Hey Folks! It’s me… Again!

I’m coming back once more to explore the depths of a genre that arguably did not begin where you all thought it did! Yeah yeah… Alright, maybe Left Hand Path, Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious, Like An Ever Flowing Stream & The Red In The Sky Is Ours aren’t exactly the sound you would expect, but they were certainly a sign of something incredible that was about to happen. The birth of Melodic Death Metal!

Most of you, them, us… Would agree that Melodic Death metal really appeared in the form of Carcass’s 1993 album Heartwork. Even though some shades of what would become staples of the genre were heard before, this one would truly be the first album to be called as such. Mixing OSDM with more classic heavy metal styled riffs & melodies, our beloved genre (along with Thrash) would become for a lot of our teenage selves, a gateway into the more extreme bowels of metal’s subgenres. I would argue that it’s an almost obligatory step in the grand metalhead’s journey. Ah, how amazing it was to first taste the somewhat delicate sound of melodeath before rattling our ears with the obscenities & nonsensical wankery of grindcore, brutal tech-death, dissonant death and post metal… Rrrrright.

As you have become accustomed to by now, I will attempt to honour the genre by listing the absolute best Melodic Death metal albums to be ever released throughout the years. And I will do so starting with a few albums that are arguably not Melodic Death metal… Because I can and I did, hah! F*ck you! Along the way, you might stumble upon some strange & unorthodox choices mixing a plethora of other genres as well and that’s ok. Truly. Take it easy, don’t hyperventilate over it and just go with the flow. The main goal here is to help people who don’t know much about melodeath discover it and where it came from. I also want to push forward some less known jewels amongst highly praised landmarks of the style and sprinkle a bit of my personality along the way because that’s always fun. The albums will be ordered in years of release and there will be no other restriction or specific rules.

I hope you have a blast going through my list and that it brings you joy and a slight tingle on your nostalgia strings. Though, if it pisses you off, if I forgot your absolute favourite album of all goddamn time or if you think I’m an idiot, well… Just remember that I’m right, always and forever, thank you. Regardless It will be a pleasure for me to hear your recommendations or discuss anything related to melodeath below. Cheers & have fun!

-Guib-

Note: Albums with a 🇨🇦 are from my country (Canada) and albums with a ★ are my personal favourites.

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Last Updated: April 27th, 2024

1.Entombed - Left Hand Path

2.Carcass - Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious

3.Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream

4.At The Gates - The Red In The Sky Is Ours

5.Carcass - Heartwork

      View entire list ››

I've been listened to Black Metal since the late 2000s starting with Emperor and Dimmu Borgir. Since then, I've discover dozens of amazing bands thanks to MS and it has become one of my favourite genres, especially the more melodic/symphonic/epic bands.

So here are my favourites of the genre with my rating, its sub-genre 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 black 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)

1.Agalloch - The Mantle

2.Caladan Brood - Echoes Of Battle

3.Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane

4.Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

5.Windir - 1184

      View entire list ››

Welcome to what I consider the "1001 Metal Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" or in other words, a list of records of various genres in the arrays of Metal and Hard Rock that I deem essential or at least very recommended to listeners of hard and heavy music. This may be a very overwhelming list but I essentially try to collect all albums in the History of Metal that strike me as worthwhile. May this be a guideline for people that seek for an entrance to a particular genre or certain bands. In no means I am saying, that this list is indisputable by any means. I consider these my personal picks for albums that should be listened to by die-hard metal fans at least once. Hopefully you can discover some new music or relate with my picks. If I missed something that you would include in such a list, please tell me in the form of a comment. Enjoy! \,,/

1.High Tide - Sea Shanties

2.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come

5.Josefus - Dead Man

      View entire list ››

This list is meant to be an extensive, but by no means exhaustive, collection of the greatest (modern) metal albums and eps. Running the gamut from avant-garde to trve norweigan black metal. *As someone who is young in age, my tastes tend to revolve around the period of the 80s to the present.* Although certain metal albums from before will certainly be featured, the period of the 60s-70s will be under-represented. I refer you to this excellent list to gain a better appreciation for some of the best metal from that period: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/freis/martin_popoffs_the_top_500_heavy_metal_albums_of_all_time/

1.Ea - Ea Taesse

2.Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull

3.Earth And Pillars - Earth I

4.Earth Crisis - Destroy The Machines

5.Earth Rot - Black Tides Of Obscurity

      View entire list ››

This list aims to be the counterpart to the Metal Storm Top 200 Albums (plus a few extras).

If you discover a new band or already like any of the ones here, please give this list a thumbs up and/or leave a comment so we can get these overlooked gems in front of more people.

Criteria:
• High-quality musicianship (9-10/10 IMO)
• 1 album per band

Ordered by number of votes then MS rating.

As these are albums with a low number of votes, the rating is likely to change frequently. I will update this list as often as I can.

