Metacritic Aggregate: 2021 New Music: Metal

Notes

For information on what lists are consulted, and what the various abbreviations and notes mean, click here.

For reissues and compilations, click here.

Sub-Lists

Some breakdowns by genre:

Ranking

  1. Deafheaven: Infinite Granite (Sargent House) {46}: BPM:41+, Ch:15, CS:+, DIY:+, Fa:44, G:16+, Gl:+, Joe:1, K:47, Mx:38, NR:28+, P:27+, PM:12+, Pu:24, Rf:29, RM:46, Sbd:79, Sk:+, Spk:20, Top:18, Tr:11, Trk:16, UPC:75, UR:57, Vi:34; ec:+, p_r:+, pm_ir:12, tm:+ -- TH:*
  2. Every Time I Die: Radical (Epitaph) {42}: Alt:15, Bq:16, BV:8, BV_p:2, Ch:3, K:1, Mx:24, Pu:1, Rev:4, Sbd:14, Spk:3, Vi:3; p_k:+, tm:+
  3. Gojira: Fortitude (Roadrunner) {40}: Cl:+, CS:+, DaB:30, Di:12, G:42, Gf:7, K:8, Lt:32, LW:52, NT:18, Oo:16, P:35, Rev:1, Rf:10, Sbd:17, Si:4, Vi:15; gw:12, p_r:+, pr:8, sjm:2
  4. Mastodon: Hushed and Grim (Reprise) {40}: BV:+, Cl:34+, CS:+, DIY:+, K:12, Mj:+, PM:62, Rev:5, Rf:69, RS:+, S:12, Si:11, SoT:3, Spk:1, UCR:30, Vi:7, YF:+; am:+, gw:8, pm_k:3, pr:7, rshs:3
  5. Iron Maiden: Senjutsu (Parlophone) {37}: Cl:+, CS:+, Di:4, G:+, Gl:++, Gw:+, I:+, K:14, Mc:80, MO:+, PM:70+, Rev:7, RS:44+, Si:18, SoT:1, Spk:47, UCR:8; gw:3, pr:13, sjm:10
  6. Converge & Chelsea Wolfe: Bloodmoon: I (Epitaph) {35}: AV:+, G:+, Hi:4, K:10, Mc:9, Ms:23, Mx:3, PM:+, Qt:88, Rev:6, Sbd:75, Si:12, Sk:+, Spk:5, Tr:43, Vi:8; am:+
  7. Spiritbox: Eternal Blue (Rise) {22}: Ch:24, Ex:10, K:2, Rev:2, Pu:10, Spk:19, YF:+; cl:2, gw:13, pm_k:7
  8. Architects: For Those That Wish to Exist (Epitaph) {17}: Bq:3, Cl:+, DIY:+, I:+, K:3, Pu:6, Rev:12, Vi:49
  9. Divide and Dissolve: Gas Lit (Invada) {14}: BPM:47+, GTV:69, LQ:29, LW:89, Mj:+, Mw:47, No:20, PM:+, Qt:13, RM:29, W:33
  10. Employed to Serve: Conquering (Spinefarm) {12}: DIY:+, G:+, K:6, Pu:16, Rev:19, Sbd:7
  11. Portrayal of Guilt: We Are Always Alone (Closed Casket Activities) {12}: BPM:17+, BV:15, BV_p:6, NR:+, Sg:42, Tr:14
  12. King Woman: Celestial Blues (Relapse) {11}: BPM:20+, BV:46, Hi:13, Mx:35, No:19, Spk:22, Tr:44
  13. Fire-Toolz: Eternal Home (Hausu Mountain) {10}: ACL:11, Bc:+, Ne:47, P:46, Spk:28; am_e:+, p_p:+, pf_j:+, tr_e:+
  14. John: Nocturnal Manoeveurs (Brace Yourself/Pets Cares) {10}: Crh:18, LW:2, Pc:10, RM:41
  15. One Step Closer: This Place You Know (Run for Cover) {9}: Alt:14, BV:19, BV_p:3, Sg:32
  16. Between the Buried and Me: Colors II () {8}: PM:58, Rf:81, SoT:11; pm_k:1, pr:18
  17. Mammoth WVH: Mammoth WVH () {8}: CS:+, GMA:22, Mj:+, UCR:7; gw:7, vaz:14
  18. Dream Theater: A View From the Top of the World () {7}: CS:+, SoT:8; gw:5, pr:11
  19. Ad Nauseam: Imperative Imperceptible Impulse () {6}: Hi:11, Ne:22+, Spk:12
