Top Ten (+15) - The 1990s

Now that I've finished posting my ratings for albums released during the 90s, I want to wrap it all up with a post of the top 25 releases of the decade. The posts from 1990 - 1999 included 382 albums released by 170 bands (low numbers when compared to the decades before and after, but ones that I'm sure will increase in time).

What surprised me most about this list is that only two bands -- Running Wild and Metal Church -- had more than one album here, while some bands that I like a lot (such as Megadeth, Dream Theater, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Stratovarius, and others) had only one or even none.

Should this list change, I'll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, I'll continue with ratings from the 1980s, and will also post my top ten from 2009 and the best of the 2000s soon after the year ends. Stay tuned!

Top 25 Albums:

93.55 -- Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990)

91.18 -- Iced Earth - Something Wicked this Way Comes (1998)

91.18 -- Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation (1991)

91.04 -- October 31 - Meet thy Maker (1999)

90.85 -- Black Sabbath - Tyr (1990)

90.55 -- Saxon - Metalhead (1999)

90.28 -- Rage - The Missing Link (1993)

90.18 -- Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine I (1993)

90.04 -- Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World (1990)

89.74 -- Helloween - Better than Raw (1998)

89.64 -- Dream Theater - Images and Words (1992)

89.52 -- Running Wild - Black Hand Inn (1994)

89.52 -- Warrior Soul - Last Decade Dead Century (1990)

89.18 -- Mägo de Oz - La Leyenda de la Mancha (1998)

89.16 -- Jeff Healey Band - Hell to Pay (1990)

89.13 -- W.A.S.P. - Helldorado (1999)

89.12 -- Seven Witches - Second War in Heaven (1999)

89.12 -- Wuthering Heights - Within (1999)

88.96 -- Lefay - Symphony of the Damned (1999)

88.59 -- Molly Hatchet - Silent Reign of Heroes (1998)

88.57 -- Savatage - Dead Winter Dead (1995)

88.40 -- Running Wild - Blazon Stone (1991)

88.38 -- Metal Church - Masterpeace (1999)

88.29 -- Metal Church - The Human Factor (1991)

88.28 -- Aria - Blood for Blood (1991)

Top Ten - 1992

Another relatively small list containing only 35 album ratings. As I mentioned in my other mid-90s Top Ten posts, Grunge was ruling the rock scene, which limited albums that appeal to me. Speaking of which, I'm sure many of you noticed (and maybe vehemently disagreed with) my rating of Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power. I've read other reviews of this album -- it's a classic; a 10/10 rating, etc. -- but this style of metal just doesn't work for me.

1992 Top Ten:
89.83 -- Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
89.64 -- Dream Theater - Images and Words
88.02 -- War Babies - War Babies
87.10 -- Running Wild - Pile of Skulls
86.56 -- Saxon - Forever Free
86.00 -- Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
83.81 -- Rage - Trapped!
83.67 -- Demon - Blow Out
83.67 -- Testament - The Ritual
82.90 -- Warrior Soul - Salutations from the Ghetto Nation

Other 1992 releases:
82.49 -- Killers - Murder One
82.43 -- Anthem - Domestic Booty
82.22 -- Damn Yankees - Don't Tread
80.83 -- Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark
78.92 -- Black Sabbath - Dehumanizer
78.63 -- Jackyl - Jackyl
78.38 -- Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
77.17 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Fire and Ice
76.11 -- McAuley Schenker Group - MSG
76.06 -- Faith No More - Angel Dust
75.71 -- Cozy Powell - The Drums are Back
75.31 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Eternal Prisoner
74.08 -- Pretty Maids - Sin-Decade
73.52 -- Motörhead - March ör Die
73.15 -- Kiss - Revenge
72.31 -- UFO - High Stakes & Dangerous Men
72.02 -- Wildside - Under the Influence
70.77 -- Stratovarius - Twilight Time
70.72 -- Hardline - Double Eclipse
69.18 -- Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Black Moon
67.24 -- Alice in Chains - Dirt
64.42 -- Manowar - The Triumph of Steel
63.54 -- Def Leppard - Adrenalize
61.83 -- Manilla Road - The Circus Maximus
50.94 -- Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power

Top Ten - 1994

Judging by how quickly the ratings drop into the 70s and below, 1994 looks like a weak year in music. This may be misleading, though, because I only reviewd 31 albums, due in part because of the popularity of Grunge at the time. But things could change if I eventually include some of those bands.

