IGN Music Name METALLICA's

IGN Music Name METALLICA's Master Of Puppets The Top Metal Album Of All Time

IGN Music has issued the following report from Spence D. and Ed T.:

The origins of the term "heavy metal" have been contested for years, at least in respect to its relationship to modern music. The term itself is of both chemical and metallurgical nature, used by chemists and the like for centuries.

Those with strong literary ties will no doubt proffer up the indomitable William S. Burroughs who named a character in his cult classic The Soft Machine "Uranian Willy, the Heavy Metal Kid." He furthered the term in Nova Express. Both books came out in the early '60s.

STEPPENWOLF dropped the term in their 1968 classic 'Born To Be Wild'; likewise IRON BUTTERFLY named their 1968 debut album Heavy and the band's name incorporated a popular (and obvious) form of metal in its moniker. And while legend has it that producer Sandy Pearlman (best known for his pioneering early work with BLUE ÖYSTER CULT) may have been the first person to actually utter the term "heavy metal" in direct reference to the style of music a band was playing, most modern music historians site the township of Birmingham, England as the birthplace of the music, if nothing else.

Known as an industrialized, blue collar, hard working community, Birmingham gave the world BLACK SABBATH, unquestionably the earliest and most popular proponents of Heavy Metal. Sabbath would lay the groundwork by which all subsequent Metal outfits would adhere to. Period.

We can argue the roots of Heavy Metal all we want, but the real nut here is that the style has persevered through the ages. It has weathered and outlasted Disco, New Wave, and even the Boy Band/Pretty Girl infestation that seemed to capture the vapid imaginations of the multitudes in the '90s.

Which is exactly why we decided to tackle a Top 25 Metal Albums list.

We could continue to expound upon the merits of the genre, instead, without further adieu, we bring you IGN Music's Top 25 Metal Albums list.

One more thing before we let loose. Feel free to slag us, praise us, or better yet send in your own list of Top 25 Metal Albums. You can do that here, music@ign.com.

For the record, the list was compiled by Spence D. with input from various IGN Editors as well as loyal freelancer Ed Thompson with special thanks to reader Ryan and Ed's homey Steve. Both Spence and Ed penned the blurbs for the various inclusions and their script is denoted by either "SD" or "ET."

That said, in the semi-immortal words of QUIET RIOT: "Bang your head! Metal health will drive you mad!"

Enjoy!

The list:

1. METALLICA - Master of Puppets (Elektra Records, 1986)
2. BLACK SABBATH - Paranoid (Warner Bros., 1971)
3. IRON MAIDEN - Number of the Beast (Capitol Records, 1982)
4. MEGADETH - Rust in Peace (Capitol Records, 1990)
5. METALLICA - Ride the Lightning (Elektra Records, 1984)
6. OZZY OSBOURNE - Blizzard of Ozz (Jet Records, 1980)
7. SLAYER - Reign in Blood (American Records, 1986)
8. DIO - Holy Diver (Reprise Records, 1983)
9. METALLICA - ...And Justice for All (Elektra Records, 1988)
10. MOTÖRHEAD - Ace of Spades (Castle Music, 1980)
11. PANTERA - Vulgar Display of Power (East/West, 1992)
12. ANTHRAX - Among the Living (Megaforce, 1987)
13. BLACK SABBATH - Black Sabbath (Warner Bros., 1970)
14. FATES WARNING - No Exit (Metal Blade, 1988)
15. JUDAS PRIEST - Screaming for Vengeance (Columbia Records, 1982)
16. MÖTLEY CRÜE - Shout at the Devil (Elektra Records, 1983
17. MASTODON - Blood Mountain (Reprise Records, 2006)
18. OPETH - Blackwater Park (Koch, 2001)
19. PANTERA - Cowboys from Hell (Atlantic Records, 1990)
20. DEEP PURPLE - Machine Head (Warner Bros., 1972)
21. IRON MAIDEN - Piece of Mind (Capitol Records, 1983)
22. OZZY OSBOURNE - Diary of a Madman (Jet Records, 1981)
23. SEPULTURA - Roots (Roadrunner Records, 1996)
24. QUEENSRŸCHE - Operation: Mindcrime (EMI, 1988)
25. SCORPIONS - Lovedrive (Mercury Records, 1979)

For comments on each selection, see the full article at this location