This is a list of the 20 most IMPORTANT metal albums ever. These are not necessarily the best metal albums, instead the albums that took metal music to the next step, and revolutionized the genre as we know it.
Number 20.
King Diamond - Fatal Portrait
Power metal was used to high, almost ghost like vocals from the likes of Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio, but no one could match king diamonds range on his debut album. It seemed to 1 up the power metal scene, and push it to new heights.
Number 19.
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
When I think of this album, all I can think of is "obnoxious". Its obnoxious in the most amazing way possible. In 1996, the airwaves were dominated by boy bands, and whatever was left over from grunge, and then out of left field, here comes Marilyn Manson with this album to just scare the shit out of everyone. At this point, Metallica cut their hair, Black Sabbath was unrecognizable, and Metal was at a fairly dead point. This came out and just lit a fire under everyone`s ass.
Number 18.
Disturbed - The Sickness
This album came out on 2000, and I feel its the metal album that kicked off the century. It was almost a barrier between the beginning of NU Metal, and the era of NU Metal that shortly followed this. It sounded like nothing else when it came out and is responsible for so many bands today.
Number 17.
Quiet Riot - Metal Health
This was the first metal album that went to #1 on the Billboard 200. Its what brought heavy metal from underground, to a genre that was publicly recognized as awesome.
Number 16.
Anthrax - Among The Living
Anthrax set themselves apart from the rest of the trash scene with this classic. While the vocals of Mustaine and Hetfield were sinister and gritty, there was no bullshit with joey belladonna. The dude could sing his ass off, add in Scott Ian`s brutal guitar work and Charlie Benante`s blistering drums, you have a truly amazing album.
Number 15.
Slipknot - Slipknot
To quote klown "were war, thats all we are is war". I couldn`t give a more perfect analogy. Slipknot put the metal world on notice with their self titled album. In a time were every bands legitimacy is questioned, they made sure on this album, that there was no doubt they were to be taken seriously.
Number 14.
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
What happens when 4 Berkeley students fed up with American right wing get together and make an album? You get Rage Against The Machine, a pissed off masterpiece, combining hip hop and metal into 1 brutal entity. Morello`s unique use of the guitar was some of the most innovative since Hendrix. It inspired many sun genres of groove metal, NU Metal, and so on.
Number 13.
Judas Priest - British Steele
Priest had so many albums that influenced metal, but British Steele showcases everything they had to offer the best. Hard hitting riffs, Rob Halford`s insane vocal range, they were the whole package.
Number 12.
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Out of the big 4, Megadeth was distinct from the rest, Mainly because of Mustaine`s guitar work. It was a cut above the rest from a technical standpoint. It wasn`t all just flash, there were some genuinely difficult phrases on this album. It also had a political message, something that wasn`t done in thrash records at the time.
Number 11.
Dio - Holy Diver
The late Ronnie James Dio not only had a hypnotizing voice, but wrote mystical lyrics that are chilling to listen to. It paints a picture of dragons, witches, and monsters. To this day a metal album hasn`t come along that so perfectly captures a setting like Holy Diver does.
Number 10.
Iron Maiden - The Number of the beast
Maiden raised the bar in every aspect on this album. The blistering speeds, Dickinsons vocals, there was nothing quite like it before, and remains a huge inspiration to bands today.
Number 9.
Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
The image of 80`s glam was big hair, lipstick, leather pants, and well, shitty music. Guns n Roses came along, wiped the makeup off, and delivered full throttle, bad ass album that rocked the world. They weren`t around to make pop songs, or do dances, they were here to play raw, uncut, unforgiving rock music, and if you didn`t like it, well that was just too god damn bad, and this album sent that message loud and clear.
Number 8.
This album is important because of one reason. Randy Rhoads.I don`t even want to think of all the amazing guitar players we wouldn`t have it weren`t for Randy. The shit he was playing, in 1979, was light years ahead of its time.
Number 7.
Now, Van Halen may not be a "metal" band in the most traditional sense, but hear me out. Without Eddie Van Halen`s guitar techniques, who knows were metal would of went. The finger tapping method was adopted later on, and is the standard for lead guitar in speed metal today.
Number 6.
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Deep Purple evolved over time, and eventually, they devloped a sound that was very influential to metal. It has the speed, Richie Blackmore`s guitar work, Ian Gillan`s vocals, its all so tight, and so perfect.
Number 5.
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Before Master Of Puppets, there had never been an album so diverse. It can soft and haunting one second, and then be unadulterated brutality the next. The speeds they hit on this album were unheard of at the time. To this day it`s the tightest metal album ever.
Number 4.
Pantera - A Vulgar Display Of Power
Some people would go with Pantera`s debut album, "Cowboys From Hell", but VDOP is the album were Pantera completely lost their minds. When this album hit, it made every other album in existence it`s bitch. Dimebags tone is straight up evil, Vinnies Snare sounds like a shotgun, and Phil Anselmo sounds like an incarnation of the grim reaper. It makes me want to drive a semi truck off a cliff.
Number 3.
This album is pure evil. Its hellish lyrics and haunting riffs, make your head explode when they meet the amazing speeds and brutal tones. Nothing before it. The most important album in thrash histroy.
Number 2
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades.
When Lemmy Kilmister decided to put his foot on the gas and crank everything up to ten, metal music changed forever. It is a no bullshit, in your face album, that reaches speeds unheard of for the time.
Number 1.
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
If it weren`t for Black Sabbath there would be no metal. Plain and Simple. The riffs from tony Iommi are sinister, the bass from geezer is crazy, bill wards drum fills are way ahead of there time, and ozzy, was well,ozzy. All Hail The Godfathers of Heavy Metal
Number 20.
