My Favorite 50 Albums!

2017 has been a weird and busy year, and it's only been 4 months. But holy shit, what 4 months. Not even gonna comment. Anyway, I've done my best to keep you updated through the last months, but my apparent coma was felt. I've decided to take an(other) official break until the mighty REF, when I'll magically resurrect and deliver every single band's albums before the festival begins.
Until then, enjoy this special "entering coma" post, with my top 50 albums in no particular order. Also, I tried to time this for an Easter release. Tonight, our lordie lord supposedly woke up from is grave, so it was only understandable I'd do the same.

1. Obituary - Slowly We Rot
This album is fucking unbelievable. 18 years later, Slowly We Rot is still one of the best Death Metal albums and an obvious choice for any metalhead. I don't think you need me to talk about riffs, but I think that I mustn't skip Tardy's vocals. They are so ruthless that the first time I heard this I was terrified. So terrified that I had to pause the album.
Best song: Slowly We Rot

Obituary - Slowly We Rot
Download Obituary - Slowly We Rot

2. Taine - Cealalta parte
I don't know what makes me love Cealalta parte (The Other Side) more than I love myself. Maybe it's the fact that this is an amazing album that is maybe better than some Death albums (the band, not the subgenre). Or maybe it helps that this album proudly screams to everyone that my homeland, Romania, can give birth to a band as good as Taine. For this, Andy's band will always be special to me. Release the new album, guys!
Best song: Ce esti tu?

Taine - Cealalta parte
Download Taine - Cealalta parte

3. Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls
I am well aware that The Book Of Souls has its haters, but that really is no concern of mine. Yes, maybe most of the songs are marathon-sized, but that just means more Maiden. What gets me almost every time with this album is the energy and passion I feel in every song.
Best song: The Red and the Black

Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls
Download Iron Maiden - The Book of Souls

4. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Sabbath needs no introduction. I'm not sure what makes me love this album so much, apart from the fact that, you know, it's the first one. All I know is that, after a through listen, it quickly dethroned Master Of Reality as my favourite Sabbath album.
Best song: Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Download Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

5. Morbid Angel - Blessed Are The Sick
Stuck in between "better" MA albums, Blessed is the underrated kid in the family, in my opinion. Altars Of Madness never got to me, and Covenant will always be second place to Blessed. Again, I don't know what it is: the riffs, the vocals, the everything. I think the everything. I like the slow burning MA better than the all-out brutal MA.
Best song: Blessed Are The Sick/Leading The Rats

Morbid Angel - Blessed Are The Sick
Download Morbid Angel - Blessed Are The Sick

6. Megadeth - Dystopia
I have no idea how Megadeth's Dystopia crept up the ranks and became my favorite record signed by the Thrash giants, but it did so without much of a problem. Every song has something to love, and the cherry on top is the downright genius instrumental "Conquer Or Die", which can fill even a corpse with energy. Definitely one of the best albums of last year.
Best song: Conquer Or Die

Megadeth - Dystopia
Download Megadeth - Dystopia

7. CodeRed - Dominions Of Our Deceitful Beliefs
Even if Dominions doesn't rise up to Cealalta parte's level, Cealalta parte is God tier, so there's no tragedy in Dominions getting the... Demigod tier. In my mind, CodeRed is a better band, but Taine's debut is a stroke of genius. Anyway, where Taine has progressive stuff, CodeRed have brutality and a very fun debut, which lends itself to listening again and again.
Best song: Symptoms of General Decay

CodeRed - Dominions Of Our Deceitful Beliefs
Download CodeRed - Dominions Of Our Deceitful Beliefs

8. Asphyx - Incoming Death
Doomy Death masters Asphyx gifted the world in 2016 with another masterpiece in their area of work, and again, they've done an amazing job. Even if every album I've heard from them is great, I just feel a special bond with Incoming Death (I wonder why... suicide jokes, always a win).
Best song: Division Brandenburg

