we get it the genre isn’t for everyone but these albums definitely are welcome
but these albums definitely are welcome
but these albums definitely are welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
to watchmojo.com and today we’re
to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten metal albums for people who don’t like
metal albums for people who don’t like
metal albums for people who don’t like metal for this list we’ve selected
metal for this list we’ve selected
metal for this list we’ve selected albums usually classified as metal that
albums usually classified as metal that
albums usually classified as metal that of captured mainstream success while
of captured mainstream success while
of captured mainstream success while still sounding true to the genre
basically these are the releases that
basically these are the releases that will have both your mom and your teenage
will have both your mom and your teenage
will have both your mom and your teenage cousin banging their heads
cousin banging their heads
cousin banging their heads [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number 10 mesmerized System of a Down
[Music]
[Music] kicking off our list is the
kicking off our list is the
kicking off our list is the armenian-american formation known as
armenian-american formation known as
armenian-american formation known as System of a Down
originating in Los Angeles County the
originating in Los Angeles County the band members grew up in one of the
band members grew up in one of the
band members grew up in one of the world’s largest musical melting pots the
world’s largest musical melting pots the
world’s largest musical melting pots the band’s mix of influences reached its
band’s mix of influences reached its
band’s mix of influences reached its pinnacle in 2004 s mesmerized the album
pinnacle in 2004 s mesmerized the album
pinnacle in 2004 s mesmerized the album combines elements from several different
combines elements from several different
combines elements from several different genres including acoustic progressive
genres including acoustic progressive
genres including acoustic progressive rock and even reggae and that’s only to
rock and even reggae and that’s only to
rock and even reggae and that’s only to name a few however the band’s metal
name a few however the band’s metal
name a few however the band’s metal presence is still center stage in the
presence is still center stage in the
presence is still center stage in the form of advanced guitar play sudden
form of advanced guitar play sudden
form of advanced guitar play sudden tempo changes and unique vocals when
tempo changes and unique vocals when
tempo changes and unique vocals when combined with their eclectic background
combined with their eclectic background
combined with their eclectic background this masterful stirring of sounds
this masterful stirring of sounds
this masterful stirring of sounds creates an experience with something for
creates an experience with something for
creates an experience with something for everyone
[Music]
[Music] number nine the ends of heartache
number nine the ends of heartache
number nine the ends of heartache Killswitch Engage the third studio album
Killswitch Engage the third studio album
Killswitch Engage the third studio album from this metalcore group was the result
from this metalcore group was the result
from this metalcore group was the result of several lineup changes former drummer
of several lineup changes former drummer
of several lineup changes former drummer Adam Dutkiewicz took on the duties of
Adam Dutkiewicz took on the duties of
Adam Dutkiewicz took on the duties of lead guitar while Justin Foley was
lead guitar while Justin Foley was
lead guitar while Justin Foley was recruited to take his place on the drums
recruited to take his place on the drums
recruited to take his place on the drums also Howard Jones took the seat as the
also Howard Jones took the seat as the
also Howard Jones took the seat as the band’s frontman
[Music]
[Music] this musical chairs of the personnel
this musical chairs of the personnel
this musical chairs of the personnel went over well as the end of heartache
went over well as the end of heartache
went over well as the end of heartache became a massive critical and commercial
became a massive critical and commercial
became a massive critical and commercial success with its title track earning the
success with its title track earning the
success with its title track earning the group a Grammy nomination
exploring the softer side of metal if
exploring the softer side of metal if such a thing exists the end of
such a thing exists the end of
such a thing exists the end of heartaches lyrical topics include
heartaches lyrical topics include
heartaches lyrical topics include romance faith and unity which are
romance faith and unity which are
