Regardless of the plea "this is a PERSONAL OPINION" from the author, ranking Metallica albums is a cliche.
No ranking I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot!) will:
include St. Anger, Load, or ReLoad in the top 5
exclude Master of Puppets from the top 5
Just once, I'd like to see St. Anger in the top 10 and Master of Puppets in the bottom half.
You can basically switch the placement of this and the next album however you want. "St. Anger" is a fairly hard listen. With the awful snare sound, and the overly drawn out song lengths, it just is a piece of work to listen to. The lack of solos do not help this album out. It would've added more variety to the songs. There are some decent songs on here, and this album was the first step towards Metallica heading back to a heavier sound after the "Load" albums. Best songs: "St. Anger" / "Frantic."
#9. Reload (1997)
This album is basically all the crappy songs Metallica had left over from the Load sessions, and they aren't very good. These should've all just gone in the dumpster, besides just a few. James' voice sounds really great on here, just like it does on Load. Best Songs: "Fuel" / "The Unforgiven II" / "The Memory Remains."
#8. Load (1996)
This is the point where we cross over from bad albums to pretty good ones. Load is a really good hard rock album with blues influences. This album would've been received much better if it wasn't a Metallica album. It can feel a little bloated at times, and they should have cut a couple of songs. I think the boys would've had a masterpiece on their hands if they had taken a few songs from "Load" and the couple of good ones from "Reload" and had a good size 8-10 song album. This album actually has some of 'tallicas best, such as "The Outlaw Torn" and "Bleeding Me." Best Songs: "The Outlaw Torn" / "Until It Sleeps" / "Bleeding Me" / "Hero Of The Day" / "Ain't My Bitch" / "King Nothing."
#7. Death Magnetic (2008)
This was basically Metallica's return to a heavier sound. This is what the fans had been asking for, which results in the song writing feeling a bit forced. The production is terrible, with an extremely flat guitar tone, and an incredibly annoying snare sound (once again). Forget about the small negative things, and you've got a pretty good album. Kirk was back with his blistering solos again, with the one on "The Day That Never Comes" being one of his greatest ever in my opinion. The riffs were memorable, such as on "That Was Just Your Life" and "My Apocalypse." Best Songs: "All Nightmare Long" / "The Day That Never Comes" / "My Apocalypse" / "That Was Just Your Life."
#6. Hardwired...To Self Destruct (2016)
In my opinion, this is Metallica's true return to form. James sounds great, and the song writing feels less forced than "DM"'s. The band finally sounds like they are having fun again. The production is a step up from their previous two releases. My one true con is Kirk. The solos aren't up to the same level as "Death Magnetic"'s. Yeah, "Spit Out The Bone" and "Halo On Fire" had pretty good solos, but I can't say the same for the rest of them. They all sound very similar and are masked in a smoke screen of wah. Other than that this is a great album. Best Songs: "Spit Out The Bone" / "Dream No More" / "Halo On Fire."
#5. Kill 'Em All (1983)
This album kicks ass. Fun riffs, fast drumming, and James sounds like a lunatic. You've got epic tracks like "The Four Horsemen" and "Seek And Destroy," and quick paced thrashers such as "Whiplash" and "Metal Militia." "Jump In The Fire" has great riffs as does "No Remorse." "Motorbreath" is a little weak compared to the other songs, but is still a fun track. Best Songs: "Jump In The Fire" / "The Four Horsemen" / "No Remorse" / "Whiplash."
#4. The Black Album/Metallica (1991)
I think most of you are gonna want to kill me for putting this over "Kill 'Em All," but I personally enjoy this album much more. This album has the best production of their career. The singles are great especially "Wherever I May Roam" and "The Unforgiven," as well as the other tracks. "My Friend Of Misery" and "The God That Failed" are some of the bands best songs ever, and "Of Wolf And Man" is a beast of a track. It even has some thrashier songs like "Holier Than Thou" and "Through The Never." The only weak song on here is "The Struggle Withing," which I've personally never gotten into. Best Songs: "My Friend Of Misery" / "Wherever I May Roam" / "The God That Failed."
#3. Master Of Puppets (1986)
Please don't crucify me for putting this at #3. You can put any of these top 3 as your first and I wouldn't bat an eye. This album has some of their best songs such as the title track, "Sanitarium," and the punishing "Disposable Heroes." "Orion" is a stellar instrumental and a true testament to the skillful bassist that was Cliff Burton (RIP). "Battery" and "Damage Inc." bookend "MOP" with brutal riffs and solos. "The Thing That Should Not Be" and "Leper Messiah" are two of the band's heaviest songs ever. Best Songs: "Master Of Puppets" / "Disposable Heroes" / "Orion" / "Sanitarium."
#2. ...And Justice For All (1988)
This is Metallica's most technical album, which is why many of these songs aren't performed live. It is the bands best performance as a band, especially Lars. Lars was at his peak on this album, as shown my the iconic double bass run on "One." The opener "Blackened" has some of their best riffs. The title track and "To Live Is To Die" are monster tracks. The song "One" has one of Hammet's best solos, and "Dyers Eve" along with "Harvester Of Sorrow" feature Lars' best drumming. Best Songs: "Blackened" / "To Live Is To Die" / "Dyers Eve" / "Frayed Ends Of Sanity" / "One."
#1. Ride The Lightning (1984)
Here you go. My favorite album of all time. This is Kirk Hammet's best work. Great solos include "Creeping Death," "Fight Fire With Fire," the title track, and "Fade To Black." "Fade To Black" is my favorite solo of all time, and is also my favorite song of all time. If anybody ever tells you that metal can't be beautiful show them this song. For Whom The Bell Tolls is an awesome track, and who can't help but to chant "die, die, die" on "Creeping Death." "The Call Of Ktulu" is an amazing instrumental (not as good as "Orion"), and "Trapped Under Ice" is just a fun thrash track. The one track everyone hates on on here is "Escape." I love this song. It's catchy, it has great riffs, and a pretty good solo. Nothing wrong with this album at all. Best Songs: "Fade To Black" / the rest are equal.
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