Asphyx - Incoming Death

9. Deicide - Deicide
IS THIS BLASPHEMY OR WHAT? Deicide might just be one of the most hilariously satanic bands ever, along Slayer and other funny fanatics. Their debut is just a feel-good DM album that no matter how much time I've spent among actual satanists I still can not take seriously. Don't get dead by dawn, there's still a lot of shit left.
Best song: Dead By Dawn

Deicide - Deicide
Download Deicide - Deicide

10. Cannibal Corpse - Butchered at Birth
Disliked by many, the latest trend seems to be jumping at CC's throat for being repetitive, lacking in technical skill and just plain boring in many respects. While I'm not that good an expert,having listened only to the first three and last two albums in their catalog, I can agree that most of it starts to come together into one big song after a couple of spins. Except some fairy technical and extremely catchy moments on A Skeletal Domain, most of their albums are variations on the same trick. Anyway, I have a certain weakness towards Butchered At Birth, their second opus. It's severely underrated and going through all the songs was one of the experiences that further distanced me from BM and got me closer to DM.
Best song: Gutted

Cannibal Corpse - Butchered at Birth
Download Cannibal Corpse - Butchered at Birth

11. Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam
Oh yes, we got to the bigger ones. There are, like, 3 or more crazy brutal albums on this list, and this is one of them. I've noticed most of the albums on this list are newer releases than most would consider, since the "classic" albums of Suffocation are long gone. Anyway, there is something that makes me like newer albums more than old ones (just wait 'till we get to Overkill). Maybe it's the sound quality. Maybe it's the production, since no matter how revolutionary Breeding The Spawn was, it still sounds like it was recorded in a carton box, next to starving hobos and cocaine-addicted clowns (foreshadowing much?).
Best song: As Grace Descends

Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam
Download Suffocation - Pinnacle Of Bedlam

12. Motörhead - Bad Magic
Ah, Lemmy. You were such a legend, and I can hear the pitchforks and bricks flying through the window because I dared not pick one of your older albums over your last. Bad Magic makes me feel, deep down in the frozen domain called a heart, a general feeling of "I just don't don't give a fuck". I could get run over by a train - if Tell Me Who To Kill is playing, I'm happy to be there. Never before has any record brought so much nihilistic peace in my tiny retarded world like Bad Magic. Sadly, none of Motorhead's "classic" albums could accomplish that.
Best song: Fire Storm Hotel

Motörhead - Bad Magic
Download Motörhead - Bad Magic

13. Children of Bodom - Halo of Blood
Children Of Bodom have been for years like a pocket edition of a friend from grade school: you don't talk as often, but he's almost always a shoulder to cry on and you can go to him anytime, no matter how much's been. Oh, and he's also a bit fucked up in the head. This being said, I couldn't just give 7 spots to CoB albums I enjoy, that would have been just too much. I had to establish a trifecta of records: the catchy one, the technical one and the badass one. Then I threw them randomly around the top, just try to guess which is which. Halo is definitely the catchy one, with my favorite choruses of their entire discography, especially the In Flames ripoff/homage (both work) Scream For Silence.
Best song: All Twisted

Children of Bodom - Halo of Blood
Download Children of Bodom - Halo of Blood

14. Overkill - White Devil Armory
The Years Of Decay is alright, even if back in the day it put me off Overkill almost for good. Again, the fact that I like the newer albums over the old ones brings a certain feeling of guilt, which I find very confusing. Anyway, think about it: the production is better, the sound quality is better and Blitz's vocals are like fine wine, in my cellar and 12 years old getting better with age.
Best song: Bitter Pill

Overkill - White Devil Armory
Download Overkill - White Devil Armory

15. Sinister - Syncretism
Here we start with the newer shit. Sinister are well known here, even having 2 separate posts only for them. Anyway, their 2017 record is the one that elevated them (in my eyes) from another DM band to one of my favorites. I've already talked about Syncretism in my 2017 metal post, so I'll jump straight to #16.
Best song: Black Slithering Mass

