My definitive list would look as follows:
Hall of Fame:
1. SOILWORK - The Ride Majestic
(after the already great The Living Infinite, they manage to top it with probably their best offering to date, killer album from start to finish)
2. CRUCIAMENTUM - Charnel Passages
(totally living up to the promise of their previous releases and more! A dark and utterly crushing Death Metal masterpiece!)
3. MGŁA - Exercises in Futility
(a lot of buzz around this band, already with their previous album With Hearts Toward None, but after some attempts, the coin dropped for me with this new album. Very good Black Metal, cold, desperate, angry and musically very competent, great discovery!)
4. ARCTURUS - Arcturian
(great comeback album! Arcturus is bit hit or miss for me, loving their 1st and 3rd album, but hardly caring about their 2nd and particularly their 4th effort. This 5th album is however a sure hit! The whole band simply delivering a great performance in every way!)
Honourable mentions, good but not great:
5. TRIBULATION - The Children of the Night
(loving their killer debut, the follow-up was a bit of a disappointment. This new album is better than its predecessor, but still nowhere near the debut (though comparisson is somewhat futile, considering the change in style). Enjoyable album nonetheless!)
6. PARADISE LOST - The Plague Within
(was somewhat psyched about this and had good hopes after the previous 3 album that were all awesome, but after quite some listening I have to say it lacks the quality of its 3 predecessors)
7. KEEP OF KALESSIN - Epistemology
(loving Armada when it came out, the 2 follow-ups didn't do much for me, this album however, made me smile a bit again, especially the titletrack is really good)
8. MY DYING BRIDE - Feel the Misery
(it's amazing how this band, after all those years, still manages to nail the atmosphere of chilling sadness and utter despair. Not their best album, but solid at least)