21 METAL ALBUMS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2021

Let me start by saying Happy New Year to everybody out there! wherever you are, whatever you do, metal brings us together and will continue to do so in 2021, Stay safe and keep your horns high!!!

Here's a list of 21 albums due to be released this year,

and I must say, I am excitedly looking forward to hear the

new wonders these bands have up their sleeves for us.

SAMMY HAGGAR AND THE CIRCLE were the first to release the

accurately titled album "Lockdown 2020" on January 8th.

Sammy Haggar, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson got together via the magic of technology to record a hand full of rock classics covers, sharing some of them on YouTube,

such as AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and 'Won't Get Fooled Again" by legendary band THE WHO.

The album features a collection of unmissable covers.

On top of what will be a great album for Rock'n'Roll lovers around the globe to look forward to, part of the procced of this release will go to several food banks all over America.

Good for the ears and generous.

What more could we ask for?!

Also coming out, THE DEAD DAISIES with their 5th album, titled "Holy Ground" will hit the shelves on January 22nd.

This will be the first album released with their new vocalist/bassist,

the charismatic Glenn Hughes who joined the hard rocking band in 2019.

The band recorded this latest opus in the south of France, at La Fabrique Studio

to be precise, and have already unleashed 3 tracks, "Bustle And Flow", "Unspoken"

and the tittle track "Holly Ground (Shake the memory)", giving us a sample of

what is to come on this very, very exciting album.

FEBRUARY will also bring us a few goodies, starting with FOO FIGHTERS's

"Medicine At Midnight", out February 5th.

We can safely expect the band's 10th studio album to be nothing short of exceptional,

following the already released track "Shame Shame".

THE PRETTY RECKLESS will also drop a new album titled "Death By Rock'N'Roll"

(probably the best way to die anyway), out on February 12th.

This 12 tracks album promises to be absolutely epic, just as much as the orchestral single

"25", with lots of piano and very powerful vocals from Taylor.

Also out February 12th, ARC OF LIFE's self titled debut album "Arc Of Life".

3 members from the current YES line-up, put together this fresh new progressive rock band,

vocalist/guitarist Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood on bass and vocals as well, and drummer Jay Schellen, joined by Jimmy Haun on guitar and Dave Kerzner on keybords.

Billy Sherwood recently described the album as "interesting will well crafted songs, performed with

precision and grace. Dynamic arrangements with peaks and valleys...it's all there."

Next on the list will be ALICE COOPER's "Detroit Stories" due to drop on February 26th.

For his 21st studio album, Alice paired with well know producer extraordinaire Bob Erzin

in Detroit to record "Detroit Stories" and celebrate the golden times of rock in Detroit.

Alice described the first track to have been already released ,"Our Love Will Change The World",

as "One of the oddest songs I've ever done".

So, expect something a bit different music wise this time around.

February 26th will also bring us a new album from EPICA titled "Omega".

The 12 tracks album will be the Dutch band's first release in 5 years.

It will feature the 13-minutes track "Kingdom Of Heaven, Part 3- The

Antediluvian Universe", as well as the tittle "Abyss Of Time" which already

caused YouTube to overheat with more than 1.7 million views.

MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP will released "Immortal" on February 29th.

Celebrating his 50th anniversary as a musician, Michael Schenker, allongside his

band has recruited some high quality guest giving this album the edge Mr Schenker

always aims for.

Amongst others, you will have the pleasure to hear the vocals of Joe Lynn Turner,

Ronnie Romero and Derek Sherinian.

Michael's long time partner in crime Michael Voss is co-producing this beauty recorded

in Germany, at Kidroom Studio.

And...finally, to give this glorious month the ending it deserves..

EVERGREY's "Escape Of The Phoenix" will be out on February 26th.

After the release of their brand new single "Eternal Nocturnal" elite band Evergrey

is getting ready to unleash the latest beauty, "Escape Of The Phoenix" straight out of

the multiverse to our demanding ears.

A truly awaited 12th album, promising to take us on a melancholic journey that only Evergrey

can produce.

Time for March now, with 3 promising new blasts.

ROB ZOMBIE will hit the first half of the month hard with the very long-titled

album "The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy".

In true Rob Zombie style, expect something quite "horrific".

This will be a follow up of the album "The Electric Warlock acid Witch Satanic Orgy

Celebration Dispenser", released in 2016.

Also quite a long album that will feature 17 tracks, including the lead single

"The Triumph Of King Freak".... Hold on to your socks for this one!!!

SAXON will get their new album "Inspirations" on March 19th.

Going on a different journey for the very first time, Saxon will release a collection of covers

of the songs that influenced the band, but do not fear, they will all feature that always unique Saxon feel.

11 songs in total, from Motorhead to Led Zeppelin and AC/DC.

To end the month on a high, EVANESCANCE gives us their latest creation "The Bitter Truth", on March 26th.

