these albums are the best that heavy
metal has to offer
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
important albums in heavy metals for
this list we are only including albums
that can be classified in the heavy
metal genre finding its roots within the
English rock band Led Zeppelin heavy
metal includes extending guitar solos
head banging riffs and pure metal lyrics
now let’s get ready to mosh
number 10 Ace of Spades Motorhead
heavy metal wouldn’t be the same without
our first entry considered by critics
and fans as a monumental effort in the
evolution of the genre the album
introduced American fans to the UK heavy
metal scene with the release of its
title track Ace of Spades
due to the success of the song Motorhead
has often been linked with the
development of thrash and speed metal
little-known fact while ASA spades is
the band’s fourth album overall it was
the first Motorhead effort released in
the United States what a way to make an
impression
number nine British steel Judas Priest
wasting out of Marchen down
the sixth album in Judas Priest Canon
British steel crushed the heavy metal
market with singles like breaking the
law and living after midnight this more
commercial sound proved that the genre
could be tweaked and manipulated into
sounding like something entirely new in
2009
Judas Priest paid respect to the massive
album and marked their 30th anniversary
by playing it in full track-by-track on
tour while we were tempted to give our
number 9 spot to the band’s 12th effort
painkiller
the album speed metal couldn’t trump
British steel number eight Cowboys from
Hell Pantera
by far the most cohesive entry on our
list Cowboys from Hell shows exactly
what happens with great band chemistry
from Phil Anselmo’s gut-wrenching vocals
to dime bags insane guitar work the
album included tracks I would later
inspire many musicians such as the
guitar shredding epic the art of
shredding or the grim but groundbreaking
cemetery gates
so it’s no wonder Cowboys from Hell is
considered by fans and critics alike to
be the band’s most iconic work while
Pantera’s follow-up Vulgar Display of
power introduced listeners to a new
style of groove metal Wow there is no
way you can walk away from Cowboys from
Hell
number seven high and dry def leppard
produced by Mutt Lange Def Leppard’s
second album fie and dry became a
statement of the glam metal scene with
hits like the title track let it go and
bringing on the heartbreak but make no
mistake about it certified
double-platinum high and dry showcase
some of leopard’s harder and RAR sound
which was subsequently refined on mega
successes pyromania and hysteria
but it was deaf early contribution to
the heavy-metal landscapes that gave
rise to many acts and albums throughout
the decade most notably Guns and Roses
and Appetite for Destruction
number six rust in peace Megadeth
bring on the holy wars by far the most
technical album Megadeth has released in
their over three-decade career rust in
pieces often overlooked in comparison to
Megadeth’s other releases but it excels
in all areas of heavy metal
whether it be Dave Mustaine’s masterful
lyric riding or the dueling guitar riffs
we gladly recognize Megadeth as not just
another Metallica ripoff
this album proves that you don’t need
drugs to push out a heavy-metal
masterpiece
Megadeth have earned their spots as one
of the big four and are certainly there
to stay
number five rain in blood Slayer
sometimes heavy metal isn’t fast enough
and you have to pick up the speed
the third effort from the Kali metal
legend Slayer rain and Blood allows
listeners to dive into pure insanity as
early as the opening track
back in 1986 the album was as fast as it
came taking Jeff Hanuman’s mastery over
the guitar and Tom arrives
blood-curdling vocals and adding just a
pinch of adrenaline
the album is not only a landmark in the
heavy metal genre but it also
contributed to the beginning of the
speed metal genre now we let the blood
rain
number four blizzard of Ozz ozzy
osbourne first release after being
ejected from heavy metal giant Black
Sabbath blizzard of Ozz cemented the
Prince of Darkness position as a major
player in the genre recorded with famed
guitars Randy Rhoads the album brought
classics such as mr. Crowley and crazy
train into the world more melodic than
previous Black Sabbath efforts it
brought forth new material that even the
hardest of metalheads can jam along too
while we were tempted to give this spot
to Ozzy’s second album diary of a madman
it’s hard to argue against a four-time
