The Cure - Disintegration - my favorite album of all time, ever. has served as the soundtrack to some of the highest peaks and lowest valleys in my life.

Ulver - Bergtatt - love the way it builds from the dreamy opening into the black metal maelstrom.

Ulver - Perdition City - like Bergtatt, i love the way this unfolds. it's a great album to listen to late at night when you are straddling the line between sleep and consciousness.

Godflesh - Streetcleaner - intense, crushing, unrelenting album. (read my review for far more complete thoughts)

Enslaved - Monumension - sometimes alternates with Mardraum as my favorite Enslaved album, but ultimately i think i prefer it for the sheer depth of the album, as well as the fact that one minute you are listening to a black metal record, and a couple minutes later you would swear you are listening to Pink Floyd.

The Vandals - Sweatin' to the Oldies (live) - they put on a great show and this album manages to encapsulate the fun and energy of their live show. Could only have been better had they waited until after releasing "Live Fast, Diarrhea", their best studio album, before recording a live disk.

Neurosis - The Eye of Every Storm - brooding intensity that builds tension as the album goes along. you keep waiting for Neurosis to erupt in a pyroclastic explosion of metal glory, but it never entirely happens. perhaps that makes the album that much more enjoyable.

Slayer - Reign in Blood - what really needs to be said? fast, intense, lots of happy fun lyrics you can sing along too. chaotic solos. Raining Blood.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - their old works are fantastic, but this, to me, is Floyd's top to bottom best work. very relaxing work, and like 'disintegration' and 'perdition city' above, has deep sentimental value to me.

Death - Symbolic - while they are not my favorite death metal band, Death did release my favorite death metal album. i find it the perfect marriage of aggressive yet skilled music with intelligent lyrics.



This was not an easy task - limiting it to top 10 metal albums would have been hard enough - but as the original question opened it up to all genres, it was far more difficult. a lot of my favorite bands didn't make the cut.

Written by BitterCOld on 05.06.2007 at 21:08

Ulver - Perdition City - like Bergtatt, i love the way this unfolds. it's a great album to listen to late at night when you are straddling the line between sleep and consciousness.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - their old works are fantastic, but this, to me, is Floyd's top to bottom best work. very relaxing work, and like 'disintegration' and 'perdition city' above, has deep sentimental value to me.

I love that time! On almost every holiday, I have a couple (or a lot) of those nights. I can say I need them, they may tire my body but I really need them to charge my mental battery.

And I am currently getting into Pink Floyd, and that album is amazing (among others of them).

I'll be sure to check out some other bands from that list you made! (The Cure, for example. I've been interested in them for a while and I'll check out this album for sure).

Hmm...top 10, eh? Tough one, but let's see how we go.

10. Metallica - ...And Justice For All
I may be one of the few who thinks this, but I find '...And Justice' Metallica's best work, for several reasons. Production issues aside, it is a truly unique album among their career. The combination of actual thrashy riffs (contrasting with Master of Puppets' uninspired ideas) with progressive themes works brilliantly, in my opinion. 'Blackened' is the equal of Battery, and comedy moments (such as the 'false starts' in '...And Justice For All' and the intro of 'Frayed Ends of Sanity') show that the band could inject a healthy dose of humour into an otherwise bleak lyrical theme. 'To Live Is To Die' is a wonderful exposition on Cliff's death, and does what few non-classical instrumentals actually achieve; to tell a story through words (Iron Maiden's 'Genghis Khan' being one of the others). 'Dyers' Eve' and 'Harvester of Sorrow' showcase James' aggressive vocals, and for once is vocals seem to fit the music, rather than the half-drunk yells of 'Kill 'Em All' (which don't make that a bad album) or the unseasoned oh-so-80's vocals on RtL and MoP. The summit of their career, I think, and the songs work(ed) very well live (if were very difficult to perform).

Summary: Intricate, difficult to listen to but very rewarding in the long run.

9. Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
Er....blimey, I harped on about the last one. Anyway, 'Anthems' is probably the newest album on my list, as I only heard it a few months ago. I'm not a great fan of BM, but this album manages to work on so many levels. From the breathless creepiness of 'Alsvatr', to the mournful, introspective tones of 'The Wanderer', this album takes you away. The production, similarly to Dissection's 'Storm of the Light's Bane', is raw without being shit (I like 'In The Nightside Eclipse', but the production is fairly poor), the melodies are beautiful without being cliched, and all the band show a high degree of proficiency. Kudos to Ihsahn's brilliant vocals and Trym's drumming, and the songwriting is fantastic, especially the epicness of songs like 'Acclamation of Bonds'. They walk the line of pretension, yet always manage to come off as ingenious rather than pompous. Even the Casio-keyboards work well, and have influenced many artists in the use of melody and brutality.

Summary: So atmospheric it starts to bend space-time. A wonderful album to listen to at night, surrounded by nature.

8. Hans Zimmer - Gladiator : Special Edition
Well, you didn't say metal albums, did you?

Hans Zimmer is a brilliant composer, but he can get caught in a rut sometimes, as so many artists do. However, this soundtrack escapes the trappings of modern cinema, and transports you somewhere else. The first disc of this re-issue is more or less one long track, with only a few breaks. From the overt Holst-worship of the martial 'The Battle' and 'Barbarian Horde' to the ethnic instrumentation of 'Now We Are Free' back to the jaw-dropping majesty and beauty of 'Honor Him' and 'Am I Not Merciful?', Zimmer grabs your attention and doesn't let go for a full album. Credit to Lisa Gerrard, with her wonderfully wistful vocals on several of the tracks.

