Welcome to the School of Rock (online edition), and this is Intro to Metal Music. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the heavy metal albums that could serve as solid primers for anyone skeptical of the genre.
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00:00 "Trust I seek and I find in you"
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the heavy metal albums that
00:10 could serve as solid primers for anyone that's skeptical of the genre.
00:15 Number 20. Appetite for Destruction - Guns N' Roses
00:24 "Welcome to the jungle, we got fun and games, we got everything you want,
00:30 honey we know the names"
00:32 Call it hard rock, call it heavy metal, just don't call Appetite for Destruction anything
00:37 less than a stone cold classic. This monster debut LP from Guns N' Roses is chock full of
00:44 songs you know, making it a perfect primer for those unfamiliar with the band's sleazy 1980s sound.
00:51 "Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty"
00:56 Appetite goes beyond familiar tracks like Sweet Child of Mine,
00:59 Night Train and Mr. Brownstone, containing a wealth of amazing deep cuts like Think About You.
01:05 It's songs like these, as well as its epic closing number Rocket Queen,
01:10 that help make Appetite for Destruction as perfect an album as you're ever going to find.
01:15 "Don't ever leave me, say you'll always be there"
01:23 Number 19. Peace Cells - But Who's Buying - Megadeth
01:28 Thrash can be something of a tough sell for those outside of heavy metal's
01:39 immediate circle of influence. That said however, there's just something about the
01:44 excellence surrounding elite acts like Megadeth that serve as a great musical introduction.
01:49 Peace Cells - But Who's Buying - was the group's sophomore effort and began to balance Megadeth's
02:01 furious technical prowess with some catchy songwriting. Dave Mustaine and his boys could
02:06 play their asses off sure, but they were also concerned with pushing forward heavy metal
02:12 as a whole, and in doing so, they practically dared everybody else to keep up.
02:17 Number 18. Around the Fur - Deftones -
02:28 There were a wealth of acts during the late 90's that were attempting to combine heavy music with
02:38 emotive singing and alternative aesthetic trappings. Deftones were among the most
02:43 successful of these groups, thanks largely to how the vocals of frontman Chino Moreno
02:48 would vacillate between the seductive and the aggressive.
02:51 My Own Summer - Shove It - was a heavy opening tune sure, but there are also moments on the
03:02 album that are melodic and downright sensual. Deftones would explore these sorts of sounds
03:07 more on later albums, but Around the Fur showcases a nice balance between their heavy roots and
03:14 forward-thinking sounds.
03:15 Number 17. Images and Words - Dream Theater -
03:23 The progressive rock of the 1970's earned a new lease on life once high-minded metal
03:35 bands of the 1980's and 90's took those musical reigns and ran off to the races. Artists such as
03:42 Fates Warning and Dream Theater would serve as bridges between the old and new, particularly
03:47 the latter. Indeed, Dream Theater's sophomore album Images and Words would go on to become
03:52 one of the defining progressive metal LPs of its day, and it still holds up marvelously
03:58 by current standards.
04:00 Go find it here, looking not away
04:06 The musicianship is otherworldly, but the songwriting is also up to snuff, particularly
04:12 on the album's hit single Hold Me Under. Said simply, Dream Theater is one of the
04:16 best to ever do it.
04:18 Hold me under, I'm not afraid
04:22 Number 16. Vulgar Display of Power - Pantera -
04:27 We honestly could have picked any Pantera album for this list, yes, even the glam metal
04:35 ones. Yet there's something transformative about Vulgar Display of Power that's made
04:40 more than one heavy metal convert out of a non-believer. There's a ridiculous amount
04:45 of fire, aggression and yes, power to be heard on this album.
04:54 Pantera's power groove approach takes on both riffs and breakdown sections in equal
04:59 measure, while singer Phil Anselmo forever sounds like the angriest guy in the room.
05:04 But there's also brief moments of melodic respite on songs like Hollow, to ensure that
05:09 Vulgar Display of Power will never be seen as a one-trick pony.
