The goats. The near perfect albums that never get old. Some are full of catchy bangers I'm always humming, and some are so full to the brim of details that I still haven't even uncovered them all.

A brief outline of my ratings:
8.5-9.0 = An excellent album with a few mild drawbacks (Weak song, slightly irritating vocals, odd flow)
9.0-9.5 = Perfect albums that haven't quite warranted the time-earnt 9.5+.
9.5-9.9 = Perfect albums that have stood the test of time, ranked by preference.
10 = I don't expect to hear another album like these, ever.

(I use 'perfect' lightly as it makes no sense for a man-made creation to be flawless. 'Perfect' is simply a term to outline how high a level of enjoyment is, specifically the level of enjoyment when minor faults become insignificant.)

(I evaluate albums outside of metal vastly differently to the ones here, which explains the lack of representation of my other favourite genres. Blue Sky Mining is an exception due to being structured very similarly to my optimal metal album. I may add some picks from other genres down the line.)


STATS:
I know y'all don't look at my lists, so these are purely for my own interest.

-Decades
'10s: 36
'20s: 22
'00s: 7
'90s: 2

-Genres (By best fit or most prominent)
Prog: 35
Death: 11
Power: 9
Symphonic: 4
Black: 3
Contemporary: 2
Folk: 1
Doom: 1
Rock: 1

1.Devin Townsend - Empath

2.Memories Of Old - The Zeramin Game

3.Wintersun - Time I

4.An Abstract Illusion - Woe

5.Persefone - Aathma

      View entire list ››

This is a list of all the death metal albums I have listened to that I thought were at all worth remembering. Like my other genre lists, this is just a record of my own listening experience that I use for personal organization, not a definitive account of the best or all of the death metal out there; there will probably be albums or bands that are not death metal in the strictest sense. You'll find some OSDM, melodeath, tech death, death-doom, maybe a bit of deathcore, I don't know. Maybe some non-death metal albums by death metal bands that I put in here just because.

1.Death - The Sound Of Perseverance

2.Death - Symbolic

3.At The Gates - With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness

4.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

5.Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side

      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.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 ››

Here is a list of all the bands who received at least one write-in vote during MSA 2019.

Following the annoucement of the results, this information is lost, I post it here so you can continue to explore your favorite genres !

I'm still working on fixing links, if you find errors, feel free to notify in the comments !

1.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

2.Cave In - Final Transmission

3.Mother Of Millions - Artifacts

4.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

1.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

2.Cave In - Final Transmission

3.Mother Of Millions - Artifacts

4.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

Once again I will try to comprise a mini-compendium of the toitest death metal releases of the year, this being 2019.
Will definitely be updated as I hear new shit so check back for more and recommend me stuff!
In alphabetical order by band name.

1.Abnormality - Sociopathic Constructs

2.Aephanemer - Prokopton

3.Altarage - The Approaching Roar

4.Ataraxie - Résignés

5.Baest - Venenum

      View entire list ››

Favourite metal/rock LPs anno Domini 2019. Admittedly, this list is highly subjective. Still, it's better than yours. Or your mother's. Or Lucifer's. You get the point.
Albums in alphabetical order (top 12 first).

1.Abyssal - A Beacon In The Husk

2.Blood Incantation - Hidden History Of The Human Race

3.Blut Aus Nord - Hallucinogen

4.Haunter - Sacramental Death Qualia

5.Inter Arma - Sulphur English

      View entire list ››

My personal picks of 2019, in no particular order (so far).

1.Advent Sorrow - Kali Yuga Crown

2.Numenorean - Adore

3.Mephorash - Shem Ha Mephorash

4.Bewitcher - Under The Witching Cross

5.Vale Of Pnath - Accursed

      View entire list ››

1.Lingua Ignota - Caligula

2.Full Of Hell - Weeping Choir

3.Cloud Rat - Pollinator

4.Serpent Column - Mirror In Darkness

5.Sadness (USA) - Circle Of Veins

      View entire list ››

Cos Radu won't leave me alone

1.Bees Made Honey In The Vein Tree - Grandmother

2.Dreadnought - Emergence

3.Methadone Skies - Different Layers Of Fear

4.A Secret Revealed - Sacrifices

5.Cartographs - Wilt & Blossom

      View entire list ››

Listing albums that I have listened and liked enough to rank. My tastes skew towards Death/Black Metal which means I probably give most other genres a pass. I also don't bother rating such albums unless they catch my ear.

1.Vader - Thy Messenger

2.Legion Of The Damned - Slaves Of The Shadow Realm

3.Unfathomable Ruination - Enraged & Unbound

4.Embrional - Evil Dead

5.Malevolent Creation - The 13th Beast

      View entire list ››

**DISCLAIMER: The following list is based on my own opinions and musical diversity, and should not be taken as Metalstorm's input on any artist/record/band whatsoever.
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With no further ado,
Let 2019 BEGIN!

1.Leprous - Pitfalls

2.Insomnium - Heart Like A Grave

3.Devin Townsend - Empath

4.Týr - Hel

5.The Dark Element - Songs The Night Sings

      View entire list ››