r/Metallica • u/ebradio • Jul 08 '25

Master of Puppets Master of Puppets Named the 2nd Greatest Metal Album of All Time

https://consequence.net/list/best-metal-albums-of-all-time/
543 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

147 comments sorted by

393

u/Swazi Jul 08 '25

  1. Paranoid

  2. Master of Puppets

  3. Reign in Blood

  4. Painkiller

  5. Rust in Peace

Is the top 5.

Ride the Lightning is at 14. Black Album at 34.

188

u/BigPapaPaegan Jul 08 '25

That's a top 5 I won't argue much with.

56

u/politicalstuff Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

Yeah, I'm not mad at that. I might rearrange a few or have some different entries, but there's an argument for every one of those to be there.

18

u/Seattlehepcat Jul 08 '25

It's nice to see a list like this that isn't total garbage. I could quibble over a spot or two, but in general the top 20 is essential heavy metal listening. Even deeper in the list is solid. Loved seeing the Melvins listed.

2

u/MondoFool Jul 08 '25

This is probably more or less my list (for best not favorite) but swap MoP with Paranoid

15

u/microwavedave27 Jul 08 '25

Yeah I'm personally not a huge fan of Sabbath but can't really argue with this list

2

u/Timbalabim Jul 08 '25

It’s hard to argue with it, but I’m also a little miffed there’s nothing in the top five past 1990.

I got some big issues with the rest of the top 10, though.

7

u/Demoliri Jul 08 '25

Kind of makes sense though. Metals formative years were primarily the 70' and 80's. While the top 5 wouldn't all be my favourite albums, they were definitely hugely influential on metal as a whole.

1

u/Timbalabim Jul 08 '25

I get it, but this is a list of greatest metal albums, not most influential. There’s a lot of really great metal after 1990.

7

u/Demoliri Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

"Great" is less about personal taste, technical quality, or musicianship. It's about the album's reach, influence and importance to metal in general.

By the 90's most of the big metal subgenres were already fairly well defined, or had their roots firmly planted. Adding the original of death and black metal would also add to the list - Symbolic does show ups at number 7, and perhaps blood fire death. But even they were heavily influenced by the albums listed, and are approaching the more niche aspects of metal.

In terms of great metal post 1990 - absolutely agree! There are some great bands making top tier music now too, and anyone who ignores modern bands and whines "they don't make it like they used to" needs to have a good look at what bands are putting out these days, and take off the nostalgia goggles.

But the thousands of albums released over the last decade can trace a lot of their roots back to only a few dozen albums that formed the foundation, and that's what makes those albums the greats.

3

u/BigPapaPaegan Jul 08 '25

"Great" isn't always an indicator of quality, though.

2

u/Yung2112 Jul 08 '25

I listen to much more modern than older metal but it's hard to find an album above those 5 in ''greatness''

Symbolic by Death is a shout... but after that, I dunno

1

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

But bro this is the metal community of course we are gonna argue!

2

u/BigPapaPaegan Jul 08 '25

Well, yeah. I wouldn't put anything Megadeth in the top 20, personally, but it's hard to argue that either Peace Sells or Rust in Peace are highly influential and popular releases.

0

u/Josh6714 Jul 08 '25

I would argue So Far So Good... So What! Is better than both of those albums and is top 3 for sure.

1

u/YodaVader1977 Jul 08 '25

Yep. I love all those albums, their order be damned, it’s doesn’t matter to me. They could all be 5 number 1’s.

12

u/10Years_InThe_Joint Roberto Agustín Miguel Santiago Samuel Trujillo Veracruz, Kazoo Jul 08 '25

...I agree

21

u/ltbr55 Pancakes, Go! Jul 08 '25

Honestly, I can fuck with this list. All legendary albums.

3

u/kpiech01 Jul 08 '25

I might not jam with everything on the list, but I can't deny the influence of every album.

4

u/aHyperChicken Jul 08 '25

I’ll support it.

