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I'm bored very easily, and that's why I decided to do some stats about metal storm's top 20 of each year and the top 200. I don't know why I did that, but if you love stats like I do it might interest you. All of the data I collected is from November the 7th 2020.
Updated on August the 3rd 2023
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In addition to the global top 200, there is on Metal Storm a top 20 list for each year since 1968. These lists only include releases with 20 or more ratings from bands that aren't invisible. I have calculated the average rating of albums from the top 20 of each year and compiled it here. Keep in mind that the years from 1968 to 1979 have less than 20 albums featured on the website that fit the criteria to make it into a top 20, which makes the data less insightful for those years |
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1960s. Average score: 7.668/10. The 60s did not see the birth of metal, but some releases of the decade did influence and inspire the genre a lot, which I guess is why they do appear on the website. |
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5.
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Deep Purple - The Book Of Taliesyn
Year: 1968. Average score: 7.32/10. Only two releases from this year are featured on MS, and both of them are from Deep Purple. They're pretty decent, and somewhat overlooked as far as Deep Purple goes, but nothing to write home about. |
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King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King
Year: 1969. Average score: 8.016/10. Only 5 releases from this year are on the website, with three of those being featured in the top 200: "In The Court Of The Crimson King" and the first two Led Zeppelin releases, which are very much worth listening. The average rating is however tanked by Alice Cooper's "Pretties For You", which is rated at an abysmal 5.8. |
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1970s. Average score: 7.929/10. The 70s represent the infancy of metal, with the birth of traditional heavy metal and doom metal. The genre would however not evolve much through the decade beyond the birth of those two subgenres, and as such this decade isn't the most interesting. I myself am not too fond of what this decade birthed when it comes to the devil's music, and I find the 80s and 90s to be much more interesting. |
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10.
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Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Year: 1970. Average score: 8.015/10. First year for metal, and a very impactful one, as Black Sabbath dropped two bombshells on the music scene of the time and made something completely new. Those two releases, as well as "Deep Purple In Rock" appear in the top 200. Additionally, Led Zeppelin released their third (and best) album, which helps compensate with some weaker releases by UFO and Alice Cooper who, once again, lowers the year's average. |
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11.
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Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
Year: 1971. Average score: 8.149/10. This year shows a definitive improvement over the previous few, with "Led Zeppelin IV" and "Master Of Reality" reaching the top 200. Only Thin Lizzy's self titled really drags this down, and it is to a much lower extent than what happaned the previous years. |
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Deep Purple - Machine Head
Year: 1972. Average score: 7.926/10. The average score might be lower, but the releases are still there. "Machine Head" and "Demons And Wizard" both make it into the top 200, rightfully so, and improve what is otherwise a slower year. "Black Sabbath Vol. 4" and "The Magician's Birthday" are also worthwhile releases, but other than that nothing really stands out. |
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13.
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Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Year: 1973. Average score: 7.915/10. Once again a slower year, with only "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" reaching the top 200. Alice Cooper, King Crimson and Led Zeppelin all released good material this year but no real masterpieces. |
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King Crimson - Red
Year: 1974. Average score: 7.941/10. Already a much more interesting year, with King Crimson's "Red" entering the top 200, and several other memorable albums being released, despite what the average rating might lead you to believe. Blue Öyster Cult, UFO, Deep Purple and KISS all contributed to making 1974 a memorable year as far as hard rock and metal go. Additionally, Rush and Judas Priest both released their debut album that year. |
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15.
