2020 might have been a stinker of a year, but there was still plenty of solid guitar music to enjoy. Now I don’t want to jinx anything here, but with the global rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, things should – hopefully – soon return to some semblance of normality.
And with that normality should come a wave of quality new music, as artists seek to dust off their rigs and get ready to hit the road once again.
In a moment of perhaps overzealous optimism, I’ve put together a list of five exciting guitar albums to expect in 2021. They are, in no particular order…
Metallica – TBA
Metallica carry the momentum of a 1,000 tonne freight train barrelling downhill, in a universe where terminal velocity is a non-existent concept. Over the course of their near 40-year career, Hetfield and co. have released 10 genre-shaping albums, and it looks like 2021 will play host to their eleventh.
In a recent conversation with singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers for Rolling Stone, Lars Ulrich revealed details of how the band are “three, four weeks into some pretty serious writing.”
“All the shit – pandemics, fires, politics, race problems, and just fucking looking at the state of the world – it’s so easy just to so fall into a depressive state,” he said. “But writing always makes me feel enthusiastic about what’s next. It’s like, ‘Fuck, there’s an opportunity here to still make the best record, to still make a difference. To still do something that not even turns other people on, but turns me on.’”
I stress, nothing concrete has been confirmed yet, but might 2021 see the reawakening of the dormant thrash metal titans? Only time will tell…
Ghost – TBA
Tobias Forge and his band of Nameless Ghouls look set to drop the follow-up to 2018’s Prequelle in 2021. Speaking to Sweden Rock Magazine back in October, Forge said: “The plan now is for me to be here [in the studio] writing for another two months until Christmas.
“The idea is for the album to be recorded in January. The actual recording will last around six weeks and then there’s two to three weeks of mixing and mastering. So sometime in March the record should be finished, but it won’t be released until after the summer.”
Also, it appears we’ll be saying goodbye to Cardinal Copia for the time being; Forge looks poised to reassume the role of Papa Emeritus, after remerging as the character at the final show of the band’s 2020 tour, A Pale Tour Named Death.
So Ghost fans watch out; the Swedish theatrical hard rockers are likely to haunt your ears once again in 2021.
The Pretty Reckless – Death By Rock And Roll
While it’s common knowledge that the foundation of their sound is rooted in guitar, it seems The Pretty Reckless are scouting new sonic territory with upcoming album Death By Rock And Roll.
The differing compositional styles of the three singles released thus far – the title track, 25 and Broomsticks – indicate a perhaps more eclectic collection of songs than usual from the Taylor Momsen-led quartet, and for that the excitement is real.
Speaking to Forbes in August 2020, Momsen said: “I’m just really excited for people to hear it because, in my opinion, it’s the best album we’ve ever made so it’s hard to sit on this music.”
So get February 12 2021 pencilled in your calendar, ’cause TPR are coming back.
Epica – Omega
Symphonic metal is like no other genre; its soundtrack-like quality enables artists to create worlds, transporting listeners into their unique sonic landscape. And that’s why I can’t wait to hear Epica’s eighth studio album Omega.
Thus far, the Dutch six-piece have released three singles from the record – Abyss of Time – Countdown to Singularity, Freedom – The Wolves Within and the acoustic-flavoured Abyss o’ Time.
On the former two, the guitars once again take centre stage in front of the backdrop of a beautifully recorded orchestral section. The latter blends a folk-style instrumentation with gorgeous vocal harmonies. One thing’s clear, the production quality of Omega is sure to be epic.
So save February 26, 2021 – for you’ll be busy being swept up in a brand new planet of orchestral metal.
Megadeth – TBA
2021 looks to be a fruitful year for thrash metal, with a new Megadeth album on the crest of the horizon. In an interview with the Decibel Geek podcast last year, bassist Dave Ellefson said: “Basic tracks are done. Overdubs now are continuing.
“I’m sure 2021 will see some new Megadeth music of some form – hopefully the whole album, because touring will open up and we can drop a record and the tour dates that we have rescheduled will all go forward as planned. That’s what we’re hoping.”
He went on to mediate: “That’s about all I can say on it – just ’cause it’s not done yet, so it’s hard to talk about something that’s still in motion.”
So thrash fans rejoice: the galloping rhythms and headbang-inducing riffs are likely to come in droves from the Megadeth camp in 2021.
