I have finally caved in and made a top 200 list. The main focus here is metal, so no Rush, no King Crimson, Deep Purple, or GY!BE are in the list, but I do still love those bands and others that could have qualified.
The list mostly contains albums, but some EPs, demos, splits, and compilations are also featured every now and then. I also tried to avoid including demos or EPs that were too short but there’s still a few of them.
Enjoy!

1.Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory

2.Windir - Arntor

3.Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane

4.Sigh - Hangman's Hymn: Musikalische Exequien

5.Vektor - Terminal Redux

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1 album per band per subgenre
work in progress, updating as I go through the song-by-song ratings on RateYourMusic.com
I will typically update my black metal faves - https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6924
and my death metal faves - https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6298
prior to updating this one

1.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

2.King Diamond - Abigail

3.Voivod - Dimension Hatröss

4.Mastodon - Crack The Skye

5.Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris

      View entire list ››

Here are albums (ordered by subgenre) that I want to listen to, but haven't yet.
For some albums, I've heard one or two songs, but not the entire album. Therefore, these albums still await my judgement!
Recommendations are always welcome!

1.

2.Civerous - Maze Envy

3.Frail Body - Artificial Bouquet

4.Ulterror - Transcendent Origins

5.Mastiff - Deprecipice

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Some of the best metal albums ever released have been by bands that only had one full length release.
List is (and probably always will be) a constant work-in-progress.
If you know of a "one-and-done" metal band/album that isn't on my list, feel free to recommend

1.Weakling - Dead As Dreams

2.Caladan Brood - Echoes Of Battle

3.Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris

4.Timeghoul - 1992-1994 Discography

5.Thorns - Thorns

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

2.T.R.A.M. - Lingua Franca

3.Taake - ...Doedskvad

4.Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster - Exegesis

5.Tad Morose - Modus Vivendi

      View entire list ››

jesus this is out of date, gotta take some time and update this

1.Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris

2.Immolation - Close To A World Below

3.Cryptopsy - None So Vile

4.Dragged Into Sunlight - Hatred For Mankind

5.Nile - Annihilation Of The Wicked

      View entire list ››

1.Altar Of Plagues - Teethed Glory & Injury

2.The Angelic Process - Weighing Souls With Sand

3.Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors

4.Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

5.Beherit - Drawing Down The Moon

      View entire list ››

There are the albums that have impressed me. Alphabetical orders. Hope you enjoy this list.

1.Acatalepsy - Acatalepsy (EP)

2.Across Tundras - Dark Songs Of The Prairie

3.Aelter - Dusk Dawn/Follow You Beloved

4.A Forest Of Stars - The Corpse Of Rebirth

5.Ain Sof Aur - Atra Serpens

      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 ››

So here are some Brutal, Technical, Progressive and sometimes Atmospheric death metal works I enjoy or that I believe should be given a try because they're unique and interesting, almost an essentials list when it comes to that style. There are some unorthodox choices as well in the mix that aren't just full-on tech death, some bands also incorporate grind, black, core elements or even jazz. Hope you'll all find something that suits your taste! The list is ordered by years. Feel free to comment and give recommendations! Just refrain from telling me an album shouldn't be featured here... All the albums here are deliberately hand-picked and if it made the list, it's for a reason.

Personal absolute favorites of mine have a ★ beside the genre. And my pics of best album for each year are identified by (best of xxxx) beside the albums.

🇨🇦 = From Canada, My Country! We're quite good at Technical and Brutal Death Metal... Trust me. I mean, you'll see for yourself.

-Guib-

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Guib's Best Tech/Brutal/Prog Death Metal Album Picks

Best Of 2023:
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium

Best of 2024 So Far:
Exist - Hijacking The Zeitgeist

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TAGS: Technical Death Metal, Melodic Tech-Death, Brutal, Atmospheric, Progressive, Blackened Tech-Death, Technical Thrash, Deathgrind, Deathcore, Symphonic, Dissonant Tech-Death, Experimental, Avantgarde, Grindcore, Jazz

Last Updated: April 21st, 2024

1.Atheist - Piece Of Time

2.Nocturnus - The Key

3.Atrocity - Hallucinations

4.Death - Human

5.Suffocation - Effigy Of The Forgotten

      View entire list ››