Has a perfect balance between melody, complexity (without over-playing) and a dark atmosphere (without over-using keyboards).

This is, along with "Seventh Son...", how I want heavy metal to sound. A good use of melodies, without being too catchy. This album is often mentioned as the closest to a definition of heavy metal you could find.

I'm very tired of all their clones, but this record is still great. It has so great melodies. You won't find any power metal album close as good as this.

I prefer Iron Maiden's more progressive albums like this. Although the songs are very long I never get bored. Too few bands manage to do that.

The ultimate combination of melody and aggression. In Flames' most in-your-face album.

Although I prefer their more progressive works it's hard to resist this album.

Thrash is not one of my favourite genres, but Metallica do it with so much variation, mix their thrash with slower parts, and add great melodies, so it's impossible to resist.

Perhaps unnecessary complex, but the melodies are so great.

Iron Maiden's darkest, heaviest and most progressive album. This is how I want Maiden to sound.

I accept early Europe as heavy metal. Europe was the band that got me in to hard rock/metal, and I love Prisoners In Paradise even more, but I don't count that one as metal. This record has had a big impact on power metal. Europe is really masters on writing memorable melodies.

Although more commercial, it's hard to resist the melodies. I find this one their most innovative. Probably the latest album I have liked because it's modern sound.

Death metal with great melodies, without being too melodic and without sounding Gothenburg. Creates a dark atmosphere without any use of keyboards.

Metallica's most progressive album. Great songs.

This album defines black metal for me, although it isn't considered as one of the true classics. What bother me most with most black metal albums is that all of the songs often sounds too similar. On this album you find more variation, and it has some element from most of the black metal sub-genre. It is quite brutal, but also quite melodic, it has some semi-symphonic elements, an accoustic interlude, a dark atmosphere, and also some almost ambient stuff.

A heavy/doom metal album that isn't too slow and has great melodies.

Great underground icelandic mid-paced old-school death metal band.

A great and too overlooked death/thrash album.

Another great black metal album by Behemoth, with som accoustics and female vocals.

The album that for me defines doom metal.

Ukrainian black metal

Great overlooked black metal album. Quite melodic and complex for a black metal album.

Really catchy riffs, especially for a death metal band not consider melodeath. I also love the epic feeling over the album.

Depressive death metal with great songs and (not too catchy) melodies.

I strongly denounce his political view, but I can't deny the greatness in his music, especially ! love the atmosphere, although I find it too short.

Slow doom with so much emotions, although I find it a little bit too monotone. But the fact that I despite that bring it on the list shows how great the songs are.

I love this early sound of Dream Theater. They really manage to mix in so great melodies in their complex music.

Classic NWOBHM/doom metal band.

I really love this darker side of Iron Maiden.

The start of metal as a genre.

Brilliant and unique NWOBHM album.

Pure heavy metal as I want it.