# 2021 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 2021.

## Bands formed

* The Halo Effect

## Bands disbanded

* Bodom After Midnight
* Demons & Wizards
* Hellyeah (hiatus)
* Lotus Eater
* Lovebites (hiatus)
* Meliah Rage (hiatus)
* Sixx:A.M. (hiatus)

## Bands reformed

* Before the Dawn
* Deadguy
* Defleshed
* Mudvayne
* Mystic Circle
* Porcupine Tree
* Shadows Fall
* Sleeping by the Riverside
* Structures
* Vampires Everywhere!

## Deaths

* January 6 – Paul de Leon, drummer of Las Cruces, died from COVID-19 at the age of 52.
* January 10 – Marsha Zazula, co-founder of Megaforce Records, died of cancer at the age of 68.
* January 13 – Tim Bogert, former bassist of Cactus and Vanilla Fudge, died of cancer at the age of 76.
* February 5 – Örs Siklósi, vocalist of AWS, died from leukemia at the age of 29.
* February 18 – Tony Matuzak, former guitarist of Lizzy Borden, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 59.
* February 24 – Sean Kennedy, former bassist of I Killed the Prom Queen, died by suicide at the age of 35.
* March 7 – Lars-Göran Petrov, vocalist of Entombed A.D. and former vocalist of Entombed, died from bile duct cancer at the age of 49.
* March 8 – Adrian Bărar, guitarist of Cargo, died from COVID-19 at the age of 61.
* March 14 – Gerri Miller, former editor of Metal Edge, died of cancer at the age of 67.
* March 16 – Walter van Cortenberg, drummer of Ancient Rites, died from a heart attack at the age of 51.
* March 17 – Corey Steger, former guitarist of Underoath, died in a car accident at the age of 42.
* March 26 – Brett Bradshaw, former drummer of Faster Pussycat, died from undisclosed reasons.
* April 18 – Lars "Ratz" Ranzenberger, bassist of Metalium, died in an airplane crash at the age of 53.
* April 29 – John Hinch, former drummer of Judas Priest, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 73.
* May 9 – Robb Farr, bassist of Warrior, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 58.
* May 13 – William J. Tsamis, guitarist of Warlord, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 60.
* May 17 – D.V. "Dirt" Karloff, former bassist of Society 1, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 48.
* June 11 – Sven Gross, vocalist of Fleshcrawl, died from cancer at the age of 44.
* June 23 – Alan Lewis, music journalist, former editor of Sounds magazine, founder of Kerrang! magazine, who was credited for coining the term "New wave of British heavy metal", died from cancer and Parkinson's disease complications at the age of 75.
* June 26 – Johnny Solinger, former vocalist of Skid Row, died from liver failure at the age of 55.
* June 29 – John Lawton, vocalist of Lucifer's Friend and former vocalist of Uriah Heep, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 74.
* July 1 – Bryan St. Pere, drummer of Hum, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 52.
* July 10 – Chris Hutka, former vocalist of The Bunny the Bear, died from undisclosed reasons.
* July 14 – Jeff LaBar, former guitarist of Cinderella, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 58.
* July 14 – Gary Corbett, former touring keyboardist of Kiss and Cinderella, died from lung cancer.
* July 26 – Mike Howe, vocalist of Metal Church and former vocalist of Heretic, died by suicide by hanging at the age of 55.
* July 26 – Joey Jordison, drummer of Sinsaenum and Vimic, former drummer of Slipknot and Scar the Martyr, and former guitarist of Murderdolls, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 46.
* August 8 – Tim Audette, former guitarist of Fuck the Facts, died from multiple sclerosis.
* August 21 – George Horn, recording engineer for numerous artists and genres, including Exodus, Fantômas, Neurosis, and Racer X, died from COVID-19 complications at the age of 87.
* August 22 – Eric Wagner, vocalist of The Skull and former vocalist of Trouble, died from COVID-19 at the age of 62.
* September 3 – Jochen Schröder, former guitarist of Rage, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 58.
* October 13 – Andrea Haugen, former guest vocalist of albums by Cradle of Filth and Satyricon, and ex-wife of Emperor guitarist Samoth, died in the Kongsberg attacks at the age of 52.
* October 29 – Eric Greif, musician, producer, lawyer, longtime manager of Chuck Schuldiner and Death, and president of Perseverance Holdings (overseeing Chuck Schuldiner's intellectual property rights) died of kidney failure and complications from diabetes at the age of 59.
* October 29 – Malcolm Dome, music journalist and author, credited with coining the term "thrash metal", died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 66.
* November 13 – Gregory Clifford "Greg" Mayne, original Pentagram bassist and member during two stints, died from lung cancer at the age of 67.
* November 18 – Mick Rock, photographer of numerous rock and metal bands including Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Thin Lizzy, and Jane's Addiction, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 72.
* November 19 – Hank von Hell, former vocalist of Doctor Midnight & The Mercy Cult, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 49.
* November 24 – Gared O'Donnell, vocalist of Planes Mistaken for Stars, died from esophageal cancer at the age of 44.
* December 17 – Matthew Wolfe, former drummer of Byzantine, died from a battle with addiction at the age of 46.
* December 19 – Ron Anderson, vocal coach for numerous vocalists of rock and metal bands including Guns N' Roses, Cinderella, Soundgarden, Avenged Sevenfold, Alter Bridge, Ozzy Osbourne, and Trivium, died from undisclosed reasons at the age of 75.

