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Top 51 Melodic Death Metal Albums


I've always been a fan of melodic death metal, having listened to bands such as In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and At The Gates in my first few years of getting into metal around 2005-2008. Now, thanks to MS, I've gotten into many more amazing bands such as Wintersun, Insomnium and Scar Symmetry and it has become one of my favourite subgenres.

So here are my favourites of the subgenre with my rating and release year:

(Score is an average of each album's song ratings, full list located here)

If you discovered any new albums or like the same sort of melodic death metal, be sure to give this list a thumbs-up and leave a comment so more people can find these amazing bands!

My other lists:
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 25 EPs (also ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
Top 200 Overrated Albums (trigger warning)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)

Created by: nonZero | 26.02.2024



1. Wintersun - Wintersun
9.63/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2004
2. Wintersun - Time I
9.50/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2012
3. Insomnium - Winter's Gate
9.50/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2016
4. At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul
9.28/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1995
5. The Haunted - The Haunted Made Me Do It
9.25/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2000
6. Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising
9.25/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2011
7. Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
9.23/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2006
8. In Flames - The Jester Race
9.20/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1996
9. Dark Tranquillity - The Gallery
9.18/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1995
10. Mors Principium Est - The Unborn
9.17/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2005
11. Dark Tranquillity - Fiction
9.15/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2007
12. Wintersun - Time II
9.10/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2024
13. Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God
9.10/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2008
14. Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done
9.08/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2002
15. Amon Amarth - Versus The World
9.06/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2002
16. Children Of Bodom - Hatebreeder
9.06/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1999
17. Dominia - Divine Revolution
9.06/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2006
18. Mercenary - The Hours That Remain
9.05/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2006
19. Be'lakor - Of Breath And Bone
9.00/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2012
20. Mors Principium Est - Dawn Of The 5th Era
8.95/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2014
21. Dan Swanö - Moontower
8.94/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1999
22. Insomnium - Above The Weeping World
8.94/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2006
23. Garden Of Shadows - Oracle Moon
8.92/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2000
24. Insomnium - Shadows Of The Dying Sun
8.90/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2014
25. In Flames - Whoracle
8.90/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1997
26. Insomnium - One For Sorrow
8.89/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2011
27. Scar Symmetry - Holographic Universe
8.88/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2008
28. Eternal Tears Of Sorrow - A Virgin And A Whore
8.88/10 (excluding track 7) · Melodic Death Metal · 2001
29. Carcass - Heartwork
8.85/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1993
30. Shylmagoghnar - Convergence
8.85/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2023
31. Insomnium - Across The Dark
8.83/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2009
32. Dark Tranquillity - Character
8.82/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2005
33. Rapture - Futile
8.81/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1999
34. Æther Realm - Tarot
8.77/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2017
35. The Black Dahlia Murder - Nocturnal
8.75/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2007
36. Shylmagoghnar - Emergence
8.75/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2014
37. Scar Symmetry - The Singularity (Phase I - Neohumanity)
8.75/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2014
38. Hypocrisy - Virus
8.75/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2005
39. Atavistia - One Within The Sun
8.75/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2017
40. Persefone - Spiritual Migration
8.73/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2013
41. Soilwork - The Living Infinite
8.73/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2013
42. Kalmah - Swampsong
8.72/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2003
43. Be'lakor - Vessels
8.69/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2016
44. Omnium Gatherum - New World Shadows
8.67/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2011
45. Children Of Bodom - Follow The Reaper
8.67/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2000
46. Mercenary - 11 Dreams
8.65/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2004
47. Kalmah - Swamplord
8.63/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2000
48. Dark Tranquillity - Atoma
8.63/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2016
49. Kartikeya - Mahayuga
8.60/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2011
50. Insomnium - Since The Day It All Came Down
8.56/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 2004
51. Hypocrisy - Hypocrisy
8.50/10 · Melodic Death Metal · 1999



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by nonZero ]



Comments

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Comments: 12   Visited by: 49 users
26.02.2024 - 09:02
nonZero
Are there any must-listens I'm missing here?

I've listened to Stone's Reach by Be'lakor, Tales From The Thousand Lakes by Amorphis and With Oden On Our Side by Amon Amarth - all fantastic albums but I didn't enjoy them quite enough to be in my top 50.
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Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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26.02.2024 - 09:23
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
There are a lot of great albums here I must say. I was going to suggest Tales From The Thousand Lakes by Amorphis and With Oden On Our Side by Amon Amarth but then noticed you placed them in your overrated list so never bothered to suggest them
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26.02.2024 - 09:36
nonZero
Written by AndyMetalFreak on 26.02.2024 at 09:23

There are a lot of great albums here I must say. I was going to suggest Tales From The Thousand Lakes by Amorphis and With Oden On Our Side by Amon Amarth but then noticed you placed them in your overrated list so never bothered to suggest them

They are difficult to rate as I would probably give them like 8.4ish/10 if I did a detailed breakdown, so they are some of the least overrated albums that meet the criteria of that list, but not quite high enough to meet this one. Still enjoy giving them a spin every now and then!
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Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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26.02.2024 - 15:11
Roman Doez
Hallucigenia
I'm surprised there's no Edge of Sanity in your list, do you perhaps not consider them melodeath?
Other than that, I'd recommend you listen to Intestine Baalism, they're really good
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26.02.2024 - 15:14
nonZero
Written by Roman Doez on 26.02.2024 at 15:11

