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 2026-06-28

1. 1Ride the Lightning1984 · Music–
2. 2Death Magnetic2008 · Music–
3. 3The Number of the Beast1982 · Music–
4. 4Rust in Peace1990 · Music▲3
5. 5Powerslave1984 · Music▼1
6. 6Piece of Mind1983 · Music▼1
7. 7Seventh Son of a Seventh Son1988 · Music▼1
8. 8Somewhere in Time1986 · Music–
9. 9Images and Words1992 · Music–
10. 10A Matter of Life and Death2006 · Music▲3
11. 11Show No Mercy1983 · Music▼1
12. 12Iron Maiden1980 · Music▼1
13. 13Killers1981 · Music▼1
14. 14Dance of Death2003 · Music▲2
15. 15Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory1999 · Music▼1
16. 16Painkiller1990 · Music▼1
17. 17Brave New World2000 · Music–
18. 18Somewhere Far Beyond1992 · Music–
19. 19Train of Thought2003 · Music▲6
20. 20Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?1986 · Music–
21. 21Countdown to Extinction1992 · Music▼2
22. 22The X Factor1995 · Music▼1
23. 23Fear of the Dark1992 · Music▼1
24. 24Live After Death1985 · Music▼1
25. 25So Far, So Good… So What!1988 · Music▲5
26. 26South of Heaven1988 · Music▼2
27. 27Youthanasia1994 · Music▲6
28. 28Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!1985 · Music▲11
29. 29Virtual XI1998 · Music▼3
30. 30No Prayer for the Dying1990 · Music▼3
31. 31Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence2002 · Music▼2
32. 32Seasons in the Abyss1990 · Music▼1
33. 33Hell Awaits1985 · Music▼5
34. 34Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part II1988 · Music▲1
35. 35Among the Living1987 · Music▼3
36. 36Screaming for Vengeance1982 · Music▼2
37. 37Endgame2009 · Music▲17
38. 38Spreading the Disease1985 · Music▲13
39. 39Sad Wings of Destiny1976 · Music▲2
40. 40Restless and Wild1982 · Music–
41. 41The Book of Souls2015 · Music▼3
42. 42The Human Equation2004 · Music▲1
43. 43Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I1987 · Music▼7
44. 44Vovin1998 · Music▼7
45. 45The Final Frontier2010 · Music▼3
46. 46Holy Land1996 · Music▲15
47. 47Black Clouds & Silver Linings2009 · Music▲11
48. 48Th1rt3en2011 · Music▲15
49. 49Heritage2011 · Music▼3
50. 50Systematic Chaos2007 · Music▼6
51. 51Mother Earth2000 · Music▼3
52. 52Point of Entry1981 · Music▼7
53. 53Life Is Peachy1996 · Music▼6
54. 54A Night at the Opera2002 · Music▲15
55. 55The Black Halo2005 · Music▲15
56. 56Battalions of Fear1988 · Music▼6
57. 57Repentless2015 · Music▼4
58. 58Sin After Sin1977 · Music▼3
59. 59Metal Heart1985 · Music▼3
60. 60The System Has Failed2004 · Music▼8
61. 61Ram It Down1988 · Music▼12
62. 62Carolus Rex2012 · Music▼5
63. 63Divine Intervention1994 · Music▼4
64. 64Angels Fall First1997 · Music–
65. 65Christ Illusion2006 · Music▼3
66. 66Dream Theater2013 · Music▼6
67. 67Rock in Rio2002 · Music▲27
68. 68Burn My Eyes1994 · Music▲12
69. 69Breaker1981 · Music▲6
70. 70Sirius B2004 · Music▲1
71. 71The Metal Opera2001 · Music▲1
72. 72Kings of Metal1988 · Music▼4
73. 73Angel of Retribution2005 · Music▲3
74. 74The Art of War2008 · Music▼7
75. 75Live Scenes From New York2001 · Music▲2
76. 76Blood Mountain2006 · Music▲2
77. 77Pale Communion2014 · Music▲2
78. 78Jugulator1997 · Music▼13
79. 79Far From the Sun2003 · Music▼13
80. 80Dystopia2016 · Music▼7
81. 81Firepower2018 · Music▼7
82. 82The Hunter2011 · Music▲17
83. 83World Painted Blood2009 · Music▲13
84. 84Megadeth2026 · Music▲15
85. 85Sorceress2016 · Music▲8
86. 86United Abominations2007 · Music▼5
87. 87Secret of the Runes2001 · Music▼1
88. 88Helloween / Walls of Jericho1987 · Music▲7
89. 89Fistful of Metal1984 · Music▼7
90. 90Walls of Jericho1985 · Music–
91. 91The Poison2005 · Music▼6
92. 92The Astonishing2016 · Music▼1
93. 93Tales From the Twilight World1990 · Music▼5
94. 94Lemuria2004 · Music▼10
95. 95Follow the Blind1989 · Music▼12
96. 96Distance Over Time2019 · Music▼9
97. 97We Sold Our Soul for Rock ’n’ Roll1976 · Music▼8
98. 98The Mountain2013 · Music▼6
99. 99Dead Heart in a Dead World2000 · Music▼3
100. 100Battle Hymns1982 · MusicNEW