## Events

* Numerous heavy metal-associated festivals, including Download, Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, Bloodstock Open Air, Maryland Deathfest, Sweden Rock Festival and Dynamo MetalFest, were scheduled to return in 2021 after the 2020 editions of those festivals were cancelled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the ongoing pandemic, however, Sweden Rock, Hellfest, Download and Wacken Open Air were once again cancelled.
* Tommy Vext of Bad Wolves departs from the band, citing his conservative political beliefs as an issue.
* After nearly two decades with Nightwish, Marko Hietala departs from the band and the public eye, citing his struggles with chronic depression and his disillusionment with the music scene in general. Nightwish subsequently announced Jukka Koskinen of Wintersun as their session bass player for the Human. :II: Nature. World Tour.
* Martijn Westerholt announces that Charlotte Wessels, Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije, Timo Somers and Joey de Boer have departed from Delain and that the band will continue as a solo project.
* In January, Iced Earth founder Jon Schaffer appeared on the Most Wanted section of the FBI after being photographed taking part of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, on six felony charges, after turning himself in to authorities. On February 15, vocalist Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton both announced their resignation from the band as a result of the event, along with Jake Dreyer to focus on his band Witherfall, thus leaving behind Schaffer and Brent Smedley with the fate of the band unknown.
* On February 2, Cannibal Corpse announced that Erik Rutan has officially joined the band as a full-time member. Rutan has been a live member since 2019, replacing Pat O'Brien, after the latter's 2018 arrest and subsequent legal problems.
* On April 13, Tom Hunting revealed that earlier in February he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach. For this reason, the release of the band's eleventh studio album Persona Non Grata has been postponed to November. It will coincide with the band's upcoming autumn tour, making it possible for Hunting to participate as well. According to Exodus members, he is expected to make a recovery.
* On May 24, Dave Mustaine announced that Megadeth had officially parted ways with David Ellefson for the second time, after sexual misconduct accusations. Later, in August, the band announced the return of former member James LoMenzo as a session bass player for the upcoming "Metal Tour of the Year".
* On June 18, Helloween released its sixteenth self-titled studio album, which marked the return of co-founder Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske as studio members, for the first time since their departures from the band in 1989 and 1993, respectively.
* On July 2, longtime Queensrÿche guitarist Parker Lundgren announced his departure from the band, in order to pursue other business ventures. Rejoining the band on tour and later full-time would be his predecessor Mike Stone.
* On July 29, Stephen Pearcy revealed that he has been battling liver cancer during the last three years.
* On August 2, Rudy Sarzo announced his return to Quiet Riot, as a personal request from Frankie Banali, in order for the band to have an original member after Banali's death. Sarzo will replace Chuck Wright at the conclusion of the band's 2021 tour.
* On August 2, Stu Block announced his return to Into Eternity, where he will be sharing vocal duties with Amanda Kiernan, who replaced Block in 2013 after he joined Iced Earth.
* On August 5, longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo confirmed his departure from Soulfly. The band subsequently announced Dino Cazares as Rizzo's replacement for the August–September U.S. tour.
* On August 13, Mikael Stanne announced the departure of longtime drummer Anders Jivarp and bassist Anders Iwers from Dark Tranquillity.
* On August 19, Destruction and founding member Mike Sifringer officially announced their split. Sifringer was replaced by Martin Furia.
* On August 22, Gloryhammer announced the departure of vocalist Thomas Winkler.