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Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Year: 1975. Average score: 7.991/10. Tragedy struck for 1975, as despite a very competent roster of bands (Led Zeppelin, Rainbow, Rush, Black Sabbath...), with no less than 16 albums featured on the website (the highest amount so far), no album made its way into the top 200. Despite all that, the top releases of this year are still worth listening to and are held as classics by many. |
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Rainbow - Rising
Year: 1976. Average score: 7.946/10. 1976 raises the bar that the 70s had set so far, with no less than 3 albums in the top 200, from Rainbow, Rush and Judas Priest. The other releases of the year are not quite on the same level however and quickly drop in quality compared to this golden trio. Only Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" can claim to being on the same standard of quality. |
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Rush - A Farewell To Kings
Year: 1977. Average score: 7.936/10. Following a more than decent year is the relatively disappointing 1977. Only one album manages to barely make it into the top 200, this album being "A Farewell To Kings" by Rush. Some other good albums were released (by AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, UFO...) but nothing particularly brilliant or groundbreaking unfortunately. |
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Rush - Hemispheres
Year: 1978. Average score: 7.632/10. With three releases in the top 200, 1978 is already a more memorable year. But its one entry in the bottom 20 of all time seriously cements it as something legendary. Rush, Van Halen and Rainbow made history in a positive way, while KISS did the opposite. Judas Priest also released some very memorable albums that year. Additionally, this is the very first year that has 20 releases eligible for a top 20 list. |
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Motörhead - Overkill
Year: 1979. Average score: 7.835/10. 1978 stands as one of the weaker year of the decade, despite some truly solid releases. "Overkill" and "Highway To Hell" both made it to the top 200, while "From The Fjords", "Lovedrive" and "Block Rose: A Rock Legend" all truly deserve a spot on the top 20. Other than those releases though, there really isn't anything to write home about. |
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1980s. Average score: 8.493/10. While the 70s did not show much evolution throughout the years, the 80s saw some truly drastic shifts in metal. Speed metal, thrash metal, power metal, death metal, industrial metal, avant-garde metal, first wave black metal, progressive metal... so much variety arose in a single decade, it truly feels unnatural compared to how stale the 70s were. The shift here is incredibly drastic, what came out in 1989 could really not have been made in 1980 and as such, this decade is a pivotal point for metal. |
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23.
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Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
Year: 1980. Average score: 8.297/10. And right off the bat, the year 1980 feels like a true statement. "Heaven And Hell", "Back In Black", "Ace Of Spades" and "Blizzard Of Ozz" reached the top 200, while Diamond Head, Saxon, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest or Angel Witch left their imprint on metal as a whole. The new wave of British heavy metal was born and revitalized the genre, bringing it to new heights in the same motion. |
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Rush - Moving Pictures
Year: 1981. Average score: 8.266/10. While 1981 doesn't have quite the same impact as 1980, it shouldn't be overlooked either. "Moving Pictures" reaches the top 200 while "Mob Rules", "Diary Of A Madman" and "Fire Of Unknown Origin" fight for the second place of the top 20, with all three of them somehow having the exact same rating of 8.57/10. Saxon, Riot, Iron Maiden, King Crimson or Def Leppard also released important albums that year but the most influential album in the list, somehow, would be Venom's "Welcome To Hell", something truly unique for the time. |
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Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
Year: 1982. Average score: 8.275/10. 1982 shows a slight improvement over 1981 with this time two releases in the top 200 in "The Number Of The Beast" and "Screaming For Vengeance". The new wave of British heavy metal is slowing down a little, though it does have some titles other than Maiden (Raven, Witchfinder General, Demon) in the top 20. Accept, Scorpions and Heavy Load also released memorable albums and so did Venom, with the legendary "Black Metal". |
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26.
