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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 popularity among fans nor commercial success (or unsuccess) of the albums were taken into account in this 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 - Stained Class
1978
27. Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
1982
28. Anthrax - Among The Living
1987
29. Metallica - ...And Justice For All
1988
30. Judas Priest - Painkiller
1990
31. Coroner - Grin
1993
32. At The Gates - The Red In The Sky Is Ours
1992
33. W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children
1989
34. Coroner - Mental Vortex
1991
35. Psychotic Waltz - A Social Grace
1990
36. Savatage - Hall Of The Mountain King
1987
37. Cynic - Focus
1993
38. Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
1976
39. Dio - Holy Diver
1983
40. Megadeth - Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?
1986
41. Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
1991
42. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
1986
43. Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
1988
44. Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power
1992
45. Slayer - Reign In Blood
1986
46. Dream Theater - Images And Words
1992
47. W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.
1984
48. Paradise Lost - Gothic
1991
49. Avenged Sevenfold - City Of Evil
2005
50. My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans
1993
51. Savatage - Gutter Ballet
1989
52. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
1988
53. Mercyful Fate - Melissa
1983
54. Voivod - Nothingface
1989
55. Opeth - Blackwater Park
2001
56. Dream Theater - Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory
1999
57. Dream Theater - Awake
1994
58. Metal Church - Metal Church
1984
59. Death - Human
1991
60. Opeth - Morningrise
1996
61. Depressive Age - Symbols For The Blue Times
1994
62. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss
1988
63. Fates Warning - Awaken The Guardian
1986
64. Annihilator - Alice In Hell
1989
65. Slayer - Seasons In The Abyss
1990
66. Anacrusis - Manic Impressions
1991
67. Toxik - World Circus
1987
68. Alice In Chains - Dirt
1992
69. Holy Terror - Mind Wars
1988
70. Death - Individual Thought Patterns
1993
71. Opeth - Still Life
1999
72. Accept - Restless And Wild
1982
73. Helloween - Walls Of Jericho
1985
74. Motörhead - Overkill
1979
75. Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia
1996
76. Raven - Wiped Out
1982
77. Paradise Lost - Shades Of God
1992
78. Bathory - Hammerheart
1990
79. Annihilator - Never, Neverland
1990
80. Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
1992
81. Twisted Sister - Under The Blade
1982
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. Helstar - Nosferatu
1989
93. Manowar - Into Glory Ride
1983
94. Manowar - Battle Hymns
1982
95. Coroner - Punishment For Decadence
1988
96. Voivod - The Outer Limits
1993
97. My Dying Bride - The Angel And The Dark River
1995, digipak edit.
98. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
1985
99. Crimson Glory - Transcendence
1988
100. Dream Theater - When Dream And Day Unite
1989
101. Candlemass - Nightfall
1987
102. Accept - Metal Heart
1985
103. Queensrÿche - The Warning
1984
104. Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
1989
105. Iron Maiden - Killers
1981
106. Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
1980
107. Overkill - Feel The Fire
1985
108. Psychotic Waltz - Into The Everflow
1992
109. Savatage - Edge Of Thorns
1993
110. King Diamond - "Them"
1988
111. Edge Of Sanity - Crimson
1996
112. Paradise Lost - Icon
1993
113. King Diamond - The Eye
1990
114. Cacophony - Speed Metal Symphony
1987
115. Slayer - Hell Awaits
1985
116. Dio - The Last In Line
1984
117. Holy Terror - Terror And Submission
1987
118. Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness
1989
119. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
1984
120. Death - Leprosy
1988
121. Kreator - Coma Of Souls
1990
122. Dissection - Storm Of The Light's Bane
1995
123. Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding
1998
124. Toxik - Think This
1989
125. Testament - The New Order
1988
126. Psychotic Waltz - Bleeding
