Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1989
1. Morbid Angel - Altars Of Madness
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2. Annihilator - Alice In Hell
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3. Kings X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska
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King's X has always been a critical favorite, but never broke through to the mainstream, which is a real shame because they are so talented. Their second album combined catchy melodies with complicated and progressive influences and great harmonies. They combined mellower and acoustic sections with harder edged metal. The trio had strong Christian beliefs that were reflected in the lyrics. "Over My Head" and "Summerland" are highlights.
4. Exodus - Fabulous Disaster
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After their classic debut Bonded In Blood in 1985, Exodus faltered on their 1987 followup. But they rebounded nicely with their third album. Fabulous Disaster was their trademark Bay Area thrash, but with some added diversity. There are straight ahead breakneck speed metal songs, but also longer and more epic songs that show the band's lyrical and musical maturity. They also add a couple cover songs for flavor, including "Low Rider." There is some really good musicianship on this album, especially from guitarists Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt.
5. Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
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With their third album, the Brazilian band Sepultura made a quantum leap into the forefront of extreme metal. Beneath The Remains is when the band's songwriting really blossomed and their blistering thrash metal was both extremely intense and also really catchy. The album had brutal riffs, creative solos, skull pounding drums and paint peeling vocals from Max Cavalera. What's even more amazing is that most of the band members were only in their teens when this album was released. It's a thrash metal essential.
6. Badlands - Badlands
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Badlands was a really underrated band. They weren't intense enough for extreme metal fans, and even though they had some commercial success they weren't polished enough to get to the top of the charts. The band was formed by ex-Ozzy guitarist Jake E. Lee and included former Black Sabbath vocalist Ray Gillen. Badlands' bluesy metal was really catchy with some fine guitar work from Lee, and their sound was a little rougher than the hair bands of the day. "Dreams In The Dark" and "Winter's Call" are a couple memorable tracks.
7. Voivod - Nothingface
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Even though they've released a lot of excellent albums over the years, this is the Canadian band Voivod's finest effort. It continued the band's mix of straight ahead metal with progressive and experimental elements. There's no mistaking Voivod's sound, and guitarist Denis "Piggy" D'Amour is the main reason. His unique and unusual style along with the sci-fi lyrics made Nothingface a very memorable album. The highlight was the Pink Floyd cover "Astronomy Domine," which garnered some MTV play.
8. Testament - Practice What You Preach
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For the second time in three years Testament makes the year end top 10 list. The Bay Area thrash band delivers another dose of raw and uncompromising metal. Practice What You Preach finds them taking a different lyrical approach, focusing more on real life issues and problems. Even though the production isn't the best, there are still enough decent riffs and catchy hooks to make this a worthwhile thrash metal album.
9. Overkill - The Years Of Decay
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After narrowly missing my year end top 10 at least twice in the '80s, Overkill makes the list with their fourth album. Overkill is a thrash band from the East Coast, and their style on The Years Of Decay is very diverse. You'll hear breakneck speed metal and unrelenting thrash, but also slower, almost doomy tracks. This is a album with zero filler, making it Overkill's strongest overall effort. Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth's piercing vocals take some getting used to, but once you adjust to his style you can really appreciate Overkill's brand of thrash.
10. Skid Row - Skid Row
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Sebastian Bach is a great frontman and excellent vocalist, and even though Skid Row is still around, they aren't the same without him. The band's debut was filled with catchy radio and MTV hits like "Youth Gone Wild," "18 and Life" and "I Remember You." They were one of the harder edged hair bands, and one that had a decent amount of credibility. Grunge would soon kill the hair bands, but Skid Row made it fun while it lasted.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1988
1988 was another rock solid year for heavy metal. This year's list saw only two bands making it for the first time: Queensryche and Danzig. The rest all made it in a previous year or years, and it's no surprise to see groups like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer on the list. Here are my choices for the best metal albums of 1988.
1. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
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With their third album Queensryche brought together a great concept and great songs. Operation Mindcrime tells a story filled with political intrigue and romance. The songs are complex, yet catchy, and Geoff Tate's vocals never sounded better. Highlights include "Eyes Of A Stranger" and "I Don't Believe In Love." As a political statement of what was happening at the end of the Reagan era it is very effective. As a musical statement it's even more effective.
2. Metallica - And Justice For All
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Metallica's fourth studio album is the one that launched them into the mainstream. The video for the song "One" received extensive airplay on MTV. One of my all time favorite Metallica songs, "Blackened," is also on this album. And Justice For All was one of their most musically complex album, utilizing unusual time signatures, orchestration and epic compositions.
3. Slayer - South Of Heaven
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Following up a metal classic like Reign In Blood is a no-win proposition, but Slayer came back strong with South Of Heaven. Their sound matured and was a bit slower, but with no loss of brutality in either the music or lyrics. Tom Araya's vocals improved, and Dave Lombardo's drumming was absolutely monstrous. This album has some excellent songs, including "Spill The Blood," "Ghosts Of War" and the Judas Priest cover "Dissident Aggressor."
4. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
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Appropriately enough, for the seventh time in the '80s Iron Maiden makes the year end best of list. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, like the number one album on this year's list, is a concept album. In addition to their usual epic songs, there are several compact and catchy radio friendly singles. Highlights include "The Evil That Men Do" and the title track. Maiden had an incredible run in the '80s, but unfortunately would stumble a bit in the '90s.
5. Voivod - Dimension Hatross
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Voivod makes the list for the second straight year. Dimension Hatross is a step forward from 1987's Killing Technology. It's the sound of a band hitting their stride. Their songwriting improved and became more cohesive while stretching the level of experimentation. Snake Belanger's vocals were also much improved. Their best album would come a year later, but this is a very strong release.
6. Megadeth - So Far, So Good, So What
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Sandwiched between two of their best albums (Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? and Rust In Peace), this one often gets overlooked, but So Far, So Good, So What is a solid album. It features a couple new members, but Megadeth had tons of lineup changes over the years. After opening with an instrumental, the thrash and speed metal kicks in. The only miss is their cover of the Sex Pistol's "Anarchy In The U.K."
7. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II
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1987's Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I was number 5 on my year end list, and Helloween's sequel was excellent, but not quite as good as the original. Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II has some really good songs, but there is also quite a bit of filler. It is still a very good power metal album, just a little cheesier and over the top than its predecessor, which takes it down just a notch.
8. King Diamond - Them
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For the second consecutive year King Diamond makes my year end top 10 list. 1987's Abigail was his best album, but Them was still a strong follow up. There were a couple lineup changes to his backing band, but it didn't really affect the album's sound. It's another ambitious tale filled with interesting characters and excellent musicianship. King Diamond shows many different vocal sides, ranging from low pitched growls to his trademark falsetto.
9. Fates Warning - No Exit
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No Exit was the first Fates Warning album with new vocalist Ray Alder. There were only six tracks on the album, but the last one clocked in at a whopping 21 minutes. Alder's high pitched vocals added a little different flavor to the band's combination of straight ahead melodic metal and complex, progressive metal. Fates Warning has always been able to blend highly technical musicianship with very catchy songs.
10. Danzig - Danzig
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After starting in the hardcore band the Misfits, Glenn Danzig moved on to Samhain before forming Danzig. The band's self-titled debut was straight ahead heavy metal with a dark and theatrical vibe. Danzig played the part of the evil frontman to perfection, and his distinctive vocals were effective without going over the top. The highlight of Danzig was the hit single "Mother."
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1987
After 1986 any year would be a letdown, but 1987 was pretty strong in its own right. Once again it was a great mix of genres, with thrash bands like Anthrax and Testament, more extreme groups such as Death and Napalm Death, and other bands that encompassed doom, death and black metal. Here are my selections for the best heavy metal albums of 1987. If you disagree with my choices, click here and post your comments and lists in this post.
1. Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
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Axl Rose and company exploded upon the scene with a heavy and diverse album. It had radio friendly ballads like "Sweet Child 'O Mine," hit singles like "Welcome The Jungle" and "Paradise City" along with harder edged songs like "Night Train." Slash and Izzy Stradlin's bluesy guitar work was outstanding, and the entire album had an air of danger and edginess that metal really needed at the time. Guns 'N Roses eventually imploded, but for a brief time they were at the top of the heap.
2. Anthrax - Among The Living
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Anthrax is a group I've come to appreciate more and more as the years go by, and Among The Living was their best album. The songs had a message and were catchy yet still very intense and aggressive. "Caught In A Mosh" is the highlight of this album, along with other great songs such as "Indians," "I Am The Law" and the title track. Anthrax have always been a band with a sense of humor that is also willing to address serious subjects, which is a great combination.
3. King Diamond - Abigail
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His second full-length solo album was also King Diamond's tour de force. His vocal performance on Abigail is outstanding as he sings with great power and range. The harmonies are also excellent. The storyline of the album is also very riveting and compelling and gives the listener an emotional connection with the material. Even though it is a solo album, the contributions of guitarist Andy LaRoque and drummer Mikkey Dee help take the album to an even higher level.
4. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I
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This is Helloween's best album. It finds the German power metal band in top form. It also was the first album with vocalist Michael Kiske. It has the usual epic themes and soaring vocals that fans of the group have come to know and love, but Helloween came up with their best songs and musical performances on this album, which puts it a step above the rest of their catalog.
