Choosing the best rock albums in history is an impossible task for any one person. Luckily, we had the combined knowledge of the Just About Music community, who together selected the raddest, baddest albums ever to grace the world of rock. Ranging from post-punk to nu metal, these unmissable LPs have each earned their place in rock history. Now let’s roll out the rock.

Metallica - Master of Puppets - 1986

You knew heavy-metal gods Metallica would be on this list somewhere, so why not first?

“This classic album turned 38 years old recently, and without a shadow of doubt Master of Puppets is still king.” That’s FUN INC, who nominated MoP thanks to the powerful melodic odyssey on which it takes its listeners, “from calming acoustic guitar and high harmonies to rapidly descending riffs, Master of Puppets is Metallica with a point to prove.”

That point? We couldn’t say it better than Fun Inc:

“A middle finger to conformity, a swansong for misunderstood and unheard youth in a failing world, Master of Puppets is about control and the abuse of power and the powerless. It has songs that are anti-war, it has songs about drug abuse, and it has songs on mental and personal turmoil. It’s not an album, it’s a classical demonstration of some of the most compelling heavy metal ever written. The only bad thing about the album is that it ends. It’s a ten-out-of-ten masterpiece.”

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory - 2000

A showstopping, genre-defining powerhouse, Hybrid Theory represents a musical awakening for a whole generation. A nu metal masterclass that voiced the angst of disillusioned youth, few ‘00s teenagers' shelves lacked a well-worn, finger-smudged copy of Hybrid Theory. One member of that generation was Damien Mason, who writes:

“Few debut albums are as good as Hybrid Theory. Starting with Papercut right through to Pushing Me Away. I loved every second of angst, rap, and decks. It defined my childhood. Sure Korn, Deftones, and Limp Bizkit fans might disagree, but between Hybrid Theory and the more refined Meteora, Linkin Park put out the best songs in nu metal history.”

Deftones - White Pony - 2000

Talking of nu metal and Deftones fans, Sturmer makes a compelling recommendation for their third studio album White Pony. A deeply experimental LP that draws influence from alt pop, metal, rap, trance, punk, and grunge, it’s still difficult - two decades later - to neatly assign it a genre. Sure, it’s nu metal, but it also has elements of post-rock, post-punk, and trip hop that make it an endlessly fascinating listen. Here’s Sturmer:

“The album is a pivotal point in the evolution of nu metal. It’s widely regarded as the album that transcended the genre’s boundaries by introducing a more sophisticated, experimental sound that was ahead of its time. White Pony showcases the Deftones’ unique ability to blend aggressive metal with atmospheric, dreamlike melodies. The combination creates a sound that’s both visceral and ethereal. The album’s lyrical depth is more mature than other albums of the genre, and explores themes of love, pain, and introspection. Tracks like Digital Bath exemplify the band’s distinctive sound, a calling card of heavy riffs, atmospheric textures, and Chino Moerno’s dynamic vocal range.”

Roo (Roo) agrees: “I adore White Pony. The beat on Digital Bath is iconic. I still remember my drum tutor rolling his eyes at the prospect of having to teach 15-year-old me such a complex beat.” While the beat stands the test of time, Roo points out that not all of the lyrics do: “A lot of the lyrics don’t stand up to today’s standards. Digital Bath and Knife Prty in particular are awfully misogynistic.”

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape - 1997

Dave Grohl is the gift that keeps on giving. But in 1997, he was in an especially generous mood when he released the Foo Fighters’ second album The Colour and the Shape. More polished and layered than their self-titled debut, The Colour and the Shape stays defiant in tone while moving away from a Nirvana-like sound into something decidedly new. For Jenna , it’s an album she’ll never forget:

“My mum would play it every time we’d go for a drive. I remember loving the song Everlong; it kicked off my obsession with rock and made me want more and more. I find it peaceful to listen to in a way that’s difficult to put into words. Foo Fighters will always have a special place in my heart, and I’ll always remember the days mom and I would just be out driving, blasting our favourite tunes.”

Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon - 1973

Here’s another inclusion that no best rock album list could do without. Dark Side of the Moon is Pink Floyd’s eighth studio album and remains - thanks to its iconic tracks and cover art - one of the most recognisable albums of all time. It’s an album that threw the rulebook out of the window, and the world is better off for it. Stella (Stella) nominated this one, and points out that it’s not an album anyone should put on in the background; like any masterpiece, time needs to be put aside to savour it.

