This was by far the most difficult list to do. That's because all top releases are so good that any could be number one. 1996 probably best metal year ever imo.

1.Cradle Of Filth - Dusk... And Her Embrace

2.Theatre Of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear

3.Moonspell - Irreligious

4.Samael - Passage

5.Cradle Of Filth - V Empire

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Lots of genres, not repeating any Band (except Therion, but with 3 different styles). You cannot go wrong with this list, some nice Starts to any kind of Metal.
The list is sorted by year, but has not any particular order. Enjoy!

1.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

2.Atheist - Unquestionable Presence

3.Therion - Symphony Masses - Ho Drakon Ho Megas

4.Cynic - Focus

5.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

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1.Death - Human

2.Opeth - Still Life

3.At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul

4.Dismember - Like An Ever Flowing Stream

5.Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk

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1.X Japan - Dahlia

2.Therion - Theli

3.Amorphis - Elegy

4.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson

5.Summoning - Dol Guldur

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Ordered. One album per band. Assessed by quality of the track itself, impact as a conclusion and relevance to the rest of the album.

1.Deep Purple - Deep Purple

2.Windir - 1184

3.Slayer - Reign In Blood

4.!T.O.O.H.! - Order And Punishment (Řád A Trest)

5.Helloween - Walls Of Jericho

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I wanted to create my personal Top List for a long time and to be honest, I always considered it as some kind of cool Prog Metal, Avantgarde Metal mix. As you can see, it has become a bit more complicated. So finally, there are Unexpect and Pain Of Salvation next to Bands like Kamelot and Savatage. Also, some Non-Metal Bands got involved like Jeff Buckley and Oingo Boingo. But could you imagine how PoS would sound without Jeffs influence? Or what would have become of Mr. Bungle if it weren't for Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo?!

1.Pain Of Salvation - The Perfect Element, Part I

2.Kalisia - Cybion

3.Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera

4.Dog Fashion Disco - Adultery

5.Arcturus - The Sham Mirrors

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My Top Symphonic/Atmospheric/Female Fronted(whatever you wanna call it...) Albums of all time with its subgenres: gothic, power, folk, prog...
Still, The order may change from time to time....!!

1.Within Temptation - The Silent Force

2.Nightwish - Century Child

3.Epica - Consign To Oblivion

4.Therion - Vovin

5.Within Temptation - The Heart Of Everything

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1.Novembre - Wish I Could Dream It Again

2.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

3.Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness

4.Metallica - ...And Justice For All

5.Autumnal - Grey Universe

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1.Tool - Lateralus

2.Dream Theater - Awake

3.Queensrÿche - Rage For Order

4.The Tea Party - The Edges Of Twilight

5.Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale

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If you know other wonderful songs which are missing in this list, feel free to suggest them to me

1.Adagio - Underworld

2.Aerosmith - Aerosmith

3.After Forever - Prison Of Desire

4.After Forever - Decipher

5.After Forever - After Forever

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1.Novembre - Wish I Could Dream It Again

2.Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness

3.Metallica - ...And Justice For All

4.Novembre - Arte Novecento

5.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

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Pretty nice year, some absolutely outstanding albums.

1.Estatic Fear - Somnium Obmutum

2.Opeth - Morningrise

3.Cradle Of Filth - Dusk... And Her Embrace

4.In Flames - The Jester Race

5.Devil Doll - Dies Irae

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1.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

2.Metallica - Metallica

3.HammerFall - Legacy Of Kings

4.HammerFall - Crimson Thunder

5.Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth

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In no particular order. Will be expanding as I listen to more albums. Only one album per band, be sure to check the rest of the discography by yourself.

1.Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane

2.System Of A Down - System Of A Down

3.Ulver - Bergtatt - Et Eeventyr I 5 Capitler

4.Anacrusis - Manic Impressions

5.Death - Symbolic

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So, these are basically my favourite albums of all time, including non-metal/rock acts, compilations and live albums. Needless to say, I would need a couple of days to go through all of these.

1.Dream Theater - Awake

2.Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse

3.Riverside - Out Of Myself

4.Rotting Christ - Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers

5.Anathema - Alternative 4

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