The second track has some unused and unreleased tracks, with a few remixes on there as well. While it isn't as good as the first disk, some of the pieces are very interesting to hear (Juba's Mix of NWAF), and some nice excerpts from the dialogue of the movie tie in well to the whole theme. 'Homecoming' and the unheard-before 'Duduk of the North' are the best cuts from this disc.

Summary: Rustic, thought-provoking and moving. Wonderfully rich.

7. Dream Theater - Images and Words
I'm not that much of a Dream Theater fan, as I find their latest releases pompous and boring, but this album didn't leave my CD player for a week after I got it. Everything fits on this album, and it flows wonderfully (one of my complaints with their latest albums); they aren't trying to 'do' anything like write a 24-minute song or compose a concept album...it's just a collection of great songs that the band play wonderfully...even LaBrie is on-key, surprisingly! Some sections seem a bit strange at first (No, your CD isn't scratched...that's how 'Pull Me Under' ends!), but songs like 'Learning to Live' and 'Metropolis' show that DT can write long songs without endless, ridiculous repetition, and that they can expand on a theme in their own style, without openly trying to appear 'arty' or 'progressive'...it just shows.

Summary: A wonderful, flowing album, with a showcase for all the band's talents. And talent they have, indeed!

6. Dissection - Storm of the Light's Bane
Working on from the Emperor above, this is a fantastic slab of Swedish Melodic Black Metal. The opening tones of 'At The Fathomless Depths' are quite repetitive, but from the first drum fill of 'Night's Blood', the album doesn't let up. The half-decent production combined with the usual BM trappings of blastbeats and tremolo picking mean that this album actually starts to hurt your ears after a while...just as well they throw in some great acoustic interludes to gather your stamina. Notveidt's vocals are just evil, while still very clear, and his lyrics are poetic and dark. Ole Ohman's drums are almost as good as Trym's (seriously...Deathstars? What the fuck happened?!)...and the bass is fairly inaudible. But it doesn't really matter, when you're listening to something so melodic yet so crushing. 'Thorns of Crimson Death' has to be my favourite track here, with the beautiful intro melody, the maze of riffs and the catchy chorus.

Summary: One of the albums I like to think of as the musical equivalent of being beaten over the head with a brick wrapped in a slice of lemon (thanks to Douglas Adams). A great introduction to more extreme music.

5. Sabbat - Dreamweaver - Reflections Of Our Yesterdays
The first British band on my list, Sabbat are another band that I discovered recently (thanks to a friend). Simply put, Martin Walkyier's lyrics outdo 98% of the lyricists out there, and I have yet to find a vocalist with such intensity in his choice of words. Couple that with Andy Sneap's penchant for throwing out riffs by the dozen (nearly 20 in 'Best of Enemies'!), and you know you have a winner. Another concept album here, but one that you can really relate to, and the album is all-around a fantastic thrash album, combining all the standards of the genre with a more intelligent tone, and some very thoughtful lyrics. While it has relatively few tracks (like 'Storm...' above) due to the intro/outro and the interlude 'Advent of Insanity', all of the tracks are just enough to make this album great. There's never any needless excess or pointless flopping about; the intensity of the riffs and Walkyier's vocals drive the album to its logical and breathless conclusion with all the force of a freight train...you can do nothing but join them for the ride.

Summary: Smart lyrics? Check. Great and plentiful riffs? Check. Urge to headbang and sing along? Check. Job done.

4. Wintersun - Wintersun
The newest album on my list, this one. Jari Maenpaa was never fully revealed to us in Ensiferum, surprisingly. Everyone knew what a great vocalist and guitarist he is, but it wasn't until he launched his solo project that his true skill in songwriting was revealed. Essentially, Jari has single-handedly crafted a masterpiece of epic proportions. Borrowing (unknowingly, Jari claims) from the style set forth by CoB, Wintersun manages to take the best bits of the so-called 'Extreme Power Metal' and drop the fluff. Not afraid to drop the speed to showcase emotion over raw speed and talent (c.f. 'Death and the Healing', 'Sadness and Hate'), Jari manages to captivate the listener for the 50 minutes of these 8 songs. Moving from the fast exposition 'Beyond the Dark Sun', Jari moves from icy-cold soloing (the fantastic solo in 'Winter Madness') to bitterness ('Beautiful Death'), longing ('Sleeping Stars') and out-and-out epicness ('Starchild')...not in that order, though! The work behind the album is amazing, and the sheer scale of it is at once jaw-dropping and modest; there's no pointless solo masturbation in Jari's pick-swept wonders. Interestingly, the album is 'progressive' in the truest sense of the word...each song is longer than the last!

Summary: Wonderful heartfelt Finnish metal, combining many elements into one great album.

3. Tristania - Beyond The Veil
Holy shit, now we're talking! These next three albums are ones that just make me stop whatever I'm doing and listening. Beyond The Veil is gothic metal done properly (for once!). The opening notes of the title track lull the listener into a sense that this album is going to be a nice, pleasant goth-rock album. After a 'red herring' of a bass line that fools you into thinking the song is going to continue soft, the listener is pummelled with a section of heavy riffing and drumming, before exploding into a wonderful scene of light-and-dark, with the distortion of the guitars playing off against the beautiful, yet not excessive synths. Vibeke Stenne works wonders on this album, because she isn't overused, and her beautiful clear voice is used to augment Morten Veland's snarl. Osten Bergoy has some great vocal lines as well. The use of industrial samples and drums also works fantastically...normally, something I'm not too fond of, but used in moderation, it works really well. At its best; mournful, harrowing, delicious, heart-wrenching, poetic...a truly great album

Summary: Beauty and darkness combined, without appearing cliched or tired. The production is great, as well...really adds to the experience.

2. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery
Right...I'm really getting tired of writing these bloody explanations, so I'm going to keep these last two brief.

The opening drum fill of 'Punish My Heaven' tells you this is something special, and the band don't disappoint. With all the melody of a classic Iron Maiden album combined with an almost progressive amount of riff and time changes, this album works its way from the angry (Punish My Heaven) to the forlorn (Lethe) and is a true masterpiece of the Swedish scene. The band haven't surpassed this album yet, and I don't think they ever will, having heard 'Fiction'. My favourite song, apart from the opener, has to be 'The One Brooding Warning', with the excellent riffage and lyrics of 'Edenspring' closing hotly.

Summary: Lyrics, melody, time changes, light, shade...what an album.

And finally...

1. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Here we go. My favourite album of all time. For the longest while, I thought of 'Seventh Son...' as my favourite Iron Maiden album, but I've recently decided that this album pips it to the post. 'Caught Somewhere in Time' is a great opener, and the use of the synths adds a haunting atmosphere to the entire album. The bass is as up-front as ever, with 'Arry providing the backbone of Maiden's sound. Sadly, Dickinson wasn't allowed to contribute anything to this album, but the Harris-Smith combination (with Dave's offering being the wonderfully inspiring 'Deja Vu') works very well, with songs like 'Waster Years' and the mid-section of 'Stranger in a Strange Land' showing Maiden's more, dare I say, 'commercial' side. The mid section of 'Stranger' is even more beautiful than 'Powerslave', in my opinion, and the play off of the guitar and bass works fantastically. Heaven Can Wait is one of those songs that feels a lot shorter than it is...I'm not sure if that's because it just flows from one section to the next, but the sing-along interlude is a sure winner. Alexander the Great is another great song, with instrumental sections and time changes to die for...it really helps you visualise the armies of the great Macedonian (NOT FYRoM, before you start that argument!) marching through Gedrosia, or Gaza, or down the Indus. Dodgy lyrics detract from the experience slightly (as well as the inaccuracies), but all in all, a fantastic slab of '86 metal...and a lot better than Master of Puppets, if you ask me.

Summary: It's Maiden. It's the 80's. It has synths, and Dave/H. BUY IT NOW!

Written by Lucas on 05.06.2007 at 21:30

Written by BitterCOld on 05.06.2007 at 21:08

Ulver - Perdition City - like Bergtatt, i love the way this unfolds. it's a great album to listen to late at night when you are straddling the line between sleep and consciousness.

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - their old works are fantastic, but this, to me, is Floyd's top to bottom best work. very relaxing work, and like 'disintegration' and 'perdition city' above, has deep sentimental value to me.

I love that time! On almost every holiday, I have a couple (or a lot) of those nights. I can say I need them, they may tire my body but I really need them to charge my mental battery.

And I am currently getting into Pink Floyd, and that album is amazing (among others of them).

I'll be sure to check out some other bands from that list you made! (The Cure, for example. I've been interested in them for a while and I'll check out this album for sure).

If you want to discuss The Cure further, they do have a (buried) thread that could use some more activity.

http://metalstorm.ee/forum/topic.php?topic_id=386&board_page=2


And the 'recharge my mental battery' is a great way to put it. when traveling, particularly business, "Perdition City" is the album I turn to when it's bed/nap time to ease me into sleep and help, well, recharge.

I've been trying to decide my Top 10 favorites forever, but I am still having trouble.

Written by RavenLord on 05.06.2007 at 22:56

5. Sabbat - Dreamweaver - Reflections Of Our Yesterdays
The first British band on my list, Sabbat are another band that I discovered recently (thanks to a friend). Simply put, Martin Walkyier's lyrics outdo 98% of the lyricists out there, and I have yet to find a vocalist with such intensity in his choice of words. Couple that with Andy Sneap's penchant for throwing out riffs by the dozen (nearly 20 in 'Best of Enemies'!), and you know you have a winner. Another concept album here, but one that you can really relate to, and the album is all-around a fantastic thrash album, combining all the standards of the genre with a more intelligent tone, and some very thoughtful lyrics. While it has relatively few tracks (like 'Storm...' above) due to the intro/outro and the interlude 'Advent of Insanity', all of the tracks are just enough to make this album great. There's never any needless excess or pointless flopping about; the intensity of the riffs and Walkyier's vocals drive the album to its logical and breathless conclusion with all the force of a freight train...you can do nothing but join them for the ride.

Summary: Smart lyrics? Check. Great and plentiful riffs? Check. Urge to headbang and sing along? Check. Job done.

I've been trying to buy this album for like a year man. I'm glad to see it on your list though. It is indeed worthy of a top 10.

Fuck you Amazon.com, fuck you.

Written by Dangerboner on 06.06.2007 at 02:02

I've been trying to buy this album for like a year man. I'm glad to see it on your list though. It is indeed worthy of a top 10.

Fuck you Amazon.com, fuck you.

It was out of print for the longest while, and could only be found for ridiculous prices on eBay. Thankfully, Sneap remastered it this year, so you should be able to find it on Amazon, and my experience with Amazon's speedy delivery started with the two Sabbat remasters. Ordered them on a Monday night, got them on Wednesday afternoon.

