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.S.V.E.S.T. - Veritas Diaboli Manet In Aeternum: Le Diable Est Ma Raison

2.Sabachthani - Miserable Endings

3.Sabaoth - Les Illuminations

4.Sabaton - Carolus Rex

5.Sabbat - Dreamweaver

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This is a list composed by what I think that is raw oriented black metal, but still only albums with a difference are allowed. Basically Atmospheric, Melodic (Not Symphonic), Experimental stuff. I give some brief explanation of what is so different about those albums. Some bands would deserve the entire discography mentioned, so I opted by putting only one album per band.
Some people tend to think that noise black metal is a very different approach to bm, but it's a well consolidated subgenre. Nothing really experimental or different about it. Same goes for raw oriented dsbm. I'm not gonna spam those subgenres unless something really unique is going on.
Moreover, actually the whole purpose of me making this list is getting more ideas of bands, which should appear on the comments, so start recommending stuff.

1.Ekpyrosis - Mensch Aus Gold

2.The Meads Of Asphodel - Damascus Steel

3.Tjolgtjar - Under Command Of Tjolgtjar

4.Urfaust - Der Freiwillige Bettler

5.Arizmenda - Stillbirth In The Temple Of Venus

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1.Amorphis - Circle

2.Orphaned Land - All Is One

3.Persefone - Spiritual Migration

4.Gorguts - Colored Sands

5.Shade Empire - Omega Arcane

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There is no real arrangement here, apart for the top 3.

1.Ayreon - The Theory Of Everything

2.Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

3.The Vision Bleak - Witching Hour

4.Avatarium - Avatarium

5.Black Sabbath - 13

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Pretty self explanatory. Although I usually forget to keep these kinds of lists up all year so we'll see if I keep this one up all year or forget about this one too after a couple months...

*This list is not in order of preference, just the order in which I add the albums so as to make it easy to identify the most recently added albums.

1.Abyssal - Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius

2.Amiensus - Restoration

3.Lascaille's Shroud - Interval 01: Parallel Infinities - The Inner Universe

4.Katalepsy - Autopsychosis

5.Octopus - Into The Void Of Fear

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Track of the year: Prayer for Ascetic Misery- Ævangelist
Runners-up: Dyodyo Asema- Gnaw Their Tongues & Alkerdeel / Hereditaria- Lords of Bukkake /In Silence - The Prophecy/ Overcome- Hacride/ Atlas Stone- Haken/ s1- Blindead
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Great Lists to check out: R'Vannith, MechanisT, musclassia, teaster, Alex Fenger, !J.O.O.E.!, Nefarious, coolingsrock, 3rdWorld, any list by mz, Moose, etc.

1.Ævangelist - Omen Ex Simulacra

2.Cult Of Occult - Hic Est Domus Diaboli

3.Lords of Bukkake - Desagravio

4.Eloa Vadaath - Dead End Proclama

5.Haken - The Mountain

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Another year, another top list. These are all the 2013 releases that I have listened to so far.

1.SubRosa - More Constant Than The Gods

2.Nhor - Within The Darkness Between The Starlight

3.Wolvserpent - Perigaea Antahkarana

4.Kauan - Pirut

5.An Autumn For Crippled Children - Try Not To Destroy Everything You Love

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1.Omnium Gatherum - Beyond

2.Soilwork - The Living Infinite

3.Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)

4.Eternal Tears Of Sorrow - Saivon Lapsi

5.Mourning Beloveth - Formless

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