The Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums of All Time
Reviewed. Rated. Ranked.
100 - 51
100. Epitaph - Outside The Law (1974)
Mark: Formed in Germany in the late Sixties, Epitaph’s third album is good and not so good in more or less equal parts - but at its best captures the hypnotic essence of Zeppelin and the swagger of Grand Funk Railroad.
Richard: Atmospheric, layered and very well written. Another gem from the early 70s that's worth discovering. Woman is an absolute classic.
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Woman, Fresh Air, Outside the Law
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.56190
99. Deep Purple - Burn (1974)
Mark: With Gillan and Glover gone, Purple regroup with Glenn Hughes and a then unknown David Coverdale. Whilst it fails to match the highs of the best of the MKII line-up, there’s enough quality here to allay any fears of commercial decline.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Sail Away, Burn, Might Just Take Your Life
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.56250
98. REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity (1980)
Mark: Huge hooklines and soaring keyboards = instant radio gold in a gloriously punchy first half that gives way, with a small sense of inevitability, to a slightly less sure-footed Side 2.
Richard: A wonderful album. As good now as when I bought it back in 1981. Some absolute corkers on side 1 that define the whole AOR genre. Richrath's guitar playing is sublime and Cronin's vocal control and power is at its peak.
Steve: Name a musical genre, chances are a dash of it will appear on Hi Infidelity, an album with more variety than a box of Quality Street. It’s brash, it’s funny, it sweeps you up and floats you down. Pretty much AOR gold.
Top Rated Tracks: Don’t Let Him Go, Keep On Lovin’ You, Take It On The Run
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.56667
97. Genesis - Nursery Cryme (1971)
Mark: Steve Hackett and Phil Collins form the lightning rod that ignites a 3-album hot streak. A majestic suite of superbly layered compositions that bull-headedly refuse to yield to conventional wisdom - even when they should.
Richard: The arrival of Collins and Hackett provide the secret sauce to propel Genesis away from break-up and towards superstardom. Intriguing; at times beautiful and occasionally impenetrable.
Steve: Part one of the holy trinity of Gabriel-era Genesis albums with newboy Steve Hackett turning possibilities into reality. Harold The Barrel offers humorous relief in a sea of melancholy which is utterly enchanting.
Top Rated Tracks: Musical Box, The Fountain of Salmacis, Return of the Giant Hogweed
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.57143
96. Flotsam And Jetsam - No Place For Disgrace (1988)
Mark: Two years is a long time in evolutionary terms, as F&J prove with a more sure-footed follow-up to the youthful enthusiasm of Doomsday For The Deceiver. A hideous Elton John cover aside, this is deliciously ballsy, belligerent and brutal.
Richard: Much more mature songwriting and playing on this outing. The speed and power remain but are balanced with more layers and melodies. So it's more accessible whilst still belting you around the head quite nicely.
Steve: The F&J boys were in the process of growing up and fine-tuning their style, though don't for one minute think they've compromised on the speed and brutality which so endeared us to Doomsday.
Top Rated Tracks: N. E. Terror, Escape from Within, The Jones
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.57333
95. Gillan - Mr Universe (1979)
Mark: After a huffy split with Deep Purple and an ill-conceived flirtation with jazz as a solo artist, Ian Gillan returned to sensastional form as NWOBHM dawned with an album that showcases both his exceptional voice and hard rock credentials.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Fighting Man, She Tears Me Down, Dead of Night
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.57667
94. Krokus - Heart Attack (1988)
Mark: Routinely lampooned at times for being derivative, the veteran Swiss rockers nevertheless serve up a great big ball of fun that boasts some killer riffs and well-executed knock-off melodies.
Richard: Thoroughly enjoyable romp from the best impersonators in the business. Hear all your favourite hard rock bands on one album! (But seriously, it’s worth a listen).
Steve: Switzerland's greatest AC/DC tribute act emerge from their Alpine lair once more with a slab of derivative, crowd-pleasing 80s metal which will leave you feeling warmer than a shot of gluhwein.
