This year just kept on giving with new albums and singles at every turn. After the hellish 2020 year, we all needed some normalcy in a world of chaos. Every genre of music rolled out new singles for their fans to get back to what we all know and love. Along with new albums, new singles, and tour dates being released, we all can't help but feel spoiled with getting back to what we missed most.

Here at Death Moth Press, we wanted to give you all our opinions of Album of the Year for 2021. It was hard to narrow down to just one but in case you missed it, here’s the albums that made our year.

The multi-faceted artist AMMO has utilized her experience as a photographer and filmmaker to better connect with audiences. A rock photographer, AMMO became very much involved in the music community by profiling bands she saw as being vital to the scene. After getting her start in fashion photography and directing music videos, AMMO would eventually produce a feature film. She then co-founded PLAG Present, a platform to promote women and LGBTQ  musicians. 

On December 16th, musician Nat Puff - known as Left at London - released a new single, “Bloodlust”. After coming up with the lyrics in an Instagram live and fleshing it out from there, the song took a different musical form and was released as a standalone single.

On December 8th, 2021, Vancouver-based deathcore band AngelMaker released another two-track EP, Eclipse, along with a music video for the lead single “Exit Signs”.

Back on Friday, December 3rd, Waterparks made a stop in Phoenix, AZ on the A Night Out On Earth Tour with support from Phem. It was a night full of great music, dancing, and some fun shenanigans.

Hailing from San Francisco, funk metal band No Captains has been electrifying the Bay Area club scene and beyond with their highly energetic performances. One of the few heavy, hard-hitting bands that encourages their audiences to dance and not just bang their heads, No Captains makes every show a true party experience. Audience participation is appreciated, and the group leads chants and singalongs making a typical show a more inclusive experience for their fans. 

On Friday, December 10th, Juice sold out Irving Plaza in their hometown and they proved just why they are immensely popular. For those who don’t know, this group is a seven-piece band from Brooklyn, NY that blends the sounds of rock, pop, r&b, and hip-hop. They began embracing the diversity of their signature sound early on when they formed in Boston while attending college.

Daniel Rosenfeld, also known as C418, is a German producer, sound engineer, and legendary video game artist. C418's newest release is EP Cookie Clicker, with a total of five songs and a length of roughly 22 minutes. 

It’s a chilly night in Tennessee as the Starset messengers line the sidewalk outside the Brooklyn Bowl. The time is 6 pm on December 8th and the countdown to the Nashville demonstration has begun. Once inside, anxious concert goers explore the unique venue in search of the perfect spot to enjoy the show.

Dark and edgy, the band Dead Posey has been attracting a following of fans who are drawn to the group’s anti-establishment lyrics and blistering industrial sound. The duo of Danyell Souza and Tony F. have tackled issues such as sexism, mental illness, and oppressive political systems through their hard-hitting songs and music videos depicting surreal imagery and scenes of horror. The latest music video from Dead Posey, “Sorry I’m Not Dead” upholds the group’s defiant stance against the forces of repression. Among the visceral scenes in the video has a pig-headed man tied to a chair with the alluring, yet dangerous Souza dancing around him menacingly brandishing a knife.

M.A.G.S. aka Marijuana And Good Sex or Elliot Douglas is an LA-based artist from Buffalo, NY. On December 1, 2021, the talented multi-instrumentalist made a stop in Phoenix, AZ while supporting The Happy Fits. Douglas released his debut album titled Say Things That Matter this August. Performing fan favorites such as “Lt. Headed” and “Drugs”, Douglas had fans singing along and dancing throughout his entire set. Don’t miss him next time he is in your city!

On November 24th, Olly Alexander - better known as Years & Years, released a new single with Galantis, “Sweet Talker”. This single will be featured on his upcoming album Night Call which you can pre-order here.

On November 18, 2021, EDM artist, San Holo stopped in Phoenix, AZ on the bb u okay? tour with support from Kasbo, Chet Porter, and Rome in Silver.

Alternative Rock and Jazz ensemble, Johnny Manchild and The Poor Bastards are an eclectic multi-genre group. The band was founded by Johnny Manchild (composition, production, vocals, keys), and forming members Ethan Neel (drums), Ben Wood (trumpet), and James Thompson (bass). The current seven-person line-up introduces frantic yet well-coordinated mixtures of ska, alt-rock, jazz, and funk that amalgamate to their unique trademark sound. 

Hey, Chels has announced the release of a new EP Brick Roads on Paper Street Cuts. The San Diego-based band has been creating pop-infused indie rock since first debuting in 2018 with their self-titled album. This new EP follows their well-regarded sophomore album Everything Goes. With Brick Roads Hey, Chels seeks to continue creating the melodic rock that the band has come to be known for.

On November 9th, Chicago-based musician John Remp - known as Send Me Giants - released a new single, “Chasing New York Skies”. The Tennessee-born, Chicago-raised artist introduces listeners to his sound, rich with raw lyrics and chords that pull at listener’s heartstrings.

On Monday, November 8th, ROLE MODEL who is also known as Tucker Pillsbury made a stop in Phoenix, AZ. After being upgraded to a larger venue from a small club this was the largest Tourever 2021 show and the fans definitely made it known.

An amazing line-up is set to ring in the new year courtesy of promotors Relentless Beats and Global Dance, as the seventh annual Decadence Arizona festival takes place on December 30th and 31st in Chandler, Arizona. The electronic music event will occur at the Rawhide Event Center and will host both international and local acts. Just added to the already killer line-up is multi-platinum selling artist Marshmello along with Canadian producer/DJ duo Loud Luxury and popular podcaster and electronic artist TVBOO.

As I got to Webster Hall I already knew the energy was going to be insane, from the line outside and right from the start of the show everyone was giving it 100% of their energy! This was probably one of the best shows back since covid I’ve been to! 

British electronic music singer/songwriter Aluna has announced her own music festival that highlights the contributions of Black and LGTBQ+ artists to dance music. The festival known as Noir Fever will take place May 27-30, 2022, in New Orleans, a city rich in Black music history.