My Ultimate List Of Favorite Albums

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My Ultimate List Of Favorite Albums

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A list by
F3ynman
Created
May 10, 2026
Entries
200
Endorsements
5
Welcome to my new ultimate list of favorite albums!

After 5 years on Metal Storm, I think it's time to give an update to my old list of favorite albums.

This time, I meticulously ranked each album based on a song-by-song ranking system. I gave each song a rating from 6 "tiers": 1 (bad), 2 (average), 3 (good), 4 (excellent), 5 (perfect), and 6 (god). Then, the album rating corresponds to the average of the song ratings. The songs that got a 6 rating can also be found in my favorite songs list.

The full table of song ratings, encompassing about 2450 songs of about 270 albums, can be found HERE.

The list is quite comprehensive: it contains albums, EPs, and compilations; releases ranging from 1970 to 2026; mostly metal, some non-metal that I enjoy, and some albums that aren't featured on Metal Storm. I restricted myself to a top 200 album selection, which corresponds to a cutoff rating of about 3.5.

The format of the list is:
Band Name - Album Name - Average Song Rating | Country of Origin - Year of Release

I hope you enjoy my picks, and perhaps you will find an unknown gem or two!
200.
1.
Arizmenda - Stillbirth In The Temple Of Venus
5.33 | USA 2014
200.
2.
Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea
5.33 | Germany 2006
200.
3.
Devil Master - Satan Spits On Children Of Light
5.3 | USA 2019
200.
4.
Nile - Annihilation Of The Wicked
5.25 | USA 2005
200.
5.
Necrophobic - The Nocturnal Silence
5.22 | Sweden 1993
200.
6.
Vektor - Terminal Redux
5.22 | USA 2016
200.
7.
Electric Wizard - Dopethrone
5.14 | UK 2000
200.
8.
Slugdge - Gastronomicon
5.14 | UK 2014
200.
9.
Judas Priest - Painkiller
5.11 | UK 1990
200.
10.
Melechesh - Emissaries
5.11 | The Netherlands 2006
200.
11.
Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane
5 | Sweden 1995
200.
12.
Immortal - At The Heart Of Winter
5 | Norway 1999
200.
13.
Porta Nigra - Kaiserschnitt
5 | Germany 2015
200.
14.
Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
4.89 | UK 1984
200.
15.
Cobalt - Eater Of Birds
4.86 | USA 2007
200.
16.
Moonspell - Under Satanæ
4.86 | Portugal 2007
200.
17.
Lord Belial - Enter The Moonlight Gate
4.86 | Sweden 1997
200.
18.
Lucifer's Fall - III - From The Deep
4.86 | Australia 2021
200.
19.
Be'lakor - Stone's Reach
4.86 | Australia 2009
200.
20.
Nocte Obducta - Galgendämmerung - Von Nebel, Blut Und Totgeburten
4.86 | Germany 2002
200.
21.
Acherontas - Vamachara
4.83 | Greece 2011
200.
22.
Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
4.83 | UK 1971
200.
23.
The Great Old Ones - Kadath
4.83 | France 2025
200.
24.
Kypck - Черно
4.78 | Finland 2008
200.
25.
Megadeth - Rust In Peace
4.75 | USA 1990
200.
26.
Vitriolic Sage - 梦路
4.75 | China 2023
200.
27.
Death - Spiritual Healing
4.75 | USA 1990
200.
28.
Slugdge - Esoteric Malacology
4.75 | UK 2018
200.
29.
Burzum - Filosofem
4.67 | Norway 1996
200.
30.
Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
4.67 | Sweden 1986
200.
31.
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
4.67 | UK 1982
200.
32.
Arizmenda - Within The Vacuum Of Infinity...
4.67 | USA 2009
200.
33.
Volahn - Aq'Ab'Al
4.67 | USA 2015
200.
34.
Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal
4.56 | UK 2005
200.
35.
Metallica - Ride The Lightning
4.5 | USA 1984
200.
36.
Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
4.5 | USA 1986
200.
37.
Edge Of Sanity - Purgatory Afterglow
4.5 | Sweden 1994
200.
38.
Kypck - Ниже
4.5 | Finland 2011
200.
39.
Nile - Amongst The Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka
4.5 | USA 1998
200.
40.
Nile - Those Whom The Gods Detest
4.44 | USA 2009
200.
41.
Death - Symbolic
4.44 | USA 1995
200.
42.
Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
4.43 | USA 1995
200.
43.
Sulphur Aeon - Seven Crowns And Seven Seals
4.43 | Germany 2023
200.
44.
Slayer - Show No Mercy
4.4 | USA 1983
200.
45.
Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss
4.4 | USA 1990
200.
46.
Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
4.38 | Sweden 1996
200.
47.
Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
4.38 | USA 1985
200.
48.
Funeral Mist - Hekatomb
4.38 | Sweden 2018
200.
49.
Immortal - Sons Of Northern Darkness
4.38 | Norway 2002
200.
50.
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
4.38 | UK 1984
200.
51.
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
4.38 | UK 1986
200.
52.
Devil Master - Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night
