Metal-carbon nanotube composites having nanotubes which are uniformly dispersed within the metal matrix of the composite, and which are unbundled or substantially unbundled, have high lengths, and which can be controllably aligned are disclosed herein. Such metal-carbon nanotube composites can show improved electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties, as compared to a pristine metal or metal alloy which does not contain nanotubes dispersed therein. Facile and scalable methods of fabricating such metal-nanocarbon composites are also disclosed.