No. 3 - ...And Justice for All (1988)
Recorded in the aftermath of bassist Cliff Burton’s untimely death, ...And Justice For All features a more guitar-heavy sound with James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett’s melodies at the forefront of the album. The record has received criticism over the years due to the lack of bass from Jason Newsted as his playing is almost inaudible.
Highlights from the album include the power ballad "One", "Blackened", and "Dyers Eve", the latter of which has become a highly requested song during live performances. And Justice For All saw the band experiment with longer, more complex songs and the result was a huge success.
No. 2 - Master of Puppets (1986)
In 2015, Master of Puppets became the first metal album to be honored by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." These words do not even begin to describe the third album from Metallica, which was released just three years after their debut.
Master of Puppets features some of Metallica’s heaviest and fastest material ever. The album combines elements from both Ride the Lightning and Kill ‘Em All as we see complex rhythms and melodies mixed with excellent storytelling as the record explores themes of war, oppression, and alienation.
The title track showcases Metallica at its best with aggressive tempo changes and face-melting solos that will leave you wanting more. This style of music is a common theme throughout the album, with the band’s growth and versatility on full display. The result is 54 minutes and 52 seconds of pure heavy metal brilliance.
No. 1 - Ride the Lightning (1984)
Ride the Lightning builds off the success of the band’s legendary debut album Kill ‘Em All in a big way. The album is diverse in nature, featuring more eclectic harmonies, acoustic guitars, and deep, meaningful lyrics that are a step up from its predecessor. Ride the Lightning features thrash classics including "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "Creeping Death", and "Fight Fire With Fire" which are full throttle right from the jump.
The band showcases a softer side with the power ballad "Fade to Black", and the instrumental track "Call of Ktulu", both of which paved the way for some of the band’s later work with the songs’ influence being felt on tracks such as "One", "To Live Is To Die", and "The Day That Never Comes".
Ride the Lightning is a record that does not contain a single bad song, which is rare in music, especially from a band that was only on their second album. Even the album’s weakest song, "Escape", would make for a stellar track had it been released by any other band during the time period.
Overall, Ride the Lightning features Metallica at their best as they established themselves as a perennial powerhouse in the music industry and set the stage for an incredibly successful career still going strong in 2024.