Top Ten - 1984

Unlike 1985, 1984 was a huge year in rock and metal. Major players populate the list literally from top to bottom. And I believe this is the strongest top ten so far, with eight albums above a 90 rating (rounding up, of course), and a ninth just barely missing the cut. Even more impressive is that out of the 70 albums I rated, 40 top an 80 rating.



Top Ten - 1984
94.86 -- Iron Maiden - Powerslave
91.64 -- Savatage - The Dungeons are Calling
91.22 -- Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
90.86 -- Metallica - Ride the Lightning
90.54 -- Scorpions - Love at First Sting
89.72 -- Sortilège - Métamorphose
89.60 -- Buzzard - Gambler
89.52 -- Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
89.45 -- Dokken - Tooth and Nail
88.51 -- Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers

Other 1984 releases:
88.21 -- Fates Warning - Night on Bröcken
87.17 -- Metal Church - Metal Church
86.49 -- Saxon - Crusader
86.42 -- W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.
86.09 -- Cutty Sark - Die Tonight
86.04 -- Rush - Grace Under Pressure
85.94 -- Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath
85.93 -- Riot - Born in America
85.56 -- Killer - Shock Waves
85.07 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
83.67 -- Gravestone - Victim of Chains
83.55 -- Accept - Balls to the Wall
82.73 -- Manowar - Hail to England
82.69 -- Box of Frogs - Box of Frogs
82.08 -- Grim Reaper - See You In Hell
81.88 -- The Rods - Let them Eat Metal
81.85 -- Bow Wow - Beat of Metal Motion
81.71 -- Pat Travers Band - Hot Shot
81.57 -- Brocas Helm - Into Battle
81.48 -- Exciter - Violence & Force
81.39 -- Ostrogoth - Ecstasy and Danger
80.86 -- Krokus - The Blitz
80.68 -- Whitesnake - Slide It In
80.59 -- Triumph - Thunder Seven
80.48 -- Hexx - No Escape
80.28 -- Armored Saint - March of the Saint
80.27 -- Trouble - Psalm 9
80.13 -- Silver Mountain - Universe
79.79 -- Queensrÿche - The Warning
79.63 -- Warlock - Burning the Witches
79.08 -- Ratt - Out of the Cellar
78.47 -- Dio - Last In Line
77.90 -- Helix - Walkin' the Razor's Edge
77.88 -- Van Halen - 1984
77.82 -- Heavy Pettin' - Lettin' Loose
77.69 -- Fastway - All Fired Up
77.56 -- Grave Digger - Heavy Metal Breakdown
77.10 -- Great White - Great White
76.87 -- Zebra - No Tellin' Lies
76.35 -- Pretty Maids - Red, Hot And Heavy
74.53 -- Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi
73.74 -- Stevie Ray Vaughan - Couldn't Stand the Weather
72.53 -- Stone Fury - Burns Like A Star
72.25 -- Torch - Electrikiss
71.87 -- Cirith Ungol - King of the Dead
71.33 -- Kiss - Animalize
70.80 -- Y&T - In Rock We Trust
70.14 -- Billy Squier - Signs of Life
67.89 -- Blackfoot - Vertical Smiles
67.79 -- Ted Nugent - Penetrator
65.01 -- Kim Mitchell - Akimbo Alogo
64.01 -- Tyran' Pace - Eye to Eye
61.76 -- Running Wild - Gates to Purgatory
61.46 -- Lee Aaron - Metal Queen
57.76 -- Manowar - Sign of the Hammer
55.48 -- Molly Hatchet - The Deed is Done
55.31 -- Queen - The Works
51.03 -- Golden Earring - N.E.W.S.
50.27 -- Samson - Don't Get Mad, Get Even
30.90 -- Jethro Tull - Under Wraps

Top Ten - 1997

The first thing you may notice about this list of 37 albums is that the Top Ten contains 11 albums (there was a tie for the tenth spot). The second thing you may notice is that the top-rated album is a non-English singing album (but still obviously very good). The third thing is that the scores are relatively low (but there are still many albums worth checking out). Finally, you may notice that some well-known bands released bad or mediocre albums (which you can safely avoid, unless you're a completist).

