2021 - A Year in Review (Amanda’s List)

If you read our zine online or got a copy via a record - you probably already know that I am a self-proclaimed fan girl of Kris Esfandiari. From their sick bands, deep vocal tracks, performance in The Runner and latex modeling gig - what can’t they do - seriously, can we be friends? Celestial Blues brought me solace during this trying year. It transcends the pigeonholing of musical genres. I’m listening to Celestial Blues as I type this up for the year - its deep, emotive, and healing that honestly, we all need. (From Celestial Blues)

I'm not from here that's for certain
I've never felt like a normal person
So now I hang my head, I'm not feeling right
I want to ascend until we collide
I want to crash my heart into the divine

There wasn’t a ton of pop happiness going on in this list but after this year -who can you blame. Nothing satisfied my anger more than listening to some hardcore in my car on my drive to work. Rhye brings you back home (yeah, I know) with their soft low tempo vocals that make you take stock of what you have around you. This year sucked but hopefully you made it to a show or two. Luckily we got some in while COVID numbers were low - if you get a chance Gatecreeper and Gulch are so damn worth it.

Cheers to you all. Wishing you love and a hardcore show for 2022- 🖤ab


2021

1: KING WOMAN - Celestial Blues

2: TURNSTILE - Glow On

3: POM POM SQUAD - Death of a Cheerleader

4: RHYE - HOME

5: BIG BRAVE - Vital

6: SCOWL - How Flowers Grow

7: MILITARIE GUN - All Roads Lead to the Gun I/II

8: GATECREEPER - An Unexpected Reality

9: SUPERLYNX - Electric Temple

10: SLANT - First LP

11: CLOSER - Within One Stem

12: FIDDLEHEAD - Between the Riches

13: WORLD PEACE - Come and See

14: REGIONAL JUSTICE CENTER - Crime and Punishment

15: MIDWIFE - Luminol

16: CONVERGE/CHELSEA WOLFE - Bloodmoon: I

17: EMMA RUTH RUNDLE/THOU - The Helm of Sorrow

18: FLOATIE - Voyage Out

19: PIXEL GRIP - ARENA

20: LANDE HEKT - Going to Hell