I don't believe in illegal downloading of easily available albums, so this list is only albums I have actually purchased and own a hard copy or official download of. The order is VERY fluid, and in all likelihood, wrong. But oh well....
Coming soon: Comments for each album & finalised order for the year...
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1.
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Thy Catafalque - Rengeteg
This album makes we want to dance, and not a dubstep crossover in sight...genuinely a wonderful record. |
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2.
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Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows
No, it's not original, but it is beautifully written and every song has a moment of class. Love it. |
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3.
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Ulcerate - The Destroyers Of All |
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4.
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Symphony X - Iconoclast |
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5.
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Cormorant - Dwellings |
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6.
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Insomnium - One For Sorrow |
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7.
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Esoteric - Paragon Of Dissonance |
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8.
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Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage |
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9.
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Suidakra - Book Of Dowth |
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10.
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Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising |
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11.
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Novembers Doom - Aphotic |
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12.
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Blut Aus Nord - 777 - Sect(s) |
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13.
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Blut Aus Nord - 777 - The Desanctification |
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14.
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Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa |
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15.
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Scar Symmetry - The Unseen Empire |
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16.
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Chthonic - Takasago Army |
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17.
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Demonaz - March Of The Norse |
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18.
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40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room |
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19.
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Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events |
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20.
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Botanist - I: The Suicide Tree / II: A Rose From The Dead |
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21.
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Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors |
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22.
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Hate Eternal - Phoenix Amongst The Ashes |
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23.
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Uneven Structure - Februus |
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24.
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Mastodon - The Hunter |
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25.
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Exhumed - All Guts, No Glory |
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26.
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Indian - Guiltless |
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27.
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Before The Dawn - Deathstar Rising |
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28.
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Anthrax - Worship Music |
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29.
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Skeletonwitch - Forever Abomination |
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30.
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Primordial - Redemption At The Puritan's Hand |
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31.
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Morne - Asylum |
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32.
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Crowbar - Sever The Wicked Hand |
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33.
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A((Wake)) - A((wake)) |
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34.
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Saxon - Call To Arms |
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35.
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Desultory - Counting Our Scars |
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36.
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Obscura - Omnivium |
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37.
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Anathema - Falling Deeper |
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38.
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Evile - Five Serpent's Teeth |
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39.
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Fen - Epoch |
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40.
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Machine Head - Unto The Locust |
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41.
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Septicflesh - The Great Mass
Some interesting ideas, and a highly accomplished and polished performance, but Metal + Orchestra does not always = Genius. Not enough actual riffs or high quality songwriting for my liking. |
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42.
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Cauldron - Burning Fortune
Don't get me wrong, I like this album, it's fun (and cheap) and produces warm feelings of nostalgia. But it's hardly revolutionary. |
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43.
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Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning
I'm hoping this grows on me - Mr Wilson usually delivers - but so far it's a struggle to stay awake. |
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44.
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In Flames - Sounds Of A Playground Fading
"Ropes" has one of the best riffs they've ever written, but In Flames keep sliding round the downward spiral... |
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45.
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Opeth - Heritage
I've tried to enjoy this on a number of different levels - metal, prog, 70's worship, folk - but I'm sorry, it's just mind-numbingly boring! |
