* Updating this as I get around to doing song-by-song on RYM.
* 1 album per band
* limiting this to actual black metal releases, as opposed to releases by bands that were, at one time, black metal.
>> Some bands really do incorporate a lot of both death metal or doom (or avant garde or folk, etc) and black metal in their albums, so I consider them to be 'black metal adjacent' even if it might not be 'purely black metal'

1.Weakling - Dead As Dreams

2.Caladan Brood - Echoes Of Battle

3.Deathspell Omega - Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum

4.Oranssi Pazuzu - Mestarin Kynsi

5.Altar Of Plagues - Teethed Glory & Injury

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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.Haar - The Wayward Ceremony

2.Hacride - Lazarus

3.Hades - The Dawn Of The Dying Sun

4.Hænesy - Garabontzia

5.Hæthen - Shaped By Aeolian Winds

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"I'll listen to this after I come back home"
I'm so sick of doing this.There are many,many albums that I KNOW will enjoy if I finally make time to listen too. This is more of a personal list,so I can keep track of what I need to hear.

1.Leaves' Eyes - Njord

2.Exodus - Pleasures Of The Flesh

3.Darkthrone - Circle The Wagons

4.Kreator - Coma Of Souls

5.Kreator - Violent Revolution

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As is the case with my other lists, this is for my own organizational purposes and is designed purely to help me keep track of all the many black metal bands and albums that I enjoy, since I can't keep all of this information in my head. It has no other benefit whatsoever and will likely result in tantrums should anyone else see it. I'm aware that I haven't listened to every black metal album that I should have. I only went down to the 6s on this list, so it's possible that I have listened to your favorite black metal album that you desperately need to suggest and I thought it was terrible. There are a lot of heinously incompetent black metal bands out there.

On the off-chance that you've found this and actually care about what I think (you shouldn't), be advised that my favorites come first. Some are favorites in the general sense; some are favorites within black metal. The first few of those are in some order and not so much after that.

Because this is for my own purposes and not intended to be a definitive list of pure black metal, there are some black metal-adjacent bands, or albums by black metal bands that may not themselves be black metal. That's why you'll find so much Sigh clogging up the top of the list. I prefer to keep whole discographies together on one list. I used to include Primordial, Forefather, and other such bands, but a while back I created a list for folk and I decided that those artists would fit better there.

I update these lists very infrequently. This was last updated December 7, 2022.

1.Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape

2.Sigh - Graveward

3.Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane

4.Sigh - Heir To Despair

5.The Meads Of Asphodel - The Murder Of Jesus The Jew

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Great year, especially when it comes to melodic stuff. So glad that At the Gates and Empyrium delivered something solid. Even happier that Vanhelga really has become a "Lifelover 2", only darker. Although I am dissapointed that Deathstars didn't release a #1 album.

1.Vanhelga - Längtan

2.Harakiri For The Sky - Aokigahara

3.Twilight Force - Tales Of Ancient Prophecies

4.Duskmourn - Legends

5.Saor - Aura

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1.Sólstafir - Ótta

2.Nightbringer - Ego Dominus Tuus

3.Sabaton - Heroes

4.Dark Fortress - Venereal Dawn

5.Lux Occulta - Kołysanki

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1.Ancient Bards - A New Dawn Ending

2.Epica - The Quantum Enigma

3.Eluveitie - Origins

4.Hoth - Oathbreaker

5.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

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1.Triptykon - Melana Chasmata

2.Behemoth - The Satanist

3.Sabaton - Heroes

4.Winterfylleth - The Divination Of Antiquity

5.Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen

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For Posterity. In No Particular Order. I'm certain I missed some quality releases, so I might update the list some time. Cheers.

1.Darkspace - Dark Space III I

2.Botanist - VI: Flora

3.Nachtmystium - The World We Left Behind

4.Nightbringer - Ego Dominus Tuus

5.Pallbearer - Foundations Of Burden

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1.Septicflesh - Titan

2.Tengger Cavalry - Ancient Call

3.Avatar - Hail The Apocalypse

4.Allegaeon - Elements Of The Infinite

5.Devin Townsend - Z²

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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

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Work In Progress.

Releases not featured on MS:

Nobody.One - Ocean Echo

Enabler - La Fin Absolute Du Monde

Widek - Outside The Universe

1.Mechina - Xenon

2.Allegaeon - Elements Of The Infinite

3.Revocation - Deathless

4.Triptykon - Melana Chasmata

5.Alcest - Shelter

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1.Disemballerina - Undertaker

2.Empyrium - The Turn Of The Tides

3.Devin Townsend - Casualties Of Cool

4.Nadja - /ɪmpəˈfɛkʃ ( ə ) n/

5.Saor - Aura

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