Album Of The Year 2021 – Number 17

Welcome to Day 14 of my ‘Album Of The Year 2021 Top 30 Countdown’. Thank you for all the support you’ve shown me and my endeavours throughout 2021, and during this traditional end-of-year curtain-closer.

As I near the half-way point of this year’s countdown, I’m reminded in glorious technicolour, just how great 2021 has been for music, when it could have been a complete car crash. I take my hat off to all the bands that have continued to bring us great new music when it might well have been easier to give up and disappear over the horizon. On behalf of all music fans, I thank you. That’s why this year’s list is even more important than ever before. Support your favourite artists or lose them forever.

If you felt so inclined, feel free to check out the links at the bottom of the post to find out who made my cut, from 30 down to 18, the ‘honourable mentions’ of 2021, as well as my lists from previous years too.

And with that out of the way, let’s get on with today’s show…

Number 17

Nestor

“Kids In A Ghost Town”

Nestor Prestor Music Group

Release Date: 22 October 2021

Score Of Much Metal: 95%

From the very first time I heard lead single ‘On The Run’ many, many months ago, I knew I had to feature Nestor’s debut album on manofmuchmetal.com. Despite the name of my website and my penchant of all things heavy, I have a love of melodic hard rock that can’t be dimmed. And ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ is a perfect example of why I can never, and will never, lose my affection for this genre of music.

Inspired by the 80s and viewed by some as something of a parody band, Nestor have come from nowhere and delivered one of the melodic highlights of 2021. In a year where I have been tested to the absolute limit emotionally, ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ came along and was able to plant a big smile on my face, whilst also offering proof as to why I will always love the 80s when it comes to music.

This album has more hooks than a Peter Pan fan convention, and a wonderfully carefree vibe, not to mention a powerful whiff of rose-tinted nostalgia. But more than anything, the music kicks serious ass. I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve listened to ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’, despite the initial difficulties I had in obtaining a copy of the record. Some albums, however, are worth fighting for, and this is one of them.

I’ve waffled on enough and I apologise…the alcohol content in my bloodstream is high as I write this. But if you have a love of melodic hard rock with a hefty 80s vibe, this is an absolute no-brainer. If this isn’t in your collection by the New Year, you’re not a true fan of the genre. End of story.

What I wrote at the time:

“‘On The Run’ is the epitome of everything that I love about 80s hard rock, and from the first time I heard it several months ago, I’ve been unable to shake my absolute adoration for it.

Musically, I have no doubt that Nestor are 100% serious; after all, music this good is not the result of taking things as a joke. ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ is chock full of excellent music. Yes, it has been shamelessly influenced by the 1980s, and maybe they are a parody band. But who cares, when the end result is this strong? I sure as hell don’t. And you shouldn’t either.

‘Kids In A Ghost Town’ is littered with brilliant tracks, superb musicianship, and hooks that bury themselves so deep that it’s almost impossible to dislodge them.

Every song brings with it something strong and worthy of mention. Every member of the band delivers a powerful performance. Every hook, every melody, every riff, every beat – they all land a punch that impresses me so very much and begs a repeated listen as soon as humanly possible…All I care about is the way in which the music affects me. And on that score, Nestor deserve the highest of accolades because it has been quite a while since a melodic hard rock band has had such an impact upon me.”

Read the full review here.