Top Rated Tracks: Everybody Rocks, Wild Love, Let it Go
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.58667
93. Grand Prix - There For None To See (1982)
Mark: An album that surprises and frustrates in equal measure. Thin production never quite manages to wholly derail a band that defines the spirit of early prog metal with big slices of melody and Robin McAuley’s angelic pipes.
Richard: A hugely underrated album from a band that deserved more. A brilliant mix of melody and power and great songwriting. Tough of the Track is a gem.
Steve: Well I saw it, just didn't fully understand it. That's not to say it's not good, it just has a nagging knack of threatening to slap you round the face with some metal majesty, only to resist the opportunity. Frustrating.
Top Rated Tracks: Tough of the Track, Relay, Keep on Believing
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.59333
92. Machine Head - Burn My Eyes (1994)
Mark: Brutal in places, but a masterclass in seething control from a band that manage to find melody in the most unlikely places. Ignore your preconceptions.
Richard: Crunching riffs and abusive beats with good arrangement and production and even the odd melodic bit - this is highly recommended and a really assured debut.
Steve: Don't be duped by the Purple moniker, there's no Jon Lord ivory tinkling here. In fact, present Rob Flynn with a piano and he'd probably turn an angle grinder on it, as loud as possible and make it into a song. I likey!
Top Rated Tracks: A Thousand Lies, I’m Your God Now, Nation on Fire
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.27273
91. Fastway - Waiting For The Roar (1986)
Mark: Fastway continue their progression from straight ahead blues rock to synth-laden mid-Eighties pomp. Superior compositions and killer riffs elevate things far above the standard fare of the time, but the keys occasionally distract and detract.
Richard: Some lovely tracks on a real surprise of an album that is really worth a listen. Fast Eddie really couldn't get further from Motörhead if he tried, and that's not a bad thing.
Steve: 'Fast' Eddie Clarke brings not a hint of Motörhead to this keyboard-saturated slice of 80s synth heaven, full of melodies and riffs and a strings-sapped opener in The World Waits For You which could grace the Albert Hall.
Top Rated Tracks: The World Waits for You, Move Over, Waiting for the Roar
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.60667
100. Sammy Hagar - Loud And Clear (1978)
Mark: Loud and Clear captures Sammy Hagar’s late-70s swagger – bright hooks, muscular riffs, and radio-ready choruses blend AOR polish with hard rock bite. Confident and built for big stages.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Young Girl Blues, Make It Last/Reckless, Turn Up the Music
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.78750
99. Whitesnake - 1987 (1987)
Mark: Dismissed as Whitesnake’s second debut album, 1987 unapologetically chases down MTV airtime as John Sykes strafes the album with enough six-string firepower to offset the soggy saccharine suet that sent this record multi-platinum.
Richard: It's overblown. It's overtly commercial. But who cares? Amazing riffing from Sykes, and Coverdale never sounded better.
Steve: New Whitesnake figured things can only get better if Coverdale chased the MTV D:Ream - and it worked, with the blues axed and replaced by a mix of slush and rock to delight faux fans and amuse the old guard.
Top Rated Tracks: Still Of The Night, Children Of The Night, Bad Boys
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.79259
98. Dark - Dark Round The Edges (1972)
Mark: Haunting early-Seventies underground psych, full of swirling guitars, fragile vocals, and shadowy atmosphere. Intimate, melancholic, mystical and gloriously unpolished.
Richard: Psychy. Funky. Immersive. Atmospheric. Let this album surround you and wash around you.
Steve: From the throbbing rock heartlands of Northamptonshire emerge a band on the most mesmerising of trips who have artfully sculpted a minor classic.
Top Rated Tracks: Maypole, Zero Time, Live for Today
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.80000
97. Yesterday & Today - Struck Down (1978)
Mark: The bridge between the self-titled debut of 1976 and the 1981 hard rock powerhouse that was Earthshaker, Y&T’s sophomore release has some stunning moments, but isn’t without its throwaway moments.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Pleasure in My Heart, Tried to Show You, Stargazer
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.80833
96. Dio - The Last In Line (1984)
Mark: Often overlooked in the crush of critical acclaim that was visted upon its older brother Holy Diver, Dio’s sophomore album is more consistent, with crunchier riffs, massive hooklines, and a superlative guitarist in Vivian Campbell.