King Diamond - Fatal Portrait
Power metal was used to high, almost ghost like vocals from the likes of Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio, but no one could match king diamonds range on his debut album. It seemed to 1 up the power metal scene, and push it to new heights.
Number 19.
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
When I think of this album, all I can think of is "obnoxious". Its obnoxious in the most amazing way possible. In 1996, the airwaves were dominated by boy bands, and whatever was left over from grunge, and then out of left field, here comes Marilyn Manson with this album to just scare the shit out of everyone. At this point, Metallica cut their hair, Black Sabbath was unrecognizable, and Metal was at a fairly dead point. This came out and just lit a fire under everyone`s ass.
Number 18.
Disturbed - The Sickness
This album came out on 2000, and I feel its the metal album that kicked off the century. It was almost a barrier between the beginning of NU Metal, and the era of NU Metal that shortly followed this. It sounded like nothing else when it came out and is responsible for so many bands today.
Number 17.
Quiet Riot - Metal Health
This was the first metal album that went to #1 on the Billboard 200. Its what brought heavy metal from underground, to a genre that was publicly recognized as awesome.
Number 16.
Anthrax - Among The Living
Anthrax set themselves apart from the rest of the trash scene with this classic. While the vocals of Mustaine and Hetfield were sinister and gritty, there was no bullshit with joey belladonna. The dude could sing his ass off, add in Scott Ian`s brutal guitar work and Charlie Benante`s blistering drums, you have a truly amazing album.
Number 15.
Slipknot - Slipknot
To quote klown "were war, thats all we are is war". I couldn`t give a more perfect analogy. Slipknot put the metal world on notice with their self titled album. In a time were every bands legitimacy is questioned, they made sure on this album, that there was no doubt they were to be taken seriously.
Number 14.
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine
What happens when 4 Berkeley students fed up with American right wing get together and make an album? You get Rage Against The Machine, a pissed off masterpiece, combining hip hop and metal into 1 brutal entity. Morello`s unique use of the guitar was some of the most innovative since Hendrix. It inspired many sun genres of groove metal, NU Metal, and so on.
Number 13.
Judas Priest - British Steele
Priest had so many albums that influenced metal, but British Steele showcases everything they had to offer the best. Hard hitting riffs, Rob Halford`s insane vocal range, they were the whole package.
Number 12.
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Out of the big 4, Megadeth was distinct from the rest, Mainly because of Mustaine`s guitar work. It was a cut above the rest from a technical standpoint. It wasn`t all just flash, there were some genuinely difficult phrases on this album. It also had a political message, something that wasn`t done in thrash records at the time.
Number 11.
Dio - Holy Diver
The late Ronnie James Dio not only had a hypnotizing voice, but wrote mystical lyrics that are chilling to listen to. It paints a picture of dragons, witches, and monsters. To this day a metal album hasn`t come along that so perfectly captures a setting like Holy Diver does.
Number 10.
Iron Maiden - The Number of the beast
Maiden raised the bar in every aspect on this album. The blistering speeds, Dickinsons vocals, there was nothing quite like it before, and remains a huge inspiration to bands today.
Number 9.
Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
The image of 80`s glam was big hair, lipstick, leather pants, and well, shitty music. Guns n Roses came along, wiped the makeup off, and delivered full throttle, bad ass album that rocked the world. They weren`t around to make pop songs, or do dances, they were here to play raw, uncut, unforgiving rock music, and if you didn`t like it, well that was just too god damn bad, and this album sent that message loud and clear.
Number 8.
This album is important because of one reason. Randy Rhoads.I don`t even want to think of all the amazing guitar players we wouldn`t have it weren`t for Randy. The shit he was playing, in 1979, was light years ahead of its time.
Number 7.
Now, Van Halen may not be a "metal" band in the most traditional sense, but hear me out. Without Eddie Van Halen`s guitar techniques, who knows were metal would of went. The finger tapping method was adopted later on, and is the standard for lead guitar in speed metal today.
Number 6.
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
Deep Purple evolved over time, and eventually, they devloped a sound that was very influential to metal. It has the speed, Richie Blackmore`s guitar work, Ian Gillan`s vocals, its all so tight, and so perfect.
Number 5.
Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Before Master Of Puppets, there had never been an album so diverse. It can soft and haunting one second, and then be unadulterated brutality the next. The speeds they hit on this album were unheard of at the time. To this day it`s the tightest metal album ever.
Number 4.
Pantera - A Vulgar Display Of Power
Some people would go with Pantera`s debut album, "Cowboys From Hell", but VDOP is the album were Pantera completely lost their minds. When this album hit, it made every other album in existence it`s bitch. Dimebags tone is straight up evil, Vinnies Snare sounds like a shotgun, and Phil Anselmo sounds like an incarnation of the grim reaper. It makes me want to drive a semi truck off a cliff.
Number 3.
This album is pure evil. Its hellish lyrics and haunting riffs, make your head explode when they meet the amazing speeds and brutal tones. Nothing before it. The most important album in thrash histroy.
Number 2
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades.
When Lemmy Kilmister decided to put his foot on the gas and crank everything up to ten, metal music changed forever. It is a no bullshit, in your face album, that reaches speeds unheard of for the time.
Number 1.
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
If it weren`t for Black Sabbath there would be no metal. Plain and Simple. The riffs from tony Iommi are sinister, the bass from geezer is crazy, bill wards drum fills are way ahead of there time, and ozzy, was well,ozzy. All Hail The Godfathers of Heavy Metal
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