1.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

2.Belzebubs - Pantheon Of The Nightside Gods

3.Grima - Will Of The Primordial

4.Vorna - Sateet Palata Saavat

5.Insomnium - Heart Like A Grave

      View entire list ››

Stuff that got me hooked in the course of the years, from my very first blurred memories as a toddler to the present day.
Lots of catchy tunes, some cheese, very few flowers.
Songs that had a big impact on me and influenced my taste in music.
Stuff to let it all hang out, songs for campfire sing-alongs and soundtracks to slit your wrists to.
Love at first sight listen.

This is part II of II, covering the years since 2001.

Despite of the list's personal character, suggestions are very welcome.
After all I'm old and I may just have forgotten lots of stuff that did make my day.



Great albums that didn't make it on the list as they can only be enjoyed in their entirety, rather than by picking individual songs:

Thirdmoon - Sworn Enemy: Heaven (Death, 2004)
Defleshed - Reclaim The Beat (Death/Thrash, 2005)
Tyranny - Tides Of Awakening (Funeral Doom, 2005)
Mourning Beloveth - A Murderous Circus (Doom/Death, 2005)
Rotting Christ - Kata Ton Daimona Eaytoy (Black, 2013)

1.Alastis - Unity

2.Diablerie - Seraphyde

3.Dimmu Borgir - Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia

4.Emperor - Prometheus: The Discipline Of Fire & Demise

5.Hollenthon - With Vilest Of Worms To Dwell

      View entire list ››

1.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

2.Cave In - Final Transmission

3.Mother Of Millions - Artifacts

4.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

Ratings go from:

WORSHIP ❤️❤️❤️: Absolute greatness, a mindblowing album.
LOVE ❤️❤️🖤: Amazing release with very few flaws.
LIKE ❤️🖤🖤: Enjoyable but far from perfect.
DISLIKE 💔: Not very good or maybe not fitting my tastes.

I've decided to stop rating albums with a numerical value as I tend to feel uncomfortable with that. This list has a minimalistic, subjective and visceral approach, based purely on sensations and personal tastes. Mainly for personal use and doesn't pretend to be a serious ranking, but emerges from the need to remember which bands and albums I enjoyed and the ones I disliked. I constantly revisit new releases so first impressions may change over time. It usually takes 8-10 spins for me to get completely sure of a rating.

1.Æther Realm - Tarot

2.Abhoria - Abhoria

3.Acid Bath - When The Kite String Pops

4.Agrypnie - Metamorphosis

5.Allegaeon - Fragments Of Form And Function

      View entire list ››

Here is a list of all the bands who received at least one write-in vote during MSA 2019.

Following the annoucement of the results, this information is lost, I post it here so you can continue to explore your favorite genres !

I'm still working on fixing links, if you find errors, feel free to notify in the comments !

1.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

2.Cave In - Final Transmission

3.Mother Of Millions - Artifacts

4.Slipknot - We Are Not Your Kind

5.Soen - Lotus

      View entire list ››

This is the list of albums I had on heavy rotation during 2019. If an album was very good but way too long or demanding to listen to it more than twice, you won't see it here (e.g. Esoteric). I have limited attention span and favourite albums are called "favourite" because we keep listening to them non-stop. The order below is more or less accurate.

1.Atlantean Kodex - The Course Of Empire

2.Idle Hands - Mana

3.Diamond Head - The Coffin Train

4.Flotsam And Jetsam - The End Of Chaos

5.Numenorean - Adore

      View entire list ››

The best of 2019

1.Disillusion - The Liberation

2.Soen - Lotus

3.Cult Of Luna - A Dawn To Fear

4.Waste Of Space Orchestra - Syntheosis

5.Lacrimas Profundere - Bleeding The Stars

      View entire list ››

I've just turned 27, I guess if I'm lucky I'll live long enough to finish this list.

1.Cult Of Luna - A Dawn To Fear

2.Schammasch - Hearts Of No Light

3.Abigail Williams - Walk Beyond The Dark

4.Disillusion - The Liberation

5.Esoteric - A Pyrrhic Existence

      View entire list ››

1.Waste Of Space Orchestra - Syntheosis

2.Stellar Master Elite - Hologram Temple

3.Mephorash - Shem Ha Mephorash

4.Nile - Vile Nilotic Rites

5.Strigoi - Abandon All Faith

      View entire list ››

1.Flesh Of The Stars - Mercy

2.Soen - Lotus

3.Cult Of Luna - A Dawn To Fear

4.Frostveil - Ephemeral Visions

5.Thank You Scientist - Terraformer

      View entire list ››

1.Opeth - In Cauda Venenum

2.Borknagar - True North

3.Rammstein - Rammstein

4.Cult Of Luna - A Dawn To Fear

5.Villagers Of Ioannina City - Age Of Aquarius

      View entire list ››

Non Metalstrom Bands

Antigone's Fate: https://antigonesfate.bandcamp.com/
D Aphelium: https://daphelium.bandcamp.com/
Diffuse Horizon: https://diffusehorizons.bandcamp.com
Feigd: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5VrkQRSU8qzraXKkSZG7IS
Harvst: https://harvst.bandcamp.com/
Helgafell: https://helgafell.bandcamp.com

1.Iapetus - The Body Cosmic

2.Overkill - The Wings Of War

3.Saor - Forgotten Paths

4.Aephanemer - Prokopton

5.Metsatöll - Katk Kutsariks

      View entire list ››

1.Atlantean Kodex - The Course Of Empire

2.Avatarium - The Fire I Long For

3.Belzebubs - Pantheon Of The Nightside Gods

4.Blazon Stone - Hymns Of Triumph And Death

5.Borknagar - True North

      View entire list ››

My top to bottom list of everything from 2019 I've spent time with and have also purchased either physically or digitally (which is why most of them have high ratings). Releases featured on MS only. Whole number ratings out of 10 and my personal opinions included.

NOTE: I am no longer updating this list. 2019 was a monster year for music but I am onto a 2020 list. You can check it out here: http://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6056

1.Soen - Lotus

2.Borknagar - True North

3.Alcest - Spiritual Instinct

4.Thank You Scientist - Terraformer

5.Brymir - Wings Of Fire

      View entire list ››

Top picks from 2019 Releases: Attempts made at the top 10 in order as a best of based on how often I found myself listening to the album.

1.Wormwitch - Heaven That Dwells Within

2.Children Of Bodom - Hexed

3.Exhumed - Horror

4.Babymetal - Metal Galaxy

5.Wormwood - Nattarvet

      View entire list ››