Best European Metal Albums of All Time

These are the best metal albums ever to cross the pond.
The Top Ten
1 Judas Priest - Painkiller

This album is really good and one of my favorite metal albums of all time. However, the other comment is wrong. I believe this album was made in 1990, so it was not really one of the first metal albums of all time. But anyway, it's genius, and I wish Judas Priest would have made more albums like this. Especially the solos and vocals on this album are insane.

Hah! What a joke, Children of Bodom and In Flames are ahead of the Metal Gods! Get a life, idiots. This is the album that defined the heavy metal genre along with Black Sabbath's Paranoid.

2 Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

"Hallowed be Thy Name" is the best heavy song of all time. Death Metal is good, but In Flames isn't good enough to deserve a top 10 spot, and neither is CoB. Accept's "Balls to the Wall" is at 39, and it deserves a place in the top 5. Iron Maiden is the best heavy metal band of all time, and you don't seem to understand that.

How can this masterpiece be 4th? What is wrong with the world today? Bullet for My Valentine is crap, Opeth is good, In Flames and Children of Bodom are great, but they are a shadow of Iron Maiden! Up the irons!

3 Iron Maiden - Powerslave

Such a classic album, Maiden at their finest. "Aces High" and "2 Minutes to Midnight" are the songs that really got me into Maiden. These songs never get old. Great album art, too.

My history teacher in 1987 used to play "Alexander the Great" and take a break in his office for 10 minutes, and he called this a lesson. Classic album.

4 Rainbow - Rising

Brilliant and influential album - helped to define and strengthen this baby genre (metal) in the mid-70s. Metal epicness was introduced with all its aspects: epic songs (credits to Ritchie Blackmore) and epic vocal performances (credits to Dio), for example, "Stargazer."

Another metal feature was also showcased here: epic, fast, and technical instrumental sections (for example, "A Light In The Black" with its awesome 4-minute-long instrumental section in the middle - overall, impressive musicianship). "Tarot Woman" is another great piece.

5 Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Black Sabbath (with Ozzy) cannot be touched when it comes to heavy metal. The legendary riffs, the spot-on lyrics, and the unique vocals define metal and are still selling out venues to this day.

The greatest album ever, across all genres, from all over the world.

6 Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell

Definitely their best and most metal-sounding album - almost all blues, psychedelic, jazz, and funk elements found in their previous albums were successfully removed. And yes, Dio's impeccable vocals gave this album a perfect finish.

The best vocalist of all time in the best metal band of all time, then the best metal album ever!

7 Blind Guardian - Nightfall in Middle Earth

Now this is a unique band; it's hard even trying to place them into a specific metal genre. Their concerts are like a communion with the fans. If you've ever been to one of their shows, you know what I'm talking about. You might not jump as hard, but you'll definitely sing each and every single chorus, at least.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the best metal band?

That's Blind Guardian!

From the third album to this album, it's the best of the best of them!

8 Opeth - Morningrise

The world's best band and their best album. From soft sentimental voicings and awe-inspiring acoustic guitar passages to raw death metal, this band has it all. Simply the best.

9 Deep Purple - Machine Head

"Highway Star" alone should secure a spot in the top 10 - not only because it's an awesome track, but also because it defines metal: an entirely non-bluesy song based on Bach-like chord sequences.

Later, this non-bluesy sound became the most important feature of metal music. Bands like Rainbow, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden made this more evident. Metal, in general, became a genre based on classical music. Behind the riffs of "Holy Wars" and "Master of Puppets," you can hear classical music. Ritchie Blackmore is a pure genius.

"Highway Star" is widely considered to be 'early speed metal.' Add to this its memorable riff, breathtaking technical solo, and Gillan's great vocals. The legendary "Smoke on the Water" is on this album too.

10 In Flames - The Jester Race

This band spearheaded the melodic death metal invasion, and it can all be traced back to this album. The definition of Swedish death metal is "The Jester Race"!

The Contenders
11 Akroasis - Obscura
12 Hatebreeder - Children of Bodom

Some of the finest guitar (and keyboard) work ever. This is balls to the wall, relentless, melt your face off stuff. Very well written, a true wall of sound.

13 Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II
14 Children of Bodom - Follow The Reaper

The best guitar/keyboard solo I think you will ever hear!

15 Sonata Arctica - Silence

No doubt, their best work and one of the best power metal albums ever! The vocals are breathtaking, and the instruments are close to perfect! This album has it all, from soft ballads like "Tallulah" to power metal anthems like "Black Sheep." Perfect!

I just love Tony Kakko, and I love the way Jani plays. And the songs are just wonderful. It's something that opened my eyes and made me see that there are different styles of metal, not just death metal. Now I really love power/symphonic.

Greatest power metal album, hands down, and great representation of the European style of metal!

16 Ace of Spades - Motorhead

It's a legendary album, but I'm afraid it's not really metal. Lemmy himself stated that they have never been a metal band - just faster/heavier Rock 'N Roll with some punk influence.

17 Blind Guardian - At the Edge of Time

A perfect album, 5/5: Wheel of Time, Sacred Worlds, Ride Into Obsession, Tanelorn, Valkyries, Curse My Name, War of the Thrones, A Voice in the Dark.

18 Wishmaster - Nightwish

Get this band more popular! They deserve it! These guys are extremely talented artists with keyboard and operatic beauty mixed with epic heavy metal riffs! Even with the new girl, the music is still wonderful.

Beautiful album. Strong, sensual music. Charming, then another voice: Tarja Turunen. So maybe she sings forever...

19 Black Sabbath - Master of Reality
20 Cradle of Filth - Cruelty and the Beast

Get over yourselves, his vocals kick ass. One of the darkest (and greatest) metal albums I've ever heard. A must-have for any metalhead's collection.

21 Dimmu Borgir - Enthrone Darkness Triumphant

Modern Black Metal's leading force. Insane drums, awesome keyboards, original guitar, diabolical vocals... "Triumphant" in every way.

22 Arch Enemy - Wages of Sin

An album that is the ultimate combination of Swedish Death metal and hardcore. Great songwriting mixed with astonishing angry vocals. I punched a wall when I heard track twelve...

23 HammerFall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
24 Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine

This is my favorite gothic metal ever. This album really had that Hot Topic quality to it, and that's what I was into back in junior high. So, "Nyphetamine" is the best album from Europe.

25 Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire

Over the top! Over the top! Right now is killing time! This song is amazing and the list of the songs on the album is amazing.

Does anybody else think that this band is a disgrace to metal music and should be kept far from the top 10?

8Load More
PSearch List