In Futuro they sent us moments of indecision when making a ranking of all Metallica albums, according to their greatness. After all, we really could have had a three-way tie for first place. How much do you credit the rampant popularity of their 1991 self-titled album? And what, really, to do with “Lulu”, the one that is preferable to leave as one of Lou Reed and not as one of the four horsemen?
They rose to fame, of course, as part of a fierce cadre of bands that injected an aggressive new energy into metal, helping to revolutionize the genre with other early thrash legends like Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer. But co-founders James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich haven’t been content to rest on their laurels, something that has earned them millions of new fans even as it caused some older ones to scratch their heads.
Their second era, which lasted from 1990 to 2003, saw them collaborate with producer Bob Rock and achieve great commercial success. At one point, Rock even served as bassist in the group between the tenures of Jason Newsted and Robert Trujillo. But that period also saw big changes in the way Metallica approached their craft. Later experiments included a collaboration with rock legend Lou Reed that deeply divided fans on both sides.
Which original song record ranked as the pinnacle? Below, rock radio ranks Metallica’s albums, ranked in order of greatness.
12- Lulu (with Lou Reed)
We weren’t sure whether or not to include “Lulu,” the band’s collaboration with the legendary Lou Reed, as a true Metallica studio album. But once we decided to do it, there was no question where it would rank on this list. Both sides deserve a lot of respect for trying something so different. But the end result, this heavy mess of spoken words, is really hard to bear.
11.- St. Anger (2003)
Metallica bravely, but perhaps misguidedly, re-experimented here with the methods that made them the biggest metal band in the world. The high-tech production of Metallica’s previous albums is replaced by something much more grainy and strident. Oh, and Kirk Hammett wasn’t allowed to play any guitar solos. But the biggest problem? The disjointed and bloated composition, which ultimately wasted a great package of tantalizing riffs.
10.- Reload (1997)
This is the successor/companion to 1996’s “Load”, which was originally planned as a double album. Everything from now on is certainly worth it, in this case, thanks to songs like “Fuel”, “Devil’s Dance” and the manic “Prince Charming”. But as “Reload” stretches past the 75-minute mark, it’s hard not to hear some of the songs as leftovers.
09.- Death Magnetic (2008)
Metallica makes a long-awaited return to their thrash roots, with epic, immaculately crafted compositions reminiscent of their previous masterpieces. Make no mistake, it’s a blast to listen to. Still, “Death Magnetic” just doesn’t stick as hard in your head as the landmark albums coming down the road.
08.- Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016)
Eight years after “Death Magnetic,” Metallica returned with a looser, fuller sound on “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct.” The band features their best collection of riffs in decades and several songs that should earn a spot on Metallica’s “all-time” playlist. However, after a very strong start, the second half gets a little bogged down with slow, repetitive rhythms and overly elaborate ideas.
07.- 72 Seasons (2023)
Like 2016’s “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct,” “72 Seasons” finds Metallica straddling their early thrash days and their ’90s commercial period. There’s no backup on an LP that could feel tiring at times; The title track begins with windstorm guitars and doesn’t let up for another seven and a half minutes. The intensity rarely wavers on “Shadows Follow,” “Sleepwalk My Life Away,” “Chasing Light,” or the surprisingly compact “Lux Æterna.” It’s archetypal Metallica, but the soul-cleansing of “72 Seasons” feels genuine, a lifetime of burdens lifted, at least partially, for now.
06.- Load (1996)
After toning down their sound with the world-conquering “black album,” Metallica loosened things up a bit, adding a dose of Southern boogie to songs like “Ain’t My Bitch” and “2 X 4.” Mix two-thirds of this with about a third of “Reload,” and we would have an undeniable classic.
05.- And Justice For All (1988)
Almost any other metal band would be proud to call this album their signature work. But the sparse production remains a major sticking point, and the somewhat repetitive songwriting betrays the fact that this is the third time Metallica has followed roughly the same formula when creating an album.
04.- Metallica (1991)
Metallica perhaps understandably changed their songwriting style drastically on the follow-up to 1988’s “…And Justice For All.” Some fans missed the thrash riffs and complex song structures that made them metal pioneers. But Metallica gained millions and millions of new fans who followed them into this more straightforward hard rock territory, and they’re certainly right about songs like “Enter Sandman” and “Sad But True.”
03.- Kill ‘Em All (1983)
In comparison, Kill ‘Em All seems a little crude and unhinged, but in this case, that’s not a bad thing. Unlike “St. Anger”, this time the dazzling combination of speed and precision on songs like “Hit the Lights” and “Jump in the Fire” hits even harder, thanks to the lack of production.
02.- Ride the Lightning (1984)
“Ride the Lightning” could easily top this list. Metallica confidently and dramatically expanded the sound of their debut album, which was barely a year old at the time. Highlights include the hard-hitting “Creeping Death,” the dramatic “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and their horribly distorted version of a power ballad, “Fade to Black.”
01.- Master of Puppets (1986)
It may not match the breakthroughs their last two albums made, but this time Metallica refined what they had already proven they could do in the sharpest and most powerful way imaginable. There isn’t a wasted second in any of the eight songs on this album. It would take another half decade for the world to realize, but in reality “Master of Puppets”, and not the “black album”, is the album that made Metallica the kings of heavy metal that still reign.