1994 Top Ten:
89.52 -- Running Wild - Black Hand Inn
86.23 -- Savatage - Handful of Rain
85.66 -- Pat Travers Band - Blues Magnet
84.14 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Between the Walls
83.61 -- Bruce Dickinson - Balls to Picasso
83.42 -- Threshold - Psychedelicatessen
83.32 -- Warrior Soul - Space Age Playboys
83.21 -- Megadeth - Youthanasia
82.26 -- Dream Theater - Awake
82.00 -- Riot - Night Breaker

Other 1994 releases:
81.78 -- Doctor Butcher - Doctor Butcher
80.17 -- Helloween - Master of the Rings
79.74 -- Dio - Strange Highways
78.64 -- Foghat - The Return of the Boogie Men
78.11 -- Stratovarius - Dreamspace
76.95 -- Mötley Crüe - Mötley Crüe
76.00 -- Pretty Maids - Scream
74.14 -- Black Sabbath - Cross Purposes
74.09 -- Helloween - Chameleon
73.70 -- Mägo de Oz - Mägo de Oz
70.97 -- Alice Cooper - The Last Temptation
70.81 -- Fight - War of Words
70.33 -- Symphony X - Symphony X
70.18 -- Blues Traveler - Four
69.12 -- Annihilator - King of the Kill
68.05 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Seventh Sign
66.51 -- Queensrÿche - Promised Land
65.25 -- Emerson, Lake & Palmer - In the Hot Seat
61.35 -- ZZ Top - Antenna
58.87 -- Pink Floyd - The Division Bell
57.09 -- Fates Warning - Inside Out

Rock Island - Chapter Five

You're walking on the far side of the island with Cinnamon when you spot (or think you spot) two men off in the distance. One has gray hair and reminds you of that "rich Corinthian leather" guy. He seems fairly tall, but that could be misleading as the other man is short; maybe even a little person. You think you hear the words "ze plane," but then Cinnamon is talking to you and turn your attention to her, the vision (or was it real?) already forgotten.

"So tell me some of the songs you have with you," Cinnamon says. This is music to your ears. You scroll through your MP3 player, reading heavy metal song titles aloud:

• Angel Dust - Follow Me, Pt. 2; Surrender
• Anvil - Bedroom Game; Metal On Metal
• Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Set Your Controls
• Axel Rudi Pell - Casbah; Live for the King
• Blood Ceremony - Master of Confusion
• Brainstorm - Hollow Hideaway; Trinity of Lust: Shiva's Tears; Worlds are Comin' Through
• Bruce Dickinson - Tears of A Dragon; Accident of Birth
• Butthole Surfers - Who Was in My Room Last Night?
• Candlebox - You
• Cans - The Key
• Circle II Circle - Out of Reach
• Cornerstone - Welcome to Forever; Once Upon Our Yesterdays
• Dark Moor - Nevermore
• Def Leppard - Rock Brigade; Wasted
• Dio - Holy Diver
• Dogface - Not Wanted
• Domine - The Ride of the Valkyries; Dawn of a New Day - A Celtic Requiem
• Dream Theater - Pull Me Under; Take the Time; Caught in a Web; Scene Four: Beyond This Life; Glass Prison; Great Debate
• Edguy - Out of Control; Piper Never Dies
• Elixir - Born Loser
• Fastway - Another Day; Say What You Will
• Feinstein - Rebelution; Streaming Star; Inferno
• Force of Evil - Dawn on Dominion/Hell on Earth
• Galactic Cowboys - I'm Not Amused
• Gamma Ray - Heading for Tomorrow; Rebellion in Dreamland; Heart of the Unicorn; New World Order; My Temple; Spiritual Dictator
• Great White - Desert Moon

With power dwindling, you stop, but unfortunately (or is it fortunately?) there will be another opportunity to finish the list.

Top Ten - 1999

Power and traditional metal bands topped the list in 1999. I rated 51 albums involving many well-known bands. The results varied, from the not-so-good to excellent.