## Albums released
### January

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 8 | Sammy Hagar and the Circle | Lockdown 2020 (covers album) |
| 13 | Band-Maid | Unseen World |
| 13 | Gatecreeper | An Unexpected Reality (EP) |
| 15 | Bloody Hammers | Songs of Unspeakable Terror |
| 15 | Dale Crover | Rat-A-Tat-Tat! |
| 15 | Dragony | Viribus Unitis |
| 15 | Edenbridge | The Chronicles of Eden, Part 2 (compilation album) |
| 15 | Front Line Assembly | Mechanical Soul |
| 15 | Ingested | Stinking Cesspool of Liquefied Human Remnants (EP) |
| 16 | Diocletian | Darkness Swallows All (EP) |
| 22 | Asphyx | Necroceros |
| 22 | Ektomorf | Reborn |
| 22 | Human Fortress | Epic Tales & Untold Stories (compilation album) |
| 22 | Labyrinth | Welcome to the Absurd Circus |
| 22 | Nervosa | Perpetual Chaos |
| 22 | Susemihl | Alienation |
| 22 | Therion | Leviathan |
| 22 | Wig Wam | Never Say Die |
| 23 | Ewigkeit | Depopulate (EP) |
| 29 | Accept | Too Mean to Die |
| 29 | The Body | I've Seen All I Need to See |
| 29 | Crystal Viper | The Cult |
| 29 | Michael Schenker Group | Immortal |
| 29 | Soen | Imperial |
| 29 | Tribulation | Where the Gloom Becomes Sound |
| 30 | Dream Theater | Images, Words & Beyond Live in Japan 2017 (live album) |

### February

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 5 | Angelus Apatrida | Angelus Apatrida |
| 5 | Cult of Luna | The Raging River (EP) |
| 5 | Korpiklaani | Jylhä |
| 5 | Product of Hate | You Brought This War |
| 5 | The Ruins of Beverast | The Thule Grimoires |
| 5 | Todd La Torre | Rejoice in the Suffering |
| 7 | Loathe | The Things They Believe |
| 12 | Abiotic | Ikigai |
| 12 | Ablaze My Sorrow | Among Ashes and Monoliths |
| 12 | Aborym | Hostile |
| 12 | Durbin | The Beast Awakens |
| 12 | Fallstar | Sunbreather |
| 12 | Inglorious | We Will Ride |
| 12 | Joel Hoekstra's 13 | Running Games |
| 12 | Love and Death | Perfectly Preserved |
| 12 | Sirenia | Riddles, Ruins & Revelations |
| 19 | The Amenta | Revelator |
| 19 | Crystallion | Heads or Tails |
| 19 | Detritus | Myths |
| 19 | Harakiri for the Sky | Mære |
| 19 | Icon for Hire | Amorphous |
| 19 | Krokus | Adios Amigos Live @ Wacken (live album) |
| 19 | Lake of Tears | Ominous |
| 19 | Ricky Warwick | When Life Was Hard and Fast |
| 19 | A Scent Like Wolves | Mystic Auras |
| 19 | Sister | Vengeance Ignited |
| 19 | Temperance | Melodies of Green and Blue (EP) |
| 19 | Whitesnake | The Blues Album (compilation album) |
| 19 | Wizard | Metal in My Head |
| 22 | Ævangelist | Dream an Evil Dream III |
| 26 | Alice Cooper | Detroit Stories |
| 26 | Architects | For Those That Wish to Exist |
| 26 | Bonfire | Roots |
| 26 | Einherjer | North Star |
| 26 | Empyrium | Über den Sternen |
| 26 | Epica | Omega |
| 26 | Evergrey | Escape of the Phoenix |
| 26 | Helstar | Clad in Black |
| 26 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | L.W. |
| 26 | Kreator | Under the Guillotine: The Noise Records Anthology (compilation album) |
| 26 | Lee Kerslake | Eleventeen |
| 26 | Melvins | Working with God |
| 26 | Moonspell | Hermitage |
| 26 | Northlane | 5G (EP) |
| 26 | Of Mice & Men | Timeless (EP) |