romance faith and unity which are amplified through the harmonic guitars
amplified through the harmonic guitars
amplified through the harmonic guitars and Jones’s booming delivery
on the strength of accessible songs such
on the strength of accessible songs such as the album’s title track the end of
as the album’s title track the end of
as the album’s title track the end of heartache was certified gold in 2007
heartache was certified gold in 2007
heartache was certified gold in 2007 [Music]
number eight volume 3 the subliminal
number eight volume 3 the subliminal verses Slipknot
okay just bear with us on this one while
okay just bear with us on this one while the horrific masks and relentless
the horrific masks and relentless
the horrific masks and relentless brutality of Slipknot can scare away
brutality of Slipknot can scare away
brutality of Slipknot can scare away even some veteran rock bands vol 3 was
even some veteran rock bands vol 3 was
even some veteran rock bands vol 3 was the band’s pinnacle of widespread appeal
the band’s pinnacle of widespread appeal
the band’s pinnacle of widespread appeal by cutting out curse words and
by cutting out curse words and
by cutting out curse words and incorporating melodic overtones the Iowa
incorporating melodic overtones the Iowa
incorporating melodic overtones the Iowa natives reached beyond their hardcore
natives reached beyond their hardcore
natives reached beyond their hardcore fan base and caught the attention of the
fan base and caught the attention of the
fan base and caught the attention of the mainstream
however commercial genius producer Rick
however commercial genius producer Rick Rubin found a way to do so without
Rubin found a way to do so without
Rubin found a way to do so without sacrificing the band’s face melting
sacrificing the band’s face melting
sacrificing the band’s face melting sound the result was an album that left
sound the result was an album that left
sound the result was an album that left very few unsatisfied
not only did it go platinum in less than
not only did it go platinum in less than a year but it was named one of the best
a year but it was named one of the best
a year but it was named one of the best albums of the decade by metal hammer
albums of the decade by metal hammer
albums of the decade by metal hammer magazine it also didn’t hurt that it’s
magazine it also didn’t hurt that it’s
magazine it also didn’t hurt that it’s single had some of the best music videos
single had some of the best music videos
single had some of the best music videos and Slipknot history
God number seven sunbather def Haven
God number seven sunbather def Haven [Music]
metal has never sounded this dreamy
metal has never sounded this dreamy bandmembers George Clark and Carrie
bandmembers George Clark and Carrie
bandmembers George Clark and Carrie McCoy combined black metal elements with
McCoy combined black metal elements with
McCoy combined black metal elements with a post-rock atmosphere to create an
a post-rock atmosphere to create an
a post-rock atmosphere to create an album that drew in universal acclaim
this was accomplished through the wall
this was accomplished through the wall of sound technique the method involves
of sound technique the method involves
of sound technique the method involves layering instruments and different
layering instruments and different
layering instruments and different effects multiple times to produce a
effects multiple times to produce a
effects multiple times to produce a truly immersive listening experience
truly immersive listening experience
truly immersive listening experience this allowed some of deaf havens major
this allowed some of deaf havens major
this allowed some of deaf havens major metal influences to still be present
metal influences to still be present
metal influences to still be present without scaring would-be listeners away
without scaring would-be listeners away
without scaring would-be listeners away [Music]
[Music]
[Music] somewhere among the sea of samples
somewhere among the sea of samples
somewhere among the sea of samples interludes and guitar effects are
interludes and guitar effects are
interludes and guitar effects are classic black metal vocals through this
classic black metal vocals through this
classic black metal vocals through this pop inspired recording technique
pop inspired recording technique
pop inspired recording technique sunbather undoubtedly drew in many
sunbather undoubtedly drew in many
sunbather undoubtedly drew in many prospective metal fans and maintained
prospective metal fans and maintained
prospective metal fans and maintained those already in for the ride
[Music]
[Music] number six city of evil Avenged
number six city of evil Avenged
number six city of evil Avenged Sevenfold
many of the albums on this list were
many of the albums on this list were stylistic departures from the band’s
stylistic departures from the band’s