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Dio - Holy Diver
Year: 1983. Average score: 8.378/10. However, after two slower year, 1983 would finally raise the bar once again and range as one of the most impactful years in the genre's history. "Holy Diver", "Melissa" and "Piece Of Mind" all comfortably made it to the top 200, but the other releases in the top 20 are nothing short of groundbreaking. "Kill 'Em All", "Show No Mercy" and "Heavy Metal Maniac" paved the way for thrash and speed metal, bringing with them a paradigm shift that would alter the metal scene forever. This is so far the most impactful and memorable year for metal, but it's only the beginning of a long upward momentum. |
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Metallica - Ride The Lightning
Year: 1984. Average score: 8.589/10. Following in the steps of the previous year, 1984 once again raises the bar, and by quite a margin. Four albums reached the top 200, all time classics ("Ride The Lightning", "Powerslave"...) that defined the decade and showed what metal was truly capable of achieving. The rest of the list does not falter either, with such releases as "Metal Church" or "Rising Force" having a definitive impact on the genre and influencing it for the years to come. |
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Exodus - Bonded By Blood
Year: 1985. Average score: 8.442/10. After the very exciting 1984, 1985 ended up being much more disappointing. This will be the least interesting year for quite some time, with only "Bonded By Blood" reaching the top 200, but Possessed, Anthrax, Helloween, Slayer or Celtic Frost all released impactful material, although nowhere near the level of what would follow. |
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Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Year: 1986. Average score: 8.589/10. This is it. THE most impactful year of the 80s. Five releases in the top 200, a clear evolution and predominance for thrash with "Master Of Puppets", "Peace Sells", "Reign In Blood", "Pleasure To Kill", "Darkness Descends"... Many consider this to be the peak of the 80s or even of metal as a whole, and I can see where they're coming from, as 1986 proved to be stellar on all fronts. |
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Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I
Year: 1987. Average score: 8.632/10. And the madness doesn't stop, as 1987 has no less than 7 albums in the top 200. Some real evolutions were made here, with "Nightfall" cementing doom metal as a genre to be reckoned with and "Under The Sign Of The Black Mark" evolving thrash metal in new, more evil ways. Thrash really became the prevalent genre by this point, making up more than half of the top 20. Metal had truly evolved and there was no going back. Special mention for scream bloody gore which, despite how influential and groundbreaking it was, didn't even reach the top 20. |
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Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
Year: 1988. Average score: 8.754/10. We're on a streak, as 1988 has no less than 8 records in the top 200. While the amount of innovative and groundbreaking releases is decreasing, the new genres that emerged during the 80s are being consistently improved and perfected, with even progressive metal getting some real development as 1988 is the year of "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Dimension Hatröss". Even Iron Maiden pushed toward a more progressive direction on "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son". Thrash is still there, as strong as ever ("South Of Heaven", "...And Justice For All", "The New Order"...) but the real highlight here is Bathory's "Blood Fire Death", which set the true bases for black metal and what it aspired to be. Definitely one of the most important years for metal. |
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Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
Year: 1989. Average score: 8.706/10. And what many consider to be the greatest decade in metal history ends with one of the genre's strongest years. Seven releases in the top 200, some of them truly groundbreaking, with "Altars Of Madness" defining what death metal was all about. Death metal is much more prevalent here than before, with three releases in the top 20. However, thrash is still at the very top, representing almost half of the list. There are some more interesting outliers as well, with Godflesh, Faith No More and Terrorizer doing some new and intriguing stuff for the time. |
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1990s. Average score: 8.699/10. The 90s are in my opinion where metal truly peaked. That decade fleshed out black metal, death metal, avant-garde metal and progressive metal which are by far my favourite genres. The temporary death of thrash and heavy metal felt like a natural evolution and the rise of extreme metal is the accomplishment of this quest for extremity and boundary breaking that metal was after for all these years. |
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Megadeth - Rust In Peace
Year: 1990. Average score: 8.724/10. The 90s open with what is so far the most impressive year we've seen. Though it only has six albums in the top 200, among those albums are "Rust In Peace" and "Painkiller", which respectively hold the first and second place in the top 200. Thrash was still in full swing and even arguably peaked this year, with Megadeth, Slayer, Artillery, Pantera or Annihilator releasing some of the most memorable albums of the genre. Death metal also saw some activity, with Entombed, Obituary, Deicide and Nocturnus all releasing genre defining albums. Additionally, Bathory's Hammerheart would also prove genre defining and wildly influential for black metal. A fantastic start to the new decade. |
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37.