05:13 Number 15. Van Halen - Van Halen -
05:22 I live my life like there's no tomorrow
05:28 This is it, the basic blueprint for the entire Sunset Strip glam metal sound that would emerge
05:33 in the 1980s. Van Halen did it all on their debut album before artists like Rat, Dokken
05:39 and Warrant could even bat an eyelash. Hot licks? Check. Ridiculous chops? Double check.
05:46 Oh, oh, oh, Jamie's crying
05:50 Van Halen's first record is, in a word, immense. Yet it's not all heads down bombast.
05:59 Songs like Atomic Punk, I'm the One, Jamie's Cryin' and On Fire are all arranged with
06:05 note-perfect perfection. David Lee Roth is the perfect voice to sing these songs too,
06:10 part Broadway showman, part carnival barker and all charisma. Van Halen still sounds as
06:16 fresh now as it did back in 1978.
06:19 Number 14. British Steel - Judas Priest
06:28 The back catalogue of Judas Priest possesses a treasure trove of diamonds. From their moody
06:39 work in the 1970s to the arena-ready sound of British Steel, this was the album that
06:45 broke Priest in America. An anthemic LP that's admittedly diluted a bit from the band's more
06:51 progressive past, but no less heavy. The Rage and Steeler connect British Steel a bit to
07:04 Priest's younger days, while Breaking the Law and Rapid Fire are indicative of Metal's
07:09 fresh, new approach for the 80s. Meanwhile, Living After Midnight may be an overplayed
07:14 hit single from this album, but it's almost single-handedly responsible for bringing scores
07:20 of new fans into the Priest fold. And that's gotta count for something.
07:24 Number 13. Dirt - Alice in Chains
07:41 The sound of glam rock that inspired the demo work of Alice in Chains was long gone by the
07:47 time Dirt arrived in 1992. This sophomore LP built upon the heavy framework of its predecessor,
07:54 Facelift, in a big way. Alice in Chains were still a heavy, guitar-focused band,
08:00 straddling the line between grunge trailblazers and unabashed metalheads. Dirt brought to the
08:06 table a more meditative and moody sense of songwriting. This was a stark contrast to
08:16 the lyrical content found within much heavy metal from this period, and allowed songs like Them
08:21 Bones, Rooster, Damn That River, and Wood to truly resonate with fans. Dirt, frankly,
08:28 just sounded fresh, and Alice in Chains were officially on their way to becoming rock gods.
08:34 Number 12. Once - Nightwish
08:44 What's the best entry point for heavy metal? Well, the answer to that question just might be found
08:56 among any of the genre's myriad sub-genres. Finland's Nightwish are symphonic, operatic,
09:03 and unapologetically melodic. They have historically done nothing in half measures,
09:07 whether on their breakthrough Wishmaster LP from 2000, or on this epic album from 2004.
09:13 Once is a wonderful way to expose those wary of metal to just how many approachable avenues one
09:26 could take toward the same musical destination. It's an album steeped in keyboards and legitimately
09:32 amazing female vocals, a grand exploration into the realms of beauty and fantasy. Nightwish
09:38 wants to take you away with their music, and Once is the perfect album to achieve this goal.
09:43 Number 11. Meliora - Ghost
09:59 There can often be a surprising number of musical influences that creep up within
10:04 even the heaviest of metal bands. Sweden's Ghost have cited artists like The Beatles as
10:09 offering inspiration for their vocal harmonies and musical arrangements. And that musical
10:14 diversity can be heard in Ghost's 2015 album Meliora. The guitar work on here isn't as edgy
10:26 as some other more extreme metal acts from Scandinavia, instead working together with
10:32 choral voices and synthesizer to create a remarkable approachability. Meliora is just
10:37 remarkably easy to listen to, despite containing songwriting that's unabashedly progressive in
10:43 scope. Number 10. Mesmerize - System Of A Down
10:53 Next on our list is the Armenian-American formation known as System Of A Down. Originating
11:04 in Los Angeles County, the band members grew up in one of the world's largest musical melting pots.
