I will try to be as subjective as I can and it won't include only my favorite genres as I will try to include albums from all Metal sub-genres because I think it's important to get exposed to all kinds of metal so that a person may create a good taste in Metal music. (Might include more than 1 album per band).

1. King Crimson - In The Court Of The Crimson King

2. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

3. Deep Purple - Machine Head

4. Judas Priest - Stained Class

5. Scorpions - Taken By Force

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This is a list of my first ever purchased metal albums. I was born in 1982 and started my metal collection in 1994/95.. Anyway thought I'd share

1. Manowar - The Triumph Of Steel

2. Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power

3. Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

4. Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon

5. Black Sabbath - Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath

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1. Manowar - Kings Of Metal

2. Manowar - Battle Hymns

3. Manowar - Into Glory Ride

4. Manowar - Sign Of The Hammer

5. Manowar - Louder Than Hell

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RANKING CRITERIA :

1. Originality

2. Songwriting

3. Historical value

4. Performance

1. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

2. Black Sabbath - Paranoid

3. Deep Purple - In Rock

4. Metallica - Ride The Lightning

5. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

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Why 1984? Because that's the year I was born. I'm not saying that my birthyear makes anything else significant, but I figured I would take an interest in every album that's as old as I am. Yup, it's that lame. Here they are from best to worst in my opinion.

By the way, only the albums I've listened to go on this list, which explains why I don't have Judas Priest's Defender of the Faith or any other big album on here yet. (I'll get to them, I promise!) This is definitely a work in progress as I listen to more metal.

1. Metallica - Ride the Lightning

2. Metal Church - Metal Church

3. Autograph - Sign In Please

4. Iron Maiden - Powerslave

5. Dio - The Last in Line

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1. Tool - Lateralus

2. Dream Theater - Awake

3. Queensrÿche - Rage For Order

4. The Tea Party - The Edges Of Twilight

5. Arcturus - La Masquerade Infernale

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1. Metallica - Ride The Lightning

2. Manowar - Hail To England

3. Metal Church - Metal Church

4. Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath

5. W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.

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1. Metallica - Lulu

2. Burzum - Filosofem

3. Metallica - St. Anger

4. Slayer - Undisputed Attitude

5. Sepultura - Nation

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In my opinion, these albums are the best in heavy metal history and that includes best riffs, amazing solos and especially very unique vocals.

1. Scorpions - Love At First Sting

2. Scorpions - Blackout

3. Judas Priest - Screaming for Vengeance

4. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith

5. Def Leppard - Pyromania

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