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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This is a list of all the folk metal albums I have listened to that I found to be of at least marginal quality. It is purely for my own organizational purposes and is not meant to be a definitive statement about the genre; for that reason, there are some entries that don't entirely fit the description, including some neofolk albums and bands that don't exactly play "folk metal" but are close enough.

There used to be a good amount of crossover with my black metal list, but I have since cleaned house and removed anything labeled "pagan" or "Viking" to this list. Personally, I'm very skeptical of the idea that "pagan" anything is its own genre, and unless you're Bathory, the Viking shtick doesn't really work with me. I file it under blackened folk or folk black metal or something like that; if it has any ties to traditional music, I've decided simply to add it to this list and not bother with splitting hairs.

The first section of albums represents my favorite albums - sometimes just within the genre, sometimes overall. Beyond that, they are divided into sections by rating going down to 6/10, and within those sections in alphabetical order.

This list was last updated August 8, 2021.

1.Elvenking - Secrets Of The Magick Grimoire

2.Forefather - Ours Is The Kingdom

3.Forefather - Steadfast

4.Forefather - Last Of The Line

5.Dalriada - Áldás

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A collection of metal albums that use Arabian, middle-east and far east folk elements. Recommendations are welcome. Image is the cover artwork of Shangren's Warriors of Devastation.

1.Acyl - Algebra

2.Aeternam - Disciples Of The Unseen

3.Akvan اكوان - شکوه فراموش شده / Forgotten Glory

4.Al-Namrood - Estorat Taghoot

5.Al-Namrood - Kitab Al-Awthan

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1.Insomnium - One For Sorrow

2.Wolverine - Communication Lost

3.Thence - These Stones Cry From The Earth

4.TesseracT - One

5.Autumn - Cold Comfort

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Title says it all.

1.Vomitory - Opus Mortis VIII

2.Ulcerate - The Destroyers Of All

3.Supreme Pain - Divine Incarnation

4.Woods Of Desolation - Torn Beyond Reason

5.I Chaos - The Human Repellent

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Best Folkish albums I've heard so far...!! Please feel free to post your Suggestions!!

1.Agalloch - The Mantle

2.Ensiferum - Iron

3.Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja

4.Blackmore's Night - Under A Violet Moon

5.Blackmore's Night - Shadow Of The Moon

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(still under Construction...!)

1.Septicflesh - The Great Mass

2.Within Temptation - The Unforgiving

3.Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

4.Anathema - Falling Deeper

5.Insomnium - One For Sorrow

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1.Steven Wilson - Grace For Drowning

2.Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors

3.Esoteric - Paragon Of Dissonance

4.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

5.Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

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My tops of this year. If you wanna know anything about those albums or got suggestions PM me!

1.Thy Catafalque - Rengeteg

2.Leprous - Bilateral

3.Devin Townsend - Deconstruction

4.Minushuman - Bloodthrone

5.Textures - Dualism

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1.Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows

2.Insomnium - One For Sorrow

3.Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth

4.Mercenary - Metamorphosis

5.Thy Catafalque - Rengeteg

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1.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

2.Anthrax - Worship Music

3.Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus

4.Vektor - Outer Isolation

5.Primordial - Redemption At The Puritan's Hand

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