At The Gates - Slaughter of the Soul This album is unreal. It has arguably influenced nearly every melodic metal band for the last two decades. The "pedal point" riffs and neo-classical style of soloing makes At The Gates' "Slaughter of the Soul" one of my biggest influences.

Darkest Hour - Deliver Us Darkest Hour is easily one of my favorite bands. The guitar work of both Kris Norris and Mike Schleibaum is unmatched. This album has shaped how I think of song structure, riffs, and especially soloing. The production, done by the legenedary Devin Townsend, perfectly showcases the rhythmic precision and soaring leads of the bands' guitar players. If you haven't jammed this gem front-to-back, you've never lived!

August Burns Red - Messengers August Burns Red is one insane band. Their tempo changes, crushing breakdowns, song structure, and complex riffs on "Messengers" paved the way for many metalcore bands today. Though this landmark album has influenced a plethora of modern metal bands, it still stands out as one of the most memorable.