10 Best Self-Titled Rock Albums Of All Time

Whether your interest in Metallica merely lasted as long as your attempt to learn the guitar, or whether it extended to all out fandom, this album is important. The riffs from Enter Sandman and Sad But True, are essential for any new guitar players who hope to master the fretboard. But a true indication of your commitment, is if you can learn Nothing Else Matters without getting bored.

Back when they were still considered the underdogs of rock and long before the Napster controversy, fans were still on side with Metallica. In 1986, Master of Puppets, received acclaim but the band's fanbase was mostly made up of thrash metal devotees. Their fifth album, however, changed everything.

The band proved they weren't just capable of playing hard and fast. Unforgiven, and the aforementioned Nothing Else Matters, were two numbers that slowed everything down, creating atmosphere in a space that had previously been retained for power chords.

The heavy aspects were still there, but the thrash approach made way for more blues inspired progressions. Although this displeased some hardcore headbangers, the album skyrocketed Metallica into the mainstream, and remains one of their most accomplished bodies of work to date.