1.Smothered - The Inevitable End

2.Cryptopsy - Cryptopsy

3.Lamb Of God - Sacrament

4.Lamb Of God - Wrath

5.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

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1.Freak Kitchen - Cooking With Pagans

2.Threshold - For The Journey

3.Serdce - Timelessness

4.Lux Occulta - Kołysanki

5.Freedom Call - Beyond

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1.Heart Of A Coward - Deliverance

2.Paradise Lost - The Plague Within

3.Soilwork - The Ride Majestic

4.Sylosis - Dormant Heart

5.Lamb Of God - VII: Sturm Und Drang

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My second 5-year summary list, just to give mentions to some bands that released songs I have loved over the past few years which didn't necessarily deliver a whole package that won me over. The top order of this list will probably have a greater focus on melodic, hooky, punchy-yet-accessible more mainstream songs, as a) those songs are more likely to stand out and worm into your head, especially on an uneven record, and b) they help fuel my workouts so get a lot more plays.

1.The Dillinger Escape Plan - Widower (Runners-up: N/A)

2.Be'lakor - In Parting (Runners-up: The Dream And The Waking, Remnants, Of Moon And Star)

3.Voyager - A Beautiful Mistake (Runners-up: The Morning Light)

4.Protest The Hero - Drumhead Trial (Runners-up: Skies, C'est La Vie, Sex-Tapes)

5.Sylosis - Serpent's Tongue (Runners-up: The River, Paradox, Kingdom Of Solitude)

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1.Blind Guardian - Beyond The Red Mirror

2.Motörhead - Bad Magic

3.Saxon - Battering Ram

4.Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls

5.Helloween - My God-Given Right

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Folk metal is becoming one of my favorite subgenres within metal. It can fit whether you are dancing around a fire with a fine alcoholic beverage or just cleaning up around your house. I am making this list to provide some of my current favorite pieces of hammer-wielding/booze-chugging/kilt-sporting anthems.

1.Moonsorrow - Voimasta Ja Kunniasta

2.Finntroll - Nattfödd

3.Windir - 1184

4.Ensiferum - Iron

5.Forefather - Steadfast

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1.Ghost Brigade - IV - One With The Storm

2.Empyrium - The Turn Of The Tides

3.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

4.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

5.In Flames - Siren Charms

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1.Soilwork - The Ride Majestic

2.Symphony X - Underworld

3.Lamb Of God - VII: Sturm Und Drang

4.Amorphis - Under The Red Cloud

5.Sylosis - Dormant Heart

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Listen to these today. I limited later Enslaved releases, as they become less and less "black metal" as time goes on. That is not to say you should not check them out.

1.Immortal - Sons Of Northern Darkness

2.Enslaved - Mardraum - Beyond The Within

3.Enslaved - Isa

4.Gorgoroth - Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam

5.Absu - Tara

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1.Amon Amarth - Versus The World

2.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

3.Anathema - The Silent Enigma

4.Arch Enemy - Burning Bridges

5.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

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1.Disentomb - Misery - Far and away the best album of the year. This rivals Katalepsy's Autopsychosis for the most brutal, devastating riffage in the genre. It's creative, precise, and strongly fulfills the atmosphere set by the album cover. I feel like I'm wading in hell among throngs of tormenting entities as I'm pummeled relentlessly by elite riff sections, massive gutturals, and near-perfect production. The choices of chords often take the music to another level. It doesn't get much better than this.

2.Infecting The Swarm - Pathogenesis - Probably not for everyone, but the intense and slicing guitar sections are simply amazing in the most subtle of ways. Not overly dynamic or inventive but hits the sweet spot in futuristic atmosphere meets massively ripping guitars. Vocals are good and songs are catchy and memorable. Only downside are the programmed drums, which normally would cause me to chuck this off the list but not in this case. It all blends seamlessly. Masterful work, at times, and I can't wait to hear what's next from this band.

3.Cerebral Effusion - Idolatry Of The Unethical - Chunking, ripping, crushing smashing, pounding brutal death. You can feel the sickness. The overall sound is amazing.

4.Septical Gorge - Scourge Of The Formless Breed - Inventive guitars, awesome technical musicianship and dynamism. Awesome production and elaborate song structures.

5.Omnihility - Deathscapes Of The Subconsious - Some of the most interesting and intense guitars pervade this album but there will be no wankery here - it's all in blindingly fast, mind-numbing riffs. Very cool songs and ideas and this band has a tremendously high ceiling. Not much out there like this. Guitarist is known for his 'gravity-picking' technique, which allows many of the songs to break BPM sound-barriers.

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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

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1.Sonata Arctica - Pariah's Child

2.Sabaton - Heroes

3.Epica - The Quantum Enigma

4.Diabulus In Musica - Argia

5.Ancient Bards - A New Dawn Ending

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1.Killer Be Killed - Killer Be Killed

2.Channel Zero - Kill All Kings

3.Sanctuary - The Year The Sun Died

4.Slipknot - .5: The Gray Chapter

5.Overkill - White Devil Armory

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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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