It's 1981 and hard rock is coming back strong plus NWOBHM is getting stronger and starting to infiltrate our shores as well.
Top ten hard rock/metal albums of 1981
1)Van Halen - Fair Warning
A bit different and even dark for Van Halen, probably why it's my favorite album of theirs.
2)Iron Maiden- Killers
Their music began to take the shape it would have for years to come. A more layered sound replaced some of the more basic songs that were on the debut.
3)Rush- Moving Pictures
Not as sharp as Permanent Waves, but every song is solid.
4)Def Leppard-High and dry
It didn't take these guys long to get things together.
5)Ozzy- Diary of a madman
Ozzy and his band sound very comfortable on this one. It would be another 10 years before Ozzy put out an album as good as this one.
6)Black Sabbath- The Mob Rules
Almost as good as Heaven and hell, a few tracks toward the end take it out of the top five.
7)Judas Priest - Point of entry
Not their best and different from previous albums, but it's still solid overall.
8)Hanoi Rocks-Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
The debut is more of a straightforward rock albums than some of their later efforts. Very influential on Guns and Roses and other mid-late 80's LA bands.
9)Venom- Welcome to hell
They didn't always know how to play their instruments, but they did get some very heavy sounds out of what they did. A huge unfluence on early speed metal and thrash.
10)Raven- Rock 'till you drop
Along with Motorhead and Venom, these guys were also a major influence on the speed metal scene that would follow.
Best album covers
1)Iron Maiden- Killers
2)Iron Maiden- Maiden Japan
3)Rush- Moving Pictures
4)Accept- Breaker
5)Ted Nugent- Intensities in Ten Cities
Worst album cover
Y&T- Earthshaker
Golden Turd Award
Kiss- Music from the Elder
I don't mean to pick on Kiss, but they deserve it for this album. Actually has two songs that might be better than anything on Unmasked, but it has several that are far worse than anything on that album.
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