Platinum certification and six million
copies sold
Ozzy Osbourne truly is a madman
number three the number of the beast
iron natives
the third effort from heavy-metal
legends Iron Maiden the number of the
beast introduced fans to classic hits
such as run to the hills and the album’s
title track considered a critical and
commercial success and introduced the
heavy metal scene to the vocals of Bruce
Dickinson on the other hand this would
be the last we saw of drummer Clive Burr
with Iron Maiden before his departure
the number of the beast wasn’t without
controversy though as a result of its
religious imagery as well as the themes
of its lyrics but heavy metal isn’t
heavy metal without controversy right
number two Master of Puppets Metallica
welcome home metal fans the Cali metal
Giants third album Master of Puppets is
a monumental landmark in the progression
of the heavy metal genre
it’s a masterpiece of everything the
band had developed so far mainly the
combination of six string guitar riffing
paired with a distinct bass and rapid
firing drum
unfortunately Master of Puppets would be
the last we would see him guitars Cliff
Burton before his passenger in the
album’s promo tour
while many Metallica fans can argue that
their second album ride the lightning is
the most groundbreaking we can’t break
away from being puppets for our masters
before we salute our devil horns to the
top pick here are a few honorable
mentions
number one Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath the debut record of the
legendary Black Sabbath the self-titled
album made a rather unique entrance onto
the then-unknown metal scene blending
blues and rock and roll elements Black
Sabbath is a free-flowing guitar
masterpiece that can’t be easily
forgotten
believe it or not it wasn’t
well-received by critics upon initial
release yet opinions change as it is now
considered a landmark in heavy metal
roots
we consider giving the goal to Sabbath
second effort paranoid with classics
such as iron and war pigs
but their debut changed heavy metal like
we had never seen it before so it tops
our list
so do you agree with our list which
heavy metal albums are your favorite
four more rocking top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
metal has to offer
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top ten
important albums in heavy metals for
this list we are only including albums
that can be classified in the heavy
metal genre finding its roots within the
English rock band Led Zeppelin heavy
metal includes extending guitar solos
head banging riffs and pure metal lyrics
now let’s get ready to mosh
number 10 Ace of Spades Motorhead
heavy metal wouldn’t be the same without
our first entry considered by critics
and fans as a monumental effort in the
evolution of the genre the album
introduced American fans to the UK heavy
metal scene with the release of its
title track Ace of Spades
due to the success of the song Motorhead
has often been linked with the
development of thrash and speed metal
little-known fact while ASA spades is
the band’s fourth album overall it was
the first Motorhead effort released in
the United States what a way to make an
impression
number nine British steel Judas Priest
wasting out of Marchen down
the sixth album in Judas Priest Canon
British steel crushed the heavy metal
market with singles like breaking the
law and living after midnight this more
commercial sound proved that the genre
could be tweaked and manipulated into
sounding like something entirely new in
2009
Judas Priest paid respect to the massive
album and marked their 30th anniversary
by playing it in full track-by-track on
tour while we were tempted to give our
number 9 spot to the band’s 12th effort
painkiller
the album speed metal couldn’t trump
British steel number eight Cowboys from
Hell Pantera
by far the most cohesive entry on our
list Cowboys from Hell shows exactly
what happens with great band chemistry
from Phil Anselmo’s gut-wrenching vocals
to dime bags insane guitar work the
album included tracks I would later
inspire many musicians such as the
guitar shredding epic the art of
shredding or the grim but groundbreaking
cemetery gates
so it’s no wonder Cowboys from Hell is
considered by fans and critics alike to
be the band’s most iconic work while
Pantera’s follow-up Vulgar Display of
power introduced listeners to a new
style of groove metal Wow there is no
way you can walk away from Cowboys from
Hell
number seven high and dry def leppard
produced by Mutt Lange Def Leppard’s