4.33 | USA 2022
200.
53.
Megadeth - Youthanasia
4.33 | USA 1994
200.
54.
Deathspell Omega - Kénôse
4.33 | France 2005
200.
55.
Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
4.33 | Norway 1997
200.
56.
Katatonia - Brave Murder Day
4.33 | Sweden 1996
200.
57.
Memoriam - Requiem For Mankind
4.33 | UK 2019
200.
58.
Summoning - Minas Morgul
4.3 | Austria 1995
200.
59.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - PetroDragonic Apocalypse; Or, Dawn Of Eternal Night: An Annihilation Of Planet Earth And The Beginning Of Merciless Damnation
4.29 | Australia 2023
200.
60.
Maximum The Hormone - Yoshu Fukushu
4.29 | Japan 2013
200.
61.
Mercyful Fate - Melissa
4.29 | Denmark 1983
200.
62.
Muse - Origin of Symmetry
4.27 | UK 2001
200.
63.
Kvelertak - Kvelertak
4.27 | Norway 2010
200.
64.
Hazzerd - Misleading Evil
4.25 | Canada 2017
200.
65.
Catacomb (FRA) - In The Maze Of Kadath
4.25 | France 1993
200.
66.
Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream
4.25 | Sweden 1991
200.
67.
Melechesh - Sphynx
4.25 | The Netherlands 2003
200.
68.
Neurosis - Souls At Zero
4.25 | USA 1992
200.
69.
Nile - In Their Darkened Shrines
4.25 | USA 2002
200.
70.
Batushka - Litourgiya
4.25 | Poland 2015
200.
71.
71TONMAN - Of End Times
4.25 | Poland 2023
200.
72.
Maximum The Hormone - Buiikikaesu
4.23 | Japan 2007
200.
73.
Judas Priest - Stained Class
4.22 | UK 1978
200.
74.
High On Fire - Death Is This Communion
4.22 | USA 2007
200.
75.
Vektor - Black Future
4.22 | USA 2009
200.
76.
Metallica - ...And Justice For All
4.22 | USA 1988
200.
77.
Kanonenfieber - Die Urkatastrophe
4.2 | Germany 2024
200.
78.
Edge Of Sanity - Crimson II
4.18 | Sweden 2003
200.
79.
Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh
4.18 | France 2008
200.
80.
Black Sky Giant - End Of Days Pilgrimage
4.17 | Argentina 2022
200.
81.
Lucifer's Fall - Lucifer's Fall
4.17 | Australia 2014
200.
82.
Virgin Black - Sombre Romantic
4.14 | Australia 2001
200.
83.
Opeth - Blackwater Park
4.14 | Sweden 2001
200.
84.
Slayer - Hell Awaits
4.14 | USA 1985
200.
85.
Uthullun - Dirges For The Void
4.14 | USA 2020
200.
86.
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
4.13 | USA 1986
200.
87.
Dryad - The Abyssal Plain
4.13 | USA 2023
200.
88.
Testament - The Legacy
4.11 | USA 1987
200.
89.
Bolt Thrower - ...For Victory
4.11 | UK 1994
200.
90.
Symphony X - V: The New Mythology Suite
4.11 | USA 2000
200.
91.
Amorphis - Elegy
4.09 | Finland 1996
200.
92.
Demigod - Slumber Of Sullen Eyes
4.09 | Finland 1992
200.
93.
Megadeth - Dystopia
4.09 | USA 2016
200.
94.
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
4 | UK 2007
200.
95.
Yakor - Русская Готика
4 | Russia 2024
200.
96.
Godkiller - The End Of The World
4 | Monaco 1998
200.
97.
Virgin Black - Elegant... And Dying
4 | Australia 2003
200.
98.
Summoning - Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame
4 | Austria 2001
200.
99.
Autopsy - Severed Survival
4 | USA 1989
200.
100.
Haxprocess - The Caverns Of Duat
4 | USA 2023
200.
101.
Burzum - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss
4 | Norway 1994
200.
102.
King Cig - Creatures of Habit
4 | Australia 2019
200.
103.
Dissection - The Somberlain
4 | Sweden 1993
200.
104.
Opeth - Still Life
4 | Sweden 1999
200.
105.
Estatic Fear - Somnium Obmutum
4 | Austria 1996
200.
106.
O Zorn! - Vermillion Haze
4 | USA 2024
200.
107.
Kvadrat - The Horrible Dissonance Of Oblivion
4 | Greece 2024
200.
108.
Eye Eater - Alienate
4 | New Zealand 2024
200.
109.
Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What?
4 | USA 1988
200.
110.
Labyrinthus Stellarum - Vortex Of The Worlds
4 | Ukraine 2024
200.
111.
Neurosis - An Undying Love For A Burning World
4 | USA 2026
200.
112.
Mgła - Exercises In Futility
4 | Poland 2015
200.
113.
Reveal! - Doppelherz
4 | Sweden 2021
200.
114.
Warcrab - The Howling Silence
4 | UK 2023
200.
115.
Voidhammer - The Besieger
4 | USA 2025
200.
116.
Terminalist - The Great Acceleration
4 | Denmark 2021
200.
117.
Deumus - Oyer And Terminer
4 | Austria 2022
200.
118.
Amenra - Mass V
4 | Belgium 2012
200.
119.
Japanische Kampfhörspiele - Welt Ohne Werbung
3.95 | Germany 2014
200.
120.
Necrophobic - Hrimthursum
3.91 | Sweden 2006
200.
121.
Acid Bath - Paegan Terrorism Tactics
3.9 | USA 1996
200.
122.
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
3.9 | UK 2009
200.
123.
Death - Scream Bloody Gore
3.9 | USA 1987
200.
124.
Darkened - Defilers Of The Light
3.89 | Sweden 2024
200.
125.
Lucifer's Fall - II - Cursed & Damned
3.89 | Australia 2016
200.
126.
Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
3.89 | USA 1987
200.
127.
Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
3.88 | UK 1980
200.
