Top Ten (+15) - The 1980s

The top ten lists from the 1980s included 243 bands and 595 albums. Now that I'm at the end, I know you've all been waiting for this, so without further ado, here are my top 25* albums from that decade. It's a pretty damn impressive list, with every album topping a 90 rating (without rounding up).

*Yes, there are indeed 26 albums listed here; there was a tie for 25th place.

Three bands -- Gillan, Iron Maiden, and Queensrÿche -- show up more than once. I was surprised that some of my favorite bands, including the Scorpions, Savatage, Black Sabbath, Metal Church, MSG and others only have one album listed here. But I wasn't surprised that 24 of the 26 albums were from 1980 - 1984. That was a special time in rock and metal history, and the strength of diversity of the music was evident.



Top 25 Albums:
96.37 -- Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche (EP) (1983)
94.86 -- Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)
93.73 -- Black Sabbath - Born Again (1983)
93.02 -- Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
91.90 -- Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind (1983)
91.79 -- Michael Schenker Group - Assault Attack (1982)
91.78 -- Krokus - Headhunter (1983)
91.76 -- Metal Church - Blessing In Disguise (1989)
91.64 -- Savatage - The Dungeons are Calling (1984)
91.46 -- Fastway - Fastway (1983)
91.40 -- Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982)
91.22 -- Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry (1984)
91.11 -- Gillan - Glory Road (1980)
90.86 -- Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
90.73 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 (1988)
90.64 -- Gillan - Future Shock (1981)
90.57 -- Gillan - Double Trouble (1981)
90.54 -- Scorpions - Love at First Sting (1984)
90.51 -- Anvil - Metal On Metal (1982)
90.48 -- Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations (1981)
90.45 -- Saxon - Power and the Glory (1983)
90.36 -- Riot - Restless Breed (1982)
90.33 -- Kix - Kix (1981)
90.27 -- More - Blood & Thunder (1982)
90.22 -- Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman (1981)
90.22 -- Def Leppard - On Through the Night (1980)
89.96 -- Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell (1980)

Top Ten - 1983

Here we go... the best year in rock and roll! Nine of the top ten albums topped a 90.00 rating (rounding up, of course), and 36 of the 68 albums listed topped an 80.00 rating. And just look at the top six: each and every one a classic metal album! It was good to be a metalhead in '83.



Top Ten - 1983
96.37 -- Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche (EP)
93.73 -- Black Sabbath - Born Again
91.90 -- Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind
91.78 -- Krokus - Headhunter
91.46 -- Fastway - Fastway
90.45 -- Saxon - Power and the Glory
89.81 -- Acid - Maniac
89.71 -- Jaguar - Power Games
89.64 -- Anvil - Forged In Fire
89.28 -- Silver Mountain - Shakin' Brains

Other 1983 releases:
88.91 -- Motörhead - Another Perfect Day
87.21 -- Savatage - Sirens
86.95 -- Metallica - Kill 'Em All
86.60 -- Oz - Fire in the Brain
86.55 -- Pretty Maids - Pretty Maids
85.90 -- Robin Trower - Back It Up
85.55 -- Savage - Loose 'n' Lethal
85.54 -- Blackfoot - Siogo
85.22 -- Zebra - Zebra
84.41 -- Killer Dwarfs - The Killer Dwarfs
84.29 -- Accept - Restless and Wild
83.86 -- Mercyful Fate - Melissa
83.43 -- Manilla Road - Crystal Logic
83.41 -- Kiss - Lick It Up
83.38 -- The Rods - In the Raw
83.30 -- Y&T - Mean Streak
83.28 -- Thin Lizzy - Thunder and Lightning
82.25 -- Mötley Crüe - Shout at the Devil
82.10 -- Chateaux - Chained and Desperate
82.00 -- Dio - Holy Diver
81.47 -- ZZ Top - Eliminator
80.49 -- Twisted Sister - You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll
80.09 -- Molly Hatchet - No Guts No Glory
79.91 -- Rainbow - Bent Out of Shape
79.84 -- Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon
78.85 -- Quiet Riot - Metal Health
78.41 -- UFO - Making Contact
77.92 -- Michael Schenker Group - Built to Destroy
77.22 -- Manowar - Into Glory Ride
77.02 -- Witchfinder General - Friends of Hell
76.81 -- Axe - Nemesis
75.93 -- Highway Chile - Storybook Heroes
75.66 -- Raven - All for One
73.94 -- Waysted - Vices
73.37 -- Dokken - Breaking the Chains
73.12 -- Def Leppard - Pyromania
73.05 -- Alcatrazz - No Parole From Rock 'N Roll
72.84 -- Demon - The Plague
72.35 -- Vandenberg - Heading for a Storm
72.04 -- Torch - Torch
71.93 -- Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
71.13 -- Quartz - Against All Odds
70.75 -- Axewitch - The Lord of Flies
69.00 -- Alice Cooper - Dada
67.53 -- Styx - Kilroy Was Here
67.45 -- Cozy Powell - Octopuss
67.42 -- AC/DC - Flick of the Switch
66.16 -- Diamond Head - Canterbury
65.58 -- Grand Funk - What's Funk?
63.62 -- Moody Blues - The Present
63.40 -- Uriah Heep - Head First
62.91 -- Heavy Load - Stronger than Evil
62.78 -- Blue Öyster Cult - The Revolution by Night
58.10 -- Kix - Cool Kids
55.98 -- Atomic Rooster - Headline News
51.57 -- Venom - At War with Satan
47.06 -- Pink Floyd - The Final Cut
45.39 -- Foghat - Zig-Zag Walk

