DTF's top 10 "'80s metal" ALBUMS

[bosk1]

Similar to the last thread, but rather than bands, give me your top 10 '80s albums.  Rules, once again:

Post your 10 or so favorite hard rock/heavy metal albums from the '80s.  If the band actually started earlier (like Scorpions or Y&T, for example), that's fine as long as the album came out in the 1980s.  

"Hair metal," "glam metal," "hard rock," or whatever is all fine.  I know it's not easy to classify some bands, so I'm not going to have hard and fast rules about who is in or out, but try to keep it limited to bands that fall into those categories, and NOT bands that are more considered "thrash," "death metal," or "punk."  No real reason why, other than I just want to know how people rank these particular types of bands.

If you just list them and don't rank them, they will each only get one point.  

For me, this is harder than just listing bands.  I will have to think this over a bit.


EDIT:  Oh, and I guess live albums are okay.  But greatest hits compilations are not.

[lonestar]

This is gonna be a tough one, give me some time.  Got to do a little research.

[jsem]

Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
King Diamond - Abigail
Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys pt 1



Mr. Big - s/t
Guns n Roses - Appetite for Destruction
Cinderella - Night Songs
Dokken - Under Lock and Key


Two schools of 80s metal, 10 albums in total.


I'll probably edit it later.. I'll keep it as it is for now

[Accelerando]

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Ozzy - Blizzard of Ozz
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Van Halen - 1984


I need to think about this more

[King Postwhore]

Rush -- Power Windows
Iron Maiden -- Piece Of Mind
Triumph -- Thunder 7
AC/DC -- Back In Black
King's X -- Out Of A Silent Planet
Motley Crue -- Dr. Feelgood
Ozzy Osbourne -- Diary Of A Madman
Queensryche --  Operation Mindcrime
Rush -- Moving Pictures
VH -- Fair Warning

[lonestar]

Iron Maiden - Number of the Beast
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Ozzy - Blizzard of Ozz
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Van Halen - 1984


I need to think about this more

Pretty damn good start in my eyes.

[bosk1]

Okay, here we go.  Undoubtedly, I will think of others later that "should have" made the list, but oh well.

1.  Pyromania (Def Leppard) – This was the album that really got me excited about hard rock in the early ‘80s.  After hearing some of the songs, I was instantly sold.  Upon getting the album, I was blown away.  I have to give this one the top spot. 
2.  In Rock We Trust (Y&T) – Many of the hardcore Y&T fanatics won’t understand how I could possibly list this album over the “classic” run of Earthshaker, Black Tiger, and Meanstreak.  While those albums are true classics, IRWT is just such a more consistent album from start to finish.
3.  Operation: Mindcrime (Queensryche) – This had to be top 3.
4.  The Great Radio Controversy (Tesla) – One of the finest no-frills, hard rock albums ever made by anybody.  Even the “filler” songs were amazing.
5.  Long, Cold Winter (Cinderella) – Just good, good songs.
6.  Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath) – This album and Mindcrime stand out as the darker side of ‘80s hard rock on my list.  And it’s funny that I often can’t even remember the entire track list.  But on the strength of Neon Knights, Children of the Sea, and Heaven and Hell alone, this album belongs on the list without a doubt.
7.  Black Tiger (Y&T) – I almost didn’t include this one because it just seemed a bit wrong to include two albums from the same band.  But this is an absolute classic.  Rob Halford still considers Forever to be the greatest metal anthem of all time.
8.  5150 (Van Halen) – Sammy really helped the band take it up a notch.  This was THE summer time album for a while.
9.  Whitesnake (Whitesnake) – Not a bad song on this album. 
10.  To Hell With The Devil (Stryper) – This one had its peaks and valleys, but some of the songs are incredibly strong.  And the lyrical message is something I can connect with. 