5. Testament - The Legacy
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Testament is a Bay Area thrash band whose debut album came a few years after groups like Metallica and Megadeth were already dominating the scene. They were well known to thrash fans, but never made that leap to popular success like some of their contemporaries. The Legacy followed the thrash metal blueprint, but Testament infused it with their own style and personality that made it unique. Testament has released several good albums over the years, but their debut remains their best.
6. Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium
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Celtic Frost's third album continued their streak of appearances in my annual top 10 list. After To Mega Therion the band faced high expectations, and with Into The Pandemonium they met and sometimes exceeded those expectations. In an unusual choice the album kicked off with a cover of Wall Of Voodoo's new wave song "Mexican Radio" and the band showed a lot of diversity in styles, ranging from dreamy female vocals to the dark metal style of their previous work.
7. Voivod - Killing Technology
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Voivod's third album continued their development. Although they would reach even higher levels of complexity and songwriting skill, Killing Technology showed that they were well on their way. It blends the more intense sounds of their earlier albums with increasingly more complicated arrangements and longer songs. Probably the best track on this album is "Ravenous Medicine," which holds up as one of Voivod's finest songs.
8. Napalm Death - Scum
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Napalm Death are one of the originators of grindcore, and their debut album brought extremity to a new level. The band packed 28 tracks of chaos onto Scum, with many songs clocking in at under a minute. The music was played at breakneck speed with screaming, unintelligible vocals from Lee Dorrian. This is a powerful and intense album packed with bone crushing riffs and lightning fast guitar and drums.
9. Candlemass - Nightfall
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Candlemass' debut album was a groundbreaking one for doom metal, but with Nightfall took it even further. It marked the debut of vocalist Messiah Marcolin, one of the best singers in metal. His powerful voice and new lyrical perspective along with the slow doomy music of Candlemass made for a powerful combination.
10. Death - Scream Bloody Gore
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This is a pioneering CD in the death metal genre. Even though it isn't as good as some of their later work, Death helped pave the way for a lot of extreme bands. Scream Bloody Gore is raw and brutal with all the trappings of what would become death metal. If you're a fan of death metal, you need to own this album to hear what it sounded like at the beginning.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1986
1986 was an unbelievable year for heavy metal. With all due respect to 1980, this was probably the best year of the '80s when it came to great albums. Two of the finest metal albums of all time were released in 1986, and it's a shame that one of them had to be number 2. In almost any other year Reign In Blood would have easily been number one, and in reality it's more 1-B than 2. Here are my picks for the best metal albums of 1986.
1. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
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Metallica's third album is their best. It doesn't have the radio singles and MTV videos as some of their later releases, but is a musical tour de force. From the trademark thrash of "Battery" to the instrumental stylings of "Orion," it's a sound of a band on top of their game. The songs are diverse and the musicianship is simply incredible.
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This is one of the top 3 thrash metal albums and one of the top 10 metal albums ever. Many publications have named it the best metal album ever. This is speed metal at its finest, with compact songs jam packed with riffs and head banging intensity. The lyrics are also filled with dark and disturbing images. Slayer released several fantastic albums, and this is their masterpiece.
3. Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?
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What a top 3. Three thrash bands who all released their best albums in 1986. Megadeth really hit their stride on this, their second album. It's a speed metal classic with great songs like "Wake Up Dead," "Devil's Island" and "Peace Sells." The band's songwriting improved quite a bit from their debut album and 20 years later it still holds up extremely well.
4. Kreator - Pleasure To Kill
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The German thrash band's second album is one of their best. Everything about it was a huge improvement over their debut. It was more brutal and aggressive and had some unbelievable riffs. 1986 was the year of thrash, and this is an album that sometimes gets overlooked because of everything else that was released that year. But this album showed Kreator was a thrash and speed metal force to be reckoned with.
5. Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
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Bathory were one of the most important extreme bands to come out of Sweden. This was their third album, and marked a big step forward. The production was far superior to their early releases, and their brand of black metal was epic, raw and powerful. Quorthon and company were about as extreme as it got in the mid '80s The highlight of the album is the classic "Enter The Eternal Fire."
6. Fates Warning - Awaken The Guardian
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Fates Warning's third album was the end of a musical era. It was the last with original lead singer John Arch and also the last of their more metal albums before they went in a much more progressive direction. There is a definite progressive influence, but you can still hear the vestiges of a traditional metal band. The songs are complex, and Arch's voice is outstanding.
7. Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
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For the sixth time in the '80s Iron Maiden once again made the top 10. For Somewhere In Time they used synths to add even more atmosphere to their sound. It worked. "Stranger In A Strange Land" and "Wasted Years" were very catchy singles and this was a very commercial sounding album. It wasn't one of their all time great albums, but was still a very good release.
8. Candlemass - Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
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While everybody else was playing at breakneck speed, the slower riffs of Candlemass really stood out. Their debut album was a groundbreaking one and paved the way for a flood of doom metal bands. The weak link in the band was vocalist Johan Lanquist, who did a serviceable but not memorable job. That would change with the addition of Messiah Marcolin on their second release. But even with average vocals, this album deserves a lot of respect for helping open the doom metal gates.
9. Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
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Watchtower was a progressive metal band from Texas whose debut was outstanding, but they never really did much after that. The band's frontman was Jason McMaster, who later went on to form Dangerous Toys. This album is unbelievably complex and technical with superb musicianship. The production isn't the best, but this is a band who helped pave the way for the prog metal genre.
10. Cro-Mags - The Age Of Quarrel
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Cro-Mags were a pioneering band who were one of the first to combine metal with hardcore. The Age Of Quarrel was an intense barrage of short songs that were aggressive punk and hardcore infused metal. The music is angry and intense with a punk attitude and metal riffs. Unfortunately after their debut a series of lineup changes would hamper their progress and success, but this one is a must own.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1985
1985 is probably the year where I should start calling it the best CDs instead of best albums as the compact disc exploded in popularity in 1985. It saw the first appearances of Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth in the year end list, bands that would become mainstays. Celtic Frost also made the list for the second year in a row. Here are one writer's subjective opinion of the best metal albums of 1985.
1. Exodus - Bonded By Blood
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Exodus' debut album was their commercial and critical pinnacle. Even though they've had a long and successful career, they never matched the success of thrash counterparts like Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. This album, though, is spectacular. It's a thrash classic with music played at breakneck speed with a barrage of killer riffs and solos. And even though it's a whirlwind of intensity, the songs are still very catchy and memorable.
2. Slayer - Hell Awaits
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Their masterpiece would come one year later, but this is also a fantastic album. It was Slayer's second full-length, and showed an exponential growth in their songwriting ability. The songs on this album are complex, the guitar work is flawless, and Dave Lombardo's drumming is simply insane. In 1985 this was as extreme as it got, both musically and lyrically.
3. Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
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Celtic Frost's second full-length is a blackened death metal classic, which shows you how strong 1985 was being that it only came in third on the list. The band's songwriting improved on this album, and they added seemingly small touches that add a ton of atmosphere to the songs. From tempo changes to female vocals to unusual sounds, they add spice to the doomy thrash riffs and Tom Warrior's gruff vocals.
4. Megadeth - Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good
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After departing Metallica, Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth, which would become one of the biggest thrash metal bands of all time. Their debut album was very raw and Mustaine was still finding his way vocally, but the intensity, diversity and musicianship was already evident. Chris Poland and Mustaine wove intricate riffs and solos into the punishing bass and drums of Dave Ellefson and Gar Samuelson. A recent remastering cleans up the production and really showcases how good this album is.
5. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
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Anthrax's second album marked the debut of vocalist Joey Belladonna. His voice was higher pitched and really differentiated the band's sound from thrash contemporaries like Metallica and Megadeth. The dual guitars of Dan Spitz and Scott Ian shredded through monster riffs and blistering solos. It's a raw sounding album that's powerful and really stands up to the test of time.
6. Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
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Fates Warning is an American progressive metal band. It took a while for that style to fully emerge, and their early material, including this album, is more mainstream heavy metal with some progressive influences. The guitars are heavy, but the songs are complicated and even epic, cultimating in the 12 minute finale "Epitaph." Original vocalist John Arch also had a very distinctive sound that set the band's early work apart from their later, more progressive style.
7. Helloween - Walls Of Jericho
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This was the German power metal band's second release, and first full-length. It combined influences from NWOBHM bands like Iron Maiden and speed/thrash bands. You'll also hear the epic melodies and complex compositions that would eventually bring Helloween to the forefront of the power metal genre. Their sense of humor is also evident in the lyrics.
8. Possessed - Seven Churches
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Possessed never really got the attention they deserved, and their career was pretty short. This album was an important one that bridged the gap between thrash and death metal. It is considered by some to be the first proper death metal album. The songs are extreme, and the vocals are the now familiar death metal growl. The lyrics are dark as well, with titles such as "Pentagram," "Satan's Curse," "Holy Hell" and the appropriately named final track, "Death Metal."
9. S.O.D. - Speak English Or Die
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S.O.D., otherwise known as Stormtroopers Of Death, was a side project of Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante along with former bassist Dan Lilker (then in Nuclear Assault) and vocalist Billy Milano. The album was recorded in just three days and caused controversy because their tongue in cheek lyrics were considered by some to be racist and sexist. Their music was a powerful mix of thrash and hardcore punk that was intense and raw.