I'm surprised there's no Edge of Sanity in your list, do you perhaps not consider them melodeath?
Other than that, I'd recommend you listen to Intestine Baalism, they're really good

Thanks, I'll check them out! And Crimson 1/2 are #2/#5 on my Progressive Death Metal list which I'll upload in a few weeks
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Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
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27.02.2024 - 03:53
Guib
Thrash Talker
The lack of Kalmah is hurting my feelings, especially their early albums. But despite this ungodly and blasphemous transgression, pretty good list.

Seriously though... go give some respect to Kalmah's Swamplord, They Will Return and Swampsong. They're fucking classics.

Songs like Swamphell, Hades, Heroes To Us, Kill The Idealist, Dance Of Water, Principle Hero, Withering Away, Cloned Insanity, Evil In You ...etc are literally what made me a Melo-death fan.

....oh and

Also, I would recommend Paladin - Ascension. It's a joy ride and Whispered - Thousand Swords, original and kinda wacky in the best possible way (though this last one has symphonic vibes).

And then.. Some people (myself included) would consider Quo Vadis as being close to melo-death even though they're in the technical spectrum. I suggest you try those 2 releases from them: Day Into Night and Defiant Imagination. If you haven't already, pretty sure you'd love them. EDIT: After seeing your overrated list, maybe you won't like Defiant Imagination that much
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- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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27.02.2024 - 19:12
nonZero
Written by Guib on 27.02.2024 at 03:53

The lack of Kalmah is hurting my feelings, especially their early albums. But despite this ungodly and blasphemous transgression, pretty good list.

Seriously though... go give some respect to Kalmah's Swamplord, They Will Return and Swampsong. They're fucking classics.

Songs like Swamphell, Hades, Heroes To Us, Kill The Idealist, Dance Of Water, Principle Hero, Withering Away, Cloned Insanity, Evil In You ...etc are literally what made me a Melo-death fan.

....oh and

Also, I would recommend Paladin - Ascension. It's a joy ride and Whispered - Thousand Swords, original and kinda wacky in the best possible way (though this last one has symphonic vibes).

And then.. Some people (myself included) would consider Quo Vadis as being close to melo-death even though they're in the technical spectrum. I suggest you try those 2 releases from them: Day Into Night and Defiant Imagination. If you haven't already, pretty sure you'd love them. EDIT: After seeing your overrated list, maybe you won't like Defiant Imagination that much

Thanks for the recommendations! Kalmah is on my to-rate list so there may be a couple of their albums coming to this list soon!

Day Into Night I have as Technical Death Metal, so it will be on that genre list if I make it at some point. Defiant Imagination I didn't enjoy as much but still a great album.
----
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)
Loading...
24.08.2024 - 16:46
24emd
Theory Snob
Your top 3 is the same as mine, so thumbs up for you.
----
"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

Best 2024 Albums
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24.08.2024 - 17:17
Guib
Thrash Talker
Written by 24emd on 24.08.2024 at 16:46
Your top 3 is the same as mine, so thumbs up for you.

Baha it's too much Wintersun for a Top 3.
----
- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
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25.08.2024 - 01:40
24emd
Theory Snob
Written by Guib on 24.08.2024 at 17:17

Written by 24emd on 24.08.2024 at 16:46
Your top 3 is the same as mine, so thumbs up for you.

Baha it's too much Wintersun for a Top 3.

Take that back! Jari will hunt you down.

Really not a fan though?
----
"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

Best 2024 Albums
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25.08.2024 - 01:46
Guib
Thrash Talker
Written by 24emd on 25.08.2024 at 01:40

Written by Guib on 24.08.2024 at 17:17

Written by 24emd on 24.08.2024 at 16:46
Your top 3 is the same as mine, so thumbs up for you.

Baha it's too much Wintersun for a Top 3.

Take that back! Jari will hunt you down.

Really not a fan though?

Oh no I love Wintersun, especially their first album but I wouldn't put 2 of theirs in a Top 3 for Melodic Death Metal knowing the variety existing in this genre. An excellent band for sure, I just see tons of albums I prefer before.
----
- Headbanging with mostly clogged arteries to that stuff -
Guib's List Of Essential Albums
- Also Thrash Paradise
Thrash Here
Loading...
25.08.2024 - 01:59
24emd
Theory Snob
Written by Guib on 25.08.2024 at 01:46

Oh no I love Wintersun, especially their first album but I wouldn't put 2 of theirs in a Top 3 for Melodic Death Metal knowing the variety existing in this genre. An excellent band for sure, I just see tons of albums I prefer before.

Ah I see. I love both the self titled and Time I so much that if they are classified as melodeath than they'd be in my top 3 or at least top 5 if the genre borders are more loose. But I guess they aren't the best representatives of the genre compared to Insomnium for example, the former leans more to power metal than traditional melodeath.
----
"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

Best 2024 Albums
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