It is very hard to understate how much Scott Burns' talents have given to the world of metal music. He might disagree about the following statements, but his work defined one of the most admired and revered eras of death and thrash metal, vastly influencing the sonic imprint that was to be copied for generations to come, and his skills were far and beyond just the engineering.

1.Agent Steel - Unstoppable Force

2.Whiplash - Ticket To Mayhem

3.Crimson Glory - Transcendence

4.Death - Leprosy

5.Terrorizer - World Downfall

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Welcome to what I consider the "1001 Metal Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" or in other words, a list of records of various genres in the arrays of Metal and Hard Rock that I deem essential or at least very recommended to listeners of hard and heavy music. This may be a very overwhelming list but I essentially try to collect all albums in the History of Metal that strike me as worthwhile. May this be a guideline for people that seek for an entrance to a particular genre or certain bands. In no means I am saying, that this list is indisputable by any means. I consider these my personal picks for albums that should be listened to by die-hard metal fans at least once. Hopefully you can discover some new music or relate with my picks. If I missed something that you would include in such a list, please tell me in the form of a comment. Enjoy! \,,/

1.High Tide - Sea Shanties

2.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come

5.Josefus - Dead Man

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This list is meant to be an extensive, but by no means exhaustive, collection of the greatest (modern) metal albums and eps. Running the gamut from avant-garde to trve norweigan black metal. *As someone who is young in age, my tastes tend to revolve around the period of the 80s to the present.* Although certain metal albums from before will certainly be featured, the period of the 60s-70s will be under-represented. I refer you to this excellent list to gain a better appreciation for some of the best metal from that period: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/freis/martin_popoffs_the_top_500_heavy_metal_albums_of_all_time/

1.Racer X - Technical Difficulties

2.Radiance (FIN) - The Burning Sun

3.Ragana - You Take Nothing

4.Rage - Black In Mind

5.Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine

      View entire list ››

Old school Death Metal albums

1.Abscess - Seminal Vampires And Maggot Men

2.Acrostichon - Engraved In Black

3.Amorphis - The Karelian Isthmus

4.Asphyx - Last One On Earth

5.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

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Here's a little list displaying my personal favorite death metal albums, based on the same idea as my heavy metal list, thus stressing the raw and the genuine. For me death metal has to be crushing, then coloured with atmosphere. Some of my choices may seem exotic, considering the list overall, but it's what broadens it. Rules : one album per band, the order isn't strict (still bottom albums are weaker than their predecessors). Many good tbdm bands are lacking, mostly because of their unfitting sound. If you think some kick-ass piece are missing, don't hesitate to suggest them. Enjoy.

1.Carcass - Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious

2.Suffocation - Pierced From Within

3.Cynic - Focus

4.Septicflesh - Εσοπτρον

5.Death - Symbolic

      View entire list ››

Rules:
1. One album per band
2. Alphabetic order
3. Only albums with less than 30 votes + albums not available on MS



