Discover the top-selling albums from some of the most iconic metal bands in music history. The range of artists that make up this list is truly remarkable and showcases the diverse landscape of the genre.

Take, for instance, Metallica’s self-titled “black album,” which has achieved extraordinary commercial success, selling over 17 million copies in the U.S. since its groundbreaking release in 1991. This album’s impressive sales figures not only highlight Metallica’s dominance in the metal scene but also place it above all the best-selling albums of other renowned bands like Pantera, Megadeth, Disturbed, and Korn combined. Remarkably, it has even surpassed Nirvana’s Nevermind, another legendary album released in the same year, by over seven million copies, marking a significant milestone in music history.

READ MORE: Which Metal Band Holds the Record for Most Album Sales?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we see emerging bands like Bring Me The Horizon and Ghost gaining traction during a time when album sales began to decline across the entire music industry. Their rise illustrates the evolving nature of metal music and its ability to adapt to changing consumer behaviors.

Below, we have compiled a list of 16 prominent metal bands and their best-selling albums, with data reflecting sales figures as of the end of 2024, according to the music sales data provider Luminate*. This comprehensive overview offers valuable insights into the commercial success of these influential artists.

*Sales records date back to 1991.