### March

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 5 | A Day to Remember | You're Welcome |
| 5 | Baest | Necro Sapiens |
| 5 | Brand of Sacrifice | Lifeblood |
| 5 | Chevelle | Niratias |
| 5 | Demon Hunter | Songs of Death and Resurrection |
| 5 | Iron Man | Hail to the Riff (live album) |
| 5 | Ken Hensley | My Book of Answers |
| 5 | Nightfall | At Night We Prey |
| 5 | Venomous Concept | Deep Thinking in Deep Times (EP) |
| 5 | Windir | The Sognametal Legacy (compilation album) |
| 10 | Lovebites | Glory, Glory, to the World (EP) |
| 12 | Conan | Live at Freak Valley (live album) |
| 12 | The Crown | Royal Destroyer |
| 12 | Eisbrecher | Liebe Macht Monster |
| 12 | Eyehategod | A History of Nomadic Behavior |
| 12 | Gizmachi | Omega Kaleid |
| 12 | Heart Healer | Heart Healer |
| 12 | Orden Ogan | Final Days |
| 12 | Rob Zombie | The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy |
| 12 | Secret Sphere | Lifeblood |
| 12 | Thunder | All the Right Noises |
| 19 | Agent Steel | No Other Godz Before Me |
| 19 | Batushka | Царю Небесный (EP) |
| 19 | Enforcer | Live by Fire II (live album) |
| 19 | Erra | Erra |
| 19 | Nine Treasures | Awakening from Dukkha (compilation album) |
| 19 | Saxon | Inspirations (covers album) |
| 19 | Serj Tankian | Elasticity (EP) |
| 19 | Trollfest | Happy Heroes (EP) |
| 19 | U.D.O. | Live in Bulgaria 2020 – Pandemic Survival Show (live album) |
| 22 | Nazxul | Irkalla |
| 26 | Antagonist A.D. | All Things (EP) |
| 26 | As Everything Unfolds | Within Each Lies the Other |
| 26 | Evanescence | The Bitter Truth |
| 26 | Genghis Tron | Dream Weapon |
| 26 | Memoriam | To the End |
| 26 | Necronomicon | The Final Chapter |
| 26 | The Quill | Earthrise |
| 26 | Tomahawk | Tonic Immobility |

### April

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 2 | Cactus | Tightrope |
| 2 | Darkthrone | Shadows of Iconoclasm (box set) |
| 2 | Haunt | Beautiful Distraction |
| 2 | Lord | Undercovers (covers album) |
| 2 | Sacred Oath | Return of the Dragon |
| 6 | Killing Addiction | Mind of a New God |
| 9 | Årabrot | Norwegian Gothic |
| 9 | Arion | Vultures Die Alone |
| 9 | Blaze Bayley | War Within Me |
| 9 | Dalriada | Őszelő |
| 9 | Devil Sold His Soul | Loss |
| 9 | Elgibbor | Corruptus Vindicta |
| 9 | The End Machine | Phase2 |
| 9 | Kauan | Ice Fleet |
| 9 | Mägo de Oz | Bandera Negra |
| 9 | Primal Fear | I Will Be Gone (EP) |
| 9 | Saille | V |
| 9 | Zao | The Crimson Corridor |
| 16 | The Armed | Ultrapop |
| 16 | August Burns Red | Guardians Sessions (EP) |
| 16 | Cannibal Corpse | Violence Unimagined |
| 16 | Escape the Fate | Chemical Warfare |
| 16 | Liquid Tension Experiment | Liquid Tension Experiment 3 |
| 16 | Liv Kristine | Have Courage Dear Heart (EP) |
| 16 | Marty Friedman | Tokyo Jukebox 3 |
| 16 | Wednesday 13 | Necrophase: Antidote (EP) |
| 16 | While She Sleeps | Sleeps Society |
| 20 | Bongzilla | Weedsconsin |
| 23 | Bodom After Midnight | Paint the Sky with Blood (EP) |
| 23 | Frozen Crown | Winterbane |
| 23 | Gilby Clarke | The Gospel Truth |
| 23 | Motörhead | Louder Than Noise... Live in Berlin (live album) |
| 23 | Paysage d'Hiver | Geister |
| 23 | Solstice | Casting the Die |
| 28 | Novelbright | Opening Declaration |
| 29 | Pig Destroyer | Pornographers of Sound: Live in NYC (live album) |
| 30 | Axewitch | Out of the Ashes Into the Fire |
| 30 | Electric Boys | Ups!de Down |
| 30 | Evile | Hell Unleashed |
| 30 | Gojira | Fortitude |
| 30 | Poverty's No Crime | A Secret to Hide |
| 30 | Tetrarch | Unstable |
| 30 | Trauma | Acrimony (EP) |
| 30 | Vreid | Wild North West |

