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.Macabre - Murder Metal

2.Macabre Omen - Gods Of War - At War

3.Macbeth - Romantic Tragedy's Crescendo

4.Machinae Supremacy - Overworld

5.Machine Head - The Blackening

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This list aims to be the counterpart to the Metal Storm Top 200 Albums (plus a few extras).

If you discover a new band or already like any of ones here, please give this list a thumbs up and/or leave a comment so we can get these overlooked gems in front of more people.

Criteria:
• High-quality musicianship (i.e. 9-10/10 IMO)
• 1 album per band

Ordered by number of votes then MS rating.

As these are albums with a low number of votes, the rating is likely to change frequently. I will update this list as often as I can.

Updated: 29-Jan-24

My other lists:
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 25 EPs (also ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overrated Albums (trigger warning)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)

1.Solipsist - The Human Equation

2.Ayahuasca - Beneath The Mind

3.Cryptomnesia - Primordial Oddity

4.Element (USA) - The Energy

5.Telepathy - 12 Areas

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1.Rainbow - Rising

2.Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

3.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

4.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

5.AC/DC - Powerage

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My own list of the 10 best Metal Albums ever.

1.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

2.Wintersun - Time I

3.Katatonia - Brave Murder Day

4.Wintersun - Wintersun

5.Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss

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1.Slayer - South Of Heaven

2.Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss

3.Death - Leprosy

4.Candlemass - Ancient Dreams

5.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

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This is buy or die stuff (in no particular order), the epitome of pure awesomeness!

1.Windir - Arntor

2.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

3.Cor Scorpii - Monument

4.Judas Priest - Painkiller

5.Summoning - Dol Guldur

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RANKING CRITERIA :

- Originality
- Songwriting
- Performance

Neither the popularity among the fans nor the commercial success (or unsuccess) of the albums were taken into account in the selection.

1.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

2.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

4.Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

5.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

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1.Anacrusis - Screams And Whispers

2.Heavy Load - Full Speed At High Level

3.Fatal Opera - The Eleventh Hour

4.Fatal Opera - Fatal Opera

5.Sacred Blade - Of The Sun + Moon

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Welcome to the sphere my friends. I'm talking about albums made by Guitar Heroes, with extreme creativity and skills. As you know, this is not the biggest musical genre because there are many amazing guitar players, but not that much amazing Guitar Heroes albums which deserves a true attention in their wholeness. For the little story of my life, I used to begin listening to metal with Yngwie, Joe and Steve Vai in 2005 or something like that. And when I bought my first electric guitar in 2005, I first started to try Vai's songs while you all know EVERY beginer starts playing with Nirvana or Red Hot Chili Peppers
Anyway, I hope you will enjoy my playlist. These albums are great to me, and it's always a pleasure to listen to them so many years after. I admit that GH albums are not my first preocupation today (if you take a look to my other lists, you will see), but this is the source of my passion, and each time I discover a good piece of them I bring it here, when I think about it. Enjoy

1.Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force

2.Cacophony - Speed Metal Symphony

3.Jeff Loomis - Zero Order Phase

4.Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien

5.Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn

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Limited to only those albums featured on Metal Storm.

1.Jethro Tull - Thick As A Brick

2.Rush - Moving Pictures

3.King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

4.Pain Of Salvation - Remedy Lane

5.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

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