Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Recording Week '26
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Footloose!
  • Di Meola on Pastorius and more
  • Frank Ocean
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Artists
  2. Singles And Albums

Metal Hammer's 10 best debut albums of the last 25 years

News
By The MusicRadar Team
Published 21 October 2011

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Metal Hammer readers vote for the best debut albums of the last 25 years

Metal Hammer readers vote for the best debut albums of the last 25 years

Infamous mask-wearing US rockers Slipknot have triumphed in a Metal Hammer poll to find the best debut album of the last 25 years.

More than 16,000 people took part in the poll, arranged to celebrate Metal Hammer’s 25th anniversary.

And Slipknot’s eponymous debut got almost a third of the vote in an emphatic result. The double-platinum 1999 release beat off competition from some huge albums... click through the gallery to find out what other albums made the top 10.

"Metal Hammer has a long history of championing the new while celebrating the metal gods who created our wonderful culture,” says Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas. “As we commence our next quarter-century of covering both kinds of music: heavy, and metal, we congratulate Slipknot on their astounding victory.

“Like all the nominees whose tremendous contributions to the world of metal have made the last 25 years so fantastic, Slipknot's success is proof our music has never been more exciting or vibrant. Horns up!"

Metal Hammer’s 25th anniversary special is out today, clocking in at a biggest-ever 164 pages and – in a tribute to the old skool – featuring an exclusive Machine Head 10-inch vinyl EP.

The Metal Hammer 25th Anniversary Party, featuring Orange Goblin, Malefice, TRC and more, is at London’s Islington Academy on 24October. Advance tickets are available via Ticketweb at the special 1986 price of £2.50.

Metal Hammer’s 25th anniversary special is out now priced at £4.99. To buy a digital edition visit iTunes or www.zinio.com/metalhammer. For more info visit www.metalhammer.co.uk.

Click onwards to see the rundown of Metal Hammer's top 10 debut albums of the last 25 years.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine (1992)

Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine (1992)

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison (2005)

Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison (2005)

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Machine Head - Burn My Eyes (1994)

Machine Head - Burn My Eyes (1994)

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000)

Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory (2000)

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
System Of A Down - System Of A Down (1998)

System Of A Down - System Of A Down (1998)

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
Pantera - Cowboys From Hell (1990)

Pantera - Cowboys From Hell (1990)

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
Rammstein - Herzeleid (1995)

Rammstein - Herzeleid (1995)

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)

Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Korn (1994)

Korn (1994)

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Slipknot (1999)

Slipknot (1999)

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Read more
Slipknot
Artists Slipknot’s Jim Root on his unlikely guitar inspirations
 
 
Slipknot
Artists Slipknot and Korn on the perils of life on the road
 
 
Dimebag Darrell
Artists Bullet For My Valentine on the tonal perfection of Dimebag Darrell
 
 
A portrait of Khemmis guitarists Phil Pendergast and Ben Hutcherson.
Artists Colorado doom champs Khemmis on what tone purists get wrong and why metal is a “sacred art form”
 
 
 Dave Mustaine of Megadeth visits SiriusXM Studios on January 16, 2026
Guitarists “It wouldn't be a young generation”: So who would be in Dave Mustaine’s new big four of thrash metal?
 
 
William Shatner with a guitar
Gigs & Festivals “I have explored space. Now… I explore distortion”: William Shatner covers Ace Of Spade at his metal band’s live debut
 
 
Latest in Singles And Albums
UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 28:  SHEPHERD'S BUSH EMPIRE  Photo of Amy WINEHOUSE, Amy Winehouse performing on stage  (Photo by Chris Christoforou/Redferns)
Artists Amy Winehouse's bass player and MD recalls his final conversation with her on the night before she died
 
 
Harry Styles performs live on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Artists How a Roland TR-909 and a modular rig provided the spark of inspiration for Harry Styles' most euphoric No 1 single
 
 
Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and producer Rick Rubin pose onstage during Black Sabbath Reunion Press Conference at Whisky a Go Go on November 11, 2011
Guitarists “An awkward situation": Tony Iommi on 13 and Sabbath’s difficult relationship with Rick Rubin
 
 
Raye speaks as she accepts the Mercury prize
Singles And Albums “Displays real imagination and scope”: Raye wins the 2026 Mercury Prize
 
 
Daft Punk as they appeared for Fortnite
Singles And Albums Daft Punk say 'non' to One More Time – duo turned down “unlimited budget” to reunite for GTA VI soundtrack
 
 
Zara Larsson performs during All Points East 2026 at Victoria Park on August 22, 2026 in London, England.
Artists Zara Larsson on why she worried about performing her hit single Midnight Sun
 
 
Latest in News
kojey
Artists “I’ve spent more time with that guitar than with any human – that's one of my best friends”: Studio gurus Swindle and Ashton Sellars on the making of Kojey Radical’s Don’t Look Down
 
 
Billy Corgan and Marilyn Manson attend SiriusXM's Town Hall With Marilyn Manson And Billy Corgan on August 6, 2015
Singers & Songwriters “Basically a part of our family”: Billy Corgan defends his continued friendship with Marilyn Manson
 
 
UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 28:  SHEPHERD'S BUSH EMPIRE  Photo of Amy WINEHOUSE, Amy Winehouse performing on stage  (Photo by Chris Christoforou/Redferns)
Artists Amy Winehouse's bass player and MD recalls his final conversation with her on the night before she died
 
 
Harry Styles, Kraftwerk, Bon Jovi, Sam Fender
Gigs & Festivals Fender? Swift? Bon Jovi? Speculation rises about the identity of next year’s Glastonbury headliners…
 
 
Harry Styles performs live on stage during The BRIT Awards 2026 at Co-op Live on February 28, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Artists How a Roland TR-909 and a modular rig provided the spark of inspiration for Harry Styles' most euphoric No 1 single
 
 
Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi and producer Rick Rubin pose onstage during Black Sabbath Reunion Press Conference at Whisky a Go Go on November 11, 2011
Guitarists “An awkward situation": Tony Iommi on 13 and Sabbath’s difficult relationship with Rick Rubin
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...