### May

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Tarantula | Thunder Tunes from Lusitania |
| 7 | Artillery | X |
| 7 | Candlemass | Green Valley Live (live album) |
| 7 | Robin McAuley | Standing on the Edge |
| 7 | Saliva | Every Twenty Years (EP) |
| 7 | Skarlett Riot | Invicta |
| 7 | Staind | Live: It's Been Awhile (live album) |
| 7 | Sumo Cyco | Initiation |
| 7 | Todd Michael Hall | Sonic Healing |
| 14 | Caliban | Zeitgeister |
| 14 | Canvas Solaris | Chromosphere |
| 14 | Charlie Benante | Silver Linings (covers album) |
| 14 | Myles Kennedy | The Ides of March |
| 14 | Per Wiberg | All Is Well in the Land of the Living, But for the Rest of Us... (EP) |
| 14 | Subterranean Masquerade | Mountain Fever |
| 15 | Panopticon | ...And Again Into the Light |
| 18 | Edu Falaschi | Vera Cruz |
| 21 | Amorphis | Live at Helsinki Ice Hall (live album) |
| 21 | Debauchery | Monster Metal |
| 21 | The Devil Wears Prada | ZII (EP) |
| 21 | Herman Frank | Two for a Lie |
| 21 | Lindemann | Live in Moscow (live album) |
| 21 | Monster Magnet | A Better Dystopia (covers album) |
| 21 | Nadja | Luminous Rot |
| 21 | Northlane | 2D (EP) |
| 21 | Pop Evil | Versatile |
| 21 | Trick or Treat | The Unlocked Songs (compilation album) |
| 21 | Vola | Witness |
| 25 | Reflections | Silhouette (EP) |
| 28 | Alestorm | Live in Tilburg (live album) |
| 28 | Bloodbound | Creatures of the Dark Realm |
| 28 | Cirith Ungol | Half Past Human (EP) |
| 28 | Gwar | The Disc with No Name (EP) |
| 28 | King of Asgard | Svartrviðr |
| 28 | Of Mice & Men | Bloom (EP) |
| 28 | Portal | Avow |
| 28 | Portal | Hagbulbia |
| 28 | Tygers of Pan Tang | Majors & Minors (compilation album) |

### June

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Hannes Grossmann | To Where the Light Retreats |
| 4 | Atreyu | Baptize |
| 4 | Cloak of Altering | Sheathed Swords Drip with Poisonous Honey |
| 4 | Code | Flyblown Prince |
| 4 | Death Therapy | Melancholy Machines |
| 4 | Desaster | Churches Without Saints |
| 4 | Flotsam and Jetsam | Blood in the Water |
| 4 | Paul Gilbert | Werewolves of Portland |
| 4 | Red Fang | Arrows |
| 4 | Rhapsody of Fire | I'll Be Your Hero (EP) |
| 4 | Van Canto | To the Power of Eight |
| 8 | Poppy | Eat (NXT Soundtrack) (EP) |
| 11 | Dornenreich | Du Wilde Liebe Sei |
| 11 | General Surgery | Lay Down and Be Counted (EP) |
| 11 | Green Jellÿ | Garbage Band Kids |
| 11 | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard | Butterfly 3000 |
| 11 | Kiss | Off the Soundboard: Tokyo 2001 (live album) |
| 11 | Machine Head | Arrows in Words from the Sky (EP) |
| 11 | Mammoth WVH | Mammoth WVH |
| 11 | Mr. Bungle | The Night They Came Home (live album) |
| 11 | This Ending | Needles of Rust |
| 11 | Wristmeetrazor | Replica of a Strange Love |
| 18 | Bossk | Migration |
| 18 | Fear Factory | Aggression Continuum |
| 18 | Hacktivist | Hyperdialect |
| 18 | Helloween | Helloween |
| 18 | Pharaoh | The Powers That Be |
| 18 | Subway to Sally | Eisheilige Nacht – Back to Lindenpark (live album) |
| 18 | Timo Tolkki's Avalon | The Enigma Birth |
| 25 | The Absence | Coffinized |
| 25 | Amenra | De Doorn |
| 25 | Beartooth | Below |
| 25 | Darkthrone | Eternal Hails |
| 25 | Dream Theater | Images and Words – Live in Japan, 2017 (live album) |
| 25 | Iceburn | Asclepius |
| 25 | Lacuna Coil | Live from the Apocalypse (live album) |
| 25 | Light the Torch | You Will Be the Death of Me |
| 25 | North of South | The Tides in Our Veins |
| 25 | Pestilence | Exitivm |
| 25 | Scale the Summit | Subjects |
| 25 | Suidakra | Wolfbite |
| 25 | Thy Catafalque | Vadak |
| 25 | Withered | Verloren |

