Vampyrique

I'd sooner say that St. Anger is worth a million listens than say that any one of Lars' juvenile doodles is worth a million dollars when painted.  

For you, divine goddess, I'd imagine it's nothing more than the usual nightly flight turbulence that you experience when you astrally project around the cosmos. 
 
However, in your case, I'd wager that it's the karmic result of all of those Christopher Reeve jokes you made as a child come back to haunt you. Or maybe you're a martyr meant to suffer for all of Cthulhu's sins.

Heart? Apparently a metal one, no less. 
Courage? Even if it be a cowardly kind.
Brain? He's off to see the wizard it would seem.
 

Coincidence? Oh those Craft(y) Fellow(s)... nuthin' but a G'thang.
 





 
And yet my lips are (hermetically) sealed...

Req, just how much blood is spent on abovesaid body guard?  
As you know, it isn't easy walking about at night; countless Renfields constantly accosting me, groveling at my feet; tabloid journalists with their flash photography; Van Hellsings 'round the corner leading stake-in-hand slayers... The predictability of mortal mundanity has left me feeling coffin-bound lately and a security detail seems the answer.   
 

Absolutely not. There's no room for humour in metal. Abbath frowns upon all.

Brave soul. Giving up sex and money altogether. 

Splendid idea. I'll tell you the story of my life. We could call it Interview With The Vampire.
Give it about 27 years and you'll remember. Or maybe It will remember in 27 years... 
 

Brave soul. Giving up sex and money altogether. 

I am still lovesick for Mina. I am still so lovesick for her.

Brave soul. Giving up sex and money altogether. 

Read freely and of your own will... and leave something of the happiness you bring.

interesting^
 
The solitary bird of night
Through the thick shades now wings his flight,
And quits this time-shook tower;
Where shelter'd from the blaze of day,
In philosophic gloom he lay,
Beneath his ivy bower.
Elizabeth Carter
 

Great list ^

This reminds me that @True Belief will be here in less than an hour and he still hasn't posted his list. tut tut. 
Nice list with many of my favourites appearing. Here are my comments on selected entries that intrigue me:
Dimmu Borgir so high surprises a bit, although I had them in my Honourable Mentions section.
Akercocke so high interests me as well and I need to give them another listen. They never hooked me first time around when they were 'big'. 
The Meads... is a huge surprise! I have the split they did with Mayhem and it's pretty good but very weird. Top 10 as well! I also have 'Exuming the Grave of Yeshua' and I think I played it twice and it's been on the shelf for the last fifteen years. I'll give it another spin. 
Never heard of Darkness in Blood but they sound suitably vampiric.
Very surprised to see you rate 'Ravishing Grimness' as the best Darkthrone album! I'll have to give that another listen as well - I think it was around that album that I finally lost interest in the band, so I won't have heard it since 2000 probably! It's certainly not in my collection. 
And Arcturus - great choice. I thought about including them in my Honourable Mentions but they just didn't have that added meaning for me that would have got them in there. Great band though. 

Brilliant

A couple of bands I've never even heard of, that's what I like about these lists, a nice list @Vampyrique

With some last minute letting of the veins.... This list is subject to change. Hack commentary included for reasons of amusement and abusement.
20. Carcass : The spirit of Carcass is found in Symphonies of Sickness and Necroticism. The other albums are good, but they are faceless cadavers next to these. These are words straight from the coroner's report.
19. Nile : Let the Eye of Horus guide you through ancient Egypt with unparalleled Ithyphallic Metal. In Their Darkened Shrines may be their pyramidal peak.
18. Morbid Angel : Morbid Angel occupy a unique place in the metal pantheon for many reasons. The band’s alpha-eccentric personalities alone make for an interesting enigma. I’m not sure I could single out a favourite album if I tried to, but I enjoy both eras of the band. Not so much the ensuing Insanus, but only Trey and David are that morbid, too extreme for mere punnery to encapsulate.     
17. Paradise Lost : Once lost was Paradise, but it hath since been regained. I have a difficult time picking a favourite here. Probably Gothic, but their debut haunts me equally.   
16. Emperor : Thus Spake the mighty Emperor! Even though equilibrium was lost later on, their first two are black metal epics.
15. Mayhem : The precise definition of mayhem is this band. Even Oxford agrees. Undoubtedly De Mysteriis dom. Sathanas is the definition of black metal.  
14. Arcturus : Avantguardians of the galaxy, astral travelers of the higher frequentseas. But only Garm is real.
13. Darkthrone : Forever hypnotic and trve. The quantity of quality albums is impressive, ravishing grimness unmatched by any other.   
12. Moonspell : Full moon madness indeed. You only need to examine their catalogue to get a sense of this. But Wolfheart, Irreligious, Memorial, and Extinct eclipse the others.  
11. Agalloch : Grey metal for a rainy day. Campfire companions. More than just a clay urn on the mantle, life itself.   
10. Darkness of Blood : Blood libations, dramatic adrenochromatic hallucinations, psychopompic incantations. Symphonies of the night bled to aztec vampire rite.  
9. The Meads of Asphodel : The ecstasy of suicide making love to open wounds! Unearth the Holy Grail that is Metatron and the Red Gleaming Serpent now.      
8. Akercocke : Immaculate, pure, devout! Satanically suited for occult occasion. No Hammer Horror Satanism here. This is the real deal, done fashionably Faustian. Here The Devil rides out.
7. King Diamond : Only King’s ghostly falsettos can reach the paranormal plane of existence and capture such atmospheres of haunting horror. The band’s phantom run from Fatal Portrait to The Eye is legendary, much like the King himself.
6. Burzum : From black melancholic metal mastery to transcendental Casio meditations, Varg is a Norse God and Burzum is your journey to the stars.
5. Satyricon : Magically medieval are their early masterworks. Rebel Extravaganza and Volcano are worthy and underrated albums, but lackluster are their later works. 
4. Dimmu Borgir : Sometimes a band’s most passionate followers are their very detractors. This is the band that The Church of Black Metal warned you about… yet secretly worship. Their run from For All Tid to Death Cult Armageddon is a peculiar one because the quality of output remained high despite the line-up changes and drastic evolution of sound. They’ve since stagnated, but that doesn’t tarnish their Luciferian legacy.
3. My Dying Bride : Whilst, stylistically, I prefer a Bride of death metal-infused doom and gloom as performed on the first two albums, I hardly notice on albums like The Angel and The Dark River or Like Gods of the Sun due to their excellence. The Dreadful Hours and Songs of Darkness are the best of the modern era.     
2. Cradle of Filth : Superior lyrics, attention to aesthetics, and a healthy bloodline from the crypt of Countess Bathory tracing masterpiece after masterpiece. Another victim of the The Black Metal Vatican. Yet the Filth whispers my name…again and again.
1. Theatres des Vampires : Mater Mater Inferorum! Metallum Vampirorum! Til the last drop of blood!  

