I reviewed over 100 "metal" albums released in 2021 (not including EPs, sorry). I've tried to keep the reviews "digestible" to just a few key bullets.
Overall to assess the year in music, I think there are 2 huge factors:
The outcome was interesting in that (1) seemed to push bands to focus on quantity instead of quality. The editing/cutting process was lacking in many cases and tons of albums were chuck full of filler or lacked in truly great songs because they were in a rush to create content. The other part was that (2) shutdowns seemed to give other bands more time to massage their own abilities, so the "filler" ended up better.
As such, there are a large number of albums between a 4-7 rating with overall albums being better than average, but few truly great albums above an 8. Albums tend to either (A) have some great tracks front loaded, then lesser versions of the same tracks repeated as the album continues, or (B) where there isn't really a bad track on the album, but nothing stellar either.
Keep in mind, I didn't review EPs or Singles, but may focus on that for next year. Yes, I rated your favorite band lower than I should have and ranked too much crap way too high. I get it, you're biased. Me too - this is my list. :)
Also, keep in mind I'm rating the full album as a collective, not just the top 2-3 songs which make it "great". I'm not rating the band on how impactful they are live or their music videos or their social impact or on material that should have been on the album but wasn't (looking at you Spiritbox). This is a ranking of ALBUMS, not bands.
10: The best album never released
9: Catalog requirement
8: Explore this stuff
7: Deserves front-to-back listen
6: Consider dabbling in it
5: Enjoyable, check out at least a song
4: Mostly enjoyable - near average
3: Probably won't revisit
2: Forgettable
1: Objectively bad
0: Objectively bad and you'll wish you never listened