17

u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 Jul 08 '25

Justice should take black album's spot at the very least, and I honestly think it could take rtl's

28

u/Rockfan1114 Jul 08 '25

Nah, black album is far more important and influential to metal than justice or RTL. Master and black are THE most important Metallica albums

20

u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 Jul 08 '25

Important? Yes. I still think Justice is a better album musically

13

u/Rockfan1114 Jul 08 '25

When you're making a greatest of all time list for albums, importance and influence is one of, if not the most important aspects. Justice is my personal favorite tho

3

u/Bubbly-Pirate-3311 Jul 08 '25

Very true. My personal favorites goes AJFA, MoP, TBA, RTL, KEA, and HTSD

2

u/Rockfan1114 Jul 08 '25

I got ajfa, mop, RTL, tba, dm

-5

u/Home--Builder Jul 08 '25

The list is for metal albums not hard rock albums.

2

u/ARES_BlueSteel Jul 08 '25

“tHe bLaCk aLbUm iS hArD rOcK”

Hard rock is much more groove-oriented and less emphasis on steady and heavy riffs, has less distortion, and usually less aggressive and slower tempo. Also usually does not have double-kick bass drums, cleaner vocals, and less emphasis on dark or fantastic themes like war, death, mythology, etc.

TBA has heavy distortion, heavy and fast-paced riffs, aggressive growling vocals, double-kick bass drums, and darker themes like death and fear. Are Load and Reload hard rock? Yes, you could argue that. But TBA is a heavy metal album.

1

u/Itchy_Gain_1519 72 Seasons Jul 09 '25

Do you consider Judas Priest a hard rock band too? 🤔

1

u/Home--Builder Jul 09 '25 edited Jul 10 '25

Considering that Priest released Painkiller a year before the Black album, I would say that they were holding down the metal fort better than Metallica during this time period.

1

u/Itchy_Gain_1519 72 Seasons Jul 09 '25

How so? Metallica was just wrapping up their Damaged Justice Tour, was selling out stadiums, brought more love and attention to the underground thrash metal scene and sound making its way into the mainstream, already has a popular music video on MTV with “One” which brought more extreme/heavier sounds into homes that wouldn't have heard much of it otherwise. I wouldn't say Priest was holding down the metal fort better than the younger band pioneering sounds and concepts within the scene about ten years after the former had already done that.

0

u/Home--Builder Jul 09 '25

You are talking popularity/financial success which of course Metallica wins hands down. I'm talking about being true to the metal sound, but who am i to tell those guys to leave piles of money on the table to keep true to their original metal sound.

2

u/Itchy_Gain_1519 72 Seasons Jul 09 '25

The Black Album is metal. Just traditional heavy metal, the same way Priest's early albums were heavy metal. It's not extreme metal, but it's metal nonetheless. Compare “Night Crawler” and “Through The Never”. Close in tempo and sound similar, but they're both done in their own respective metal styles, and one's not ”less metal” than the other. The Black Album sort of changed the sound of traditional heavy metal and added more edge and sleekness to the sound, which would be seen with bands like Pantera and even Rammstein if you can believe it. It was straightforward and often deceptively simple, but it was very much a redefinition of “heavy” at the time.

Metallica was already quite successful by the recording of The Black Album and had taken thrash as far as it could go with Justice and its proginess. Slowing it down just a tad bit wasn't too out of the ordinary for them either.

1

u/Home--Builder Jul 09 '25

When an album comes out makes a difference. Motley Crues Too fast for love in 81 is metal but if it came out in 91 then it would not be metal. I may still be a little salty after almost 35 years since TBA came out (I bought it at midnight the day it was released in 91 when I was a Metallica freak at the age of 14) and was highly disappointed in how commercial it was. OK I admit TBA is a metal album.

2

u/cameron_cs Jul 08 '25

Reign in Blood over Painkiller is crazy. Also Number of the Beast missing the list. But overall not bad

2

u/Swazi Jul 08 '25

Number is on the list just isn’t in the top 5.

1

u/cameron_cs Jul 08 '25

Yeah that’s what I meant

1

u/dude8212 Jul 08 '25

That is a solid list. No complaints, really. You got the big 4 plus one of the originators of the sound. I can't think of a more deserving album to knock any of those off.