With some last minute letting of the veins.... This list is subject to change. Hack commentary included for reasons of amusement and abusement.
20. Carcass : The spirit of Carcass is found in Symphonies of Sickness and Necroticism. The other albums are good, but they are faceless cadavers next to these. These are words straight from the coroner's report.
19. Nile : Let the Eye of Horus guide you through ancient Egypt with unparalleled Ithyphallic Metal. In Their Darkened Shrines may be their pyramidal peak.
18. Morbid Angel : Morbid Angel occupy a unique place in the metal pantheon for many reasons. The band’s alpha-eccentric personalities alone make for an interesting enigma. I’m not sure I could single out a favourite album if I tried to, but I enjoy both eras of the band. Not so much the ensuing Insanus, but only Trey and David are that morbid, too extreme for mere punnery to encapsulate.     
17. Paradise Lost : Once lost was Paradise, but it hath since been regained. I have a difficult time picking a favourite here. Probably Gothic, but their debut haunts me equally.   
16. Emperor : Thus Spake the mighty Emperor! Even though equilibrium was lost later on, their first two are black metal epics.
15. Mayhem : The precise definition of mayhem is this band. Even Oxford agrees. Undoubtedly De Mysteriis dom. Sathanas is the definition of black metal.  
14. Arcturus : Avantguardians of the galaxy, astral travelers of the higher frequentseas. But only Garm is real.
13. Darkthrone : Forever hypnotic and trve. The quantity of quality albums is impressive, ravishing grimness unmatched by any other.   
12. Moonspell : Full moon madness indeed. You only need to examine their catalogue to get a sense of this. But Wolfheart, Irreligious, Memorial, and Extinct eclipse the others.  
11. Agalloch : Grey metal for a rainy day. Campfire companions. More than just a clay urn on the mantle, life itself.   
10. Darkness of Blood : Blood libations, dramatic adrenochromatic hallucinations, psychopompic incantations. Symphonies of the night bled to aztec vampire rite.  
9. The Meads of Asphodel : The ecstasy of suicide making love to open wounds! Unearth the Holy Grail that is Metatron and the Red Gleaming Serpent now.      
8. Akercocke : Immaculate, pure, devout! Satanically suited for occult occasion. No Hammer Horror Satanism here. This is the real deal, done fashionably Faustian. Here The Devil rides out.
7. King Diamond : Only King’s ghostly falsettos can reach the paranormal plane of existence and capture such atmospheres of haunting horror. The band’s phantom run from Fatal Portrait to The Eye is legendary, much like the King himself.
6. Burzum : From black melancholic metal mastery to transcendental Casio meditations, Varg is a Norse God and Burzum is your journey to the stars.
5. Satyricon : Magically medieval are their early masterworks. Rebel Extravaganza and Volcano are worthy and underrated albums, but lackluster are their later works. 
4. Dimmu Borgir : Sometimes a band’s most passionate followers are their very detractors. This is the band that The Church of Black Metal warned you about… yet secretly worship. Their run from For All Tid to Death Cult Armageddon is a peculiar one because the quality of output remained high despite the line-up changes and drastic evolution of sound. They’ve since stagnated, but that doesn’t tarnish their Luciferian legacy.
3. My Dying Bride : Whilst, stylistically, I prefer a Bride of death metal-infused doom and gloom as performed on the first two albums, I hardly notice on albums like The Angel and The Dark River or Like Gods of the Sun due to their excellence. The Dreadful Hours and Songs of Darkness are the best of the modern era.     
2. Cradle of Filth : Superior lyrics, attention to aesthetics, and a healthy bloodline from the crypt of Countess Bathory tracing masterpiece after masterpiece. Another victim of the The Black Metal Vatican. Yet the Filth whispers my name…again and again.
1. Theatres des Vampires : Mater Mater Inferorum! Metallum Vampirorum! Til the last drop of blood!  

