42- Tesla- Mechanical ResonanceIn the fall of 1986, I was a freshman in college. I was driving back one Sunday night when I hear this killer song on the radio. I've never heard it, but it was rock that was so fresh, in a great memorable style, with a unique vocalist. When the song was over I was hoping to hear who and what it was, but that didn't happen. So when I got back, I literally called the radio station to find out what they played. Tesla-Modern Day Cowboy was the answer. I immedeately bought the album and was hooked. It was 70's style rock with an 80's production. They fit right between UFO and Aerosmith.I would see them a few months later opening for David Lee Roth, and would follow them right until they broke up, the first time.
Fave tracks-Cumin' Atcha Live, Gettin' Better, Changes
41- Hammerfall- Legacy Of KingsAbout 12 years ago, I decided I needed to check out some new music. I decided I would blind buy an album. I had 3 possible groups, Hammerfall, Sym X, and I forget the others. I listened to a handful of 30 second samples by each, but was blown away by the sample to Hammerfall's Heeding The Call.
I bought Legacy Of Kings and was blown away. Now this was the late 90's and while a lot of 80's metal bands have put out some great material over the last 6-8 years, they were all relatively quiet at this time.
Hammerfall champions the 80's hard rock/ metal that I grew up with, blending Dio, Helloween, Yngwie, Maiden, Saxon, Accept, and Dokken.
Now their catalog has certainly proven to be somewhat inconsistent, but I would put their Top 20 songs against anybody's.
Fave tracks- Heeding The Call, Warriors Of Faith, Legacy Of Kings, The Fallen One