Creating a studio album is a major accomplishment for any metal band; producing over 10 places them in an iconic category. Sometimes one is all they need to make a lasting impression, but many aim to create more than just a single record. It is no easy feat to do this though, which is why you see bands like Spiritbox and Sleep Token, who started around the same time, being at different points with what they've created. So far, in nine years, Sleep Token already have three and are rumored to be working on a fourth.
Even a legendary band like Slipknot, who have been together for over 25 years, isn't quite at the 10-album mark, as they currently sit at seven. Of course, there are various reasons that have slowed them down at times, which is why any band that can sur 10 is achieving something truly remarkable. Reaching heights like these has placed bands such as Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while it has put others such as Motörhead, Megadeth, and Slayer in Hall of Fame conversations for years.
10 Metallica
11 Studio Albums
Metallica is regarded as one of the greatest bands of all time. Starting in 1981, they have conquered the world many times over, and they continue to sell out stadiums to this day. Beginning with their first album, Kill 'Em All, Metallica released seven albums between 1983 and 1997. As the band entered the 2000s, they slowed down, having only put out four records, starting in 2003 with St. Anger, and their latest, 72 Seasons, arriving in 2023.
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With 67 million records sold in the United States, and 125 million sold worldwide, Metallica has needed only 11 albums to cement their place in history as one of the greatest-selling bands ever. 10 of their 11 records are certified platinum, and it wouldn't be surprising to eventually see their 2023 release achieve this as well. There is no definitive word if the band will make a new album, but if not, they have created enough hits to continue rocking around the world every night.
9 Lamb Of God
11 Studio Albums
Before they became Lamb of God, the band was known as Burn the Priest, under which they originally released only one album. Nonetheless, it was sufficient to create a following for them before they changed their name to Lamb of God ahead of their second studio album, New American Gospel, in 2000. Under their current name, the band has released eight more studio albums, with Omens arriving in 2022. Also included was another release under the Burn the Priest moniker in 2018.
Along the way, the band has been nominated for a handful of Grammy Awards and has sold millions of records. They have successfully mixed groove, thrash, and death metal to create a sound that is uniquely theirs. They've also toured with some of the biggest bands ever, such as Pantera, Mastodon, and Slayer. The band does plan to release more music, but according to bassist John Campbell, who spoke on the And Now The Band podcast, "It's gonna take a little time."
8 Slayer
12 Studio Albums
Slayer is one of the big four thrash metal bands alongside Anthrax, Megadeth, and Metallica. One of the band's crowning achievements is creating one of the most iconic riffs ever in their song "Raining Blood." Along with two Grammy Award wins, the band has seen four of their albums go gold. They had a tremendous run as a band, but their 12th album, Repentless, which arrived in 2015, is the band's last record to date.
There has been much talk over the past 10 years that there would be more music from the band, but it hasn't come to fruition. Once they split up in 2019, the possibility of anything new from them seemed over. However, they reunited in 2024 and have played some shows again. There seemed to be some hope for their future, but a conversation Slayer's co-founder Kerry King had with the Talk Louder podcast seemed to essentially end the thought of new music, as he said, "I can 99.9 percent give you a 'no' on that one because I have a new outlet to present music to the fans."
7 Korn
14 Studio Albums
Over the course of their thirty-plus-year career, Korn has emerged as one of the greatest nu-metal bands ever. They started off their career with their well-known platinum self-titled album and followed it up with six more releases in a row that also went platinum. To their credit, they have a few more gold certifications as well. The band has become known for their hits such as "Freak On a Leash," "Blind," and "Falling Away from Me."
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With 14 studio albums under their belt, the band isn't done either as there are constant rumors of a 15th studio album in the near future. It has been over three years since their latest release, Requiem, in 2022, so fans are eagerly anticipating something as the band has consistently put out new work just about every three years since 1994. Either way, whatever Korn does next, there is a lot of confidence in the band to deliver another chart-topping release.
6 Dream Theater
16 Studio Albums
Since Dream Theater's first album, When Dream and Day Unite, in 1989, the band has been a staple of progressive metal. Their intricate compositions have helped the band push boundaries while remaining uniquely themselves. The remarkable aspect of the band, which formed all the way back in 1985, is that they continue to improve. One of their greatest honors came in 2022 when they received their first Grammy Award for the performance of their song "Alien."