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Sepultura - Arise
Year: 1991. Average score: 8.668/10. It's in 1991 that the metal world officially moved on from thrash metal and instead chose death metal. Sepultura, Coroner, Overkill and Heathen are the last remains of the genre that up to the previous year was dominating the scene, while death metal, through Death, Atheist, Carcass or Suffocation is not only expanding but developing as well. Brutal death metal and Progressive death metal both become mainstream successes, and death metal itself is in full swing, representing half of the top 20. Only four albums here appear in the top 200 but many others definitely deserve it. |
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Dream Theater - Images And Words
Year: 1992. Average score: 8.66/10. 1992 proves to be the weakest year in quite some time, though it does have 5 releases in the top 200. There's no real predominance of any genre here, death metal lost some of its steam with barely four releases in the list, while stoner metal makes a surprise debut in the lists with Sleep and Kyuss. There's a lot of diversity to be found here but overall it's one of the least memorable years of the 90s, though Darkthrone unleashed hell with "A Blaze In The Northern Sky", which would forever impact the trajectory metal was heading in. |
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Carcass - Heartwork
Year: 1993. Average score: 8.636/10. This is quite the improvement already. Carcass, Death, My Dying Bride and Cynic all released top 200 worthy material while Necrophobic, Dissection, Morbid Angel, Disembowelment or Angra put out some truly timeless albums. The average rating might not be the highest but don't let that fool you, 1993 was definitely a very solid year. |
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40.
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Tiamat - Wildhoney
Year: 1994. Average score: 8.636/10. 1994 would also prove to be an impacctful year, mostly for black metal which saw many of its greatest albums released. Emperor, Mayhem, Samael, Burzum, Darkthrone, Dawn and Enslaved all made the year very memorable for black metal fans, while Dream Theater, Edge Of Sanity or Acid Bath all left a mark on their respective genres. Four albums here reached the top 200, with many more deserving a spot in there. |
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Death - Symbolic
Year: 1995. Average score: 8.786/10. If 1986 was the most impavtful year of the 80s, then this has top be it for the 90s. This is by very, very far the most monstrous year we've had so far, as no less than HALF of the list made it to the top 200. Let me repeat that: of the top 20 albums here, 10 are considered to be some of the best things ever released. This is one of the craziest years in metal history. Death, Dissection, Blind Guardian, At The Gates, My Dying Bride, Ulver, Suffocation, Fear Factory, the roster here is truly all star and even beyond the first half of the list there are some incredibly strong and impactful albums. This one went down in history, and only one other year can even try to compare to how massive 1995 was. |
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Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
Year: 1996. Average score: 8.705/10. 1995 might have been the most impressive year in history for metal, but 1996 was also really strong. Seven releases in the top 200 with a lot of variety in there. Edge Of Sanity, Tool, Katatonia, Opeth, Cryptopsy, Neurosis, Angra, Type O Negative, there's enough to please everyone. And when "Filosofem" is the second weakest album of your top 20, you know this has to be a good year. |
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Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
Year: 1997. Average score: 8.647/10. After two massive years, 1997 took a small step backwards. Only five albums in the top 200 this time but still some very impactful releases, especially for black metal. Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Summoning or Limbonic Art all released some noteworthy material for the genre, while Empyrium, Symphony X, Saturnus or Strapping Young Lad assured there was some strong variety. It's a little breather before we get back to more serious contenders with 1998 and 1999. |
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Death - The Sound Of Perseverance
Year: 1998. Average score: 8.738/10. And we are back with another very strong year, with seven releases in the top 200 this time around. Death, Blind Guardian, Dawn, Opeth, Iced Earth, Diabolical Masquerade or Liquid Tension Experiment all released some very important and impactful albums for their respective genres, though maybe not all time classics on the same level of what the previous years managed to provide. Once again, beyond the average rating of the year, we can ask what its impact really was, and maybe it's not as strong as some other, seemingly weaker years. |
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Opeth - Still Life
Year: 1999. Average score: 8.787/10. Earlier, I said that only one year could compare with 1995. Well, this is it. 1999 is perhaps where metal as a whole peaked. Eleven releases in the top 200, and among the other 9 releases, some are insanely close to getting in there and some even used to be in it and are also extremely close to going back in. Opeth, Dream Theater, Immortal, Summoning, Dan Swanö, Testament, Windir, Necrophagist, Mr. Bungle, I could really mention every single album in that list to show you how strong a year it was. Hell, a top 50 would really be more appropriate here. This is THE year for metal, and after it, the genre never really managed to recover and reach a comparable state of glory. |
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2000s. Average score: 8.717/10. After the insane last decade, the 2000s proved to be just as good, if not better, for most of its duration. Most of the decade is very strong, but after 2007, things start to go in a not so positive direction. The rate at which innovative and interesting releases came out started slowing down, no real new evolutions were being made and by the end of the decade, things were not looking so bright for the genre that had just had its strongest and most interesting period. |
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49.