### July

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 2 | At the Gates | The Nightmare of Being |
| 2 | Born of Osiris | Angel or Alien |
| 2 | Die Apokalyptischen Reiter | The Divine Horsemen |
| 2 | Lord of the Lost | Judas |
| 2 | Mondo Generator | Live at Bronson (live album) |
| 2 | Nanowar of Steel | Italian Folk Metal |
| 2 | Steve Whiteman | You're Welcome |
| 2 | Year of No Light | Consolamentum |
| 9 | Eighteen Visions | 1996 (covers album) |
| 9 | Hardline | Heart, Mind and Soul |
| 9 | L.A. Guns | Cocked & Loaded Live (live album) |
| 9 | Mayhem | Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando (EP) |
| 9 | Misery Index | Coffin Up the Nails (compilation album) |
| 9 | Structures | None of the Above (EP) |
| 9 | Xasthur | Victims of the Times |
| 16 | Crescent | Carving the Fires of Akhet |
| 16 | Paradise Lost | At the Mill (live album) |
| 16 | Powerwolf | Call of the Wild |
| 16 | Resurrection Kings | Skygazer |
| 16 | Times of Grace | Songs of Loss and Separation |
| 23 | Alexis Marshall | House of Lull. House of When |
| 23 | Attila | Closure |
| 23 | Bernie Marsden | Kings |
| 23 | Hed PE | Sandmine (EP) |
| 23 | Lee Aaron | Radio On! |
| 23 | Mordred | The Dark Parade |
| 23 | Phoenix Rising | Acta Est Fabula |
| 23 | Tantric | The Sum of All Things |
| 23 | Yngwie Malmsteen | Parabellum |
| 30 | Axel Rudi Pell | Diamonds Unlocked II (covers album) |
| 30 | Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! | Gone Are the Good Days |
| 30 | Dee Snider | Leave a Scar |
| 30 | Geezer Butler | Manipulations of the Mind – The Complete Collection (box set) |
| 30 | The Ghost Inside | Rise from the Ashes: Live at the Shrine (live album) |
| 30 | Loch Vostok | Opus Ferox – The Great Escape |
| 30 | Netherbird | Arete |
| 30 | Seether | Wasteland – The Purgatory EP (EP) |
| 30 | Swallow the Sun | 20 Years of Gloom, Beauty and Despair – Live in Helsinki (live album) |

### August

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 6 | Night Ranger | ATBPO |
| 6 | Serj Tankian | Cinematique Series – Illuminate |
| 6 | Serj Tankian | Cinematique Series – Violent Violins |
| 13 | Act of Denial | Negative |
| 13 | Destruction | Live Attack (live album) |
| 13 | Diskord | Degenerations |
| 13 | Jack Russell's Great White | Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin (covers album) |
| 13 | Keith Wallen | This World or the Next |
| 13 | Lorna Shore | ...And I Return to Nothingness (EP) |
| 13 | Quicksand | Distant Populations |
| 13 | Sepultura | SepulQuarta (compilation album) |
| 13 | Slaughter to Prevail | Kostolom |
| 20 | Alberto Rigoni | Metal Addicted (EP) |
| 20 | Between the Buried and Me | Colors II |
| 20 | Deafheaven | Infinite Granite |
| 20 | George Lynch | Seamless |
| 20 | Necronautical | Slain in the Spirit |
| 20 | Sodom | Bombenhagel (EP) |
| 20 | Ulver | Hexahedron – Live at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter (live album) |
| 20 | Wolves in the Throne Room | Primordial Arcana |
| 23 | Graveland | Hour of Ragnarok |
| 27 | Ex Deo | The Thirteen Years of Nero |
| 27 | Hooded Menace | The Tritonus Bell |
| 27 | Jinjer | Wallflowers |
| 27 | Leprous | Aphelion |
| 27 | Obscurity | Skogarmaors |
| 27 | Phinehas | The Fire Itself |
| 27 | Tesseract | P O R T A L S (live album) |
| 27 | Sculptured | The Liminal Phase |
| 27 | Sons of Alpha Centauri | Push |
| 27 | Spirit Adrift | Forge Your Future (EP) |
| 27 | Thyrfing | Vanagandr |

