All 13 Metallica Albums, Ranked By Fans
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Only studio albums.
- Photo: Blackened / Amazon1
72 Seasons
Surging through the heavy metal zeitgeist, Metallica's eleventh studio record is a scintillating symphony of rage, reflection, and relentless riffage. Garnering mostly positive critics’ reception, the record stood out for Hetfield's profound lyricism, even though criticisms were mounted towards the album’s extensive length. It staged a powerful entry into the Billboard 200 charts at number 2, and proved its mettle by clinching Best Metal Performance at the 66th Grammy Awards. Housing the band's longest track, "Inamorata," this Metallica opus blurs the lines between the mechanical and emotional, carving out an unforgettable space in 21st-century pop culture. An overt deviation from their usual repertoire, this album screams Metallica's propensity to reinvent and push boundaries.
Tracklist:
1. "72 Seasons"
2. "Shadows Follow"
3. "Screaming Suicide"
4. "Sleepwalk My Life Away"
5. "You Must Burn!"
6. "Lux Æterna"
7. "Crown of Barbed Wire"
8. "Chasing Light"
9. "If Darkness Had a Son"
10. "Too Far Gone?"
11. "Room of Mirrors"
12. "Inamorata" - Photo: Megaforce / Amazon
Emerging as a tour de force in the thrash metal scene, Metallica’s sophomore effort was lauded for its lyrical sophistication and musical growth. Released in 1984, the album notably peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200, a remarkable feat given its absence of radio exposure. While rooted in thrash metal, the band stretched their sonic boundaries, touching on themes of nuclear annihilation, suicide, and capital punishment. The album, trailing soundwaves from Boston to Copenhagen, broke the barriers of one dimensional speed for power and heavy exploration. Recognized by the RIAA with a 6× Platinum certification in 2012, this album irrefutably tightened Metallica's grip on the genre, leaving a lasting imprint on rock and pop culture.
Tracklist:
1. Fight Fire with Fire
2. Ride the Lightning
3. For Whom the Bell Tolls
4. Fade to Black
5. Trapped Under Ice
6. Escape
7. Creeping Death
8. The Call of Ktulu - Photo: Elektra / Amazon
Metallica's third studio album marks a pinnacle in thrash metal. Reaching 29 on the Billboard 200 charts, it confirmed the band’s ascendency in heavy metal and extended their mainstream resonance. This release, tragically the final one featuring bassist Cliff Burton, received widespread critical acclaim for its potent lyrics and musicality. Its cultural significance was underscored when it became the first metal album included in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". Its unique groundbreaking sound, evolved lyrical themes, and instrumental sophistication, instrumentally impacted the metal landscape and wider pop culture.
Tracklist:
1. Battery
2. Master of Puppets
3. The Thing That Should Not Be
4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
5. Disposable Heroes
6. Leper Messiah
7. Orion
8. Damage, Inc.More Master of Puppets
- #77 of 1,700 onThe Greatest Albums of All-Time
- #1 of 348 onThe Top Metal Albums of All Time
- #38 of 276 onThe Greatest Guitar Rock Albums of All Time
- Photo: Elektra / Amazon
Metallica's fourth studio creation marks an evolutionary leap in the band's sound. The album, graced with its distinct blend of aggressive complexity and fast tempos, rose to number six on the Billboard 200, despite its minimal radio play, demonstrating the potent allure of the band's innovative artistry. The Grammy-awarded single "One" cemented the album's unprecedented success, echoing in the corners of pop culture. Perhaps most significantly, this album Metallica's first without bassist Cliff Burton, introducing Jason Newsted into the grim and somber sonic tapestry. Steering away from the rampant hedonism often associated with metal, the album leaned into themes of political and legal injustices - a stark contrast that further secured its place in music history.
Tracklist:
1. Blackened
2. ...And Justice for All
3. Eye of the Beholder
4. One
5. The Shortest Straw
6. Harvester of Sorrow
7. The Frayed Ends of Sanity
8. To Live Is to Die
9. Dyers Eve - Photo: Elektra / Amazon
Highlighting a radical shift in sound, Metallica's fifth studio venture swiftly carved a niche in the heavy metal genre. The album showcased a slower, more robust sound, diverging from the band’s trademark thrash style of previous works. Despite the evident transformation, the album gripped the music charts, securing the number one spot on the Billboard 200. Boasting multi-platinum sales, the album set new standards in heavy metal. The single "Enter Sandman" earned a Grammy, while other tracks resonated in pop culture. Marked by personal and introspective lyrics, the album underscores James Hetfield’s evolution as a songwriter, weaving vulnerability into the heavy metal fabric rarely seen before.
