CRIMSON

Don't like this band, but this is one of the most influential records of its genre. It was one of the first to blend death metal with progressive rock, and manage melodic death metal. The most noticeable fact is that the entire album is just the title track. This forty minute track goes from raw death metal to melodic sections with acoustic guitar. The vocals also go from growls to clean singing. This style of death metal influences bands like Opeth and most modern melodic death metal bands.

I respect this record for what it has done to its genre, and it's essential to death metal.