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Nevermore - Dead Heart In A Dead World
Year: 2000. Average score: 8.663/10. 1999 was a massive year. But after the end of the millennium, things weren't looking so bright. 2000 was a much less interesting year for metal, with only three releases appearing in the top 200. Some good material was released for sure, from the likes of Nevermore, Saturnus, Immolation, Symphony X, Iron Maiden, Lykathea Aflame or Weakling, but those albums definitely did not have the biggest impact in the scene. This is still a really good year, but deep inside we all know things could have been even better. |
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50.
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Opeth - Blackwater Park
Year: 2001. Average score: 8.789/10. And 2001 came to prove that what I said about the year 2000 was right, because holy hell are things better this time around. With nine releases in the top 200, some of which being truly groundbreaking and impactful, this feels like the rightful heir to 1999. "Blackwater Park", "Lateralus", "Ensiferum" and "Mutter" had a huge impact on the scene. And while the same can't necessarily be said about "Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame" or "1184", they are still top quality releases that fully deserve to be here. Even outside of the top 9 can be found some truly great and impactful albums, most notably "Imaginary Sonicscape" and "Toxicity" . |
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51.
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Agalloch - The Mantle
Year: 2002. Average score: 8.726/10. 2002 proved to be almost as strong as the previous year, with this time eight albums in the top 200 and a wide array of memorable stuff. Agalloch, Pain Of Salvation, Arcturus, Isis, Immortal, Opeth or Nile all made the year a pleasant experience for metal listeners of the time. |
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52.
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Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja
Year: 2003. Average score: 8.688/10. With once again a slight drop in quality, 2003 remains a more than solid year as far as metal music goes. Six albums made it to the top 200 this time around, with for example Moonsorrow and Edge Of Sanity being there. Outside of those six albums also lies good stuff, with Opeth, Windir, Falkenbach or Vital Remains making a well deserved appearance. |
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53.
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Wintersun - Wintersun
Year: 2004. Average score: 8.752/10. And yet another truly great year for metal, as indicated by metal storm ratings. Nine releases in the top 200 and a lot of memorable stuff (Wintersun, Ayreon, Isis, Necrophagist, Mastodon, Angra, Quo Vadis...) which made the year particularly good and worthwhile. |
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54.
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Opeth - Ghost Reveries
Year: 2005. Average score: 8.778/10. And here is another record year, where the 2000s and, for some, metal as a whole peaked. 2005 has ten albums in the top 200 and a lot of varied and memorable releases. Opeth, Gojira, Bolt Thrower, Nile, Uaral, Nocte Obducta or Sieges Even made that year a real pleasure to go through for metalheads of the time, and it will stay in history as one of the most memorable and impactful ones so far. |
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55.
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Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain
Year: 2006. Average score: 8.701/10. This is already quite a weaker year as only 4 albums made it to the top 200. But it did have some very memorable releases, and three of them are on the literal verge of entering the all-star list. Among others, Agalloch, Insomnium, Amon Amarth, Drudkh, Summoning and Tool make up 2006's rather strong line-up. |
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56.
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Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
Year: 2007. Average score: 8.742/10. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where metal would one last time experience a crazy year. Things sadly only get worse afterwards (as metal storm ratings indicate). Eight albums in the top 200 and an overall all-star line-up of releases. The Angelic Process, Gris, BTBAM, Warning, Deathspell Omega, Cobalt or Devin Townsend came together and made this a very memorable year. |
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57.