We've had to wait a whole decade, but finally, Evanescence is back with brand new original music.

judging by the 3 tittles already released from this album, 'Wasted On You', 'Use My Voice" and

"The Game Is Over", it seems like the wait was worth it.

For the rest of the year, we can expect some great releases to be announced too by various bands.

Here's a list of those promising and highly awaited beauties....

SMITH/KOTZEN.... yeah, you are reading that right!!!!

Legendary guitarists Richie Kotzen and Adrian Smith have paired up to write and release their debut

single "Taking My Chances", which was very well received by listeners around the world...

Not very surprising considering the amount of talent uniting in a powerful way on this project.

Richie Kotzen already confirmed the first album will be out in 2021, unfortunately no release date

has been confirmed just yet...

But, have no fear, Metal Mad Tv will definitely keep you updated

We are more and more excited about this one as days go by!!!!

Talking about Adrian Smith, IRON MAIDEN also spoke about an upcoming album, in a video message

last October, Bruce Dickinson was saying that he and Steve Harris had been working on some new

music in the studio. He did not say anymore than that, justifying himself by simply stating

"I can't tell you, 'cause they'd have to kill me". oh well, let's wait patiently 9for as long as we can

anyway).

WOLFGANG VAN HALEN is also expected to release his debut album under his solo band MAMMOTH WVH.

What will be amazing on this album is the fact that Wolfgang Van Halen is playing every single instrument and doing all the vocals himself.

Let's just say, it is a one man incredible creation.

the single "distance", released on YouTube in November, is a touching and emotional tribute to his father

Eddie Van Halen, who passed away after a long battle against cancer.

The video clip of this single features priceless photos and home videos, showing the love between

Wolfgang and hid dad. Brings tears to my eyes.

A truly emotional single extremely well written, giving us a glimpse into what is to come on that album.

SLASH Feat. MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS is also about to give us a date for this new collaboration.

The news was unleashed by the great Slash himself, over Instagram stating "Lots of new music coming.

New @alterbridge coming next month (Walk The Sky 2.0 EP). A new @officialmyleskennedy solo album in 2021 plus SMKC4 (Slash ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators album n. 4), also adding " I know 2020 has been beyond challenging but 2021 is going to be awesome eventually. At least there will be a ton of new music."

Well, I think you might be right here Mr. Slash!

Also to be mentioned, old timers MEGADEATH have been talking quite a lot regarding their yet to be

named 16th album.

Five years after their last opus "Dystopia", drummer Dirk Verbeuren confirmed his excitement for what is coming our way. he declared "It's gonna be a thrash album, it's gonna be a metal album, it's heavy -there's a lot of heavy stuff".

On top of that, Dave Mustaine himself already proclaimed the future album as part of his Top 5 favourite

Megadeath albums ever...

If Mr. Mustaine says it, we can surely believe it! Bring it on!!

I had to follow that one by METALLICA of course, promising to release their latest sometimes in 2021..

In an interview with Rolling Stone last November, the very talkative Lars Ulrich revealed the potential

release of Metallica's 11th studio album. Here is what he declared " We're three, four weeks into some

pretty serious writing." adding "Just f---king looking at the state of the world- it's so easy just to

fall into a depressive state. But writing always makes me feel enthusiastic about what's next. It's like

F---, there's an opportunity here to still make the best record, to still make a difference."

The release of this album in yet to see but we certainly hope it will eventually happen.

Swedish masterminds GHOST are in full recording mode as we speak, as leader "Papa Emeritus IV"

Tobias Forge told Swedish Rock magazine, in October last year.

The highly awaited album should arrive after summer 2021.

Tobias declared " 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 sometimes in March, the record should be finished, but it won't be released until after the summer."

The official arrival date of this killer is yet to be announced...patience, patience...

Germany's finest, SCORPIONS are also hard at work as drummer Mikkey Dee confirmed his first full length album with the band. In a statement on Metalsucks Podcast in late October, he declared " We're making a very good record, we record everything live together and it's coming along really nice."

Staying in Germany, RAMMSTEIN stormed up the French studio La Fabrique, in St-Remi de provence, to work on brand new material. After the cancellation of their 2020 tour due to Covid 19, the band wrote on

Instagram :"Sadly no tour this year, but it's great to be back in the studio".

Keep up the good work boys, we are waiting.

To finish this list of incredible artist, the charismatic, prince of darkness OZZY OSBOURNE is due

to release (already) yet another album.

His latest, "Ordinary Man", hit the shelves on February 2020, a little bit under a year ago.

Ozzy declared that he was making another album "cause while I can't tour, I can make music"...

Fair enough...

Andrew Watt has confirmed that the album is already half way finished, and we can expect a great results with multiple guests appearances such as Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers, Taylor Hawkins from Foo Fighters and Metallica's Robert Trujillo.

So here we are metalheads, plenty of our heavy musical drug to get us flying higher than ever in 2021.

Again, stay safe, listen and head bang like no one is watching!

Rock on!

Sway.