BEST OF 2021 – THE BEST RELEASES OF THE YEAR

Here’s the result of our BEST OF 2021 readers poll (thanks to everyone who sent in their lists).

01. SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
02. ASPHYX – Necroceros
03. HOODED MENACE – The Tritonous Bell
04. DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
05. CEREBRAL ROT – Excretion Of Mortality
06. CARCASS – Torn Arteries
07. CONCRETE WINDS – Nerve Butcherer
08. HEXORCIST – Evil Reaping Death
09. APOSTASY – Death Return
10. FORCE OF DARKNESS – Twilight Of Dark Illumination

And, as usual, here’s what the VOICES FROM THE DARKSIDE staff and a couple of label owners and musicians enjoyed the most in 2021 (in alphabetical order)…

Alfonso Perez

• ALTERED DEAD – Returned To Life
• CONCRETE WINDS – Nerve Butcherer
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• KILLING ADDICTION – Mind Of A New God
• METAPHOBIC – Demo 2021
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• SOCIOCLAST – Sociaclast
• SPHINX – Deathstroke
• UNANIMATED – Victory In Blood
• YOTH IRIA – As the Flame Withers

Anders Peter Jørgensen

• CLANDESTINE BLAZE – Secrets Of Laceration
• FERRITERIUM – Calvaire
• HOODED MENACE – The Tritonus Bell
• MAZE OF TERROR – Offer To The Fucking Beasts
• MORTIFERUM – Preserved In Torment
• NUCLEAR REVENGE – Dawn Of The Primitive Age
• OFERMOD – Mysterium Iniquitatis
• STARGAZER – Psychic Secretions
• TITAN – Palengesia
• TYRANNIC – Mortuus Decadence

David Simonton

• ANTICHRIST SIEGE MACHINE – Purifying Blade
• ARCHGOAT – Worship The Eternal Darkness
• CRYPTA – Echoes Of The Soul
• DARKTHRONE – Eternal Hails…
• GATECREEPER – An Unexpected Reality
• HULDER – Godslastering: Hymns Of A Forlorn Peasantry
• INVULTATION – Unconquerable Death
• NERVOSA – Perpetual Chaos
• SPECTRAL WOUND – A Diabolic Thirst
• WORMWITCH – Wolf Hex

Frank Stöver

• ALTERED DEAD – Returned To Life
• ANCIENT CRYPTS – Between The Mortuary Remains
• APOSTASY – Death Return
• CONCRETE WINDS – Nerve Butcherer
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• MORBID MESSIAH – Disgorged In The Coffin
• RAPTURE – Malevolent Demise Incarnation
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• THE TROOPS OF DOOM – The Absence Of Light
• UNDER THE CHURCH – Total Burial

Jaime Perez

• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• BEWITCHER – Cursed Be Thy Kingdom
• BUNKER 66 – Beyond The Help Of Prayers
• DESASTER – Churches Without Saints
• DRUADAN FOREST / OLD SORCERY – Split
• FROZEN SOUL – Crypt Of Ice
• INOCULATION – Celestial Putridity
• MALUM – Devil’s Creation
• MOON – Pandimensional Gnosis
• PAN-AMERIKAN NATIVE FRONT – Little Turtle’s War

Jarne Brauns

• APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE – Until The Darkness Goes
• COLD EARTH – Your Misery, My Triumph
• FORNHEM – Stämman Fran Berget
• MASTODON – Hushed And Grim
• NEGURA BUNGET – Zau
• OFERMOD – Mysterium Iniquitatis
• THE LIMIT – Caveman Logic
• THE RUINS OF BEVERAST – The Thule Grimoires
• ULVER – Flowers Of Evil
• WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – Primordial Arcana

Julián Núñez

• BALMOG – Eve
• CRAVEN IDOL – Forged Tongues
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• FORCE OF DARKNESS – Twilight Of Dark Illumination
• MAGGOTS – Legion De Gusanos
• NEKROMANTHEON – Visions Of Trimegistos
• SUFFERING HOUR – The Cyclic Reckoning
• TRANSILVANIA – Of Sleep And Death
• UNTO OTHERS – Strength
• YOTH IRÍA – As The Flame Withers