Written by Dangerboner on 06.06.2007 at 02:02

Written by RavenLord on 05.06.2007 at 22:56

5. Sabbat - Dreamweaver - Reflections Of Our Yesterdays
The first British band on my list, Sabbat are another band that I discovered recently (thanks to a friend). Simply put, Martin Walkyier's lyrics outdo 98% of the lyricists out there, and I have yet to find a vocalist with such intensity in his choice of words. Couple that with Andy Sneap's penchant for throwing out riffs by the dozen (nearly 20 in 'Best of Enemies'!), and you know you have a winner. Another concept album here, but one that you can really relate to, and the album is all-around a fantastic thrash album, combining all the standards of the genre with a more intelligent tone, and some very thoughtful lyrics. While it has relatively few tracks (like 'Storm...' above) due to the intro/outro and the interlude 'Advent of Insanity', all of the tracks are just enough to make this album great. There's never any needless excess or pointless flopping about; the intensity of the riffs and Walkyier's vocals drive the album to its logical and breathless conclusion with all the force of a freight train...you can do nothing but join them for the ride.

Summary: Smart lyrics? Check. Great and plentiful riffs? Check. Urge to headbang and sing along? Check. Job done.

I've been trying to buy this album for like a year man. I'm glad to see it on your list though. It is indeed worthy of a top 10.

Fuck you Amazon.com, fuck you.

well Displeased Records rereleased it and also History Of A Time To Come one or two months ago.

http://www.displeasedrecords.com/

Well, I've actually ordered it four times already, but the store has either cancelled the order or I've had to cancel it myself because Amazon emails me every day saying that it is going to get delayed. Destiny isn't allowing me to have that album...

Edit - I own it now.

Written by Dangerboner on 06.06.2007 at 20:48

Well, I've actually ordered it four times already, but the store has either cancelled the order or I've had to cancel it myself because Amazon emails me every day saying that it is going to get delayed. Destiny isn't allowing me to have that album...

That's why you should order it directly from www.displeasedrecords.com they are not much more expensive than Amazon. And Displeased is extremely reliable. Me and my friends order there all the time.

King Diamond - Abigail - Probably my all time favorite. This is one of the albums that brought me into metal. Firt time I heard it I was amazed by King's vocals. since then I am lisetning to this album at least once a week. All the songs are unique and masterpieces and some of those songs can represent King Diamond for all times. My favorites would be Arrival, A Mansion In Darkness...

Helloween - Walls Of Jericho - Again, on more album that is directly responsible for me listening to Metal. This is my favorite Helloween album, and I love sound on this one. From the Ride The Sky, which is most powerful Helloween song of all times to Heavy Metal Is The Law. All the songs are fine pieces of speed/heavy metal in its finest form. Not to mention Kai's sick riffs that really break walls lol

Manowar - Kings Of Metal - This is fucking cult! I can surely say that this is the album that I listened more than any other. I was amazed with all songs especially Blood Of The Kings. this album have fucking everything maestral The Crown And The Ring, epic Kingdom Come, fast Hail And Kill, one and only Pleasure Slave lol and finally Kings Of Metal!

Iron Maiden - No Prayers For The Dying - Yeah, I know many people find this oe their worst release but it was my first Iron Maiden album so.. I listened to this album for about a year, and still I know every part of the songs perfectlly, even when my tape start to priduce strange sounds. All songs are quite ok, but comparing to other IM song little weak but still I like them the most, sentimental value. Mother Russia and Bring Me Your Daughter are still on my playlist though

Grave Digger - Tunes Of War - Beside Abigail my favorite Heavy Metal album of all times. This Grave Digger's album is so good that words can't explain lol When I heard Scotland United for the very first time I was stunned. Chris's scream on opening riff is so brutal and then artillery of brutaly powerful guitar riffs. The Dark Of The Sun is classic, especially the last chorus, what doze of adrenaline I get every time I hear this song. Slower but powerful Bruce, melodic Braveheart, one of the beautiest ballads of all time Ballad Of Merry and one and only, legendary Rebellion!!! This is album that will never collect dust in my room

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath - Another cult album from King Diamond and crew. I heard this album pretty late and before I heard it people told me that this is best album that King Diamond ever made. I was little scared to listen to it cause after so many great reviewa and suggestions I thought that I will be dissapointed cause I expect too much. But hell no, this is indeed one of the best King's albums. All songs are perfect, Hank Shermann and Michael Denner showed that they were among best guitaris on the world, their killer riffs and solos are still fresh and young guitaris can learn much from them. Favorites Come To The Sabbath, Welcome Princess Of Hell, Dangerous Meeting...

Gamma Ray - No World Order - Definetely one of the best albums that I have ever heard. Gamma Ray was always on my list of favorites bands but this album really overcame all my expectations, I thought that it is imposible to make even better album than Powerplant or Somewhere Out In Space but nothing is impossible when Kai Hansen is the boss lol All the songs are awesome, and album is so good that even few mixes of genres are sounding like one. Favorites Damn The Machine, Eagle, Follow Me, No World Order...

Mayhem - De Miisteries Don Sathanas - I hope I spelled good lol Anyway, this album is still my favorite Black Metal album of all times. Production is perfect, vocals are perfect, riffs are perfect... In one worldeverything on this release is perfect. Especially loved Atilla's voice and blasphemic guitar riffs... Favorites: Life Eternal, De Miisteries Don Sathanas...

the weird thing is that almost all people here tend to include non-metal albums in their top 10 lol

here's my top 10, although i don't usually listen to whole albums, more single tracks(except maybe the ones on the 1, 2 and 3 spots)

10.megadeth-the system has failed. i know people are disapointed with it, but i really enjoy this album, the catchy choruses, great lyrical themes, ocasional aggression.. just great!

9.hammerfall-glory to the brave. pure, fast, heavy, power metal mixed with great emotional pieces like "the fallen one" and "glory to the brave".
8.blind guardian-nightfall in middle earth. what a fantastic opener, and absolutely wonderful epic metal, the only really bad stuff are the interludes.

