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Top 10 Heavy Metal Albums


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Well I used the word commercialism, but what I really meant is that hard rock and heavy metal are very testosterone driven, so I don't see anything wrong with naming a track "Hard For Love" eheh I consider it "traditional", it belongs to the Robert Johnson tradition of "squeeze my lemon 'til the juice runs down my leg" (Robert Plant should pay royalties for that).

All through the 70's, most if not every band sung about doing chicks, with or without room for emotion, so I'm not put off when 80's bands follow that route the way Savatage tried to do. Of course, when your singer is Jon "none uglier" Oliva you have a tough time being sexist, let alone sexy.

And maybe you guys were too harsh on "Power of the Night", it's still a pretty badass album! You don't get tracks named "Necrophilia" on a Bon Jovi record!

I like it loud and I like it cheesy! :D

 

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Well I used the word commercialism, but what I really meant is that hard rock and heavy metal are very testosterone driven, so I don't see anything wrong with naming a track "Hard For Love" eheh I consider it "traditional", it belongs to the Robert Johnson tradition of "squeeze my lemon 'til the juice runs down my leg" (Robert Plant should pay royalties for that).

All through the 70's, most if not every band sung about doing chicks, with or without room for emotion, so I'm not put off when 80's bands follow that route the way Savatage tried to do. Of course, when your singer is Jon "none uglier" Oliva you have a tough time being sexist, let alone sexy.

And maybe you guys were too harsh on "Power of the Night", it's still a pretty badass album! You don't get tracks named "Necrophilia" on a Bon Jovi record!

I like it loud and I like it cheesy! [emoji3]

 

 

Black and death metal bands sing about sex, that's not the problem. They neutered their guitar lines and wrote more pop/radio-friendly rock songs to garner wider appeal, and reverted back when they failed to bring it in (much like Celtic Frost, Grave Digger, Saxon, etc...) seeing that it wasn't worth the sacrifice. It's cool if you want to get some, but pussifying your sound to do so is idiotic. People don't want the same things from metal as they do from pop music, so it's silly to employ the same marketing driven tactics when you'll lose a good chunk of your diehard fans for doing so.

 

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1 hour ago, BlutAusNerd said:

 

Black and death metal bands sing about sex, that's not the problem. They neutered their guitar lines and wrote more pop/radio-friendly rock songs to garner wider appeal, and reverted back when they failed to bring it in (much like Celtic Frost, Grave Digger, Saxon, etc...) seeing that it wasn't worth the sacrifice. It's cool if you want to get some, but pussifying your sound to do so is idiotic. People don't want the same things from metal as they do from pop music, so it's silly to employ the same marketing driven tactics when you'll lose a good chunk of your diehard fans for doing so.

 

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I agree with that, but only with regards to "Fight for the Rock".

"Power of the Night" is very heavy! Excellent production, but still heavy!

"Fight for the Rock" is the typical sell-out. Of course, "Power of the Night" has a bigger sound than what came before it (actually both "Sirens" and "Dungeons" stem from the same session), but I would not call that a sell-out.

I know some people who say that the best Priest album is "Turbo", the best Saxon is "Innocence is No Excuse" and so on and so forth... I'm not like that. I like major productions from the 80's (when bands were being sent to the Bahamas just to mix their record) and I like some swagger thrown in for good measure. 

I am not the biggest fan of full sell-outs, though. You know what I mean, the ones that leave you scratching your head. Like when a 35 year old Rob Halford sings "we don't need no parental guidance here" or when Jon Oliva is "Crying for Love". 

That is why I love "Point of Entry" (though I don't want to know what entrance was in Rob's mind) with majestic tracks like "Desert Plains" and I partly despise stuff like the above mentioned track excerpt from the "Turbo" record.

One thing is to be "Hard for Love" ("Power of the Night"), another one is to be "Crying for Love" :D

In Saxon's case, well I actually really enjoy most of "Innocence", most of "Rockin' the Nations" and pretty much all of "Destiny". The only two tracks I have a hard time standing are the sappy singles like "Waiting for the Night" and "I can't Wait Anymore". I know the story of Grave Digger trying to sell-out by dropping the word Grave and having Chris Boltendahl (not exactly the most handsome fella on Earth, even by German standards) doing his best Diamond Dave impression on stage... but I never actually heard the Digger record, so I am not able to properly comment on that...

ManOwaR supposedly sold out too when they recorded the video for "Blow Your Speakers"... It's like Atlantic records had this concept of taking two US heavy metal champions like Savatage and ManOwaR and having them record two mellower records whose title contained the word "FIGHT"... 

...btw, the best FIGHTING albums of that era are Warrior's and White Lion's... "Fight to Survive" is so damn good! "El Salvador" totally kicks ass.

