Top 10 Best Metal Albums of the 1980s

Big hair. Bigger riffs. Even bigger attitude. The 1980s didn't just push metal into the mainstream. It kicked down the doors, cranked the amp to 11, and melted faces with a devil-horn salute. If you were around back then, your denim jacket probably still smells like beer and rebellion. If you weren't, here's your shot to step into the pit and give some love to the albums that redefined what loud could mean.

You're not just here to scroll. You've got opinions. So put them to use. Vote for the albums that raised the bar, shredded the rulebook, and left other bands scrambling to catch up. Every vote helps shape this list into something louder, faster, and more brutal. Just like the music itself.

The Top Ten

Ride the Lightning - Metallica
Master of Puppets - Metallica

Of course, number 1 has got to be Master of Puppets. The album starts out with an acoustic guitar, then becomes a hard-hitting guitar song called Battery, a fierce, aggressive speed metal track.
Other mentions are Master of Puppets, known as the greatest Metallica song of all time, and Welcome Home (Sanitarium), a typical Metallica ballad which has a masterpiece solo. Orion features a solo from the bass god Cliff Burton (R.I.P.).
Reign in Blood - Slayer

Slayer is one of the greatest thrash metal bands. Reign in Blood proves it all. With tracks like Angel of Death, which is about Josef Mengele, and Raining Blood, this album remains Slayer's best.
While gaining controversy and slowing the tempo down in subsequent albums, nothing seems to match the awesomeness of Reign in Blood.
The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden

Easily the best Iron Maiden album, this is a classic. The most popular songs include Run to the Hills, The Number of the Beast, and the best of them all, Hallowed Be Thy Name.
All of the songs on this album are good, so I recommend it to any metalhead. And if you don't own this, shame on you. Up the Irons!

Slayer above Maiden? How is this possible?
Powerslave - Iron Maiden
Ace of Spades - Motorhead
Holy Diver - Dio
Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
Screaming for Vengeance - Judas Priest
Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne

After getting kicked out of Sabbath, Ozzy decided to form his own band. Originally called Blizzard of Ozz, they were forced to change their name to Ozzy Osbourne, so it ended up being a solo project.
But, this album is great. It features Crazy Train, whose riff everyone knows, and a marvelous solo. Mr. Crowley also has a great solo. I say that this is a must-own too.

The Newcomers

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Horror at Red Hook (Demo) - Dunwich
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Leave Scars - Dark Angel

The Contenders

Bonded by Blood - Exodus
Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? - Megadeth

After getting kicked out of Metallica, Dave Mustaine formed a band. This band was Megadeth. In 1986, they released Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?
This album is really cool, from finish to start. With tracks like Peace Sells, Wake Up Dead, and even My Last Words, it is fast, angry, and a must-own.

When Megadeth formed, Mustaine promised that they would play faster and heavier than anybody else. It's a question if Megadeth managed to do so (as metal was growing very quickly in the 80s), but they surely lost their way in the 90s (even slowly)…
Diary of a Madman - Ozzy Osbourne
Kill 'Em All - Metallica
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - Iron Maiden
Alice in Hell - Annihilator
Back in Black - AC/DC

After Bon Scott's death, they replaced him with Brian Johnson, an unknown singer who is really known now. His first album is a masterpiece. The album kicks off with Hells Bells and ends with a Bon Scott tribute, Rock 'n' Roll Noise Pollution.
Also, Back In Black is a popular metal song and one of the greatest ever known. Back In Black remains one of the greatest selling albums of all time, and nothing has quite matched it.
British Steel - Judas Priest

After releasing Hell Bent for Leather (which ranked #2 on my 70s albums list), The Priest released an album called British Steel. It has mainstream songs like Breaking the Law and Living After Midnight, but also features underrated and awesome songs like Rapid Fire and The Rage.
This album is great for a Priest fan like me.
Beneath the Remains - Sepultura
Killers - Iron Maiden
The New Order - Testament
Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses

From Welcome to the Jungle to the ballad Sweet Child O' Mine to lesser-known songs like Rocket Queen, this album is everything you need for rock 'n' roll (or metal).
What is rock 'n' roll all about? Sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Guns N' Roses definitely has all three of those things.
Welcome to Hell - Venom
Operation: Mindcrime - Queensrÿche
Persecution Mania - Sodom