Top 20 Metal Albums for People Who Don't Like Metal
#20: “Appetite for Destruction” (1987)
Guns N’ Roses Call it hard rock. Call it heavy metal. Just don’t call “Appetite for Destruction” anything less than a stone-cold classic. This monster debut LP from Guns N’ Roses is chock full of songs you know, making it a perfect primer for those unfamiliar with the band’s sleazy, 1980s sound. “Appetite” goes beyond familiar tracks like “Sweet Child O’Mine,” “Nightrain” and “Mr. Brownstone,” containing a wealth of amazing deep cuts like “Think About You.” It’s songs like these, as well as its epic closing number, “Rocket Queen,” that help make “Appetite for Destruction” as perfect an album as you’re EVER going to find.
#19: “Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?” (1986)
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Megadeth Thrash can be something of a tough sell for those outside of heavy metal’s immediate circle of influence. That said, however, there’s just something about the excellence surrounding elite acts like Megadeth that serve as a great musical introduction. “Peace Sells…but Who’s Buying?” was the group’s sophomore effort and began to balance Megadeth’s furious technical prowess with some catchy songwriting. Dave Mustaine and his boys could play their asses off, sure, but they were also concerned with pushing forward heavy metal as a whole. And in doing so, they practically dared everybody else to keep up.
#18: “Around the Fur” (1997)
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Deftones There were a wealth of acts during the late ‘90s that were attempting to combine heavy music with emotive singing and alternative aesthetic trappings. Deftones were among the most successful of these groups, thanks largely to how the vocals of front man Chino Moreno could vacillate between the seductive and the aggressive. “My Own Summer (Shove It)” was a heavy opening tune, sure, but there are also moments on the album that are melodic and downright sensual. Deftones would explore these sorts of sounds more on later albums, but “Around the Fur” showcases a nice balance between their heavy roots and forward-thinking sounds.
#17: “Images and Words” (1992)
Dream Theater The progressive rock of the 1970s earned a new lease on life once high-minded metal bands of the 1980s and ‘90s took those musical reins and ran off to the races. Artists such as Fates Warning and Dream Theater would serve as bridges between the old and new, particularly the latter. Indeed, Dream Theater’s sophomore album “Images and Words” would go on to become one of the defining progressive metal LPs of its day, and it still holds up marvelously by current standards. The musicianship is otherworldly, but the songwriting is also up to snuff, particularly on the album’s “hit’ single, “Pull Me Under.” Said simply: Dream Theater is one of the best to ever do it.
#16: “Vulgar Display of Power” (1992)
Pantera We honestly could’ve picked any Pantera album for this list. Yes, even the glam metal ones. Yet there’s something transformative about “Vulgar Display of Power” that’s made more than one heavy metal convert out of a nonbeliever. There’s a ridiculous amount of fire, aggression, and yes, power to be heard on this album. Pantera’s power-groove approach takes on both riffs and breakdown sections in equal measure, while singer Phil Anselmo forever sounds like the angriest guy in the room. But there’s also brief moments of melodic respite on songs like “Hollow” to ensure that “Vulgar Display of Power” will never be seen as a one-trick pony.
#15: “Van Halen” (1978)
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Van Halen This is it: the basic blueprint for the entire Sunset Strip glam metal sound that would emerge in the 1980s. Van Halen did it all on their debut album before artists like Ratt, Dokken and Warrant could even bat an eyelash. Hot licks? Check. Ridiculous chops? Double check. Van Halen’s first record is, in a word, IMMENSE. Yet, it’s not all heads-down bombast. Songs like “Atomic Punk,” “I’m the One,” “Jamie’s Cryin’” and “On Fire” are all arranged with note-perfect perfection. David Lee Roth is the perfect voice to sing these songs, too: part Broadway showman, part Carnival barker and all charisma. “Van Halen” still sounds as fresh now as it did back in 1978.
#14: “British Steel” (1980)
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Judas Priest The back catalogue of Judas Priest possesses a treasure trove of diamonds, from their moody work in the 1970s to the arena-ready sound of “British Steel.” This was the album that broke Priest in America, an anthemic LP that’s admittedly diluted a bit from the band’s more progressive past, but no less heavy. “The Rage” and “Steeler” connect “British Steel” a bit to Priest’s younger days, while “Breaking the Law” and “Rapid Fire” are indicative of metal’s fresh, new approach for the ‘80s. Meanwhile, “Living After Midnight” may be an overplayed hit single from this album, but it’s almost single handedly responsible for bringing scores of new fans into the Priest fold. And that’s got to count for something.
