Just Another All-Time Favorites List
It's been about three years since I've considered this list. Looking at the previous one, I've clearly stopped giving so much credence to the stepping stone albums. Ride the Lightning and Rust in Peace, for example, remain important to me, but they don't get much rotation these days. When I listen to them, I think about how good they are, not how much they mean to me. I'm in a retrospective place right now, and thinking back to the high school days and what my wife and I used to spin led to a lot of the changes here. |
| 20 |  | Nonpoint
To the Pain
My I told you so album. NP has settled into a pretty nice little pocket over the years, but IMO should have been bigger than godsmack or seether or any of those other butt-rock bands that never really had anything to speak of other than a couple catchy singles. One of the highest energy bands I've ever known. |
| 19 |  | Seal
Seal
If I have to tell you how much this rules, I feel sorry for you. But I will definitely tell you if you let me. |
| 18 |  | Sevendust
Animosity
Such an easygoing listen for riffs this bangin' |
| 17 |  | My Chemical Romance
Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
An album so good, a vocal performance so great, production so perfect that I could no longer write off an entire genre, no matter how badly I wanted to. |
| 16 |  | The Offspring
Smash
Maybe the single most important record on this list that isn't #1. Helped me open up and listen to different things. |
| 15 |  | Agalloch
Marrow of the Spirit
Fuckin' fight me. Their best work front-to-back. |
| 14 |  | Marilyn Manson
Mechanical Animals
#1 candidate to return to the top 10 at some point. |
| 13 |  | Boy Hits Car
Boy Hits Car
To date, my favorite summer album. Pure fun, unique frontman, killer riffs. |
| 12 |  | 10 Years
The Autumn Effect
Just atmospheric, alt metal majesty. The recipe is one of my favorites of the era, and Seasons to Cycle is in the pantheon of my favorite tracks of all time. |
| 11 |  | The Atlas Moth
An Ache for the Distance
I won't go so far as to say that this album saved my life, but it is certainly the soundtrack to a dark period and pulling myself out of it. |
| 10 |  | Lacuna Coil
Comalies
I've embraced the goth vibe a lot lately. This album is just nonstop bangers. |
| 9 |  | TesseracT
Altered State
Pure, tantalizing beauty. Some of the finest melodies on this list. |
| 8 |  | Killswitch Engage
Alive or Just Breathing
A pivotal album for me |
| 7 |  | Cloudkicker
Beacons
The most wondrous little sonic fireball, and one of the greatest explorations of djent in existence. |
| 6 |  | Thrice
Vheissu
I legitimately used to listen to this album on my discman outside waiting for classes to start, and then just not go to class because I'd rather sit there and enjoy this. |
| 5 |  | Candiria
What Doesn't Kill You...
Front-to-Back greatness. |
| 4 |  | Rosetta
The Galilean Satellites
The single most devastating sonic experience. |
| 3 |  | Iron Maiden
Brave New World
Has always been my fav Maiden, and it isn't particularly close. The band has like five 5's though. |
| 2 |  | Tool
Lateralus
Majesty, perfection, mystifying and thrilling. |
| 1 |  | Queensryche
Operation: Mindcrime
Always and forever and fucking untouchable |
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