Metal music is not just a genre. It’s a way of life for some, as well as a revolutionary and powerful medium for raw emotion. Whether it’s the headbangers or the musicians who bring forth the energy of this epic genre, there’s no doubt metal has made an impact on the culture of music. So whether you’re new to the genre or a lifelong metal fan this article will be going through some of the greatest and most impactful metal albums of all time.

1. Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Paranoid by Black Sabbath is an absolute classic in the world of old-school metal. It stands at number one on our list because it has had such a huge impact on the genre. Their most popular tracks include “War Pigs” and “Iron Man”, which both showcase the band’s mastery of making soundscapes that instil a sense of all-consuming dread. While many fans of the band acknowledge Paranoid as the starting point for the metal sounds, its impact will forever live on through the metal genre.

Not only did Paranoid sell over 4 million copies, but it also marked a significant shift toward darker themes and more muscular sounds that countless bands after them would emulate. It’s a hallmark in metal, a hallmark in rock, and far more than an album. It represented the shift of an entire genre to something deeper.

2. Master of Puppets – Metallica

You can’t really make a list of the best metal albums without including the classic Metallica record Master of Puppers. The album came out in 1986 and left a blaze of glory. The record is a lesson in thrash metal which is best described as explosive, dynamic and non-stop. The album’s title track and such songs as “Battery” and “Disposable Heroes” lay bare the band’s technical skill and the sophisticated architecture of their songwriting.

Its sheer influence cannot be overstated. The impact of the album was so huge that it was the first metal record to be added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry as a sign of its cultural significance, which was unheard of for a band of its kind! It also pushed the envelope in terms of what metal could do and what it could be and has influenced so many musicians and bands since.

3. Number of the Beast – Iron Maiden

Released in 1982, The Number of the Beast is the triumph of traditional metal, with vocalist Bruce Dickinson taking the music to remarkable heights with his screaming vocals, and bassist Steve Harris offers up-in-your-face lines that define not only the songs but the entire album’s structures. The Number of the Beast is as much a tour de force in storytelling as it is in sound.

When its first bars are sounded, Dickinson plays the role, to some extent, of an old-fashioned frontman in the classic heavy metal style. The drummer Nicko McBrain lays down some of the most energetic classic heavy metal drumming imaginable with his signature ride bell sound. This entire album is a force to be reckoned with and should be on the list of any true metal fan’s favourite tracks.

4. Reign in Blood – Slayer

Slayer’s Reign in Blood, released in 1986, is an absolute attack on the senses. With a runtime of almost 30 minutes, it has a blistering, full-on speed and aggression assault. Tracks like “Angel of Death” and “Raining Blood” are intense, fast, and super technical that, giving us the signature moves of the thrash metal most of us know and love. 

The album is held in such high esteem that it’s next to impossible to find a metal list (of either albums or band names) that’s worth its salt without Reign in Blood being featured prominently somewhere on it. If you’re into the darker, heavier and thrashier side of metal, then this album is not one to miss, that’s for sure!

5. Rust in Peace – Megadeth

Released in 1990, Rust in Peace is a testament to Dave Mustaine’s near-genius guitar technique, layout of brilliant songs and the band’s sheer audacity. Classic tracks such as “Hangar 18” and “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” are filled with enough jaw-dropping moments to leave even the most jaded headbanger dizzy waiting for more.

Despite Megadeth’s precision at almost every turn, this album is not about the band showing off or bashing fans over the head with even more relentless music than the previous album. Rust in Peace is the metal album that tells the smartest story with the smartest plot twists and in the most thrilling way possible.

6. Cowboys from Hell – Pantera

Pantera’s Cowboys from Hell was an album that brought groove metal to the masses. It was a classic album that offered an exhilarating and energetic experience for metal fans with its heavy riffs and the cut-through vocals of Phil Anselmo. The two main singles of the album were “Cemetery Gates” and the title track, “Cowboys from Hell,” which both became heavy metal anthems and became significant in influencing the new direction of headbangers moving forward.

While the band has suffered some controversy in recent years due to their political views, their traditional influence will always remain. Because Pantera’s power and precision in delivering this potent music had and has an undeniable influence on many subsequent bands, Cowboys from Hell still stands as a metal milestone.

7. British Steel – Judas Priest

British Steel is a metal masterpiece that firmly entrenched Judas Priest in the public consciousness as an icon of the genre. Released in 1980 with songs like “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight,” the album positively drips with catchy hooks and anthemic choruses. 

More than just a glorious assembly of high-quality metal songs, British Steel is also a milestone in making metal palatable and marketable to a mainstream audience. When it came out, its metallic aggression was still safely enshrined in a colourful, flashy package. Indeed, British Steel looks and sounds like a sure bet for hitting the charts. Its balanced blend of aggression and accessibility yielded some of the band’s all-time best songs.

8. Lateralus – Tool

Tool’s Lateralus is a progressive metal magnum opus that, even for its release in 2001, was certainly ahead of its time. It exists as a complex assembly of intricate passagework, dense propulsive sections, and heavy, almost hypnotic melodies that also manage to be somewhat accessible for a progressive metal record. 

The lyrics almost defy summary since they work beautifully at several different levels of engagement. They are both personal and impersonal in tone. The work is lauded for its technical execution, nearly second-to-none in the heavy metal world of riffing and must be mentioned in any serious discussion of metal albums of the past 15 years.

9. Blackwater Park – Opeth

Now on the list is another one from 2001, and it is no other than Blackwater Park by Opeth, which is somewhat like a marriage of death metal and progressive rock. This record epitomises the fusion of heavy and light, of brutality and beauty, that is the very definition of progressive death metal. 

The songs “Bleak” and “The Drapery Falls”, among the album’s standout tracks, perfectly showcase Opeth’s composition style, which takes the listener on an uncharted path through sonorous landscapes. Acclaimed by critics and fans alike for its depth and complexity, Blackwater Park is a cornerstone in the metal genre and the progressive rock idiom.

10. Images and Words – Dream Theater

The last one of our top 10 will be no other than the Dream Theater classic Images and Words, which was one of the most influential progressive metal records in the nineties. During this period, the band parted ways with their record deal and original singer but started with James LaBrie. The record became their first and only breakthrough release, with the disc becoming gold-selling due to the hit single “Pull Me Under”, bringing the band to the masses. 

But it wasn’t just this commercial success that brings Dream Theater to 10th place of this article, the band has built a legacy and loyal following with this album. Tracks like “Under a Glass Moon” and “Metropolis – Part 1: Miracle and the Sleeper” really shown the bands technical profeciency, carrying the prog metal torch into a new era, influencing a slew of bands ever since.

So there you have it, the ten best metal albums of all time. Keep in mind that personal preference may vary, and my best ten might not be yours, but I have listed these also in terms of the overall impact on the genre, musicianship, and popularity. If you haven’t already, get yourself a copy of these albums so you can appreciate them. Enjoy and keep headbanging.