Richard: A few ups and downs but classic Dio throughout. The Last In Line is the highlight and we get a proper Dio epic with Egypt.
Steve: Dio going a bit more mainstream with keyboards aplenty, though the little fella can't resist a poor man's-Stargazer to sign it off. Good fun all round.
Top Rated Tracks: The Last in Line, Evil Eyes, Mystery
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.81481
95. Megadeth - Youthanasia (1994)
Mark: Youthanasia has lived long in the shadow of its double platinum forefather Countdown To Extinction, but Max Norman’s razor sharp production makes this a suitably brutal companion piece.
Richard: Norman built a studio specially for this album and took the band to another level sonically. SO intense. SO powerful. Fantastic musicianship.
Steve: Dave Mustaine's divisive vocal style can add the requisite spice and menace to any track; over 12 tracks, however, he's a harder listen and becomes a distraction which masks the rhythmic monster thundering away alongside.
Top Rated Tracks: Blood of Heroes, Reckoning Day, A Tout le Monde
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.82500
94. Iron Maiden- Killers (1981)
Mark: DiAnno’s last hurrah with the UK’s kings of metal would also be the last time we’d hear the raw, unpolished power that catapaulted Maiden on the path to world domination. Compelling, urgent and unfiltered, and undeniably, brilliantly, Iron Maiden.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Wrathchild, Prodigal Son, Killers
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.85667
93. Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation (1987)
Mark: When Aerosmith entered the studio they were an industry joke, lost in a white cloud of addiction. Under the skilful hand of producer Bruce Fairbairn, they emerged to a multi-platinum renaissance thanks to tunes that rank among their best ever.
Richard: After dying musically from too much excess, Aerosmith rediscovered their mojo and long lost groove. As well as the well known hits, there are some absolute stonkers on here like the wonderful Simoriah.
Steve: The 'Smiths had emerged from rehab with an army of collaborators poised to take the band to a new height courtesy of an incredible range of songs which make this album seriously entertaining.
Top Rated Tracks: Simoriah, Magic Touch, Rag Doll
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.85833
92. Blue Ӧyster Cult- Cultösaurus Erectus (1980)
Mark: A band at the top of their game continue what would be a five-album hot streak with a record that makes a strong case for top billing in the BӦC catalogue. Hauntingly mesmerising from start to end.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Black Blade, Deadline, Divine Wind
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.85926
91. Vulcain - Desperados (1985)
Mark: Vulcain serve up a dose of raw, gritty French heavy metal. Motörhead-fueled speed, streetwise attitude, and relentless riffing drive a no-nonsense assault that feels urgent, loud, and defiantly untamed.
Richard: Should be on every list of the best european hard rick albums. Heavy, uncompromising and tone of power. Si Tu Bats De l’Aile may be the best French metal song ever.
Steve: Dubbed Motörhead clones largely and lazily because growler Puzio sounds like Lemmy but you'd have to be stone deaf forever not to revel in Vulcain's variety
Top Rated Tracks: Si Tu Bâts de l’Aile, La Verre du Trop, Richard
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.86000
90. Anthrax - Among The Living (1987)
Mark: Seething menace is shackled with restraint and control that was missing from their first two releases. Sure-footed songwriting and delivery combine with Eddie Kramer's polished production to turbocharge Anthrax into the mainstream.
Richard: A unique album by a unique band. The combination of speed, power and control is breathtaking. Indians is the standout track, but there is so much quality throughout this album that you need to listen to it end-to-end - LOUD.
Steve: A tri-speed (fast, faster still and fast as fuck) work of art and Anthrax’s ticket on to heavy metal's main stage. To make menace is easy; to lace it with humour and bury it in a wall of top tunes is quite the skill. They've never bettered this.
Top Rated Tracks: Indians, ADI/The Horror of it All, One World
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.87037
89. Rainbow - Rising (1976)
Mark: Peerless guitar work from Blackmore, powerful vocals from Dio and a sublime back line of Jimmy Bain, Tony Carey and Cozy Powell. And then there's Stargazer ...
Richard: Just brilliant. The best thing Dio did, surrounded not just by Blackmore but three other fantastic musicians. Stargazer will always make you feel very happy.