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Septicflesh - Communion
Year: 2008. Average score: 8.645/10. And once again after a heavy year comes a much weaker one. 2008 was pretty solid but only two releases mad it to the top 200. Septicflesh, Darkspace, Amon Amarth, Esoteric, Opeth and more made it to that year's top 20, which showed that some truly great records were released, but those record weren't acclaimed enough to make it to the top 200. |
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58.
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Be'lakor - Stone's Reach
Year: 2009. Average score: 8.681/10. The decade comes to a close with one of its weakest years, though still quite a memorable one. It's a real transitional year, as most of the spots on the list are occupied by new bands. As a matter of fact, most of the bands in the list were formed in the 2000s and only one has released an album before the year 2000. Among those up and coming new bands are Be'lakor, Vektor, Leprous and Obscura, all of which would garner influence and fame over the course of the following decade, and 2009 was the year they released either their debut or sophomore release. The only band that released a full-length album in the 90s and that also appears on that list is Thy Catafalque, and let's just say that their 90s album was not the reason of their success. Four records from 2009 made it to the top 200. It was time for new blood to take the place of the old guard, it was time for the 2010s. |
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60.
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2010s. Average score: 8.492/10. As the freshest decade, the 2010s are probably the most divisive as far as metal goes. Some really great stuff was released during the decade, but the average ratings plummeted and the number of memorable releases dwindled. Creativity and originality were harder to come by and truly groundbreaking stuff was practically non-existing. No new genre appeared during the decade, and while there were more releases than ever before, it paradoxically felt like there was a drought in interesting stuff. The rise of movements like thrash revival or osdm revival led to many bands sounding uninteresting and repetitive, and that shows within the top 200, as the 2010s barely have any releases featured within the list. |
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62.
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Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
Year: 2010. Average score: 8.584/10. And as the new decade begins, the average rating drops to its lowest since 1985. And just like 1985, it's only got 1 album in the top 200, that being Enslaved's "Axioma Ethica Odini". Some old bands made a comeback here, with Accept and Overkill both making it to a top 20 list for the first time since the 80s. Additionally, this was a good year for black metal and especially French one, with the likes of Alcest, Deathspell Omega and Les Discrets releasing some very good material. There's of course some variety to be found, with bands such as Kvelertak, Seventh Wonder or Blindead being featured in the list. |
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63.
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Aquilus - Griseus
Year: 2011. Average score: 8.589/10. A slightly better rating, not by much, for another disappointing year with a single album in the top 200. Some memorable albums were of course released, including ones by Aquilus, Thy Catafalque, Vektor, Beyond Creation, Solstafir and Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats. |
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64.
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Ne Obliviscaris - Portal Of I
Year: 2012. Average score: 8.55/10. And this is where things start to crumble. Despite having two releases in the top 200, 2012 also yet another decrease in the overall ratings of the top 20, with for the first time since the 90s, albums with ratings under 8.5/10 entering the top 20. And there's seven of them. Several of the releases in this list were however really impactful and made by bands that, if it weren't already the case at this point, would become forces to be reckoned with for the rest of the decade. Ne Obliviscaris, Be'lakor, Mgła, and Cattle Decapitation are the most prominent ones, though Hypno5e could be argued in as well. |
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65.
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Caladan Brood - Echoes Of Battle
Year: 2013. Average score: 8.553/10. And we return to our usual single album in the top 200, this time by Caladan Brood. Some important band, beside the healdiner, make their top 20 debut, like The Ocean, Wardruna, Haken, Vulture Industries or SubRosa, while others make their top 20 farewell, like Gris, Katatonia, Persefone, Summoning and Carcass. It's one again an important transitional year. |
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66.
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Shylmagoghnar - Emergence
Year: 2014. Average score: 8.41/10. With no album in the top 200 and the worst rating since 1983, 2014 does not sound good. However, as is the trend since the start of the decade, some important albums were released this year by, among others, Insomnium, Ne Obliviscaris, Behemoth, Saor, Thank You Scientist, Mare Cognitum and Beyond Creation. |
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67.
