Sort of stumbled upon Anubis Gate. Not too often do you see the bassist as lead singer/frontman of the band. It's hard to place the specific sound of the band since they're a blend of power and progressive metal. They're a great band that I would highly recommend checking out.

1.Anubis Gate - Anubis Gate

2.Anubis Gate - Andromeda Unchained

3.Anubis Gate - Horizons

4.Anubis Gate - The Detached

5.Anubis Gate - A Perfect Forever

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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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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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Even in 2012 (update: 2013), 2011 still isn't too hot a year for me. Still, new stuff keeps on coming, and 2012 itself is looking pretty good, so I'll forgive it. New in the new year is the lack of ratings. It's bothersome, especially since I've decided to sacrifice a few newborns and (retrospectively and retroactively) rate on RYM.

1.Hell - Human Remains

2.SubRosa - No Help For The Mighty Ones

3.Anubis Gate - Anubis Gate

4.Hammers Of Misfortune - 17th Street

5.Mastodon - The Hunter

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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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My personal favorite studio albums of 2011

1.Ghost Brigade - Until Fear No Longer Defines Us

2.Haken - Visions

3.Moonsorrow - Varjoina Kuljemme Kuolleiden Maassa

4.Machine Head - Unto The Locust

5.Mastodon - The Hunter

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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

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This is retrospective ranking of the albums I listened to in 2011. The list is a work-in-progress and the order is likely to change.

10 - Godly Album. Will likely listen to at least once a week for a decade.
9 - Fantastic Album. Will be a classic I remember even in senility.
8 - Great Album. Will recommend to friends.

1.Obscura - Omnivium

2.SubRosa - No Help For The Mighty Ones

3.Paul Wardingham - Assimilate Regenerate

4.Blotted Science - The Animation Of Entomology

5.Protest The Hero - Scurrilous

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probably still not finished...

1.Chthonic - Takasago Army

2.Symphony X - Iconoclast

3.Orpheus Omega - Bleed The Way

4.Iced Earth - Dystopia

5.Russian Circles - Empros

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