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.N.K.V.D. - Vlast

2.Naamah - Resensement

3.Nachtig - Nachtig

4.Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle, Part 1

5.Nader Sadek - In The Flesh

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1.Thou - You, Whom I Have Always Hated [Collaboration]

2.Deafheaven - New Bermuda

3.Panopticon - Autumn Eternal

4.Cloud Rat - Qliphoth

5.Ghost - Meliora

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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.Panopticon - Autumn Eternal

2.Elder - Lore

3.Nechochwen - Heart Of Akamon

4.Amorphis - Under The Red Cloud

5.Kontinuum - Kyrr

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My top albums of 2015.

1.Cattle Decapitation - The Anthropocene Extinction

2.Nile - What Should Not Be Unearthed

3.Sulphur Aeon - Gateway To The Antisphere

4.Cut Up - Forensic Nightmares

5.Nechochwen - Heart Of Akamon

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1.Arcturus - Arcturian

2.Corpo-Mente - Corpo-Mente

3.A Forest Of Stars - Beware The Sword You Cannot See

4.Baldrs Draumar - Aldgillissoan

5.Ragnaröek - Dornig

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1.Vallenfyre - The Last Of Our Kind

2.Deadworld - Deadworld

3.Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful

4.The Gentle Storm - The Diary

5.Napalm Death - Apex Predator - Easy Meat

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Due to new developments and time constraints, I have streamlined this back into one list. I have taken off anything that I did not care for, so just consider it a list of recommended listens. You can find full reviews on Metal Trenches (MT) in most cases. Also jumping on the artwork bandwagon:

1.Between The Buried And Me - Coma Ecliptic

2.Abyssal - Antikatastaseis

3.Death Karma - The History Of Death & Burial Rituals Part I

4.A Forest Of Stars - Beware The Sword You Cannot See

5.Leviathan - Scar Sighted

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This is a list of some of my favorite black metal albums, one per artist, semi-random order. Its not a list of what I consider to be the best black metal albums of all time, but the ones I like the most. I'll keep updating it as I keep discovering more of the genre.

1-7 - 10/10
8-17 9/10

1.The Meads Of Asphodel - The Murder Of Jesus The Jew

2.Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

3.A Forest Of Stars - A Shadowplay For Yesterdays

4.Nechochwen - Heart Of Akamon

5.Caladan Brood - Echoes Of Battle

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