RANKING CRITERIA :

- Originality
- Songwriting
- Performance

Neither the popularity among the fans nor the commercial success (or unsuccess) of the albums were taken into account in the selection.

1.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

2.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

4.Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

5.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

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1.Rush - Hold Your Fire

2.Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium

3.Candlemass - Nightfall

4.King Diamond - Abigail

5.Sepultura - Schizophrenia

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There really is nobody else like King Diamond in the metal world, and in my observation there also isn't much of a grey area regarding enjoyment of his work. You either love him or you can't stand his voice. Myself, while I understand the criticism, I'm very firmly in that first camp, and aside from Maiden there really isn't any other individual or band that has released as many of my favorite records.

1.King Diamond - Abigail

2.Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath

3.King Diamond - Conspiracy

4.Mercyful Fate - Melissa

5.King Diamond - Them

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1.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

2.In Flames - Clayman

3.Trivium - Ascendancy

4.King Diamond - Abigail

5.Dark Tranquillity - Damage Done

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My personal top-list, limited to one album per band. I only add albums that I own physical copies of.

1.Sigh - Imaginary Sonicscape

2.Pan.thy.monium - Khaooos & Kon-Fus-Ion

3.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

4.Edge Of Sanity - Crimson

5.Wintersun - Wintersun

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*** READ ME *** This list is about the greatest metal albums of all-time, from all sub-genres and all countries. You won't see bands like Deep Purple, Rush, BOC, Zeppelin, etc., nor will you see bands like Tool, Rage ATM, Melvins and Soundgarden. While I love many of those bands, my definition of metal does not include them.

1.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

2.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

3.Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

4.Death - Symbolic

5.Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath

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My take on the greatest albums ever... (No, early 70s Black Sabbath is NOT metal, and neither is Led Zeppelin.)

1.Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

2.Cradle Of Filth - Cruelty And The Beast

3.King Diamond - Abigail

4.Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

5.Slayer - Reign In Blood

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1.King Diamond - Abigail

2.Anthrax - Among The Living

3.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I

4.Testament - The Legacy

5.Dio - Dream Evil

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Moves up and down depending on mood, but top 25-30 usually the same in varying order

1.Sylosis - Conclusion Of An Age

2.Machine Head - The Blackening

3.Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory

4.Sylosis - Edge Of The Earth

5.In Flames - The Jester Race

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1.Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

2.Marillion - Brave

3.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

4.Amorphis - Tales From The Thousand Lakes

5.Insomnium - Across The Dark

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Overhauled as of May 10th, 2012! Top 5 favorite non-metal albums featured at the bottom.

This is a much improved (and more recently accurate) reworking of my previous favorite albums list, with a few albums added and a couple dropped entirely. They are in order of preference, though changes and the possibility of total equals are still in play. I've axed my undescriptive commentary but kept my genre and favorite song catgories.

1.Crimson Glory - Transcendence

2.Anubis Gate - The Detached

3.Artillery - By Inheritance

4.Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory

5.Metal Church - Hanging In The Balance

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These are probably my favorite cds. Although there are many many others I think this list defines my musical tastes pretty much.

1.Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath

2.Fates Warning - Awaken The Guardian

3.King Diamond - Abigail

4.Rush - 2112

5.Shadow Gallery - Carved In Stone

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1.Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction

2.King Diamond - Abigail

3.Testament - The Legacy

4.Anthrax - Among The Living

5.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I

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Not really sure about the order at all 1 album per band.

1.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

2.Opeth - Still Life

3.Flesh Of The Stars - Mercy

4.Pallbearer - Heartless

5.SubRosa - For This We Fought The Battle Of Ages

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Well. It took some time and now I am going to deliver this list to you guys. Many times I have thought about which are my favs, but I had never done it. I am placing one album per band. Otherwise, many Iron Maiden albums as well as "Defenders of the Faith" or "Walls of Jericho" might have been included as well.

1.Judas Priest - Painkiller

2.Blind Guardian - Nightfall In Middle-Earth

3.King Diamond - Abigail

4.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I

5.Warlock - True As Steel

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