Kat “Shevil” Gillham

• ABYSMAL GRIEF – Funeral Cult Of Personality
• ANGUISH – Doomkvädet
• APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE – Until The Darkness Goes
• AT THE GATES – The Nightmare Of Being
• HOODED MENACE – The Tritonous Bell
• LUNAR SHADOW – Wish To Leave
• OFERMOD – Mysterium Iniquitatis
• THE NIGHT ETERNAL – Moonlit Cross
• WHEEL – Preserved In Time
• YOTH IRIA – As The Flame Withers

Michael Kujawska

• 1914 – Where Fear And Weapons Meet
• ABLAZE MY SORROW – Among Ashes And Monoliths
• AT THE GATES – The Nightmare Of Being
• CANNIBAL CORPSE – Violence Unimagined
• CARCASS – Torn Arteries
• DUSKMOURN – Fallen Kings And Rusted Crowns
• NINKHARSAG – The Dread March Of Solemn Gods
• STORMKEEP – Tales Of Othertime
• THE CROWN – Royal Destroyer
• THULCANDRA – A Dying Wish

Miguel Negrón

• APOSTASY – Death Return
• CEREBRAL ROT – Excretion Of Mortality
• DISKORD – Degenerations
• EXANIMATVM – Sollvm Ipsa Mor
• GRAVE MIASMA – Abyss Of Wrathful Deities
• OUTRE-TOMBE – Abysse Mortifère
• PHRENELITH – Chimaera
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• SNET – Mokvání V Okovech
• SUFFERING SIGHTS – When Sanity Becomes Insanity

Mindaugas “Plix” Lapinskas

• ACCEPT – Too Mean To Die
• CARCASS – Torn Arteries
• INFIDEL REICH – New World Outrage
• MASSACRE – Resurgence
• MEMORIAM – To The End
• NUNSLAUGHTER – Red Is The Color Of Ripping Death
• OUTRE-TOMBE – Abysse Mortifère
• PHRENETIX – Exuviae
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• STINKER – Doomed Earth

Mirco Szymyslik

• ALCHEMY OF FLESH – Ageless Abominations
• ALTERED DEAD – Returned To Life
• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• CADAVERIC INCUBATOR – Nightmare Necropolis
• CONJURETH – Majestic Dissolve
• DIABOLIZER – Khalkedonian Death
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• HEXORCIST – Evil Reaping Death
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• TEMPLE OF DREAD – Hades Unleashed

Randolph Whateley

• BASTARÐUR – Satan’s Loss Of Son
• DESASTER – Churches Without Saints
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• E-FORCE – Mindbender
• INCARCERATION – Empiricism
• KHNVM – Portals To Oblivion
• LOCK UP – The Dregs Of Hades
• NECRONOMICON – The Final Chapter
• RUNNING WILD – Blood On Blood
• TENTATION – Le Berceau Des Dieux

Ricardo Campos

• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• BLACK SOUL HORDE – Horrors From The Void
• CIRITH UNGOL – Half Past Human
• HEAVY SENTENCE – Bang To Rights
• HITTEN – Triumph & Tragedy
• HOODED MENACE – The Tritonus Bell
• NEKROMANTHEON – Visions Of Trismegistos
• SIGNIFICANT POINT – Into The Storm
• TALES OF MEDUSA – Antiquity
• WORKS OF THE FLESH – Works Of The Flesh

Riccardo Berti

• ABORTOFACIENT – In The Crypt Of Gore
• ANTEDILUVIAN – The Divine Punishment
• ARCHGOAT – Worship The Eternal Darkness
• ASKE / CABRA INFERNAL – Split
• AZAZEL – Aegrum Satanas Tecum
• CAVEMAN CULT – Blood And Extinction
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• HEPATOMANCY – De Tyrannide Daemonum
• NÄCHTLICH – Satanas Solum Initium Est
• NADSVEST / NECROBODE – Split

Steven Willems

• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• CARCASS – Torn Arteries
• DESASTER – Churches Without Saints
• HEXORCIST – Evil Reaping Death
• HOODED MENACE – The Tritonus Bell
• KAELAN MIKLA – Undir Köldum Norðurljósum
• LANA DEL REY – Blue Banisters
• LANA DEL REY – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• SYLVIE KREUSCH – Montbray

