Every Metallica studio album ranked, from Kill ‘Em All to 72 Seasons
Master of Puppets is Metallica’s best album, Ride the Lightning is a very close second, and St. Anger is the one even big fans skip. If you’re new to the band, start with Master of Puppets, then the self-titled “Black Album”, then go back to Ride the Lightning.
Label: ranking and opinion. Album dates and tour details are from Metallica, Loudwire and Wikipedia, linked below. The order and scores are Pylcrow’s opinion.
Why now? Metallica began a 24-show residency at the Las Vegas Sphere on October 1, 2026, running into March 2027, and became the first metal band to play the venue, according to Loudwire. Setlists are pulling from across all eleven records, so it’s a good moment to rank them.
How did we rank them?
We used the Pylcrow Riff Test: four questions, each scored 0 to 2.5, for a total out of 10. Does it have songs that still define the band? Does it play well from start to finish? Did it change what metal sounded like? And does it still hold up today?
| Rank | Album | Year | Riff Test score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master of Puppets | 1986 | 10/10 |
| 2 | Ride the Lightning | 1984 | 9.5/10 |
| 3 | Metallica (the Black Album) | 1991 | 9/10 |
| 4 | …And Justice for All | 1988 | 8.5/10 |
| 5 | Kill ‘Em All | 1983 | 8/10 |
| 6 | Hardwired…to Self-Destruct | 2016 | 7/10 |
| 7 | Death Magnetic | 2008 | 7/10 |
| 8 | 72 Seasons | 2023 | 6.5/10 |
| 9 | Load | 1996 | 6/10 |
| 10 | Reload | 1997 | 5/10 |
| 11 | St. Anger | 2003 | 3.5/10 |
Which Metallica albums are the classics? (1 to 5)
1. Master of Puppets (1986)
The perfect thrash record. “Battery”, the title track, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” and “Orion” are all here, and there isn’t a weak song in eight. In 2016 it became the first metal album added to the US Library of Congress National Recording Registry. A new generation found it through Stranger Things in 2022, and it still sounds fierce.
2. Ride the Lightning (1984)
The album where Metallica stopped being just fast and started being great. “Fade to Black” showed they could slow down, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” showed they could groove, and “Creeping Death” is still one of their best live songs. Some fans rank it first, and we understand why.
3. Metallica, the Black Album (1991)
The one that made them the biggest metal band in the world. “Enter Sandman”, “Nothing Else Matters”, “The Unforgiven” and “Sad but True” are songs even non-metal fans know. It’s slower and heavier than the thrash years, and it’s the band’s best-selling album by far.
4. …And Justice for All (1988)
Long, complex and famous for its thin bass sound. But “One” is a masterpiece, and “Blackened” is a ferocious opener. It’s the band’s most ambitious record, even if it’s hard work in places.
5. Kill ‘Em All (1983)
The raw, young debut. “Seek & Destroy”, “Whiplash” and “The Four Horsemen” are still in setlists more than forty years later. It’s less polished than what came next, which is exactly its charm.
Which later albums are worth your time? (6 to 8)
6. Hardwired…to Self-Destruct (2016)
The best of the modern albums. “Hardwired”, “Moth Into Flame” and “Spit Out the Bone” prove the band could still play fast and mean in their fifties. It’s a little long, but the highs are high.
7. Death Magnetic (2008)
A return to long, thrashy songs after a decade away from them. “All Nightmare Long” and “The Day That Never Comes” are strong. The heavily compressed mix, which many fans complained about, holds it back.
8. 72 Seasons (2023)
Solid and heavy, with “Lux Æterna” and “Screaming Suicide” as highlights. It’s a record by a band comfortable in its sound, which is both its strength and why it rarely surprises.
Which Metallica albums can you skip? (9 to 11)
9. Load (1996)
Short hair, blues-rock riffs and a lot of fan anger at the time. Time has been kind to “Until It Sleeps”, “King Nothing” and “Bleeding Me”. It’s not a bad album, it’s just not the Metallica most people came for.
10. Reload (1997)
Recorded in the same sessions as Load, and it sounds like the leftovers. “Fuel” and “The Memory Remains” are great, but the rest drags.
11. St. Anger (2003)
No guitar solos, a snare drum that sounds like a pot lid, and songs that run far too long. It came out of a painful time for the band, documented in the film Some Kind of Monster. It’s fascinating as a story. It’s hard to listen to as a record.
Pylcrow’s take: the first four are untouchable, and that’s the problem
Metallica made four albums in five years that changed heavy music, then a fifth that took it to the whole world. Every record since has been judged against that run, and almost nothing could win. That’s not a failure. It’s what happens when your early work is this good.
If you get the chance to see the Sphere shows, go for the classics and enjoy the modern songs as a bonus. That’s how the band seems to see it too.
Frequently asked questions
What is Metallica’s best album?
Master of Puppets (1986) is our pick, and it’s the most common choice among fans and critics. Ride the Lightning is a close second.
What is Metallica’s worst album?
St. Anger (2003) ranks last for most fans, mainly for its production and lack of guitar solos.
How many studio albums does Metallica have?
Eleven, from Kill ‘Em All in 1983 to 72 Seasons in 2023.
Which Metallica album should I listen to first?
Start with Master of Puppets for the classic sound, or the Black Album if you want the famous songs first.
What is the Pylcrow Riff Test?
It’s our four-part album score: defining songs, start-to-finish quality, influence on metal, and how well it holds up today.
What should you read next?
More Memory Unlocked: what the 21st night of September really means and songs for November nights. Browse everything in Music.
Sources: Loudwire; Metallica.com tour page; Ultimate Classic Rock; Wikipedia: Metallica discography. Rankings and scores are Pylcrow’s opinion.
