Most Popular Heavy Metal Albums

The most popular heavy metal albums, ranked by what CrossBingers actually watch, play, read, and listen to, blended with critical standing. Refreshed every day.

Updated 2026-08-12

1. 1Ride the Lightning1984 · Music–
2. 2The Number of the Beast1982 · Music–
3. 3Death Magnetic2008 · Music–
4. 4Rust in Peace1990 · Music–
5. 5Powerslave1984 · Music–
6. 6Piece of Mind1983 · Music–
7. 7Images and Words1992 · Music–
8. 8Iron Maiden1980 · Music–
9. 9Seventh Son of a Seventh Son1988 · Music–
10. 10Killers1981 · Music–
11. 11Somewhere in Time1986 · Music–
12. 12Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory1999 · Music–
13. 13Show No Mercy1983 · Music–
14. 14A Matter of Life and Death2006 · Music–
15. 15Painkiller1990 · Music–
16. 16Countdown to Extinction1992 · Music–
17. 17Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?1986 · Music–
18. 18Dance of Death2003 · Music–
19. 19Brave New World2000 · Music–
20. 20Fear of the Dark1992 · Music–
21. 21South of Heaven1988 · Music–
22. 22Train of Thought2003 · Music–
23. 23The X Factor1995 · Music–
24. 24So Far, So Good… So What!1988 · Music–
25. 25Live After Death1985 · Music–
26. 26No Prayer for the Dying1990 · Music–
27. 27Virtual XI1998 · Music–
28. 28Youthanasia1994 · Music–
29. 29Somewhere Far Beyond1992 · Music–
30. 30Seasons in the Abyss1990 · Music▲2
31. 31Hell Awaits1985 · Music–
32. 32Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence2002 · Music▼2
33. 33Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!1985 · Music–
34. 34Among the Living1987 · Music▲1
35. 35Screaming for Vengeance1982 · Music▼1
36. 36Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part II1988 · Music–
37. 37The Final Frontier2010 · Music▲6
38. 38Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I1987 · Music▼1
39. 39The Human Equation2004 · Music▲2
40. 40Vovin1998 · Music▼1
41. 41Sad Wings of Destiny1976 · Music▲1
42. 42Restless and Wild1982 · Music▼2
43. 43The Book of Souls2015 · Music▼5
44. 44Metal Heart1985 · Music–
45. 45Endgame2009 · Music–
46. 46Spreading the Disease1985 · Music–
47. 47Heritage2011 · Music–
48. 48Point of Entry1981 · Music▲3
49. 49Mother Earth2000 · Music▲1
50. 50Systematic Chaos2007 · Music▼1
51. 51Life Is Peachy1996 · Music▼3
52. 52Black Clouds & Silver Linings2009 · Music▲1
53. 53Holy Land1996 · Music▼1
54. 54Th1rt3en2011 · Music–
55. 55Repentless2015 · Music▲4
56. 56Sin After Sin1977 · Music▲2
57. 57The System Has Failed2004 · Music–
58. 58Ram It Down1988 · Music▼3
59. 59Battalions of Fear1988 · Music▼3
60. 60Carolus Rex2012 · Music▲2
61. 61Christ Illusion2006 · Music▲3
62. 62Divine Intervention1994 · Music▼1
63. 63Dream Theater2013 · Music–
64. 64Angels Fall First1997 · Music▼4
65. 65A Night at the Opera2002 · Music–
66. 66The Black Halo2005 · Music–
67. 67Blood Mountain2006 · Music–
68. 68Far From the Sun2003 · Music▲7
69. 69Jugulator1997 · Music▲5
70. 70Firepower2018 · Music–
71. 71Live Scenes From New York2001 · Music▼2
72. 72Breaker1981 · Music▼4
73. 73The Art of War2008 · Music▲6
74. 74Kings of Metal1988 · Music▲4
75. 75Pale Communion2014 · Music▲2
76. 76The Metal Opera2001 · Music▼5
77. 77Dystopia2016 · Music▼5
78. 78Angel of Retribution2005 · Music▼2
79. 79Sirius B2004 · Music▼6
80. 80Burn My Eyes1994 · Music▲1
81. 81Rock in Rio2002 · Music▼1
82. 82Distance Over Time2019 · Music▲9
83. 83Sorceress2016 · Music▲10
84. 84We Sold Our Soul for Rock ’n’ Roll1976 · Music–
85. 85Fistful of Metal1984 · Music▲9
86. 86Helloween / Walls of Jericho1987 · Music▲1
87. 87Follow the Blind1989 · Music▲8
88. 88Lemuria2004 · Music–
89. 89The Astonishing2016 · Music▼3
90. 90United Abominations2007 · Music▼7
91. 91Tales From the Twilight World1990 · Music▼1
92. 92The Mountain2013 · Music▼3
93. 93Walls of Jericho1985 · Music▼11
94. 94Secret of the Runes2001 · Music▼2
95. 95The Poison2005 · Music▼10
96. 96World Painted Blood2009 · Music▲2
97. 97The Hunter2011 · Music–
98. 98Valley of the Damned2003 · Music▼2
99. 99Megadeth2026 · Music–
100. 100I’m a Rebel1980 · Music–