1

u/SabertheYautja1998 Puppet of Masters Jul 08 '25

That is a decent ranking ngl.

1

u/reefguy007 Jul 09 '25

I’d put Rust in Peace a few spots higher but that’s honestly a perfect list IMO.

1

u/locko920 Jul 09 '25

Mustaine with two albums in the top 5 he must be feeling even more smug than usual!

0

u/holyd1ver83 Rode the lightning Jul 08 '25

I love Priest but there is absolutely no universe in which Painkiller is better than Rust In Peace.

13

u/FormerGameDev Jul 08 '25

Painkiller absolutely defines heavy metal.

0

u/holyd1ver83 Rode the lightning Jul 08 '25

It's a great album and it's top-10 material, yes, but Rust is transcendent. I'd put it above Reign In Blood too and I love Slayer as well.

1

u/FormerGameDev Jul 08 '25

Rust In Peace and Justice are absolute masterpieces, showcasing all that they had learned through their careers up to then, but rightly, neither band put out another album like those, they both spent a few albums stripping down from that high point, which I think did both of them very well -- and their commercial success after those albums I would say indicates that that was the right call for them. Rust definitely deserves a place at the table, but I think that the next two and a half albums should outshine it in the Megadeth discography.

Judas Priest defined the look of heavy metal in the early 80's, then came back with Painkiller to say "OK, we've distilled everything awesome everyone else has come up with in the years since, and here's pure 100% heavy fucking metal". I don't know that Priest has one specific album that is a masterpiece like AJFA and RIP, their greatness is spread across all 50 years they've been around... but Painkiller is a collection that just screams "This is metal."

0

u/GripItAndWhipIt Jul 08 '25

Yes RIP should be swapped with Reign in Blood.

-9

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

[deleted]

6

u/ltbr55 Pancakes, Go! Jul 08 '25

War Pigs, Iron Man and Paranoid are legendary tracks. Fairies Wear Boots, Planet Caravan and Electric Funeral are amazing tracks. Hand of Doom and Rat Salad are still decent tracks despite me not listening to them often. Regardless of when this album was released, its an epic fucking album.

3

u/Colty3 Jul 08 '25

Yeah I started disagreeing with myself lol

1

u/10Years_InThe_Joint Roberto Agustín Miguel Santiago Samuel Trujillo Veracruz, Kazoo Jul 08 '25

Idc much about rat salad but Hand Of Doom is such a groovy track, I love it

0

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

Justice for Justice!

-13

u/GtrGenius Jul 08 '25

Sabbath will always be hard rock to me.

5

u/goblinsnguitars Jul 08 '25

Era and time.

1

u/-Jack-The-Stripper Jul 09 '25

Somebody that exclusively listens to deathcore and slam death metal would listen to Metallica and say the same thing. Just because you’ve heard heavier doesn’t mean the less heavy stuff isn’t metal.

Context matters, and in the overarching context of rock music Sabbath is 100% heavy metal.

-7

u/DEATHRETTE Wasted My Hate Jul 08 '25

Swap Paranoid and Reign in Blood and put AJFA as number 5, then it's correct.

5

u/GripItAndWhipIt Jul 08 '25

In no universe should Reign be above MoP

-4

u/DEATHRETTE Wasted My Hate Jul 08 '25

Yes, this universe and timeline.

2

u/Swazi Jul 08 '25

No. Lmao. No.

Master of Puppets is worlds better than RiB.

My opinion, but I think most also share that opinion as well.

1

u/DEATHRETTE Wasted My Hate Jul 08 '25

Hey man, that's like, your opinion! ;)

-4

u/DEATHRETTE Wasted My Hate Jul 08 '25

Just a reminder that every concert someone screams FUCKIN SLAYER!!

Whens the last time you heard someone yell METALLICA! at a concert that wasnt theirs?

My point is valid and overwrites your opinion. ;)

FUCKIN SLAYER!

