TRIVIUM's Matt Heafy (pictured) and Paolo Gregoletto have issued their top 10 albums of the decade. Their choices - and explanations why - are as follows:

Matt Heafy

MUSE - Absolution

"This record was one of the records in my lifetime that helped change the way I create, listen to, and hear music... Muse is a band who is a ton of musicians' favorite bands, and for damn good reason. Every record Muse puts out is them, but a development of their sound- sometimes it may be production, song-writing skill, instrumental ideas... Muse integrates classical music and modern music into something that is their own- Absolution had such an impact on Ascendancy’s writing; and is without a doubt, for me, one of the greatest records of my time."

IN FLAMES - Reroute To Remain

"In Flames is another one of my favorite bands of all time- pretty much every band that made this list is; and I would quote The Jester Race as being my favorite In Flames album- however, Reroute to Remain is another record that completely changed my writing style. I got into Reroute right when it came out (I believe that was in the early stages of writing the Blue Demo). The song structure, flip-flop of scream/sing, the melodies, the combo of their old style with modern heaviness, and slightly vintage thrash hooked me instantly. Songs like "Fugue" and "Requiem" are obvious students of Reroute. This record helped craft my song writing."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - Alive Or Just Breathing

"As much as METALLICA's Black Album is responsible for getting me into metal, Killswitch's AOJB ignited my inspiration for a new style of writing and creating music. Pretty much every current existing band in the metal scene worldwide is heavily influenced by this band, and this record... I’m talking production, song writing, drumming, bass playing, guitar playing, and most obviously... lyrically and vocally. I learned what the scream/sing trade off was from this record... before hearing Alive, Trivium was purely a screaming-based thrash band- I had been very much into Melodic Death Metal as well... but when I heard Alive and Reroute- I knew I had to add singing... I NEEDED to. Without this record, we'd probably not have 20-30 current metal bands right now... if not way, way more."

DEPECHE MODE - Sounds Of The Universe

"Depeche Mode is a band I got into really late in my life. Violator was the first record I had heard, probably about 3 or 4 years ago when I lived in Chicago. Violator is the definitive Depeche Mode album... but Sounds comes damn close for me. This record has a vibe from start to finish... something that grabs hold of you in the way a movie does. What's amazing to try (this is how I heard the record from start to finish first) read Alan Moore's V for Vendetta graphic novel (the movie was an atrocity- it only has the same title) whilst listening to Sounds- it fits perfectly. Sounds got me back into DM- I now know every DM record in and out."

COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida

"Coldplay is one of my favorite bands out there... Viva made all my top tens last year- so I’ll keep it short... it's a breath taking, epic effort by a band who constantly pushes the envelope of their own style."

MACHINE HEAD - Through The Ashes Of Empires

"MH was the first metal band I ever saw live in my life, they brought us on our 3rd tour ever, we co-headlined one of the biggest metal tours in the UK since Clash of The Titans together... we have a lot of incredible history with these dudes. Through The Ashes lyrically, musically, production-wise, and countless other ways influenced Trivium. Check out Pull Harder... so many new-school based Machine Head influenced riffs. This is another one of those records that, without it- I don't think we'd be the band we are today."

MUSE - The Resistance

"Breathtaking. That's all I’m saying."

Various Artists - The 50 Most Essential Pieces Of Classical Music

"I know it's not a record, or artist... but this is the "album" that got me into classical music. Since getting into this album about a year ago, I’ve been listening pretty much mostly to classical music. Just through listening to this first album, and getting into more classical music- I’ve noticed my guitar skills and writing and composition skills increase. I've always heard that infants listening to classical expands their brain capacity... it worked for me too. (either means it works for all humans... or... I’m an infant.)"

MARTYR - Warp Zone

"One of my favorite bands of all time. Martyr is an incredibly huge inspiration on my writing (a ton on Ascendancy, a bit on Ember, a bit on Crusade) it's a little more removed of an influence than obvious... but this band makes any of these new school Tech-death-core-whatever-the-fuck bands look like noobs. Martyr has their own sound and style... something that combines Metal, Thrash, Tech, Jazz, Death Metal, and so much more. The sound is something original and instantaneously recognizable. I highly recommend getting every record ever by this band. Daniel, the main song writer and guitarist has given me many guitar lessons and tips on music and composition- he's the lead guitar player in the Death Metal band that myself and Jason Suecof are in (Capharnaum - Fractured)."

