Best Metal Albums List

Even if you’ve never heard any of the most heralded entries on any “best metal albums” list you come across, the titles and bands on that list give a strong first impression of a very different kind of music. Master of Puppets. The Number of the Beast. Reign in Blood. Heck, even the three self-titled albums mentioned are the essence of metal: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin II, and Metallica (The Black Album). Dark, heavy, metal – plain and simple.

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Now, any one list is sure to bring its own bit of criticism, and some fans may think there are some serious snubs in this one list of top metal albums from one set of readers. Should Black Sabbath‘s Master of Reality be included? What about lesser-known heavy metal pioneers like Death and Mercyful Fate? Why no mention of Motorhead’s No Sleep ‘Till Hammersmith? What you’ll learn from reading other efforts to make a list of best heavy metal albums, some people just can’t be rocked hard enough or have enough deathly metal songs in their ears. Decide for yourself and, no matter what you pick, you’ll be a lifting some heavy metal.

Best Metal Albums

If you combine Metallica and Black Sabbath, you get over half of the top albums cited in this Rolling Stone reader’s poll of the top 10 heavy metal albums of all time. And, as luck would have it, you can catch both of these hard rock legends live this summer.

Black Sabbath Tickets

Metallica Tickets

Top Metal Albums

Number Band Album
1 Metallica Master of Puppets
2 Black Sabbath Paranoid
3 Black Sabbath Black Sabbath
4 Iron Maiden The Number of the Beast
5 Metallica …And Justice for All
6 Slayer Reign in Blood
7 Guns N Roses Appetite for Destruction
8 Metallica Metallica (The Black Album)
9 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II
10 Metallica Ride the Lightning

Best Heavy Metal Albums

Metallica Master of Puppets Live

Black Sabbath Paranoid Live in Paris