Most significant records at the end of the first era of metal music.
The last year of the decade shows how some bands face the eighties with the menace of punk and disco music some bands take advantage of that like Kiss sounds more pop other like Motörhead goes harder, Judas Priest finish those years as a leaders of the Euro HM. Rush made their last epic record, Ronnie James Dio leave Rainbow, Black Sabbath made their last record with Ozzy and AC/DC lost Bon Scott. Saxon maybe starts in what became in the NWOBHM and lots of new bands emerged like Riot with their frenetic heavy metal, Van Halen made the first couple of self titled records with a new sound based on the virtuosity of Eddie Van Halen.

1.Rush - Hemispheres

2.AC/DC - Highway To Hell

3.KISS - Dynasty

4.Van Halen - Van Halen

5.Van Halen - Van Halen II

      View entire list ››

**Trigger warning**

Albums and EPs rated 8.6+ from 100+ votes which I've given an 8 or lower to.

I've listened to and rated every album on MS that meets this criteria (at time of most recent update) - some of them multiple times - so I feel I can give my honest opinion.

The purpose of this is to list and order the albums that I simply don't "get" and to try re-listening to them in the hope of understanding why they've received so many 9 and 10 votes.

Ordered by my rating then MS rating then number of votes.

Updated: 03-Jan-24

My other lists:
Top 500 Albums (ordered & rated)
Top 25 EPs (also ordered & rated)
Top 200 Overlooked Albums (with genres)
So I Heard You Like Wintersun... (Time II find new bands)

1.Anathema - Judgement

2.Paradise Lost - Draconian Times

3.Anathema - Alternative 4

4.Motörhead - Ace Of Spades

5.Motörhead - Overkill

      View entire list ››

1.Paradise Lost - Obsidian

2.Alcest - Spiritual Instinct

3.Judas Priest - Firepower

4.Pallbearer - Heartless

5.Vektor - Terminal Redux

      View entire list ››

These are MY Top 250 Albums that are featured on Metal Storm in chronological order to celebrate 50 Years of Metal.

Some bands are featured on this list with more than one album, which means that they are perticulary amazing to me.

I listen to a wide spectrum of metal genres, which is why I tried to keep it diverse and not focus on one genre.

1.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

2.Deep Purple - In Rock

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

4.Uriah Heep - Demons And Wizards

5.Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies

      View entire list ››

1.Judas Priest - Painkiller

2.Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith

3.Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

4.Judas Priest - Stained Class

5.Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny

      View entire list ››

Simple ranking of all my favorite albums. Favorite song from the album in the notes. Sure to change/expand as I learn and explore more within metal.
2023: This was starting to get too long so I split it into separate lists for albums at each ranking 10 to 7. This list will no longer be updated.
10: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=6891
9: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=7213
8: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=7512
7: https://metalstorm.net/users/list.php?list_id=8058

1.Madder Mortem - Eight Ways

2.Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side

3.Ayreon - 01011001

4.Ulcerate - The Destroyers Of All

5.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

      View entire list ››

Compilation of many Hard Rock or Metal Ballads I've heard. Bands and Albums are ordered by name alphabetically.

1.Accept - Balls To The Wall

2.Accept - Blood Of The Nations

3.Accept - Eat The Heat

4.Adagio - Underworld

5.Aerosmith - Aerosmith

      View entire list ››

The ones I've heard

1.Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

2.Judas Priest - Stained Class

3.Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny

4.Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith

5.Judas Priest - Painkiller

      View entire list ››

1.Van Halen - Van Halen

2.Rainbow - Long Live Rock & Roll

3.Judas Priest - Stained Class

4.AC/DC - Powerage

5.Rose Tattoo - Rose Tattoo

      View entire list ››

This is the most unquestionably difficult ranking I could undertake. The # of albums I consider borderline flawless from each of these bands is ridiculous. Over a dozen albums from these 3 bands have legitimate arguments to be considered the greatest traditional heavy metal album of all time.

