I feel like my overall favorites list is getting too long. I'm splitting it up by rating.

1.Thy Catafalque - Meta

2.Sepulcros - Vazio

3.Kassad - Faces Turn Away

4.Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

5.Xanthochroid - Of Erthe And Axen: Act I

      View entire list ››

1.Insomnium - Winter's Gate

2.Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika

3.Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary

4.Ihsahn - Arktis.

5.Alcest - Kodama

      View entire list ››

Yet another list of mine, this time going back since the first one in 2017. My favorite death metal-adjacent records of 2016. I will be adding more as I find other great records, feel free to recommend stuff in the comments! Listed alphabetically by band name with the subgenre included.

1.Abnormality - Mechanisms Of Omniscience

2.Aborted - Retrogore

3.Amon Amarth - Jomsviking

4.Anciients - Voice Of The Void

5.Be'lakor - Vessels

      View entire list ››

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.Aara - En Ergô Einai

2.Aarni - Bathos

3.Aaskereia - Dort, Wo Das Alte Böse Ruht

4.Aastraal - Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulcra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum

5.AATHMA - Avesta

      View entire list ››

1.Vektor - Terminal Redux

2.Exumer - The Raging Tides

3.Allegaeon - Proponent For Sentience

4.Sabaton - The Last Stand

5.Witherscape - The Northern Sanctuary

      View entire list ››

Better never than late, right? Order is not particular.

1.Vektor - Terminal Redux

2.Dark Tranquillity - Atoma

3.Insomnium - Winter's Gate

4.Uada - Devoid Of Light

5.Be'lakor - Vessels

      View entire list ››

Well, here I put my personal top with which to me have been the best albums of 2016. They are not all they are, but if they all are.

1.Altarage - NIHL

2.Mistur - In Memoriam

3.Fallujah - Dreamless

4.Anciients - Voice Of The Void

5.Black Crown Initiate - Selves We Cannot Forgive

      View entire list ››

1.Fleshgod Apocalypse - King

2.Obscura - Akróasis

3.Vredehammer - Violator

4.Flotsam And Jetsam - Flotsam And Jetsam

5.Moonsorrow - jumalten alka

      View entire list ››

Some excellent records this year, it was sometimes really difficult to choose in what order I wanted to rank them.

I based this list on the scores I would give each album. When it's a tie between 2 or more albums, I usually pick the one I listened to the most during the year.

NOTE: If I at some point listen to an album that I think deserves to be in this top 20. I'll edit it into the list.

1.Iron Mask - Diabolica

2.Heavenwood - The Tarot Of The Bohemians: Part 1

3.Fractal Cypher - The Human Paradox

4.Stone Magnum - Holy Blessings To None

5.In The Woods... - Pure

      View entire list ››

1.Cult Of Luna - Mariner [Collaboration]

2.Oranssi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä

3.Mistur - In Memoriam

4.Thy Catafalque - Meta

5.In The Woods... - Pure

      View entire list ››

Scoring copied from Sword_Chant:

✮✮✮✮✮ - Incredible, possibly Album Of The Year
✮✮✮✮½ - Awesome
✮✮✮✮ - Solid release
✮✮✮½ - Good release
✮✮✮ - Not bad
✮✮ - Disappointing
✮ - Bad / very bad

1.Be'lakor - Vessels

2.Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika

3.Borknagar - Winter Thrice

4.Ihsahn - Arktis.

5.Fleshgod Apocalypse - King

      View entire list ››

1.Enemy Of Reality - Arakhne

2.Alter Bridge - The Last Hero

3.Testament - Brotherhood Of The Snake

4.Anciients - Voice Of The Void

5.Crowbar - The Serpent Only Lies

      View entire list ››

1.Fleshgod Apocalypse - King

2.Cult Of Luna - Mariner [Collaboration]

3.Anciients - Voice Of The Void

4.Devin Townsend - Transcendence

5.Dark Tranquillity - Atoma

      View entire list ››

Most wanted albums to get right here and now. Ranked from Most to More liked +++.

1.Thy Catafalque - Meta

2.Cult Of Luna - Mariner [Collaboration]

3.Moonsorrow - Jumalten Aika

4.Oranssi Pazuzu - Värähtelijä

5.Crippled Black Phoenix - Bronze

      View entire list ››

1.Vektor - Terminal Redux

2.Be'lakor - Vessels

3.Insomnium - Winter's Gate

4.Virvum - Illuminate

5.Thy Catafalque - Meta

      View entire list ››