Well, a big topic and task indeed but go ahead. Give it a try. ^^

How about you give it a try Sadistic?

This is far too debatable and even I can't call the best metal album of all time.

I will share my favorite though:



It was the first In Flames album I ever heard, and I got to experience true melodic death greatness. The album has a flawless production, the guitars are excellent as always, and the song quality is unmatched. Definitely a flawless and enjoyable album.

I loved the Daughters album Canada Songs. I love the short 45 second songs, with the high-pitched screaming. Jeez I love that album.

I kind of grew out of metal a few years back, but I still listen to a some of the older stuff when I want something overly camp. In my experience of metal albums I usually find they contain one or two outstanding tracks and the rest is filler. As such, the best albums are usually compilations. Discounting those, I'd say Bruce Dickinson's Chemical Wedding is one of the best I've heard. It follows the usual pattern with some great tracks and some complete garbage, but happens to have more listenable tracks than most (i.e. 4 or 5 rather than 1 or 2 ).

LOL... Yeah I think you need to expand your metal horizons if that's what you consider the best. I mean, I love Bruce, but his solo work is junk.

If you want good metal you have to find it, and once you do there's PLENTY of it to be found, all without filler. You can't just live in the world of big names, like Iron Maiden and all of that. Most of the more well known metal bands are garbage, and do release albums with this filler you speak of. You gotta kinda dig ( Not really since metal is becoming more and more popular these days... ) to find bands that are true masters of their craft, dedicated to their music and genre.

Taste is but my friend, taste is but

There's a difference between taste and not knowing metal.

Like I said, it's the best I've heard; I'm not saying it's the best album ever or anything. I quite like Bruce's solo stuff - it's got similar cheesy vocal lines and solos as Maiden (and like I said, metal for me is all about the cheese), but has a bigger overall sound. The opening track is a good example: the majority of it is heavier than any NWOBHM type stuff - more rhythmic guitar style and discordal harmony, but as soon as it gets to the solo you're back in the 80s playing air-guitar. I just like the combination of styles.

In Flames
Metallica - Black Album
TMG - Hitting America
Nightwish - Once
Alice 9

Those are some of my favorites because I simply can't just choose one band or album.

I don't really listen to much metal, but my favourite metal album is probably Adrenaline by the Deftones. Probably not even metal, I'm sure someone will correct me if it isn't but meh.

I stopped listening to that kind of music a long time ago, but that album is the favourite of everything I've heard.

Of course, I don't claim its the best metal album ever, ignoring the fact no one can make such a claim anyway, but it's the best I've heard, as limited as my knowledge of the genre is. =P

I can easily say my favorite. Best? What exactly are you rating that on? There are way too many different styles out there of metal music, so how would you call one the best? What are the "guidelines", lol.

Look at my avatar for my answer. I'm a tool, lolz.
PROG DOESN'T COUNT

well...its really up to a matter of opinion..
i think Anathema Alternative 4 is really really excellent...im sure it will go down as one of the best records to ever grace metal...
Judas Priest's Painkiller is very influencial and just plain asskicking!
cant go wrong with one classic Megadeth Countdown to Extinction! so much fun and thrashing!
Testament-The Ritual is one of my all time favorite thrash records! Electric Crown baby!

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

Judas Priest - Painkiller

Yes, amazingly I listen to (early) metal. The more modern stuff drives me close to gouging my eyes out with a spoon, so I tend to avoid it like the plague.

This is assuming you don't count Led Zeppelin and AC/DC as metal. If they count, then it's Led Zeppelin I, and Back In Black.

By far the only album I can listen to every track and not be bored or skip to a better track is Seasons In The Abyss by Slayer. It is a metal classic showcasing Slayer's immeasurable skill for unmatched quick and awesome songs with a slower, melodic but stil kickass sound. War Ensemble ranks as one of the best metal songs to exist and the title track is phenomenal. I can't think of one album I've heard that I'd place above this perfection. Reign In Blood is good yes, but it has nothing on "Seasons."