This is a favorites list, not a guide or anything of that sort. It just highlights the albums that I've enjoyed listening to and spinned extensively since last November (When I got into this monolithic genre.) One entry for each band. The descriptions aren't necessarily descriptions of the music. I just wrote what came to my mind. I will update with new albums frequently.
EDIT: Got to 50 entries, so I guess I'll stop for now. I want more time to revisit these 50, get into the other albums of the bands listed below and delve into other genres of metal. I guess that taking a break from black metal (at least new stuff) will ensure that I won't get bored of it. It is likely that I'll continue this list by the half of July.

1.A Forest Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring

2.Addaura - Burning For The Ancient

3.Agalloch - Pale Folklore

4.Alcest - Écailles De Lune

5.Alda - : Tahoma :

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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.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

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I have decided to whittle this down to 10 albumsl

Honorable mentions: Mastodon (The Hunter), Omnium Gatherum (New World Shadows), Lantlôs (Agape), Insomnium (One For Sorrow), Aaskereia (Dort, wo das alte Böse ruht)

1.Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

2.Fen - Epoch

3.Esoteric - Paragon Of Dissonance

4.Deafheaven - Roads To Judah

5.Mournful Congregation - The Book Of Kings

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Here it is! Yet another unimaginative list of albums released in 2011!

1.MurkRat - Drudging The Mire

2.Woods Of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason

3.Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

4.Esoteric - Paragon Of Dissonance

5.SubRosa - No Help For The Mighty Ones

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What I listened to last year.

1.40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room

2.Alda - : Tahoma :

3.Alrakis - Alpha Eri

4.Anaal Nathrakh - Passion

5.Ash Borer - Ash Borer

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I have listened like 70-80 metal albums released in 2011 until 20 August 2012 and this is my top list of them. Couple of other quite good albums simply didn't make it into selection of 20, it was a bit challenging to select only 20 pieces. But would be pointless to list nearly all or all of them on the other hand...

1.Nightwish - Imaginaerum

2.Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

3.Alestorm - Back Through Time

4.Peste Noire - L'Ordure A L'etat Pur

5.Darkal - Here Comes The Darkness

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