TRIVIUM - Ascendancy

"Cocky to put your own album on a top ten? Perhaps... oh well. This record to me, is the definitive Trivium record. We have been able to explore our sound, style, and song writing on the record before and the records past alike; but this one still has this energy that is hard to refute or pin-point. Ascendancy is a record that literally changed my life.... before this record, we were a local band signed to a micro-German-label; we had done some tours, written some songs... but weren't moving mountains. Ascendancy helped catapult us first into the UK/Irish music world- allowing us several sold out headlining tours, a silver/ then gold record, and a single that had one of the only current metal bands ever to make it onto their mainstream radio.

All that aside, listening even to this date- we all feel and remember the energy from Ascendancy... it's something that reminds us of a turning point in our lives, something that helps set the stage for what we need to do as musicians."

Paolo Gregoletto

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - Alive or Just Breathing

"This is hands down one of the most influential albums on me. I think everyone that heard this album when it came out knew that this band was going to be the next big thing. You can tell that every note played and every lyric sung is from the heart, and I think that is why this album feels very raw and real. I love every KSE record since this one, but this one still resonates the most with me. I will always remember rocking this after school."

SOILWORK - Natural Born Chaos

"I didn't know anything about the whole Melodic Death Metal scene until I heard this album. This is still one of the only albums I can listen to from start to finish with no problem. I think this is an underrated album from an extremely underrated band."

LAMB OF GOD - As The Palaces Burn

"I was sold on LOG when I heard 11th Hour on Head Bangers Ball for the first time. When the middle section busts into that melodic thrash riff I just wanna kick someone in the dick. This is a mean fucking record, LOG rules, that's it."

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE - End Of Heartache

"Making a follow up to an amazing album is not an easy feat at all. KSE stepped up to the plate and hit up a home run with this album and easily became one of my favorite bands of all time. This album sounds incredible and has hooks for days."

MACHINE HEAD - Through The Ashes Of Empires

"This is such an amazing album, and I think that it gets a bit overlooked because how good The Blackening was and how well received it became. This band has been through so many ups and downs over the years and I feel like they are really letting it all out on this CD. There is so much emotion in each track on this record. I think the bonus track "Seasons Wither" is probably one of the best tunes Machine Head has written. Every time I hear 'Imperium' I want to start a circle pit!"

IRON MAIDEN - Brave New World

"What an awesome time to have got into Heavy Metal music, right when Iron Maiden got the classic line up back together and not only save metal but make an amazingly relevant album. There was definitely an excitement and energy on each track. 'Wickerman' and 'Blood Brothers' were the biggest highlights for me."

HATEBREED - Perseverance

"I knew nothing about hardcore music til I heard this album. I got this CD just before I saw them and Slayer for the first time when I was younger. I was hooked immediately and had my ears opened to a whole new level of heaviness. This is definitely a bench mark for both hardcore and metal records in my opinion."

MUSE - Absolution

"When I finally listened to this album a few years back, I remember thinking, "fuck what the hell took me so long to check this out." This is an amazing blend of stadium rock, classical music, Queen inspired melodies and vocal lines. This album has some amazing bass lines (yes that excites me.) I can't believe a three piece band can make music this massive sounding. I hope that MUSE becomes more of a house hold name on their latest record Uprising, they are one band that truly deserves it."

LADY GAGA - The Fame

"There are no pleasures that are guilty in my opinion, if you don't like that I like this, fuck you. This is one of the best pop records I have ever heard. The lyrics are so simple, catchy and at times bizarre, the music is beyond catchy and will get any party started. Sometimes you can't explain why you like something, but it just connects with you. This album did for some reason, and it's fun (remember when music was just fun?)"

A7X - Waking The Fallen

"This is a killer album! Is it metal, hardcore, punk? It's all that rolled into one pretty sweet CD with some Iron Maiden-esque harmonies and great vocals to boot. This was another album I listened to a good amount at the end of high school."