Metallica Albums Ranked Worst to Best!
Written by Xander on April 14, 2023
Dan Moran sets the records straight…
We got Shrapnel and Reaper vocalist, Daniel Moran, to lay it down, every Metallica album from worst to best. Do you agree?
“New Tallica album means new worst to best, so flame away gang:”
12. Lulu (2011).Literally unlistenable. It’s an incentive on Reaper’s Patreon (subscribe for cool perks) for me to finish listening to it and watching me suffer. If we get 20 Patreons, I’ll finally hear the 19 minute long album closer I will VERY likely consider stealing morphine for the Defcon 1 level headache I’ll have after cringing through it. Worst album ever conceived by man. Only utility is I can use it to shill.
11. St Anger (2003).
Nothing new to be said but some bangers that got ruined by “insert obvious here“. It’s a shame too cause there are some ripping moments. With the right editing and fix on the snare sample of booting a kettle in an open field, this could’ve been something really interesting.
10. Hardwired (2016).
Couple of belter Tallica tracks, a lot of absolutely nothing. ‘Moth Into Flame’, ‘Spit Out The Bone’, and ‘Now That Were Dead’ are highlights. First half mostly slams, second half bar ‘ManUnkind’ and ‘Spit Out The Bone’ is a massive dud.
9. 72 Seasons (2023).
More consistent and some terrific moments but BADLY bloated in areas. Still worth a check but definitely not an 80 minute disc; not even close.
8. Kill Em All (1983).
Don’t care. Great album for the most part but it’s very dated. However, not gonna pretend like this isn’t an essential thrash listen. Would be daft to suggest otherwise.
7. Reload (1997).
Bloated but some of the better experimental Tallica tracks and some terrific lyrical writing paired with daft rock bangers. Lots of fun, just didn’t need to be so long.
6. Death Magnetic (2008).
Some overly long moments but the core writing on this slams. ‘Suicide Harmony’ is top 5 Talli moments and ‘My Apocalypse’ goes in the most overlooked tracks pile.
5. Load (1996).
Would be above black album by a hair were it not for the abysmal opening two tracks. Rest of it is grungy and dark and a brilliant platform off of self titled. Drop the first two tracks and thorn within and you have a stellar take on 90’s grunge and some exceptionally underrated tracks.
4. Metallica (The Black Album – 1991).
Unquestionably filled with iconic and slamming moments. Shame it ends on such a dud and some of the “legendary” moments on it are a bit hokey.
3. And Justice For All (1988).
My favourite album by a long ways but coated a bit in nostalgia so loses points for being 1. A touch overwritten in spots and 2. Produced pretty poorly. Had the production on this been better it’d landslide as best Metallica album.
1 & 2. Ride the Lightening (1984) / Master of Puppets (1986).
Interchangeable number one spot. Lightning is consistently phenomenal with no let up and ends on an extraordinary climax, Master has five of Metallica’s top 20 songs, three in top ten. ‘Leper’ is a bit of a drag but the rest makes up for it. Two legend status albums for good reason.
That’s it. Bye!!
Daniel Moran
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