Steve: I’m definitely more Starstruck than Stargazer and star-man honours are unquestionably bestowed upon the incredible Ritchie Blackmore rather than his pint-sized singer.
Top Rated Tracks: Stargazer, Starstruck, Tarot Woman
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.87222
88. Crossfire - See You In Hell (1984)
Mark: Crossfire announce their arrival with a superior set of gloriously unabashed and unashamed rapid fire riffs … and some surprisingly catchy Euro-thrash tunes that belie the somewhat iffy cover art that was very much de rigeur at the time.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Starchild, Fly High, Lover’s Game
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.87917
87. David Lee Roth - Eat ‘Em And Smile (1986)
Mark: DLR’s undisguised ‘fuck you’ to his doubters is a glorious triumph of stylistic variety in which rock’s unlikely bed partners - jazz, blues, swing - are elevated beyond all reasonable expectation by six string wunderkind Steve Vai.
Richard: Diamond Dave waves goodbye to VH with a brand new band, a brilliant guitarist and some absolute classics. Ladies' Nite In Buffalo is his best.
Steve: The master at work, refreshed from his Van Halen fallout and with a new sidekick in Steve Vai to add his own twists to DLR's more grown-up cabaret act.
Top Rated Tracks: Ladies Nite in Buffalo, Yankee Rose, Goin’ Crazy
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.88000
86. Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction (1992)
Mark: Album number five in the Megadeth canon sees them shed their evolutionary skin once more in pursuit of something more measured and controlled. The frenzy is dialled down, but the menace remains. Arguably the band’s high water mark.
Richard: The best Megadeth line up at the top of their game. Ellefson and Menza never sounded better and there is the perfect balance of melody and unrelenting power.
Steve: Rock music's grim reinvention mercifully evaded Mustaine and pals who happily spat out a well-timed barrage of old-school hostility and menace.
Top Rated Tracks: Sweating Bullets, Symphony of Destruction, Countdown to Extinction
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.89394
85. Rush - A Farewell To Kings (1977)
Mark: A Farewell to Kings refines - maybe even redefines - Rush’s prog ambition. Intricate arrangements, sharp contrasts, and lyrical depth balance fantasy and social insight, delivering precision, atmosphere, and restless musical evolution.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Xanadu, Cinderella Man, Closer to the Heart
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.90000
84. David Lee Roth - Skyscraper (1988)
Mark: Two years after his full solo debut, Diamond Dave doubles down on the feel-good factor of sultry West Coast nights and sun-kissed West Coast days with a laid back summer-rich mix of supercool tunes.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Skyscraper, Damn Good, Just Like Paradise
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.90333
83. Thin Lizzy - Black Rose (1979)
Mark: Thin Lizzy at full power – twin guitars soar, Celtic themes enrich the sound, and Lynott’s songwriting blends grit, melody, and myth into a confident, near-classic statement.
Richard: From the thundering start of Do Anything You Wanna Do to the epic title-track closer, this is Thin Lizzy at their wondrous best.
Steve: A journey into the heart and soul of Phil Lynott where poetry, passion and pain conspire with a wonderful musical sense to produce a really solid piece of work.
Top Rated Tracks: Do Anything You Want to Do, Waiting For an Alibi, Sarah
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.90370
82. W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P. (1984)
Mark: Schlock and gore underpin this summary exercise in bouncy hard rock designed to provoke and outrage the establishment - an achievement that duly earned Blackie and his merry men a much-coveted PMRC warning sticker and a place in the rock ‘n’ roll annals.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: I Wanna Be Somebody, Sleeping (In the Fire), The Torture Never Stops
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.90667
81. D.A.D. - No Fuel Left For The Pilgrims (1988)
Mark: Hard rock with a playful edge and tight, punchy songwriting. Crunching riffs and hook-laden choruses blend grit with relentless pop sensibilities. It’s energetic, confident, and remains the band’s most enduring international statement.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Sleeping My Day Away, Jihad, Girl Nation
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.91389
80. Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1975)
Mark: An exquisite soundscape fashioned by the vision, creativity and ability of Waters, Gilmour and sound engineer Alan Parsons. If there's an album that truly defines the scope of experimentation that is the hallmark of early '70s prog rock then this, surely, is it.