Sinister - Syncretism

16. Master - An Epiphany Of Hate
Master is probably one of the most underappreciated DM bands ever, and I can't figure out why. Their debut came around just 3 years after Scream Bloody Gore and was just as ripping. Anyway, even if Master is such a great album, I feel like the band's identity is best compressed in their 2016 opus. Even I couldn't get into it straight away (see Epic Sunday - Second Edition), but after spending some time with Paul Speckmann's bands and vocals, I started loving An Epiphany Of Hate.
Best song: Just Be Yourself

Master - An Epiphany Of Hate

17. Immolation - Kingdom Of Conspiracy
This one from Immolation is a little early, but spoiler alert, this ain't the last time you'll meet them here. On 2013's KoC, Immolation show off their ability to play fast, brutal, almost technical Death. Even if most fans disliked this offering, maybe because it strayed from their usual sinister, slow-burning riffs and leads, I hold it close to my heart, not only because it's really good,but because it was my first Immolation album.
Best song: Keep The Silence

Immolation - Kingdom Of Conspiracy

18. Dethklok - The Dethalbum
Before we get into some serious modern Swedeath and horror-inspired BM, allow me to introduce you to probably the most fun MeloDeath album in my possession. In case you don't know, Dethklok are the fictional band from an Adult Swim cartoon, and what could have been a tasteless joke became an actual quality band, with catchy songs and good instrumentals. Also, watch the show and you will enjoy songs like Bloodtrocuted a million times more knowing the context.
Best song: Fansong

Dethklok - The Dethalbum

19. Sorcery - Garden Of Bones
I have already talked about this album and his brother (to be seen later here), both from Swedish Death giants Sorcery. There's nothing left to say: these were once on top of some kind of DM albums top, and it was mostly love at first listen. There are a lot of great songs here, and I'm conflicted when it comes to naming the better one out of the two. It's like picking your favorite kid.
Best song: The New Armageddon

Sorcery - Garden Of Bones

20. Carach Angren - Death Came Through a Phantom Ship
Carach Angren have many different faces. Their debut was... meh, WtCSF was heavy on the symphonic part, This is No Fairy Tale was a much more raw BM album with a story I could see Cannibal Corpse taking over, and Dance and Laugh Among the Rotten sounds like the Netherlands guys are already going in a new direction. Anyway, their second opus remains the most memorable for me, having the best riffs, story, vocals and overall experience. Anyway,keep in mind that I recommend all of their stuff.
Best song: Bloodstains On The Captain's Log

Carach Angren - Death Came Through a Phantom Ship

21. Death - Spiritual Healing
My love for Spiritual Healing is easy to explain. Not only is SH the misfit kid in Chuck's discography, but it also combines the brutal, OSDM feel of Leprosy and the progressiveness of later era albums. I'm more of a sucker for old shit, Leprosy being my second favorite of Chuck's brilliant shit, but his Progressive stuff is also tobe considered and taken as the reason for the evolution of the genre. When both these two are combined, you can see everything that made Chuck such a great musician.
Best song: Within The Mind

Death - Spiritual Healing

22. Akral Necrosis - Underlight
Being trapped in a club that's as big as the bathroom in your school with 50 sweaty,drunk and bulky metalheads and one of the best bands my country has ever produced could be taken as an experience that would get me to appreciate their music more. And that would surely be the case, had I not fallen in love with Underlight from the day it came out. I have no idea what brings this record so close to me. Maybe I'm just a dumb fanboy, but play Underlight to me any day and I'll headbang along.
Best song: Exhortatio ad Bellum

Akral Necrosis - Underlight

23. Amon Amarth - Jomsviking
This is what MeloDeath should be,in my eyes at least. Catchy and epic melodies, harsh vocals that aren't yet Barnes stuff (we'll get to him in a second, don't worry) and Iron Maiden-esque leads. With this sentence, I've already told most of what you need to know about Jomsviking. As long as you're not some elitist pussy that complains about how the band became more mainstream, we're good and you'll have a great time with this record.
Best song: On A Sea Of Blood

