A collection of metal albums that use Arabian, middle-east and far east folk elements. Recommendations are welcome. Image is the cover artwork of Shangren's Warriors of Devastation.

1.Acyl - Algebra

2.Aeternam - Disciples Of The Unseen

3.Akvan اكوان - شکوه فراموش شده / Forgotten Glory

4.Al-Namrood - Estorat Taghoot

5.Al-Namrood - Kitab Al-Awthan

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These are the albums I've enjoyed so far this year to which I've given an approximate rating and organised in a rough order of preference. As the year progresses I'll add some descriptions to them as well. EP's are also included.

Recent additions: Armory, Russian Circles, Ulver, Tad Morose, SubRosa, Almah, Blood Bright Star, Autumnblaze, Ayreon, Chthonic, Darkestrah, God Is An Astronaut, Képzelt Város, Lodz, Månegarm, Obscure Sphinx, Caligula's Horse, Sky Architect, Keldian, Monster Magnet

1.Vulture Industries - The Tower

2.The Moth Gatherer - A Bright Celestial Light

3.Walrus - Walrus

4.Clutch - Earth Rocker

5.Oranssi Pazuzu - Valonielu

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All Studio releases including Full lengths, EPs, Collaborations and Splits.

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TOP ALBUM ARTWORKS OF 2013

1.Intronaut - Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)

2.Gris - À L'Âme Enflammée, L'Äme Constellée...

3.Shade Empire - Omega Arcane

4.Obliteration - Black Death Horizon

5.Dream Death - Somnium Excessum

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1.Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)

2.Monolithe - Monolithe IV

3.Nails - Abandon All Life

4.Totem Skin - Still Waters Run Deep

5.Ataraxie - L'Être Et La Nausée

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There is no real arrangement here, apart for the top 3.

1.Ayreon - The Theory Of Everything

2.Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

3.The Vision Bleak - Witching Hour

4.Avatarium - Avatarium

5.Black Sabbath - 13

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Ranked from Best to Worst, to what Sucks...
Suggestions are welcomed!

1.Amorphis - Circle

2.Sirenia - Perils Of The Deep Blue

3.Dark Tranquillity - Construct

4.Kalmah - Seventh Swamphony

5.Orphaned Land - All Is One

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A third revision was in order, after hearing the colossal "Void Mother" from Obscure Sphinx.

1.Ayreon - The Theory Of Everything

2.Obscure Sphinx - Void Mother

3.Chthonic - Bú-Tik

4.Altar Of Plagues - Teethed Glory & Injury

5.Skeletal Spectre - Voodoo Dawn

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That's the 2013 gnirpz's essentials in order, following the releases along the year. Every ranking should be based on production quality, originality, musical technicality and specs like that.

Unfortunatelly, mine is based on headbanging, taste of beer, air guitar and air drum solos.

2013 feelings, form best to worst

1.Gris - À L'Âme Enflammée, L'Äme Constellée...

2.Ghost B.C. - Infestissumam

3.Deafheaven - Sunbather

4.ASG - Blood Drive

5.Skeletonwitch - Serpents Unleashed

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This is a list of all the folk metal albums I have listened to that I found to be of at least marginal quality. It is purely for my own organizational purposes and is not meant to be a definitive statement about the genre; for that reason, there are some entries that don't entirely fit the description, including some neofolk albums and bands that don't exactly play "folk metal" but are close enough.

There used to be a good amount of crossover with my black metal list, but I have since cleaned house and removed anything labeled "pagan" or "Viking" to this list. Personally, I'm very skeptical of the idea that "pagan" anything is its own genre, and unless you're Bathory, the Viking shtick doesn't really work with me. I file it under blackened folk or folk black metal or something like that; if it has any ties to traditional music, I've decided simply to add it to this list and not bother with splitting hairs.

The first section of albums represents my favorite albums - sometimes just within the genre, sometimes overall. Beyond that, they are divided into sections by rating going down to 6/10, and within those sections in alphabetical order.

This list was last updated August 8, 2021.

1.Elvenking - Secrets Of The Magick Grimoire

2.Forefather - Ours Is The Kingdom

3.Forefather - Steadfast

4.Forefather - Last Of The Line

5.Dalriada - Áldás

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1.In Vain - Ænigma

2.Omnium Gatherum - Beyond

3.Summoning - Old Mornings Dawn

4.Dark Tranquillity - Construct

5.The Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer

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Listen to metal for more than the half of my life, here is the list of my favorites albums of all time.

1.Alcest - Les Voyages De L'âme

2.Alcest - Kodama

3.Alcest - Spiritual Instinct

4.Alestorm - Sunset On The Golden Age

5.Alestorm - No Grave But The Sea

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Hello and welcome to my first ever top albums list. While I've been listening to metal for over 15 years I've never compiled an actual year end list. The reason for this is because I feel my current favorites to be ever changing dependent on mood, season and situational. But the reason I feel it's necessary is because I want to spread the joy of music. I see many people jaded on music, well if this list is any indication music is alive and doing some amazing things. I've encountered so many lists this year and honestly can't say there's anything close to my list. Whole brilliant albums left off of list after list, but it is all opinion. Other albums held up in high regard that just made me shake my head or perplex me. Even reading many lists gets annoying do to slideshows or advertisement overload or no explanations, I've made this as easy to browse as I could. This is a celebration of the music of 2013. Doing this list was fun yet stressful for me. To me a list isn't a versus or better than. It's just a personal list, still I want to make the numbers carry weight and importance.
Enjoy, comment below and spread the word

1.In Vain - Ænigma

2.Soilwork - The Living Infinite

3.Amorphis - Circle

4.Obscure Sphinx - Void Mother

5.Haken - The Mountain

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to be continued...

1.Shade Empire - Omega Arcane

2.Vulture Industries - The Tower

3.Chthonic - Bú-Tik

4.Thousand Eyes - Bloody Empire

5.Illnath - 4 Shades Of Me

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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.Cacophony - Speed Metal Symphony

2.Cadaveria - In Your Blood

3.Caïna - Mourner

4.Caïnan Dawn - F.O.H.A.T.

5.Cain's Offering - Stormcrow

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1.Finntroll - Blodsvept

2.Lunarsea - Hundred Light Years

3.In Vain - Ænigma

4.Pessimist - Death from Above

5.Persefone - Spiritual Migration

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