10. Dokken - Under Lock and Key
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Dismissed by many as a simple "hair band," Dokken was a group of extremely talented musicians. George Lynch is an excellent guitarist, and Don Dokken's voice is very powerful. The most popular song on this album was "In My Dreams," and also contained the singles "It's Not Love" and "Unchain The Night." It's an album that is slick and packed with memorable hooks and melodies, but also fantastic musicianship, especially by Lynch.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1984
1984 was an interesting year in heavy metal. Stalwarts like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were still going strong, but newer bands like Metallica and Dio were ready to try to wrestle away their crowns. More extreme bands like Celtic Frost and Mercyful Fate released excellent albums in 1984, as did more commercial MTV friendly bands like Ratt and Twisted Sister. As the series of the best heavy metal albums of all time continues, here are one person's opinions of the top 10 of 1984.
1. Metallica - Ride The Lightning
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Metallica's first album was groundbreaking, and Ride The Lightning, their second release, was another big step forward. Their songwriting improved dramatically, and they also expanded their musical horizons and the result was a much more diverse effort. Some of the classics on this album include "Creeping Death," "Fade To Black" and "For Whom The Bell Tolls."
2. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
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Iron Maiden made my Top 10 list for the fifth consecutive year. Powerslave was a fantastic album that was the complete package. It had the catchy radio and MTV friendly singles like "Aces High" and "2 Minutes To Midnight," but also had an instrumental and long, complex songs. "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" clocked in at an astonishing 13 minutes long. Great songwriting and musicianship make this album one of their best.
3. Dio - The Last In Line
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After the previous year's Holy Diver was my number one album of 1983, The Last In Line also makes a strong showing. "We Rock" and the title track were excellent singles, and the album is a deep one. The last song, "Egypt", is one of the best on the album. Keyboards were a little more prevalent on this one, which gives it a slightly different sound. Vivian Campbell's guitar and Ronnie James Dio's vocals were still in top form.
4. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
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This is the third and final time in the '80s that Judas Priest made my annual Top 10 list. The most memorable song from Defenders Of The Faith is "Love Bites." "Some Heads Are Gonna Roll" also got some radio and video play. It's an album packed with anthems and a power ballad or two. The guitar work of K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton is always great, but they really shine on this album.
5. Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath
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For the second consecutive year Mercyful Fate makes my Top 10 list. Back in 1984 Don't Break The Oath was about as dark and evil as it got. In the midst of the Reagan Revolution the metal underground was alive and well. King Diamond's vocal prowess is once again the star of the show. From low growls to operatic singing, his voice along with the dark and atmospheric music and blasphemous lyrics made for one evil package.
6. Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales
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The Swiss band Celtic Frost rose from the ashes of Hellhammer. They would go on to influence countless black and death metal bands. Morbid Tales was their full-length debut, a very raw and unpolished slab of blackened thrash metal. Tom G. Warrior's vocals were low pitched growls that fit in perfectly with the band's extreme music.
7. Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
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For the second time in the '80s Twisted Sister makes an appearance in my Top 10 list. Stay Hungry was the band's critical and commercial apex. Over 20 years later the videos for "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock" are played in heavy rotation on VH-1 Classic. There are also several very dark and heavy songs to balance those more pop-oriented tracks. Dee Snider's over the top looks and antics overshadowed the fact that he is a really good singer.
8. Manowar - Hail To England
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By their third album, Manowar was really honing their power metal sound. Hail To England had some of the band's usual cheesy lyrics and posturing, but the songwriting and musicianship was really good. The album kicks into full gear right from the beginning with the superb "Blood Of My Enemies" and keeps going right through the epic finale "Bridge Of Death." This is a band that put the power in power metal.
9. Ratt - Out Of The Cellar
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Hair bands don't get a lot of respect, but in addition to slick and catchy songs Ratt was a band of very talented musicians. Stephen Pearcy's distinctive raspy vocals made them stand out, and the video for "Round And Round" that starred Milton Berle is one of the most memorable in MTV history. "Wanted Man" and "Lack Of Communication" are two other excellent songs from Out Of The Cellar.
10. Scorpions - Love At First Sting
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The Scorpions are a hugely underrated band, at least in North America, and this album was their biggest moment in the spotlight. "Rock You Like A Hurricane" is a classic song and was a hugely successful single. "Big City Nights" and "Still Loving You" are also great songs. From start to finish Love At First Sting is packed with diverse and memorable tunes.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1983
1983 was a very good year for heavy metal. It saw the debut album of Metallica, who would change the face of the genre. New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands were still making an impact, and 1983 was the year that Def Leppard would skyrocket in popularity. Old standbys like Ozzy and Iron Maiden also made the list. Here are the 10 Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1983.
1. Dio - Holy Diver
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After fronting Rainbow and Black Sabbath, Ronnie James Dio formed his own group. He did a great job selecting his bandmates. Vivian Campbell is an outstanding guitarist and Vinny Appice a rock solid drummer. Their debut is a heavy metal classic. Dio has one of the best voices in metal, and some put him at the top. All 9 songs on the album are excellent, including the hits "Rainbow In The Dark" and the title track. "Stand Up And Shout" is also a very memorable song.
2. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
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Metallica didn't invent thrash, but they certainly brought it to the masses, and this album is the one that started it all. Their debut album was groundbreaking, packed with raw power and blazing fast riffs that they would polish and perfect over the years. Dave Mustaine co-wrote several songs on this album, although he was no longer a member of the band by this time. Highlights include "Whiplash," "No Remorse" and "Seek and Destroy."
3. Def Leppard - Pyromania
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Def Leppard's third album was their masterpiece. Not only was it a monstrous commercial success, it also received a lot of critical praise. This was the album where everything came together, a combination of catchy rock anthems and massive MTV and radio exposure that pushed sales into the millions. Pyromania was filled with hits, including "Rock Of Ages," "Photograph" and "Foolin'."
4. Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
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The Crue's second album saw them refining their sleazy Sunset Strip glam metal, although the sound was still pretty raw. "Looks That Kill," "Too Young To Fall In Love" and the title track were successful singles, and they also did a cover version of the Beatles' "Helter Skelter." Commercially it also did rather well, peaking at number 17 on the album chart. It symbolized the sex, drugs and rock 'n roll vibe that the '80s were all about.
5. Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind
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Iron Maiden continued their spectacular run in the '80s with another outstanding album. They had another lineup change, adding drummer Nicko McBrain to the group. It's a really diverse album, and a little less cohesive than Number Of The Beast. The lyrics are also diverse, taking elements from several different books and films. "Flight Of Icarus" is the highlight of this album.
6. Accept - Balls To The Wall
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The album's title track was a big hit and brought Accept some short-lived U.S. popularity. Balls To The Wall was melodic, but still packed plenty of punch. It had a great balance of simple riffs and more complex solos along with many different tempos. The lyrics were a bit cheesy, but English wasn't the German band's first language. Top to bottom this was probably Accept's best album.
7. Mercyful Fate - Melissa
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Mercyful Fate was King Diamond's band. They released a couple of outstanding albums and then broke up for a decade. This was their debut, and was very important in the black metal genre. It had evil lyrics, dual guitars and elements of goth and progressive metal. King Diamond's vocals are really diverse, going from guttural growls to operatic singing.
8. Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon
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On Ozzy Osbourne's fourth solo album he brought in guitarist Jake E. Lee to replace the late Randy Rhoads. Lee brought a different sound, one that was more traditional and a little harder than Rhoads. The title track was an MTV favorite with Ozzy dressed as a werewolf. This is a very solid album, and although Rhoads was irreplaceable Lee did an excellent job of bringing his own style and meshing it with Ozzy's voice.
9. Savatage - Sirens
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Savatage was an American band fronted by Jon Oliva. His brother Criss played guitar, and was tragically killed in a car accident in 1993. Although their later material was much more polished, their early stuff, including their debut album Sirens was much rawer. It's powerful and intense, with great guitar riffs and strong vocals. The production isn't great, but it shows a new band with a lot of talent and promise.
10. Raven - All For One
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This is Raven's third appearance in the top 10 in three years, but also their last. Their third album was outstanding, but after that their popularity and music quality slipped. All For One finds John Gallagher's high pitched vocals and his brother Mark's guitar in perfect form. The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal was fading, but in 1983 Raven was at their peak.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1982
1982 was a pretty good year for heavy metal. It saw the release of Iron Maiden's best album and one of Judas Priest's best. There were also strong efforts from Motorhead and Scorpions. A lot of metal fans aren't familiar with Tank and Raven, who made the year's Top 10, but it's worth your while to go back and check them out. In the larger scheme of things 1982 was a stronger year than 1981, but not as good as 1983, which would see some incredible albums released.
1. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
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After losing their lead singer, Iron Maiden found Bruce Dickinson and rebounded with their best album and one that is a true heavy metal classic. "Run To The Hills" and the title track are among the best singles you'll ever hear, and there is not a bit of filler on this album. It features spectacular and diverse songwriting, great vocals from Dickinson and is one of the best metal albums ever.
2. Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
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After having my number 2 album of 1980, Judas Priest claims the same spot for 1982. The best known song from this album is "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," but there are several other great songs including the title track, "Electric Eye" and "Bloodstone." Halford sounds great as usual, and this is their second best album of the 1980s.
3. Venom - Black Metal
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The previous year, Venom's debut album was a groundbreaking one for extreme metal. Their second album named a subgenre, which should tell you how influential it was. It saw an improvement in Venom's musical ability and songwriting technique. It was still raw and imperfect, but that's what extreme music is all about.
4. Scorpions - Blackout
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The Scorpions have released some great albums over the years, but I think this one was their best. It didn't have the monster hit single like "Rock You Like A Hurricane," but in terms of Klaus Meine's vocals and the number of superb songs, this was their strongest complete album. Highlights include "No One Like You" and the title track.