### September

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 3 | Carnifex | Graveside Confessions |
| 3 | Earth Groans | The Body (EP) |
| 3 | Iron Maiden | Senjutsu |
| 10 | Aborted | ManiaCult |
| 10 | Andrew W.K. | God Is Partying |
| 10 | Anette Olzon | Strong |
| 10 | Gamma Ray | 30 Years Live Anniversary (live album) |
| 10 | Gwar | Scumdogs Live (live album) |
| 10 | M.ill.ion | Back on Track |
| 17 | Alien Weaponry | Tangaroa |
| 17 | Brainstorm | Wall of Skulls |
| 17 | Carcass | Torn Arteries |
| 17 | Charlotte Wessels | Tales from Six Feet Under |
| 17 | Criminal | Sacrificio |
| 17 | Edge of Paradise | The Unknown |
| 17 | Insomnium | Argent Moon (EP) |
| 17 | The Plot in You | Swan Song |
| 17 | Rage | Resurrection Day |
| 17 | The Raven Age | Exile (compilation album) |
| 17 | Spiritbox | Eternal Blue |
| 17 | Whyzdom | Of Wonders and Wars |
| 24 | Aeon Zen | Transversal |
| 24 | Doro | Triumph and Agony Live (live album) |
| 24 | Orbit Culture | Shaman (EP) |
| 24 | A Pale Horse Named Death | Infernum in Terra |
| 24 | Paradox | Heresy II – End of a Legend |
| 24 | Poppy | Flux |
| 24 | Rivers of Nihil | The Work |
| 24 | Signs of the Swarm | Absolvere |
| 24 | Skepticism | Companion |
| 24 | Sleep Token | This Place Will Become Your Tomb |
| 24 | Tremonti | Marching in Time |
| 24 | Unto Others | Strength |
| 24 | Uriah Heep | Choices (box set) |
| 24 | Uriah Heep | Every Day Rocks (box set) |
| 24 | We Butter the Bread with Butter | Das Album |
| 26 | Chris Holmes | Unbearable Influence |

### October

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 1 | Asking Alexandria | See What's on the Inside |
| 1 | Enslaved | Caravans to the Outer Worlds (EP) |
| 1 | Full of Hell | Garden of Burning Apparitions |
| 1 | Katatonia | Mnemosynean (compilation album) |
| 1 | KK's Priest | Sermons of the Sinner |
| 1 | Kryptos | Force of Danger |
| 1 | Ministry | Moral Hygiene |
| 1 | Vampires Everywhere! | The Awakening (EP) |
| 1 | Wage War | Manic |
| 8 | Blood Red Throne | Imperial Congregation |
| 8 | Eclipse | Wired |
| 8 | Gus G | Quantum Leap |
| 8 | Shy, Low | Snake Behind the Sun |
| 8 | Trivium | In the Court of the Dragon |
| 15 | Aeon | God Ends Here |
| 15 | The Agonist | Days Before the World Wept (EP) |
| 15 | Alcatrazz | V |
| 15 | Ded | School of Thought |
| 15 | dUg Pinnick | Joy Bomb |
| 15 | Gemini Syndrome | 3rd Degree – The Raising |
| 15 | Hate | Rugia |
| 15 | Ice Nine Kills | The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood |
| 15 | Lords of Black | Alchemy of Souls, Part II |
| 15 | Melvins | Five Legged Dog |
| 15 | Necromantia | To the Depths We Descend... |
| 15 | Tom Morello | The Atlas Underground Fire |
| 15 | Twelve Foot Ninja | Vengeance |
| 15 | Vildhjarta | Måsstaden Under Vatten |
| 22 | Armored Saint | Symbol of Salvation Live (live album) |
| 22 | Burning Point | Arsonist of the Soul |
| 22 | Cradle of Filth | Existence Is Futile |
| 22 | Dream Theater | A View from the Top of the World |
| 22 | Every Time I Die | Radical |
| 22 | Exhumed | Worming (EP) |
| 22 | Massacre | Resurgence |
| 22 | Sixx:A.M. | Hits (compilation album) |
| 22 | U.D.O. | Game Over |
| 22 | Waking the Cadaver | Authority Through Intimidation |
| 29 | Archspire | Bleed the Future |
| 29 | Attack Attack! | Long Time, No Sea (EP) |
| 29 | Bad Wolves | Dear Monsters |
| 29 | Be'lakor | Coherence |
| 29 | Beast in Black | Dark Connection |
| 29 | Black Veil Brides | The Phantom Tomorrow |
| 29 | Count Raven | The Sixth Storm |
| 29 | Death SS | Ten |
| 29 | Ghost Bath | Self Loather |
| 29 | Helheim | WoduridaR |
| 29 | Impending Doom | Hellbent (EP) |
| 29 | Jerry Cantrell | Brighten |
| 29 | John 5 | Sinner |
| 29 | Kayo Dot | Moss Grew on the Swords and Plowshares Alike |
| 29 | Lucifer | Lucifer IV |
| 29 | Mastodon | Hushed and Grim |
| 29 | Running Wild | Blood on Blood |
| 29 | Thulcandra | A Dying Wish |
| 29 | Whitechapel | Kin |
| 31 | Limp Bizkit | Still Sucks |