7.nightwish-angels fall first. long before they got a little cheesy and commercial(once is still a great album though) they had a great sense of melody, wonderful acoustic songs, fantastic vocals(yes, i said that) and raw emotion. though they are quite possibly my fav alltime band, i can connect with this album better than any other one of theirs.

6.slayer-show no mercy. the most brutal, over the top, fastest, most "wraaaaaaaaargh" shit ever to hit the music industry until darkness descends 3 years later.

5.iron maiden-piece of mind. no filler, absolutely fantastic opener and closer, the only weaker track being "die with your boots on", stunning melodies and a sheer brilliant intro riff for "to tame a land".

4.children of bodom-something wild. just after i got to know them, i put all the album on my mp3 player and started listening to it. i said to myself "how the fuck do i know the stuff i like already? i barely listened to CoB" and then remembered i put this album on it.

3.megadeth-rust in peace. almost no filler, the best tracks on here are the first 2, tornado of souls and rust in peace. if an ep were to be released with this stuff, it'd be #1 by a mile, but since it's got "dawn patrol", "five magics" and "poison was the cure", 3 weaker tracks, it's #3.

2.iced earth-night of the stormrider. the first track is a bit confusing, alternating clean guitar with heavy riffs, but the title track sets the tone of the album. there's quite possibly no note higher than low A# in it, so it's an extremely dark piece, but the real stand-out is "travel in stygian". the best thing however about this album isn't jon schaffer's brilliant riffwork, it's john grrrrrrreeeeeeely's razor-sharp vocals, which were of incredible value, and he stupidly wasted them when he caused the incidents that led to him getting kicked out of the band.

1.judas priest- painkiller. "parrrparrrparrparparparrparrparrparparparparpar patatata patatata patatata patata parrparrapa eeeeaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhh touralaterelo touraletelelo touralatelro(repeat for 6 minutes)" that's the title track(if it's not good enough then die you pitiful poser!!). if drumkit-shattering pounding, over-the-top distorted guitars, and amp-burning, flesh-eviscerating and earsplitting screams aren't metal enough for you, i don't know what is. and that's just the title track! there's no filler either. just a short break from neck-pain inducing headbanging with "a touch of evil", one of the best tracks off this album, and then we're back! another great epic closing with "one shot at glory" and we're done. just remember to go to the doctor when you're done, as your ears would be destroyed, your neck stiff, and your vocal chords ruined from headbanging and singing along(well, at least trying, too few of us male metalheads can actually sing along with halford).

Damn, this gets infinitely harder every time I attempt it...


Samael - Passage: Actually, Samael is my favourite band, but I struggled to include one of their releases in my top-10. Not because I don't think they're amazing, but... hmm, I don't rightly know why, actually Anyway, Passage is definitely one of my favourite albums, and was a hugely groundbreaking release for the band as a whole, setting the path for their later releases, which, while not quite matching Passage in my opinion, are all of great quality. For the record, I love Ceremony of Opposites too. At one point in fact, it would have held no. 1 position on this list.


09) Sirenia - At Sixes And Sevens: A whirlwind of excellence. Sirenia's first album is amazing. Less melancholic and atmospherically powerful than early Tristania, not by too much - and in terms of the sound, At Sixes and Sevens is peerless. Meridian being one of the greatest songs ever, in my opinion.


08) Draconian - The Burning Halo: Yes, I know this is "only" an EP, but what a stunning release, regardless. It has all the features of a normal full-length release (duration, continuity from song to song, etc).. Everything fits until the last track, which can be easily enough avoided - or listened if one needs a laugh/change of mood. This, with the exception of Sirenia, is the only release for me, which challenges Widow's Weeds as the best release in gothic/doom metal.


07) Chalice - Chronicles Of Dysphoria: Not so widely-known band from Australia, but certainly one of the best out there. Hard to classify their music, though it contains elements of doom, gothic, folk and various other styles. This, their first album is one of the most beautiful works I've heard. Particularly the opener, Solitary Waves. And Shiralee the (unfortunately, now ex) vocalist has one of the best voices I've heard. This is the only 100% female-fronted band I can listen to regularly and not find either weak or just plain cheesy and lame. Nothing against female vocals, but the bands as a whole ruin it in some way, usually. The music here is dark, slow and melancholic.


06) Agalloch - The Mantle: This album contains elements of practically everything I like in music. There's no way it couldn't make my top 10. Black, doom, folk, whatever else it includes... Great instrumentals and above all, one of the most perfect atmospheres ever created by music.


05) Green Carnation - The Acoustic Verses: Green Carnation are the only band to get two into my top 10, simply because I can't for the life of my seperate these two albums. The Acoustic Verses, as the name suggests, is far from metal, but perfect in every way. Some may disagree, but in my opinion it's also the equal of Light of Day, Day of Darkness in every way that matters (sound, feeling, atmosphere, lyrics) - crazy song lengths totally irrelevant.


04) Green Carnation - Light of Day, Day of Darkness: Another true masterpiece by this band... not much to be said here, simply one of the most remarkable pieces of music ever created.


03) Anathema - Judgement: I can't help but love later-era Anathema. Their first works are excellent, but they transcended their former style and created perfection, here. Every single song is deserving of being called a classic.


02) Tristania - Widow's Weeds: This album is more important for me than any other, but somehow I never put it on no.1? I'm not entirely sure why... Regardless, each of the top-5 albums on this list are inseperable, anyway.


01) Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk: In black metal, this album is unrivalled for me except by its predecessor, In The Nightside Eclipse. I tend to slightly prefer Anthems though, perhaps because I heard it first. In fact, this is the album which drew me into black metal, and I still consider it the best, years later.



