I'm looking to buy more CDs and expand my depth and breadth of metal music appreciation. Instead of "greatest hits" I'd like a studio (or live) album that is a shining example of a great band.

I'll start:
Ratt: Out of the Cellar
Listen

This was Ratt's breakthrough hit and debut album that put them on the map. Several hits on this disc like "Round and Round". Also a couple great songs that were not hits like "Lack of Communication" and "I'm Insane".

Edit To Add: Some great responses below, thanks! Please feel free to ponder further and add to your response or respond again with other bands!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Studio album - Iron Maiden: Piece Of Mind

For some reason an underappreciated album but it's got 2 or 3 stone cold classics on it and really only has one bad song on it (looking at you Quest For Fire).

Live album - Thin Lizzy Life:Live

Gets a lot of hate cos Phil Lynott did the production mix and he was clearly off his face when he did it but if you can get past that, the energy and musicianship is off the scale.