List | The EP's of 2021 (EOTY)

As 2021 rushes to the finish line and caps off yet another year of wild circumstances, we have to address the greatness that has come from the year's music and art and that is in the form of EP's. Along with albums 2021 has seen some incredible ep's that in some ways rival full length releases. So, without further a deux here is a list of the best EP's of 2021.

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

10: Structures - "None of The Above"

"Technical blistering and emotive djent driven post-metalcore comes back with a vengeance with the first release in six years from Structures with "None of The Above", as they strike hard with some of the heaviest music that the band has to offer, From the dirty 'Planet of Garbage'. to the riff fest 'Psycho Hours'. to the masterfully punishing 6 with Brendan Murphy of Counterparts. Structures aim high with their comeback release "None of The Above". As, their technical musicianship comes in loud and proud." - Samuel Cook

9: Bloodlines - "Hevel"

"Brutal, heavy, and angelic. Bloodlines' "Hevel" is the best work in the band's short career, showcasing their incredible musical talent combined with their unrelenting passion for ministry and their shared faith in Christianity and Jesus Christ. This is one young band that you don't want to miss out on. Alongside their extreme passion and faith centered music, Bloodlines soars with unrelenting aggressive Christ centered hardcore music that rivals any Christian hardcore band in the scene. This is true aggressive worship." - Dylan Stearman

8: Convictions - "I Won't Survive"

"You deserve to survive. A phrase that is the statement thesis of Convictions' beautifully haunting "I Won't Survive". After the mixed reception from their 2018 release "Hope for The Broken", Convictions went back to the drawing board and created their best work to date with "I Won't Survive". Combining unrelenting aggression with heart-wrenching lyrics, the band manages to showcase their undying belief in Christ, while also creating a masterpiece that can positively influence anyone who's listening to not lose hope in the darkest of times." - Dylan Stearman

7: War of Ages - "Rhema"

"Striking with absolute symphonic destruction. War of Ages surpasses their talent with "Rhema", a beautifully short and engaging symphonic masterpiece that combines everyone's talent and manages to craft a strong and worthwhile technical behemoth of a metalcore record in a small burst. War of Ages continues to impress long into their career and continues to show us why they are ahead of the game." - Samuel Cook

6: Earth Groans - "The Body"

"Heavy hardcore with so much in your face energy. Earth Groans manages to go the extra mile with every release and with "The Body" they manage to rise higher than the rest with some of the heaviest material that the band has ever created. Combining elements of deathcore and post-metalcore into their ever-evolving hardcore sound and do the unthinkable with some of the heaviest music that you hear. "The Body" is truly something spectacular and only Earth Groans could pull it off." - Samuel Cook

5: No Bragging Rights - "S/T"

"Positive, raw, unrelenting hardcore is something that everyone needs these days. Storming back to the forefront with a vengeance is No Bragging Rights, with their first release in well over seven years. The band comes back hard with sweet melodic guitar riffs and melodies, to unbelievable vocals and lyrics that will make you bawl your eyes, this album is worth a listen for everyone. This EP is one of the best hardcore releases to come out in years and it is all the more deserving to be on everyone's radar." - Dylan Stearman

4: The Devil Wears Prada - "ZII"

"From a beloved fan favorite to a spiritual sequel, ZII the long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada's well beloved "Zombie EP" is everything that you would expect from a monstrous and manic ep that combines everything from the beloved classic and doubles on the heaviness with some of the most crushing and brutal sounds that feel ripped straight out of their early playbooks. The Devil Wears Prada manages to succeed with brilliance and made sure that "ZII" was the sequel that everyone had been craving for." - Samuel Cook

3: Impending Doom - "Hellbent"

"Vengeance is the name of the game for "Hellbent". Coming off of the successful release of their 2018 release "The Sin & Doom Vol.2", Impending Doom decided to outdo themselves and craft the soundtrack to doomsday with "Hellbent". This EP showcases everything that Doom is good at and more: with grooves, melodies, incredible vocals, unrelentless heaviness that will break you in all the best ways possible." - Dylan Stearman

2: Lorna Shore - "...And I Return to Nothingness"

"Hell being crafted in an 18-minute deathcore epic. That is what Lorna Shore manages to create when they're faced with the unknown, what with the controversy surrounding the band's former vocalist and trying to brush off a former era. The band single handedly created one of the shortest and heaviest things that you will ever hear in your lifetime. 'To The Hellfire" is the song that got popular for a reason, as the brutality and destructive heaviness that seeps through its long 6-minute runtime and providing the world with the insanity of a vocalist that is Will Ramos. Lorna Shore does in the unthinkable with "... And I Return to Nothingness" and creates nothing but sure hell in all the best ways possible." - Samuel Cook

1: Knocked Loose - "A Tear in The Fabric of Life"

"A deathcore horror saga. If "A Different Shade of Blue" is the foundation for Knocked Loose's success, then "A Tear in The Fabric of Life" is the mansion that completes the picture. By combining everything that made the band's previous efforts great and adding elements of deathcore, horror, and progressive metal, Knocked Loose shows why they are one of the best hardcore bands to ever exist in the scene, and shows us why they are deserving of the top spot as our favorite EP of 2021. "A Tear in The Fabric of Life" is a true metal classic through and through and should be regarded as one of the greatest metal releases to come out in a very long time." - Samuel Cook, Dylan Stearman