#13: “Dirt” (1992)
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Alice in Chains The sound of glam rock that inspired the demo work of Alice in Chains was long gone by the time “Dirt” arrived in 1992. This sophomore LP built upon the heavy framework of its predecessor, “Facelift” in a big way. Alice in Chains were still a heavy, guitar-focused band, straddling the line between grunge trailblazers and unabashed metalheads. “Dirt” brought to the table a more meditative and moody sense of songwriting. This was a stark contrast to the lyrical content found within much heavy metal from this period, and allowed songs like “Them Bones,” “Rooster,” “Dam That River” and “Would?” to truly resonate with fans. “Dirt” frankly just sounded fresh, and Alice in Chains were officially on their way to becoming rock gods.
#12: “Once” (2004)
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Nightwish What’s the best entry point for heavy metal? Well, the answer to that question just might be found among any of the genre’s myriad subgenres. Finland’s Nightwish are symphonic, operatic and unapologetically melodic. They’ve historically done nothing in half measures, whether on their breakthrough “Wishmaster” LP from 2000, or on this EPIC album from 2004. “Once” is a wonderful way to expose those wary of metal to just how many approachable avenues one could take toward the same musical destination. It’s an album steeped in keyboards and legitimately amazing female vocals, a grand exploration into the realms of beauty and fantasy. Nightwish wants to take you away with their music, and “Once” is the perfect album to achieve this goal.
#11: “Meliora” (2015)
Ghost There can often be a surprising number of musical influences that creep up within even the heaviest of metal bands. Sweden’s Ghost have cited artists like The Beatles as offering inspiration for their vocal harmonies and musical arrangements, and that musical diversity can be heard in Ghost’s 2015 album, “Meliora.” The guitar work on here isn’t as edgy as some other, more extreme metal acts from Scandinavia, instead working together with choral voices and synthesizer to create a remarkable approachability. “Meliora” is just remarkably easy to listen to, despite containing songwriting that’s unabashedly progressive in scope.
#10: “Mezmerize” (2005)
System of a Down Next on our list is the Armenian-American formation known as System of a Down. Originating in Los Angeles County, the band members grew up in one of the world’s largest musical melting pots. The band’s mix of influences reached its pinnacle in 2004’s “Mezmerize.” The album combines elements from several different genres including acoustic, progressive rock, and even reggae. And that’s only to name a few. However, the band’s metal presence is still center stage in the form of advanced guitar play, sudden tempo changes, and unique vocals. When combined with their eclectic background, this masterful stirring of sounds creates an experience with something for everyone.
#9: “The End of Heartache” (2004)
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Killswitch Engage The third studio album from this metalcore group was the result of several lineup changes. Former drummer Adam Dutkiewicz took on the duties of lead guitar, while Justin Foley was recruited to take his place on the drums. Also, Howard Jones took the seat as the band’s frontman. This “musical chairs of the personnel” went over well, as “The End of Heartache” became a massive critical and commercial success, with its title track earning the group a Grammy Nomination. Exploring the softer side of metal - if such a thing exists, ”The End of Heartache”’s lyrical topics include romance, faith, and unity, which are amplified through harmonic guitars and Jones’ booming delivery. On the strength of accessible songs, such as the album’s title track, “The End of Heartache” was certified gold in 2007.
#8: “Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)” (2004)
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Slipknot Okay, just bear with us on this one. While the horrific masks and relentless brutality of Slipknot can scare away even some veteran rock fans, “Vol. 3” was the band’s pinnacle of widespread appeal. By cutting out curse words and incorporating melodic overtones, the Iowa natives reached beyond their hardcore fan base and caught the attention of the mainstream. However, commercial genius producer Rick Rubin found a way to do so without sacrificing the band’s face-melting sound. The result was an album that left very few unsatisfied. Not only did it go platinum in less than a year, but it was named one of the best albums of the decade by “Metal Hammer” magazine. It also didn’t hurt that its singles had some of the best music videos in Slipknot history.
#7 “Sunbather” (2013)
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Deafheaven Metal has never sounded this dreamy. Band members George Clarke and Kerry Mccoy combined Black Metal elements with a Post-Rock atmosphere to create an album that drew in universal acclaim. This was accomplished through the “Wall of Sound” technique. The method involves layering instruments and different effects multiple times to produce a truly immersive listening experience. This allowed some of Deafhaven’s major metal influences to still be present without scaring would-be listeners away. Somewhere among the sea of samples, interludes, and guitar effects are classic Black Metal vocals. Through this pop-inspired recording technique, “Sunbather” undoubtedly drew in many prospective Metal fans - and maintained those already in for the ride.