  20. Carcass: Torn Arteries (Nuclear Blast) {6}: CS:+, Rev:21, SoT:12; av_da:6, rshs:10
  21. Full of Hell: Garden of Burning Apparitions (Relapse) {6}: C:+, Mx:5, Rev:22
  22. Knocked Loose: A Tear in the Fabric of Life (Pure Noise -EP) {6}: BV:40, BV_p:13, Rev:8
  23. MOL: Diorama (Nuclear Blast) {6}: G:49, K:30, Pu:9, Sbd:40
  24. New Age Doom: Lee Scratch Perry's Guide to the Universe (We Are Busy Bodies) {6}: AD:+, Gg_j:39, LQ:40, Mj:+ -- TH:**
  25. Panopticon: . . . And Again Into the Light (Bindrune) {6}: 25:27, Hi:32, Ne:44+, SC:13
  26. The Pretty Reckless: Death by Rock and Roll () {6}: GMA:28, Gw:+, Mx:40, Rf:38, Sbd:76; gw:+
  27. SeeYouSpaceCowboy: The Romance of Affliction (Pure Noise) {6}: BV:+, BV_p:9, K:40, Rev:23
  28. Trivium: In the Court of the Dragon (Roadrunner) {6}: K:13, Pu:8, Sbd:51
  29. The Body: I've Seen All I Need to See (Thrill Jockey) {5}: C:+, MO:47+, NR:+, Pf:+
  30. Dying Wish: Fragments of a Bitter Memory () {5}: BV_p:18, Rev:10
  31. For Your Health: In Spite Of (Twelve Gauge) {5}: BV:43, BV_p:4
  32. Helloween: Helloween (Nuclear Blast) {5}: Di:37, SoT:2
  33. Part Chimp: Drool (Wrong Speed) {5}: CM:+, G:+, Mj:+, MO:+, Qt:30 -- TH:B
  34. Pupil Slicer: Mirrors (Prosthetic) {5}: Bc:+, BV_p:36, K:43, Rev:17
  35. Amenra: De Doorn (Relapse) {4}: IS:44, Mj:+, Vi:16
  36. At the Gates: The Nightmare of Being (Century Media) {4}: Crh:28, CS:+, Qt:71, Rf:98
  37. Beartooth: Below (Red Bull) {4}: Cl:+, K:20, Pu:21
  38. Cave of Swimmers: Aurora (self-released) {4}: vce:6, vjo:1
  39. Don Broco: Amazing Things (SharpTone) {4}: K:22, Pu:7
  40. Genghis Tron: Dream Weapon (Relapse) {4}: PM:+, RM:87; pm_k:2
  41. Poppy: EAT (NXT Soundtrack) () {4}: DW:61, Rev:9
  42. Portrayal of Guilt: Christfucker (Run for Cover) {4}: BPM:+, BV_p:6
  43. Styx: Crash of the Crown () {4}: SoT:4
  44. Wolves in the Throne Room: Primordial Arcana () {4}: Btz:33, Mx:32, Spk:14
  45. Big/Brave: Vital (Southern Lord) {3}: MO:+, No:41, PM:+
  46. Cynic: Ascension Codes () {3}: SoT:14, Spk:29
  47. Dream Unending: Tide Turns Eternal (20 Buck Spin) {3}: BV:+, S:27; pf_u:+
  48. Mare Cognitum: Solar Paroxysm (I Voidhanger) {3}: Bc:+, Hi:20
  49. Sematary: Rainbow Bridge 3 (Haunted Mound) {3}: IR:+, Ne:24+
  50. Senyawa: Alkisah (Burning Ambulance) {3}: Qt:95, VF:41; tr_u:+ -- TH:B
  51. Tribulation: Where the Gloom Becomes Sound (Metal Blade) {3}: K:21, MO:+, Spk:25
  52. While She Sleeps: Sleeps Society (Search & Destroy/Spinefarm) {3}: G:+, K:38, Pu:23
  53. Whitechapel: Kin () {3}: GC:34, Rev:18
  54. Black Veil Brides: The Phantom Tomorrow () {2}: Rf:14