Tracklist:
1. Enter Sandman
2. Sad but True
3. Holier Than Thou
4. The Unforgiven
5. Wherever I May Roam
6. Don't Tread on Me
7. Through the Never
8. Nothing Else Matters
9. Of Wolf and Man
10. The God That Failed
11. My Friend of Misery
12. The Struggle Within - Photo: Megaforce / Amazon
A seismic debut by Metallica, this 1983 release blazed trails in the nascent heavy metal landscape. Launched on Megaforce Records, the predominantly punk-tempos fused with British heavy metal riffs birthed a thundering sonic assault, garnering acclaim from the starry constellation of music critics. The trailblazing album penetrated the Billboard 200 in 1986, peaking at a noteworthy 155. Its retrospective crowning as a groundbreaking thrash metal album stems from remarkably precise musicianship. Recognized by RIAA with a 3x Platinum in 1999, its cultural influence is reflected in numerous inspired successors, thus perpetuating the legacy of this hard-hitting musical opus.
Tracklist:
1. Hit the Lights
2. The Four Horsemen
3. Motorbreath
4. Jump in the Fire
5. (Anesthesia)—Pulling Teeth
6. Whiplash
7. Phantom Lord
8. No Remorse
9. Seek & Destroy
10. Metal MilitiaMore Kill 'Em All- #1231 of 1,700 onThe Greatest Albums of All-Time
- #11 of 348 onThe Top Metal Albums of All Time
- #132 of 276 onThe Greatest Guitar Rock Albums of All Time
- Photo: Blackened / Amazon7
Hardwired... to Self Destruct
Marking Metallica's epic return after an eight-year break, their tenth studio outing reignited the thrash metal scene in 2016. Making a record debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200, it also topped charts in 57 countries, underscoring the band's enduring global resonance. With Greg Fidelman at the production helm, the double album's powerful lyrical content and expert musicianship garnered lauded reviews and further cemented the band's legacy. Metallica's ambitious decision to release a music video for each song showcased the expanding role of digital media in music promotion. This album stands as a testament to the band's evolution and enduring influence on heavy metal.
Tracklist:
1. Hardwired
2. Atlas, Rise!
3. Now That We're Dead
4. Moth into Flame
5. Dream No More
6. Halo on Fire
7. Confusion
8. ManUNkind
9. Here Comes Revenge
10. Am I Savage?
11. Murder One
12. Spit Out the Bone - Photo: Warner Bros., Vertigo / Amazon
Metallica's ninth album shakes the heavy metal world as the first studio album to hit the US Billboard 200's top five times in a row, cementing its achievement in commercial reception. Assembled under Rick Rubin's prowess, the album marks a yawning divergence from its predecessor, as it stages a bold homecoming to the band's original thrash roots. Predominantly hailed as a return to form, the record’s soundscapes, however, have drawn criticism for overcompression. Garnering six Grammy nominations, this kaleidoscope of reverberating guitar solos and layered compositions enjoys the distinction of winning three, including Best Metal Performance. Intriguingly, it also brings forth the band’s first instrumental piece in two decades.
Tracklist:
1. That Was Just Your Life
2. The End of the Line
3. Broken, Beat & Scarred
4. The Day That Never Comes
5. All Nightmare Long
6. Cyanide
7. The Unforgiven III
8. The Judas Kiss
9. Suicide & Redemption
10. My Apocalypse - Photo: Elektra / Amazon9
As Metallica's sixth studio album, this 1996 wonder marked a daring departure for the band. Venturing into the realms of Southern rock, blues, and alt-rock, it divided the fanbase, straying from their thrash metal roots and embracing a more hard rock aesthetic. Despite these stylistic shifts, the album still topped the charts, taking pole position on the Billboard 200. The bluesy tones and minimalist drumming signaled an exploration of new stylistic landscapes which left a lasting imprint within the music industry, hinting at the band's enduring versatility. Exploratory and daring, this Metallica contrivance stands as a sonic testament to the band's relentless evolution.
Tracklist:
1. Ain't My B*tch
2. 2 X 4
3. The House That Jack Built
4. Until It Sleeps
5. King Nothing
6. Hero of the Day
7. Bleeding Me
8. Cure
9. Poor Twisted Me
10. Wasting My Hate
11. Mama Said
12. Thorn Within
13. Ronnie
14. The Outlaw Torn - Photo: Elektra / Amazon
Riding the trails of their own rebellion, Metallica's 1998 compilation of cover songs stands as an unfiltered tribute to the raw inspirations that shaped their sound. Fusing hardcore punk, British heavy metal, and popular tracks into a blazing wall of sound, this sprawling collection soars into number 2 on the US Billboard 200. Resonating more than ever, this double album of cover tracks breathes fierce originality into borrowed words and melodies. Commended by Rolling Stone for its hard-edged tenacity, it's a sprawling homage to the roots of Metallica's evolution. For the savvy music enthusiast, the eclectic selection aligns the then and now, injecting a fresh compass-point on the band’s creative map.
