The 25 best heavy metal albums from the 1990's are shown below. The list represents the combined opinion of numerous heavy metal fans: the points used to develop the rankings are derived from more than 70 heavy metal lists shown here.
When the points for two or more albums are equal, the tie breakers in order are (1) the number of lists that the album appeared on (higher is better); (2) highest position achieved on any list; and (3) earliest release date.
The list of 50 All-Time Best Heavy Metal Albums compiles the results from all decades.
Separate Top 25 lists are also provided by decade, for the Seventies, Eighties, and Noughties.
The 25 Best Heavy Metal Albums of the 1990's
Rank 25
Death
Human (1991)
37 points
Rank 24
Sepultura
Roots (1996)
40 points
Rank 23
Death
Symbolic (1995)
41 points
Rank 22
Iced Earth
Burnt Offerings (1995)
42 points
Rank 21
Sepultura
Arise (1991)
42 points
Rank 20
Type O Negative
October Rust (1996)
42 points
Rank 19
Overkill
Horrorscope (1991)
43 points
Rank 18
Opeth
Orchid (1995)
45 points
Rank 17
Bruce Dickinson
The Chemical Wedding (1998)
46 points
Rank 16
Death
The Sound Of Perseverance (1998)
47 points
Rank 15
Nirvana
Nevermind (1991)
48 points
Rank 14
Fear Factory
Demanufacture (1995)
60 points
Rank 13
Skid Row
Slave To The Grind (1991)
61 points
Rank 12
Tool
Aenima (1996)
61 points
Rank 11
Sepultura
Chaos A.D. (1993)
64 points
Rank 10
Rage Against The Machine
Rage Against The Machine (1992)
64 points
Rank 9
Alice In Chains
Dirt (1992)
68 points
Rank 8
Megadeth
Countdown To Extinction (1992)
69 points
Rank 7
Pantera
Cowboys From Hell (1990)
69 points
Rank 6
Judas Priest
Painkiller (1990)
95 points
Rank 5
Slayer
Seasons In The Abyss (1990)
104 points
Rank 4
Dream Theater
Images And Words (1992)
112 points
Rank 3
Metallica
Metallica (1991)
144 points
Rank 2
Pantera
Vulgar Display Of Power (1992)
233 points
Rank 1
Megadeth
Rust In Peace (1990)
302 points