  55. Cannibal Corpse: Violence Unimagined (Metal Blade) {2}: CS:+, Di:31
  56. Closer: Within One Stem (Lauren) {2}: BPM:+, Sg:50
  57. Der Weg Einer Freiheit: Noktvrn () {2}: Spk:18
  58. The Devil Wears Prada: ZII () {2}: Rev:13
  59. Diablo Swing Orchestra: Swagger and Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole (Candlelight) {2}: pm_k:4
  60. Dvne: Etemen Aenka () {2}: Spk:17
  61. Frozen Soul: Crypt of Ice () {2}: BV:36, Rev:25
  62. Marta Gabriel: Metal Queens (Listenable) {2}: PO:28+
  63. Gatecreeper: An Unexpected Reality () {2}: Rev:14
  64. The Hyena Kill: A Disconnect () {2}: Pu:12
  65. Ice Nine Kills: The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood () {2}: Pu:17
  66. Jinjer: Wallflowers (Napalm) {2}: K:39, Rev:11
  67. Limp Bizkit: Still Sucks () {2}: Spk:15
  68. Others by No One: Book II: Where Stories Come From (self-released) {2}: pm_k:5
  69. Poorstacy: Party at the Cemetary () {2}: Rev:16
  70. Regional Justice Center: Crime and Punishment (Closed Casket Activities) {2}: BV_p:21; av_da:8
  71. Sugar Horse: The Live Long After () {2}: Pu:14
  72. Swallow the Sun: Moonflowers () {2}: Spk:11
  73. Thy Catafalque: Vadak (Season of Mist) {2}: vce:5
  74. Wristmeetrazor: Replica of a Strange Love (Prosthetic) {2}: BV_p:+
  75. AC/DC: Power Up (Columbia) {1}: Mj:67
  76. Anthrax: Serfs Out (Grow Your Own) {1}: LW:85
  77. Bring Me the Horizon: Post Human: Survival Horror (RCA -20) {1}: Bq:21
  78. Ethereal Shroud: Trisagion () {1}: Spk:24
  79. Eyehategod: A History of Nomadic Behavior () {1}: CS:+
  80. Kayo Dot: Moss Grew on the Swords and Plowshares Alike () {1}: Spk:44
  81. Alexis Marshall: House of Lull, House of When () {1}: BPM:+
  82. Ministry: Moral Hygiene () {1}: AD:+
  83. Ona Snop: Intermittent Damnation (No Time -20) {1}: No:25
  84. Papangu: Holoceno () {1}: Tr:49
  85. Primitive Knot: A New Ontology of Evil (Deathbed Tapes) {1}: LW:99
  86. Red Fang: Arrows () {1}: CS:+
  87. Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou: The Helm of Sorrow (Sacred Bones) {1}: BV:+
  88. Scale the Summit: Subjects (self-released) {1}: pm_k:10
  89. The Silver: Ward of Roses (Gilead Media) {1}: BV:+
  90. Spectral Wound: A Diabolic Thrist () {1}: No:50
  91. TORSO: Home Wrecked (self-released -EP) {1}: DW:85 -- TH:B
  92. Vientre: Estado De Imago (self-released) {1}: BV_p:42
  93. Volumes: Happier? (Fearless) {1}: GC:46
  94. Andrew WK: God Is Partying () {1}: Rf:96
  95. Wode: Burn in Many Mirrors () {1}: Tr:41
  96. Zao: The Crimson Corridor (Observed/Observer) {1}: npr_lg:7
  97. Rob Zombie: The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy () {1}: CS:+