Spin's ranking of the 12 worst metal albums of all time

“What makes a metal album truly terrible?”. Starting from this question, Spin magazine has compiled a curious ranking: the 12 worst metal albums of all time. “A lack of riffs, poor production or half-hearted vocal takes aren't enough on their own,” explains Andy O'Connor in the introduction. “Most of these records suffer above all from an excess of compromises: some desperately chase the sound of the moment, while others simply show they don't know how to age with dignity. Still others have clearer ideas, but produce results so hard to stomach that it's tough to raise your horns with pride. It's no surprise that many of these albums came out between the late 90s and the early 2000s, the years of metal's crisis, when the old bands couldn't come to terms with nu-metal and what was left of alternative rock, when they weren't openly showing hostility toward them. Metal should make you want to sin for a good cause. None of these records manage that,” the magazine points out, also noting that some of the “usual suspects” have been spared. “St. Anger” and “Lulu” by Metallica, for instance, didn't make the list, O'Connor reveals.

So here are the chosen records: the 12 worst metal albums of all time according to Spin magazine (full feature here). If instead you'd like to recover and listen to something better, on OndaRock you'll find our Ranking of the best metal albums of all time.

12. Bathory – Octagon
11. Venom – Metal Black
10. Ghost – Infestissumam
9. Machine Head – Supercharger
8. Cro-Mags – Near-Death Experience
7. Iron Maiden – Virtual XI
6. Nachtmystium – Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. I
5. Anthrax – We've Come For You All
4. Six Feet Under – Graveyard Classics
3. A Perfect Circle – eMOTIVe
2. Megadeth – Risk
1. Iced Earth – The Glorious Burden

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