11:10 The band's mix of influences reached its pinnacle in 2004's Mesmerize.
11:20 The album combines elements from several different genres, including acoustic,
11:24 progressive rock and even reggae. And that's only to name a few. However,
11:29 the band's metal presence is still center stage in the form of advanced guitar play,
11:34 sudden tempo changes and unique vocals. When combined with their eclectic background,
11:39 this masterful stirring of sounds creates an experience with something for everyone.
11:44 Number 9. The End Of Heartache - Kill Switch Engage
11:55 The third studio album from this metalcore group was the result of several lineup changes.
12:06 Former drummer Adam Dee took on the duties of lead guitar, while Justin Foley was recruited
12:12 to take his place on the drums. Also, Howard Jones took the seat as the band's frontman.
12:17 This musical chairs of the personnel went over well, as The End Of Heartache became a massive
12:22 critical and commercial success, with its title track earning the group a Grammy nomination.
12:35 Exploring the softer side of metal, if such a thing exists, The End Of Heartache's lyrical
12:41 topics include romance, faith and unity, which are amplified through harmonic guitars and Jones'
12:48 booming delivery. On the strength of accessible songs, such as the album's title track,
12:53 The End Of Heartache was certified gold in 2007.
13:04 Number 8. Volume 3 - The Subliminal Verses - Slipknot
13:09 Ok, just bear with us on this one. While the horrific masks and relentless brutality of
13:21 Slipknot can scare away even some veteran rock fans, Volume 3 was the band's pinnacle of widespread
13:27 appeal. By cutting out curse words and incorporating melodic overtones, the Iowa natives reached beyond
13:33 their hardcore fanbase and caught the attention of the mainstream. However, commercial genius
13:43 producer Rick Rubin found a way to do so without sacrificing the band's face-melting sound. The
13:49 result was an album that left very few unsatisfied. Not only did it go platinum in less than a year,
13:55 but it also was named one of the best albums of the decade by Metal Hammer magazine. It also
14:00 didn't hurt that its singles had some of the best music videos in Slipknot history.
14:04 Number 7. Sunbather - Deaf Heaven
14:12 Metal has never sounded this dreamy. Band members George Clark and Carey McCoy combined black metal
14:22 elements with the post-rock atmosphere to create an album that drew in universal acclaim. This was
14:29 accomplished through the wall of sound technique. The method involves layering instruments and
14:33 different effects multiple times to produce a truly immersive listening experience.
14:38 This allowed some of Deaf Heaven's major metal influences to still be present without scaring
14:49 would-be listeners away. Somewhere among the sea of samples, interludes and guitar effects
14:55 are classic black metal vocals. Through this pop-inspired recording technique,
15:00 Sunbather undoubtedly drew in many prospective metal fans and maintained those already in for
15:06 the ride. Number 6. City of Evil - Avenged Sevenfold
15:20 Many of the albums on this list were stylistic departures from the band's normal sound.
15:25 By far, the best example of this was Avenged Sevenfold's third studio release.
15:29 For this recording, singer M. Shadows toned down his usual screaming and adopted a grittier style.
15:35 Additionally, other band members expanded on melodic sounds that previous albums only briefly
15:41 featured. This helped the band pivot from a moshing metalcore act into a more traditional
15:46 heavy metal group. The musical makeover paid off as City of Evil remains the band's most
15:56 successful album to date. This was due to a balance of high-powered guitar riffs and
16:01 repeatable lyrics. Accessible tracks like the face-melting "Bat Country" and tear-jerking
16:06 "Seize the Day" helped City of Evil earn the respect of both hardcore fans and casual listeners
16:12 alike. Number 5. The Hunter - Mastodon
16:22 The Georgia-based act originally gained recognition through their unique and progressive
16:31 sound. However, as the band's career evolved, so did their musical style. By the time The Hunter
16:37 was recorded, Mastodon had already adopted cleaner vocals and polished instrumentals.
