1. Diamanda GalasThe Divine Punishment

For some reason my Baker’s Dozen is all stamens, no pistil, and I am regretful of not having more than one female pick, but then again Diamanda Galas is in a class of her own. The Masque Of The Red Death trilogy [three albums exploring prejudice and myth around HIV] is mesmerizing in so many ways and any of the three albums could just as easily make it to the list. Its divine brutality in many ways reminiscent of Current 93’s early records. This is a vile biblical monstrosity no Black Metal band will ever come near.