9. Ahab - "The Coral Tombs"

 As usual there has been a fair splattering of Doom on this list and we now reach the final entry from that particularly productive genre. This is doom at its most contemplative and its most introspectively beautiful. This is an emotionally mature record that is sparing with its heaviness, utilising it only when narratively and musically relevant.

It is sumptuous in its decadent wonderfulness but there is still a sparsity to it that gives it a dry and arid feel. Nothing is overdone. It’s emotionally wrought but it doesn’t over-egg the pudding and there are plenty of points where it feels slight and unassuming. This is just from start to finish a masterclass in how you produce high-quality quality evocative and intelligent metal.