1997 Top Ten:
88.23 -- Tierra Santa - Medieval
87.32 -- Dickie Peterson - Child of the Darkness
87.24 -- Vanden Plas - The God Thing
86.92 -- Symphony X - The Divine Wings of Tragedy
86.63 -- W.A.S.P. - K.F.D.
86.55 -- Iron Savior - Iron Savior
86.54 -- Stratovarius - Visions
86.39 -- Hammerfall - Glory to the Brave
85.67 -- Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth
82.78 -- Saxon - Unleash the Beast
82.78 -- Therion - Theli

Other 1997 releases:
82.34 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Magic
81.69 -- Threshold - Extinct Instinct
81.15 -- Metallica - Reload
80.38 -- Megadeth - Cryptic Writings
79.89 -- Mogg/Way - Edge of the World
79.39 -- Tad Morose - A Mended Rhyme
77.85 -- Judas Priest - Jugulator
76.70 -- Gamma Ray - Somewhere Out in Space
75.97 -- Andi Deris - Come In from the Rain
74.43 -- Pretty Maids - Spooked
73.78 -- Aerosmith - Nine Lives
73.77 -- Glenn Tipton - Edge of the World
73.46 -- Edguy - Kingdom of Madness
69.61 -- Anvil - Absolutely No Alternative
69.14 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Facing the Animal
69.10 -- Nightwish - Angels Fall First
68.86 -- Queensrÿche - Hear in the Now Frontier
67.11 -- Dream Theater - Falling into Infinity
66.72 -- Wizard - Battle of Metal
66.56 -- Dokken - Shadowlife
62.11 -- Brainstorm -- Hungry
61.64 -- Fates Warning - A Pleasant Shade of Grey
61.54 -- Hawkwind - Distant Horizons
60.59 -- Saviour Machine - Legend I
58.98 -- Kiss - Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions
47.66 -- Mötley Crüe - Generation Swine

Rock Island - Chapter Nine

You're gathering firewood with Cinnamon when you hear someone whispering, "86, is that you?" You look around but see no one. Then you hear it again, a little louder this time. Suddenly a palm tree shakes.

"Over here," it whispers.

"Um, hello?," you say to the tree.

"86?" the tree asks.

You answer "no" and the tree starts sobbing. "Can you help me?" it pleads. "I don't think I belong here."

 

"Sorry about that Chief," you answer. "I wish I could help, but we're stuck here too."

You quickly lead Cinnamon away as the tree sobs louder. "That was weird," she says as you find another spot to gather firewood. Before you can answer, she asks for more songs you have with you. You happily continue:

• Mägo de Oz - Réquiem; Van a Rodar Cabezas
• Masterplan - Enlighten Me
• Masters of Reality - She Got Me (When She Got Her Dress On)
• Megadeth - Peace Sells; Holy Wars…The Punishment Due; Hangar 18; Rust In Peace…Polaris; Symphony of Destruction; Foreclosure of a Dream; Countdown to Extinction; Kick the Chair
• Mercyful Fate - Gypsy
• Messiah's Kiss - Prayer for the Dying
• Metal Church - Fake Healer; Rest In Piece (April 15,1912); Date with Poverty; Monster
• Metallica - Fight Fire with Fire; For Whom the Bell Tolls; Fade to Black; One; Enter Sandman
• Michael Schenker Group - Victim of Illusion; Into the Arena; Lost Horizons; Rock You to the Ground; Captain Nemo
• Mob Rules - Pilot of Earth; Outer Space
• Monster Magnet - Powertrip
• Morgana Lefay - Madness
• Mötley Crüe - Live Wire; Shout at the Devil; Looks that Kill; Too Young to Fall in Love; Wild Side; Dr. Feelgood; Kickstart My Heart
• Nightwish - She Is My Sin; Bless the Child; Dark Chest of Wonders; Wish I Had an Angel; Ghost Love Score
• Overlorde - Snow Giant; Metallic Madness
• Ozzy Osbourne - Over the Mountain; Believer; S.A.T.O.; Diary of A Madman
• Queensrÿche - Revolution Calling; Operation: Mindcrime; Speak; Spreading the Disease
• Rage - Heartblood; Immortal Sin; Dies Irae
• Ratt - You're in Love
• Red Wine - Sombra De Poder
• Riot - Hard Lovin' Man; Dream Away
• Rob Rock - The Hour of Dawn
• Running Wild - Treasure Island
• Samson - Vice Versa

Cinnamon wants to listen to some songs, and you happily oblige.