128.
Rotting Christ - Thy Mighty Contract
3.88 | Greece 1993
200.
129.
Summoning - Stronghold
3.88 | Austria 1999
200.
130.
Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn
3.88 | Austria 2013
200.
131.
Death - Human
3.88 | USA 1991
200.
132.
Mayhem - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
3.88 | Norway 1994
200.
133.
Neurosis - Through Silver In Blood
3.86 | USA 1996
200.
134.
Neurosis - Enemy Of The Sun
3.86 | USA 1983
200.
135.
Dax Riggs - 7 Songs For Spiders
3.86 | USA 2025
200.
136.
Nocte Obducta - Schwarzmetall - Ein Primitives Zwischenspiel
3.86 | Germany 2001
200.
137.
Nocte Obducta - Lethe - Gottverreckte Finsternis
3.86 | Germany 1999
200.
138.
Summoning - Oath Bound
3.86
200.
139.
Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron
3.86 | USA 2020
200.
140.
Volahn - Dimensiónes Del Trance Kósmico
3.86 | USA 2008
200.
141.
Watchman - The End Of All Flesh
3.86 | USA 2022
200.
142.
Arizmenda - Spiders Lust In The Dungeon’s Dust
3.83 | USA 2022
200.
143.
Falkenbach - ...Magni Blandinn Ok Megintiri...
3.83 | Germany 1998
200.
144.
Windir - Arntor
3.83 | Norway 1999
200.
145.
Fires In The Distance - Air Not Meant For Us
3.83 | USA 2023
200.
146.
Therion - Theli
3.83 | Sweden 1996
200.
147.
Thy Catafalque - Sgùrr
3.83 | Hungary 2015
200.
148.
Bolt Thrower - The IVth Crusade
3.82 | UK 1992
200.
149.
Urfaust - Ritual Music For The True Clochard
3.8 | The Netherlands 2012
200.
150.
Artificial Brain - Artificial Brain
3.8 | USA 2022
200.
151.
Kyuss - Kyuss
3.8 | USA 1994
200.
152.
Obsidyen - Litany Of Iah
3.8 | France 2023
200.
153.
Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes
3.78 | Finland 1994
200.
154.
Deathspell Omega - Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice
3.78 | France 2004
200.
155.
Dan Swanö - Moontower
3.75 | Sweden 1999
200.
156.
Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
3.75 | UK 1976
200.
157.
Lurker Of Chalice - Lurker Of Chalice
3.75 | USA 2005
200.
158.
Famyne - II: The Ground Below
3.75 | UK 2022
200.
159.
Kvaen - The Great Below
3.75 | Sweden 2022
200.
160.
Tyranny - Tides Of Awakening
3.75 | Finland 2005
200.
161.
Lune - Hymns To The Lunar Realm
3.75 | Austria 2022
200.
162.
Venus - Obscured Until Observed
3.75 | Greece 2023
200.
163.
Wintersun - Wintersun
3.75 | Finland 2004
200.
164.
Japanische Kampfhörspiele - Rauchen Und Yoga
3.71 | Germany 2007
200.
165.
Burzum - Burzum
3.71 | Norway 1992
200.
166.
Green Lung - Woodland Rites
3.71 | UK 2019
200.
167.
O Zorn! - O Zorn!
3.71 | USA 2017
200.
168.
Christ Of Kather • Markus Maria Hoff - Das Oldschoolformat Der Zukunft
3.7 | Germany 2012
200.
169.
Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
3.7 | Norway 1997
200.
170.
Bathory - Hammerheart
3.67 | Sweden 1990
200.
171.
Fungoid Stream - Oceanus
3.67 | Argentina 2010
200.
172.
Ciemra - The Tread Of Darkness
3.67 | Belarus 2023
200.
173.
Green Yeti - Necropolitan
3.67 | Greece 2023
200.
174.
High On Fire - The Art Of Self Defense
3.67 | USA 2000
200.
175.
Maximum The Hormone - Mimi Kajiru Shinuchi
3.67 | Japan 2015
200.
176.
Necrophobic - Mark Of The Necrogram
3.67 | Sweden 2018
200.
177.
Rainbow - Rising
3.67 | UK 1976
200.
178.
Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape
3.67 | Japan 2001
200.
179.
Artillery - By Inheritance
3.67 | Denmark 1990
200.
180.
Wrathprayer - Enkoimeterion
3.67 | Chile 2024
200.
181.
Summoning - Lugburz
3.64 | Austria 1995
200.
182.
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
3.63 | UK 1981
200.
183.
Slayer - Reign In Blood
3.6 | USA 1986
200.
184.
Fake Idyll - Therapist
3.6 | Germany 2011
200.
185.
Katatonia - Dance Of December Souls
3.6 | Sweden 1993
200.
186.
Necrophobic - In The Twilight Grey
3.6 | Sweden 2024
200.
187.
Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
3.58 | USA 1990
200.
188.
Al-Namrood - Al Aqrab
3.57 | Saudi Arabia 2024
200.
189.
Lamp Of Murmuur - The Dreaming Prince In Ecstasy
3.57 | USA 2025
200.
190.
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
3.57 | UK 1970
200.
191.
Terminalist - The Crisis As Condition
3.57 | Denmark 2023
200.
192.
Dio - Holy Diver
3.56 | USA 1983
200.
193.
Mastodon - Leviathan
3.56 | USA 2004
200.
194.
Reveal! - Scissorgod
3.56 | Sweden 2019
200.
195.
Satan - Earth Infernal
3.56 | UK 2022
200.
196.
Judas Priest - Invincible Shield
3.55 | UK 2024
200.
197.
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not
3.54 | UK 2006
200.
198.
Japanische Kampfhörspiele - Kaputte Nackte Affen
3.53 | Germany 2011
200.
199.
Judas Priest - Sin After Sin
3.5 | UK 1977
200.
200.
Arctic Monkeys - AM
3.5 | UK 2013
More lists by F3ynman ››
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by F3ynman ]

