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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***UPDATED REGULARLY*** My List of Albums that I've Listened to in 2014. Order: Best to Worst. I listened to all of these albums at least a minimum of 3 times. I do my best efforts to listen to as many different types of metal as I can. I may rate albums higher then some would, but that's my opinion and at least I'm supporting bands, not hating on them.(not going to give out 1's and 2's cause I know it's hard work to put together these albums, unless it's just white noise of course).

1.Revocation - Deathless

2.Allegaeon - Elements Of The Infinite

3.Aenaon - Extance

4.Chelsea Grin - Ashes To Ashes

5.The Kindred - Life In Lucidity

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This list is provisional with no specific order. It's subject to change as time passes and more albums get released. For now, Triptykon's new work tops my chart.

1.Mayhem - Esoteric Warfare

2.Triptykon - Melana Chasmata

3.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

4.Behemoth - The Satanist

5.Witch Mountain - Mobile Of Angels

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Pretty much every album that's caught my attention over the year, including non-metal. (Variety is a virtue, y'know )

I'll only be commenting on albums that I've given enough time to really form an opinion on. Chances are albums that failed to interest me beyond a first listen will eventually be removed from the list.

1.Swans - To Be Kind

2.Darren Korb - Transistor Original Soundtrack

3.Bent Knee - Shiny Eyed Babies

4.Gazpacho - Demon

5.Vampillia - My Beautiful Twisted Nightmares In Aurora Rainbow Darkness

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Rating:
10 - Allmost impossible to get. The band need to create something astronomical good.
9 - Only the best albums of the year gets this.
8 - A really good album on all levels.
7 - A good album, but nothing special.
6 - An average album with some good songs.
5 - Not a good album, maybe 1 or 2 good songs.
4 and below - I rather not waste my time on it...

1.

2.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

3.Behemoth - The Satanist

4.Vanden Plas - Chronicles Of The Immortals: Netherworld (Path 1)

5.Beyond Creation - Earthborn Evolution

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Albums I'm enjoying as 2014 progresses, order and all that is updated weekly. Suggestions and also comments are very welcome, I'm also finally finished my 2013 list. Check that out as well
As new 2014 albums come and go please note the order is subject to change before you have an aneurism.

Definitely always looking for more metal/music friends https://www.facebook.com/derek.handelong (add me)

1.Buckethead - Pikes 42-129

2.Vader - Tibi Et Igni

3.Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era

4.Delain - The Human Contradiction

5.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

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1.Disemballerina - Undertaker

2.Empyrium - The Turn Of The Tides

3.Devin Townsend - Casualties Of Cool

4.Nadja - /ɪmpəˈfɛkʃ ( ə ) n/

5.Saor - Aura

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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.W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol

2.Wachenfeldt - The Interpreter

3.Wake - Devouring Ruin

4.Waldgeflüster - Femundsmarka - Eine Reise In Drei Kapiteln

5.Walknut - Graveforests And Their Shadows

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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.

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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Work In Progress.

Releases not featured on MS:

Nobody.One - Ocean Echo

Enabler - La Fin Absolute Du Monde

Widek - Outside The Universe

1.Mechina - Xenon

2.Allegaeon - Elements Of The Infinite

3.Revocation - Deathless

4.Triptykon - Melana Chasmata

5.Alcest - Shelter

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This is close to my final list for this year.

1.Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era

2.Evergrey - Hymns For The Broken

3.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

4.Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)

5.Ghost Brigade - IV - One With The Storm

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1.Accept - Blind Rage

2.Wolf - Devil Seed

3.Primal Fear - Delivering The Black

4.Grave Digger - Return Of The Reaper

5.Aria - Через Все Времена

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My top 20 albums listed by order:

1.Ne Obliviscaris - Citadel

2.Septicflesh - Titan

3.Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun

4.Neurotech - Infra Versus Ultra

5.Burzum - The Ways Of Yore

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1.Septicflesh - Titan

2.Deathstars - The Perfect Cult

3.Arkona - Явь

4.Epica - The Quantum Enigma

5.Alestorm - Sunset On The Golden Age

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My personal favorite studio albums of 2014

1.Ghost Brigade - IV - One With The Storm

2.Epica - The Quantum Enigma

3.Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen

4.Sólstafir - Ótta

5.Shylmagoghnar - Emergence

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