A few honorable mentions:
-Blue Murder (Blue Murder)
-Badlands (Badlands)
-Blackout (Scorpions)
-Love At First Sting (Scorpions)
-The Real Thing (Faith No More)
-Skid Row (Skid Row)
-Van Halen (Van Halen)
-Earthshaker (Y&T)
-Bark At The Moon (Ozzy)
-Back For The Attack (Dokken)
-Escape (Journey)
-Triumph and Agony (Warlock)

[Lowdz]

Too hard! So many great albums. This was my musical era and I'll be leaving out so many classic albums and bands.
Queensryche- 1=OM
Bon Jovi- 2=New Jersey
Yngwie- 3=Odyssey
Queensryche-4=RFO
Maiden-5=Killers
Rush-6=MP
DT- 7=WDADU
Vinnie Vincent -8= Invasion
Rush- 9= PW
KISS- 10=Creatures Of The Night (or Lick It Up, both were excellent)

These are the albums I probably played more than any others but I've had to leave out some great bands- Whitesnake (S&S, SII, 1987), Marillion (MC, CAS), Magnum (OASN, WS) , Y&T (BT, Meanstreak), Saxon (PATG), Dio (first 4!), Priest (SFV, DOTF), not to mention the widdlers like Satch, Vinnie Moore, Tony Macalpine- these would be in my next 15 albums) and I haven't even touched on the Hair Metal stuff really.

[bosk1]

Just wait until we get to the "songs" thread.

[Lowdz]

Okay, here we go.  Undoubtedly, I will think of others later that "should have" made the list, but oh well.

1.  Pyromania (Def Leppard) – This was the album that really got me excited about hard rock in the early ‘80s.  After hearing some of the songs, I was instantly sold.  Upon getting the album, I was blown away.  I have to give this one the top spot. 
2.  In Rock We Trust (Y&T) – Many of the hardcore Y&T fanatics won’t understand how I could possibly list this album over the “classic” run of Earthshaker, Black Tiger, and Meanstreak.  While those albums are true classics, IRWT is just such a more consistent album from start to finish.
3.  Operation: Mindcrime (Queensryche) – This had to be top 3.
4.  The Great Radio Controversy (Tesla) – One of the finest no-frills, hard rock albums ever made by anybody.  Even the “filler” songs were amazing.
5.  Long, Cold Winter (Cinderella) – Just good, good songs.
6.  Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath) – This album and Mindcrime stand out as the darker side of ‘80s hard rock on my list.  And it’s funny that I often can’t even remember the entire track list.  But on the strength of Neon Knights, Children of the Sea, and Heaven and Hell alone, this album belongs on the list without a doubt.
7.  Black Tiger (Y&T) – I almost didn’t include this one because it just seemed a bit wrong to include two albums from the same band.  But this is an absolute classic.  Rob Halford still considers Forever to be the greatest metal anthem of all time.
8.  5150 (Van Halen) – Sammy really helped the band take it up a notch.  This was THE summer time album for a while.
9.  Whitesnake (Whitesnake) – Not a bad song on this album. 
10.  To Hell With The Devil (Stryper) – This one had its peaks and valleys, but some of the songs are incredibly strong.  And the lyrical message is something I can connect with. 


A few honorable mentions:
-Blue Murder (Blue Murder)
-Badlands (Badlands)
-Blackout (Scorpions)
-Love At First Sting (Scorpions)
-The Real Thing (Faith No More)
-Skid Row (Skid Row)
-Van Halen (Van Halen)
-Earthshaker (Y&T)
-Bark At The Moon (Ozzy)
-Back For The Attack (Dokken)
-Escape (Journey)
-Triumph and Agony (Warlock)

Not to mention Die Young and Lonely Is The Word. Great album. And I love all the albums on your list except for FNM. Never liked them at all. And 5150. The VH album for me would have to be Fair Warning.

[Lowdz]

Just wait until we get to the "songs" thread.

You're a cruel man!

[lonestar]

Just wait until we get to the "songs" thread.

That might actually be easier than albums.  On spot I have five or six songs that go on top.

[King Postwhore]

Damn I forgot about Escape!