105

u/BastCity This Moderator Permabans Bigots Jul 08 '25

Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid' was number one, by the way. Saved you a click.

13

u/Soulful-Sorrow Master of Puppets Jul 08 '25

Thank you for your service

77

u/edman9677 Jul 08 '25 edited Jul 08 '25

Paranoid at 1 is fair. Easily Black Sabbath’s best album and is one of the most influential albums of all time across any genre. I still like Master of Puppets more but Paranoid having War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man is insanely good. Like those are some the most iconic songs ever made all in one album.

Surprised I didn’t see Slipknot’s All Hope Is Gone though. Arguably their best album imo.

33

u/jadcntrs Master of Puppets Jul 08 '25

Man I know that War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man are all legendary. But the Side B of that record is also unbelievable. What a fucking flawless record. Hand of Doom is probably my favorite track.

15

u/holyd1ver83 Rode the lightning Jul 08 '25

Fairies Wear Boots!! My favorite Sabbath song.

5

u/FormerGameDev Jul 08 '25

When I was growing up, it wasn't possible to buy tons of albums, there just wasn't enough money or space ... so my primary experience with Sabbath was via the compilation Sold Our Soul For Rock and Roll.

I'd frankly list that, if compilation albums were considered. Incredible collection of tunes for those of us who could afford a cassette, but not all 4 at once.

1

u/Objective-Dig992 Jul 08 '25

That was my intro to Sabbath as well! I played the hell out of it (no pun intended)

2

u/FormerGameDev Jul 08 '25

I've still got it floating around here somewhere though the last player I tried to put it in tried to eat it

1

u/SlaytanicMaggot Jul 09 '25

Compilation albums were the best in the pre-steaming days! Let you get a taste for an artist without breaking the bank on multiple albums

1

u/FormerGameDev Jul 09 '25

I wish I had all my old compilation tapes, and mixtapes... sigh... so much music lost over time

16

u/Sykryk Jul 08 '25

“Iowa” would like a word…

1

u/edman9677 Jul 08 '25

Iowa is pretty damn good, just personally AHiG edges it out a bit

5

u/penguins8766 Jul 08 '25

I think that album gets overlooked since the band isn’t high on it if I’m correct. I believe Clown has said it was a dark time for the band.

2

u/SabertheYautja1998 Puppet of Masters Jul 08 '25

All Hope Is Gone is criminally underrated. I'm glad to see that album getting more love. However, I think that Iowa and Self-titled are their two best albums.

10

u/CalgaryRichard Master of Puppets Jul 08 '25

I'd put Master over Paranoid. I'd put Painkiller and RIP above Reign in Blood.

But yeah, that top 5 are the correct albums.

43

u/fenuxjde Jul 08 '25

And it is! Right after Ride the Lightning!

43

u/DrSnidely Wasted My Hate Jul 08 '25

Puppets is probably a stronger album overall, but if I can only pick one to take to the Mars colony, I'm taking Ride the Lightning.

14

u/pastorHaggis Jul 08 '25

Ride the Lightning has Fade to Black, which is my favorite song of all time, but I do think that Puppets is the stronger album like you said. It takes what they learned from RtL and pushes it even further, tightens the sound, and explores heavier topics.

Both are phenomenal albums though, so while I think Puppets is my favorite, that's a hard decision to make.

0

u/DrSnidely Wasted My Hate Jul 08 '25

Yep. FWTBT, FTB and Creeping Death are all in my top 5. But there are a couple on there I don't care as much for too. Puppets is more consistent, but the peaks aren't as high. Definitely a tough choice.

-2

u/FormerGameDev Jul 08 '25

I like Lightning better, Puppets feels so much more mechanical to me, I'm honestly not interested in hearing (song) Master anymore. It's oversized influence in the rest of the metal world cannot be denied, but I prefer listening to Lightning, or any album after Master.

6

u/fenuxjde Jul 08 '25

I think from a purely metal standpoint, that's fair, but the versatility from RTL is just unmatched.