5. Motorhead - Iron Fist
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Motorhead had a great run in the late '70s and early '80s with a ton of quality albums. That run would continue for a few more years, but this was the last album with guitarist Fast Eddie Clark, who would leave to form Fastway. The songs are a little slower tempo than some of their previous albums, but the intensity and trademark Motorhead sound are still there.
6. Anvil - Metal On Metal
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Anvil were a Canadian band that mixed speed metal and power metal. It was a great mix of speed and technical wizardry. They were huge in their native country, but never gained a lot of popularity elsewhere. The title track of this album is a great metal anthem and probably their best known song. They are another band that is still around today, touring and making music.
7. Twisted Sister - Under The Blade
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Before the over the top antics of "We're Not Gonna Take It" a few years later, Twisted Sister was a band that clawed their way out of the New York club scene with great musical chops. By the time their debut album was released the band had been together for a decade, and this album is packed with great songs. The title track is still a staple, but a lot of the other songs have been forgotten in the light of their more commercial tracks, and this album top to bottom is their best.
8. Raven - Wiped Out
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This was the second of three outstanding albums released in three years between 1981 and 1983. This album is the sound of a band in their prime. The songs combine NWOBHM with thrash/speed metal, which was a genre that would really take off the next few years. It's a powerful album and one that stands up well to the test of time.
9. Manowar - Battle Hymns
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Manowar never got a whole lot of love from the critics, and their "Death To False Metal" credo and over the top image made it difficult for some to take them seriously. Their debut album included narration by noted actor Orson Welles along with some really good songs. Eric Adams is an excellent vocalist, and the band's musicianship is underrated. The fact that they have an extremely loyal fan base and are still around 25 plus years after they started means they must be doing something right.
10. Tank - Filth Hounds Of Hades
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Tank is a UK band, and this was their debut album. It was produced by Eddie Clarke from Motorhead, and there are definite similarities in sound. The band's sound is raw with a lot of punk influences. Vocalist/bassist Algy Ward was a former member of The Damned, so that influence makes sense. Tank is still an active band, and last released an album a few years back.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1981
After all the groundbreaking albums that were released in 1980, the following year was a bit of a letdown. 1981 was probably the weakest year of the eighties as far as the number of quality metal releases. The year's number one metal album wouldn't have cracked the top 5 in most other years of the decade. Still, there were some very good albums released in 1981, and these were the best.
1. Motley Crue - Too Fast For Love
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Even though it's probably not good enough to have made it to number one in any other year of the '80s, Motley Crue's sleazy debut album was very influential. The songs are raw, and there are some classics like "Live Wire" and the title track. They would become more polished and evolve more toward the hair band genre as time went on, but this album had more of an edge, both in attitude and production value.
2. Raven - Rock Until You Drop
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Raven were part of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, and their debut album was also their best. They were always overshadowed by their contemporaries like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but the British trio put out some excellent albums in the early '80s. They played fast and raw, and could almost be classified as speed metal. Lars Ulrich of Metallica was one of the band's early fans.
3. Saxon - Denim and Leather
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In 1980 and 1981 Saxon released three great albums. This was the third of those, and unfortunately the band started a gradual downhill slide from there. When this album was released Saxon was at the top of their game. It's packed with NWOBHM anthems like the title track and "Princess Of The Night." They were on equal footing with Iron Maiden and Judas Priest at this time, but would soon be surpassed. Saxon did rebound, and their last few albums have been very good.
4. Iron Maiden - Killers
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Iron Maiden's best album would come one year later, but this one was nearly as good. It was their second album, and the last with singer Paul Di'Anno. It was a definite progression from their debut, with heavier and faster songs that still had plenty of melody. Fans of the Di'Anno era are well aware of this album, but more recent fans should go back and listen to how Maiden sounded pre Bruce Dickinson.
5. Venom - Welcome To Hell
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There were a bunch of metal albums released in 1981 that were really good, but not quite as good or influential as those released by the same band in either 1980 or 1982. That was the case with Venom. Their debut album was truly groundbreaking. It would usher in a whole new genre called black metal. The production is poor and the musicianship questionable,but there is no questioning the impact Venom's extreme metal with evil lyrics would have.
6. Def Leppard - High and Dry
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Def Leppard's second album was the one that got them started on their path toward chart domination and superstardom. MTV was brand new in 1981, and their extensive play of "Bringin' On The Heartbreak" helped them immeasurably. The album's first song "Let It Go" is a great track as well, but often gets overlooked because it wasn't a chart hit and the band later had so many.
7. Ozzy Osbourne - Diary Of A Madman
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Ozzy Osbourne's second solo album didn't have the chart hits of some of his other albums, but it has more moments of pure musical brilliance than any other. Randy Rhoads' guitar had gotten even better, and his playing on this album was nothing short of spectacular. A couple weak tracks and the lack of a memorable single makes this album not quite as good as his debut, but it really holds up well to the test of time.