Richard: An album in which to completely immerse yourself. You have to listen to it end-to-end in a dark room and just let the most atmospheric album ever created surround you. Us And Them, Time and Eclipse are unique.Their greatest work? Well, let's see how Wish You Were Here fares in a future episode of Enter Sadmen
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Us and Them, The Great Gig in the Sky, Eclipse
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.91852
79. UFO - Strangers In The Night (1979)
Mark: Overdubs and rerecords (or not?) aside, this double live album is a masterclass in band-defining standards driven by the keyboards of Paul Raymond and the jawdropping guitar work of a young Michael Schenker
Richard: Everyone loves Doctor Doctor but there is so much more on this live classic. Out On The Street, Mother Mary, Shoot Shoot ... this is an album that demands being listened to end-to-end.
Steve: Notwithstanding my general aversion to live albums, UFO produced something to remember with this reminder of one night in Chicago. You’d buy it for the Rock Bottom duet between Messrs Schenker and Raymond alone.
Top Rated Tracks: Out in the Street, Rock Bottom, Doctor Doctor
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.92821
78. Vain - No Respect (1989)
Mark: You could be forgiven if, on the basis of the cover art alone, you wrote Vain off as yet another bunch of Crüe wannabes. Yet there’s depth here, along with massive hooklines and riffs that are as cool as they are sleazy.
Richard: A very different hair metal album from a very talented guy. They deserved to be bigger. Some superb tracks on this consistently good 12-tracker.
Steve: Davy Vain just oozes a sexy coyness and simultaneously knocks ten bells out of their glam rivals. Appositely titled since this talented troupe got absolutely no respect for an album that should have been a springbord for the stars.
Top Rated Tracks: Aces, No Respect, 1000 Degrees
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.94440
77. Kansas - Leftoverture (1976)
Mark: When Carry OnWayward Son opens your album, it’s hard to escape the ‘Boston Syndrome’ of the only trajectory thereafter being of the downward variety. Yet Kansas pull it off with some masterfully composed and beautifully executed mid-70s pomp prog.
Richard:
Steve: Kansas shoot for the charts with an album which slaloms into prog-lite the longer it runs and by the end of their magnum opus, er, Magnum Opus, is beautifully bewildering.
Top Rated Tracks: Miracles Out of Nowhere, Opus Insert, Magnum Opus
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.94583
75. Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love (1982)
Mark: The record that pretty much reignited glam metal on a global basis is a riot of lipstick, leather, eyeliner and absolutely banging hard rock anthems that blend bubblegum with a healthy shot or two of Jack Daniel’s Old No.7
Richard: A good album, but a couple of shockers prevent it from being a truly great one. That said, Live Wire and Piece of Your Action are still two of the best songs Crue ever did.
Steve: Forget the panto pastiche they became and revel instead at pioneers in the art of attitude delivering an edge and energy which quite simply broke the mould.
Top Rated Tracks: Come On and Dance, Piece of Your Action, Live Wire
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.94815
75. Metallica - Load (1996)
Mark: Much maligned, though in truth it’s not as bad as some critics would have you believe. But the simple fact is that for all its majesty and the long five years it took to arrive, it lacks the snarl and confidence of its predecessor.
Richard: A brilliant album in lots of places, but they tried to Load just too much into it. Severl weak tracks drag it down, but Hero, The House That Jack Built and Outlaw Torn are amongst the best they have created.
Steve: A more mature Metallica but no compromise on gloom and anger. Diehard fans accused them of selling out when the real charge was not knowing when to stop. Far too long.
Top Rated Tracks: The Outlaw Torn, Until It Sleeps, The House That Jack Built
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.95000
74. Mötley Crüe - Shout At The Devil (1983)
Mark: An album saturated with gold standard rock anthems that ooze the essence of LA cool and have you reaching for an air mic and a tin of mascara. The release that paved the way for all who followed them down glam rock's platinum-paved highway.
Richard: Absolute pomp rock and a thoroughly enjoyable album. Loads of energy throughout. Apart from an average Beatles cover all the songs are well above average. Age hasn’t dimmed it one bit.
