10 Perfect Metal Albums With ZERO Flaws

Metal has been known to be an ugly genre for years now. From the detuned guitars to the shouting vocals, the genre has caused a lot of excitement in adolescents and a lot of disapproval from parents. The sound may have been a bit abrasive for some, but no one could ignore the absolute ear candy we were hearing.

Throughout the genre's storied history, bands have come out with albums that have defined everything that metal has stood for. Whether it be a bold new reinvention for the style or the moment where everything gelled, no skip button is required for these records.

Though these albums span many different subgenres of metal from the stone age to now, each of them have helped pave the way for getting metal into the mainstream. Going from subtle to bludgeoning, these records have a little something for everyone who caters towards the heavier side of the rock spectrum.

Above all else, these albums proved that metal was no longer just a niche genre. With millions of sales around the world, these albums made metal one of the leading contenders in the music world, whose flame isn't going to be burnt out any time soon.

At the end of the 90's, metal looked a whole lot different than the beginning of the decade. Rather than the big metal anthems for bands like Metallica and Megadeth, the modern sounds of the day were all about dropped tunings, dissonant harmonies, and 20 year old men complaining about their disaffected home lives.

Things were starting to get old once the 2000s hit, but Linkin Park arose from California and brought metal back on the charts.

Instead of employing a pure hip hop delivery, LP's unique way of splitting up the vocals between a clean singer and a rapper stood out as something refreshing. While some metalheads may not have been down with the intricate flows, it didn't matter because there was a heavy chorus waiting just around the corner.

Granted, the sound of Hybrid Theory does sound a little bit too clean for some metalheads' tastes, but this album is more than just its downtuned riffs. With their vast array of soundscapes, Linkin Park made an album that was perfect for getting younger fans acquainted with heavy music for the first time.

Nu metal may have stayed in the past, but the energy that Linkin Park were able to create on this debut is absolutely timeless.