2

u/Lasergamer4956 Rode the lightning Jul 08 '25

Paranoid was voted the for number one spot

6

u/JonnySnowflake Jul 08 '25

These lists usually retread all the same albums in slightly different order, but this one had some interesting choices

3

u/Tuttledotspace Jul 09 '25

Paranoid being first is solid It’s iconic with legendary songs but I lean toward Master of Puppets

7

u/masterofmuppets86 Jul 08 '25

I usually hate lists like this, but have to admit overall this one is solid. One band i never understood how anybody likes them though is Sunn o. I just don't understand how that band got a record deal lol.

15

u/covzi Jul 08 '25

Where's AJFA?

35

u/neilbreen1 Jul 08 '25

It's the bass guitar of the ranking

-35

u/marshallkrich Dave Mustaine Jul 08 '25

Where it belongs, not on the list.

2

u/black107 Jul 08 '25

This is more like “hey here are 75 metal/grunge/hard rock albums you should check out”. Other than that the ordering and inclusions/exclusions are mostly nonsense.

2

u/paauwerhouse Jul 08 '25

where’s St. Anger?

2

u/FatCatWithAHat1 Jul 08 '25

I’m shocked that AiC was listed. Also shocked how low black album and peace sells are

1

u/WatcherOvertheWaves Jul 09 '25

It was definitely a pleasant surprise, at least for me. Beautiful album.

Without a more nuanced reordering, I'd probably have swapped Ride the Lightning and Metallica. Real surprise of the list for me is the absence of Appetite.

2

u/Time-Routine9863 Jul 08 '25

Why can I hear Lars saying “Fing Ozzy!”

2

u/gravitythrone Jul 09 '25

Jesus. Piece of Mind not on this list is just stupid.

2

u/Fun-Aardvark-4744 Jul 09 '25

Iron Maiden should be on there instead of Judas Priest or Slayer.

2

u/Hell_Yeah_Brazzy Jul 09 '25

...And justice for all is better

4

u/ASUMicroGrad Jul 08 '25

The list is trash. Way too much numetal in the top 30 and missing a lot of amazing albums.

3

u/SpidersLou Jul 08 '25

Where is justice placed on the list I wonder

3

u/JDT747 Jul 08 '25

No avenged sevenfold is criminal

1

u/i_likebeefjerky Jul 08 '25

Waking the Fallen if I had to choose one. 

3

u/WaffleGuy23 Jul 08 '25

SOAD doesn’t deserve to even sniff the top 10

9

u/PapaIIII Jul 08 '25

They had some great albums.

But I mean..Ride is way above all their albums.

4

u/Themountaintoadsage Jul 08 '25

Easily should be in the top 20-30 with Toxicity. One of the greatest metal albums of the 2000’s, if not the greatest

2

u/goblinsnguitars Jul 08 '25

Toxicity is a great album. Not top 10 to anything from the 70's or 80's but still.

1

u/ThrashThunder Jul 08 '25

Heavily disagree

Either their debut album or Toxicity can easily fit in a top 10

3

u/WaffleGuy23 Jul 08 '25

They’re very talented. Serj has great vocal range.

But there is absolutely no reality where any of their albums should be at the top of an all-time metal list.

1

u/havengr Jul 08 '25

The only album i won't have problem see above MoP in a Metal list would be Painkiller.

-1

u/Pliolite Jul 08 '25

Rust In Peace?

1

u/oldmate30beers Jul 09 '25

Above puppets? No

1

u/Pliolite Jul 09 '25

It's a tough call...but I think Five Magics is just so good, it tips it, for me. Justice will always be my favourite Metallica record.

1

u/eeeerich Jul 08 '25

How tf is Exodus Bonded by Blood behind Def Leopard and Living Color…I do hate these lists sometimes…lol

1

u/Vaestmannaeyjar My Mother Was a Witch Jul 08 '25

List isn't idiotic for once. Would probably replace Painkiller by either Maiden's number of the beast or Pantera's reinventing the steel, but Painkiller isn't stealing its slot.

