Hey Folks! It’s me… Again!

I’m coming back once more to explore the depths of a genre that arguably did not begin where you all thought it did! Yeah yeah… Alright, maybe Left Hand Path, Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious, Like An Ever Flowing Stream & The Red In The Sky Is Ours aren’t exactly the sound you would expect, but they were certainly a sign of something incredible that was about to happen. The birth of Melodic Death Metal!

Most of you, them, us… Would agree that Melodic Death metal really appeared in the form of Carcass’s 1993 album Heartwork. Even though some shades of what would become staples of the genre were heard before, this one would truly be the first album to be called as such. Mixing OSDM with more classic heavy metal styled riffs & melodies, our beloved genre (along with Thrash) would become for a lot of our teenage selves, a gateway into the more extreme bowels of metal’s subgenres. I would argue that it’s an almost obligatory step in the grand metalhead’s journey. Ah, how amazing it was to first taste the somewhat delicate sound of melodeath before rattling our ears with the obscenities & nonsensical wankery of grindcore, brutal tech-death, dissonant death and post metal… Rrrrright.

As you have become accustomed to by now, I will attempt to honour the genre by listing the absolute best Melodic Death metal albums to be ever released throughout the years. And I will do so starting with a few albums that are arguably not Melodic Death metal… Because I can and I did, hah! F*ck you! Along the way, you might stumble upon some strange & unorthodox choices mixing a plethora of other genres as well and that’s ok. Truly. Take it easy, don’t hyperventilate over it and just go with the flow. The main goal here is to help people who don’t know much about melodeath discover it and where it came from. I also want to push forward some less known jewels amongst highly praised landmarks of the style and sprinkle a bit of my personality along the way because that’s always fun. The albums will be ordered in years of release and there will be no other restriction or specific rules.

I hope you have a blast going through my list and that it brings you joy and a slight tingle on your nostalgia strings. Though, if it pisses you off, if I forgot your absolute favourite album of all goddamn time or if you think I’m an idiot, well… Just remember that I’m right, always and forever, thank you. Regardless It will be a pleasure for me to hear your recommendations or discuss anything related to melodeath below. Cheers & have fun!

-Guib-

Note: Albums with a 🇨🇦 are from my country (Canada) and albums with a ★ are my personal favourites.

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Last Updated: April 19th, 2024

1.Entombed - Left Hand Path

2.Carcass - Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious

3.Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream

4.At The Gates - The Red In The Sky Is Ours

5.Carcass - Heartwork

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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.Aara - En Ergô Einai

2.Aarni - Bathos

3.Aaskereia - Dort, Wo Das Alte Böse Ruht

4.Aastraal - Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulcra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum

5.AATHMA - Avesta

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Will be updated constantly as I remember albums/have time to add them! if more than one album per year- runner up. If none, then i picked none for that year.

1.The Agonist - The Eye of Providence

2.Queensrÿche - Condition Hüman

3.Arch Enemy - War Eternal

4.Marty Friedman - Inferno

5.Conquering Dystopia - Conquering Dystopia

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Releases from Canadian bands that I really like. Ordered alphabetically by artists because I'm OCD like like. Will possibly re-order list by favorite album. Limited to one release per band, only full lengths. Essential albums are noted as such.

1.3 Inches Of Blood - Advance And Vanquish

2.Annihilator - Never, Neverland

3.Anvil - Forged In Fire

4.Bison B.C. - Dark Ages

5.Cryptopsy - None So Vile

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This is a long list of metalcore albums from all over the genre's spectrum, albums I consider to be either exceptionally good, are historically important to the genre, or just are an enjoyable listen regardless.

My intentions with this to provide a good start for people who wish to get to know the genre more, or are just looking for more albums to listen.

1.7 Angels, 7 Plagues - Jhazmyne's Lullaby

2.The Agonist - Lullabies For The Dormant Mind

3.All That Remains - The Fall Of Ideals

4.Amia Venera Landscape - The Long Procession

5.Architects - Nightmares

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Favorite Albums Of All Time!(Mine not yours)

1.Kamelot - The Black Halo

2.Kamelot - Epica

3.Within Temptation - The Unforgiving

4.Nightwish - Oceanborn

5.Kamelot - Ghost Opera

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Here is my very straight forward top list of albums released in 2009.

1.Bloody Panda - Summon

2.Mono - Hymn To The Immortal Wind

3.Giant Squid - The Ichthyologist

4.Ahab - The Divinity Of Oceans

5.Isole - Silent Ruins

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Coolingsrock's Handpicked of 2009. Best to worst. 2009 was AWESOME!!

1.Revocation - Existence Is Futile

2.Lamb Of God - Wrath

3.Gwar - Lust In Space

4.Dethklok - Dethalbum II

5.The Agonist - Lullabies For The Dormant Mind

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1.Ensiferum - From Afar

2.Arkona - Goi, Rode, Goi!

3.Skyclad - In The... All Together

4.Crimfall - As The Path Unfolds...

5.The Agonist - Lullabies For The Dormant Mind

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Here we go... I'd rate this year a 9 for the unusual quality of album releases! Qué impressionante! \m/

1.Mastodon - Crack The Skye

2.Amorphis - Skyforger

3.Suidakra - Crógacht

4.Ensiferum - From Afar

5.Alestorm - Black Sails At Midnight

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updated list of albums I am on the hunt for... mostly for a self reminder...

1.Skeletonwitch - Worship The Witch

2.Keep Of Kalessin - Armada

3.Keep Of Kalessin - Kolossus

4.The Agonist - Lullabies For The Dormant Mind

5.Death - Live In Japan

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1.Process Of Guilt - Erosion

2.Darzamat - Solfernus' Path

3.Madder Mortem - Eight Ways

4.Trail Of Tears - Bloodstained Endurance

5.Anubis Gate - The Detached

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