stylistic departures from the band’s normal sound by far the best example of
normal sound by far the best example of
normal sound by far the best example of this was Avenged Sevenfold’s third
this was Avenged Sevenfold’s third
this was Avenged Sevenfold’s third studio release for this recording singer
studio release for this recording singer
studio release for this recording singer M shadows tone down his usual screaming
M shadows tone down his usual screaming
M shadows tone down his usual screaming and adopted a grittier style
[Music]
[Music] additionally other band members expanded
additionally other band members expanded
additionally other band members expanded on melodic sounds at previous albums
on melodic sounds at previous albums
on melodic sounds at previous albums only briefly feature this helped the
only briefly feature this helped the
only briefly feature this helped the band pivot from a moshing metalcore act
band pivot from a moshing metalcore act
band pivot from a moshing metalcore act in to a more traditional heavy metal
in to a more traditional heavy metal
in to a more traditional heavy metal group
group
group [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the musical makeover paid off a city of
the musical makeover paid off a city of
the musical makeover paid off a city of evil remains the band’s most successful
evil remains the band’s most successful
evil remains the band’s most successful album to date this was due to a balance
album to date this was due to a balance
album to date this was due to a balance of high-powered guitar riffs and
of high-powered guitar riffs and
of high-powered guitar riffs and repeatable lyrics accessible tracks like
repeatable lyrics accessible tracks like
repeatable lyrics accessible tracks like the face melting bad country and
the face melting bad country and
the face melting bad country and tear-jerking seize a day helped city of
tear-jerking seize a day helped city of
tear-jerking seize a day helped city of evil earned respect of both hardcore
evil earned respect of both hardcore
evil earned respect of both hardcore fans and casual listeners alike
fans and casual listeners alike
fans and casual listeners alike [Music]
the Georgia based Act originally gained
the Georgia based Act originally gained recognition through their unique and
recognition through their unique and
recognition through their unique and progressive sound however as the band’s
progressive sound however as the band’s
progressive sound however as the band’s career evolved so did their musical
career evolved so did their musical
career evolved so did their musical style by the time the hunter was
style by the time the hunter was
style by the time the hunter was recorded Mastodon had already adopted
recorded Mastodon had already adopted
recorded Mastodon had already adopted cleaner vocals and polished
cleaner vocals and polished
cleaner vocals and polished instrumentals this time however the
instrumentals this time however the
instrumentals this time however the record also featured the recruitment of
record also featured the recruitment of
record also featured the recruitment of producer Mike Elizondo his past
producer Mike Elizondo his past
producer Mike Elizondo his past collaborations includes several popular
collaborations includes several popular
collaborations includes several popular artists such as Eminem maroon 5 and
artists such as Eminem maroon 5 and
artists such as Eminem maroon 5 and Fiona Apple under elizondo’s proven
Fiona Apple under elizondo’s proven
Fiona Apple under elizondo’s proven guidance the album combined Ludacris
guidance the album combined Ludacris
guidance the album combined Ludacris guitar play various singing methods and
guitar play various singing methods and
guitar play various singing methods and epic courses under attention-grabbing
epic courses under attention-grabbing
epic courses under attention-grabbing production
[Music]
[Music] the result was a massive success that
the result was a massive success that
the result was a massive success that the members have named as the most fun
the members have named as the most fun
the members have named as the most fun to record luckily for them it is also
to record luckily for them it is also
to record luckily for them it is also arguably the most fun for mainstream
arguably the most fun for mainstream
arguably the most fun for mainstream fans to listen to
fans to listen to
fans to listen to [Music]
number four blizzard of Ozz Ozzy
number four blizzard of Ozz Ozzy Osbourne
although the Prince of Darkness had
although the Prince of Darkness had already experienced success as the
already experienced success as the
already experienced success as the frontman for Black Sabbath he had to
frontman for Black Sabbath he had to
frontman for Black Sabbath he had to share the spotlight with fellow rock
share the spotlight with fellow rock