16:42 However, this time, the record also featured the recruitment of producer Mike Elizondo.
16:47 His past collaborations include several popular artists such as Eminem, Maroon 5, and Fiona Apple.
16:59 Under Elizondo's proven guidance, the album combined ludicrous guitar play, various singing
17:05 methods, and epic choruses under attention-grabbing production. The result was a massive success that
17:11 the members have named as the most fun to record. Luckily for them, it is arguably the most fun for
17:17 mainstream fans to listen to. Number 4. Blizzard of Odds - Ozzy Osbourne
17:31 Although the Prince of Darkness had already experienced success as the frontman for Black
17:43 Sabbath, he had to share the spotlight with fellow rock legends Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler. It
17:49 wasn't really until Osbourne went solo that his natural charisma as a performer started to blossom.
17:55 His debut album came only one year after his firing from Black Sabbath. More on that later.
18:06 Backing up the future godfather of heavy metal was guitarist Randy Rhoads,
18:11 whose classical background added a sense of refinement and complexity to Osbourne's shrill
18:16 vocals. Together, the two produced blistering tracks such as the iconic "Crazy Train",
18:22 which remains one of Ozzy's most popular songs to date. The madman's first venture by himself
18:28 was a huge success, going platinum four times and cementing the singer as a household name.
18:34 Number 3. The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden
18:47 Like we mentioned earlier, stylistic shifts are a common theme on this list. The third
18:53 studio album by Iron Maiden is no exception, as it was the first to feature legendary singer
18:59 Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson's soaring vocals and energetic delivery made The Number of the Beast
19:04 more of a metal opera than a normal album. Bassist Steve Harris's galloping style helped
19:15 facilitate several heart-racing tempo changes, which made the blistering guitar work easy to
19:20 digest. Several of the songs also made recognizable references to things like movies and religion,
19:26 combining all these elements made for a release that was approachable, relatable, and still
19:33 reflective of the band's metal roots. As a result, The Number of the Beast is considered an absolute
19:38 landmark for the genre. Number 2. Paranoid - Black Sabbath
19:47 A great place to start when introducing a newbie to a music genre is at the origin. While the debate
19:59 of which was the first heavy metal album includes several choices, Black Sabbath's sophomore release
20:05 is undeniably one of the most influential in the pool. It isn't much of a stretch to say that every
20:11 entrant on this list was in some way influenced by this iconic album. Guided by guitarist Tony
20:23 Iommi's iconic riffs, Paranoid spoke of harsher life topics, including war, depression, and
20:29 substance use. The dose of reality worked, as the masses embraced tracks such as War Pigs and Iron
20:36 Man. The album's widespread appeal helped open the door for countless metal acts to follow,
20:41 and cemented the band's status as one of the pioneers of the genre.
20:45 Iron Man - Liberty
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21:05 Number 1. Metallica - Metallica
21:15 Picking just one of this band's releases is tough, considering their back catalogue includes
21:20 masterpieces like Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. However, for the top spot on this list,
21:26 we have to give it to the self-titled album that turned Metallica from thrash legends
21:30 into global icons. The widespread hysteria surrounding the album was due to its versatility.
21:43 Not only did the nicknamed "Black Album" feature classic thrash tracks such as Through the Never,
21:48 but it also featured widely loved slower songs like Nothing Else Matters, which has been covered
21:54 over 40 times. This album reached its pinnacle in the leading track "Enter Sandman", which is now
22:00 one of the most recognizable metal songs in history. On its way to going platinum 16 times,
22:06 the Black Album helped to establish heavy metal as a widely embraced music genre,
22:11 and Nothing Else Matters. Which metal album do you think could convert a non-believer?
22:22 Let us know in the comments!
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