10 Best Metal Albums of All Time

2022-12-23

Metallica

Metallica – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Tim Saccenti

Here are Audio Ink Radio’s top 10 greatest metal albums of all time

The idea of creating a list of the 10 best metal albums of all time is fairly preposterous. There are hundreds, even thousands, of incredible metal albums that have influenced the genre from its birth. But, the staff at Audio Ink Radio is attempting to whittle down that list to just 10 of the finest metal albums imaginable.

Metal got its early start in the late-1960s and early 1970s, with bands such as Led Zeppelin and Blue Cheer setting a dark, heavy blueprint for what was to come. Then, Black Sabbath were born. Sure, the guys don’t often like being branded as the band that started the heavy metal movement, but there’s no denying their influence in the genre. Black Sabbath are all that is heavy metal.

Read on for Audio Ink Radio’s definitive list of the top 10 best metal albums of all time, and get ready for a debate. Reach out to us with your picks on Facebook here.

10. Tool, “Lateralus” (2001)

We know what you’re thinking. Does Tool really qualify as heavy metal? Whether they are metal, hard rock or progressive, it’s obvious that Tool have led an entire heavy music movement with their epic, imaginative prog-metal songs. Maynard James Keenan and company remain one of the most influential bands in heavy music today. “Lateralus” remains one of their greatest albums, and we believe it’s one of the best in metal of all time.

9. Metallica, “Ride the Lightning” (1984)

This list could be filled with Metallica albums, but we’re picking a few choice ones to include. “Ride the Lightning” often goes under the radar, at least compared to “Master of Puppets” or “The Black Album.” Metallica recorded “Lightning” before the group even scored a major-label recording deal, so it’s pure, raw and uncompromised. It was also the blueprint of what Metallica were poised to become: one of the most legendary heavy metal bands of all time.

8. Pantera, “Vulgar Display of Power” (1992)

Pantera started out as a glam-rock band of sorts, but they matured quickly into a unique-sounding, groove-metal outfit. While the band broke out with their 1990 release “Cowboys from Hell,” they really catapulted to the top of metal with their follow-up, “Vulgar Display of Power.” You can’t beat the guitars on this record.

7. Black Sabbath, “Black Sabbath” (1970)

Heavy metal was born with Black Sabbath’s 1970 debut album. The group started as a blues-based band in 1968, but turned things much sludgier and heavier on their self-titled release. It was an novel sound, and it inspired so many bands and artists to follow. “Black Sabbath” truly inspired a movement, and that movement is still going strong.

6. Slayer, “Reign in Blood”

You can’t have a “best metal albums of all time” list and leave off the mighty Slayer. “Reign in Blood” served as the basis for speed metal, with songs such as “Angel of Death” clocking in at 210 beats per minute. How can they play that stuff? This album is pure splendor from start to finish, with Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman’s guitar riffs and creative soloing a pure joy to crank. It’s headbanging music, for certain.

5. Megadeth, “Peace Sells … but Who’s Buying?” (1986)

Dave Mustaine was let go from Metallica, but that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the biggest forces in thrash metal. Mustaine and company’s second LP, “Peace Sells … but Who’s Buying?” was the start of something huge for Megadeth. It was much more mature than Megadeth’s debut and cemented them as kingpins of thrash metal.

4. Judas Priest, “British Steel” (1980)

Rob Halford is one of the greatest voices in metal music, and he has been for decades. On “British Steel,” Halford flexes that voice of an angel with an aggressive vocal delivery, coupled with exciting, heavy metal riffing and melodies that were nothing like their British metal contemporaries. Judas Priest added melody to metal in a way that nobody had before, and that made them a very different kind of beast.

3. Iron Maiden, “The Number of the Beast” (1982)

Iron Maiden recorded their seminal “The Number of the Beast” record with famed producer Martin Birch. It marked their first album without vocalist Paul Di’Anno. Instead, a charismatic frontman called Bruce Dickinson was there to offer operatic pipes and imaginative story ideas. Long live British heavy metal.

2. Metallica, “Master of Puppets” (1986)

Metallica, of course, deserve to be on this list twice. Ask any Metallica fan to pick the band’s defining album, and chances are, they’ll mention “Master of Puppets.” The album is an opus. It features beautiful melodies and instrumentation, yet maintains the heavy, thrash appear of Metallica’s earlier work. It’s also the album that cemented Metallica as worldwide superstars.

1. Black Sabbath, “Paranoid” (1970)

This album made the list because without it, it’s possible none of these other records would have been made. Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” change the trajectory of music, much like Nirvana’s “Nevermind” did in the early 1990s, albeit not in as big of a popular music sense. “Paranoid” was simply the prototype for heavy metal, and for that, it’s No. 1.

Anne Erickson
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