second album fie and dry became a
statement of the glam metal scene with
hits like the title track let it go and
bringing on the heartbreak but make no
mistake about it certified
double-platinum high and dry showcase
some of leopard’s harder and RAR sound
which was subsequently refined on mega
successes pyromania and hysteria
but it was deaf early contribution to
the heavy-metal landscapes that gave
rise to many acts and albums throughout
the decade most notably Guns and Roses
and Appetite for Destruction
number six rust in peace Megadeth
bring on the holy wars by far the most
technical album Megadeth has released in
their over three-decade career rust in
pieces often overlooked in comparison to
Megadeth’s other releases but it excels
in all areas of heavy metal
whether it be Dave Mustaine’s masterful
lyric riding or the dueling guitar riffs
we gladly recognize Megadeth as not just
another Metallica ripoff
this album proves that you don’t need
drugs to push out a heavy-metal
masterpiece
Megadeth have earned their spots as one
of the big four and are certainly there
to stay
number five rain in blood Slayer
sometimes heavy metal isn’t fast enough
and you have to pick up the speed
the third effort from the Kali metal
legend Slayer rain and Blood allows
listeners to dive into pure insanity as
early as the opening track
back in 1986 the album was as fast as it
came taking Jeff Hanuman’s mastery over
the guitar and Tom arrives
blood-curdling vocals and adding just a
pinch of adrenaline
the album is not only a landmark in the
heavy metal genre but it also
contributed to the beginning of the
speed metal genre now we let the blood
rain
number four blizzard of Ozz ozzy
osbourne first release after being
ejected from heavy metal giant Black
Sabbath blizzard of Ozz cemented the
Prince of Darkness position as a major
player in the genre recorded with famed
guitars Randy Rhoads the album brought
classics such as mr. Crowley and crazy
train into the world more melodic than
previous Black Sabbath efforts it
brought forth new material that even the
hardest of metalheads can jam along too
while we were tempted to give this spot
to Ozzy’s second album diary of a madman
it’s hard to argue against a four-time
Platinum certification and six million
copies sold
Ozzy Osbourne truly is a madman
number three the number of the beast
iron natives
the third effort from heavy-metal
legends Iron Maiden the number of the
beast introduced fans to classic hits
such as run to the hills and the album’s
title track considered a critical and
commercial success and introduced the
heavy metal scene to the vocals of Bruce
Dickinson on the other hand this would
be the last we saw of drummer Clive Burr
with Iron Maiden before his departure
the number of the beast wasn’t without
controversy though as a result of its
religious imagery as well as the themes
of its lyrics but heavy metal isn’t
heavy metal without controversy right
number two Master of Puppets Metallica
welcome home metal fans the Cali metal
Giants third album Master of Puppets is
a monumental landmark in the progression
of the heavy metal genre
it’s a masterpiece of everything the
band had developed so far mainly the
combination of six string guitar riffing
paired with a distinct bass and rapid
firing drum
unfortunately Master of Puppets would be
the last we would see him guitars Cliff
Burton before his passenger in the
album’s promo tour
while many Metallica fans can argue that
their second album ride the lightning is
the most groundbreaking we can’t break
away from being puppets for our masters
before we salute our devil horns to the
top pick here are a few honorable
mentions
number one Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath the debut record of the
legendary Black Sabbath the self-titled
album made a rather unique entrance onto
the then-unknown metal scene blending
blues and rock and roll elements Black
Sabbath is a free-flowing guitar
masterpiece that can’t be easily
forgotten
believe it or not it wasn’t
well-received by critics upon initial
release yet opinions change as it is now
considered a landmark in heavy metal
roots
we consider giving the goal to Sabbath
second effort paranoid with classics
such as iron and war pigs
but their debut changed heavy metal like
we had never seen it before so it tops
our list
so do you agree with our list which
heavy metal albums are your favorite
four more rocking top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
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