The world of metal has thousands of albums, but a few stand out above all others. We took a list of the 50 best albums of all time, as put together by a big fan of the genre, and present it here together with the full album of each one, so you can hear them from start to finish. From classic heavy metal to the most extreme black metal, here you’ll find a bit of everything.
The list has albums from the 80s up to today, with bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Cradle of Filth and many others. Every album that follows is among the most loved and most important in the history of the genre.
1. Metallica – Master of Puppets (1986)
The ultimate thrash metal album. There is no metal fan who doesn’t know it.
2. Metallica – Ride the Lightning (1984)
Metallica’s second album, with «Fade to Black» and «For Whom the Bell Tolls».
3. Fear Factory – Demanufacture (1995)
The album that joined industrial with death metal and became a point of reference.
4. Cradle of Filth – Cruelty and the Beast (1998)
Cradle of Filth’s masterpiece, themed around Elizabeth Báthory.
5. Metallica – Metallica (Black Album) (1991)
The band’s most commercially successful album, with «Enter Sandman» and «Nothing Else Matters».
6. Dimmu Borgir – Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (1997)
The album that made symphonic black metal known to the wider public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQxBQKXbo4E
7. Sepultura – Arise (1991)
One of the finest thrash albums, with influences from Brazil.
8. Be’lakor – Of Breath and Bone (2012)
Melodic death metal from Australia, with a dark atmosphere.
9. Killswitch Engage – Alive or Just Breathing (2002)
The album that defined the sound of metalcore.
10. Devin Townsend Project – Deconstruction (2011)
A huge, strange and theatrical album from metal’s most creative man.
11. Iron Maiden – Fear of the Dark (1992)
With the title track that the whole crowd sings at concerts. We have a presentation here.
12. Amon Amarth – Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
The Vikings of metal at their best. Our own presentation.
13. Sepultura – Chaos A.D. (1993)
Slower and heavier than its predecessor, with «Refuse/Resist».
14. Cog – Sharing Space (2008)
Progressive rock from Australia, with social themes.
15. Allegiance – Destitution (1994)
Dark death metal from Australia, a favourite of those in the know.
16. Pantera – The Great Southern Trendkill (1996)
Pantera’s hardest album, with «Floods».
17. Faith No More – Angel Dust (1992)
Strange, experimental and ahead of its time.
18. Megadeth – Rust in Peace (1990)
Megadeth’s best album, with «Holy Wars» and «Hangar 18».
19. Alice in Chains – Dirt (1992)
Dark grunge with heavy riffs and stories about addiction.
20. Cradle of Filth – Vempire (1998)
An EP considered a classic, with their most aggressive sound.
21. In the Woods… – Pure (2016)
The Norwegian band’s return with avant-garde black metal.
22. Alice Cooper – Trash (1989)
Alice Cooper’s commercial album, with «Poison».
23. Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988)
Maiden’s concept album. Our presentation.
24. Be’lakor – Vessels (2016)
More melodic and more catchy than their previous album.
25. Mötley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood (1989)
Mötley Crüe’s best album, with the title track.
26. Pantera – Far Beyond Driven (1994)
The heaviest album that ever reached No1 in America.
27. Cradle of Filth – Dusk and Her Embrace (1996)
Gothic black metal with violins and dark poetry.
28. Dissection – Storm of the Light’s Bane (1995)
The classic of the Swedish scene, between black and death metal.
29. Nightwish – Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)
The album with the Wintersun singer and evolution as its theme.
30. Cog – The New Normal (2005)
Cog’s first big album, with «Real Life».
31. Strapping Young Lad – City (1997)
Devin Townsend’s most extreme album, aggressive and chaotic.
32. Faith No More – King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime (1995)
Varied and unpredictable, with «Digging the Grave».
33. Metallica – …And Justice for All (1988)
Complex and dark, with «One».
34. In the Woods… – Heart of the Ages (1995)
The album that joined black metal with avant-garde music.
35. Emperor – In the Nightside Eclipse (1994)
The foundation of symphonic black metal.
36. Pantera – Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
With «Walk» and «Mouth for War», the definition of groove metal.
37. Devin Townsend – Ziltoid the Omniscient (2007)
A comic, theatrical alien story in metal form.
38. Arch Enemy – Anthems of Rebellion (2003)
With Angela Gossow’s voice, more aggressive and more politicised.
39. An Abstract Illusion – Woe (2022)
Modern progressive death metal with many moods.
40. Amon Amarth – With Oden on Our Side (2006)
The Viking stories in heavier form.
41. Enslaved – In Times (2015)
The Norwegian band in a more progressive direction.
42. Sgàile – Ideals & Morality (2021)
Scottish black metal with an atmospheric character.
43. Evoking Winds – Your Rivers (2024)
A new wave of atmospheric black metal, fresh and melodic.
44. Eternal Storm – Come the Tide (2019)
Melodic death metal from Spain, with post-metal influences.
45. Enter Shikari – Take to the Skies (2007)
Metalcore with electronics and political messages.
46. Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction (1992)
More accessible than its predecessor, with «Symphony of Destruction».
47. Opeth – Ghost Reveries (2005)
The best point of their course, between heavy and clean.
48. Dimmu Borgir – Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (2001)
The album with an orchestra that made a big splash.
49. Emperor – Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk (1997)
Emperor’s most ambitious album.
50. Arch Enemy – Doomsday Machine (2005)
With «Nemesis», one of the band’s best known tracks.
A few words about the list
The list is the personal choice of a fan who has rated almost two thousand albums, so it is of course subjective. But most of the albums you see here are considered classics by most metal fans. If you want to learn more about the genres of metal, we also have a complete guide to all the sub-genres on our site.
