An entirely subjective list of my all-time favourite metal albums, well lets better say albums/genres featured on MS, since not all here is precisely metal.
Objective quality is not a criteria here, just how much I like the album. Ordered by preference, top down.

1.Anathema - The Silent Enigma

2.Opeth - Morningrise

3.Estatic Fear - Somnium Obmutum

4.My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans

5.Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss

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1.Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell

2.Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz

3.Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

4.Angel Witch - Angel Witch

5.Judas Priest - British Steel

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These are the 211 essential hard rock/metal albums of the 80's, as were selected by the Greek Magazine "Metal Hammer" (August 2001 issue).

The albums followed by a star are the "must have", whereas the rest albums are the "could have".

1.Angel Witch - Angel Witch

2.AC/DC - Back In Black

3.Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell

4.Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations

5.Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

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1.Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness

2.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

3.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

4.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

5.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

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A lot of bands have great debut albums. Obviously this list is just a fraction of all the great debut albums out there, but it's a start. I'll keep expanding this list continuously, so all suggestions are welcome (granted they are featured on MS). All the albums here are ranked according to genre and then alphabetically. If a certain album belongs to the (in your opinion) wrong genre, then definitely let me know.

1.

2.Aarni - Bathos

3.Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia

4.Diablo Swing Orchestra - The Butcher's Ballroom

5.Sadness - Ames De Marbre

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RANKING CRITERIA :

- Originality
- Songwriting
- Performance

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

1.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

2.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

3.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

4.Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality

5.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

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1.Venom - Welcome To Hell

2.Xentrix - For Whose Advantage?

3.Onslaught - The Force

4.Raven - Nothing Exceeds Like Excess

5.Sabbat - Dreamweaver

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They were the best of times, they were the worst of times. Then thrash kicked glam out of the way, and once again, it was the best of times. Haha. Def Leppard's debut came close. Box of Frogs may yet make an appearance (or two). (Probably not two... something in the air there's just rather Average.)

1.Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

2.Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations

3.Jeff Beck - There and Back

4.Iron Maiden - Killers

5.Neil Young - Trans

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My top ten perfect studio albums. Some are just more perfect than others. Plus an amazing compilation I need to include.

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

2.Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations

3.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

4.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

5.Opeth - Still Life

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Amazing albums, highly recommended (strictly my opinion, changes can be made)

1.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

2.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

3.Metallica - Kill 'Em All

4.Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss

5.W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol

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Metal albums from 1980.

1.AC/DC - Back In Black

2.Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell

3.Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations

4.Def Leppard - On Through The Night

5.Motörhead - Ace Of Spades

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*I do not count Judas Priest and Motorhead as NWOBHM, because they started before that scene

1.Satan - Court In The Act

2.Cloven Hoof - Cloven Hoof

3.

4.Witchfinder General - Death Penalty

5.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

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1.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

2.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

3.Pantera - Cowboys From Hell

4.Metallica - Master Of Puppets

5.Judas Priest - Painkiller

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1.Be'lakor - Stone's Reach

2.Doom:VS - Dead Words Speak

3.Swallow The Sun - Hope

4.Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side

5.Draconian - Arcane Rain Fell

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