Steve
Top Rated Tracks: Looks That Kill, Danger, Too Young to Fall in Love, Knock ‘Em Dead Kid
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.95185
73. Rammstein - Herzeleid (1995)
Mark: Herzeleid heralded Rammstein’s crushing blend of industrial grooves and surgical precision. Mechanized riffs, pounding rhythms, and stark lyrics prove the blueprint for their unique sound is already unmistakably forged.
Richard: Thank goodness one Rammstein album makes the 1995 cut-off for the Hall of Fame. Blistering, groovy and unbelievably heavy all at the same time, Rammstein are unique in the world of metal and this is a brilliant debut.
Steve: There are hundreds of decent industrial metal bands out there fusing electronica, funk, punk, metal and any amount of cabaret drama into their music, but there's only one Rammstein. Off the wall and off the scale in equal measure.
Top Rated Tracks: Wollt Ihr Das Bett In Flammen Sehen?, Du Riechst So Gut, Laichzeit
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.95758
72. Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell (1980)
Mark: With Ozzy gone, Sabbath turned to Ronnie James Dio to revive their fading fortunes. And revive them he did, setting his D&D sensibilities against a backdrop of Iommi’s blistering riff-fest, Butler’s thumping bass, and Ward’s relentless percussion. Absolutely superb.
Richard: But is it really Black Sabbath? Who cares! Neon Knights is, of course, as monumental as ever. But Children of the Sea is up there too. And then there's the title track. Brilliant.
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Neon Knights, Heaven and Hell, Children of the Sea
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.95833
71. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden (1980)
Mark: For those of us who were there at the start, the unique inevitability of Maiden’s future domination was certain from the Prowler’s opening salvo of chords on Prowler. A high watermark not just for the band, but for the whole genre.
Richard: A groundbreaking debut. And still as fresh and uniques as when it was first released. Steve Harris' plan to conquer the world starts here. Brilliant.
Steve: Life BB (Before Bruce) and Paul Di'Anno was perfectly equipped to vocally narrate the start of a famous metal journey, a journey which began in real style.
Top Rated Tracks: Remember Tomorrow, Phantom of the Opera, Running Free
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.95833
70. Rush - Signals (1982)
Mark: Rush pivot toward synthesizers, but without sacrificing precision or ambition. Sleek production and layered textures give the album a modern edge, but the intricate rhythms remain unmistakable. It’s cerebral yet accessible - showcase of tightly constructed progressive rock.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Subdivisions, The Analog Kid, The Weapon (Part II of Fear)
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.96667
69. Bachman Turner Overdrive - Not Fragile (1974)
Mark: Anchored by muscular riffs and no-nonsense hooks, Not Fragile delivers blue-collar rock with punch and precision. We all knowYou Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, but the album’s groove and swagger make it a definitive ’70s arena rock statement
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Not Fragile, Rock is My Life and This is My Song, Roll On Down the Highway
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.97037
68. Blue Ӧyster Cult - Fire Of Unknown Origin (1981)
Mark: BӦC's best work already lay in the rear view mirror when this was released. Yet this still scales extraordinary heights, from the darkly compelling commentary on PTSD that is Veteran of the Psychic Wars and Sole Survivor, to the bonkers but infectious Joan Crawford. An absolute treat.
Richard: A distinctive 80s feel with synthesisers galore, but this is still classic BӦC and a highlight of their career. Buck Dharma is an understated guitar genius and Eric Bloom's haunting vocals in Veteran of the Psychic Wars and Joan Crawford send shivers up your spine.
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Veteran of the Psychic Wars, Joan Crawford, Don’t Turn Your Back
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.97037
67. Y&T - In Rock We Trust (1984)
Mark: Y&T ring the changes with something a little more melodic and a little poppier. It’s a sop to the MTV era, for sure, and therefore not as good as the three albums that preceded it; but it’s gloriously hooky and, thankfully, still undeniably Y&T.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Break Out Tonight, Masters and Slaves, Life Life Life
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.97667
66. Saxon - Denim And Leather (1981)
Mark: Saxon hit full stride and deliver a set of gritty classics that cement their place in NWOBHM history and migrate a full-throated battle cry to vinyl. Arguably not as strong as its two predecessors, but essential listening nevertheless.