[Zantera]

I can't really post 10, but some albums I loved a few years ago when I was into metal:

Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Metallica - AJFA
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Metallica - Ride the Lightning

[wkiml]

Way too many albums for me to even consider........I grew up on the entire NWOBHM , just looking at just that period  during the 80's i would have a tough time narrowing it down to a top 50, than too throw in alot of other classics just seems impossible

[jsem]

Metallica - Master of Puppets

and NOT bands that are more considered "thrash,"

[Perpetual Change]

Easy thread for me. The first four require no explanation:

1. Iron Maiden- Somewhere in Time
2. Iron Maiden- Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
3. Iron Maiden- Powerslave
4. Iron Maiden- Piece of Mind

OK, now that that's out of the way.... 

5. Black Sabbath- Live Evil. Probably one of the best heavy metal live albums ever. Dio sounds great here and honestly, this record is about as far into Black Sabbath as I get.
6. Savatage- In the Hall of the Mountain King. A great, fun, melodic record. Annoying vocals at times but they're awesome just as often as they annoy.
7. Queensryche- Operation Mindcrime. A bit overbaked for my tastes but still a lot of fun and obviously a very important heavy metal record.
8. Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers. Such a great record with some awesome tunes. Knocking at your back door FTW.
9. Fates Warning- Awaken the Guardian. Jon Arch era Fates is so underrated, especially by folks around here.
10. Dream Theater- When Dream and Day Unite- Awesome, underrated album. Even listening to this compared to other 80s metal albums, it's so obvious that DT were breathing new life into metal. Dominici sucks, but actually if you stack is performance on that up to the 100s of other wannabe Bruce Dickinson's of the 80s, he doesn't sound particularly bad; just average.

[wolfking]

1. Iron Maiden - Powerslave
2. Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time
3. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
4. Black Sabbath - Headless Cross
5. Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
6. WASP - WASP
7. King Diamond - Abigail
8. Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
9. Dio - Sacred Heart
10. Savatage - Gutter Ballet

[Dittomist]

Skid Row's debut is a very worthy inclusion, but I think it technically came out in 1990, didn't it? It doesn't get any more 80's sounding than that, though. Their albums Subhuman Race and Slave to the Grind are also absolutely killer!

Here is my top ten list.
1. Queensryche-Operation Mindcrime
2. Helloween- Keeper of the 7 Keys Part 2
3. Queensryche- Rage for Order
4. Faith No More- The Real Thing
5. Cinderella- Long Cold Winter
6. Savatage- Gutter Ballet
7. Helloween- Keeper of the 7 Keys Part 1
8. Megadeth- Peace Sells But Who's Buying
9. Guns n Roses- Appetite for Destruction
10. Stryper- To Hell With the Devil

Ah, it looks like Cinderella's Long Cold Winter technically isn't an 80's album either. I've been listening to their albums Heartbreak Station & Still Climbing a lot these days--they are such a good band!!!

[bosk1]

Skid Row's debut is a very worthy inclusion, but I think it technically came out in 1990, didn't it?

...

Ah, it looks like Cinderella's Long Cold Winter technically isn't an 80's album either. I've been listening to their albums Heartbreak Station & Still Climbing a lot these days--they are such a good band!!!

 No.  Skid Row came out in January 1989; Long Cold Winter came out in '88 (either June or July).  

https://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=when+was+skid+row%27s+debut+album+released

https://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=when+was+cinderella+long+cold+winter+released

Besides, I remember exactly when I bought each of those, and I can tell you for certain the above is correct. 

[TAC]

Way too many albums for me to even consider........I grew up on the entire NWOBHM , just looking at just that period  during the 80's i would have a tough time narrowing it down to a top 50, than too throw in alot of other classics just seems impossible

I agree.
I'll do it, but I need to think about it. I honestly feel getting down to a Top 10 will be very difficult.