Amon Amarth - Jomsviking

24. Black Sabbath - The End
The dust settled as the last notes of the oldest giants shook the ground once more. The final note, the final chord, the final beat. Listening to The End was one of the most emotional and satisfying moments I've experienced while listening to music. For fellow nerds, it was similar to the end of Logan. The studio songs are very good, and the live stuff makes me sure that people still love Ozzy and his gang of wacky musicians. These people have brought so much in our lives, and I love both their beginning and end.
Best song: Cry All Night

Black Sabbath - The End

25. Convulse - World Without God
Convulse used to be a band of crazy Finnish fucks that released into the world one of the most extreme DM albums in '91. We got to see the softer side of the Finns last year, with Cycle Of Revenge (TO BE CONTINUED), and both their sides are brilliant. The bonus of World Without God is the corniest DM intro ever. Whenever I hear it, I instantly feel better.
Best song: False Religion

Convulse - World Without God
Download Convulse - World Without God

26. Napalm Death - Apex Predator - Easy Meat
Last summer I was considering Scum to be my favorite Grind album, but that album got old really fast. I gave ND more chances, getting through albums like Utopia Banished or Smear Campaign, but none stuck as well as their 2015 album, Apex Predator - yada yada. From the first song, a very atmospheric build-up to the Grind songs, I feel like this is one of the best records they have put out and definitely my favorite.
Best song: How the Years Condemn

Napalm Death - Apex Predator - Easy Meat

27. Overkill - Ironbound
I just couldn't have WDA on this list without its cousin, Ironbound. I love Overkill, but I love modern Overkill even more. I felt guilty not including the Thrash masters' 2009 masterpiece. The songs here and on WDA are the best soundtrack for when you want to feel like a badass. This is what I want to hear in the background of a bar fight or something like that. Quality shit, people.
Best song: The Head And Heart

Overkill - Ironbound

28. Obscura - Akróasis
Obscura are, for lack of a better word, geniuses. Omnivium might be their most popular album, but Akróasis is, again, my unpopular pick for my favorite album of theirs. The thing that sets this one apart from all the other new Prog/TechDeath albums is the creative guitar work. These might be the best, most engaging solos and leads I have ever heard. Fantastic stuff.
Best song: Perpetual Infinity

Obscura - Akróasis

29. Autopsy - Macabre Eternal
The guitar worked elevated Obscura's 4th record to legend level. The reason I'm bringing this up is this phenomenon can definitely be found on Autopsy's 2011 album. Chris fucking Reifert is such an amazing vocalist, and on this album he gets to show off his skill on the mic, delivering such a varied performance that some of the time I get confused about who's singing. You get around 8 different vocal styles in the span of only 1 hour.
Best song: Seeds Of The Doomed

Autopsy - Macabre Eternal

30. Dissection - Reinkaos
This could be the moment some of you close the page and forget about me (especially the KVLT blackers or people who know about Jon's life), but allow me to defend the third and final album by Swedish trio Dissection. At the time of its release, this received major backlash, with fans and critics hating it. The style change must be a part of it. But in 2014, a mini-me came across this new kind of music. Some shady satanists were discussing the prospect of Black metal being all satanic or not. I didn't give a fuck about this, I started going through it! Marduk and Gorgoroth kinda scared me shitless, but then a majestic riff started playing, as Jon of Dissection sang about Satan as the "God of Forbidden Light", as he put it. This, and only this kept me going and indirectly brought me here, now. Even if Jon has done some fucked up shit and chose to end his life right after this being released, I owe this man a large part of my evolution. Thanks, pal.
Best song: God Of Forbidden Light

