Scene Daddy’s Favorite Albums of 2021

Sargent House, Epitaph, Century Media, Nuclear Blast, Rise, Run for Cover

2021 was a very exciting year for new music, especially with the return of live shows allowing more artists to release their material with the support of touring. The Scene Daddy team put together a list of our 20 favorite releases of 2021, in no particular order. Here are the albums and EPs we loved the most in metalcore, emo, hardcore, deathcore, pop-punk, and more.

The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die – Illusory Walls

The emo revival era collective that created sprawling and ethereal staples in their genre returned this year with a 70-minute-long behemoth. Illusory Walls integrates progressive rock guitars into their sound and sees the already extremely anthemic band sounding more massive than ever. It is one of the most sonically captivating albums of the year, but its lyrics are truly unmatched. Rattling off the topics it covers (wealth disparity under capitalism, skepticism of religion, formative memories, etc.) does these songs no justice – the lines are brilliantly written, and their weight is amplified by the music. This album is so dense that it can be daunting, but it is well worth investing the proper time and attention. It’s a triumph for all who care about rock music and want a better world. -Em Miraglia

Ice Nine Kills – Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2

The second iteration of Ice Nine Kills’ The Silver Scream saga was easily my most anticipated album of 2021, and it lived up to every ounce of anticipation. Each track is meticulously crafted to represent the horror franchise it’s based on; everything from the demonic child voice in “Assault & Batteries” to the groovy swing-style of “Ex-Mortis” demonstrates that Ice Nine Kills know their genre and deliver on their vision ten-fold. -Tyler Johnson

Knocked Loose – A Tear in the Fabric of Life

Knocked Loose followed up their sophomore release, 2019’s A Different Shade Of Blue, with their first concept release: a tragic EP complimented by an animated short film about a life-altering car crash and its devastating aftermath. A Tear in the Fabric of Life encapsulates the Oldham County quintet’s knack for kinetic rhythm paired with throat-searing lead vocals from Bryan Garris and tight-as-ever sonic brutality. -Ian Addison

Home Is Where – I Became Birds

I’ve found it a bit reductive when some supporters of this album refer to its themes of gender “transition”. I say this because to me, I Became Birds reveals a desire to transcend the gendered body via some of the most poignant and inspired poetry I’ve ever encountered about coming to understand one’s gender identity. To convey this, vocalist/lyricist Brandon MacDonald uses absurd, abstract, and visceral lyrics with imagery of Floridian towns and honorable death rituals. Their strained and twangy singing, shouting, and screaming conveys their emotion through every word over exhilarating screamo, emo, folk, and acoustic punk. -Em Miraglia

Spiritbox – Eternal Blue

With their debut album Eternal Blue, Spiritbox launched themselves to the forefront of the metalcore scene, dominating the charts and airwaves. Despite having heard almost half of the album before its release with a steady stream of amazing singles, Spiritbox left some of the most impactful tracks for release day, with songs like “Yellowjacket” and “Silk In The Strings” completely taking over my daily playlists. -Tyler Johnson

The Armed – ULTRAPOP

Enigmatic Detroit-based hardcore collective The Armed continue on in their realm of merging chaotic noise with jet black bubblegum pop. Chewed-up choruses implode into inverted synth ruptures, and alongside an increased ambition in hook sensibility, ULTRAPOP is as much every genre as it is none at all. REFRACT. -Ian Addison

Fiddlehead – Between the Richness

Between the Richness is bookended by a reading of an E. E. Cummings poem, with the line, “I carry your heart with me, I carry it in my heart. I am never without it, anywhere I go, you go”, referring to frontman Pat Flynn’s remembrance of his late father, as well as his hope to live on with his son when he passes on. The majority of the record’s heartfelt lyrics reflect this connection between generations come and gone, and the current balance of grief and hope in Flynn’s life. The supergroup’s infectious and pulsing melody-driven hardcore backing his gruff vocals and touching lyrics make this simultaneously the most addictive and emotionally involved record of the year in its genre. -Em Miraglia

Lorna Shore – …And I Return To Nothingness

Even when they’re seemingly crushed by the loss of yet another vocalist, Lorna Shore rise from the ashes with their new frontman Will Ramos to release one of the biggest EPs in the history of deathcore with …And I Return To Nothingness. Reaching viral status on TikTok and having one of the most reacted-to videos of the year, “To the Hellfire” is a soaring and crushing deathcore anthem that you need to experience at least once. -Tyler Johnson

Common Sage – It Lives and It Breathes

Common Sage arrived in full form on their sophomore album, selecting a dream team of veteran contributors in their scene to help bring it to life. The record’s foundation consists of hypnotic mid-tempo emo that is equally beautiful and unsettling, with a few changes in pace on the backend including a dark acoustic folk track, a brief blast of frenetic punk, and the closest thing that a band like this can get to pop. Fellow lovers of “art emo” who can no longer bring themselves to indulge in Brand New’s brilliant but now tainted discography should be ecstatic that this band exists. -Em Miraglia