share the spotlight with fellow rock legends Tony Iommi and geezer butler it
legends Tony Iommi and geezer butler it
legends Tony Iommi and geezer butler it wasn’t really until Osbourne went solo
wasn’t really until Osbourne went solo
wasn’t really until Osbourne went solo that his natural charisma as a performer
that his natural charisma as a performer
that his natural charisma as a performer started to blossom
his debut album came only one year after
his debut album came only one year after his firing from Black Sabbath more on
his firing from Black Sabbath more on
his firing from Black Sabbath more on them later backing up the future
them later backing up the future
them later backing up the future Godfather of heavy metal was guitarist
Godfather of heavy metal was guitarist
Godfather of heavy metal was guitarist Randy Rhoads whose classical background
Randy Rhoads whose classical background
Randy Rhoads whose classical background added a sense of refinement and
added a sense of refinement and
added a sense of refinement and complexity to Osbourne shrill vocals
complexity to Osbourne shrill vocals
complexity to Osbourne shrill vocals together that she produced blistering
together that she produced blistering
together that she produced blistering tracks such as the iconic crazy train
tracks such as the iconic crazy train
tracks such as the iconic crazy train which remains one of Aussies most
which remains one of Aussies most
which remains one of Aussies most popular songs to date
popular songs to date
popular songs to date [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the madman’s first venture by himself
the madman’s first venture by himself
the madman’s first venture by himself was a huge success going platinum four
was a huge success going platinum four
was a huge success going platinum four times and cementing the singer as a
times and cementing the singer as a
times and cementing the singer as a household name
you
you [Music]
number three the number of the beast
number three the number of the beast Iron Maiden like we mentioned earlier
Iron Maiden like we mentioned earlier
Iron Maiden like we mentioned earlier stylistic shifts are a common theme on
stylistic shifts are a common theme on
stylistic shifts are a common theme on this list the third studio album by Iron
this list the third studio album by Iron
this list the third studio album by Iron Maiden is no exception as it was the
Maiden is no exception as it was the
Maiden is no exception as it was the first to feature legendary singer Bruce
first to feature legendary singer Bruce
first to feature legendary singer Bruce Dickinson Dickinson soaring vocals and
Dickinson Dickinson soaring vocals and
Dickinson Dickinson soaring vocals and energetic delivery made the number of
energetic delivery made the number of
energetic delivery made the number of the beast more of a metal opera than a
the beast more of a metal opera than a
the beast more of a metal opera than a normal album
normal album
normal album [Music]
[Music]
[Music] bassist Steve Harris’s galloping style
bassist Steve Harris’s galloping style
bassist Steve Harris’s galloping style helped facilitate several heart racing
helped facilitate several heart racing
helped facilitate several heart racing tempo changes which made the blistering
tempo changes which made the blistering
tempo changes which made the blistering guitar work easy to digest
[Music]
[Music] several of the songs also made
several of the songs also made
several of the songs also made recognizable references to things like
recognizable references to things like
recognizable references to things like the movies and religion combining all
the movies and religion combining all
the movies and religion combining all these elements made for a release that
these elements made for a release that
these elements made for a release that was approachable relatable and still
was approachable relatable and still
was approachable relatable and still reflective of the band’s metal roots
as a result the number of the beast is
as a result the number of the beast is considered an absolute landmark for the
considered an absolute landmark for the
considered an absolute landmark for the genre
now you wait your turn number two
now you wait your turn number two paranoid Black Sabbath
paranoid Black Sabbath
paranoid Black Sabbath a great place to start when introducing
a great place to start when introducing
a great place to start when introducing a newbie to a music genre is at the
a newbie to a music genre is at the
a newbie to a music genre is at the origin while the debate of which was the
origin while the debate of which was the
origin while the debate of which was the first heavy metal album includes several
first heavy metal album includes several
first heavy metal album includes several choices
choices
choices Black Sabbath sophomore release is
