Making any kind of list that judges albums is inevitably flawed. It is my perspective, I know there are records I missed, literally didn’t even get a chance to hear, and of course the subjectivity of it, what we are feeling at a particular time when we heard or experienced an album. So my list, though highly awesome and exhaustive of the best of the best, is by no means the end all, be all of metal that came out this year. Just know that I have scoured the depths of the metal spectrum, listened to some really, really bad stuff and found what I like the most from 2021, no bullsh*t explanations why this or that, just the list and some vids. I hope you enjoy and add your favorites in the comments!
#25 Cynic – Ascension Codes (Season Of Mist)
#24 Khemmis – Deceiver (Nuclear Blast)
https://youtu.be/gloHryvNqPI
#23 Red Fang – Arrows (Relapse)
#22 Tribulation – Where the Gloom Becomes Sound (Metal Blade)
#21 Alluvial – Sarcoma (Nuclear Blast)
#20 Wolves in the Throne Room – Primordial Arcana (Relapse)
#19 Turnstile – Glow On (Roadrunner)
#18 At The Gates – Nightmare Of Being (Century Media)
#17 Iotunn – Access All Worlds (Metal Blade)
#16 Gojira – Fortitude (Roadrunner)
#15 Twelve Foot Ninja – Vengeance (Volkanik)
#14 Rivers Of Nihil – The Work (Metal Blade)
#13 Tomahawk – Tonic Immobility (Ipecac)
#12 Kataan – Kataan EP (Prosthetic)
#11 Ghost Bath – Self Loather (Nuclear Blast)
#10 Spiritbox – Eternal Blue (Rise)
#9 Archspire – Bleed The Future (Season Of Mist)
#8 Genghis Tron – Dream Weapon (Relapse)
#7 Obscura – A Valediction (Nuclear Blast)
#6 Necrofier – Prophecies Of Eternal Darkness (Season Of Mist)
#5 Converge – Bloodmoon: I (Epitaph)
#4 King Woman – Celestial Blues (Relapse)
#3 Every Time I Die – Radical (Epitaph)
#2 Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou – The Helm Of Sorrow
https://youtu.be/iKyndsTsegA
