2005:
Then: Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution
Now: Kamelot - The Black Halo
Tough one but TBH probably edges out AOR (mostly because of Lochness
)
2006:
Then: Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
Now: Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
Hands fuckin down. Greatest album ever recorded.
Although Agalloch - Ashes Against the Grain and Mastodon - Blood Mountain are both amazing as well.
2007:
Then: Megadeth - United Abominations
Now: Kamelot - Ghost Opera
2007 was one of my favorite years though, Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao, Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon, Candlemass - KotGI, Darkthrone - FOAD, and Helloween - Gambling with the Devil were all great too.
2008:
Then: Ayreon - 01011001
Now: Ayreon - 01011001
Although honorable mentions go to Agalloch - The White, Avantasia - The Scarecrow, Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus, and Motorhead - Motorizer.
As far as 2009 goes I have been thoroughly dissapointed, I havn't really been crazy about any albums besides Crack the Skye. The Devil You Know was a big dissapointment for me. Bible Black is up there with the classic songs IMO but other than that the album is a bit on the average side. I just don't like how doomy a lot of the stuff (Breaking into Heaven, Atom & Evil, Follow the Tears) is. IMO Dio and doom don't mix. Almost sounds like Tony wrote some of the riffs for Ozzy or something.