Updated: 29-Jan-24

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

1.Solipsist - The Human Equation

2.Ayahuasca - Beneath The Mind

3.Cryptomnesia - Primordial Oddity

4.Element (USA) - The Energy

5.Telepathy - 12 Areas

      View entire list ››

I've been listening to Metal since 2005 and it has become my biggest passion in life.

Rarely a day goes by where I don't listen to it in one form or another. The bands I listened to in my teens inspired me to pick up the guitar (and later drums) and start making music of my own.

So here are the albums that have stood out and made the largest impact on me. To be as transparent as possible, I've labelled albums as 'nostalgia bias' where my memories of the album give it an advantage over others.

(Score is an average of each album's song ratings, full list located here. There are a ton of albums that I've rated 9/10 in the 'TBR' tab that may never make it to this list, be sure to check those out.)

If you discovered any new albums or like the same sort of 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 25 EPs (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)

Genre-Specific:
Top 50 Black Metal Albums
Top 50 Melodic Death Metal Albums
Top 45 Thrash Metal Albums
Top 40 Power Metal Albums
Top 30 Doom Metal Albums
Top 30 Heavy Metal Albums

1.Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral

2.Opeth - Blackwater Park

3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

4.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson

5.Opeth - Still Life

      View entire list ››

1.Estatic Fear - Somnium Obmutum

2.Theatre Of Tragedy - Theatre Of Tragedy

3.My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans

4.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

5.Anathema - The Silent Enigma

      View entire list ››

An entirely subjective list of my all-time favourite metal albums, well lets better say albums/genres featured on MS, since not all here is precisely metal.
Objective quality is not a criteria here, just how much I like the album. Ordered by preference, top down.

1.Anathema - The Silent Enigma

2.Opeth - Morningrise

3.Estatic Fear - Somnium Obmutum

4.My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans

5.Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss

      View entire list ››

Rules:
1. One album per band
2. Alphabetic order
3. Only albums with less than 30 votes + albums not available on MS