I have a few rankings that are likely hot takes here
** Yes, I like Dance of Death more than most folks. Title track and Paschendale are both top 10 Maiden songs, and Montsegur is only a small step behind that. Those 3 songs are better than anything on Brave New World to me, but the rest of BNW is better and higher quality.
** Yes I kinda like Turbo. It's silly but it's fun and the guitar work and Rob's vocals are absolutely stellar. That kinda sucks about Ram It Down, it's got some of Priests' best lead guitar work and I don't think Rob ever sounded better, but dear lord, some of those songs...
As for the top 6 albums here, honestly put them in whatever order you want. They're that close to me and mood depending it could change

1.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

2.Judas Priest - Painkiller

3.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

4.Black Sabbath - Sabotage

5.Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

      View entire list ››

This list is my top 100 played albums ordered by the number of "scrobbles" since 2013 according to last.fm, if you also have a last.fm account, don't hesitate to follow me.
My last.fm user: daniloescolin

1.Slayer - Reign In Blood

2.W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.

3.W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children

4.Kreator - Enemy Of God

5.Iced Earth - The Dark Saga

      View entire list ››

Welcome to what I consider the "1970s Metal Bible" or in other words, a list of records of various genres in the arrays of Metal and Hard Rock that I deem essential or at least very recommended to listeners of hard and heavy music. This and the other parts of this journey through the decades may be a very overwhelming list. I essentially try to collect all albums in the History of Metal that strike me as worthwhile. May this be a guideline for people that seek for an entrance to a particular genre or certain bands. In no means I am saying, that this list is indisputable by any means. I consider these my personal picks for albums that should be listened to by die-hard metal fans at least once. Hopefully you can discover some new music or relate with my picks. If I missed something that you would include in such a list, please tell me in the form of a comment. Enjoy! \,,/

1.High Tide - Sea Shanties

2.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come

5.Josefus - Dead Man

      View entire list ››

Welcome to what I consider the "1001 Metal Albums You Must Hear Before You Die" or in other words, a list of records of various genres in the arrays of Metal and Hard Rock that I deem essential or at least very recommended to listeners of hard and heavy music. This may be a very overwhelming list but I essentially try to collect all albums in the History of Metal that strike me as worthwhile. May this be a guideline for people that seek for an entrance to a particular genre or certain bands. In no means I am saying, that this list is indisputable by any means. I consider these my personal picks for albums that should be listened to by die-hard metal fans at least once. Hopefully you can discover some new music or relate with my picks. If I missed something that you would include in such a list, please tell me in the form of a comment. Enjoy! \,,/

1.High Tide - Sea Shanties

2.Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

3.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin

4.Sir Lord Baltimore - Kingdom Come

5.Josefus - Dead Man

      View entire list ››

Before we start a few things
I Rule: Break the Law Rules!
II Rule: A Perfect cover will get a special mark " 🤘 " and then comes my pure subjective view that will always be different from yours. album with \m/ vs album without \m/ but a little bit higher = still both amazing ! i can not choose T_T don't push me!
III Rule: Black Sabbath Effect(Positive side) - When you look from afar on the cover of the album and it seems incredibly classy,gorgeous and cool, but when you try to see what's happening there, only one thing comes to mind "WHAT THE F...?"
IV Rule: Stop reading the rules and start rocking
Large Version of Rob's middle finger for real freaks https://pp.userapi.com/c841327/v841327097/58ce9/8U_5tFeaa-s.jpg

1.Judas Priest - Redeemer Of Souls

2.Prologue - Redeemer Of Souls was the only nightmare from prist after that are coming only good ones

3.Judas Priest - Nostradamus

4.Judas Priest - Ram It Down

5.Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla

      View entire list ››

1.Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny

2.Judas Priest - Nostradamus

3.Judas Priest - Jugulator

4.Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

5.Judas Priest - Ram It Down

      View entire list ››