What’s the Most Influential Metallica Album of All Time?

2024-08-02

Metallica. Metallica are obviously one of the greatest bands in heavy metal. So, what's the most influential Metallica album of all time?

What’s the most influential Metallica album of all time? – Author: Anne Erickson, Photo via Tim Saccenti

Metallica are obviously one of the greatest bands in heavy metal. So, what’s the most influential Metallica album of all time? No matter what you think of the band’s post-“Black Album” work, you really can’t argue with the fact that Metallica are one of the most influential bands in the world when it comes to heavy music.

What’s the Most Influential Metallica Album?

Metallica have a gigantic discography of music that’s stood the test of time and influenced countless metal bands to follow in their heavy footsteps. So, what’s the most influential Metallica album of all time?

If by influential you mean the best, then that honor could go to “Master of Puppets.” According to BestAlbumsEver.com, “Master of Puppets” is ranked the 107 greatest album of all time, with a total rank score of 13,032. Metallica as a band is ranked No. 40 in the overall artist rankings with a total rank score of 40,460.

Aside from the numbers, “Master of Puppets” is often called Metallica’s greatest album, because it showed the band’s growth and maturity as songwriters. At the time, it was the band’s third studio album. Songs such as “Battery” and “Damage, Inc.” showed Metallica’s ability to write great songs and flex their thrash metal muscles, too. The album captures a moment in time when the guys of Metallica were young and had stars in their eyes are were still hungry for success.

“Master of Puppets” also marked Metallica’s first album on a major label. To record the album, the band went to Denmark to work with producer Flemming Rasmussen for a second time.

There are so many song highlights on here. In my opinion, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” and “Battery” are two of the most legendary metal songs ever released. Of course, one of the album’s biggest moments is the song “Orion,” which was written by the late, great Cliff Burton. “Master of Puppets” was also Metallica’s final album with Burton.

Now, “Master of Puppets” might be Metallica’s greatest album, but I would argue that the band’s debut, “Kill ‘Em All,” is actually their most influential. The 1983 release helped pioneer the thrash metal genre and really sent the fast, loud sounds of thrash around the world. It’s raw, guttural and absolutely relentless. The album’s follow-up, “Ride the Lightning,” is also a contender, in my opinion. Released about a year after “Kill ‘Em All,” “Ride the Lightning” is my favorite Metallica album, offering the same raw force that’s on their debut but with a slightly more mature sound.

I really think you could say all three of these albums – “Master of Puppets,” “Master of Puppets” and “Kill ‘Em All” – are contenders for the title of the most influential Metallica album of all time. They each have their place in music history. “The Black Album” is also very significant in how it brought metal music to the mainstream, so there could be an argument for the importance of that record, too.  Now, I’m going to go listen to all three of these albums on repeat for the right of the day. Contact me at anne@audioinkradio.com with your thoughts, too.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Features, Metal, Music

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