### November

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 2 | Diablo Swing Orchestra | Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole |
| 5 | Autokrator | Persecution |
| 5 | Bullet for My Valentine | Bullet for My Valentine |
| 5 | Emigrate | The Persistence of Memory |
| 5 | Gaahls Wyrd | The Humming Mountain (EP) |
| 5 | Omnium Gatherum | Origin |
| 5 | Portrayal of Guilt | Christfucker |
| 5 | Sarke | Allsighr |
| 5 | SeeYouSpaceCowboy | The Romance of Affliction |
| 12 | All Hail the Yeti | Within the Hollow Earth (EP) |
| 12 | Beatallica | The Devolver Album |
| 12 | Darkwoods My Betrothed | Angel of Carnage Unleashed |
| 12 | Enuff Z'Nuff | Hardrock Nite (covers album) |
| 12 | Haunt | Unplugged Vol. 1 |
| 12 | L.A. Guns | Checkered Past |
| 12 | NorthTale | Eternal Flame |
| 12 | Scattered Hamlet | Stereo Overthrow |
| 12 | Show-Ya | Showdown |
| 12 | Silent Planet | Iridescent |
| 12 | Suffocation | Live in North America (live album) |
| 12 | Unleashed | No Sign of Life |
| 19 | Converge and Chelsea Wolfe | Bloodmoon: I (collaborative album) |
| 19 | The Darkness | Motorheart |
| 19 | Der Weg einer Freiheit | Noktvrn |
| 19 | Exodus | Persona Non Grata |
| 19 | Khemmis | Deceiver |
| 19 | Obscura | A Valediction |
| 19 | Pathology | The Everlasting Plague |
| 19 | Ross Jennings | A Shadow of My Future Self |
| 19 | Swallow the Sun | Moonflowers |
| 19 | Temperance | Diamanti |
| 19 | Thank You Scientist | Plague Accommodation (EP) |
| 19 | Theatres des Vampires | In Nomine Sanguinis |
| 19 | Volumes | Happier? |
| 26 | Archgoat | Worship the Eternal Darkness |
| 26 | Black Label Society | Doom Crew Inc. |
| 26 | Cynic | Ascension Codes |
| 26 | Death Angel | The Bastard Tracks (live album) |
| 26 | Deep Purple | Turning to Crime (covers album) |
| 26 | Hollow | Tower |
| 26 | Hypocrisy | Worship |
| 26 | Imminence | Heaven in Hiding |
| 26 | Imperial Triumphant | An Evening with Imperial Triumphant (live album) |
| 26 | In Mourning | The Bleeding Veil |
| 26 | Lock Up | The Dregs of Hades |
| 26 | Lordi | Lordiversity (box set) |
| 26 | Negură Bunget | Zău |
| 26 | The Ocean | Phanerozoic Live (live album) |
| 26 | Rhapsody of Fire | Glory for Salvation |
| 26 | Vardis | 100 M.P.H. @ 100 Club (live album) |
| 26 | Victory | Gods of Tomorrow |
| 26 | Voices | Breaking the Trauma Bond |
| 30 | Oathean | The Endless Pain and Darkness |

### December

| Day | Artist | Album |
| 3 | The Browning | End of Existence |
| 3 | Coronatus | Atmosphere |
| 3 | Devin Townsend | The Puzzle |
| 3 | Devin Townsend | Snuggles |
| 3 | Epica | Omega Live (live album) |
| 3 | Erdling | Helheim |
| 3 | Eyes Set to Kill | Damna (EP) |
| 3 | Failure | Wild Type Droid |
| 3 | Heiress | Distant Fires |
| 3 | Lethian Dreams | Last Echoes of Silence (EP) |
| 3 | Of Mice & Men | Ad Infinitum (EP) |
| 3 | Of Mice & Men | Echo |
| 3 | Pantheist | Closer to God |
| 3 | Unanimated | Victory in Blood |
| 3 | Volbeat | Servant of the Mind |
| 8 | Marc Storace | Live and Let Live |
| 10 | Funeral | Praesentialis in Aeternum |
| 10 | Lord of the Lost | The Sacrament of Judas (live album) |
| 10 | The Murder of My Sweet | A Gentleman's Legacy |
| 10 | Psilocybe Larvae | Where Silence Dwells |
| 10 | Siamese | Home |
| 10 | Stahlmann | Quarz |
| 12 | Big Dumb Face | Christmas in the Cave of Dagoth |
| 15 | Nemophila | Revive |
| 17 | Behemoth | In Absentia Dei (live album) |
| 17 | Funeral Mist | Deiform |
| 17 | Memory Garden | 1349 |
| 17 | Symphony of Heaven | Maniacal Entropik Discordium |
| 24 | Lacrimosa | Leidenschaft |
| 29 | Loudness | SUNBURST ~ Gamushara |
| 30 | Thomas Giles | Feel Nothing (EP) |