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Mgła - Exercises In Futility
Year: 2015. Average score: 8.525/10. With two albums in the top 200, 2015 is a slight upgrade on the previous year, though its average rating is still pretty low. Some real Heavy hitters were released that year, like "Exercises In Futility", "Under The Red Cloud" or the debut albums by Batushka and Wilderun. Steven Wilson, Ghost, Leprous and Moonspell also make an appearance, which for some would be the last. |
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68.
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Insomnium - Winter's Gate
Year: 2016. Average score: 8.49/10. With this time three releases in the top 200, things seem to be back on track. Yet, the average rating is tragically low. Insomnium, Vektor, Be'lakor, Moonsorrow or Dark Tranquillity showed that they still had it, while An Abstract Illusion, Eternal Champion, Plini and Blood Incantation made their debut. |
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69.
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Archspire - Relentless Mutation
Year: 2017. Average score: 8.399/10. And yet again with 0 albums in the top 200 and the weakest rating since 1983, 2017 does not deliver as well as the previous few years, although it did have some impactful albums, notably from Ne Obliviscaris, Archspire, Soen, Kreator, Bell Witch and Trivium. |
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70.
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Amorphis - Queen Of Time
Year: 2018. Average score: 8.411/10. With what is as of writing this the most recent album of the top 200, this year would prove to be stronger than what preceded it. It's still not quite filled with masterpieces, but some very strong releases include "Queen Of Time", "Esoteric Malacology" or "Where Owls Know My Name". Judas Priest released their swansong with "Firepower" while some bands made their top 20 debut like 1914, Chapel Of Disease, Psychonaut or Pathway. |
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71.
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Wilderun - Veil Of Imagination
Year: 2019. Average score: 8.412/10. While 2019 might seem like a rather weak year, some of the most memorable albums of the past decade were released then. Wilderun, Mgła, Alcest, Borknagar, White Ward, Blood Incantation, Cattle Decapitation, Schammasch, Minenwerfer, I feel like this year was more than solid. I am 100% biased though, as 2019 was when I started to listen to new metal releases. |
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72.
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73.
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2020s. Average score (so far): 8.211/10. After the polarizing 2010s come the (so far) underwhelming 2020s. There's something going on, there has to be a reason why the quality of metal releases seems to be consistently decreasing. Maybe it's a fatigue, maybe after 53 years metal is out of inspiration and maybe someday a new wave will arrive and reinvigorate the genre, like what happened with jazz in the 50s and 60s. I can only hope that it will be the case, but nothing is more uncertain at the moment. As we are still early on into the decade, it's much too early to properly judge it, so I'll try to keep it updated over time and, hopefully, in a few years, we'll have a more complete project. |
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74.
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75.
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Draconian - Under A Godless Veil
Year: 2020. Average score: 8.262/10. As we jump right into the new decade, things already get sour. Only two albums go over the 8.5 barrier and the lowest album on the list is rated 8.16/10. There were of course some stand-out releases, notably from Draconian, Paradise Lost, Ulcerate, Odraza, Havukruunu and Esoctrihilium, but nothing is quite reaching the scale of "modern classic" that some Vektor or Mgła releases have obtained. |
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76.
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Iotunn - Access All Worlds
Year: 2021. Average score: 8.212/10. This is, ratings-wise, the weakest year since 1979. Not a single release even reaches the rating of 8.4. Some stand-outs include Ethereal Shroud, Be'lakor, Thy Catafalque, Stormkeep, 1914, First Fragment and Helloween. |
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77.
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An Abstract Illusion - Woe
Year: 2022. Average score: 8.16/10. While An Abstract Illusion raises the bar slightly here, with its 8.57 rating, the rest of the year remains very disappointing, with eight releases in the top 20 not even reaching the rating of 8.1/10. Highlight include the aforementioned "Woe" as well as "Acts Of God", "False Light", "Ash In Realms Of Stone Icons" and "All That Was Promised". |
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Roman Doez ]
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