The Devil Wears Prada – ZII

Eleven years removed from the release of the Zombie EP, The Devil Wears Prada capitalize on the concept-style EP once again with ZII. In another year of viruses and national lockdowns, it couldn’t have come at a more fitting time for our society, and I fed into it with every part of me. ZII is the perfect follow-up to arguably one of the best EPs in metalcore in the Zombie EP. -Tyler Johnson

Arm’s Length – Everything Nice

After naming Everything Nice the first great Canadian emo record of the year, I stand behind it as the best Canadian emo release of 2021 as we close the year out. The young group has a solid handle on the melodic and catchy pop-punk leaning end of the genre’s spectrum with elements of its more aggressive emotive hardcore origins, crafting dynamic songs with unlimited replay value. Its lyrics reflect on the struggles of mental illness and difficult familial relationships, with strong writing and powerful vocal deliveries that make it a gut-punch with every listen. -Em Miraglia

The Plot In You – Swan Song

The Plot In You’s Dispose was one of my favorite releases of 2018, making Swan Song another highly anticipated release for this year. I was hooked from the opening track “Letters To A Dead Friend” and this album didn’t let me go for its entire 35 minutes. All I can say is that despite its title, I hope this isn’t The Plot In You’s swan song, because they’re one of the best bands this scene has to offer. -Tyler Johnson

Citizen – Life In Your Glass World

Punching percussive flares carefully move through clambering basslines rigged with dancehall-ready assertion on Citizen’s latest record. Their lyricism throughout Life In Your Glass World details experiences of creative frustration as well as the trio’s tangible stories on modern romantics, self-doubt and self-worth. -Ian Addison

Pulses. – Speak Less

Ever wanted an album that functions like a short sampler of modern scene subgenres and somehow doesn’t sound scattered, gimmicky, or completely derivative? Look no further than Speak Less. In under 20 minutes, Pulses. dabble in post-hardcore, metalcore, pop-punk, emo, and more, with short tracks that fit each genre in sound and lyrical style. While some of the album’s samples and references reveal a goofy side of the band, its closer “Evidence of Absence” is a stunning piece on confronting racism. After a long and spacey buildup, its final minute provides a cathartic payoff, leaving the listener with this: "No justice, no peace / Start learning, don’t speak / No token, no games / Remember our names". -Em Miraglia

YONAKA – Seize the Power

As a massive fan of FEVER 333, YONAKA’s “Clique” was featured on my Spotify Release Radar one Friday, and I couldn’t have been happier to stumble upon this incredible band. Taking me completely by surprise, YONAKA deliver a triumphant and powerful message throughout Seize the Power that will have you feeling empowered one minute and contemplating existence the next. -Tyler Johnson

Archspire – Bleed the Future

By feverishly amalgamating warp-speed instrumentation with the rapid vocal delivery of Oli Peters, Archspire’s first album since 2017’s Relentless Mutation is expansive compared to other contemporary releases in extreme metal. While Bleed the Future is fast by ear, the Vancouver tech-death goliath’s fourth studio album leaves sonic subtleties to be discovered in every breakneck crevice. -Ian Addison

Cluttered – Cluttered

With snotty vocals, cutting lyrics, and an energetic band behind her, Matty Grace of Halifax-based band Cluttered reflected on the year(s) of suffering under the COVID-19 pandemic. Her clever turns of phrase and the group’s relentless punk pop make this package of songs all too easy to return to again and again. -Em Miraglia

MØL – Diorama

Denmark blackened-whatever outfit MØL expanded on their debut with a reinvigorated sense of artistic intent and purpose in making heavy music. MØL’s tendrils of crashing sound weaved through thoughtfully-melded vocal intricacies hoists Diorama as a crowning release in 2021’s catalogue. -Ian Addison

Between You & Me – Armageddon

Another band that took me completely by surprise in 2021 is Between You & Me, arriving with their second full-length Armageddon. I had checked out this band previously, but they hadn’t quite connected for whatever reason, until now that is. From “Pleased to Meet You” all the way through to “Armageddon”, this pop-punk release is the most uplifting and fun listen I’ve had this year. -Tyler Johnson

Backxwash – I LIE HERE BURIED WITH MY RINGS AND MY DRESSES

Under awesome stage name Backxwash, Ashanti Mutinta is one of the most exciting heavy rap artists in the scene right now. Her latest record details the most tortured periods of her life through blistering horrorcore and industrial hip-hop. With its jarring lyrics, furious flow, punishing instrumentals, an interesting mix of samples, and some solid features, I LIE HERE BURIED is an undeniable highlight of the year for metal and rap fans alike. -Em Miraglia