1.Devin Townsend - Deconstruction

2.Symphony X - Iconoclast

3.Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events

4.Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning

5.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

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1.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

2.Vildhjarta - Måsstaden

3.Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth

4.Shining - VII - Född Förlorare

5.Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us

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1.Obscura - Omnivium

2.Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy

3.Born Of Osiris - The Discovery

4.Magic Pie - The Suffering Joy

5.Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

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Being a metal site I would usually just make another metal list but two of my picks are anything but metal.

1.Devin Townsend - Ghost

2.Obscura - Omnivium

3.Fleshgod Apocalypse - Agony

4.Symphony X - Iconoclast

5.Septicflesh - The Great Mass

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2011 for me was a year where experimentation really took the spotlight, although not entirely accepted by fans, critics brought more attention to bands trying out something new.

1.Opeth - Heritage

2.Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors

3.Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning

4.Mastodon - The Hunter

5.Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events

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Purely subjective list based on personal preferences for the year, unrelated to mass opinion of an album or a band's abilities (e.g. Trivium, Oranssi Pazuzu) - many albums lined up to listen to so will increase in size. Also, not entirely in order, middle order mainly just an approximation.

1.Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth

2.Protest The Hero - Scurrilous

3.Infestus - E x I s t

4.Amorphis - The Beginning Of Times

5.Ouroboros - Glorification Of A Myth

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Ordered best to worst. This is entirely my opinion.

1.Insomnium - One For Sorrow

2.Graveyard - Hisingen Blues

3.Havok - Time Is Up

4.Toxic Holocaust - Conjure And Command

5.Deafheaven - Roads To Judah

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1.Thy Catafalque - Rengeteg

2.Leprous - Bilateral

3.Aquilus - Griseus

4.Pain Of Salvation - Road Salt Two

5.Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows

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1.Anathema - We're Here Because We're Here

2.Leprous - Coal

3.Lingua Mortis Orchestra - LMO [Collaboration]

4.Devin Townsend - Empath

5.Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning

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I know this is a bit late, but whatever...

1.Insomnium - One For Sorrow

2.Septicflesh - The Great Mass

3.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

4.Opeth - Heritage

5.Wolves In The Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

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My favorit albums of this year.

1.Septicflesh - The Great Mass

2.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

3.Devin Townsend - Deconstruction

4.Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events

5.Derek Sherinian - Oceana

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1.Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning

2.Karmakanic - In A Perfect World

3.Devin Townsend - Deconstruction

4.Opeth - Heritage

5.Anathema - Falling Deeper

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