Dissection - Reinkaos
Download Dissection - Reinkaos

31. Sorcery - Arrival At Six
Beyond the same brand of Swedeath I've already praised when talking about Garden Of Bones, Sorcery's 2013 comeback has some extra points thanks to the amazing cover art and the way my boys waste no time and get straight into the sweet stuff. I'm still more of a sucker for Garden,but this might be a bit better when judging it objectively. But fuck it, it's my list, are you here for objectivity or subjectivity?!
Best song: Arrival At Six

Sorcery - Arrival At Six

32. Sepultura - Schizophrenia
I've always liked Sepultura, ever since I used them to tell my friends about how wide the scene is spread. My interest dropped after listening to the classic albums: Beneath The Remains, Arise and Chaos A.D., but when I heard Schizophrenia I knew right away this would end up on some kind of "my favorite albums ever" list. I've already talked about Schizophrenia HERE, if you feel like listening to me praising this record.
Best song: From The Past Comes The Storms

Sepultura - Schizophrenia

33. Altar - The Last Warning
This is another very important album for the overall evolution. Altar were the first actually extreme metal band here in Romania. They went for a Deathy Thrash style, which was reminiscent of some kind of cavemen Sepultura. The English is bad, maybe, but who really cares? This record is so much fun. I've already got a more detailed review around here.
Best song: Forty Years Later

Altar - The Last Warning

34. Immolation - Dawn Of Possession
It was a competition between Atonement and Dawn Of Possession for the award of "sinister riffs from granddaddy Immolation", but in the end I had to go against my own tendencies (so many albums here are from 2016 or even 2017) and choose the old classic. Shit, it's definitely worth it. This album is a crazy journey from beginning to end.
Best song: After My Prayers

Immolation - Dawn Of Possession

35. Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
This and another little Swedish gem are the pinnacle of brutal, progressive music for me. Crimson also has the bonus of being created by one of the best musicians of the genre, Dan Swanö, and also it REALLY uses the one-song trick to its benefit. Mind-bending shit.
Best song: Crimson Part II (according to the Spotify order)

Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
Download Edge Of Sanity - Crimson

36. Convulse - Cycle Of Revenge
Hated by some, Convulse's follow-up to 2013's Evil Prevails was disliked for its melodic tendencies, but in my opinion it shows a band reinventing themselves in a majestic record. Again, some may not like the pairing of Rami Jämsä's insane bellow and Cycle Of Revenge's melodic instrumental, but I consider them a match made in Heaven.
Best song: Ever Flowing Stream

Convulse - Cycle Of Revenge
Download Convulse - Cycle Of Revenge

37. Gorguts - Considered Dead
Gorguts are veritable geniuses of the DM scene, with so much brilliant TechDeath material to show for it. From their discography I enjoy most the debut and 2016's Pleiades' Dust, but in the end I have to go with Considered Dead, since not only it packs more material than last year's EP, but I've known it for a longer time.
Best song: Disincarnated

Gorguts - Considered Dead

38. Obituary - Obituary
Yes, Obituary's latest made its way on this list, and without much of a problem. I rank my favorite albums by how memorable are to me, and Obituary is stuck to me just as Slowly We Rot is. Obituary has more variety than many of the band's previous albums. All in all this 2017 masterpiece is just as close to defining the Florida musicians as the "classic" albums.
Best song: Sentence Day

Obituary - Obituary

39. Goodbye To Gravity - Mantras Of War
Even if you're not considering the tragedy that has left my country in a long and painful grief, GTG would still hold up as the best metalcore band to hail from Romania. Their 2015 album is everything that, for me, should be a record belonging to this subgenre. Every song is a little masterpiece on its own, and the sheer quality of this album makes everything even sadder, if it's even possible.
Best song: Four Minutes Of Rage

Goodbye To Gravity - Mantras Of War

40. Children Of Bodom - Hatebreeder
Yeah, this is definitely the technical one. Also the most popular CoB album to date (at least by the people of culture), again, every song is great and different. And that's it. The best CoB album.
Best song: Downfall