#6: “City of Evil” (2005)
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Avenged Sevenfold Many of the albums on this list were stylistic departures from the band’s normal sound. By far, the best example of this was Avenged Sevenfold’s third studio release. For this recording, singer M. Shadows toned down his usual screaming and adopted a grittier style. Additionally, other band members expanded on melodic sounds that previous albums only briefly featured. This helped the band pivot from a moshing Metalcore act into a more traditional Heavy Metal group. The musical makeover paid off, as “City of Evil” remains the band’s most successful album to date. This was due to a balance of high-powered guitar riffs and repeatable lyrics. Accessible tracks like the face-melting “Bat Country” and tear-jerking “Seize the Day” helped “City of Evil” earn the respect of both hardcore fans and casual listeners alike.
#5: “The Hunter” (2011)
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Mastodon The Georgia-based act originally gained recognition through their unique and progressive sound. However, as the band’s career evolved, so did their musical style. By the time “The Hunter” was recorded, Mastodon had already adopted cleaner vocals and polished instrumentals. However, this time, the record also featured the recruitment of producer Mike Elizondo. His past collaborations include several popular artists, such as Eminem, Maroon 5, and Fiona Apple. Under Elizondo’s proven guidance, the album combined ludicrous guitar play, various singing methods, and epic choruses under attention-grabbing production. The result was a massive success that the members have named as the most fun to record. Luckily for them, it is also arguably the most fun for mainstream fans to listen to.
#4: “Blizzard of Ozz” (1980)
Ozzy Osbourne Although the Prince of Darkness had already experienced success as the front man for Black Sabbath, he had to share the spotlight with fellow rock legends Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler. It wasn’t really until Osbourne went solo that his natural charisma as a performer started to blossom. His debut album came only one year after his firing from Black Sabbath (more on them later). Backing up the future Godfather of Heavy Metal was guitarist Randy Rhoads, whose classical background added a sense of refinement and complexity to Osbourne’s shrill vocals. Together, the two produced blistering tracks such as the iconic “Crazy Train,” which remains one of Ozzy’s most popular songs to date. The Madman’s first venture by himself was a huge success, going platinum 4 times and cementing the singer as a household name.
#3: “The Number of the Beast” (1982)
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Iron Maiden Like we mentioned earlier, stylistic shifts are a common theme on this list. The third studio album by Iron Maiden is no exception, as it was the first to feature legendary singer Bruce Dickinson. Dickinson’s soaring vocals and energetic delivery made “The Number of the Beast” more of a Metal opera than a normal album. Bassist Steve Harris’ galloping style helped facilitate several heart-racing tempo changes, which made the blistering guitar work easy to digest. Several of the songs also made recognizable references to things like movies and religion. Combining all these elements made for a release that was approachable, relatable, and still reflective of the band’s Metal roots. As a result, “The Number of the Beast” is considered an absolute landmark for the genre.
#2: “Paranoid” (1970)
Black Sabbath A great place to start when introducing a newbie to a music genre is at the origin. While the debate of which was the first Heavy Metal album includes several choices, Black Sabbath’s sophomore release is undeniably one of the most influential in the pool. It isn’t much of a stretch to say that every entrant on this list was in some way influenced by this iconic album. Guided by guitarist Tony Iommi’s iconic riffs, “Paranoid” spoke of harsher life topics including war, depression, and drug abuse. The dose of reality worked, as the masses embraced tracks such as “War Pigs” and “Iron Man.” The album’s widespread appeal helped open the door for countless Metal acts to follow, and cemented the band’s status as one of the pioneers of the genre.
#1: “Metallica” (1991)
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Metallica Picking just one of this band’s releases is tough, considering their back catalog includes masterpieces like “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets.” However, for the top spot on this list, we have to give it to the self-titled album that turned Metallica from Thrash legends into global icons. The widespread hysteria surrounding the album was due to its versatility. Not only did the nicknamed “Black Album” feature classic thrash tracks such as “Through the Never,” but it also featured widely-loved slower songs like“Nothing Else Matters”-- which has been covered over 40 times. This balance reached its pinnacle in the leading track, “Enter Sandman,” which is now one of the most recognizable Metal songs in history. On its way to going platinum 16 times, “The Black Album” helped to establish Heavy Metal as a widely embraced music genre. And nothing else matters! Which metal album do YOU think could convert a non-believer? Let us know in the comments!