[jonny108]

Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
Metallica - Master of Puppets
Metallica - Ride the Lightening
Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
Testament - Practice What You Preach
Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast
Megadeth - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?
Judas Priest - British Steel

[jingle.boy]

To throw a couple in hear that haven't already been mentioned:

Europe - The Final Countdown.... ok, hard to classify this as 'metal', but if Power Windows makes some lists, then so does this.
Tesla - Mechanical Renosance ... almost as good as TGRC
White Lion - Big Game.... Vito Bratta was horribly under-rated.  Theses guys should've gone further.
Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue ... Vai did wonders for them.
Winter Rose - combination of JLB and 'glam' is pure genius
Aerosmith - both Permanent Vacation and Pump ruled!

But, my real top 10 list would be (in no particular order)
Operation Mindcrime
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Appettite for Destruction
Skid Row
5150
Dr. Feelgood
Pump
Eat 'em and Smile (it was the very first CD I ever owned)
Hysteria
Slippery When Wet

Damn... 1990 had some good ones - Pornograffitti, Damn Yankees, Stick it to Ya, Empire, Shake Your Money Maker

[Lowdz]

To throw a couple in hear that haven't already been mentioned:

Europe - The Final Countdown.... ok, hard to classify this as 'metal', but if Power Windows makes some lists, then so does this.
Tesla - Mechanical Renosance ... almost as good as TGRC
White Lion - Big Game.... Vito Bratta was horribly under-rated.  Theses guys should've gone further.
Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue ... Vai did wonders for them.
Winter Rose - combination of JLB and 'glam' is pure genius
Aerosmith - both Permanent Vacation and Pump ruled!

But, my real top 10 list would be (in no particular order)
Operation Mindcrime
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Appettite for Destruction
Skid Row
5150
Dr. Feelgood
Pump
Eat 'em and Smile (it was the very first CD I ever owned)
Hysteria
Slippery When Wet

Damn... 1990 had some good ones - Pornograffitti, Damn Yankees, Stick it to Ya, Empire, Shake Your Money Maker

Europe- TFC is ok but Prisoners In Paradise is stunning. Doesn't count for this list though as it's an early 90 album.

White Lion- I was really disappointed with Big Game. Too pop. Loved Pride and Mane Attraction was a return to form. Agreed about Vito Bratta though. He was great live too.

[jingle.boy]

Europe- TFC is ok but Prisoners In Paradise is stunning. Doesn't count for this list though as it's an early 90 album.

White Lion- I was really disappointed with Big Game. Too pop. Loved Pride and Mane Attraction was a return to form. Agreed about Vito Bratta though. He was great live too.

True on both counts.  Big Game does have Little Fighter though.

[TAC]

OK, this was damn tough!
If I approach this in a desert island vain, these are the 10 albums released in the 80’s that I would take:


1. Iron Maiden...The Number Of The Beast
2. Michael Schenker Group…MSG
3. UFO...The Wild The Willing And The Innocent
4.  Helloween…Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt 1
5. Dio…Holy Diver
6. Iron Maiden…Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
7. Helloween…Keeper Of The Seven Keys Pt 1
8. Black Sabbath…Heaven And Hell
9.  Accept…Metal Heart
10.  Thin Lizzy…Renegade




Honorable Mentions:
AC/DC…Back In Black
Def Leppard…High n Dry
Dio…The Last In Line
Iron Maiden…Piece Of Mind
Metallica…Kill ‘em All
Gary Moore…Corridors Of Power
Ozzy Osbourne…Blizzard Of Ozz
Ozzy Osbourne…Diary Of A Madman
Rush…Moving Pictures
Thin Lizzy…Thunder And Lightning
Waysted…The Good The Bad The Waysted
Blackfoot…Siogo
Y&T…Mean Streak
Aerosmith…Night In The Ruts
Megadeth…So Far So Good So What
Queensryche…Warning
Queensryche…Operation Mindcrime
Tesla…Mechanical Resonance
Ozzy Osbourne…Bark At The Moon
Joe Perry Project…I’ve Got The Rock And Rolls Again
Jack Starr…Out Of The Darkness
Riot…Fire Down Under
Saxon…The Power And The Glory