I've been listening to metal for over a decade now. Here's my all time "favorites" list. Updated with comments March 24th, 2016. I started with death metal acts of In Flames and Dark Tranquility. I went to power metal for a long time, yet have circled back with getting re-introduced to Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, and Be'lakor.

Created by:

EmeraldSword | 09.03.2010

	1.	In Flames - The Jester Race 1995 (The album that got me "unplugged")
	2.	Omnium Gatherum - Beyond 2013 (One of the best representations I've seen of genre mixing. Excellent melodeath.)
	3.	Be'lakor - Of Breath And Bone 2012 (Amazing death metal from down under. Also interesting they came from punk genre.)
	4.	Wintersun - Wintersun 2004 (Every song struck a chord with me.)
	5.	Angra - Temple Of Shadows 2004 (Didn't know a metal band could cover the crusades in a personal journey. )
	6.	Opeth - Blackwater Park 2001 (Again, this album made me stretch what I thought metal could do.)
	7.	Dragonland - Astronomy 2006 (So much diversity in this album. So much to explore.)
	8.	Ensiferum - Ensiferum 2001 (This debut album from Ensiferum made me nod continuously from start to finish.)
	9.	Kalmah - The Black Waltz 2006 (Top of its class in Swamp Metal. Bar none.)
	10.	Rhapsody Of Fire - Symphony Of Enchanted Lands 1998 (Great neo-classical metal w/story telling.)