8. Riot - Fire Down Under
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Riot was a New York based metal band who got their start in the mid '70s. This album was their best, and after this one the band's vocalist Guy Speranza left the band, and they were never the same. Riot is a band that never had much commercial success and many metal fans aren't aware of them. Their early catalog is worth exploring, especially this album, which is slick and melodic with a lot of arena rock style anthems.
9. Tygers Of Pan Tang - Spellbound
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After this album was released it looked like Tygers Of Pan Tang would become one of the top NWOBHM bands, but they soon faded into obscurity. John Sykes was the band's guitarist at this time, and later was a member of Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and Blue Murder. Everything came together for the band on this album in terms of personnel, great songwriting and a combination of memorable metal songs and a power ballad or two.
10. Black Sabbath - The Mob Rules
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This was Black Sabbath's second album with Ronnie James Dio, and it would be a long time before Sabbath released an album as good as this one. Dio was more comfortable the second time around, and had a greater influence that is reflected in the album's lyrics and sound. There are some really solid songs on this record, but Sabbath had several albums that were better than this one.
Best Heavy Metal Albums Of 1980
1980 was a watershed year in heavy metal. It was the dawn of a new decade, and several albums that are now considered classics were released that year. This is the first in a series of lists of the best heavy metal albums of all time. Let's run down the best metal albums of 1980.
1. AC/DC - Back In Black
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After the huge success of 1979's Highway To Hell, things looked really promising for AC/DC. Then in February 1980 the band's lead singer Bon Scott died. They immediately hired Brian Johnson and released this album just a few months later. From the opening notes of "Hells Bells" through the end of "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution," this album is a classic. Every song is memorable, and "You Shook Me All Night Long" and the title track are among the best metal songs ever.
2. Judas Priest - British Steel
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After releasing several good albums in the 1970's, this is the one that sent Judas Priest to the stratosphere. It is widely considered to be their best album. By this time Priest had refined and perfected their sound and focused on writing catchy arena rock anthems, and they hit home runs with "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight."
3. Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz
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After leaving Black Sabbath to embark on a solo career, Ozzy Osbourne hooked up with guitarist Randy Rhoads, and the result was a fantastic album. It was more technical and modern than Sabbath, thanks to Rhoads and his guitar virtuosity. There are some great songs on this album, including "Crazy Train" and the controversial "Suicide Solution."
4. Motorhead - Ace Of Spades
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This was the first Motorhead album to be released in the United States, even though their first few albums were very successful in the UK. This album is a classic, from Lemmy's distinctive singing voice to memorable songs like the title track. It was loud, raw and in your face.
5. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
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As far as debut albums go, this is one of the best and most influential. Countless bands would follow down the path Iron Maiden blazed. It wasn't until Bruce Dickinson became the lead singer that the band would rise to even higher heights, but Paul Di'Anno did a solid job. This album contains both straight ahead metal songs and more progressive and epic tunes that the band would gravitate toward in the future.
6. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
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With lead singer Ozzy Osbourne leaving the band, many thought Black Sabbath's future was bleak. But by choosing Ronnie James Dio as the new vocalist they proved everyone wrong. Between Dio's great pipes and Tony Iommi's excellent guitar work, the band delivered one of their best albums in years. Standout songs include "Children Of The Sea," "Neon Nights" and the title track.
7. Saxon - Wheels Of Steel
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Even though they've been around nearly as long as fellow NWOBHM groups Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, Saxon never reached the commercial popularity of those groups, although they've always had a strong and loyal fan base. Their second album was probably their best. It contains songs like "Motorcycle Man" and "Suzie Hold On." Despite the fact that they never really broke through in the U.S. this is a great band.
8. Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
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Diamond Head were a New Wave Of British Heavy Metal band that was a strong influence on Metallica, who later covered several of their songs. "Am I Evil", "Helpless" and "The Prince" are all on this 7 song album. There is some conflicting information about the album's release date. I've seen anywhere from 1979 to 1981 in various sources. The band's official web site says 1980, so I'm going with that.
9. Scorpions - Animal Magnetism
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The Scorpions have been around forever. Even by 1980 they had been releasing albums for 8 years. It would be a few more years before they became international stars, but this album shows they are well on their way. It includes the classic tracks "The Zoo" and "Make It Real" along with several other excellent songs.
10. Angel Witch - Angel Witch
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This album is a classic of early New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, but Angel Witch proved to be a flash in the pan. After their debut in 1980 the band imploded and several members quit. They regrouped for a couple mediocre albums in the mid '80s and then disappeared again. This album is well worth finding. It's intense and dark, but with plenty of melody.