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5 hours ago, GorboGorboze said:

I see Riot on a few lists here. It's a band I basically have never heard. I'll check it out.

It's a great heavy metal band. Definitely the only band that in 1977 had tracks on par with the likes of Judas Priest and Rainbow (which were heavy metal's top of the game, IMHO).

If I may suggest a few tracks:

"Warrior" from the debut 1977. Along with "Kill the King" by Rainbow, "Exciter" by Judas Priest, "Set Me Free" by the Sweet, "Fireball" by Deep Purple and "Take me with You" by Whitesnake it shall be ranked among the 70's proto speed/power melodic metal tracks. My absolute favorite of theirs.

"Outlaw" from "Fire down Under" 1981. Everybody is in love with the opening track from their International Capitol/EMI debut, but I like this one better. A track about a mexican dude being reckless and not giving an F.

"Heavy Metal Machine" from "Born in America" 1984. The heaviest track with Rhett Forrester on vocals (RIP).

"Thundersteel" from "Thundersteel" 1988. This is their "Painkiller" equivalent, though it came out earlier. Mark Reale had split the band after the above mentioned "Born in America", then relocated (to Texas, if I remember correctly) and regrouped with some outstanding musicians, including drummer extraordinaire Bobby Jazorbek (talk about fast feet, this guy has 'em!) and impossibly high pitched vocalist Tony Moore. Reale himself really upped his game as a guitarist. Still in the Blackmore and Tipton tradition, but on steroids! There are some solo sections here that you can only dream about.

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7 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

 

The rest of the album holds up too, unlike the Painkiller album that it foretold the coming of, which is a bit inconsistent and front-loaded by comparison.

 

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I actually love all of "Painkiller", I just wish "Touch of Evil" wasn't the other single :D 

I like what you said about "Thundersteel" being a "Painkiller" prophecy of sorts...

...but there is ONE record that is the absolute clairvoyant of that kind of heavy metal (as in shitloads of double bass and fast riffing) and tha record is... "REIGN OF TERROR" by the Wild Dogs, featuring one Dean Castronovo on drums.

 

Oh and I cannot refrain myself from saying that the "Thundersteel" riff was firstly featured in this track (seriously, this is CRAZY... it's the one...):

 

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7 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:  

The rest of the album holds up too, unlike the Painkiller album that it foretold the coming of, which is a bit inconsistent and front-loaded by comparison.

 

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I actually love all of "Painkiller", I just wish "Touch of Evil" wasn't the other single [emoji3] 

I like what you said about "Thundersteel" being a "Painkiller" prophecy of sorts...

...but there is ONE record that is the absolute clairvoyant of that kind of heavy metal (as in shitloads of double bass and fast riffing) and tha record is... "REIGN OF TERROR" by the Wild Dogs, featuring one Dean Castronovo on drums.

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Oh and I cannot refrain myself from saying that the "Thundersteel" riff was firstly featured in this track (seriously, this is CRAZY... it's the one...):

 

 

I haven't heard either of those, I'll have to give them a listen. Thanks!

 

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7 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:  

The rest of the album holds up too, unlike the Painkiller album that it foretold the coming of, which is a bit inconsistent and front-loaded by comparison.

 

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I actually love all of "Painkiller", I just wish "Touch of Evil" wasn't the other single [emoji3] 

I like what you said about "Thundersteel" being a "Painkiller" prophecy of sorts...

...but there is ONE record that is the absolute clairvoyant of that kind of heavy metal (as in shitloads of double bass and fast riffing) and tha record is... "REIGN OF TERROR" by the Wild Dogs, featuring one Dean Castronovo on drums.

[/url]  

Oh and I cannot refrain myself from saying that the "Thundersteel" riff was firstly featured in this track (seriously, this is CRAZY... it's the one...):

 

 

Well fuck. I had heard the name ADX before, and now I know why it's always accompanied with praise, that was killer! Wild Dogs was good too, but ADX was better. I'm always looking for speed metal like this, so thank you!

 

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Cool! Glad you appreciated.

French heavy metal rocked hard and fast! For me, when it comes to continental Europe, their 80's scene is only second to Deutschland (uber alles)! 

Warning, Satan Jokers, H-Bomb, Sortilege, ADX, Vulcain... these are my faves! Trust is actually the one I like the least, although they are the only "famous" one.

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Cool! Glad you appreciated.

French heavy metal rocked hard and fast! For me, when it comes to continental Europe, their 80's scene is only second to Deutschland (uber alles)! 

Warning, Satan Jokers, H-Bomb, Sortilege, ADX, Vulcain... these are my faves! Trust is actually the one I like the least, although they are the only "famous" one.

 

I knew these guys and Satan Jokers by name, but the only one I had heard or own anything from is Sortilége, who are excellent. Thanks for the links, now I have to try to track them down...