Links to albums which are not featured on MS:
Antagonist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7gKRrqbWG8
Aphotic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGDeUKGB16o
Apocalypse (UK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-6Dw9EjLe8
Arcania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU7oPe7WUfw
Armageddon (USA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfu4hX1H_-s
As Light Dies http://aslightdies.bandcamp.com/album/ars-subtilior-from-within-the-cage
Atlain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaG3-z_puEM
Attack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mSzsfjD3jE
Auditory Imagery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNT5bypc2rQ
Änglagård https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFI554_xM-I
Babylon Sad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc12Z3Bqf2c
Betrayal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl9mqOw7adc
Black Hole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlkPxq1BZaE
Black Symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Ly1Luk21s
Blood Cult http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwRqPoM_zg
Bronz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OTnWnDegMw
Buffalo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzxM6Z_oDQ
Cactus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_y_m0mImGw
Calhoun Conquer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQih771h2Mw
Carmilla Morte http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmqiMdo5Zks
Cave Of Swimmers https://caveofswimmers.bandcamp.com/album/reflection
Centaur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSn7iXf7lVc
Ceremonium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbVOcaT4-c
Chowder http://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/passion-rift
Clepsydra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpQVVe9wPqc
Cosmosquad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HehOaRhPrx0
Counter-World Experience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LPR-BoMQpc
Cryptomnesia http://tornfleshrecords.bandcamp.com/album/primordial-oddity
Crystal Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mot3HS8ks7I
Cult Of Vampyrism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VpmkSxl3Lo
Cybele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pCxN9pkHTU
Cyberhed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJdj6iJ5lXo
Dali's Dilemma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80DcS2zHfM8
Dawn Of Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyIZsuaQWJE
Dead Temple https://deadtemple.bandcamp.com/
Deaf Eyes https://deafeyes.bandcamp.com/releases
Decision D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQZ8vH-RBiQ
Decoryah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69bHWfAg_0A
Demimonde http://demimondeofficial.bandcamp.com/album/mutant-star
Diabolique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx1mKbpncBU
Doom (JPN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsqw8X-c4zc
Dust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO_IyJU-ZbE
Dust Sculptures http://dustsculptures.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia
Dustynation http://dustynation.bandcamp.com/
Dying Passion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLa6ACfBlGY
Earth Burnt Black https://earthburntblack.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-dying-sun
Egypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt5Wh7jGSl8
Egypt (US) https://egypt1.bandcamp.com/album/become-the-sun
Embryo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2lhw0z7r_8
Empyria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3u1Qjfk70
End Amen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVfKv9vC2z8
Energetic Krusher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1hUUhRAkTY
Equirhodont http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if1TCEu9jto
Eternal Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wzddYaT6s
Eternal Valley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWRsO7_KNiM
Evol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OmQypgX-Lc
Excidium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2O9k7pNvLA
Exises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srS4QTBCqp0
Exxplorer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgg2FXe5ZQE
Flames Of Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHSHUj3IsU
H-Bomb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmgHJgZl4I
Harrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh-qWj5hzYs
Heaven's Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHp0jTLCUko
Hocculta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaI7dmrbwvA
Hydrotoxin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS0L_lPn3i8
Hypnotic Scenery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdc9abD6kgk
Icecross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MOQRWHCJLA
Iron Claw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHL6Na0c5g0
Jakub Żytecki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlTDJ1CwyP8
Jarun https://jarun.bandcamp.com/album/pod-niebem-utkanym-z-popio-u
Jeronimo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLMflMrHP24
Jester's March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh6WR9x_eU8
Kalovorot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyze-7dst6A
Katar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw3DvrfWLsg
Kobong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EayCslBxICc
Kohllapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sSYgruU3ug
Korpse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1njOKpJkcBI
Light Of Darkness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZNPZDB47OA
Lucifer's Friend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y9AJ4HVAQg
Maeth http://maeth.bandcamp.com/album/oceans-into-ashes
Maleficium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lt28cw_oYI
Malignant Eternal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q88RWpnSYfs
Mech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_bfMQt6rpY
Megace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4iFcde28Oc
Mely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvorSS6mEtE
Memoria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSPEeBxWuxA
Memory Driven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvkb1FJAm_8
Mephistopheles (GER) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9FYtWtE4-A
Mistguide http://mistguide.bandcamp.com/album/era
Moonlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=480oxwRDwmw
Narita https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w5e15suhfk
Necroart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4m_5I3MecA
Neolithic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op7tamalrT4
Nexus 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlABSdgZJFI
Night Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9sscVftmDU
Nimbatus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntsia6r9hOo
Nox Mortis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UUsn2m94HA
Obiat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZiyI6PPbw
Obrero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEtYdT5ifQ4
Obsidieth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja8EEH7vh4E
Odyssey (RSA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1cDZfDXXzc
Olvido http://olvido-oficial.bandcamp.com/album/luto
Oppressor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMPBlZ1EHM
Opus Arise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdVTjAgduHI
Oracle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-QQZWqFEI
Ordained Fate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOivwjopHvg
Path Of Debris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lebyXZNr21M
Pergalė http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26N4_6JYop0
Polluted Inheritance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVdxGUo3Y04
Promethean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc79qtfThZ4
Red Tide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jS_bNbnTMQ
Quicksand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5lGb7mLSUk
Sabaoth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqjutLIdtM
Sacrosanct https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVVICRxdSE
Sad Whisperings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06YH2FVtP8I
Sandrider http://sandrider.bandcamp.com/album/sandrider
Sanvoisen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUi72rXfac
Scatterbrain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmEpkrYkts
Scissorfight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJsIEOxkUik
Secrecy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tAy6DzMrEw
Sethery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd71lkQdpW0
Shadowseeds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3lPRlNYNGM
Sorg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IFGwLk-F7U
Soul Cages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxtRlcB2WVY
Southwake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObnRZrXPBs
Stomach Earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3XkLGh-23g
Stworz https://stworz.bandcamp.com/album/c-po-yznych-ziemiach
Sweet Noise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3hy31kQcc
Symphonian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLk1LV6nmE
Synkronizity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0rySk_WY4o
T2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1cKMIfcumg
Tangerine Circus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMnNAZMQ-IE
The Advent Equation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQCBsIvgr0
The Bedlam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6tQRtnXdE
The Beyond http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBltGF1Yf4
The Fathomless Deep https://thefathomlessdeep.bandcamp.com/album/the-fathomless-deep
The Re-Stoned https://re-stoned.bandcamp.com/album/totems
Thunderhead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrvJPbe-eQ
Thy Withering Orchard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9PuIWfAm7o
Time Grid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXCbYUCKPGk
Toad (CH) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3Wt_HS4h8
Torchure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqoE9a4imfE
Touch Of Cruel Hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFZy0XMoSY
Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO40C2HBlbA
Trizna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHdBWB7NVs
Under The Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0xyRZRCi3E
Utopianisti http://utopianisti.bandcamp.com/album/utopianisti-ii-utopianisti-meets-black-motor-jon-ballantyne
Vanguard X Mortem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5EnjGbDMlo
Viogression http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmUF5fo3KL0
Violent Work Of Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hirh1sdp2Is
Virgo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHE5VQSB5PU
Vyre https://vyred.bandcamp.com/album/the-initial-frontier-pt-1
Wicked Innocence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LNKYKenx-Q
Wicked Maraya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8CVp-V9rD4
Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBB6b9R8Z1A
Wizz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5H02wmRgDk
Xenolith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIcbJHC_FWY
Zions Abyss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z62KqVqQR-0