Rock Island - Chapter Three

You're sick of coconuts. Coconut milk for breakfast. Coconut-crusted fish for lunch and dinner. Big hairy balls of... and suddenly you're lost in thought. Big Balls. AC/DC. But it's not on your MP3 player. Should it be? It's a great song. You'll have to consider adding it. And then the thought passes as Cinnamon asks if you want to join her in gathering coconuts. You immediately say yes, you love coconuts.

She asks about the music you listen to. You smile and tell her you're a metalhead, and rattle off some classic metal bands. You have Mötley Crüe, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Metallica and Scorpions with you. But wait, there's more. You also have some great Euro-metal bands like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Kamelot, Nightwish, Stratovarious, and Threshold. "I'd love to hear them sometime," she says. You leave happy, in spite of the coconuts.

Top Ten - 2003

I rated 61 albums from 2003. This was an interesting year that featured two old NWOBHM bands at or near the top of the list and some of the worst-rated CDs overall at the bottom of the list. Overall, 2003 was an very strong year, with many good to excellent Classic Rock and Prog/Power Metal releases.



2003 Top Ten:

90.82 -- Elixir - The Idol
89.64 -- Dark Moor - Dark Moor
89.17 -- Jaguar - Run Ragged
88.49 -- Seven Witches - Passage to the Other Side
88.14 -- Helloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy
87.44 -- Firewind - Burning Earth
87.28 -- Burning Point - Feeding the Flames
87.19 -- Dream Theater - Train of Thought
86.62 -- Dark Moor - Between Light & Darkness
86.58 -- Shaman - Ritual

Other 2003 releases:
86.47 -- Aria - Baptism by Fire
86.32 -- Circle II Circle - Watching In Silence
86.10 -- Brainstorm - Soul Temptation
85.84 -- Rage - Soundchaser
85.63 -- Mägo de Oz - Gaia
85.19 -- Stratovarius - Elements Pt. 2
85.04 -- Lost Horizon - A Flame from the Ground Beneath
85.04 -- Labyrinth - Labyrinth
84.29 -- Nostradameus - The Third Prophecy
84.28 -- The Yardbirds - Birdland
84.03 -- Michael Schenker Group - Arachnophobiac
83.92 -- Tierra Santa - Indomable
83.74 -- Rob Rock - Eyes of Eternity
83.44 -- Stratovarius - Elements Pt. 1
83.17 -- Red Wine - Sueños Y Locura
82.25 -- Joe Stump - Armed and Ready
82.11 -- Gun Barrel - Battle-Tested
81.86 -- David Shankle Group - Ashes to Ashes
81.79 -- Cage - Darker than Black
80.80 -- Masterplan - Masterplan
80.63 -- Alkemyst - Meeting In the Mist
80.43 -- Iron Maiden - Dance of Death
80.40 -- Sonata Arctica - Winterheart's Guild
79.94 -- Cryonic Temple - Blood, Guts & Glory
79.93 -- Galloglass - Legends from Now and Nevermore
79.45 -- The Lizards - The Lizards Rule
78.68 -- Mystic Prophecy - Regressus
78.63 -- Kamelot - Epica
77.08 -- Alice Cooper - The Eyes of Alice Cooper
76.88 -- Saracen - Red Sky
76.79 -- Dario Mollo / Tony Martin - Cage 2
76.25 -- Platitude - Secrets of Life
74.86 -- Derek Sherinian - Black Utopia
74.66 -- Nemesis - Goddess of Revenge
74.46 -- Taraxacum - Rainmaker
74.21 -- Krokus - Rock the Block
73.87 -- Exhibition - The Sign of Tomorrow
73.09 -- Deep Purple - Bananas
73.07 -- Zebra - Zebra IV
73.00 -- Blackmore's Night - Ghost of A Rose
71.73 -- Twilight - Born Undivine
71.67 -- Styx - Cyclorama
71.61 -- Arachnes - Primary Fear
71.31 -- Chinchilla - Madtropolis
70.60 -- Wizard - Odin
66.53 -- ZZ Top - Mescalero
63.88 -- Praying Mantis - The Journey Goes On
62.78 -- Jethro Tull - The Christmas Album
57.29 -- Queensrÿche - Tribe
37.04 -- Metallica - St. Anger
32.26 -- Seventh Seal - The Black Dragon's Eyes