Richard: An absolute classic from Biff and the boys. Princess of the Night at the start - And the Bands Played On in the middle - Denim and Leather to Finish. You can't get better than that.
Steve: So South Yorkshire the guitars play in a Barnsley accent; so NWOBHM you can set your watch by it; so much fun now as it was back in the day.
Top Rated Tracks: Princess of the Night, And the Bands Played On, Midnight Rider
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.98519
65. Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973)
Mark: A prog statement – intricate, whimsical, and distinctly British. Theatrical storytelling and sweeping keyboards shape ornate soundscapes both complex and melodic. Ambitious yet accessible, it remains a genre landmark.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: The Moonlit Knight, Firth of Fifth, I Know What I Like (In My Wardrobe)
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.99048
64. Rush - Hold Your Fire (1987)
Mark: Glossy production and thoughtful lyrics explore time, relationships, and restraint. It’s measured rather than explosive, prioritising texture and reflection over raw power, yet remains unmistakably confident and cohesive - and quintessentially Rush.
Richard: One of Rush's most uplifting albums. Peart's lyrics were stonger than ever and married to some brilliant music from Lee and Lifeson. Time Stand Still remains one of their best songs ever.
Steve: Eighties prog pop could have been a car crash in less capable hands but just listen to the glory of songs like Time Stand Still and Mission and be transported back to the happiest of times.
Top Rated Tracks: Time Stand Still, Mission, Open Secrets
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.99333
63. Dream Theater - Images And Words (1992)
Mark: Dream Theater redefine progressive metal with technical brilliance and emotional sweep. It’s easy to lapse into hyperbole, but nevertheless Images And Words balances virtuosity with melody, setting a new genre benchmark.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Pull Me Under, Learning to Live, Metropolis Pt. 1 (The Miracle and the Sleeper)
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.99583
62. Deep Purple - In Rock (1970)
Mark: A seismic blast of proto-metal fury that hardened Deep Purple’s sound into something ferocious and definitive. Blackmore’s guitar licks duel Lord’s keys to deliver a clutch of songs that remain towering statements of early heavy rock.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Child in Time, Speed King, Bloodsucker
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.00000
61. Boston - Boston (1976)
Mark: Tom Scholz is a visionary for whom only perfection will do. His pursuit of it means duplicity and deception abound in this album’s back story. In the end, perfection remained out of reach - but only by the very thinnest of margins.
Richard: The benchmark for AOR. Scholz’s engineering background gave him the tools to create the sound he obsessed about, and they never bettered an album that was more than 7 years in the making! Beautifully balanced.
Steve: One of those many albums defined by its opening track, the glorious More Than A Feeling, though Tom Scholz's majesty ensures that combination of prog intimacy and pop immediacy flows throughout.
Top Rated Tracks: Foreplay/Long Time, More Than a Feeling, Peace of Mind
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.00000
60. Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (1985)
Mark: An emotionally charged concept album that marries neo-prog ambition with chart-bothering melody. A sweep of introspective storytelling and soaring hooks, it’s one of the defining statements of 1980s progressive rock.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Kayleigh, Blind Curve, Childhood’s End?
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.02000
59. Legs Diamond - Legs Diamond (1977)
Mark: Melodic hard rock with progressive leanings and arena ambition, fuelled by twin guitars and theatrical vocals. Tight hooks and extended musicianship create a polished yet punchy debut that deserved far greater success.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: It’s Not the Music, Stagefright, Satin Peacock
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.00952
58. Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy (1987)
Mark: DLR’s undisguised ‘fuck you’ to his doubters is a glorious triumph of stylistic variety in which jazz, blues, swing and rock’s unlikely bed partners are elevated beyond all reasonable expectation by six string wunderkind Steve Vai.
Richard: Diamond Dave waves goodbye to VH with a brand new band, a brilliant guitarist and some absolute classics. Ladies' Nite In Buffalo is his best.
