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Top 200 Metal Masterpieces of All Time


RANKING CRITERIA :

- Originality [ 35% of the rating ]
- Songwriting [ 35% of the rating ]
- Performance [ 30% of the rating ]

Neither the popularity among the fans nor the commercial success (or unsuccess) of the albums were taken into account in the selection.

Created by: Vasil de Shumen | 10.03.2012



1. Metallica - Ride The Lightning
1984
2. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
1982
3. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
1986
4. Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
1971
5. Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind
1983
6. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
1984
7. Anacrusis - Screams And Whispers
1993
8. Megadeth - Rust In Peace
1990
9. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
1970
10. Manowar - Hail To England
1984
11. Rainbow - Rising
1976
12. AC/DC - Let There Be Rock (Australia)
1977
13. Van Halen - Van Halen
1978
14. Deep Purple - In Rock
1970
15. King Diamond - Abigail
1987
16. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
1986
17. Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
1978
18. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
1980
19. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
1983
20. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What?
1988
21. Death - The Sound Of Perseverance
1998
22. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
1990
23. Death - Symbolic
1995
24. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II
1988
25. Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer
1984
26. Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
1982
27. Anthrax - Among The Living
1987
28. Metallica - ...And Justice For All
1988
29. Judas Priest - Painkiller
1990
30. Coroner - Grin
1993
31. At The Gates - The Red In The Sky Is Ours
1992
32. W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children
1989
33. Coroner - Mental Vortex
1991
34. Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
1990
35. Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
1987
36. Cynic - Focus
1993
37. Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
1976
38. Dio - Holy Diver
1983
39. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
1986
40. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
1991
41. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
1986
42. Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
1988
43. Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
1992
44. Slayer - Reign In Blood
1986
45. Dream Theater - Images And Words
1992
46. W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.
1984
47. Paradise Lost - Gothic
1991
48. Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
2005
49. My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans
1993
50. Savatage - Gutter Ballet
1989
51. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
1988
52. Mercyful Fate - Melissa
1983
53. Voivod - Nothingface
1989
54. Opeth - Blackwater Park
2001
55. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
1999
56. Dream Theater - Awake
1994
57. Metal Church - Metal Church
1984
58. Death - Human
1991
59. Opeth - Morningrise
1996
60. Depressive Age - Symbols For The Blue Times
1994
61. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss
1988
62. Fates Warning - Awaken The Guardian
1986
63. Annihilator - Alice In Hell
1989
64. Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss
1990
65. Anacrusis - Manic Impressions
1991
66. Toxik - World Circus
1987
67. Alice In Chains - Dirt
1992
68. Holy Terror - Mind Wars
1988
69. Death - Individual Thought Patterns
1993
70. Opeth - Still Life
1999
71. Accept - Restless And Wild
1982
72. Helloween - Walls Of Jericho
1985
73. Motörhead - Overkill
1979
74. Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia
1996
75. Raven - Wiped Out
1982
76. Paradise Lost - Shades Of God
1992
77. Bathory - Hammerheart
1990
78. Annihilator - Never, Neverland
1990
79. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
1992
80. Twisted Sister - Under The Blade
1982
81. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath Vol. 4
1972
82. Crimson Glory - Crimson Glory
1986
83. Atheist - Unquestionable Presence
1991
84. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I
1987
85. Destruction - Eternal Devastation
1986
86. Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath
1984
87. Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
1984
88. Coroner - No More Color
1989
89. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
1985
90. Motörhead - Ace Of Spades
1980
91. King Diamond - Conspiracy
1989
92. Judas Priest - Stained Class
1978
93. Helstar - Nosferatu
