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 - 1990

I rated 45 albums from 1990, and sadly, it was the last great year for three top metal bands - Black Sabbath, Scorpions and Judas Priest. Never again would these bands crack the top ten. Kinda sad, but there's still hope that they'll once again find some of that past metal magic.



Top Ten - 1990:
93.55 -- Megadeth - Rust in Peace
90.85 -- Black Sabbath - Tyr
90.04 -- Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World
89.52 -- Warrior Soul - Last Decade Dead Century
89.16 -- Jeff Healey Band - Hell to Pay
87.85 -- Anthem - No Smoke without Fire
87.68 -- Scorpions - Crazy World
86.73 -- Judas Priest - Painkiller
84.90 -- Rage - Reflections of a Shadow
82.93 -- Artillery - By Inheritance

Other 1990 releases:
82.49 -- Iron Maiden - No Prayer for the Dying
82.33 -- Riot - The Privilege of Power
82.23 -- Manilla Road - Courts of Chaos
82.23 -- Deep Purple - Slaves and Masters
82.12 -- Desperado - Bloodied but Unbowed
81.78 -- Lynch Mob - Wicked Sensation
81.17 -- Queensrÿche - Empire
81.16 -- Elixir - Lethal Potion
80.20 -- Sanctuary - Into the Mirror Black
80.12 -- Testament - Souls of Black
79.71 -- Warrant - Cherry Pie
79.48 -- Reverend - World Won't Miss You
78.50 -- AC/DC - The Razor's Edge
77.76 -- Bow Wow - Mountain Top
77.74 -- Extreme - Extreme II: Pornograffitti
77.39 -- Damn Yankees - Damn Yankees
75.61 -- Spread Eagle - Spread Eagle
72.87 -- Pat Travers Band - School of Hard Knocks
72.21 -- Ratt - Detonator
72.16 -- ZZ Top - Recycler
69.95 -- Dio - Lock Up the Wolves
69.90 -- Blues Traveler - Blues Traveler
69.88 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Eclipse
69.45 -- Vixen - Rev It Up
69.02 -- Pantera - Cowboys from Hell
68.72 -- Slaughter - Stick It to Ya
68.40 -- Blackfoot - Medicine Man
67.96 -- Hawkwind - Space Bandits
67.40 -- Bruce Dickinson - Tattooed Millionaire
67.27 -- Morgana Lefay - Symphony of the Damned
65.63 -- Pretty Maids - Jump the Gun
63.37 -- Styx - Edge of the Century
58.31 -- Slayer - Seasons in the Abyss
57.20 -- Axxis - Axxis II
54.66 -- Eric Johnson - Ah Via Musicom

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 - 1993

The early to mid 90s seemed to be a transitional time for hard rock and metal. Grunge was in full swing while many of today's top metal acts were either in their infancy or not yet formed. As a result, the number of releases (of the style of music I prefer) dropped significantly during this time, culminating in 1993's low of only 30 albums reviewed.

1993 Top Ten:
90.28 -- Rage - The Missing Link
90.18 -- Saviour Machine - Saviour Machine I
87.77 -- Metal Church - Hanging in the Balance
85.64 -- Candlebox - Candlebox
84.59 -- Joe Stump - Guitar Dominance!
82.58 -- W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol
82.51 -- Threshold - Wounded Land
82.00 -- Gamma Ray - Insanity and Genius
81.89 -- Morgana Lefay - Secret Doctrine
81.86 -- Morgana Lefay - Knowing Just as I

Other 1993 releases:
80.89 -- Coverdale•Page - Coverdale•Page
77.98 -- Triumph - Edge of Excess
77.94 -- Aerosmith - Get A Grip
77.91 -- Pink Cream 69 - Games People Play
77.88 -- Blue Murder - Nothin' but Trouble
77.45 -- Savatage - Edge of Thorns
76.92 -- Diamond Head - Death and Progress
76.15 -- Tad Morose - Leaving the Past Behind
76.02 -- Butthole Surfers - Independent Worm Saloon
75.66 -- Deep Purple - The Battle Rages On
74.66 -- Motörhead - Bastards
73.09 -- Scorpions - Face the Heat
72.64 -- Angra - Angels Cry
72.34 -- Masters of Reality - Sunrise on the Sufferbus
71.62 -- Blues Traveler - Save His Soul
70.24 -- Pat Travers Band - Just a Touch
65.85 -- Praying Mantis - A Cry for the New World
65.81 -- Warrior Soul - Chill Pill
63.11 -- Pretty Maids - Stripped
58.23 -- Hawkwind - It Is the Business of the Future to Be Dangerous

Top Ten - 1995

Savatage tops the list of 43 albums reviewed from 1995. But this great album featured a 3 minute and 12 second song that eventually put Savatage on hold indefinitely. The popularity of "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24)" led to the band members forming the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which became so successful that they literally couldn't afford to put that aside in order to record another Savatage album. No matter, though. Now we can enjoy the Savatage albums as well as TSO, Circle II Circle, Jon Oliva's Pain, and Chris Caffery. Not a bad trade-off!