Black Sabbath sophomore release is
Black Sabbath sophomore release is undeniably one of the most influential
undeniably one of the most influential
undeniably one of the most influential of the pool
it isn’t much of a stretch to say that
it isn’t much of a stretch to say that every entrant on this list was in some
every entrant on this list was in some
every entrant on this list was in some way influenced by this iconic album
way influenced by this iconic album
way influenced by this iconic album guided by guitarist Tony Iommi’s iconic
guided by guitarist Tony Iommi’s iconic
guided by guitarist Tony Iommi’s iconic riffs
paranoid spoke of harsher life topics
paranoid spoke of harsher life topics including war depression and drug abuse
including war depression and drug abuse
including war depression and drug abuse the dose of reality worked as the masses
the dose of reality worked as the masses
the dose of reality worked as the masses embraced tracks such as war pigs and
embraced tracks such as war pigs and
embraced tracks such as war pigs and iron man
[Music]
[Music] the album’s widespread appeal helped
the album’s widespread appeal helped
the album’s widespread appeal helped open the door for countless metal acts
open the door for countless metal acts
open the door for countless metal acts to follow and cemented the band’s status
to follow and cemented the band’s status
to follow and cemented the band’s status as one of the pioneers of the genre
as one of the pioneers of the genre
as one of the pioneers of the genre [Music]
[Music]
[Music] before we reveal our top spot here are a
before we reveal our top spot here are a
before we reveal our top spot here are a few honorable mentions
number one Metallica
number one Metallica aka the Black Album Metallica picking
aka the Black Album Metallica picking
aka the Black Album Metallica picking just one of this bands releases is tough
just one of this bands releases is tough
just one of this bands releases is tough considering their back catalogue
considering their back catalogue
considering their back catalogue includes masterpieces like ride the
includes masterpieces like ride the
includes masterpieces like ride the lightning and Master of Puppets however
lightning and Master of Puppets however
lightning and Master of Puppets however for the top spot on this list we have to
for the top spot on this list we have to
for the top spot on this list we have to give it to the self-titled album that
give it to the self-titled album that
give it to the self-titled album that turn Metallica from thrash legends into
turn Metallica from thrash legends into
turn Metallica from thrash legends into global icons
[Music]
[Music] the widespread hysteria surrounding the
the widespread hysteria surrounding the
the widespread hysteria surrounding the album was due to its versatility not
album was due to its versatility not
album was due to its versatility not only to the nickname Black Album feature
only to the nickname Black Album feature
only to the nickname Black Album feature classic fresh tracks such as through
classic fresh tracks such as through
classic fresh tracks such as through than ever but it also featured widely
than ever but it also featured widely
than ever but it also featured widely loved slower songs like nothing else
loved slower songs like nothing else
loved slower songs like nothing else matters
matters
matters which has been covered over 40 times
which has been covered over 40 times
which has been covered over 40 times trust us happened
trust us happened
trust us happened this balance reached its pinnacle in the
this balance reached its pinnacle in the
this balance reached its pinnacle in the leading track enter sandman’ which is
leading track enter sandman’ which is
leading track enter sandman’ which is now one of the most recognizable metal
now one of the most recognizable metal
now one of the most recognizable metal songs in history
on its way to going platinum 16 times
on its way to going platinum 16 times the Black Album helped to establish
the Black Album helped to establish
the Black Album helped to establish heavy metal as a widely embraced music
heavy metal as a widely embraced music
heavy metal as a widely embraced music genre and nothing else matters
genre and nothing else matters
genre and nothing else matters [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so do you agree with our list which
so do you agree with our list which
so do you agree with our list which albums do you think are great for
albums do you think are great for
albums do you think are great for nonmetal fans for more accessible top
nonmetal fans for more accessible top
nonmetal fans for more accessible top 10s published every day be sure to
10s published every day be sure to
10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com
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