Links to albums which are not featured on MS:
Antagonist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7gKRrqbWG8
Aphotic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGDeUKGB16o
Apocalypse (UK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-6Dw9EjLe8
Arcania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU7oPe7WUfw
Armageddon (USA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfu4hX1H_-s
As Light Dies http://aslightdies.bandcamp.com/album/ars-subtilior-from-within-the-cage
Atlain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaG3-z_puEM
Attack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mSzsfjD3jE
Auditory Imagery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNT5bypc2rQ
Änglagård https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFI554_xM-I
Babylon Sad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc12Z3Bqf2c
Betrayal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl9mqOw7adc
Black Hole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlkPxq1BZaE
Black Symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Ly1Luk21s
Blood Cult http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwRqPoM_zg
Bronz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OTnWnDegMw
Buffalo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzxM6Z_oDQ
Cactus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_y_m0mImGw
Calhoun Conquer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQih771h2Mw
Carmilla Morte http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmqiMdo5Zks
Cave Of Swimmers https://caveofswimmers.bandcamp.com/album/reflection
Centaur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSn7iXf7lVc
Ceremonium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbVOcaT4-c
Chowder http://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/passion-rift
Clepsydra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpQVVe9wPqc
Cosmosquad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HehOaRhPrx0
Counter-World Experience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LPR-BoMQpc
Cryptomnesia http://tornfleshrecords.bandcamp.com/album/primordial-oddity
Crystal Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mot3HS8ks7I
Cult Of Vampyrism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VpmkSxl3Lo
Cybele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pCxN9pkHTU
Cyberhed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJdj6iJ5lXo
Dali's Dilemma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80DcS2zHfM8
Dawn Of Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyIZsuaQWJE
Dead Temple https://deadtemple.bandcamp.com/
Deaf Eyes https://deafeyes.bandcamp.com/releases
Decision D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQZ8vH-RBiQ
Decoryah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69bHWfAg_0A
Demimonde http://demimondeofficial.bandcamp.com/album/mutant-star
Diabolique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx1mKbpncBU
Doom (JPN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsqw8X-c4zc
Dust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO_IyJU-ZbE
Dust Sculptures http://dustsculptures.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia
Dustynation http://dustynation.bandcamp.com/
Dying Passion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLa6ACfBlGY
Earth Burnt Black https://earthburntblack.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-dying-sun
Egypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt5Wh7jGSl8
Egypt (US) https://egypt1.bandcamp.com/album/become-the-sun
Embryo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2lhw0z7r_8
Empyria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3u1Qjfk70
End Amen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVfKv9vC2z8
Energetic Krusher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1hUUhRAkTY
Equirhodont http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if1TCEu9jto
Eternal Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wzddYaT6s
Eternal Valley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWRsO7_KNiM
Evol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OmQypgX-Lc
Excidium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2O9k7pNvLA
Exises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srS4QTBCqp0
Exxplorer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgg2FXe5ZQE
Flames Of Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHSHUj3IsU
H-Bomb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmgHJgZl4I
Harrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh-qWj5hzYs
Heaven's Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHp0jTLCUko
Hocculta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaI7dmrbwvA
Hydrotoxin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS0L_lPn3i8
Hypnotic Scenery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdc9abD6kgk
Icecross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MOQRWHCJLA
Iron Claw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHL6Na0c5g0
Jakub Żytecki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlTDJ1CwyP8
Jarun https://jarun.bandcamp.com/album/pod-niebem-utkanym-z-popio-u
Jeronimo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLMflMrHP24
Jester's March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh6WR9x_eU8
Kalovorot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyze-7dst6A
Katar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw3DvrfWLsg
Kobong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EayCslBxICc
Kohllapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sSYgruU3ug
Korpse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1njOKpJkcBI
Light Of Darkness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZNPZDB47OA
Lucifer's Friend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y9AJ4HVAQg
Maeth http://maeth.bandcamp.com/album/oceans-into-ashes
Maleficium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lt28cw_oYI
Malignant Eternal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q88RWpnSYfs
Mech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_bfMQt6rpY
Megace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4iFcde28Oc
Mely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvorSS6mEtE
Memoria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSPEeBxWuxA
Memory Driven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvkb1FJAm_8
Mephistopheles (GER) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9FYtWtE4-A
Mistguide http://mistguide.bandcamp.com/album/era
Moonlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=480oxwRDwmw
Narita https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w5e15suhfk
Necroart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4m_5I3MecA
Neolithic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op7tamalrT4
Nexus 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlABSdgZJFI
Night Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9sscVftmDU
Nimbatus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntsia6r9hOo
Nox Mortis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UUsn2m94HA
Obiat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZiyI6PPbw
Obrero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEtYdT5ifQ4
Obsidieth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja8EEH7vh4E
Odyssey (RSA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1cDZfDXXzc
Olvido http://olvido-oficial.bandcamp.com/album/luto
Oppressor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMPBlZ1EHM
Opus Arise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdVTjAgduHI
Oracle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-QQZWqFEI
Ordained Fate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOivwjopHvg
Path Of Debris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lebyXZNr21M
Pergalė http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26N4_6JYop0
Polluted Inheritance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVdxGUo3Y04
Promethean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc79qtfThZ4
Red Tide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jS_bNbnTMQ
Quicksand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5lGb7mLSUk
Sabaoth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqjutLIdtM
Sacrosanct https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVVICRxdSE
Sad Whisperings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06YH2FVtP8I
Sandrider http://sandrider.bandcamp.com/album/sandrider
Sanvoisen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUi72rXfac
Scatterbrain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmEpkrYkts
Scissorfight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJsIEOxkUik
Secrecy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tAy6DzMrEw
Sethery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd71lkQdpW0
Shadowseeds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3lPRlNYNGM
Sorg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IFGwLk-F7U
Soul Cages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxtRlcB2WVY
Southwake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObnRZrXPBs
Stomach Earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3XkLGh-23g
Stworz https://stworz.bandcamp.com/album/c-po-yznych-ziemiach
Sweet Noise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3hy31kQcc
Symphonian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLk1LV6nmE
Synkronizity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0rySk_WY4o
T2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1cKMIfcumg
Tangerine Circus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMnNAZMQ-IE
The Advent Equation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQCBsIvgr0
The Bedlam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6tQRtnXdE
The Beyond http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBltGF1Yf4
The Fathomless Deep https://thefathomlessdeep.bandcamp.com/album/the-fathomless-deep
The Re-Stoned https://re-stoned.bandcamp.com/album/totems
Thunderhead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrvJPbe-eQ
Thy Withering Orchard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9PuIWfAm7o
Time Grid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXCbYUCKPGk
Toad (CH) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3Wt_HS4h8
Torchure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqoE9a4imfE
Touch Of Cruel Hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFZy0XMoSY
Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO40C2HBlbA
Trizna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHdBWB7NVs
Under The Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0xyRZRCi3E
Utopianisti http://utopianisti.bandcamp.com/album/utopianisti-ii-utopianisti-meets-black-motor-jon-ballantyne
Vanguard X Mortem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5EnjGbDMlo
Viogression http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmUF5fo3KL0
Violent Work Of Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hirh1sdp2Is
Virgo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHE5VQSB5PU
Vyre https://vyred.bandcamp.com/album/the-initial-frontier-pt-1
Wicked Innocence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LNKYKenx-Q
Wicked Maraya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8CVp-V9rD4
Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBB6b9R8Z1A
Wizz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5H02wmRgDk
Xenolith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIcbJHC_FWY
Zions Abyss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z62KqVqQR-0

1.(EchO) - Devoid Of Illusions

2.5ive - Hesperus

3.7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes Of Absolution

4.A Sorrowful Dream - Toward Nothingness

5.Aarni - Bathos

      View entire list ››