Top Ten - 1988

1988 was a strong year in metal, with four of the 47 bands rated achieving or topping a 90.00 rating (if you round up). Queensrÿche's powerhouse album Operation: Mindcrime easily ruled supreme that year, which is particularly impressive considering Helloween also released their excellent Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2.



Top Ten - 1988
93.02 -- Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
90.73 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2
89.59 -- Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today
88.99 -- Attacker - Second Coming
88.74 -- Apocalypse - Apocalypse
87.90 -- Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come
87.63 -- Riot - Thundersteel
87.57 -- Cinderella - Long Cold Winter
86.78 -- Anthem - Gypsy Ways
86.61 -- Blue Öyster Cult - Imaginos

Other 1989 releases:
86.24 -- Fates Warning - No Exit
86.14 -- Dark Quarterer - Etruscan Prophecy
86.02 -- W.A.S.P. - The Headless Children
85.13 -- Crimson Glory - Transcendence
84.95 -- Metallica - …And Justice for All
84.04 -- Liege Lord - Master Control
83.75 -- Kix - Blow My Fuse
81.74 -- Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
80.88 -- Girlschool - Take a Bite
80.62 -- Heretic - Breaking Point
80.29 -- Skid Row - Skid Row
80.22 -- Judas Priest - Ram it Down
79.70 -- Rage - Perfect Man
79.23 -- AC/DC - Blow Up Your Video
78.51 -- Running Wild - Port Royal
78.40 -- Vixen - Vixen
75.44 -- Blind Guardian - Battalions of Fear
75.33 -- Anvil - Pound for Pound
75.19 -- Scorpions - Savage Amusement
74.43 -- Saxon - Destiny
74.16 -- Megadeth - So Far, So Good...So What!
74.04 -- Hurricane - Over the Edge
73.25 -- Bow Wow - Vibe
68.01 -- Masters of Reality - Masters of Reality
67.96 -- Poison - Open Up and Say...Ahh!
67.55 -- Ted Nugent - If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em
66.94 -- Ratt - Reach for the Sky
66.72 -- Bon Jovi - New Jersey
65.81 -- Steeler - Undercover Animal
64.73 -- Jeff Healey Band - See the Light
64.01 -- Hawkwind - Xenon Codex
63.05 -- Van Halen - OU812
59.60 -- Angel Dust - To Dust You Will Decay
58.96 -- Manilla Road - Out of the Abyss
57.96 -- UFO - Ain't Misbehavin'
56.01 -- Silver Mountain - Roses & Champagne
52.57 -- Manowar - Kings of Metal

You Wanted the Best...

Recently I cautioned against getting too wrapped up in the ratings numbers. After all, an album rated 91.18 is not significantly different from an 87.27. The point is, both are excellent albums.

So, while writing this post on my top-rated albums (those above 90.00), what did I do? That's right... I fell into my own trap. Of the 2,200 albums I rated, only 99 received a rating of 90.00 or higher (this includes albums I rounded up from 89.51 - 89.99).