Thomas Meyer

• ANGRRSTH – Donikad
• APOSTASY – Death Return
• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• COUNT RAVEN – The Sixth Storm
• ENDSEEKER – Mount Carcass
• GOATH – III – Shaped By The Unlight
• HEADS FOR THE DEAD – Into The Red
• RAPTURE – Malevolent Demise Incarnation
• TENTATION – Le Berceau Des Dieux
• THRONEHAMMER – Incantation Rites

Tim Klöcker

• AVA BONAM – Dreams
• EMMA RUTH RUNDLE – Engine Of Hell
• EYEHATEGOD – A History Of Nomadic Behavior
• IMMOLATION – Apostle (track)
• IMPALED NAZARENE – Eight Headed Serpent
• MAYHEM – Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando
• OBSCENITY – Perversion Mankind Re-Release
• REVEREE – Severance
• SUNN O))) – Benevolence
• WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM – Primordial Arcana

Vamsi Kanagovi

• ÂGE ⱡ TOTAL – Âge ⱡ Total
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• MISOTHEIST – For The Glory Of Your Redeemer
• PORTAL – Avow
• SIDEREAN – Lost On Void’s Horizon
• SKEPTICISM – Companion
• SLIMELORD – Moss Contamination
• TURRIS EBURNEA – Turris Eburnea
• WHARFLURCH – Psychedelic Realms Ov Hell
• WORM – Foreverglade

Gene Palubicki (PERDITION TEMPLE / MALEFIC THRONE / ANGELCORPSE)

• ABHORRATION – After Winter Comes War
• APOSTASY – Death Return
• ASCENDED DEAD / ATOMICIDE – Split
• CAMBION – Conflagrate the Celestial Refugium
• CIRITH UNGOL – Half Past Human
• CONCRETE WINDS – Nerve Butcherer
• FORCE OF DARKNESS – Twilight Of Dark Illumination
• FRIGHTFUL – Spectral Creator
• HEXORCIST – Evil Reaping Death
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises

Wannes Gubbels (PENTACLE)

• ANATOMIA – CORPOREAL TORMENT
• APOSTASY – Death Return
• CONCRETE WINDS – Nerve Butcherer
• DRAWN AND QUARTERED – Congregation Pestilence
• FORCE OF DARKNESS – Twilight Of Dark Illumination
• HELL TREPANNER – Unholy Proclamations Of Death And Darkness
• HEXORCIST – Evil Reaping Death
• NECROMANTIA – To The Depths We Descend
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• WITCHES HAMMER – Devourer Of The Dead

Anastasis Valtsanis (NUCLEAR WINTER RECORDS)

• APOSTASY – Death Return
• CAMBION – Conflagrate The Celestial Refugium
• FRIGHTFUL – Spectral Creator
• HOODED MENACE – The Tritonus Bell
• HYPERDONTIA – Hideous Entity
• NEKROMANTHEON – Visions Of Trismegistos
• PHRENELITH – Chimaera
• QRIXKUOR – Poison Palinopsia
• SULPHUROUS – The Black Mouth Of Sepulchre
• WHARFLURCH – Psychedelic Realms Ov Hell

Andy Tan (KONQUEROR RECORDS)

• CEREBRAL ROT – Excretion Of Mortality
• DARKTHRONE – Eternal Hails
• GENOCIDE PACT – Genocide Pact
• GOSUDAR – Morbid Despotic Ritual
• HEXORCIST – Evil Reaping Death
• MORBIFIC – Ominous Seep Of Putridity
• OUTRE-TOMBE – Abysse Mortifere
• ROTPIT – Into The Rotpit
• VENEFIXION – A Sigh From Below
• WITCHVOMIT – Abhorrent Rapture

Dawid Witeszczak (FALLEN TEMPLE)