 

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  • 9 months later...
1 hour ago, Comprodrigue said:

If classic heavy metal is in case, my list would look likr this

1. Iron Maiden-Somewhere in Time

2. Accept-Balls to the Wall

3. Grim Reaper-Fear no Evil

4. Black Sabbath-Black Sabbath

5. Danzig-Danzig II:Lucifuge

The rest would be pretty much Maiden. As I am going to pay a listen to Motorhead and Priest soon, list might change.

'Somewhere in Time'! Interesting choice. Care to elaborate on why this one wins out for you over the other great Maiden albums? 

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1 hour ago, Requiem said:

'Somewhere in Time'! Interesting choice. Care to elaborate on why this one wins out for you over the other great Maiden albums? 

For several reasons. Of Course, subjective view.

Alexander the Great is the first Maiden song that I heard when I was 5. So that is the album that had shown me the Majesty of Maiden. Songs are well written, themes are interesting as well as concept. Caught Somewhere in Time is epic, features one of best guitar solos, drums are just crazy as well as galloping bass. And at the end, artwork of the album. I am very glad to own a vynl, my gf bought it for my birthday. So this album is pretty much "all killer no filler". To sum it up, why I like this album more then others: futuristic color of music, my favorite Maiden song, shredding solos and riffs, concept, all in all, special place in my heart. 

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3 hours ago, MacabreEternal said:

Black Sabbath and Danzig as "classic heavy metal" is more of an interesting take in my view.

Well, you may look at them as doom metal, or whatever, but they have that pure metal sound more then any other band that I am into so that is the reason I listed it here, they are like closest to description. You can look at Maiden like power metal if you want, at Accept like speed metal, well Danzig II is kind of blues metal, but as I said, purest metal with little bit of add-ons. It is interesting for me that you did not mention any other choice like Iron Maiden´s self-titled album, it is kind of punk metal little bit. And I am interested to know why it is more of an interesting take in your view, so I can know if I missed my explanation´s point. Btw, I am not offended or whatever, just like to discuss, cheers! \m/

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I associate neither artist with classic heavy metal sound, in reality only Maiden, Accept and Grim Reaper from the list are of that sound in my opinion.  I think that there's a difference between the sullen, moody and gloomy riffs of Black Sabbath that sets them apart as being true classic Doom metal.  Danzig as the poster indicates is more blues metal with a big ham on that Dark Elvis slant that Glenn does so well.  Those two artists just sit out of place with the rest of that list for me. 

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On 1/1/2018 at 1:16 AM, MacabreEternal said:

I associate neither artist with classic heavy metal sound, in reality only Maiden, Accept and Grim Reaper from the list are of that sound in my opinion.  I think that there's a difference between the sullen, moody and gloomy riffs of Black Sabbath that sets them apart as being true classic Doom metal.  Danzig as the poster indicates is more blues metal with a big ham on that Dark Elvis slant that Glenn does so well.  Those two artists just sit out of place with the rest of that list for me. 

Do you even Sabbath?

Yes, there are heaps of gloomy riffs, but aren't there way more up-beat, groovy, and rock solid riffs happening that moves them out of the 'doom metal' genre into classic heavy metal? To keep Sabbath locked in doom seems so wrong to me.

What about albums like 'Heaven and Hell'? You think that's just doom?? It's classic heavy metal if ever the genre existed. What about 'Headless Cross'? Ok, let's go back to Ozzy. What about 'Fairies Wear Boots' and 'War Pigs'? 

Black Sabbath aren't just classic heavy metal, they're the template for it. 

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  • 2 months later...

We gotta get in on this action! 

1. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II

2. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son

3. Riot - Thundersteel

4. Running Wild - Port Royal

5. Omen - Battle Cry

6. Scanner - Hypertrace

7. Crimson Glory - Transcendence

8. Chroming Rose - Louis XIV

9. Cloven Hoof - Dominator 

10. Judas Priest - Painkiller

Honorable Mentions: -  Aria - Blood for Blood, Accept - Metal Heart, Fifth Angel - Selftitled

These lists are not easy to make!

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We gotta get in on this action! 
1. Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II
2. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son
3. Riot - Thundersteel
4. Running Wild - Port Royal
5. Omen - Battle Cry
6. Scanner - Hypertrace
7. Crimson Glory - Transcendence
8. Chroming Rose - Louis XIV
9. Cloven Hoof - Dominator 
10. Judas Priest - Painkiller
Honorable Mentions: -  Aria - Blood for Blood, Accept - Metal Heart, Fifth Angel - Selftitled
These lists are not easy to make!


I agree that they're not easy lists to make, but you did make some damn fine choices. I love seeing some love for Riot, Omen, Running Wild, and Crimson Glory.

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