Hmm, seems I got bored with writing towards the end there.

Started with a list of 20 albums and slowly narrowed it down. Last choice was the hardest, but I cut Shining's new album, V - Halmstad out.

1. Hermeticum - Daemonarch 98
2. Wolfheart - Moonspell 95
3. Archetype - Fear Factory 04
4. Warpath - Six Feet Under 97
5. Dancing With The Dead - Pain 05
6. Vs The World - Amon Amarth 02
7. Filosofem - Burzum 96
8. De Mysteriies Dom Sathanes - Mayhem 93
9. The Horror Grandeur - Morgul 00
10. Butchered at Birth - Cannibal Corpse 91

Wow, my top 10 favorite albums. I have to tell you all, I have spent over a month working on this list. I narrowed it down to 15 picks and got stuck. Going back and re-analyzing each one of them I was able to bring it down to 10. I went into this with the following criteria:

Only one album from a band

No "Best of", "Greatest Hits" or compilations

No restriction on genres or styles

No live album, bootlegs or demos

So here are my top ten, in order, after weeks of debate.

10.
ALBUM: Ecliptica
BAND: Sonata Arctica
GENRE: Power Metal
For me, I never liked Power Metal. Especially ultra cheesy European Power Metal. But after going to see Sonata Arctica in concert, I fell in love with their music, and it was this album that did it. Not only a stunning achievement as a début album, this is a rather solid record. The soaring vocals, catchy lyrics, head-bobbing guitar rifts, and a song about a dude turning into a werewolf! One word: Fun! Is this the album to end all albums? No, of course not, but I always feel good when I hear it, and it brings back memories of a great couple of weeks last year when this was out soundtrack.

9.
ALBUM: End of Heartache
BAND: Killswitch Engage
GENRE: Metalcore
WHOA! Hold on! What is a Metalcore album doing on your list Dane Train? I thought you were a Prog guy?! My buddy Vinnie introduced me to this band, and this album at church. We began using songs like "Take This Oath", "Rose of Sharyn" and "World Ablaze" during worship. So, on the side I was secretly listening to this album. Well, what can I say? It really got to me. Every song is solid. The music is surprisingly rather technical, with some great parts. Fantastic spiritual/relationship based lyrics. This is still one of the few Metalcore albums I can listen to all the way through and be stunned by it, or even sit through it.

8.
ALBUM: Rabbit Songs
BAND: Hem
GENRE: Contemporary American Folk
I fell in love when I first heard this album. Was it the album I fell in love with? The vocalist? Or something else? Any which way you cut it the beauty that drips from this album can not be denied. Hailing from New York, this album features lush, traditional instrumentation (accents of mandolin, pedal steel, piano, and standup bass) and Sally Ellyson's sweet, mysterious vocals. The haunting sounds remind me so much of my childhood in the back country of New York state, and the cold stunning environmental all around. This album's most famous song "Half an Acre" has been featured on a very popular bank commercial here in America. Every time I put this album on tears swell in my eyes and I fall in love all over again.

7.
ALBUM: Accelerated Evolution
BAND: The Devin Townsend Band
GENRE: Industrial Progressive Metal
Devin Townsend is without a doubt one of the most talented men in the Metal scene. Dealing with Bi-Polar Disorder, Devin's mood swings come out in his music. His main project, Strapping Young Lad may possibly be the sound track to the end of humanity. But this other band he put together (only releasing two albums) is much the opposite. The melancholy guitar parts mixed with soaring, yet haunting vocals, all over solid drum and bass work creates some amazing atmosphere. Listening to this album I feel like I am flying through the clouds. The heartfelt lyrics are driven home so well by Devin's various vocal styles. This album takes me to a whole other place when I don't want to be here.


6.
ALBUM: Testimony
ARTIST: Neal Morse
GENRE: Symphonic Progressive Rock/Neo-Prog
Neal Morse, mastermind behind probably the second biggest Prog band of the 1990's, Spock's Beard, and the international super group, TransAtlantic, left both projects very suddenly. The reason: his life took a radical new direction when he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Now stretching out to write music with a Christian theme Neal assembled an amazing cast for his first major solo album including fellow Christian Musician, Kerry Livgren (Kansas) and fellow TranAtlanian, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater). This sophisticated and sprawling double album flows so beautifully with its combination of rock, folk, classical, and prog. Testimony is just that, Neal's own testimony put to music. The first disk tells of Neal's destructive life style and how everything seemed to be wrong. The second disk begins with a friend taking him to church and how things began to change from there. The passion that is wrapped around every song is heartfelt and personal that it is hard to find an album that matches this one. The music is outstanding, the production is flawless and the testimony is heart warming.


5.
ALBUM: Echo Echo
BAND: Carbon Leaf
GENRE: Acoustic-Electric-American-Celtic Folk Rock
"Couldn't ask for a better day?" The opening lines of the first song "The Boxer" sums up how I feel when I play this album. Carbon Leaf is a band I have known for many years before their national exposure a few years ago. This album may be the highlight of their early career. With up tempo, fun uplifting songs, Echo Echo is an album that never gets old. While Carbon Leaf may not be the most talented band out there, their skill is still noticeable, but, like any folk band, the focus is on lyrics. Seeing these guys play concerts out in the middle of the woods in a Lean-To, brings back many memories. The songs on this album are catchy, memorable entertaining and amusing.