1.(EchO) - Devoid Of Illusions

2.5ive - Hesperus

3.7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes Of Absolution

4.A Sorrowful Dream - Toward Nothingness

5.Aarni - Bathos

      View entire list ››

Albums I love that, at the moment, have at most 20 votes on this site. Ordered genre-wise, and not quality-wise.

1.Legend - Fröm The Fjörds

2.Saracen - Heroes, Saints & Fools

3.Dark Quarterer - Dark Quarterer

4.Demon - Taking The World By Storm

5.Hellfueled - Born II Rock

      View entire list ››

A lot of bands have great debut albums. Obviously this list is just a fraction of all the great debut albums out there, but it's a start. I'll keep expanding this list continuously, so all suggestions are welcome (granted they are featured on MS). All the albums here are ranked according to genre and then alphabetically. If a certain album belongs to the (in your opinion) wrong genre, then definitely let me know.

1.

2.Aarni - Bathos

3.Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia

4.Diablo Swing Orchestra - The Butcher's Ballroom

5.Sadness - Ames De Marbre

      View entire list ››

I know some of the albums are more thrash than death, but I added them anyway, because I guess they could appeal to death metal fans too. Many of the albums are not so well-known, but I prefer them over the classics. If you have any other suggestions of underground albums you think I could enjoy based on my choices, you can suggest me.

1.In Flames - Clayman

2.The Crown - Eternal Death

3.Sororicide - The Entity

4.Pestilence - Malleus Maleficarum

5.Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness

      View entire list ››

Pretty much my top 5 of each year, 1990-1999. It may have been black metal's finest hour, but for the most part I don't care for the genre - check some other lists for recoms there.

As if I needed to say that... ...on with the show... (looking for more words? scroll down to #44)

1.Anacrusis - Manic Impressions Demo

2.Anthrax - Persistence Of Time

3.Forbidden - Twisted Into Form

4.Pantera - Cowboys From Hell

5.Steve Vai - Passion And Warfare

      View entire list ››

Varied avantgarde/progressive/technical stuff. In no particular order.
Tell me how many do you know of them

Quality may vary.

Also try the QUC: Black Metal list.

TO CHECK: Cosmic Atropy, Impetuous Ritual, Diocletian, Pyrrhon, Portal, Scrambled Defuncts, Separatist, Martriden, Luciferion, Emeth, Axamenta, Silent Kingdom

1.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson II

2.!T.O.O.H.! - Order And Punishment (Řád A Trest)

3.Lykathé - Elvenefris

4.Element (USA) - The Energy

5.Unmoored - Indefinite Soul-Extension

      View entire list ››

Bands listed alphabetically, One album per band (With the exception of Carcass and Napalm Death who appear in the Grind and Death Metal sections). Some bands may not be pure old school (Death / Thrash, Doom Death / Death Doom and early Brutal / Technical Death Included) I have also Included some of the more extreme Thrash releases that pre-dated the genre but undoubtedly help pave the way for things to come, I included these as I wish to give a general summary of the way Death Metal began and evolved throughout the 80's and 90's.

1.

2.Abhorrence - Abhorrence [EP]

3.Acrostichon - Engraved In Black

4.Adramelech - PsychoStasia

5.Afflicted - Prodigal Sun

      View entire list ››

1.Death - Symbolic

2.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson

3.Desultory - Bitterness

4.Morgoth - Cursed

5.Death - Human

      View entire list ››

In no particular order... all of them are great!!

1.Baphomet - The Dead Shall Inherit

2.Brutality - When The Sky Turns Black

3.Convulse - World Without God

4.Demilich - Nespithe

5.Demigod - Slumber Of Sullen Eyes

      View entire list ››

11 defining death metal albums that are a must-listen.

5/01/2012 (or 1/5/2012 for you Amerifags): I present, the almighty sequel!

1.Suffocation - Effigy Of The Forgotten

2.Vital Remains - Forever Underground

3.Resurrection - Embalmed Existence

4.Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness

5.Carnage - Dark Recollections

      View entire list ››