Tracklist:
Disc One
1. "Free Speech for the Dumb" (Discharge)
2. "It's Electric" (Diamond Head)
3. "Sabbra Cadabra" (Black Sabbath)
4. "Turn the Page" (Bob Seger)
5. "Die, Die My Darling" (The Misfits)
6. "Loverman" (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds)
7. "Mercyful Fate" (Mercyful Fate)
8. "Astronomy" (Blue Ă–yster Cult)
9. "Whiskey in the Jar" (Thin Lizzy)
10. "Tuesday's Gone" (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
11. "The More I See" (Discharge)Disc Two
1. "Helpless" (Diamond Head)
2. "The Small Hours" (Holocaust)
3. "The Wait" (Killing Joke)
4. "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" (Budgie)
5. "Last Caress/Green Hell" (Misfits)
6. "Am I Evil?" (Diamond Head)
7. "Blitzkrieg" (Blitzkrieg)
8. "Breadfan" (Budgie)
9. "The Prince" (Diamond Head)
10. "Stone Cold Crazy" (Queen)
11. "So What" (Anti-Nowhere League)
12. "Killing Time" (Sweet Savage)
13. "Overkill" (Motörhead)
14. "Damage Case" (Motörhead)
15. "Stone Dead Forever" (Motörhead)
16. "Too Late Too Late" (Motörhead) - Photo: Elektra / Amazon11
Metallica's seventh studio album signified an intriguing evolution in their sound, journeying into southern rock and blues-inspired riffs. Boldly rising to number one on the Billboard 200 upon release, it sold 436,000 copies in its initial week. Impressively, it retained its chart presence for 75 weeks and was certified 3x platinum by the RIAA. Despite its mixed reception, the production's noteworthy including its provocative cover design by Andres Serrano and Marianne Faithfull's unusual guest vocals on “The Memory Remains” suggest a daring experimental nature. This daring exploration underpins this record's lofty cultural influence, further solidifying the band's dynamic musical legacy.
Tracklist:
1. Fuel
2. The Memory Remains
3. Devil's Dance
4. The Unforgiven II
5. Better than You
6. Slither
7. Carpe Diem Baby
8. Bad Seed
9. Where the Wild Things Are
10. Prince Charming
11. Low Man's Lyric
12. Attitude
13. Fixxxer - Photo: Elektra / Amazon
Their eighth studio album became a defining mission statement in the music world. Despite sparking polarized responses due to its alternative metal pulsations, the album nonetheless stormed to the summit of sales charts in 14 countries, including the prestigious US Billboard 200. Its lead single walked away with a Grammy Award to the beat of Best Metal Performance. Undoubtedly, this album shook up the spectrum of popular culture with its raw production, region-shaking drum sound, and a conspicuous absence of guitar solos. It is eternally renowned as Metallica's sole album recorded as an official trio, following the exit of bassist Jason Newsted, and is a lasting testament to a tumultuous period in the band's illustrious journey.
Tracklist:
1. Frantic
2. St. Anger
3. Some Kind of Monster
4. Dirty Window
5. Invisible Kid
6. My World
7. Shoot Me Again
8. Sweet Amber
9. The Unnamed Feeling
10. Purify
11. All Within My Hands - Photo: Warner Bros., Vertigo / Amazon
This collaborative endeavour straddling the seasoned scepter of Lou Reed and the tempestuous heavy metal appeals of Metallica, bestowed the final opus of Reed's illustrious career before his demise in 2013. Charting 36 on the Billboard 200, it ushered in a disquieting, divisive paradigm in the listener's realm. Its unprecedented fusion of spoken word and instrumentals, albeit contentious, imparted a seismic shift in popular culture. Though bereft of Grammy accolades, it was posthumously christened by David Bowie as Reed's magnum opus, further establishing its contentious standing in the landscape of music. Furthermore, its inception emanated from “Lulu plays,” penned by German playwright Frank Wedekind, embedding a theatrical nuance to this intriguing auditory tapestry.
Tracklist:
1. Brandenburg Gate
2. The View
3. Pumping Blood
4. Mistress Dread
5. Iced Honey
6. Cheat on Me
7. Frustration
8. Little Dog
9. Dragon
10. Junior Dad
