraced live streaming to great effect.

On the other hand, the amount of albums appeared to increase and even though there may have been limitations in being physically present, once more bands utilised technology in order to be able to create. It may not have been a tremendous year in the live arena but in terms of recorded music, 2021 has been a standout year and it is here that Velvet Thunder presents the writers and contributors choice as to their top albums of the year.

Thank you for the support in 2021 and see you in 2022!

VELVET THUNDER

Lee Vickers

  1. Phantom Elite – Titanium (Frontiers Music)
  2. Souls Of Diotima – Janas (Rockshot)
  3. Exodus – Persona Non Grata (Nuclear Blast)
  4. Thola – Somewhere (Art Gates)
  5. Evanescence – The Bitter Truth (Sony/BMG)
  6. Flotsam & Jetsam – Blood In The Water (AFM Records)
  7. Laurenne/Louhimo – The Reckoning (Frontiers Music)
  8. Venues – Solace (Arising Empire)
  9. Helloween – Helloween (Nuclear Blast)
  10. Cradle Of Filth – Existence Is Futile (Nuclear Blast)

Steve Pilkington

  1. Mostly Autumn – Graveyard Star (Mostly Autumn Records)
  2. Amanda Lehmann – Innocence And Illusion (Self Released)
  3. The Emerald Dawn – To Touch The Sky (Worlds End Records)
  4. Lee Abraham – Only Human (F2 Music)
  5. Iron Maiden – Senjutsu (Parlophone)
  6. Steve Hackett – Surrender Of Silence (InsideOut Music)
  7. Blind Golem – A Dream Of Fantasy (Andromeda Relix)
  8. Jack O’The Clock – Leaving California (Cuneiform)
  9. Checking For Echo Project – Life And Other Short Stories (Self Released)
  10. The Flying Caravan – I Just Wanna Break Even (Paella Records)

Lorne Murphy

  1. Jordsjø – Pastoralia (Karisma)
  2. Tusmørke – Nordisk Krim (Karisma)
  3. Agusa – En Annan Värd (Kommun 2)
  4. SKE – Insolubilia (Self Released)
  5. Bernardo Lanzetti – Horizontal Rain (SnV)
  6. Auri – Those We Don’t Speak Of (Nuclear Blast)
  7. Ciccada – Harvest (Bad Elephant Music)
  8. Peter Hammill – In Translation (Fie! Records)
  9. Tillison Reingold Tiranti – Allium: Una Storia (Reingold Records)
  10. The Watch – The Art Of Bleeding (Self Released)

Richard Proctor

  1. The Damn Truth – Now Or Nowhere (Spectra Musique)
  2. Witchwood – Before The Winter (Jolly Roger Records)
  3. Jade Like The Stone – Seven Roads (Independent)
  4. Katatonia – Mnemosynean (Peaceville/Snapper)
  5. Mountain Caller – Chronicle1: The Truthseeker (New Heavy Sounds)
  6. Sinoptik – The Calling (SINOPTIK)
  7. When Rivers Meet – Saving Grace (One Road Records)
  8. Eddie Tatton – Canons Like Flowers (Stunted Records)
  9. The Tea Party – Blood Moon Rising (InsideOut Music)
  10. The Ellis Mano Band – Ambedo Mind (Jazzhaus Records)

Stoyan Tsonev

  1. The Night Eternal – Moonlit Cross (Ván Records)
  2. Iron Maiden – Senjutsu (Parlophone)
  3. Flotsam and Jetsam – Blood In The Water (AFM Records)
  4. Funeral Mist – Deiform (Noevdia)
  5. The Necromancers Union – Flesh Of The Dead (Petrichor)
  6. Hate – Rugia (Metal Blade Records)
  7. Frightful – Spectral Creator (Awakening Records)
  8. At The Gates – The Nightmare Of Being (Century Media Records)
  9. Memoriam – To The End (Reaper Entertainment Europe)
  10. Wound – Serpent Crown (Ván Records)

Terry Craven

  1. The Three Tremors – Guardians Of The Void (Steel Cartel Records)
  2. Durbin – The Beast Awakens (Frontiers Music)
  3. Lake Of Tears – Ominous (AFM Records)
  4. Resurrection Kings – Skygazer (Frontiers Music)
  5. Brainstorm – Wall Of Skulls (AFM Records)
  6. Legions Of The Night – Sorrow Is The Cure (Pride & Joy Music)
  7. Witchwood – Before The Winter (Jolly Roger Records)
  8. Rhapsody Of Fire – Glory For Salvation (AFM Records)
  9. KK’s Priest – Sermons Of The Sinner (EX1 Records)
  10. Gary Hughes – Waterside (Frontiers Music)

Paul Whimpenny

  1. Hex A.D. – Funeral Tango For Gods & Men (Fresh Tea)
  2. Lee Abraham – Only Human (F2 Music)
  3. Osmo Vänskä/Minnesota Orchestra – Mahler Symphony No.10 (BIS)
  4. Dordeduh – Har (Prophecy Productions)
  5. Flying Caravan – I Just Wanna Break Even (Paella Records)
  6. Amanda Lehmann – Innocence And Illusion (Self Released)
  7. Himmellegeme – Variola Vera (Karisma Records)
  8. Karmamoi – Room 101 (Karmamoi)
  9. The Hawklords – Time (Hawklords)
  10. Ken Hensley – My Book Of Answers (Cherry Red)

Graeme Stroud

  1. Joe Bonamassa – Royal Tea Live From The Ryman (Provogue)
  2. Arielle – Analog Girl In A Digital World (Arielle)
  3. Eric Bibb – Dear America (Provogue)
  4. Joe Bonamassa – Time Clocks (Provogue)
  5. Robert Jon & The Wreck – Shine A Light On Me Brother (Robert Jon Music)
  6. Starlite Campbell Band – The Language Of Curiosity (Supertone Records)
  7. One Thousand Motels – Get In Where You Fit In (Universal)
  8. Kitt Wakeley – Symphony Of Sinners And Saints (Independent)
  9. Jump – The Myth Remastered (Caerllysi Music)
  10. When Rivers Meet – Saving Grace (One Road Records)

Laurence Todd

  1. Transatlantic – The Absolute Universe (InsideOut Music)
  2. Nad Sylvan – Spiritus Mundi (InsideOut Music)
  3. Kansas – Point Of Know Return: Live & Beyond (InsideOut Music)
  4. Langan Frost Wane – Langan Frost Wane (Goldstar Recordings)
  5. Frost* – Day And Age (InsideOut Music)
  6. Paradox Twin – Signals From Silence (White Star Records)
  7. Liquid Tension Experiment – LTE3 (InsideOut Music)
  8. Neal Morse Band – Innocence And Danger (InsideOut Music)
  9. Steve Hackett – Surrender Of Silence (InsideOut Music)
  10. Caravan – It’s None Of Your Business (Madfish)

Sebastian Vickers

  1. City State – Violent Bodies – (Famined Records)
  2. Erra – Erra (UNFD)
  3. Ice Nine Kills – Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2 (Fearless Records)
  4. While She Sleeps – Sleeps Society (Universal Music)
  5. Silent Planet – Iridescent (UNFD)
  6. Brand of Sacrifice – Lifeblood (Bloodblast)
  7. Born of Osiris – Angel or Alien (Sumerian Records)
  8. Don Broco – Amazing Things (Sharptone)
  9. Darko US – Darko (Independent)
  10. VEXED – Culling Culture (Napalm)  
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Author: Velvet Thunder

Formed in 2019, Velvet Thunder covers news, reviews and features from the worlds of Prog, Metal and Classic Rock.