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.Ba'al - Ellipsism

2.Back To R'lyeh - The Awakening / Last Fight Of The Primordial

3.Bad Salad - Uncivilized

4.Bakos Attila - Aranyhajnal

5.Balance Of Power - Book Of Secrets

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This list aims to be the counterpart to the Metal Storm Top 200 Albums (plus a few extras).

If you discover a new band or already like any of the ones here, please give this list a thumbs up and/or leave a comment so we can get these overlooked gems in front of more people.

Criteria:
• High-quality musicianship (9-10/10 IMO)
• 1 album per band

Ordered by number of votes then MS rating.

As these are albums with a low number of votes, the rating is likely to change frequently. I will update this list as often as I can.

Updated: 29-Jan-24

My other lists:
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 25 EPs (also ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overrated Albums (trigger warning)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)

1.Solipsist - The Human Equation

2.Ayahuasca - Beneath The Mind

3.Cryptomnesia - Primordial Oddity

4.Element (USA) - The Energy

5.Telepathy - 12 Areas

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1.Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs

2.Sólstafir - Köld

3.Be'lakor - Stone's Reach

4.Insomnium - Across The Dark

5.Soulfallen - Grave New World

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Creating good music might not be an easy task, but most bands in existence consist of multiple members who contribute to the music. One-man bands however are simply musicians who create the music all by themselves, which, in my opinion, is very impressive. Because of the fact that there are quite a few of these talented musicians, I created this list. Of course there are many more one-man band albums than I have listed here and that's why I'm open to suggestions. So be sure to give me recommendations and also let me know if I listed the "wrong" album by a band (in your opinion). Lastly, the list is ranked according to genre and then alphabetically. I only add 1 (full-length) album per band (and only albums that are featured on MS).

1.

2.Aarni - Bathos

3.Brown Jenkins - Death Obsession

4.Cloak Of Altering - Ancient Paths Through Timeless Voids

5.De Magia Veterum - The Divine Antithesis

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Here's a list that contains only Death Doom and Melodic Death Doom Metal albums, so Gothic (check out my other list for that), Funeral or Sludge Doom etc. are NOT included here (but elements from those subgenres might be present in some of the albums on this list). The reason I made this list is because "death doom" is easily one of my all-time favourite subgenres of music in general. Also, there's not a single similar list on MS to be found (at least to my knowing), hence why I feel people who are into this subgenre can use this list to find out more great music. The list is ordened to my own preference and all these albums are worth at least an 8/10 (the alphabetically ranked albums on the bottom of the list will eventually be ranked among the others, but I haven't listened enough to those to do so). The styles (pure/melodic/atmospheric death doom metal) of the ranked albums are also added so it's easier for people to find what they're looking for. I only add 1 album per band for the sake of variety as well as for keeping the list comprehensible. Lastly, give me suggestions so I can check 'em out and add them to the list (only albums that are featured on MS).

1.Katatonia - Brave Murder Day

2.My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans

3.Saturnus - Paradise Belongs To You

4.Desire - Locus Horrendus - The Night Cries Of A Sullen Soul...

5.Disembowelment - Transcendence Into The Peripheral

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The saddest albums I've ever heard in alphabetical order.

1.Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

2.Agalloch - The Mantle

3.Ahab - The Giant

4.Aoria - The Constant

5.An Autumn For Crippled Children - Everything

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A lot of bands have great debut albums. Obviously this list is just a fraction of all the great debut albums out there, but it's a start. I'll keep expanding this list continuously, so all suggestions are welcome (granted they are featured on MS). All the albums here are ranked according to genre and then alphabetically. If a certain album belongs to the (in your opinion) wrong genre, then definitely let me know.

1.

2.Aarni - Bathos

3.Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia

4.Diablo Swing Orchestra - The Butcher's Ballroom

5.Sadness - Ames De Marbre

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Lately I have found that I am really, really into melodeath and doom/melancholic metal albums. I enjoy other genres, but after a while I keep reverting back to a small list of masterpieces.

This is a list of these albums. They somehow keep finding their way back into my CD player. As it happens, they (mostly) fit in the following genres:

1.Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs

2.Katatonia - Dead End Kings

3.Amorphis - The Beginning Of Times

4.Before The Dawn - Deathstar Rising

5.Insomnium - Across The Dark

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1.Dalriada - Arany-Album

2.Nokturnal Mortum - The Voice of Steel

3.Damned Spirits' Dance - Weird Constellations

4.Ensiferum - From Afar

5.Arkona - Goi, Rode, Goi!

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1.Be'lakor - Stone's Reach

2.Eternal Tears Of Sorrow - Children Of The Dark Waters

3.Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs

4.Paradise Lost - Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us

5.Amorphis - Skyforger

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1.My Dying Bride - The Angel And The Dark River

2.Swallow The Sun - The Morning Never Came

3.Draconian - Arcane Rain Fell

4.Novembers Doom - The Pale Haunt Departure

5.Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs

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