• BAXAXAXA – Catacomb Cult
• BOHEMYST ‎- Čerň A Smrt
• CAVERNE – La Fin De Tous Les Chants
• CLANDESTINE BLAZE – Secrets Of Laceration
• DARKTHRONE – Eternal Hails…
• DESASTER – Churches Without Saints
• EVIL – Possessed By Evil
• MYSTERIES – In The Dark And Sodomy / Promo ’94
• NECROMANTICAL INVOCATION – Dogme Et Rituel De La Haute Magie
• WARTODD – Pagan Pride

Giorgio M. Spevo (EVERLASTING SPEW RECORDS)

• ÆNIGMATUM – Deconsecrate
• ALTERED DEAD – Returned To Life
• CAMBION – Conflagrate The Celestial Refugium
• GRAVESEND – Methods of Human Disposal
• HYPERDONTIA – Hideous Entity
• MALIGNANT ALTAR – Realms Of Exquisite Morbidity
• MORTIFERUM – Preserved In Torment
• SIJJIN – Sumerian Promises
• THE RUINS OF BEVERAST – The Thule Grimoires
• WHARFLURCH – Psychedelic Realms Ov Hell

Georgios Filippidis (FLOGA RECORDS)

• ARCHGOAT – Worship The Eternal Darkness
• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• AT THE GATES – The Nightmare Of Being
• CULT OF EIBON – Black Flame Dominion
• HELHEIM – Woduridar
• NIGHTFALL – At Night We Prey
• PESTILENCE – Exitivm
• STORMKEEP – Tales Of Othertime
• TRIBULATION – Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
• UNANIMATED – Victory In Blood

Katia Losanno (NIGREDO PRODUCTIONS / HOOKED ON METAL RECORDS)

• ANTEDILUVIAN – The Divine Punishment
• CULTES DES GHOULES – Deeds Without A Name
• DARKTHRONE – Eternal Hails
• GODHEAD MACHINERY – Monotheistic Enslavement
• GRAVE MIASMA – Abyss Of Wrathful Deities
• KONQUEST – The Night Goes On
• MYSTIC STORM – From The Ancient Chaos
• QRIXKUOR – Poison Palinopsia
• SEXMAG – Sex Storm
• YOTH IRIA – As The Flame Withers

Rico Unglaube (F.D.A. RECORDS)

• AEON – God Ends Here
• BILLY IDOL – The Roadside
• CARCASS – Torn Arteries
• CONCRETE WINDS – Nerve Butcher
• OPHIS – Spew Forth Odium
• OTTO VON SCHIRACH – Animal
• PUTRED / ERUPTIVE – Split
• RAPTURE – Malevolent Demise Incarnation
• REXUL – Erebus… Virtuosus… Alpha…
• VOMIT SPELL – Vomit Spell

Raúl Sampedro (MEMENTO MORI)

• APPARITION – Feel
• CEREBRAL ROT – Excretion Of Mortality
• COFFIN MULCH – Septic Funeral
• INCINERATE – Back To Reality
• LACERATION – Demise
• MORBIFIC – Ominous Seep Of Putridity
• PHANTASMAGORE – Insurrection Or Submission
• RAPTURE – Malevolent Demise Incarnation
• SNĚT – Mokvání V Okovech
• WHARFLURCH – Psychedelic Realms Ov Hell

Roel van Reijmersdal (VIC RECORDS)

• AEON – God Ends Here
• ASPHYX – Necroceros
• HOODED MENACE – The Tritonus Bell
• KILLING ADDICTION – Mind Of A New God
• NECROMANTIA – To The Depths We Descend
• PARADOX – Heresy II – End Of A Legend
• RUDE – Outer Reaches
• UNANIMATED – Victory In Blood
• UNDER THE CHURCH – Total Burial
• YOTH IRIA – As The Flame Withers

Roy Yeo (PULVERISED RECORDS)

• ARCHGOAT – Worship The Eternal Darkness
• DEAFHEAVEN – Infinite Granite
• EXANIMATVM – Sollvm Ipsa Mor
• HELSLAVE – From The Sulphur Depths
• IN MOURNING – The Bleeding Veil
• MORTIFERUM – Preserved In Torment
• OLDSKULL – Nether Hollow Of No Return
• TRIBULATION – Where The Gloom Becomes Sound
• UNDER THE CHURCH – Total Burial
• VOMIT RITUAL – Callous