13 Metal Albums Worth Having.

Craving something hard and heavy? Well, I have put together a list of 13 albums you can listen to and also make a great addition to any collection.

1. Epica- The Divine Conspiracy

Released in 2007, this is one of the more popular albums by this dutch band. With Simone on leads, this album lures you in with beautiful lyrics as well as a beautiful voice.

2. Arch Enemy

Also released in 2007, this Swedish band is lead by front woman Angela Gassow and have been around since 1996, with many of its members coming from other bands. This album is a MUST have for anyone who collects or listens to Death metal.

3. Within Temptation - The Heart of Everything

Released in 2007, no list would be complete with another strong front woman, Sharon den Adel, This album, like the album in the first spot, has hauntingly beautiful lyrics, songs that can be related to, and songs that empower you. While, this is classified as Symphonic metal, it is still metal and therefore worth checking out.

4. Danzig III- How The Gods Kill

Released in 1992, this is the third studio album by Glenn Danzig, Lets face it! There is nothing more exciting than headbanging to this for hours, only to walk away with a super sore neck. Again, this is a MUST have for anyone who is into Death metal

5. Sodom - Persecution Mania

While this band had little success in the US, mostly cause a lot of their songs were in German. This band hailing from Germany is intense! There is no other word to describe it. Powerful melodies and guitar rifts will leave you craving more. Sadly, this Death metal band only released 4 albums.

6. Tarot - Suffer Our Pleasures

Released in 2003, this was the 6th album by the Finnish Metal band. Led by front man Marco Hietala ( you may also remember him in another band called Nightwish and Northern Kings. ) All around, this is an amazing album and while not a MUST have, it is worth checking out if you have not heard them.

7. Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night

Released in 2004, this power metal band Finnish band is led by front man Tony Kakko and introduces us to Henrik Klingenberg. Most of the lyrics on this album deal with paranoia, desperation, irony, and psychosis. This was their first commercially successful album.

8. D.R.I.

Synonymous with Thrash Metal in the 80's and 90's D.R.I. or Dirty Rotten Imbeciles, led the way and won the way into our hearts and skate parks. While I chose no specific album to cover, I think, on a whole all of them are equally just as great as the first album.

9. Motorhead - Ace of Spades

Released in 1975. Before Metallica, Megadeth, and even Iron Maiden there was one band tearing up the radio and clubs. Call it what you will, Early thrash, Punk, Heavy Metal. Lemmy and the boys led the way into headbanging history, with powerful and hard hitting lyrics, amazing guitar rifts, and an over all sense of Badassery.

10. Metallica - Ride The Lightning

Say, what you will about Metallica, but this second studio album is by far, one of the best albums they released. Thrash metal at its finest, the Boys from the bay keep the intensity alive, with songs such as 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' and a certain metal ballad called 'Fade to Black'.

11. Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction

Horray for more Thrash metal. In my opinion is one of the best albums released. With songs like ' Symphony of Destruction' and ' Hello Me' it is not hard to think of what the inside of Dave Mustaine's must be like.

12. Slayer - Divine Intervention

While some may consider Slayer, Death metal. Sadly, they fall into the sub genre of Thrash. Still not a bad category to fall into if you were in the 80's and 90's. From the opening rift to the fade out on the final song, these boys will keep you neck sore and wanting to find the nearest mosh pit.

13. Iron Maiden - Powerslave

While last on the list, they certainly deserve to be first in everyone hearts. When you mention Heavy metal to someone, the first band they think of is Maiden. While the boys from Britain have released many great... sorry EPIC albums, I chose one, that not many people may have or may not have listened to. ' Aces High' and ' Two Minutes to Midnight' appeared on this album, which was released in 84.

14. Northern Kings

This is a Finnish cover band. From doing Tina Turner to Lionel Richie, give it a listen and tell me what you think.