‘Master of Puppets’ by Metallica topped Metal Hammer’s best album list.
Metal Hammer marks its 50th anniversary with its 500th issue, available from June 21, 2024. This special edition ranks the top 500 metal albums of all time, chosen by a jury of editors, musicians, industry pros, and metal enthusiasts. Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ is ranked number one. The magazine’s laudatory review said:
“Complex structures, musical depth, yet massive sing-along potential — and guitar solos for the ages. The compositional lessons instilled in [James] Hetfield and [Lars] Ulrich by Cliff Burton since the band’s inception reach their full bloom here. For Metal Hammer, this is now officially the best opus in metal history!”
Metallica is listed five times in Metal Hammer’s top 500 metal albums. TheShockNews also includes other bands like Motörhead, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Manowar, and Slayer, as well as newer acts such as Slipknot, Tool, Nightwish, Ghost, In Flames, and Sleep Token.
Creating TheShockNews Was A Huge Job For Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer’s editor-in-chief Sebastian Kessler stated:
“Compiling this list was certainly a mammoth task – but one we gladly took on for the extra-thick 500th issue. What an intense trip through the history of metal; perfect for celebrating Metal Hammer’s 40th anniversary! There’s rarely been so much discussion, philosophy, weighing, and argumentation. And with the release of the results, it’s likely just the beginning.”
In Metal Hammer’s July 2024 issue, you’ll find the full list of top albums, with a special golden cover and 32 extra pages. The issue also covers concert reviews of Metallica, AC/DC, and I Prevail, exclusive features on new albums by Deep Purple, Kissin’ Dynamite, Orden Ogan, and Nearea, and a report on the Rock In Rautheim metal festival.
Metal Hammer celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024, and will host the Metal Hammer Awards on August 31 in Berlin. ‘Master of Puppets,’ released on March 3, 1986, was Metallica’s third album. Recorded in Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen, it sold over six million copies in the U.S. alone.
You can listen to the whole album below.