30 Metal Albums Turning 30 in 2025

1. TAD – Infrared Riding Hood

Seattle’s TAD delivered one of their heaviest records with Infrared Riding Hood. Released on EastWest (a Warner Bros subsidiary), the album balanced raw aggression with melody. Despite critical acclaim, it was their last major-label effort before their eventual breakup.

2. Anthrax – Stomp 442

Following the success of Sound of White Noise, Anthrax’s Stomp 442 had the impossible task of following up a near-perfect record. Though well-crafted, it marked the beginning of a tumultuous period for the band, with label changes and internal conflicts overshadowing the music.

3. Faith No More – King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime

Faith No More’s King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime was a sonic shift, stripping back the dense layers of Angel Dust in favor of a rawer, heavier sound. With Trey Spruance (Mr. Bungle) on guitar, the album was initially met with confusion but has since been reappraised as one of their best.

4. Ozzy Osbourne – Ozzmosis

After an attempted retirement, Ozzy returned with Ozzmosis, featuring Zakk Wylde, Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath), and Rick Wakeman (Yes). Though not considered a classic, the album set the stage for another successful touring cycle.

5. GZR – Plastic Planet

Geezer Butler’s Plastic Planet introduced a modern, industrial-tinged heaviness. Featuring Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory) on vocals, the album remains an underrated slab of groove metal.

6. Lita Ford – Black

On Black, Lita Ford distanced herself from her glam-metal roots, exploring grunge and blues influences. Unfortunately, the album failed commercially, and she wouldn’t release another record for 14 years.

7. Grip Inc. – Power of Inner Strength

Slayer’s Dave Lombardo launched Grip Inc., blending thrash and groove metal with Power of Inner Strength. Despite mixed reviews, the album remains a must-listen for Lombardo’s signature drumming.

8. Skid Row – Subhuman Race

With Subhuman Race, Skid Row pivoted toward punk and groove metal. Though critically praised, the album was commercially overlooked as the band struggled to escape their glam-metal past.

9. Flotsam and Jetsam – Drift

Experimenting with industrial and alternative metal, Drift failed to gain traction in a shifting musical landscape. Despite solid songwriting, the lack of sales led to the band’s departure from MCA Records.

10. Fear Factory – Demanufacture

A groundbreaking fusion of industrial and metal, Demanufacture saw Fear Factory perfect their cybernetic sound. Alternating between clean vocals and hardcore-style shouts, the album helped define industrial metal.

11. Iron Maiden – The X Factor

With Blaze Bayley replacing Bruce Dickinson, The X Factor received mixed reactions. However, recent reevaluations highlight its darker, more introspective tone as a precursor to Maiden’s later works.

12. Death – Symbolic

Symbolic is a landmark in technical death metal. Chuck Schuldiner’s songwriting and Gene Hoglan’s drumming crafted an album that balanced melody and brutality, influencing countless bands.

13. White Zombie – Astro-Creep: 2000

On their final album, White Zombie leaned into industrial influences. Astro-Creep: 2000 was a massive success, paving the way for Rob Zombie’s solo career.

14. Strapping Young Lad – Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing

Devin Townsend’s debut as Strapping Young Lad is chaotic, aggressive, and bizarre. While Townsend himself downplays its quality, the album remains an important milestone.

15. Down – NOLA

A supergroup featuring members of Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, and Crowbar, NOLA blended Southern sludge with Sabbath-inspired doom.

16. Life of Agony – Ugly

Ugly saw Life of Agony embracing melody and introspection while retaining heavy riffs. Initially divisive, it has since gained respect for its depth.

17. Gwar – Ragnarok

Gwar experimented with keyboards, surf guitars, and varied vocal styles on Ragnarok, making for a divisive but intriguing album.

18. Deftones – Adrenaline

The Deftones’ debut was raw, aggressive, and hinted at the atmospheric sound they would later perfect.

19. Fight – A Small Deadly Space

Rob Halford’s groove metal project Fight ended with A Small Deadly Space, a well-received but short-lived venture before his return to Judas Priest.

20. Monster Magnet – Dopes to Infinity

Fusing stoner and space rock, Dopes to Infinity positioned Monster Magnet for mainstream recognition.

21. Meshuggah – Destroy Erase Improve

Destroy Erase Improve set the template for djent, featuring intricate polyrhythms and unrelenting technicality.

22. UFO – Walk on Water

A reunion album that highlighted UFO’s strengths, though their supporting tour ended in disaster.

23. Die Krupps – Rings of Steel

A remix compilation that introduced Die Krupps’ industrial-metal hybrid to new audiences.

24. Deicide – Once Upon the Cross

Despite its controversial imagery, Once Upon the Cross delivered slow, crushing death metal.

25. Fu Manchu – Daredevil

Fu Manchu’s fusion of skate-punk and stoner rock would later become a blueprint for desert rock.

26. Sugar Ray – Lemonade and Brownies

Before their pop-rock transformation, Sugar Ray’s debut was an aggressive, nu-metal-tinged experiment.

27. Paradise Lost – Draconian Times

Draconian Times blended goth and metal, achieving critical success in Europe.

28. Cathedral – The Carnival Bizarre

Cathedral expanded their doom sound with psychedelic and classic rock influences.

29. Morbid Angel – Domination

A slower, more atmospheric take on death metal, Domination remains divisive among fans.

30. Iced Earth – Burnt Offerings

Dark, aggressive, and lyrically rich, Burnt Offerings is considered a fan favorite in Iced Earth’s catalog.