1996
127. Death - Spiritual Healing
1990
128. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction
1992
129. W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol
1992
130. Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy
1997
131. Raven - Rock Until You Drop
1981
132. Trouble - Psalm 9
1984
133. Exodus - Bonded By Blood
1985
134. Wrathchild America - 3-D
1991
135. Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
1993
136. Legend (JER) - Legend
1981
137. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
1984
138. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
1985
139. Fear Of God - Within The Veil
1991
140. Dissection - The Somberlain
1993
141. Heir Apparent - Graceful Inheritance
1986
142. Opeth - My Arms, Your Hearse
1998
143. Fatal Opera - The Eleventh Hour
1997
144. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary Of A Madman
1981
145. Satan - Court In The Act
1983
146. Sanctuary - Into The Mirror Black
1990
147. Skid Row - Slave To The Grind
1991
148. Death Angel - The Ultra-Violence
1987
149. Skyclad - Irrational Anthems
1996
150. Metal Church - Blessing In Disguise
1989
151. Disharmonic Orchestra - Pleasuredome
1994
152. Fatal Opera - Fatal Opera
1992
153. Autopsy - Mental Funeral
1991
154. Hammers Of Misfortune - The Locust Years
2006
155. Ophthalamia - A Journey In Darkness
1994
156. Nuclear Assault - Game Over
1986
157. Overkill - The Years Of Decay
1989
158. Mastodon - Remission
2002
159. Opeth - Ghost Reveries
2005
160. Emperor - Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
1997
161. Realm - Endless War
1988
162. The Lord Weird Slough Feg - Down Among The Deadmen
2000
163. Manilla Road - The Deluge
1986
164. Flotsam And Jetsam - Doomsday For The Deceiver
1986
165. Angel Witch - Angel Witch
1980
166. Edge Of Sanity - Unorthodox
1992
167. Control Denied - The Fragile Art Of Existence
1999
168. Avenged Sevenfold - Waking The Fallen
2003
169. Voivod - Killing Technology
1987
170. Testament - The Legacy
1987
171. Opeth - Orchid
1995
172. Slayer - South Of Heaven
1988
173. Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss
1988
174. Entombed - Left Hand Path
1990
175. Hammers Of Misfortune - The Bastard
2001
176. Znowhite - Act Of God
1988
177. Sacred Blade - Of The Sun + Moon
1986
178. Dark Quarterer - Dark Quarterer
1987
179. Chastain - Ruler Of The Wasteland
1986
180. Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
1980
181. Riot - ThunderSteel
1988
182. Savatage - Sirens
1983
183. Warlord - Deliver Us
1983, cassette edit.
184. Mercyful Fate - Time
1994
185. Bitches Sin - Invaders
1986
186. Hammers Of Misfortune - The August Engine
2003
187. Savatage - Poets And Madmen
2001
188. Death - Scream Bloody Gore
1987
189. Deathrow - Deception Ignored
1989
190. Phlebotomized - Immense Intense Suspense
1994
191. Savage - Loose 'N' Lethal
1983
192. Legend (JER) - Death In The Nursery
1982
193. Razor - Violent Restitution
1988
194. Heavy Load - Full Speed At High Level
1978
195. Pagan Altar - Volume 1
1998
196. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
1985
197. Slauter Xstroyes - Winter Kill
1985
198. Ludicra - Fex Urbis Lex Orbis
2006
199. Mekong Delta - The Music Of Erich Zann
1988
200. Lazarus Sin - Intracranial Mass
1988



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: 920 users
22.03.2014 - 16:35
Troy Killjoy
perfunctionist
Staff
Written by [user id=4365] 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 [user id=4365] 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 [user id=159927] 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
F3ynman
Nocturnal Bro
Contributor
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 F3ynman 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, approximately 70 albums ( actually 35% of all ) are undisputed classics.The other albums have a controversial status (according to music journalists) and many don't recognize them as masterpieces. In addition, Ludicra, Lazarus Sin, Fatal Opera and Bitches Sin are unknown to 99,8% of metal fans. Almost the same can be said for Slauter Xstroyes, Ophthalamia, Legend (JER), Chastain and Hammers Of Misfortune.
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