1999 Top Ten:
91.04 -- October 31 - Meet Thy Maker
90.55 -- Saxon - Metalhead
89.56 -- Crimson Glory - Astronomica
89.13 -- W.A.S.P. - Helldorado
89.12 -- Seven Witches - Second War in Heaven
89.12 -- Wuthering Heights - Within
88.96 -- Lefay - Symphony Of the Damned
88.38 -- Metal Church - Masterpeace
86.08 -- Metalium - Millenium Metal
85.99 -- Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory

Other 1999 releases:
85.47 -- Angel Dust - Bleed
85.31 -- Riot - Sons of Society
85.09 -- Tierra Santa - Legendario
84.99 -- Gamma Ray - Power Plant
83.49 -- Krokus - Round 13
83.29 -- Pretty Maids - Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Overdoing
82.63 -- Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica
82.51 -- Edguy - Theater of Salvation
82.20 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Alchemy
81.12 -- Iron Savior - Interlude
80.40 -- Grave Digger - Excalibur
80.34 -- Vanden Plas - Far Off Grace
79.81 -- Mogg/Way - Chocolate Box
79.39 -- Wizard - Bound by Metal
79.28 -- Badlands - Dusk
78.26 -- Pink Cream 69 - Electrified
77.45 -- Mob Rules - Savage Land
77.36 -- Rob Zombie - Hellbilly Deluxe
77.15 -- Dokken - Erase the Slate
75.61 -- Dario Mollo / Tony Martin - Cage
75.56 -- Megadeth - Risk
75.33 -- Styx - Brave New World
75.19 -- Rage - Ghost
74.95 -- Queensrÿche - Q2K
73.65 -- Lefay - The Seventh Seal
72.02 -- Uriah Heep - Sonic Origami
70.03 -- Dark Moor - Shadowland
69.90 -- Michael Schenker Group - The Unforgiven
68.90 -- Blackmore's Night - Under a Violet Moon
68.66 -- George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Half a Boy/Half a Man
68.12 -- Demons & Wizards - Demons & Wizards
67.11 -- Symphorce - Truth to Promises
65.28 -- Jethro Tull - J-Tull Dot Com
64.52 -- Ratt - Ratt
63.68 -- Power Symphony - Evillot
59.51 -- Andi Deris - Done by Mirrors
58.98 -- Liquid Tension Experiment - Liquid Tension Experiment 2
57.94 -- ZZ Top - XXX
57.94 -- Scorpions - Eye II Eye
52.71 -- Def Leppard - Euphoria
47.44 -- Morgana Lefay - Morgana Lefay

Top Ten - 2002

2002 was a solid year in rock and metal. Of the 58 albums I rated, most were good to excellent, while some of the stragglers at least had a few songs that were worth checking out. The lone exception here is Def Leppard, whose album X was pretty weak overall.



2002 Top Ten:

90.49 -- W.A.S.P. - Dying for the World
90.29 -- Seven Witches - Xiled to Infinity and One
90.18 -- Wolf - Black Wings
89.46 -- Messiah's Kiss - Prayer for the Dying
88.89 -- UFO - Sharks
87.95 -- Arjen Anthony Lucassen - Space Metal
87.14 -- Iron Savior - Condition Red
86.77 -- Bow Wow - What's Going On
86.02 -- Blind Guardian - A Night at the Opera
85.97 -- Nightwish - Century Child

