1 Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath (1970). If this album didn’t exist, this list wouldn’t exist. The tri-toned, eponymous title track, birthed the first angry, evil, and thunderous metal riff and changed music forever.
2 Paranoid, by Black Sabbath (1970). The riffs, melodies, and lyrics on this album led to just about every other sub-genre of metal.
3 Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden (1982). This album introduced melody to the world of metal with operatic vocals, twin lead guitar licks and unprecedented lead bass lines.
4 Master of Puppets by Metallica (1986). At the time, there was nothing close to this album as far as intricacy, production, complexity, and aggression. Without this album, many of the successful metal bands of today would not exist. Nearly flawless!
5 Kill ‘Em All by Metallica (1983). Low budget recording and all, this album influenced other up and coming metal bands to tighten up their act, speed up the tempo, darken the lyrics, and head bang. Props should go to Dave Mustaine for his mostly uncredited influence and contributions to this album.
6 British Steel by Judas Priest (1980). Although Priest’s previous albums were outstanding, this album created the "heavy" metal genre: Riffs, Solos, Aggresion, and scaring the hell out of your parents.
7 Blizzard of Ozz Ozzy Osbourne (1980). Along with British Steel, this album helped define Heavy Metal. Rhoads’ blistering, precisely played guitar solos, were unprecedented and are still influencing guitarists today.
8 Rust In Peace Megadeth (1990). Complex lyrical themes, intricate riffs, hyper-speed solos, and the pissed-off growl of Dave Mustaine’s vocal lines made this album the second greatest thrash album ever recorded. Props to Metallica for firing Dave, the world is better off with both Megadeth and Metallica.
9 Vulgar Display of Power Pantera (1992). Heavier than Metallica and more dangerous than any other metal band at the time. This album helped metal stay relevant through its near-demise in the ‘90’s.
10 Ace of Spades Motorhead (1980). One of the first bands to play metal riffs at fast speeds. This album was ugly, in a good way. The raw, unrelenting, in-your-face-metal helped launch the speed metal genre and ultimately thrash.
Some honorable mentions in no particular order: Slayer's Reign in Blood, Tool's Aenima, Dio's Holy Diver, Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime, Dream Theater's Images and Words, Judas Priest's Pain Killer and the Sad Wings of Destiny, Iron Maiden's Piece of Mind, Powerslave, and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, Pantera's Cowboys from Hell, Metallica's Ride the Lightening and St. Anger (just kidding on the latter), Motorhead's Overkill, Venom's Black Metal, Diamond Head's Lightning to the Nations, Opeth's Black Water Park and Deliverance, Blind Guardian's, Nightfall In Middle Earth.
Thanks to the Earl of Metal, Scott McPhie, Mook Farchings, Jason Smith, Boz, and Austin Lewis for special contributions and research.
Give me your top 10 but be prepared to back it up.
Peace, Love, and Riffs--
Jormungandr.
