Fuzzy and far-reaching, metal was born out of roaring ’60s rock, when bands turned on their amps and spat out lyrics in a more glamourous way. The genre has since grown and evolved into different subgroups and sounds under the heavy metal brand. Thrash, groove, death, doom, glam and more – rock and metal fans now come in all forms, passionate about the bold, subversive bands that best represent the power of metal.
Metal embodies the raw, ultra-masculine side of rock and roll, with seminal bands creating a sound in the name of energy and fury, creating a way of life beyond the songs on stage. The albums that shaped the genre into the high-wattage constellation it is today required not only fanatical power and sheer instrumental mastery, but the ability to push the genre into uncharted territory. From landmark releases, ’80s thrash metal and glam metal pioneers, ’90s nu metal and extreme metal raves, all the way to modern breakout acts that continue to define metal, we asked fans what the best metal albums of all time are.
Read more: Metallica’s Every Album Ranked: Worst to Best
With enthusiasm, analysis and intensity, our readers made their choices without hesitation. Here are the top five fan picks, ranked accordingly.
5. black sabbath – Black Sabbath
black sabbath, British heavy metal band Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album in 1970 is widely considered to have started it all. Before Sabbath, there were plenty of rock bands that played hard: Led Zeppelin, Iron Butterfly, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Deep Purple, but the sound that Sabbath stumbled upon in the early ’70s was angrier and darker than anything before it, endorsing heavy metal as we know it today.Formed in ’68 as a blues band, the group was inspired by Jallow Horror movies, hoping to deliver the same unsettling experience through the sound of rock. Slow and haunting title track “Black Sabbath,” ominous and brooding, set the tone for their entire career and the genre that followed.
4. vulgar show of power – Panthera
cowboy from hell Pantera redefined Pantera as a shocking groove metal force that shed the curly wigs and glam outfits of the glam rock era.but vulgar show of power This is where they hit their stride – raw, crushing and insanely hostile – Pantera’s sound was aggressive, thick, post-hardcore power metal, with aggressive choruses and solos that would pave the way for alternative metal acts like Korn and Tool.
3. south of heaven – killer
Following the mass release reign bloodthe killer faces the daunting question of what to do next… reign blood To cement the band’s status as the most ferocious uptempo thrash band, Slayer knew they had to bring complexity and thoughtfulness to their next project. Their decision to slow everything down was a risky move for a band that had just built a devoted following in the thrash metal world.but south of heaven delivered a diverse and wicked record, experimenting with rhythm, harmony and songwriting. The ominous riffs, morbid hooks, and heart-pounding solos on tracks like “Angel of Death” and “Mandatory Sucidie” prove that Slayer is more than just speed and stamina.
2. puppet master – metal band
Not just a savage heavy metal record, puppet master was the cornerstone of the entire subculture — the moment when one of the biggest bands in the genre really found its voice. Metallica The melodic riffs are reintroduced on this record, so irresistibly catchy you have to sing along. Most notable is the album’s opener “Battery,” a nearly five-minute, energy-packed song widely considered the pinnacle of the thrash genre.
1. rust in peace – Megadeth
rust in peaceThe fourth studio album by thrash metal band Megadeth is an impeccable rhythmic masterpiece. No other band on Thrash’s first wave combined masterful songwriting with relentless instrumentation as creatively or expertly as Megadeth. rust in peace. Centered on politics, nuclear war, religion, UFOs, drug addiction and alcoholism, rust in peace Match turbulent themes with bloodthirsty songwriting and sheer instrumental madness.
