Fave albums by country.

[Fire breath]

If you hate lists then look away now!

It's interesting to see which countries provide you with your best albums in a given year. Here are mine for the last four years' top 30 lists as I have them within easy access.

2010:
Sweden - 8
Germany - 7
USA - 2
UK - 2
Greece - 2
Denmark - 2
Japan - 2
Mixed - 1
Italy - 1
Canada - 1
Poland - 1
Slovakia - 1

Also for the previous 3 years I have:
2009:
Sweden - 10
USA - 7
Finland - 4
Germany - 3
Italy - 2
Australia - 1
France - 1
UK - 1
Mixed - 1

2008:
Sweden - 7
Germany - 5
USA - 5
UK - 4
Australia - 2
Denmark - 2
Japan - 1
Brazil - 1
Austria - 1
Greece - 1
Finland - 1

2007:
Germany - 7
Sweden - 6
USA - 6
Italy - 3
Norway - 2
Finland - 1
UK - 1
Mixed - 1
Denmark - 1
Japan - 1
Greece - 1

So that's 120 albums from the last 4 years giving a final table of:

Sweden - 31
Germany - 22
USA - 20
UK - 8
Finland - 6
Italy - 6
Denmark - 5
Greece - 4
Japan - 4
Australia - 3
Mixed - 3
Norway - 2
Slovakia - 1
Poland - 1
Brazil - 1
Canada - 1
Austria - 1
France - 1

Probably a predictable table for such an avid follower of the cheese such as myself. I must admit though that the Finnish quota is far too low. Even the UK beat Finland - not quite sure how but they did! Swedes are king though with the Germans a respectable second but I'm surprised the US were only 2 behind. Anyone else got time to play this game?

 

[hoodaman]

I don't have all such data compiled like you but I will say that it seems to me that after I was introduced to S.U.E., the rate at which I'm discovering kickass French metal bands has increased dramatically. S.U.E., Alkemyst, Venturia, Ghostfather, Shadyon (not really metal but still). These are all really good and I think I know what they all have in common that makes them so tasty.

Keyboards. And not just widdly wah keyboards either. Its a particularly french style of playing them with atmosphere and lush pads. Love it.

 

[Palabra de Dios]

I don't usually do top 10s or top 30s, but I will add this:

France has a fucking awesome metal scene. I don't think it's centralized in any given region, but France's metal is great.

 

[Orfanos]

Here is my top 30, so I will try the same, it looks interesting.

1. Accept - Blood of the Nations
2. Enforcer - Diamonds
3. Overkill - Ironbound
4. Grand Magus - Hammer of the North
5. Metal Inquisitor - Unconditional Absolution
6. Heathen - The Evolution of Chaos
7. Slough Feg - The Animal Spirits
8. Tank - War Machine
9. Arryan Path - Terra Incognita
10. Atlantean Kodex - The Golden Bough
11. Vega - Kiss of Life
12. Convixion - Convixion
13. Innerwish - No Turning Back
14. Skull Fist - Heavier Than Metal
15. Crimson Fire - Metal Is Back
16. Scorpions - Sting In the Tail
17. Treat - Coup De Grace
18. Orphaned Land - The Never Ending Way of ORwarriOR
19. Striker - Eyes In the Night
20. Hanker - Conspiracy Of Mass Extinction
21. White Wizzard - Over The Top
22. HEAT - Freedom Rock
23. Myrath - Desert Call
24. Skullview - Metalkill the World
25. Ereb Altor - The End
26. Sorrows Path - The Rough Path of Nihilism
27. Y&T - Facemelter
28. Dexter Ward - Antarctic Dreams
29. Zuul - Out of Time
30. Rage - Strings To A Web

So I have:

USA - 7
Germany - 5
Sweden - 5
Greece - 5
Canada - 3
UK - 2
Cyprus - 1
Israel - 1
Tunisia - 1

 

[Fire breath]

Orfanos - I like your list. It seems you are not scared to like AOR and be seen as wimpy. I like 15 albums from your list.

 

[Spheric Fred]

I don't have all such data compiled like you but I will say that it seems to me that after I was introduced to S.U.E., the rate at which I'm discovering kickass French metal bands has increased dramatically. S.U.E., Alkemyst, Venturia, Ghostfather, Shadyon (not really metal but still). These are all really good and I think I know what they all have in common that makes them so tasty.

Keyboards. And not just widdly wah keyboards either. Its a particularly french style of playing them with atmosphere and lush pads. Love it.

Thank you very much man. As the keyboard player of S.U.E and Ghostfather, I must admit I'm feeling honoured and proud as I'm reading your post!!!!!

Yes, the French progressive/melodic metal school offers nice combos. Not sure it's only due to a specific keyboard style, all musicians are really unique.
Anyway, thank you!

 

[Claus / Intromental]

Sweden - 31
Germany - 22
USA - 20
UK - 8
Finland - 6
Italy - 6
Denmark - 5
Greece - 4
Japan - 4
Australia - 3
Mixed - 3
Norway - 2
Slovakia - 1
Poland - 1
Brazil - 1
Canada - 1
Austria - 1
France - 1

Pretty impressive to see Denmark that high, considering it's the country with the fewest number of people on that list.