1) Metallica, Ride the Lightning

Kill ’em All is heralded as the first thrash album, and it was a great debut for Metallica. but only a year later, they topped it in every way. Ride the Lightning’s eight concise songs expanded the band’s career in every way. From the deceptively pretty intro of “Fight Fire with Fire” to the haunting acoustic close of the nine-minute instrumental “The Call of Ktulu,” there’s not a wasted moment on the album. “Fade to Black” is one of the first thrash power ballads, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Creeping Death” are staples the band plays almost every night, and the title track, co-written by Dave Mustaine, greatly expanded on the potential of Kill ‘Em All.