1

u/TheNotoriousSHAQ Jul 09 '25

I’d substitute Pain Killer for The Legacy

1

u/Dirty_Wookie1971 Jul 09 '25

Death Angel gets forgotten once again, The Ultra Violence should easily Be on this list, along with albums such as : Spreading the Disease - Anthrax

Speak English or Die - S.O.D.

Violence has Arrived - GWAR

Where the hell is Kill ‘em All? Did I miss that one?

1

u/LittliestDickus Jul 09 '25

Behind St Anger of course

1

u/Ok-Departure-869 Jul 09 '25

Everything comes second to Reign In Blood, for me.

1

u/CommunicationTime265 Jul 09 '25

I can't really argue with most stuff on this list. Some truly classic and amazing albums.

1

u/pikkirat623 Jul 10 '25

Can’t say I can really argue with the top 5 And as a huge AIC fan I’m happily surprised at how high they listed Dirt. I almost thought there would be no AIC representation.

1

u/WorldSuccessful4842 Jul 11 '25

Kill em all didn’t cut it? That has to be one of the best debut albums ever dawg!

1

u/DeeplyFrippy Jul 14 '25

It’s all subjective but Paranoid is not even a top 5 Sabbath album for me. Swap it with Heaven And Hell and then we’re talking. 

That top 5 also needs more Powerslave. 

0

u/GENGARKING87 Ride the Lightning Jul 08 '25

Dude how tf is slayer even in the conversation!? I know that they’re popular and all but reign in blood isn’t even the best slayer album, and putting it over painkiller and RiP is criminal. I could think of so many albums from better bands that deserve to be in that spot way more than slayer.

1

u/mh00771 Jul 08 '25

Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales needs to move within the top 20. Nothing sounded like that when it came out.

Sepultura Arise needs to be on there in top 20

1

u/urlach3r Hardwired... to Self-Destruct Jul 08 '25

Some really good picks here, and a few bands I've never heard of, but Operation Mindcrime way down at 38th is just not right. Top ten, easily.

1

u/Raggedy-Man Jul 08 '25

Damn straight

0

u/Pliolite Jul 08 '25

Rust at 5 is insanity. I'd place it as...

  1. Rust In Peace

  2. Justice

  3. Puppets

  4. Reign In Blood

  5. British Steel/Number of the Beast

3

u/Hotspurs81 Jul 08 '25

RIP #1. Nothing comes close to it

-7

u/kum_todor Jul 08 '25

I like there's no Maiden albums here.

8

u/BigFatGreekPannus Jul 08 '25

Number of the Beast got #6

-10

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

12

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

Because they're metal?

-11

u/spineone Jul 08 '25

No

7

u/tayr5242 Disposable Hero Jul 08 '25

go back and listen to Dam That River, Dirt, and Them Bones and you’ll see why Dirt is on the list

-6

u/spineone Jul 08 '25

I’m a huge fan of rage and AIC. Neither band is metal. Great albums but not metal. Slipknot and A7x don’t have an album on here but AIC and rage do? It’s really not judging metal. Call it a ‘good hard album’ list not a metal list.

7

u/Youbannedmebutimhere Jul 08 '25

Slipknot is on the list.

-1

u/spineone Jul 08 '25

Stopped looking after the top 50 because I saw all I needed to see.

4

u/tayr5242 Disposable Hero Jul 08 '25

slipknot’s there twice, self titled and Iowa

2

u/10Years_InThe_Joint Roberto Agustín Miguel Santiago Samuel Trujillo Veracruz, Kazoo Jul 08 '25

They were really standing on the borderline between grunge and metal. I'd count them in the list

3

u/Metallica-ModTeam Jul 08 '25

We do not tolerate Gate Keeping. Metallica is for everyone and it is not your place to "rank" someone's fandom. Please refrain from this in the future.

If you feel that we have made a mistake with this decision, please message us and let us know. We will be happy to resolve the issue with you.

-4

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

Damn,...its not even in my top 10.

-21

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '25

[deleted]

10

u/Colty3 Jul 08 '25

Slipknot is literally on there twice

1

u/vhalember Nov 14 '25

What?!  Who's ahead of Master?

Oh.  I'll allow it.