As the most financially successful (and perhaps most recognizable) metal band of all time, these California thrashers brought the metal genre to the masses, earning kudos with the underground as well as the mainstream. While they haven’t quite managed to recapture their 80s glory days, they’re still riding the lightning with massive live shows and an undeniable influence on heavy music. These are my favorite songs from the thrash-tastic four.

*This list will be updated in the event of any future (including posthumous) releases.

Honorable mentions

Blackened

Leper Messiah

Ride the Lightning

The Thing That Should Not Be

Wherever I May Roam

Top 10

10. Damage, Inc.

9. The Call of Ktulu

8. Dyers Eve

7. Fight Fire with Fire

6. For Whom the Bell Tolls

5. Battery

4. One

3. Disposable Heroes

2. Creeping Death

1. Master of Puppets

Favorite Album Cover

Master of Puppets (1986)

Favorite Track on Each Album

Kill ’Em All (1983)

Seek & Destroy

Ride the Lightning (1984)

Creeping Death

Master of Puppets (1986)

Master of Puppets

…And Justice for All (1988)

One

Metallica (1991)

Wherever I May Roam

Load (1996)

King Nothing

Reload (1997)

Fuel

St. Anger (2003)

Frantic

Death Magnetic (2008)

Broken, Beat & Scarred

Hardwired…to Self-Destruct (2016)

Moth Into Flame

72 Seasons (2023)

Shadows Follow

Albums Ranked

11. St. Anger (2003)

10. Load (1996)

9. Reload (1997)

8. Death Magnetic (2008)

7. 72 Seasons (2023)

6. Hardwired…to Self-Destruct (2016)

5. Metallica (1991)

4. Kill ’Em All (1983)

3. …And Justice for All (1988)

2. Ride the Lightning (1984)

1. Master of Puppets (1986)