1. Insomnium - One For Sorrow

2. Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows

3. Symphony X - Iconoclast

4. Concerto Moon - Savior Never Cry

5. Brymir - Breathe Fire To The Sun

      View entire list ››

I will try to be as subjective as I can and it won't include only my favorite genres as I will try to include albums from all Metal sub-genres because I think it's important to get exposed to all kinds of metal so that a person may create a good taste in Metal music. (Might include more than 1 album per band).

1. King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

2. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

3. Deep Purple - Machine Head

4. Judas Priest - Stained Class

5. Scorpions - Taken By Force

      View entire list ››

1. Rhapsody Of Fire - From Chaos To Eternity

2. Symphony X - Iconoclast

3. Nightwish - Imaginaerum

4. Stratovarius - Elysium

5. Versailles - Holy Grail

      View entire list ››

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

      View entire list ››

In order roughly, by the number of spins. A lot = A LOT. So when I give ten more spins to the rest of the albums I've listened to, and forgot to rate most probably, this will grow larger. Or not. I'm making this for me anyway.

1. Subsignal - Touchstones

2. Symphony X - Iconoclast

3. Amorphis - The Beginning Of Times

4. Pain Of Salvation - Road Salt Two

5. Iced Earth - Dystopia

      View entire list ››

1. Theocracy - As The World Bleeds

2. Iced Earth - Dystopia

3. Iron Mask - Black As Death

4. Edguy - Age Of The Joker

5. Symphony X - Iconoclast

      View entire list ››

If you're like me and can't sit still with just one or two genres, perhaps you'll find some ideas in this list. I kept the variety with genres, but also by including all worthy bands from unknown newcomers all the way up to big names. Basically, everything I liked this year.

Since there are so many genres here, don't get too worked up about specific rating and placement. They're generally in order, but more importantly they're all amazing.

1. Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy - Návaz

2. Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors

3. Autumn - Cold Comfort

4. Shadowside - Inner Monster Out

5. 40 Watt Sun - The Inside Room

      View entire list ››

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

      View entire list ››

Another Pointless top 20 albums of 2011 list. Most of these are bands I had not listened to before or had listened to very little of.

1. Symphony X - Iconoclast

2. Mastodon - The Hunter

3. Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us

4. Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy

5. Iced Earth - Dystopia

      View entire list ››

Might add albums later on. This list is not finalized yet...

1. Stratovarius - Elysium

2. Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy

3. Dragonland - Under The Grey Banner

4. Almah - Motion

5. Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn Of Events

      View entire list ››

1. Leprous - Bilateral

2. Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance

3. Symphony X - Iconoclast

4. Pain of Salvation - Road Salt Two

5. Subsignal - Touchstones

      View entire list ››

Heavy metal + power + thrash + death metal top 50 / 2011

1. Septicflesh - The Great Mass

2. Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows

3. Samael - Lux Mundi

4. Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction

5. Fleshgod Apocalypse - Aagony

      View entire list ››

1. Riot - Immortal Soul

2. Pagan's Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy

3. Leprous - Bilateral

4. Symphony X - Iconoclast

5. Nightwish - Imaginaerum

      View entire list ››

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

      View entire list ››

It remains to add bands that haven't released album and add personal comments.

1. Symphony X - Iconoclast

2. Iced Earth - Dystopia

3. Vektor - Outer Isolation

4. Megadeth - Th1rt3en

5. Warbringer - Worlds Torn Asunder

      View entire list ››