While looking over the albums that just missed the cut, I decided there were some that I should re-evaluate. I didn't go crazy and re-evaluate everything that was close to a 90.00 rating; instead, I scanned the 152 albums that were rated 87.00 - 89.49 and chose 21 albums that I knew I liked and thought had a chance to top 90.00 (or at least 89.50) after a minor adjustment or two to the individual song ratings.

As my top 50 list changed, I realized that I wasn't quite finished yet. You see, it's hard to put aside emotional connections to some albums, especially those I bought and listened to as a kid. So I re-evaluated a few newer highly-rated albums as well, looking to move them down the list to below albums I've liked for awhile. (For example, how can I like Wolf's Black Wings album more than Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast? One is really good, but the other is a classic.)

I consider the 90.00 threshold to be the best of the best. Some of the re-evaluated albums deserve to be there, while other albums, although very good, probably shouldn't have been there in the first place. In the end, I re-evaluated 35 albums and made adjustments that I'm happy with. It's interesting to note, however, that the number of albums above an 89.50 rating only increased by seven. Before, there were 99 albums in that group; now there are 106. (FYI, percentage-wise, it works out to just under 5% of the total albums reviewed.)

The updated ratings affected the Top 50, some of the Top Ten lists, and the Deep Purple,  Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden discographies. All lists have been updated accordingly.

I'm reposting the Top 50 here, but if you're curious about what changed, check out the original list in my first post, From the Beginning... (which you should check out anyway if you haven't already, as it explains everything you need to know about how and why this blog came to be).

I'm sure the list of top-rated albums will continue to grow, albeit slowly at this point. I may also tweak the list again at some point (but to be honest, it was a pain in the ass updating the various affected posts). So stay tuned. If anything changes, you'll be the first to know.

Top 50 Albums:

98.14 -- Deep Purple - In Rock (1970)

97.98 -- Rainbow - Rising (1976)

96.37 -- Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche (EP) (1983)
95.70 -- Deep Purple - Machine Head (1972)
94.86 -- Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)
94.24 -- Sweet - Give Us A Wink (1976)
93.73 -- Black Sabbath - Born Again (1983)
93.67 -- Ted Nugent - Free-for-All (1976)
93.55 -- Megadeth - Rust In Peace (1990)
93.02 -- Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
92.75 -- Scorpions - Lovedrive (1979)
91.90 -- Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind (1983)
91.79 -- Michael Schenker Group - Assault Attack (1982)
91.78 -- Krokus - Headhunter (1983)
91.76 -- Metal Church - Blessing In Disguise (1989)
91.67 -- Anthem - Heavy Metal Anthem (2000)
91.64 -- Savatage - The Dungeons are Calling (1984)
91.52 -- Murasaki - Impact (1976)
91.47 -- Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)
91.46 -- Fastway - Fastway (1983)
91.45 -- Uriah Heep - Wake the Sleeper (2008)
91.40 -- Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982)
91.28 -- Domine - Stormbringer Ruler (2000)
91.22 -- Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry (1984)
91.18 -- Iced Earth - Something Wicked this Way Comes (1998)
91.18 -- Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation (1991)
91.16 -- Buffalo - Volcanic Rock (1973)
91.11 -- Gillan - Glory Road (1980)
91.04 -- October 31 - Meet Thy Maker (1999)
91.00 -- Sweet - Desolation Boulevard (US) (1974)
90.97 -- Aria - Armageddon (2006)
90.86 -- Jethro Tull - Aqualung (1971)
90.86 -- Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
90.85 -- Black Sabbath - Tyr (1990)
90.85 -- Metal Church - Light In the Dark (2006)
90.82 -- Elixir - The Idol (2003)
90.80 -- AC/DC - Let there Be Rock (1977)
90.73 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 (1988)
90.71 -- Deep Purple - Fireball (USA) (1971)
90.64 -- Gillan - Future Shock (1981)
90.57 -- Gillan - Double Trouble (1981)
90.55 -- Saxon - Metalhead (1999)
90.54 -- Scorpions - Love at First Sting (1984)
90.52 -- Black Sabbath - Master of Reality (1971)
90.51 -- Anvil - Metal On Metal (1982)
90.51 -- Gamma Ray - Majestic (2005)
90.49 -- W.A.S.P. - Dying for the World (2002)
90.48 -- Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations (1981)
90.45 -- Saxon - Power and the Glory (1983)
90.41 -- Bow Wow - Era (2005)

Top Ten (+ 15) - Albums by American Bands

I was a little surprised to see I rated over 130 more albums by American bands than British bands (747 to 611). I thought the numbers would be closer. The breakdown was also interesting: only three bands have more than one album listed here (Megadeth and Metal Church each have three; Queensrÿche has two). There are also only three albums from the 70s and 13 from 1990 til now. The other 9 albums were recorded in the 80s.