Comments

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Comments: 3 Visited by 14 users
F3ynman
Nocturnal Bro
Contributor

Posts: 3433
Permalink
11.05.2026 - 02:01
F3ynman
Nocturnal Bro
Contributor

Posts: 3433


It's finally here! After months of hard (but fun) work, meticulously listening and rating about 2450 songs, I'm happy to present this new ultimate list of favorite albums!

After 5 years on Metal Storm, I think it's time to give an update to my old list of favorite albums.

This time, I ranked each album based on a song-by-song ranking system. I gave each song a rating from 6 "tiers": 1 (bad), 2 (average), 3 (good), 4 (excellent), 5 (perfect), and 6 (god). Then, the album rating corresponds to the average of the song ratings. The songs that got a 6 rating can also be found in my favorite songs list.

The full table of song ratings, encompassing about 2450 songs of about 270 albums, can be found HERE.

The list is quite comprehensive: it contains albums, EPs, and compilations; releases ranging from 1970 to 2026; mostly metal, some non-metal that I enjoy, and some albums that aren't featured on Metal Storm. I restricted myself to a top 200 album selection, which corresponds to a cutoff rating of about 3.5.

The format of the list is:
Band Name - Album Name - Average Song Rating | Country of Origin - Year of Release

I hope you enjoy my picks, and perhaps you will find an unknown gem or two!
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Guib
Thrash Talker

Posts: 3531
Permalink
+1
12.05.2026 - 02:13
Guib
Thrash Talker

Posts: 3531


Very cool list man! Lots of absolute gems on here and I'm stoked to see someone putting Spiritual Healing as their favourite Death album. Such a banger where you can see exactly the shift happening in their sound.

Also some that I totally expected to see on here, to name a few, O Zorn!, Vektor, Hazzerd and Judas Priest. I know how big of a fan you are of those brilliant bands.

Not gonna lie there's also a few surprises. I didn't expect to see some Pantera on here or even the first Haxprocess being rated so highly. Cool stuff!
----
- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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Posts: 352
Permalink
+1
13.05.2026 - 14:37

Posts: 352


Cool list! I might also check your favourite song list later.
----
The Top Albums Of Ch'ti
Ch'ti 2025
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