4.
ALBUM: Blackwater Park
BAND: Opeth
GENRE: Progressive Death Metal
Dark. Elegant. Powerful. Haunting. Captivating. All words I would use to describe this album from Opeth. "The Drapery Falls" was the first song I ever heard from these Swedish musicians, and I was blown away. With elements from 70's Prog Rock acts like Yes, Camel and Genesis mixed with the tour de force power of Death Metal, Blackwater Park shines through and through. Outstanding guitar riffs entwined with stunning solo work, tasteful solid drumming and that voice! Oh that voice! A soothing baritone with crushing grunts. The emotional rollercoaster that these songs bring you on are some of the best by Opeth as they lift you into the clouds then slam you into the ground and back up again. A perfect mix of Death Metal and Progressive Rock/Metal, and one I can't put down.



3.
ALBUM: The Human Equation
BAND: Ayreon
GENRE: Psychedelic/Space Progressive Metal
What do you get when an incredibly skilled multi-instrumentalist gathers the vocalists from Dream Theater, Opeth, Strapping Young Lad, Deadsoul Tribe, Saviour Machine, Shadow Gallery, Mostly Autumn, and The Quill to all sing together on an album about a man who is in a car accident caused coma where his emotions become personified? You get The Human Equation! Arjen put together this masterpiece of an album virtually on his own. I can't even begin to figure out what my favorite aspect is. Is it the mind-blowing collection of vocalists? Is it the jaw dropping mix of classical, folk, electronic, Prog, Death, psychedelic and metal? Is it the assembly of amazing musicians who pull it off? Or is it the captivating story of love, fear, rage, passion, agony, reason, pride and family? In the end, it is everything put together. It is not music?It's an Adventure!


2.
ALBUM: Remedy Lane
BAND: Pain of Salvation
GENRE: Progressive Metal
I wept the first time I heard it. And the second. And pretty much every time I put it on and listen to it all the way through. Daniel Gildenlow defines the word "Progressive" on this album. Possibly the most mature album in the Metal scene I have ever heard, these guys kick out all the typical clichés and stereotypes and re-invent themselves while pushing the envelope. The music innovative, captivities and provokes emotions you didn't know you had. The lyrics tell a tale of love and loss and loving again, and how we call can relate to it on some level. When asked what it sounds like, there are no words that could describe the sound of this album. I can only describe the feelings of love, sorrow, and pain mixed with epic theatrical dreamscapes.


1.
ALBUM: Images and Words
BAND: Dream Theater
GENRE: Progressive Metal
Is it any surprise that the album that got me into Metal, turned me into a musician and changed my life is my number one pick? Fifteen years later it is still one of the best albums ever recorded. From the opening of "Pull Me Under" to the closing of "Learning To Live" every single part of this album is memorable. Mike Portnoy's relentless drumming, John Petrucci's jaw dropping guitar work, John Myung's fluid bass playing and Kevin Moore's heart felt keyboard work prove why these guys are hands down some of the best musicians out there. Mix all of that with the first appearance of James LaBrie's stunning operatic vocal work with thought provoking lyrics and you have the center piece of Progressive Metal music. For me, I had never heard Dream Theater, but a friend recommended that I check them out. So I bought the one with the coolest looking cover (this was right before Scenes From a Memory came out), took it home, and peed my pants. I had never heard music like this before. It completely changed the way I perceived music and would shape my future. No other album has had the effect that this one has had on me. Maybe that is why I have it tattooed on my body. Maybe that is why I listen to it at least three times a week. Images and Words evokes emotions like no other album can in me.

Hmm, I wonder if I should base this on the albums that got me into metal or albums that I simply enjoy the most as of today?

These are in no order..

Ayreon: The Human Equation- This was one of the first metal albums I ever listened to. I was so moved by the prog. tracks and how this album told the story of life. Definitely an album that made me fall in love with metal.

The Who: Tommy- Being the first rock opera ever created and probably one of the most influential albums of all time..this album got me hooked. It wasn;t the first Who album I ever heard but once I heard this album when I was 11 years old..I was obsessed. The Who is still to this day my favourite band.

Joni Mitchell: Ladies of the Canyon- Joni Mitchell could be one of the most under rated musicians of all time. I grew up with my mother playing this album profusely. A week doesn't go by where I don't listen to this album.

Kalmah: Swamplord- This was the first Kalmah album and song that I ever heard. I was so moved by their lyrics and the way their intros and keyboard solos grabbed me. I hate it when people say that bands saved their life..but I truly believe Kalmah saved my life. If they didn't save my life then they sure changed it. So much of who I am is because of them.

Oasis: What's the Story Morning Glory?- This was the first album that I bought on my own. I was really young and had heard Wonderwall at camp. That song haunted me and once I heard the album I was immediately haunted by every part of it. I listen to this album so often even though years have gone by from when I first acquired it.

Blind Guardian: Nightfall in Middle Earth- This album isn't up here because it is my favourite Blind Guardian album. This album is up here because it is the first Blind Guardian album I ever heard. I love this album so much because it gives me very intense nostalgia whenever I listen to it. I just want to go lye in the forest or something. Anyways..gorgeous album.

Intruder: Phsycho Savant- This is the first thrash album and band I ever heard. Since then Intruder has always been my favourite thrash band. When I first heard them I was astonished by how offensive they sounded but I could still follow them.

Lykathea Aflame: Elvenefris- In my opinion this is the best grindcore album that has ever existed. Having said that I absolutely adore this album. It carries on a Egyptian, Middle Eastern, Asian sort of sound while still being melodic but not melodic enough to not be the genre that it is. Anyways every song is memorable on this album. This album got me into so many other Czech Republican bands too. I thank it for that!

Angel Witch: Angel Witch- This is probably one of my most favourite NWOBHM albums of all time. Angel Witch is so under rated and just so great. I recommend this album to anyone who is first getting into metal. I know it helped me!

