Metal Rankings and where I stand

Majestic as Fuck

So, before I start offering my opinions on specific albums and tracks with a genre so wide and diverse as metal, I think it truly is important to let you guys know what my preferences and biases are beforehand and then letting the hate and backlash for not liking a certain band, album or track. So before I get into anything deep here is a quick flyby of my top 5 favorite metal albums (not what I think is the best based on instrumental skill, influence, overall theme, etc). These are simply what I think is the best.

Couple things first, the subgenres I tend to lean towards most are Folk metal, Thrash, Doom, and Death. I do not dislike Black metal but it's not my cup of tea most of the time (seriously guys why have such shitty sound production ALL the time) though I do love me some Wolves in the Throne Room. Best show I've been to for metal, easily Rammstein ( SO MUCH FIRE!!!) Do I like anything other than metal? Yes don't be stupid, metal is my favorite but I'm never ashamed to admit that I will sing along to Lady Gaga while driving in my car, guilty pleasure aren't a thing, we all like what we like...don't hide from it. W
ith that being said here we go

#5: Slayer- Seasons of the Abyss: Plain and simple thrash metal. Ballsy, abrasive, aggressive, and all members of slayer are on point with every track. This 10 song onslaught holds a spot close to my heart and the opening track of War Ensemble is just plain too incredible for words.
Favorite track Dead Skin Mask,

#4: Mastodon- Blood Mountain: From the first time I listened through until now I am in love with the story of this album. A sole wanderer lost on the slopes of a mountain, weary weak and dehydrated, looking for a way to escape. Mastodon is a band that has a gift for making anything sound incredibly badass, this has been proven time and again through the album Crack the Skye and certain tracks from The Hunter (I don't say all because that it is most certainly the weakest album they have produced, that will be tackled later...but still making a song about BANGING IN GOD DAMN ZERO GRAV why hasn't this happen already?!)
Favorite track: The Wolf is Loose

#3 Meshuggah- ObZen: This album is nothing but pure, unadulterated aggression and I love every single fucking second of it. Meshuggah is a band I love thoroughly mostly due to the fact that they are one of the first bands I started listening to when I was getting into metal. At any time I could get away with it I would blast Chaosphere as loud as I could (this would be normally until my mom got home). But Obzen proved to me tat these guys were absolutely in the upper echelon of artists with their prowess and complexity while maintaining drive and aggression within the tracks.
Favorite track: Bleed (Fucking obviously)

#2 Megadeth- Rust in Piece: To me it's essentially the greatest hits collection for Mr. Mustaine all in one hit. Yes I know Peace sells and Countdown to Extinction but seriously...Every. Single. Track. Every one is a demonstration of how good these guys actually are. I cannot in good faith say that any other album they had is as good as this.  I couldn't love it any more if I tried.
Favorite Track: Holy Wars...The Punishment Due (Again...fucking obviously)

#1 Eluveitie- Slania: Yes...really. I mean it...stop looking at me like that... I LOVE FOLK METAL OKAY! Since I first listened to these guys in High school I seriously have fallen in love with everything they do and have done. The Celtic themes strike such the right chord with me and I find that Slania is the album I just keep coming back to and listening too over and over and over again. Every track hooks me and it never bores me at all. the extended use of various instruments and the flutes (god damnit I love those fucking flutes) just have me coming back to this music again ad again.
Favorite Track: Calling the Rain