10 Hard Rock Albums You Need To Listen To With Headphones
1. The Black Album - Metallica
Metallica have more than their fair share of classics under their belt. Ever since the band started in the early 80's, they have made some stellar material, from the garage rock intensity of Kill Em All to the classically infused thrash of Master of Puppets. While it's debatable whether the band's Black Album is their best release, it is easily one of the best sounding metal records committed to tape.
From the opening notes of "Enter Sandman," this entire album is a compact collection of tracks with each tooth sharpened for good measure. Going into the studio with Bob Rock, the band were determined to capture their live intensity in the studio, equipped with songs that were some of their hookiest to date. Though there are some more off-the-wall experiments on the album like the orchestra on "Nothing Else Matters" and the Eastern-sounding intro of "Wherever I May Roam," you never forget that these guys are a metal album aiming to tear your soul to ribbons.
In terms of the mix, the entire album feels massive, with James Hetfield layering 3 different metal guitar tones and Lars Ulrich's drums sounding like their conjuring up the power of Thor's Mjolnir with every single strike. They may have set out to make the best Metallica record, but the band walked out of that studio different people, with one of the most impressive auditory feats any hard rock band could hope to accomplish.