The issue for picking out "favorite album" is that I generally enjoy the artist I enjoy, with no real bias toward any of their albums. If I am picking favorites, it is usually favorite songs.
So perhaps not directly answering the question, my favorites are (mostly going by most/favorite songs on said album):
Sabaton (would probably lean toward War to End All War for a single album)
Funny story about two of those bands though. When I first learned of them, I got their nationalities completely, wildly wrong. Specifically, Smash Into Pieces and Starset.
When I first heard SIP, I could have sworn they were from the US. Probably Oregon or Washington just based on the accent of the lead singer. It wasnt until a few albums later that I learned that they were actually actually from Sweden. Although just like many bands from Europe that I listen to, they talked about how they like the US more and enjoy being here. To the point that in one of their newer songs, part of the chorus is "Show'em how we do it down South", even though they arent from the South.
For Starset on the other hand, I swore they were from the UK, because their lead singer sounded similar to some British singers I knew of. Then looking into the bands backstory, it turns out they were actually from Columbus, Ohio.
Not a single one of them came out less than 20 years ago, besides the Absu which only came out last winter. Generally reflective of my opinion of the shape of culture in general: everything older is better, but some lone heroes still plough the furrow.
I’m into all kinds of music but top albums right now would be Elvis Hits/complete Gospel, Hank Williams Sr, some Spanish Music, Funkadelic, Otis Redding, and classic rock compilations
I only really listen to post rock and occasionally put my foot out into certain artists/composers in specific genres like classical, industrial, etc., but I'll cover some of my lifetime favorites anyway.
Xenogears Original Soundtrack Revival Disc ~The First and the Last~
Post rock:
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F♯ A♯ ∞
Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence
Brambles - Charcoal
^ Pretty much a billion possible choices for post rock here, I don't even know most of the names as I randomly flip through discovery feeds on YT, etc. (with ad-blocker) while working. The genre is dense with outrageously good music.
There should technically be a million options for rock, but the usual names tend to get overplayed to death either on radio or when I was younger so I don't bother. And for certain bands like Pink Floyd, obviously I could play pretty much any of their albums today and immediately enjoy it...except The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon for stated reason.
BTW, I don't even know what fucking genre Talk Talk's later 3 albums (The Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden, and Laughing Stock) fall into nor which 1 I like the most...but it's definitely worth a listen.
Might seem strange at once, but it's really good IMO.
The issue for picking out "favorite album" is that I generally enjoy the artist I enjoy, with no real bias toward any of their albums. If I am picking favorites, it is usually favorite songs.
So perhaps not directly answering the question, my favorites are (mostly going by most/favorite songs on said album):
Sabaton (would probably lean toward War to End All War for a single album)
Powerwolf (Sacrament of Sin)
Brothers of Metal (Emblas Saga)
Iron Savior (Unification)
Evergrey (A Heartless Portrait)
Eclipse (Armageddonize)
Smash Into Pieces (Arcadia)
Antti Martikainen (Synthesia)
Beast In Black (Dark Connection)
Starset (Horizons)
George Strait (This man dont miss)
Based and powermetal pilled.
Funny story about two of those bands though. When I first learned of them, I got their nationalities completely, wildly wrong. Specifically, Smash Into Pieces and Starset.
When I first heard SIP, I could have sworn they were from the US. Probably Oregon or Washington just based on the accent of the lead singer. It wasnt until a few albums later that I learned that they were actually actually from Sweden. Although just like many bands from Europe that I listen to, they talked about how they like the US more and enjoy being here. To the point that in one of their newer songs, part of the chorus is "Show'em how we do it down South", even though they arent from the South.
For Starset on the other hand, I swore they were from the UK, because their lead singer sounded similar to some British singers I knew of. Then looking into the bands backstory, it turns out they were actually from Columbus, Ohio.
rush - power windows
Axis of Advance - Strike
Kvist - For Kunsten Maa Vii Evig Vike
Immortal - At the Heart of Winter
Abyssic Hate - Suicidal Emotions
Absu aka Proscriptor McGovern’s Apsû - self-titled
Not a single one of them came out less than 20 years ago, besides the Absu which only came out last winter. Generally reflective of my opinion of the shape of culture in general: everything older is better, but some lone heroes still plough the furrow.
Anyone who leads with Slint is a friend for life.
You speak Dutch? No? Good. You’ll enjoy this anyway. Boxhamsters - Prinz Albert
The Notwist - Torture Days
David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive
Dead Can Dance - The Serpents Egg
Kool Keith - Sex Style
Dictius te Necare - Bethlehem
…And Justice For All - Metallica
Abbey Road - The Beatles
Who’s Next - The Who
Toxicity - System of a Down
The Wall - Pink Floyd
The Jester Race - In Flames
Absolution - Muse
Rubber Soul - The Beatles
Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin
The Blackening - Machine Head
Yoshu Fukushu - Maximum the Hormone
Just some of the ones that find there way into rotation for me.
I’m into all kinds of music but top albums right now would be Elvis Hits/complete Gospel, Hank Williams Sr, some Spanish Music, Funkadelic, Otis Redding, and classic rock compilations
I only really listen to post rock and occasionally put my foot out into certain artists/composers in specific genres like classical, industrial, etc., but I'll cover some of my lifetime favorites anyway.
Classical:
Tango/Flamengo:
Rock:
Video Game:
Post rock:
^ Pretty much a billion possible choices for post rock here, I don't even know most of the names as I randomly flip through discovery feeds on YT, etc. (with ad-blocker) while working. The genre is dense with outrageously good music.
There should technically be a million options for rock, but the usual names tend to get overplayed to death either on radio or when I was younger so I don't bother. And for certain bands like Pink Floyd, obviously I could play pretty much any of their albums today and immediately enjoy it...except The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon for stated reason.
BTW, I don't even know what fucking genre Talk Talk's later 3 albums (The Colour of Spring, Spirit of Eden, and Laughing Stock) fall into nor which 1 I like the most...but it's definitely worth a listen.
Might seem strange at once, but it's really good IMO.
Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness
Biopshere - Substrata
Jesu - Jesu
Autechre - Tri Repetae
At the Gates - The Red in the Sky is Ours
Summoning - X (can't pick)
Voivod - X (can't pick)
Emperor - In the Nightside Eclipse
Demoncy - Enthroned is the Night
Demilich - Nespithe
Immolation - Close to a World Below
I like to listen to the Pat Metheny Trio albums from 2000.
Good taste sir