Metallica’s first album in eight years, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, is one of the surprise releases of 2016.

A tribute to their early material that doesn’t neglect experimentation, the double album is peak Metallica (like back when they were known as Alcohollica), and one of the best releases this year. To celebrate their tenth studio album, we’ve delved into their catalogue to highlight albums that have defined their career.

Kill 'Em All (1983)
Metallica’s debut was rightly considered the pioneering force behind thrash metal, but it almost didn’t see the light of day. Guitarist Dave Mustaine was replaced by Kirk Hammett just weeks before the band entered the studio and forced to work with old equipment and a producer who didn’t understand what the band was aiming for.  Metallica found a distributor for the album at the last minute, but once released, Kill 'Em All received universal praise from music critics and is cited as one of the fastest and heaviest releases of that time. Although it was the group’s lowest-selling album, singles “Whiplash” and “Seek & Destroy” helped Metallica secure a cult following among metal heads that continues to this day.

Ride the Lightning (1984)
If Kill 'Em All was Metallica treading the waters of metal, then Ride the Lightning was the band well and truly diving into the heavy-metal deep end. Recorded in Denmark with former Rainbow producer Flemming Rasmussen, the album expanded exponentially on their debut, with Cliff Burton’s classically trained background broadening Metallica’s sonic structure. Burton’s driving bass lines combined with Hammett’s aggressive riffs and Lars Ulrich’s pummeling drums was the perfect platform for James Hetfield’s socially aware lyrics. Ride the Lightning was a huge step forward and a great sign of maturity from a group of guys barely out of their teens.

Master of Puppets (1986)
We would be remiss not to include this album on Metallica’s career highlights list. Master of Puppets is their masterpiece. Not a moment is wasted on the eight tracks of abrasive, soul-scorching metal, full of heavy lyrical themes—an album regarded as one of the most influential and powerful in the genre. Words simply cannot do this album justice.

… And Justice for All (1988)
Metallica's live fast, die young lifestyle was shattered by the death of bassist Cliff Burton in 1986, after their tour bus crashed in Sweden, and the band skirted collapse. Needing to re-focus on their music, they recruited bassist Jason Newsted to take Burton’s place and entered the studio to record their most ambitious project to date. A collection of progressive metal tracks—with heavy lyrical themes about politics, the legal system, and war—this was trademark Metallica. A little overblown at times, the album said good-bye to Burton before his erstwhile bandmates embarked on a different musical direction.

The Black Album (1991)
“Enter Sandman.” “The Unforgiven.” “Nothing Else Matters.” These are just three songs from Metallica’s dark, fifth album that launched them into certified rock stardom. Produced by Bob Rock (Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe) and costing over a million dollars, the album found the band trading the thrash sound they had mastered over four albums for a more melodic and slower approach. It worked. The album, a monster success that still stands the test of time, helped the boys of Metallica cross into the mainstream without sacrificing their credibility.

Give it a listen and you’ll be reminded why Metallica will always be the Balls.

PHOTOS: Getty Images / Metallica