Top Ten - 2008

I rated 61 albums released in 2008. There were some pretty big releases last year, and while I like a lot of them, not many of the big names made my top ten. (Note: There was a recent change to the Top Ten as Anthem knocked out Ross the Boss).



2008 Top Ten:
91.45 -- Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper
89.75 -- Rage - Carved In Stone
89.57 -- Blood Ceremony - Blood Ceremony
89.36 -- Grand Magus - Iron Will
89.26 -- Anthem - Black Empire
89.21 -- Billy Lee Janey - Soul Driver
88.19 -- Order of Nine - A Means To Know End
87.36 -- Overdrive - Let the Metal Do the Talking
87.15 -- Metal Church - This Present Wasteland
87.03 -- Avantasia - The Scarecrow

Other 2008 releases:
86.97 -- Ross the Boss - New Metal Leader
86.64 -- Blaze Bayley - The Man Who Would Not Die
86.55 -- Circle II Circle - Delusions of Grandeur
86.25 -- Firewind - The Premonition
86.06 -- Motörhead - Motorizer
85.90 -- Thy Majestie - Dawn
85.75 -- Metallica - Death Magnetic
85.58 -- Warrior Soul - Chinese Democracy
85.46 -- Crystallion - Hattin
85.42 -- Brainstorm - Downburst
85.33 -- Black Tide - Light from Above
84.35 -- Graveyard - Graveyard
84.29 -- Dominici - O3 - A Trilogy Part 3
84.17 -- Mötley Crüe - Saints of Los Angeles
83.88 -- Crystal Eyes - Chained
83.35 -- Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy
82.77 -- Robin Trower - Seven Moons
82.62 -- Hibria - The Skull Collectors
81.81 -- Whitesnake - Good to Be Bad
81.53 -- Pyramaze - Immortal
81.30 -- Michael Schenker Group - In the Midst of Beauty
80.84 -- Iced Earth - The Crucible of Man - Something Wicked Part II
80.74 -- Ten Years After - Evolution
79.94 -- Edguy - Tinnitus Sanctus
79.32 -- Judas Priest - Nostradamus
79.12 -- Sabaton - The Art of War
79.11 -- Helstar - The King of Hell
78.57 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame
78.50 -- Lääz Rockit - Left for Dead
77.17 -- Jørn - Lonely are the Brave
76.58 -- Revolution Renaissance - New Era
76.30 -- Royal Hunt - Collision Course: Paradox II
76.00 -- Bassinvaders - Hellbassbeaters
74.84 -- Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown
74.53 -- Hydrogyn - Deadly Passions
74.13 -- Alice Cooper - Along Came A Spider
72.91 -- Queen - The Cosmos Rocks
71.60 -- Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning
71.37 -- Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again
69.47 -- Blackmore's Night - Secret Voyage
68.72 -- Guns 'n' Roses - Chinese Democracy
68.32 -- Bob Catley - Immortal
67.33 -- AC/DC - Black Ice
65.95 -- Def Leppard - Songs from the Sparkle Lounge
65.50 -- Lauren Harris - Calm Before the Storm
65.17 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Tales of the Crown
64.31 -- Chris Caffery - House of Insanity
63.54 -- Manilla Road - Voyager
61.78 -- Presto Ballet - The Lost Art of Time Travel
60.05 -- Haggard - Tales of Ithiria
29.90 -- Vigilante - IV