1989
94. Manowar - Into Glory Ride
1983
95. Manowar - Battle Hymns
1982
96. Coroner - Punishment For Decadence
1988
97. Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
1980
98. Voivod - The Outer Limits
1993
99. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
1985
100. Crimson Glory - Transcendence
1988
101. Dream Theater - When Dream And Day Unite
1989
102. Candlemass - Nightfall
1987
103. Accept - Metal Heart
1985
104. Queensrÿche - The Warning
1984
105. Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
1989
106. Iron Maiden - Killers
1981
107. Overkill - Feel The Fire
1985
108. Hammers Of Misfortune - The August Engine
2003
109. Mekong Delta - The Music Of Erich Zann
1988
110. Psychotic Waltz - Into The Everflow
1992
111. Savatage - Edge Of Thorns
1993
112. King Diamond - "Them"
1988
113. Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
1996
114. Paradise Lost - Icon
1993
115. King Diamond - The Eye
1990
116. Cacophony - Speed Metal Symphony
1987
117. Slayer - Hell Awaits
1985
118. Dio - The Last In Line
1984
119. Holy Terror - Terror And Submission
1987
120. Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness
1989
121. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
1984
122. Death - Leprosy
1988
123. Kreator - Coma Of Souls
1990
124. Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane
1995
125. Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding
1998
126. Toxik - Think This
1989
127. Testament - The New Order
1988
128. Psychotic Waltz - Bleeding
1996
129. Death - Spiritual Healing
1990
130. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
1992
131. W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol
1992
132. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy
1997
133. Raven - Rock Until You Drop
1981
134. Trouble - Psalm 9
1984
135. Exodus - Bonded By Blood
1985
136. Wrathchild America - 3-D
1991
137. Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
1993
138. Legend (JER) - Legend
1981
139. Sabbat - History Of A Time To Come
1988
140. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
1984
141. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
1985
142. Fear Of God - Within The Veil
1991
143. Dissection - The Somberlain
1993
144. Heir Apparent - Graceful Inheritance
1986
145. Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
1998
146. Fatal Opera - The Eleventh Hour
1997
147. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary Of A Madman
1981
148. Satan - Court In The Act
1983
149. Sanctuary - Into The Mirror Black
1989
150. Skid Row - Slave To The Grind
1991
151. Death Angel - The Ultra-Violence
1987
152. Skyclad - Irrational Anthems
1996
153. Metal Church - Blessing In Disguise
1989
154. Disharmonic Orchestra - Pleasuredome
1994
155. Fatal Opera - Fatal Opera
1992
156. Autopsy - Mental Funeral
1991
157. Ophthalamia - A Journey In Darkness
1994
158. Nuclear Assault - Game Over
1986
159. Overkill - The Years Of Decay
1989
160. Mastodon - Remission
2002
161. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
2005
162. Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
1997
163. Realm - Endless War
1988
164. The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Down Among The Deadmen
2000
165. Manilla Road - The Deluge
1986
166. Flotsam And Jetsam - Doomsday For The Deceiver
1986
167. Angel Witch - Angel Witch
1980
168. Edge Of Sanity - Unorthodox
1992
169. Control Denied - The Fragile Art Of Existence
1999
170. Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen
2003
171. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
1985
172. Voivod - Killing Technology
1987
173. Testament - The Legacy
1987
174. Opeth - Orchid
1995
175. Slayer - South Of Heaven
1988
176. Hammers Of Misfortune - The Locust Years
2006
177. Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss
1988
178. Entombed - Left Hand Path
1990
179. Znowhite - Act Of God
1988
180. Sacred Blade - Of The Sun + Moon
1986
181. Anacrusis - Suffering Hour
1988
182. Dark Quarterer - Dark Quarterer
1987
183. Chastain - Ruler Of The Wasteland
1986
184. Riot - ThunderSteel
1988
185. Savatage - Sirens
1983
186. Warlord - Deliver Us
1983, cassette edit.
187. Mercyful Fate - Time
1994
188. Bitches Sin - Invaders
1986
189. Savatage - Poets And Madmen
2001
190. Death - Scream Bloody Gore
1987
191. Deathrow - Deception Ignored
1988
192. Phlebotomized - Immense Intense Suspense
1994
193. Savage - Loose 'N' Lethal
1983
194. Legend (JER) - Death In The Nursery
1982
195. Razor - Violent Restitution
1988
196. Heavy Load - Full Speed At High Level
1978
197. Pagan Altar - Volume 1
1998
198. Slauter Xstroyes - Winter Kill
1985
199. Lazarus Sin - Intracranial Mass
1988
200. Dark Millennium - Ashore The Celestial Burden
1992



Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by Vasil de Shumen ]



Comments page 3 / 3

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Comments: 77   Visited by: 871 users
22.03.2014 - 16:35
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Written by Guest on 22.03.2014 at 16:25
The best course of action when dealing with someone who thinks Bloodbath are an experimental death metal band.

Same guy? Could have saved me from responding in the first place had I known that.
----
"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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22.03.2014 - 21:02
Vasil de Shumen

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 22.03.2014 at 08:20


... Black Sabbath songs' composition are too simple. Today we can name it - "commercial"



Simplicity is not always a disadvantage In the case of early Black Sabbath the simplicity is a sign of genius ...
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23.03.2014 - 06:19
Dr. Strawberry

Written by Guest on 22.03.2014 at 16:25

Written by Troy Killjoy on 22.03.2014 at 16:12

I think it's probably safer if we just agree to disagree.

The best course of action when dealing with someone who thinks Bloodbath are an experimental death metal band.

Canadian Alliance (Red-Hair Punk Kid + Home Alone Caveman) showed their close cooperation !
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23.03.2014 - 12:18
!J.O.O.E.!
Account deleted
Written by Dr. Strawberry on 23.03.2014 at 06:19

Canadian Alliance (Red-Hair Punk Kid + Home Alone Caveman) showed their close cooperation !

Yes, we're called the common-sense brigade.
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23.03.2014 - 19:54
Vasil de Shumen

If you want to post comments, you can discuss the selection or the ranking.

I don't want petty bickering. Please ...
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30.04.2014 - 20:56
Dr. Strawberry

Can we call Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC and Van Halen - Metal ?
Could it be better to categorise this way :
Ozzy Osbourne - Heavy Hard Rock
AC/DC - Heavy Blues Rock
Van Halen - Hard Rock
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30.04.2014 - 22:01
Vasil de Shumen

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 30.04.2014 at 20:56

Can we call Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC and Van Halen - Metal ?
Could it be better to categorise this way :
Ozzy Osbourne - Heavy Hard Rock
AC/DC - Heavy Blues Rock
Van Halen - Hard Rock


My personal understanding about Metal isn't limited to the burden and aggression of the sound. Metal has specific Spirit. I recognize that Spirit in each of these three albums.
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11.07.2015 - 01:10
indexqwest

Nice list!
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11.07.2015 - 08:52
Vasil de Shumen

Written by indexqwest on 11.07.2015 at 01:10

Nice list!


thanks I'm glad you approve my selection ...
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26.02.2016 - 02:05
Tomas Piller

Very sympathetic list! If I got such one then about 30%+ albums will be the same.
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26.02.2016 - 09:18
Vasil de Shumen

Written by Tomas Piller on 26.02.2016 at 02:05

Very sympathetic list! If I got such one then about 30%+ albums will be the same.


Thanks man For many people this selection seems too retro ...

What is your opinion about my list Best Albums of the New Millennium ?
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26.02.2016 - 18:13
Tomas Piller

Written by Vasil de Shumen on 26.02.2016 at 09:18

What is your opinion about my list Best Albums of the New Millennium ?

Checked it out and the intersection is quite smaller there, say 10%, for two reasons i guess
- for some reason I don't dig and never have Opeth, Nevermore and Mastodon which are apparently some of your staples (and many other people's)
- I don't know a LOT of albums there yet, like more than half

That being said there are still entries I really love, mainly albums from Vektor, Slough Feg, Green Carnation, Rigor Mortis, The Crown, Angra.

Btw: you can check what are the pinnacles for me from the new milenium from the first 15 entries of my annual list here
http://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=4480
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26.02.2016 - 20:06
Vasil de Shumen

Written by Tomas Piller on 26.02.2016 at 18:13

Written by Vasil de Shumen on 26.02.2016 at 09:18

What is your opinion about my list Best Albums of the New Millennium ?

Checked it out and the intersection is quite smaller there, say 10%, for two reasons i guess
- for some reason I don't dig and never have Opeth, Nevermore and Mastodon which are apparently some of your staples (and many other people's)
- I don't know a LOT of albums there yet, like more than half

That being said there are still entries I really love, mainly albums from Vektor, Slough Feg, Green Carnation, Rigor Mortis, The Crown, Angra.

Btw: you can check what are the pinnacles for me from the new milenium from the first 15 entries of my annual list here
http://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=4480


Slough Feg became one of my favorite bands in recent years. They carry the spirit of early Iron Maiden.

Your list is interesting despite our difference in the selection criteria ...
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09.06.2016 - 01:07
Vasil de Shumen

Written by Guest on 08.06.2016 at 22:10

Vital remains? all of their albus are master pieces! (except for the debut and maybe the second one)


Good death metal but many cliches...
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10.06.2016 - 17:20
LuciferOfGayness
Account deleted
Another metal fan that didnt make it to the 21st century
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07.07.2021 - 14:25
F3ynman2000
Nocturnal Bro
Great collection! (Although I don't completely agree with the order) - but these are all undeniably classics!
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08.07.2021 - 08:02
Vasil de Shumen

Written by F3ynman2000 on 07.07.2021 at 14:25

Great collection! (Although I don't completely agree with the order) - but these are all undeniably classics!


In fact, the undeniably classics are about 65-70 of the albums. The other albums have a controversial status (according to music journalists) and many don't recognize them as masterpieces. In addition, Lazarus Sin, Fatal Opera and Bitches Sin are unknown to 99,8% of metal fans. Almost the same can be said for Ophthalamia, Legend (JE), Chastain and Hammers Of Misfortune.
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