Children Of Bodom - Hatebreeder

41. Carcass - Surgical Steel
This is an amazing album by an amazing band, which I'm happy to announce I'll be seeing this summer. When the classic metal intro 1985 ends, the record doesn't give you a break until you are pumped and ready to party. This is just what I'd play if I were to throw a metalhead party. It's possibly one of the most fun MeloDeath records.
Best song: 316L Grade Surgical Steel

Carcass - Surgical Steel

42. Gruesome - Dimensions of Horror
A lot of people have spoken against Gruesome, but what's the problem with some extra lite-Death? You may wonder, why would I like the newer and supposedly worse version of Scream Bloody Gore more than the classic? Well, because I feel like the shorter time it has works in its benefit. Don't get me wrong, Death's debut is legendary and a great album, but never really stuck to me. Anyway, Gruesome!
Best song: Dimensions of Horror

Gruesome - Dimensions of Horror

43. Megadeth - Rust In Peace
Overkill are the kings of badass Thrash, but Megadeth sing a different brand of this, with Dave Mustaine's genius playing skill and creativity. Rust In Peace is as classic an album as it gets, and rightfully so. With all the top-rated albums getting second-guessed by some, Rust In Peace's legacy was and never will be questioned. Anyway, I've still got someting up my sleeve...
Best song: Tornado Of Souls

Megadeth - Rust In Peace

44. Possessed - Seven Churches
Yup, definitely prefer this one to Scream Bloody Gore... do I even have to explain myself? Seven Churches is a masterpiece of early Death Metal, and thanks to this we have... 76% of this list! I hear news of a new Possessed album seemingly in the works, and I have nothing but respect for this band and their unholy, unholy creation.
Best song: The Exorcist

Possessed - Seven Churches

45. Children of Bodom - I Worship Chaos
The album closing our trifecta of CoB albums, the Finns' latest packs the biggest punch when it comes to badass songs. Even more than, say, Amon Amarth, I could go to battle listening to I Worship Chaos. And if I were to die, the slower and melancholic songs like All For Noting or Payer For The Afflicted would be there to comfort me in thy final moments.
Best song: Suicide Bomber

Children of Bodom - I Worship Chaos

46. Cryptopsy - None So Vile
Imagine a musical stroke, with Lord Satan himself narrating whatever you see while you're experiencing the tragic moments. Imagine the instruments of Hell tormenting you for the craziest 30 minutes in your life, in one of the most beloved TechDeath albums ever to come out. Buckle up.
Best song: Phobophile

Cryptopsy - None So Vile

47. Opeth - Morningrise
My fragile psyche was blown to smithereens when, after a short prelude, Morningrise's first song, Advent, brought on a sweet and addicting riff. And the magnificent experience didn't stop there, Åkerfeldt & Co keeping me engaged during the entire monstrous running time of 1 hour.
Best song: Black Rose Immortal

Opeth - Morningrise

48. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
Closing the Megadeth now, their '86 record is actually my favorite of their discography. It just is the most feel-good album I've heard from them until now and I doubt they'll ever top it. This is the definition of an underrated album.
Best song: Wake Up Dead

Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?

49. Six Feet Under - Torment
Uh, just how many of you have I just lost? Chris Barnes is a known punching bag of the metal community, and I admit his weed-driven, robot sounding growl is just not what it was. But Torment is just so groovy, so inviting in its hook lead songs, that I just can't help but have a great time. Sorry, guys, I just love Torment!
Best song: Skeleton

Six Feet Under - Torment

50. Death - Leprosy
Here we are, folks at home. The end of the line. Ironic, since Leprosy was the album that actually got me into Death metal and is responsible for 76% of this list. This is the album that best represents the brutal, old-school Death, and every song is a masterpiece on its own.
Best song: Born Dead

Death - Leprosy

Thanks for being patient with me, people. See you in summer.
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