Their latest record, Parasomnia, arrived in February 2025. The band saw the record reach as high as number six on the US Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart, and the response to it has been tremendous. It also marked the return of Dream Theater co-founder Mike Portnoy, who had been away from the band for 13 years. Through a combination of albums and DVDs, the band has achieved over 12 million worldwide sales.
5 Megadeth
16 Studio Albums
You never know what will come of a musician when one door closes for them. For Dave Mustaine, he had to discover what was next after his time in Metallica came to an end. What followed was Megadeth, who, through a lot of hard work, established themselves as one of the greatest thrash metal bands ever. Their first album, Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, in 1985, was good, but it was what came next that changed everything.
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A year later in 1986, Megadeth released their critically acclaimed album, Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?. This became the first of five platinum albums for the band between the years of 1986 and 1994. In 1997, their Cryptic Writings record became gold-certified as well. The band continues to produce records with their latest arriving in 2022, which was titled, The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!. The band isn't finished either, as work on their 17th album is seemingly underway.
4 Iron Maiden
17 Studio Albums
With songs like "The Trooper," Fear of the Dark," and "Run to the Hills," Iron Maiden have produced some of the most iconic tracks in the history of metal. Beginning in 1975, it took the band five years to release their first record. After their debut in 1980 and their sophomore album in 1981, the band followed up with one of the greatest metal albums of all time, The Number of the Beast.
After starting with an impressive seven total albums through the '80s, the band has released 10 more between 1990 and 2022. Although record production has slowed down somewhat, their work has cemented them as absolute legends. Given that it took seven years to produce their latest album, there is no telling what the band will do next. There are no confirmed plans for a future record, but they are still touring the world.
3 Judas Priest
19 Studio Albums
As Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and pioneers of new wave British heavy metal, Judas Priest is one of the greatest metal bands of all-time. Their success didn't happen overnight as they originally thought they would be a blues rock band instead of a heavy metal one. Their first album, Rocka Rolla, focused on blues rock, but the band shifted with their sophomore album, and by the time their sixth record came out, they had definitively found their sound.
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In 1980, the world witnessed the debut of the album, British Steel, and it changed everything. With hits like "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight," they were cemented in the metal genre. Since then, the band has released 13 more records with the latest, Invincible Shield, arriving in 2024. With this most recent album, the band proved they still have it as it finished as the number one album of the year on the US Top Hard Rock Albums chart.
2 Black Sabbath
19 Studio Albums
Black Sabbath's legacy will be that they were one of the most influential bands ever in heavy metal. They pioneered the genre with their dark themes and unique sound, changing what was thought to be possible in music. Their second album, Paranoid, which included the songs "War Pigs," "Iron Man," and "Planet Caravan," is considered one of the greatest works ever in the genre. Sadly, even though the band changed history and produced 19 studio albums, there is still thought of what else could have been.
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The first run of Ozzy Osbourne with the band lasted for the eight albums between 1970 and 1978. Following Ozzy's exit, the band would have four different singers over the next 10 albums, although their time with Ronnie James Dio as the vocalist is revered. After an on-again-off-again relationship with Ozzy in the '90s and early 2000s, the band's final record took almost 20 years to arrive, as 13 debuted in 2013 with Ozzy on vocals. It's unfortunate more work from the band with Ozzy at the helm was never produced, but it doesn't change their place in music history.
1 Motörhead
23 Studio Albums
Lemmy Kilmister, who was Motörhead's lead singer from its inception in 1975 until his death in 2015, embodied everything a rock star was thought to be. His voice was one of the most unique in the genre. The band's sound was notorious for Lemmy's heavy bass, and their performances were full of energy. Producing 23 albums is an incredible feat, but it happened through consistency. No matter who played alongside him, Lemmy ensured the band constantly created new material.
Starting with their beginnings in the '70s, the band released four albums. They followed up with another five in the '80s, then six more in the '90s. The 2000s saw five additional albums, and as they transitioned into the 2010s, they had already produced three, including their final one, Bad Magic, which came out only months before Lemmy's death. Although Motörhead is over, their discography has cemented their legacy. You can even still hear their music used from time to time on WWE television as the entrance theme for soon-to-be 2x WWE Hall of Famer and COO, Triple H.