Metallica is the biggest heavy metal band in the world. Founded in 1981, Metallica–comprising of co-founders James Hetfield (vocals/guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums), longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined the band in 2003–are one of the most commercially successful bands of all-time. With nine studio albums released over the span of their career, Metallica have sold over 120 million records worldwide. The 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have won nine Grammy Awards while five of the band’s albums have debuted at number one. Although Metallica has not released an album since 2008’s Death Magnetic, the band has formed an independent record label (Blackened Recordings), released a feature-length film (Through The Never), and set a Guinness World Record by becoming the first band to play all seven continents in a calendar year. Below is a list of the top five highest selling Metallica albums of all-time.
5. Reload – 8.6 million
Released in 1997, Reload was Metallica’s last studio album to feature longtime bassist Jason Newsted. The band’s seventh studio album, Reload–the follow-up to 1996’s Load—debuted at number one and sold 436,000 copies in its first week. The album received relatively positive reviews from critics and features Metallica set staples “Fuel” and “The Memory Remains.”
4. Load – 10.3 million
Riding on the success of Metallica’s best-selling album released five years prior, Load sold 680,000 units in its first week, making it the biggest opening weekend for the band and the biggest debut of 1996. Load has since been certified 5x platinum by the RIAA and features more alternative sounding singles like “Until It Sleeps,” “Hero of the Day,” and “King Nothing.”
3. Master of Puppets – 10.5 million
Considered by many to be one of the greatest metal albums of all-time, Master of Puppets was released in 1986 and is the only album on this list to feature original bassist Cliff Burton. The band’s third studio album peaked at number 29 on the Billboard charts and has since been certified 6x platinum by the RIAA. Classic tracks include “Master of Puppets,” “Battery,” and “Orion.”
2. …And Justice for All – 13.4 million
Metallica’s fourth studio album, …And Justice for All, was the band’s first album to feature bassist Jason Newsted after the death of Cliff Burton. Released in 1988, the album was longer, faster, and more complex than its predecessors and became the first underground metal album to achieve chart success in the United States. …And Justice for All single “One” also earned Metallica its first Grammy Award.
1. Metallica – 22 million
Released in 1991, Metallica (also known as “The Black Album”) received widespread critical acclaim and some backlash from fans due to its more mainstream sound. The band’s first album to top the charts, Metallica debuted at number one in 10 countries. Earlier this year, Metallica set a sales record by becoming the first album to sell more than 16 million copies since the SoundScan era began and has spent over 300 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. Hit singles include “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad But True.”
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