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.W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol

2.Wachenfeldt - The Interpreter

3.Wake - Devouring Ruin

4.Waldgeflüster - Femundsmarka - Eine Reise In Drei Kapiteln

5.Walknut - Graveforests And Their Shadows

      View entire list ››

...And since that day, he was never the same.

"He who speaks without an attentive ear is mute."

1.Across The Sun - Before The Night Takes Us

2.Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

3.Agent Fresco - Destrier

4.Amorphis - Under The Red Cloud

5.Angel Vivaldi - Universal Language

      View entire list ››

1.Helevorn - Compassion Forlorn

2.Septicflesh - Titan

3.Arch Enemy - War Eternal

4.Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era

5.Ghost Brigade - IV - One With The Storm

      View entire list ››

1.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

2.Septicflesh - Titan

3.Entombed A.D. - Back To The Front

4.Pain Of Salvation - Falling Home

5.At The Gates - At War With Reality

      View entire list ››

My top 20 albums listed by order:

1.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

2.Septicflesh - Titan

3.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

4.Neurotech - Infra Versus Ultra

5.Burzum - The Ways Of Yore

      View entire list ››

Cos, y'know, same shiz different year. Ran out of space again so will post final album opinions in comments.

1.Infestus - The Reflecting Void

2.Dirge - Hyperion

3.Nero Di Marte - Derivae

4.Steve Rothery - The Ghosts Of Pripyat

5.Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere

      View entire list ››

Every year, hundreds of albums are written and released for people to buy and hopefully not steal. I spend most of my free time searching far and wide for new music, most of which only very few people know about. This list will contain all the albums released this year that I listened to, and what I thought of it. The rating system is as follows:
Based = Awesome, Perfect
Chill = Solid, Substantial
Dope = Good-not-great, Something I'll only listen to if I'm bored
Retarded = Mediocre, Unremarkable
Mindfucked = Complete waste of time
Also, there will be albums that aren't metal that will appear here, just cause.

1.1349 - Massive Cauldron Of Chaos

2.Abigor - Leytmotif Luzifer - The 7 Temptations Of Man

3.Aborted - The Necrotic Manifesto

4.Aenaon - Extance

5.Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere

      View entire list ››

So here it is > These are the releases i tend to hear most of the time this year. Some of my all time favourite bands released weak albums while others suprised me while i was cooking pasta .Fell free to comment and tell me your positive opinion (or else you will reveive tons of shit etc)

1.Aenaon - Extance

2.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

3.Major Parkinson - Twilight Cinema

4.Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era

5.Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)

      View entire list ››

Just an organized list of my favorite albums of the year, in order of most liked, onward.

How I rate albums has little to do with the order of this list. Obviously, I'm not going to give an album a low rating and include it (anything I rate below an "8" gets left out), but there's a sense of semblance, regardless. Also, just because I give a rating of 8+ doesn't mean I will include it. An album can be good and also be something I don't care to listen to more than a few times.

1.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

2.The Great Old Ones - Tekeli-Li

3.Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen

4.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

5.Mastodon - Once More 'Round The Sun

      View entire list ››

Pretty much every album that's caught my attention over the year, including non-metal. (Variety is a virtue, y'know )

I'll only be commenting on albums that I've given enough time to really form an opinion on. Chances are albums that failed to interest me beyond a first listen will eventually be removed from the list.

1.Swans - To Be Kind

2.Darren Korb - Transistor Original Soundtrack

3.Bent Knee - Shiny Eyed Babies

4.Gazpacho - Demon

5.Vampillia - My Beautiful Twisted Nightmares In Aurora Rainbow Darkness

      View entire list ››

My list of 2014 likes (to be expanded). Notes can and will change during the year, since I like listening to albums multiple times and have a really good view before the final note.

I'd say 3/5 is my default note, just an okay CD with nothing spectacular.

1.Soen - Tellurian

2.Opeth - Pale Communion

3.Evergrey - Hymns For The Broken

4.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

5.Threshold - For The Journey

      View entire list ››

All full albums I heard at least 2-3 times from best to worst + special awards

1.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

2.Shylmagoghnar - Emergence

3.Machine Head - Bloodstone & Diamonds

4.Words Of Farewell - The Black Wild Yonder

5.Sabaton - Heroes

      View entire list ››

Rating:
10 - Allmost impossible to get. The band need to create something astronomical good.
9 - Only the best albums of the year gets this.
8 - A really good album on all levels.
7 - A good album, but nothing special.
6 - An average album with some good songs.
5 - Not a good album, maybe 1 or 2 good songs.
4 and below - I rather not waste my time on it...

1.

2.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

3.Behemoth - The Satanist

4.Vanden Plas - Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (Path 1)

5.Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution

      View entire list ››

1.Behemoth - The Satanist

2.Winterstorm - Cathyron

3.Corpsessed - Abysmal Thresholds

4.More Than A Thousand - Vol.5 Lost At Home

5.Woods Of Desolation - As The Stars

      View entire list ››

Albums I'm enjoying as 2014 progresses, order and all that is updated weekly. Suggestions and also comments are very welcome, I'm also finally finished my 2013 list. Check that out as well
As new 2014 albums come and go please note the order is subject to change before you have an aneurism.

Definitely always looking for more metal/music friends https://www.facebook.com/derek.handelong (add me)

1.Buckethead - Pikes 42-129

2.Vader - Tibi Et Igni

3.Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era

4.Delain - The Human Contradiction

5.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

      View entire list ››