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 2026-09-27

1. 1Ride the Lightning1984 · Music–
2. 2The Number of the Beast1982 · Music–
3. 3Death Magnetic2008 · Music–
4. 4Rust in Peace1990 · Music–
5. 5Seventh Son of a Seventh Son1988 · Music–
6. 6Powerslave1984 · Music–
7. 7Images and Words1992 · Music–
8. 8Piece of Mind1983 · Music–
9. 9Killers1981 · Music–
10. 10Somewhere in Time1986 · Music–
11. 11Iron Maiden1980 · Music–
12. 12Metropolis, Pt. 2: Scenes From a Memory1999 · Music–
13. 13A Matter of Life and Death2006 · Music▲1
14. 14Show No Mercy1983 · Music▼1
15. 15Painkiller1990 · Music–
16. 16Countdown to Extinction1992 · Music–
17. 17Dance of Death2003 · Music–
18. 18Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying?1986 · Music–
19. 19Brave New World2000 · Music–
20. 20Train of Thought2003 · Music–
21. 21Fear of the Dark1992 · Music–
22. 22Virtual XI1998 · Music▲1
23. 23The X Factor1995 · Music▼1
24. 24South of Heaven1988 · Music–
25. 25Somewhere Far Beyond1992 · Music–
26. 26So Far, So Good… So What!1988 · Music▲1
27. 27Live After Death1985 · Music▼1
28. 28Youthanasia1994 · Music–
29. 29No Prayer for the Dying1990 · Music–
30. 30Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!1985 · Music–
31. 31Metal Heart1985 · Music–
32. 32Hell Awaits1985 · Music▲2
33. 33Seasons in the Abyss1990 · Music▼1
34. 34Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence2002 · Music▼1
35. 35Mother Earth2000 · Music–
36. 36Screaming for Vengeance1982 · Music▲1
37. 37Among the Living1987 · Music▼1
38. 38Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part II1988 · Music–
39. 39Vovin1998 · Music▲5
40. 40Restless and Wild1982 · Music–
41. 41Sad Wings of Destiny1976 · Music–
42. 42Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part I1987 · Music–
43. 43The Human Equation2004 · Music▲2
44. 44The Final Frontier2010 · Music▼1
45. 45The Book of Souls2015 · Music▼6
46. 46Spreading the Disease1985 · Music–
47. 47Endgame2009 · Music–
48. 48Heritage2011 · Music▲3
49. 49Systematic Chaos2007 · Music▲1
50. 50Point of Entry1981 · Music▼2
51. 51Life Is Peachy1996 · Music▼2
52. 52Th1rt3en2011 · Music–
53. 53Black Clouds & Silver Linings2009 · Music▲1
54. 54Holy Land1996 · Music▼1
55. 55Repentless2015 · Music▲1
56. 56Ram It Down1988 · Music▲2
57. 57Sin After Sin1977 · Music▼2
58. 58The System Has Failed2004 · Music▼1
59. 59Battalions of Fear1988 · Music–
60. 60The Art of War2008 · Music▲3
61. 61Blood Mountain2006 · Music–
62. 62The Black Halo2005 · Music–
63. 63A Night at the Opera2002 · Music▼3
64. 64Divine Intervention1994 · Music▲4
65. 65Dream Theater2013 · Music▼1
66. 66Angels Fall First1997 · Music▼1
67. 67Christ Illusion2006 · Music▼1
68. 68Carolus Rex2012 · Music▼1
69. 69The Astonishing2016 · Music▲2
70. 70Burn My Eyes1994 · Music▲2
71. 71The Poison2005 · Music▼1
72. 72Rock in Rio2002 · Music▼3
73. 73Dystopia2016 · Music▲10
74. 74The Metal Opera2001 · Music▲1
75. 75Kings of Metal1988 · Music▲2
76. 76Live Scenes From New York2001 · Music▲6
77. 77Sirius B2004 · Music▲1
78. 78Pale Communion2014 · Music▲3
79. 79Breaker1981 · Music▼6
80. 80Jugulator1997 · Music▼6
81. 81Firepower2018 · Music▼2
82. 82Far From the Sun2003 · Music▼2
83. 83Angel of Retribution2005 · Music▼7
84. 84The Mountain2013 · Music–
85. 85Distance Over Time2019 · Music–
86. 86Fistful of Metal1984 · Music–
87. 87United Abominations2007 · Music–
88. 88Lemuria2004 · Music–
89. 89Secret of the Runes2001 · Music–
90. 90Follow the Blind1989 · Music–
91. 91We Sold Our Soul for Rock ’n’ Roll1976 · Music–
92. 92Tales From the Twilight World1990 · Music–
93. 93Helloween / Walls of Jericho1987 · Music–
94. 94Sorceress2016 · Music–
95. 95Walls of Jericho1985 · Music–
96. 96Megadeth2026 · Music▲3
97. 97The Hunter2011 · Music–
98. 98Maiden England1989 · Music▲2
99. 99Valley of the Damned2003 · Music▼1
100. 100World Painted Blood2009 · Music▼4