From today we are starting a focus on the most interesting rankings published over the years by international magazines. Let's start from metal with the all time top 75 of Consequence.
“The mighty Black Sabbath and their fearless singer Ozzy Osbourne (subsequently passed away on July 22, 2025, ed) put the seal on their respective legendary careers with a once-in-a-lifetime concert in their hometown of Birmingham, England on July 5, 2025, which marked their final performances – writes Consequence editor Jon Hadusek – And while the “Back to the Beginning” show closed a very long and legendary chapter in metal history, it also proved that the genre is more alive than ever, with electrifying sets from bands like Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Tool, Gojira, Lamb of God and many more. (…) Long considered the music of the marginalized, metal has become increasingly accepted over the years, both musically and as a lifestyle — today more than ever, thanks to the everlasting popularity of bands like Metallica and the success of more modern bands like Ghost…. Metal continues to evolve and spawn new subgenres.”
Here, then, is this ranking of the 75 best metal albums of all time, the result of a survey involving over 45 metal musicians (from GWAR, Baroness, Melvins, Pallbearer and others) together with the opinions of the Consequence editorial team (here is the complete report).
75. Cynic – Focus – 1993
74. Yob – Atma – 2011
73. Slayer – Seasons In The Abyss – 1990
72. Darkthrone – A Blaze In The Northern Sky – 1992
71. Acid Bath – When The Kite String Pops – 1994
70. Between The Buried And Me – Colors – 2007
69. Isis – Celestial – 2000
68. Melvins – Houdini – 1993
67. Girlschool – Demolition – 1980
66. Napalm Death – From Enslavement To Obliteration – 1988
65. The Dillinger Escape Plan – Calculating Infinity – 1999
64. Iron Maiden – Killers – 1981
63. Celtic Frost – Morbid Tales – 1984
62. Killswitch Engage – Alive Or Just Breathing – 2002
61. Evanescence – Fallen – 2003
60. Voivod – Nothingface – 1989
59. Type O Negative – Bloody Kisses – 1993
58. Bring Me The Horizon – Sempiternal – 2013
57. Arch Enemy – Wages Of Sin – 2001
56. Helmet – Meantime – 1992
55. Slipknot – Slipknot – 1999
54. Sunn O))) – Monoliths & Dimensions – 2009
53. Exodus – Bonded By Blood – 1985
52. Carcass – Heartworks – 1993
51. Candlemass – Epicus Doomicus Metallicus – 1986
50. Meshuggah – Destroy Erase Improve – 1995
49. Boris – Feedbacker – 2003
48. Lamb Of God – Ashes Of The Wake – 2004
47. Electric Wizard – Dopethrone – 2000
46. Venom – Black Metal – 1982
45. Cannibal Corpse – Tomb Of The Mutilated – 1992
44. Danzig – Danzig – 1988
43. Def Leppard – Pyromania – 1983
42. Living Color – Vivid – 1988
41. Megadeth – Peace Sells…But Who's Buying? – 1986
40. King Diamond – Abigail – 1987
39. Behemoth – The Satanist – 2014
38. Queensrÿche – Operation: Mindcrime – 1988
37. Anthrax – Among The Living – 1987
36. Black Sabbath – Master Of Reality – 1971
35. At The Gates – Slaughter Of The Soul – 1995
34. Metallica – Metallica [The Black Album] – 1991
33. Sleep – Dopesmoker/Jerusalem – 1999
32. Opeth – Blackwater Park – 2001
31. Gojira – From Mars To Sirius – 2005
30. Sepultura – Chaos AD – 1993
29. Ministry – Psalm 69: The Way To Succeed And The Way To Suck Eggs – 1992
28. Mastodon – Leviathan – 2004
27. Judas Priest – British Steel – 1980
26. Slayer – South Of Heaven – 1988
25. Converge – Jane Doe – 2001
24. Mötley Crüe – Shout At The Devil – 1983
23. Deftones – Around The Fur – 1997
22. Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard Of Ozz – 1980
21. Dream Theater – Metropolis 2: Scenes From A Memory – 1999
20. Korn – Korn – 1994
19. Dio – Holy Diver – 1983
18. Slipknot – Iowa – 2001
17. Mayhem – De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas – 1994
16. Deafheaven – Sunbather – 2013
15. Alice In Chains – Dirt – 1992
14. Metallica – Ride The Lightning – 1984
13. Rage Against The Machine – Rage Against The Machine – 1992
12. Motörhead – Ace Of Spades – 1980
11. Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath – 1970
10. Tool – Lateralus – 2001
9. Death – Symbolic – 1995
8. System Of A Down – Toxicity – 2001
7. Pantera – Vulgar Display Of Power – 1992
6. Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast – 1982
5. Megadeth – Rust In Peace – 1990
4. Judas Priest – Painkiller – 1990
3. Slayer – Reign In Blood – 1986
2. Metallica – Master Of Puppets – 1986
1. Black Sabbath – Paranoid – 1970
Antonio Santini for SANREMO.FM