The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Axis Bold as Love- Once again I grew up on my parents profusely playing this album. Every song has moved me to this day. Once I got older and could finally understand what the lyrics on this album meant; I had finally found what music meant to me.

Anyways there ya go

Is it me, or are Master of Puppets, Images and Words, Blackwater Park and The Human Equation showing up on a lot of lists?

It's Really Injust! I know I'll betray lots of songs, but I'll do my best...

01- Dissection - Soulreaper
02- Opeth - Master's Apprentice
03- Death - Lack of Comprehension
04- Dissection - Where Dead Angels Lie
05- Necrophagist - The Still Born One
06- Amorphis - Nightfall
07- Pantera - 5 Minutes Alone
08- Opeth - Black Rose Immortal
09- Dark Tranquillity - FreeCard
10- Adagio - Next Profundis

Already Ten!!!! That's bullshit...! too much left under-rated..! Testament, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Slayer...

It's albums, not songs..

Rust in Peace (Megadeth)
Number of the Beast (Iron Maiden)
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (Iron Maiden)
Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II (Helloween)
Painkiller (Judas Priest)
Appetite for Destruction (Guns N' Roses)
Cryptic Writings (Megadeth)
... and Justice for All (Metallica)
Staying a Life (Accept)
Holy Diver (Dio)

Written by [user id=24489] on 27.08.2007 at 02:46

Lykathea Aflame: Elvenefris- In my opinion this is the best grindcore album that has ever existed. Having said that I absolutely adore this album. It carries on a Egyptian, Middle Eastern, Asian sort of sound while still being melodic but not melodic enough to not be the genre that it is. Anyways every song is memorable on this album. This album got me into so many other Czech Republican bands too. I thank it for that!

Cool of you to mention this release, very good album in my opinion! Catchy crazy stuff.

OK, this is hard, but ill try to put it, and it wont be in order, so last doesnt mean the least, you dig it....

1. Seventh Son Of The Seventh Son - the album that introduced me both to Maiden and Metal music.

2. Wintersun - Wintersun : OK, if theres perfection in this world, than this album is perfect.

3. Control Denied - Fragile Art Of Existence - underrated masterpiece IMO

4. Death - Symbolic - Death is one of my favourite bands, and this is my favourite Death's album

5. Haggard - Eppur Si Muove

6. Haggard - Awakening The Centuries - Those 2 are very important to me, I couldnt be the same without those albums, but I couldnt decide which I like the best, so I included both

7. Iced Earth - Horror Show - list without Iced Earth isnt list at all , and although it was very hard to decide, Ive picked this one.

8. Megadeth - Rust in Peace - I dont need to talk about it, you know it all.....

9. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell - OK, some good Thrash Metal

10. Gamma Ray - Land Of The Free - I didnt forget power metal either

That would be it.

I will list my favorite within the last few months...

Vomitory - Blood Rapture ( my favorite after Revelation Neasuea, more variety )
Therion - Lemuria ( this album reinforced my interest in this band )
Witchery - Dead, Hot, and Ready ( Thrash anyone? )
Keep Of Kalessin - Through Times of War ( Made me forget about Armada, fast )
Suffocation - Pierced from Within ( unrelenting, controlled but chaotic death metal )
Luciferion - The Apostate ( Symphonic Death/Black sounds good eh? Its cracked out )
Nile - Black Seeds of Vengeance ( My favorite, especially during the heat here in the desert )
Atheist - Elements ( Beautiful, dynamic and experimental )
Hypocrisy - Self Titled ( Most impressive and mature effort imo )
Massacre - From Beyond ( good old school death )

Written by Lucas on 07.09.2007 at 18:58

Written by [user id=24489] on 27.08.2007 at 02:46

Lykathea Aflame: Elvenefris- In my opinion this is the best grindcore album that has ever existed. Having said that I absolutely adore this album. It carries on a Egyptian, Middle Eastern, Asian sort of sound while still being melodic but not melodic enough to not be the genre that it is. Anyways every song is memorable on this album. This album got me into so many other Czech Republican bands too. I thank it for that!

Cool of you to mention this release, very good album in my opinion! Catchy crazy stuff.

Ah I completely agree! Thanks. Do you listen to any other bands from the Czech Republic?

Written by [user id=24489] on 08.09.2007 at 02:15

Written by Lucas on 07.09.2007 at 18:58

Cool of you to mention this release, very good album in my opinion! Catchy crazy stuff.

Ah I completely agree! Thanks. Do you listen to any other bands from the Czech Republic?

Not really. Only Arakain & Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy, if I recall correctly.

Written by Lucas on 08.09.2007 at 20:20

Written by [user id=24489] on 08.09.2007 at 02:15

Written by Lucas on 07.09.2007 at 18:58

Cool of you to mention this release, very good album in my opinion! Catchy crazy stuff.

Ah I completely agree! Thanks. Do you listen to any other bands from the Czech Republic?

Oh okay, cool
Not really. Only Arakain & Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy, if I recall correctly.

10)Naglfar - Sheol
9)Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine
8)Metsatöll - Hiiekoda
7)Loits - Must Album
6)Children of Bodom - Something Wild
5)Iron Maiden - Killers
4)Stratovarius - Infinite
3)Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution
2)Motorhead - Bastards
1)Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind

I know it can be a pain in the ass to write why you like all these 10 albums the most... but it's also boring as shit to read a list without explanations.

10) Wintersun - Wintersun
9) Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
8) Dark Tranquillity - Character
7) Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
6) Imperanon - Stained
5) Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armaggedon
4) Dimmu Borgir - In Sorte Diaboli
3) Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
2) Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
1) Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of The Seventh Son

You can see that the bands that most appear are iron maiden and dimmu borgir, they are my favorite bands.