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.

- - - - - - - - - -

Last Updated: April 19th, 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 ››

1.Archspire - Bleed The Future

2.Gojira - Fortitude

3.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

4.Aephanemer - A Dream Of Wilderness

5.Beast In Black - Dark Connection

      View entire list ››

For those interested in suggestions of albums by genre

Removed:
- Trolls
- Limp bizkit outside of Alternative category
- albums already nominated. After the results, I will add the nominated albums that don't receive enough votes to be displayed in the results, as "staff write-ins".
- albums with a release date not in 2021

1.

2.Heleven - Into The Oceans

3.Imminence - Heaven In Hiding

4.Lantlôs - Wildhund

5.Leprous - Aphelion

      View entire list ››

"The artwork was created by acclaimed Polish artist, Mariusz Lewandowski, whose art matched LIVLØS’ artistic vision" the band revealed to And Justice For Art..."

1.Gojira - Fortitude

2.Evadne - The Pale Light Of Fireflies

3.Imminence - Heaven In Hiding

4.Vildhjarta - Måsstaden Under Vatten

5.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

      View entire list ››

In no particular order:

2021 Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/64dcGhNKM5p9TF9ALQBVHN?si=jaureWTyTHiTqMpvY3Q-5A&utm_source=copy-link

1.Ethereal Shroud - Trisagion

2.First Fragment - Gloire Éternelle

3.Bewitcher - Cursed Be Thy Kingdom

4.SpiritWorld - Pagan Rhythms

5.Unto Others - Strength

      View entire list ››

Only adding albums I've listened through.

1.First Fragment - Gloire Éternelle

2.Emma Ruth Rundle - Engine Of Hell

3.Be'lakor - Coherence

4.Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon

5.Møl - Diorama

      View entire list ››

1.Be'lakor - Coherence

2.In Mourning - The Bleeding Veil

3.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

4.Yoth Iria - As The Flame Withers

5.Iotunn - Access All Worlds

      View entire list ››

At around 450 album, I've been averaging something like 75 new albums per month since the start of 2021, not to mention albums I only listen to 1-2 songs of before moving on. It's been intense, and I'm hoping the lifting of restrictions will mean I get through slightly less music in the rest of this year, but let's see what the rest of 2021 has in store musically.

1.Between The Buried And Me - Colors II

2.Year Of No Light - Consolamentum

3.Be'lakor - Coherence

4.LLNN - Unmaker

5.Spaceslug - Memorial

      View entire list ››

1.Trivium - In The Court Of The Dragon

2.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

3.Iron Maiden - Senjutsu

4.Leprous - Aphelion

5.Soen - Imperial

      View entire list ››

1.Evergrey - Escape Of The Phoenix

2.Abiotic - Ikigai

3.Architects - For Those That Wish To Exist

4.Michael Schenker Fest - Immortal

5.Need - Norchestrion: A Song For The End

      View entire list ››

1.Epica - Omega

2.Bloodred Hourglass - Your Highness

3.Soen - Imperial

4.Iotunn - Access All Worlds

5.Duskmourn - Fallen Kings And Rusted Crowns

      View entire list ››

2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015

1.Archspire - Bleed The Future

2.The Ruins Of Beverast - The Thule Grimoires

3.Bloodred Hourglass - Your Highness

4.Thy Catafalque - Vadak

5.Swallow The Sun - Moonflowers

      View entire list ››

The List of Albums releasing in 2021 that I listened/will listen to.
The Ratings are my personal opinion!

1.Svrm - Розпад

2.K.F.R - Shayṭān 2.0

3.Frozen Soul - Crypt Of Ice

4.Grima - Rotten Garden

5.Asphyx - Necroceros

      View entire list ››

No stars - Don't know yet
✮✮✮✮✮ - Incredible, possibly Album Of The Year
✮✮✮✮½ - Awesome
✮✮✮✮ - Solid release
✮✮✮½ - Good release
✮✮✮ - Not bad
✮✮½ - Shuffle material (probably boring as an album)
✮✮ - Disappointing

1.1914 - Where Fear And Weapons Meet

2.In Mourning - The Bleeding Veil

3.Dordeduh - Har

4.Tribulation - Where The Gloom Becomes Sound

5.Stortregn - Impermanence

      View entire list ››

1.Beast In Black - Dark Connection

2.1914 - Where Fear And Weapons Meet

3.Duskmourn - Fallen Kings And Rusted Crowns

4.Grima - Rotten Garden

5.Gojira - Fortitude

      View entire list ››