Other 2002 releases:
85.87 -- Rage - Unity
85.63 -- Tierra Santa - Sangre de Reyes
85.35 -- Thy Majestie - Hastings 1066
85.22 -- Dogface - In Control
84.99 -- Running Wild - The Brotherhood
84.65 -- Dream Evil - Dragon Slayer
84.57 -- Riot - Through the Storm
84.21 -- Ted Nugent - Craveman
83.82 -- Mob Rules - Hollowed Be Thy Name
83.29 -- Cornerstone - Human Stain
83.13 -- Symphony X - The Odyssey
82.49 -- Primal Fear - Black Sun
82.35 -- Dark Moor - The Gates of Oblivion
82.24 -- Blitzkrieg - Absolute Power
82.24 -- Avantasia - The Metal Opera, Pt. 2
82.17 -- Rhapsody - Power of the Dragon Flame
82.11 -- Anthem - Overload
82.02 -- Dream Theater - Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
82.01 -- Tierra Santa - Tierras de Leyenda
81.88 -- Firewind - Between Heaven and Hell
81.48 -- Tank - Still at War
81.27 -- Pagan's Mind - Celestial Entrance
80.81 -- Dio - Killing the Dragon
80.75 -- Warlord - Rising Out of the Ashes
80.30 -- Anvil - Still Going Strong
80.24 -- Hammerfall - Chapter V: Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
80.21 -- Red Wine - El Fin de Los Tiempos
79.83 -- Mountain - Mystic Fire
79.41 -- Manowar - Warriors of the World
79.01 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Shadow Zone
78.94 -- Hammerfall - Crimson Thunder
78.86 -- Vanderhoof - A Blur in Time
78.71 -- Tad Morose - Matters of the Dark
77.66 -- Arachnes - Apocalypse
77.29 -- Chinchilla - The Last Millenium
76.92 -- Pretty Maids - Planet Panic
76.61 -- Motörhead - Hammered
76.49 -- Threshold - Critical Mass
73.81 -- Annihilator - Waking the Fury
73.78 -- Warmen - Beyond Abilities
72.02 -- Tornado - Triumph of the King
70.10 -- Dokken - Long Way Home
67.04 -- Angel Dust - Of Human Bondage
65.95 -- Axenstar - Perpetual Twilight
65.94 -- Ark - Burn the Sun
64.94 -- Manilla Road - Spiral Castle
57.82 -- Wizards - The Kingdom
49.79 -- Def Leppard - X

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 - 2005

I rated 45 albums from 2005. Some big names made it to the top of the list that year. Other efforts were decent to good, but fell short of the top spots.

2005 Top Ten:
90.51 -- Gamma Ray - Majestic
90.41 -- Bow Wow - Era
89.72 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy
89.26 -- Axehammer - Windrider
88.59 -- Hibria - Defying the Rules
87.57 -- Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny of Souls
87.09 -- Kamelot - The Black Halo
86.36 -- Thy Majestie - Jeanne d’Arc
85.74 -- Diamond Head - All Will Be Revealed
84.33 -- Shaman - Reason

Other 2005 releases:
83.72 -- Astral Doors - Evil Is Forever
83.07 -- Nocturnal Rites - Grand Illusion
82.99 -- Stratovarius - Stratovarius
82.79 -- Jon Oliva's Pain - 'Tage Mahal
82.38 -- Wolfmother - Wolfmother
81.91 -- Presto Ballet - Peace Among the Ruins
81.77 -- Circle II Circle - The Middle Of Nowhere
81.29 -- Jørn - The Duke
81.17 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Unleash the Fury
80.61 -- Tony Martin - Scream
80.58 -- Tierra Santa - Apocalipsis
80.35 -- 35007 - Phase V
79.85 -- Judas Priest - Angel of Retribution
79.77 -- Brainstorm - Liquid Monster
78.96 -- Molly Hatchet - Warriors of the Rainbow Bridge
78.93 -- Slough Feg - Atavism
78.34 -- Blitzkrieg - Sins and Greed
78.10 -- Dark Moor - Beyond the Sea
77.87 -- Running Wild - Rogues En Vogue
77.04 -- Dream Theater - Octavarium
75.99 -- Morgana Lefay - Grand Materia
75.55 -- Angra - Temple of Shadows
75.23 -- Mägo de Oz - Gaia II - La Voz Dormida
75.14 -- Allen / Lande - The Battle
74.92 -- Platitude - Silence Speaks
73.92 -- Wizard - Magic Circle
73.78 -- Demons & Wizards - Touched by the Crimson King
72.01 -- Alice Cooper - Dirty Diamonds
71.77 -- Anubis Gate - A Perfect Forever
71.57 -- Labyrinth - Freeman
70.07 -- Demon - Better the Devil You Know
69.06 -- Axenstar - The Inquisition
62.67 -- Seven Witches - Amped
54.22 -- Manilla Road - Gates of Fire