Going to contribute some more.
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Still - Nine Inch Nails: When Nine Inch Nails decided to release a live album back in 2002, a bonus disc known as "Still" was packaged with special copies of it. You could also simply buy the live album or the "Still" disc by itself. For me, "Still" is one of my favorite releases by Nine Inch Nails because of how unconventional the recording was for Trent Reznor. Usually, the dude hammers things out carefully in a studio with a couple of other people, but he went with recording using the live lineup he had at the time. It's technically not an original album since it has reworked versions of old songs on it, and instrumental material that was tweaked (would have been used in the "One Hour Photo" score). Still, the track "And All That Could Have Been" is worth listening to the album alone. It's a pretty dark and sincere track that was recorded during one of Trent's lowest points in his life.
http://youtu.be/az1ewpORFm0
Seventeen Seconds - The Cure: Since I listed a much more known Cure album last time, I decided I would talk about one of my favorite earlier Cure albums. This is the first album that showed the band's darker side in full force. It's a very minimalist album and has fantastic pacing. It carries the same tone and theme without feeling that it drags on and on, which is something I feel a lot of darker albums across all genres end up doing. "Play for Today" "A Forest" and "Seventeen Seconds" are among my favorite Cure songs in their enormous discography.
http://youtu.be/LjcFBNqF-pA
The Wind the Trees and the Shadows of the Past - The Morningside: Yeah, those of you who don't like harsh vocals might not get into this, but those of you who wish metal slowed down a bit got slightly folkish might like it. Give "The Shadows of the Past" a listen to avoid the harsh vocals altogether. Great for rainy days when you are depressed! No, seriously, I kind of wish these guys did more things because this album (the the EP) was a great starting point.
http://youtu.be/uafFf7T-9wY
Assassins: Black Meddle - Nachtmystium: Although I have like past and future works of these guys immesnely, this is the only album of theirs that I feel knocks it out of the park. This album seriously has one of the most amazing endings to a metal album I have ever heard, simply because it does some unconventional things without seeming to be forceful or obvious about it. Lots of high energy moments that are balanced with atmospheric pieces.
ALBUM ARTWORK LINKED IS SLIGHTLY NSFWhttp://youtu.be/yQRoWFOVU_o (again, could not find a whole album link, but this link contains the excellent ending I was talking about)
http://youtu.be/z97QtpSPYT0 (a good earlier track that is more upbeat from same album)