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Ladies Nite in Buffalo, Yankee Rose, Goin’ Crazy
Enter Sadmen Rating: 7.88000
57. Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi (1984)
Mark: A hungry debut packed with sticky hooks and glossy ambition. It’s rawer than their later hits, but the blueprint for superstardom is already unmistakable, as Runaway and Breakout hint at future arena dominance.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: Runaway, Roulette, Breakout
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.02593
56. Tesla - Mechanical Resonance (1986)
Mark: A heady cocktail of hard rocking riffs, soaring melodies and glorious hooklines all wrapped up in a then-unique and since much-copied blue collar sensibility. So gritty you can almost feel the dirt under its nails. One of the great debuts.
Richard: Tesla are unique and their debut demonstrates this so much. An album that still sounds fresh and inventive. Deserving of its place in the Hall of Fame.
Steve: Fads galore adorned the '80s, but Tesla were having none of that. Their debut was a thumping reminder of what five lads who wanted to rock could dish up and I'm not sure they bettered it.
Top Rated Tracks: Modern Day Cowboy, Changes, Rock Me to the Top
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.03333
55. Queen - The Works (1984)
Mark: Queen blend synth-pop sheen with arena-ready rock muscle as the sharp hooks of Radio Ga Ga and I Want to Break Free contrast with the guitar-driven bite of Hammer to Fall. It’s confident, commercial, and unmistakably Queen.
Richard:
Steve:
Top Rated Tracks: THammer to Fall, Radio Ga-Ga, Tear it Up, I Want to Break Free
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.04074
54. Yes - Going For The One (1977)
Mark: Britain’s arch art proggers retreat further from their impenetrable esoteric foundations to capture mainstream sensibility without wholly abandoning their spirt of experimentation. Superior.
Richard: Light, summery and spiritual. A very uplifting album with the usual standard of musicianship but not over-complex for the hell of it.
Steve: Yes in accessible mode is a surprise in itself, but there's nothing to decipher in this late 70s dose of charming prog which starts slow but finishes majestically.
Top Rated Tracks: Turn of the Century, Awaken, Wondrous Stories
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.04667
53. Jethro Tull - Crest Of A Knave (1987)
Mark: Tull diehards called it a betrayal of the band’s folk rock roots, but Barre’s harder guitar sound and Anderson’s peerless storytelling mean the likes of Budapest and Farm on the Freeway are a marvellous reinvention of a much-loved national treasure.
Richard: A huge shift in style that alienated many Tull traditionalists, but is actually one of Anderson & Co's best works. Some wonderful arrangements, briliant wordsmithing and proper guitar.
Steve: Anderson post-throat surgery is a more restrained animal though the flute remains front and centre, an instrument that in the great man's hands still somehow manages to unite the rock clans.
Top Rated Tracks: Farm on the Freeway, Said She Was a Dancer, Budapest
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.05238
52. Magnum - On A Storyteller’s Night (1985)
Mark: If you’re one of those whose radar never quite picked up the low-flying Magnum, then you may have missed one of the mid-Eighties great AOR releases. Power, melody, enough hooks to hang your coats on, and boasting a rare perfect song.
Richard: Wonderfully atmospheric and beautifully balanced. So many great tracks topped by Les Morts Dansant - the best song they have ever recorded.
Steve: Magnum do pop with a rock edge, delightfully immersing themselves in beautifully written tunes, synth-dripping melodies and the odd beefy riff.
Top Rated Tracks: Les Morts Dansant, Two Hearts, All England’s Eyes
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.05333
51. Ratt - Out Of The Cellar (1984)
Mark: A joyous riot of big riffs, dripping hooklines and winking swagger, all marinated in a heady cocktail of West Coast sunshine and hairspray fumes.
Richard: A very good dose of 80s Hair Metal. Great dual guitars throughout from DeMartini and Crosby, lots of swagger from Pearcy but a few weaker points that my compatriots appear to have overlooked.
Steve: Hugely important figure in the glam metal rebirth, Ratt brought all their sleaze and swagger to bear on an album which simply reeks of the Sunset Strip. Beneath the eye-liner, however, there are also some seriously big tunes from a band who never improved on this.
Top Rated Tracks: Round and Round, The Morning After, Scene of the Crime
Enter Sadmen Rating: 8.06666