I know I probably speak for a lot of people when I say that, very often, the artwork that a band chooses for a particular album can be the icing on the cake, essential to giving a visual depiction that tops off the overall aesthetic of the music. There are plenty of albums that I simply couldn't imagine listening to without staring, zoned out, to the big ball of glorious that is their cover art. Here are some such albums. In alphabetical order by band. Links to full images of the covers have been provided, as well as credits to the artists.

1.Aarni - Bathos

2.Absu - The Sun Of Tiphareth

3.Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

4.Bathory - Blood Fire Death

5.Blue Öyster Cult - Fire Of Unknown Origin

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Albums I have downloaded and are in the process of obtaining

1.AC/DC - Back In Black

2.AC/DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

3.AC/DC - High Voltage

4.AC/DC - Highway To Hell

5.AC/DC - Let There Be Rock

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Ah,1991. Maybe best year of Death Metal.

1.Suffocation - Effigy Of The Forgotten

2.Bolt Thrower - Warmaster

3.Grave - Into The Grave

4.Immolation - Dawn Of Possession

5.Massacre - From Beyond

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1.Warning - Watching From A Distance

2.Aquilus - Griseus

3.King Diamond - Abigail

4.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

5.Candlemass - Nightfall

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A list of quality sophomore releases.

1.Agalloch - The Mantle

2.Alice In Chains - Dirt

3.Anthrax - Spreading The Disease

4.Asphyx - Last One On Earth

5.Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

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1.Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus

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

3.Opeth - Morningrise

4.Gojira - From Mars To Sirius

5.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

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This list includes the death metal albums I enjoyed listening to the most. It will be frequently updated with new albums. Descriptions will probably be added soon.
Ordered alphabetically.

1.Asphyx - Last One On Earth

2.Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

3.Autopsy - Mental Funeral

4.Benighted - Asylum Cave

5.Bolt Thrower - The IVth Crusade

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Lots of genres, not repeating any Band (except Therion, but with 3 different styles). You cannot go wrong with this list, some nice Starts to any kind of Metal.
The list is sorted by year, but has not any particular order. Enjoy!

1.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

2.Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

3.Therion - Symphony Masses - Ho Drakon Ho Megas

4.Cynic - Focus

5.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

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RANKING CRITERIA :

- Originality
- Songwriting
- Performance

Neither the popularity among the fans nor the commercial success (or unsuccess) of the albums were taken into account in the selection.

1.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

2.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

4.Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

5.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

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This is a list dedicated to everything crazy, eclectic and technical. I know there are many many more albums that could be added, but these are the ones I personally recommend. One album per band order by the level of "technical madness" (whatever that metric is).

1.Blotted Science - The Machinations Of Dementia

2.Änglagård - Hybris

3.Coroner - No More Color

4.Invocator - Excursion Demise

5.Deathspell Omega - Paracletus

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1.Death - Human

2.Opeth - Still Life

3.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

4.Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream

5.Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

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The choice of the albums was made according to aesthetic criteria, taking into account only the musical merits of the recordings. Neither the popularity among the fans nor the commercial success (or unsuccess) of the albums were taken into account in the selection.

1.Anacrusis - Screams And Whispers

2.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

3.Death - The Sound Of Perseverance

4.Pantera - Cowboys From Hell

5.Death - Symbolic

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The only one. No order particularly, except the order I thought of them in.

1.Death - The Sound Of Perseverance

2.Vader - Litany

3.Monstrosity - Millennium

4.Malevolent Creation - Retribution

5.Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory

      View entire list ››

So here are some Brutal, Technical, Progressive and sometimes Atmospheric death metal works I enjoy or that I believe should be given a try because they're unique and interesting, almost an essentials list when it comes to that style. There are some unorthodox choices as well in the mix that aren't just full-on tech death, some bands also incorporate grind, black, core elements or even jazz. Hope you'll all find something that suits your taste! The list is ordered by years. Feel free to comment and give recommendations! Just refrain from telling me an album shouldn't be featured here... All the albums here are deliberately hand-picked and if it made the list, it's for a reason.

Personal absolute favorites of mine have a ★ beside the genre. And my pics of best album for each year are identified by (best of xxxx) beside the albums.

🇨🇦 = From Canada, My Country! We're quite good at Technical and Brutal Death Metal... Trust me. I mean, you'll see for yourself.

-Guib-

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Guib's Best Tech/Brutal/Prog Death Metal Album Picks

Best Of 2023:
The Zenith Passage - Datalysium

Best of 2024 So Far:
Exist - Hijacking The Zeitgeist

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TAGS: Technical Death Metal, Melodic Tech-Death, Brutal, Atmospheric, Progressive, Blackened Tech-Death, Technical Thrash, Deathgrind, Deathcore, Symphonic, Dissonant Tech-Death, Experimental, Avantgarde, Grindcore, Jazz

Last Updated: April 21st, 2024

1.Atheist - Piece Of Time

2.Nocturnus - The Key

3.Atrocity - Hallucinations

4.Death - Human

5.Suffocation - Effigy Of The Forgotten

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1.Morbid Angel - Blessed Are The Sick

2.Death - Human

3.Metallica - Metallica

4.Sepultura - Arise

5.Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream

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