Almost done. Just need to rank them.

Eating isn't just about getting nutrients though. You need to think about the health of your whole body and its relation to diet, which includes thyroid health, hormones, metabolism, liver health, stress etc, regardless of whatever the makeup of your diet is. I'm not advocating a high-meat diet, but I think a good diet should include meat at least once or twice a day. Part of the reason why I think veganism is radical is because it is firstly a diet whose priority isn't health first, and it is typically tied into political movements. I understand the moral issue that vegans have but realize that you are emphasizing this over your own health. I think ethical issues are a factor in every industry (pesticides, contamination etc). 
The methods of how you consume foods is important. Whether you boil, steam or eat vegetables raw makes a difference health-wise, in terms of digestibility, nutrient availability, as well as exposure to toxic anti-nutrients. But consider researching the health problems commonly associated with foods that vegans typically consume because there are many with respect to lentils and beans, nuts and seeds, grains, veggies, soy etc. But there's pros and cons to every food group.
I can't say I've thought the food pyramid or was anything but an obvious attempt to get people to support eating foods from each major industry so I've never taken it seriously. I think it's always best to do your own research before trusting any organization who may simply have an agenda to push. There's propaganda on all sides. Regarding meat and carcinogens, I'm guessing it is the methods used to cure meat, or cook meat which can be an issue especially for those who routinely use the BBQ.
You can go vegan if you want, but I recommend you do your own research, and do more than watching a few videos from one side. I'm sure you'll get a temporary benefit in so far as a break from digesting meats and dairy, but you could also get this from occasional fasting and/or not over-eating via huge meals. But if you do go vegan, pay close attention to how your body is reacting otherwise you can ruin your health as so many have. 
 
 

I'm in the same boat, navigating the waters without a moral compass. I can't stay faithful to one book. Too many temptations. I hear the call of Cthulhu sounding from below or else above from somewhere on my bookshelf...  
 
I think you should consider both sides of the argument before you jump aboard a diet fueled by a somewhat radical ideology. You need to understand that a vegan's priorities are in this order: the health and well-being of other animals, followed by the health and well-being of you. It isn't uncommon for vegans to end up in the hospital or waste away due to well-known nutrient deficiencies, protein insufficiency, and numerous problems from eating a diet high in greens, grains, legumes and soy etc.  I don't think I need to going into any real detail because it's well documented. Unless you really value feeling better psychologically by consuming an inferior diet which can only be offset by incredibly meticulous meal and nutrition planning, you may find it to be a difficult struggle in the long term. 
Plus, unless you are growing all of your food in your own garden, I don't think you can really verify that animals aren't being harmed or that their habitats aren't being destroyed by mass agricultural/farming operations and methods.
Don't let vegans fool you into thinking that all protein is created equally. Powdered protein isn't as good as the real thing, nor is the amino acid profile of protein the same amongst all foods. Avoiding eggs (the highest quality protein) is just silly idealism, and beef gelatin is incredibly healthy due to its high content of glycine, proline, and alanine, which can actually compliment the comparatively less favourable amino acid profile of, say, a steak (if you only ever eat the same cuts of meat).

I'm usually ok with over-the-top imagery. Satanic mimes in pro-wrestling attire posing with medieval weaponry just happens to be my thing.
 
@Requiem Which CoF era imagery bothers you so much? I enjoy most of it, minus some of the later stuff. For example, when Dani looked like a glitter-goth Good Guy doll, like Chucky pimping Edward Scissorhand's clothing line. And that says a lot because I was totally fine with the short-lived blonde-wig era. 
I agree about Dimmu's best image being early 00s, but is Dimmu's recent image better or worse than when they let Stian run with his top-hated top hat & cape gimmick?
 

Hottest on the planet!? I'm not sure if you're brave or depraved.
But I'll just stick to my classic Dimmu Burger w/ cheese then, for it is only ever accompanied by the occasional Stormblast.

I remember reading reviews of the book, and countless people gave it one star due to some blatant racism and sexism. In other words, it was probably just a couple of racial epithets thrown about or perhaps the appearance of those problematic traditional gender roles, met a century later by a histrionic dose political correctness.
Ironically, I've read some reviews that regard Dracula as some sort of gay allegory. So, is Bram Stoker a villain or a hero?
 
I hope my 'unabridged' Bram Stoker anthology isn't censored. I feel inclined to check now.
Congratulations on picking up that cassette. However, you may need to print off a Nadsat glossary for reference or memorize the book's argot beforehand, otherwise you'll end up listening to A Clockwork Apple instead. The book is hilarious!