Audiophile metal albums (Part 2). Discover great metal albums in 2025!
In Part 1, we explored ten albums that combine metal’s intensity with good production. Now, in Part 2 of “Audiophile Metal,” we continue to discover another ten records that not only push musical boundaries but also stand as masterclasses in heavy metal engineering, mixing, and mastering.
1. Leprous – “Malina” (2017)
Producer: David Castillo & Leprous
Studio: Ghostward Studios, Sweden
Dynamic Range: DR9
Leprous has always walked the tightrope between progressive rock and metal, and “Malina” offers some of their most beautiful and finely produced work. The album leans more toward clean vocals and ambient layering, allowing each instrument to breathe and cut in the mix. Baard Kolstad’s drumming is particularly noteworthy on this record —his crisp yet nuanced playing is recorded with precision, while Einar Solberg’s vocal performance is captured with it’s full emotional expression.
Track to Test Your System: “Mirage” – a good balance of complex rhythms and detailed ambient landscapes.
2. Alcest – “Kodama” (2016)
Producer: Neige & Benoît Roux
Studio: Drudenhaus Studio, France
Dynamic Range: DR9
A mix of the post-black metal and shoegaze fusion, “Kodama” brings in the Japanese folklore and nature motifs, reflected in a lush, dreamlike soundscapes. The production has great guitar layering, ethereal reverb, and bursts of raw black metal energy—all held together in an immersive mix. There is a good balance between the atmosphere and the aggression, and thanks to the dynamic range, these contrasts are sonically compelling rather than overwhelming.
Track to Test Your System: “Eclosion” – great shifts from clean ambiance to heavy distortion with stunning dynamic space.
3. Katatonia – “The Fall of Hearts” (2016)
Producer: Anders Nyström & Jonas Renkse
Studio: Stockholm, Sweden
Dynamic Range: DR10
Katatonia’s evolution from doom roots to melancholic metal finds a mature expression on “The Fall of Hearts.” The album is full of detailed layering—clean arpeggios, warm low-end, ambient textures—and a refined sense of space. The drums sound crisp and full-bodied, while Jonas Renkse’s vocals remain intimate and introspective. This is a moody album that uses its musical textures and dynamics to full emotional effect.
Track to Test Your System: “Shifts” – haunting, minimal, and rich music track with a great level of sonic detail.
4. TesseracT – “Polaris” (2015)
Producer: Acle Kahney
Studio: 4D Sounds, UK
Dynamic Range: DR8
“Polaris” is a blend of djent-style guitar rhythms and ambient textures, captured in a remarkably clean and spacious mix. The guitars are tight and percussive without being sterile, and the bass is punchy yet well-controlled. Daniel Tompkins’ vocals float above the dense level of instruments and every shift in tempo is highlighted with surgical clarity. The overall presentation is immersive, and while to my taste the record is slightly overproduced, the mix is perfect for revealing subtle details on a good sound system.
Track to Test Your System: “Survival” – from quiet ambient landscapes to in-your-face guitar dynamics and refined transitions.
5. Soen – “Lykaia” (2017)
Producer: Marcus Jidell
Studio: Ghost Ward Studios
Dynamic Range: DR9
Soen’s “Lykaia” is a lush, organic-sounding album that favors analog warmth over digital polish. The guitar tones are organic, the drums resonate with natural room tone, and Joel Ekelöf’s emotional vocal lines are given a soft, intimate space in the mix. The album’s pacing allows the music to breathe and slowly unfold, making it especially well-suited record for immersive listening sessions.
Track to Test Your System: “Lucidity” – a track with a slow build that rewards detailed listening.
6. Mgła – “Age of Excuse” (2019)
Producer: M.
Studio: No Solace Studio, Poland
Dynamic Range: DR9
Mgła’s “Age of Excuse” is a masterclass in modern black metal production. The album is punchy, sharp and atmospheric, yet without sacrificing clarity. The drums are snappy and a bit mechanical, but they drive the relentless guitar riffs with militant force. Despite the wall-of-sound approach, the production maintains articulation and space, making it surprisingly audiophile-friendly within the genre, that traditionally favors lo-fi aesthetic.
Track to Test Your System: “Age of Excuse II” – ferocious drumming with layers of complicated guitar interplay.
7. Haken – “Affinity” (2016)
Producer: Haken & Jens Bogren
Studio: Fascination Street Studios, Sweden
Dynamic Range: DR9
To me “Affinity” is a mix of retro ’80s synth nostalgia and complex modern metal. Jens Bogren’s mix ensures each synth patch, bass line, and guitar part finds its place. The production is clean and it brings out the album’s sophisticated polyrhythmic parts and layered harmonies, and it sounds really transparent and lively on a good sound system.
Track to Test Your System: “1985” – it’s packed with punchy drums, rich synth textures and well-designed sound landscapes.
8. Green Carnation – “Leaves of Yesteryear” (2020)
Producer: Green Carnation & Endre Kirkesola
Studio: Dub Studio, Norway
Dynamic Range: DR10
“Leaves of Yesteryear” sounds expansive and refined and is indeed a majestic return for the Norwegian metal band after a long hiatus. The album has a strong doom and classic rock influences, which are captured in a clean and dynamic production. Guitars bite with power and clarity, the drums sound deep and natural, and Kjetil Nordhus’ vocals sit warmly in the center of the soundstage.
Track to Test Your System: “My Dark Reflections of Life and Death” – an epic track that has both high-fidelity nuances and power.
9. Cynic – “Traced in Air” (2008)
Producer: Paul Masvidal & Warren Riker
Studio: Bomb Shelter Studios, Los Angeles
Dynamic Range: DR10
“Traced in Air” in my opinion is a progressive death metal classic, which is both technically breathtaking and sonically refined. The mix has a rare level of clarity given the album’s complexity, with Paul Masvidal’s processed vocals gliding above the powerful guitar lines and precise drumming. The dynamic range breathes life into each section, allowing this dense yet melodic masterpiece to sound very natural on high-end systems.
Track to Test Your System: “Integral Birth” – a great balanced between virtuosity and clarity.
10. Agalloch – “Ashes Against the Grain” (2006)
Producer: Agalloch & John Haughm
Studio: The Lodge, Portland
Dynamic Range: DR10
Atmospheric and expansive, this post-black metal gem brings in vast and emotional sonic landscapes. The production feels a bit stark but this is intentional as the natural reverb and ambiance of the recording plays a central role here. Guitars wash over the mix like waves, while keyboard parts and field recordings add rich layers of texture. This album is a deeply immersive experience, and is best suited for uninterrupted, focused listening.
Track to Test Your System: “Limbs” – it showcases great acoustic and electric parts dynamics, coupled with ambient layering.
Final Thoughts
In the Part 2 I focused more on atmospheric, technical, and experimental recordings while maintaining a focus on high production value and dynamics. Each of these albums proves that extreme music can be refined, immersive, and even beautiful when engineered with the good sound system in mind. Stay tuned for Part 3 as we continue to dig deeper into heavy music’s most sonically rewarding corners.
—Alexander