Top 25 Albums:
96.37 -- Queensrÿche - Queensrÿche (EP) (1983)
93.67 -- Ted Nugent - Free-for-All (1976)
93.55 -- Megadeth - Rust In Peace (1990)
93.02 -- Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime (1988)
91.76 -- Metal Church - Blessing In Disguise (1989)
91.64 -- Savatage - The Dungeons are Calling (1984)
91.22 -- Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry (1984)
91.18 -- Armored Saint - Symbol of Salvation (1991)
91.18 -- Iced Earth - Something Wicked this Way Comes (1998)
91.04 -- October 31 - Meet Thy Maker (1999)
90.86 -- Metallica - Ride the Lightning (1984)
90.85 -- Metal Church - Light In the Dark (2006)
90.49 -- W.A.S.P. - Dying for the World (2002)
90.36 -- Grand Funk - We're an American Band (1973)
90.36 -- Riot - Restless Breed (1982)
90.33 -- Kix - Kix (1981)
90.29 -- Seven Witches - Xiled to Infinity and One (2002)
90.26 -- Metal Church - The Human Factor (1991)
90.23 -- Overlorde - Return of the Snow Giant (2004)
90.18 -- Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine I (1993)
90.11 -- Feinstein - Third Wish (2004)
90.00 -- Attacker - Second Coming (1988)
89.91 -- Megadeth - The System has Failed (2004)
89.83 -- Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction (1992)
89.75 -- Boston - Boston (1976)

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 - 2006

I rated 46 albums released in 2006. Quite a few classic rock artists returned with new efforts and mixed results. Once again, some lesser-known bands cracked the top ten, and you should probably get to know them. (Note: Due to some recent reviews, the Top Ten changed with the addition of both an Anthem and Wolf album).

2006 Top Ten:
90.97 -- Aria - Armageddon
90.85 -- Metal Church - Light In the Dark
89.30 -- Heavenly - Virus
88.88 -- Anthem - Immortal
88.63 -- Elixir - Mindcreeper
88.14 -- Wolf - The Black Flame
87.70 -- Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death
86.92 -- Pretty Maids - Wake Up to the Real World
85.93 -- Benedictum - Uncreation
85.81 -- Axxis - Paradise in Flames

Other 2006 releases:
85.80 -- Rage - Speak of the Dead
85.47 -- Blind Guardian - A Twist in the Myth
85.30 -- Firewind - Allegiance
84.96 -- Krokus - Hellraiser
84.81 -- Sir Lord Baltimore - III Raw
83.77 -- Bloodbound - Nosferatu
83.55 -- Astral Doors - Astralism
83.25 -- Hammerfall - Threshold
83.11 -- Manticora - The Black Circus, Pt. 1: Letters
82.55 -- Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas
82.48 -- Mob Rules - Ethnolution A.D.
82.06 -- Riot - Army of One
81.66 -- Tierra Santa - Mejor Morir En Pie
81.17 -- Edguy - Rocket Ride
79.76 -- Iron Fire - Revenge
79.52 -- Cactus - V
79.46 -- Beyond Fear - Beyond Fear
76.80 -- Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime II
76.47 -- Circle II Circle - Burden of Truth
76.39 -- Eddie Ojeda - Axes 2 Axes
75.83 -- Persuader - When Eden Burns
75.74 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Mystica
75.22 -- Budgie - You're All Living in Cuckooland
74.37 -- Andy Timmons - Resolution
74.36 -- Blackmore's Night - The Village Lanterne
73.96 -- Angra - Aurora Consurgens
73.95 -- Jon Oliva's Pain - Maniacal Renderings
73.16 -- UFO - The Monkey Puzzle
72.28 -- Motörhead - Kiss of Death
70.68 -- Empire - Raven Ride
69.30 -- Dominus Praelii - Bastards and Killers
65.72 -- Wizard's Hymn - Hymnal
65.21 -- Felony - First Works
62.64 -- Blackmore's Night - Winter Carols
61.98 -- Deep Purple - Rapture of the Deep
60.96 -- The Who - Endless Wire