I have a feeling that if enough people clamored for it, we could convince those mean, old swindler record labels to release a digital release with the vinyl-style dynamic range mastering. CDs are more than capable of blowing vinyl away in that regard, let alone high-res PCM and DSD formats.

Lol. It is funny that even with metal, vinyl may be SUBSTANTIALLY more dynamic. See https://dr.loudness-war.info/?artist=Mastodon&album=Crack+the+skye for an example with Mastodon. There are some albums that have obvious differences even on my modest setup that aren’t on the website yet. Crowbar, Anciients, Coliseum, Clutch, The Company Band, Soundgarden, Fugazi, Pantera, Nile, Red Sparowes, et al have at least dynamic range better on vinyl…sometimes.

Sometimes, I wish that I could just take it with me on my DAP, but records sometimes win it.

CDs and records. You want to get lost a while down a rabbit hole, research the dynamic range ratings of various releases of whatever you feel like scoping at https://dr.loudness-war.info/ . Vinyl often takes a W for best dynamic range available for modern albums (ironic, I know, given inherent properties).

The first Anciients album - Heart of Oak - sounds absolutely killer on vinyl. Digital versions have far less dynamics. Same with Baroness’s Red and Mastodon’s Crack the Skye and The Hunter.

Digitally, I love SBTRKT’s self-titled.