Holy fuck...

kek
>hard rock

The most extreme, the most powerful, the most metal and definitely the hardest! Dragonforce!
Wrongo. Scientists have proven it is literally impossible to frown through this.
youtube.com/watch?v=rWDKIhDSpkg
You might like early Iron Maiden. People often comment on Dianno's vocals being "more punk sounding" than Dickinson's.
youtube.com/watch?v=wXlhsrIzmpo
I prefer the super adventurous /"epic" sound that they're most known for, but plenty like the older stuff the best. Regardless, I'd put them as the second most important metal band influence-wise, after black sabbath.
youtube.com/watch?v=WAmuo-ZXWfM
Death metal is a better place to look that black metal if you want technicality, riffs, and high energy.
This album really knocked my head off when I first heard it.
youtube.com/watch?v=-wZoFQ6Hj_o

Goat lead guitar from friedman

Despite several phoned-in albums over the years, Dave has a great melodic sensibility and is a great songwriter when he wants to be.

Listening to Phantom of the Opera right now. This is pretty great, gonna listen to rest of their first album tmrow. Thanks for the recs user

I might've primed you to be disappointed since Phantom's the best song on the album, but I hope you like it. The S/T and Killers are their first two, and they're the ones with Dianno.

>hard rock
Nigga, this is thrash at its absolute finest.

This is the greatest album in the genre, Mustaine has never written songs as good before or since, and this is Friedman at his absolute best.
Everything went right on this one, and no matter what people say, this is better than anything Metallica has ever done.

>hating on metal in a metal thread
>production being a major factor in metal development

Jane Doe is a great album.

Check dis shit out:
At the Gates - Slaughter of the Soul
Children of Bodom - Follow the Reaper
Funeral Chic - Hatred Swarm
Melechesh - Sphynx
Archgoat - Angelcunt: Tales of Desecration

>hard rock
>le cringe
also headbangers are probably the least "cringe" of any metal subculture. they're sincere and unpretentious. they don't give a shit if you don't like the shirt they're wearing.