“Every time I sit down and listen to Dark Side of the Moon, I notice something new. Usually, that’s something smart about a song’s composition. I know it’s a bit of a cliché to like this album so much, but I really love it and believe it deserves all the hype it gets. My favourite songs are Time and Great Gig in the Sky. They lead on from one another, and I never listen to them in isolation. For lack of a better word, they’re just epic.”

Check out the stunning new 50th anniversary video, created by competition winner Bruno Mazzilli:

Tom is an equally enthusiastic fan of Great Gig in the Sky and suggests this reggae reimagining for anyone looking for a newer take on a classic.

Blink-182 - Enema of the State - 1999

While we’re on the topic of iconic album covers, few have widened as many eyes in record stores than Blink-182’s Enema of the State. While the pop-punk legends may not be known for the experimental and layered nuances of Pink Floyd, they made a sound their own and had a whole generation of outcasts, misfits, and rebels eating out of their hands. The irony? If we were to take a survey of ‘90s kids and ask them which band was the voice of their generation, we suspect Blink would come out on top every single time (alright, maybe Green Day).

Here’s EveOnlineTutorials explaining why Blink-182 will always be the kings of pop-punk, and why Enema of the State is their crowning glory.

“College was hard for me. I’m from the UK and most kids start college at 16. I took my GCSEs a year early and started at 15. I was the odd kid out. I was never invited to parties. To make matters worse, I had to have an adult with me from the second I got off the bus to the moment I got back on. Enema of the State on a MiniDisc player was my way of blocking out all the stares and whispers. It really helped me, as I’m certain it did others.”

If you need any further evidence of how influential they were, tell me that you can read this without hearing Tom DeLonge: ‘nana nana nana nana naa na, nana nana nana nana na naa na’.

Congratulations, you’ve just won an earworm.

Queen - A Kind of Magic - 1986

Blink-182 may be pop-punk kings, but there’s only one Queen. Never mind choosing the best rock albums in history, just choosing from Queen’s catalogue is challenging enough. Thankfully, Lanah Tyra has done that for us; selecting the wondrous A Kind of Magic. Off the back of their Live Aid success, Queen sold 100,000 copies in a week, sending it straight to number one thanks to epic rock ballads like the rousing One Vision and heart-breaking Who Wants to Live Forever. The heart palpitates just thinking about it. Here’s Lanah:

“For me, a great album is one where I don’t want to skip songs, where I can just listen from first track to last, as the artist intended. There are many, many great Queen albums, but this album stands out seeing as almost every song on my ‘Best of Queen’ playlist is from it.”

Smashing Pumpkins - Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - 1995

Known for their energetic, rabble-rousing, drink-spilling roomshakers, few were expecting Smashing Pumpkins to put out the uniquely beautiful and varied Melon Collie - an album that strayed so far from the comfort zone that it was no longer in sight. Retro Stu explains just what makes the album so special.

“For me, there are few albums that show the guts, the passion, and the vision to deliver something outside the stereotypical norms of the time than Mellon Collie and and the Infinite Sadness. I know Billy Corgan’s vocals are like nails on a chalkboard for some, but the man knew how to write a hook. Live versions of Zero or An Ode to No One are delivered with an angst and ferocity that give me goosebumps to this day. The album starts with an instrumental piano track before launching into the extravagant strings of Tonight, Tonight.

“When I first borrowed it from my sister, I’d barely reached the end of the second track before rewinding the tape to start over. It was a gateway album for me. So much so that as 16-year olds, we covered three of its songs at our band’s first live show.”

Featuring three LPs and 28 songs, Smashing Pumpkins risked accusations of grandiosity, pretension, and indulgence - labels that had felled other rising alt rock stars. But it delivered:

“From the angrier distorted songs to the dreamy, prog rock-influenced numbers and long avant garde tracks, it would have been tantamount to career suicide if received poorly. But if you can’t love what you create then why bother? So, pretentious? No. Indulgent? Most definitely. The varied tracks bring together an absolute labour of love from a band at the peak of their powers, who decided to buck the trend and make something huge.

“Billy Corgan may not have aged particularly well and holds some questionable views on things, but as a snapshot in time, the album is testament to the skill and passion they once possessed.”

Honourable mentions:

• Breaking Benjamin - Dear Agony - 2009

• Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal - 2013

• Starset - Divisions - 2019

• Ice Nine Kills - The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood - 2021

We know there’s going to be a few rock fans reading this white-knuckled at the exclusion of their favourite album, so hit us with your best shot in the comments!

Some text has been amended for brevity, you can find the original wording at the bounty post.

Image credit: Spencer Davis on Unsplash (cover) and StockSnap on Pixabay