1995 Top Ten:
88.57 -- Savatage - Dead Winter Dead
88.10 -- Rainbow - Stranger In Us All
88.04 -- Gamma Ray - Land of the Free
87.97 -- UFO - Walk on Water
86.88 -- Rage - Black In Mind
86.61 -- Running Wild - Masquerade
86.60 -- Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side
86.52 -- Iced Earth - Burnt Offerings
85.97 -- Morgana Lefay - Sanctified
85.19 -- Motörhead - Sacrifice

Other 1995 releases:
84.38 -- Gov't Mule - Gov't Mule
83.97 -- Sun Red Sun - Sun Red Sun
83.69 -- Aria - Night is Shorter than Day
83.64 -- Dokken - Dysfunctional
83.34 -- Iron Maiden - X Factor
80.33 -- Krokus - To Rock or Not to Be
80.16 -- Blitzkrieg - Unholy Trinity
80.07 -- Bow Wow - Bow Wow #1
78.60 -- Stratovarius - Fourth Dimension
78.10 -- Ted Nugent - Spirit of the Wild
77.96 -- Hawkwind - Alien 4
77.35 -- Uriah Heep - Sea of Light
76.93 -- Symphony X - The Damnation Game
76.88 -- Fight - Small Deadly Space
76.56 -- Tad Morose - Sender of Thoughts
75.00 -- Dream Theater - A Change of Seasons
74.99 -- Saxon - Dogs of War
74.48 -- Kamelot - Eternity
74.02 -- Van Halen - Balance
72.73 -- Pat Travers Band - Halfway to Somewhere
72.71 -- AC/DC - Ballbreaker
72.69 -- White Zombie - Astro-Creep: 2000
71.07 -- Praying Mantis - To the Power of Ten
70.44 -- Carmine Appice - Guitar Zeus
69.61 -- Jethro Tull - Roots to Branches
69.10 -- Yngwie Malmsteen - Magnum Opus
69.08 -- Ozzy Osbourne - Ozzmosis
68.74 -- Black Sabbath - Forbidden
65.19 -- Edguy - The Savage Poetry
61.71 -- Blackfoot - After the Reign
55.14 -- Queen - Made In Heaven
51.45 -- Therion - Lepaca Kliffoth

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.

Top Ten (+15) - Power Metal Albums

I categorized 290 Power Metal albums. Germany was easily the most well-represented country with 108 albums, followed by the U.S. (55 albums), Sweden (48 albums), and Finland (25 albums). The remainder included ten other countries. Not surprisingly, 13 of the top 25 albums were by German bands, with U.S. bands second with seven albums. Oddly, only one Swedish album is included here.

Top 25 Albums:
91.64 -- Savatage - The Dungeons are Calling (1984)
91.28 -- Domine - Stormbringer Ruler (2000)
91.18 -- Iced Earth - Something Wicked This Way Comes (1998)
90.73 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 (1988)
90.51 -- Gamma Ray - Majestic (2005)
90.29 -- Seven Witches - Xiled to Infinity and One (2002)
90.28 -- Rage - The Missing Link (1993)
90.25 -- Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II (2007)
90.00 -- Attacker - Second Coming (1988)
89.75 -- Rage - Carved In Stone (2008)
89.74 -- Helloween - Better than Raw (1998)
89.72 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005)
89.64 -- Dark Moor - Dark Moor (2003)
89.53 -- Mob Rules - Among the Gods (2004)
89.52 -- Running Wild - Black Hand Inn (1994)
89.46 -- Messiah's Kiss - Prayer for the Dying (2002)
89.30 -- Heavenly - Virus (2006)
89.26 -- Axehammer - Windrider (2005)
89.24 -- Messiah's Kiss - Metal (2004)
89.12 -- Seven Witches - Second War in Heaven (1999)
88.96 -- Lefay - Symphony of the Damned (1999)
88.92 -- Wizard - Goochan (2007)
88.64 -- Helloween - The Dark Ride (2000)
88.59 -- Hibria - Defying the Rules (2005)
88.57 -- Savatage - Dead Winter Dead (1995)

Top Ten (+15) - Albums by German Bands

So far, I've rated 225 albums by German bands. The amount of rock and metal talent there is pretty impressive. Eight different bands made it into my Top Ten list, and all ten albums have a rating of 90 or better (if you round up).

Top 25 Albums:
92.75 -- Scorpions - Lovedrive (1979)
91.79 -- Michael Schenker Group - Assault Attack (1982)
90.73 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2 (1988)
90.54 -- Scorpions - Love at First Sting (1984)
90.51 -- Gamma Ray - Majestic (2005)
90.28 -- Rage - The Missing Link (1993)
90.25 -- Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II (2007)
90.04 -- Blind Guardian - Tales from the Twilight World (1990)
89.75 -- Rage - Carved In Stone (2008)
89.74 -- Helloween - Better than Raw (1998)
89.72 -- Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy (2005)
89.53 -- Mob Rules - Among the Gods (2004)
89.52 -- Running Wild - Black Hand Inn (1994)
89.46 -- Messiah's Kiss - Prayer for the Dying (2002)
89.35 -- Virus - Thoughts (1971)
89.24 -- Messiah's Kiss - Metal (2004)
88.92 -- Wizard - Goochan (2007)
88.40 -- Running Wild - Blazon Stone (1991)
88.28 -- Twenty Sixty Six and Then - Reflections On the Future (1972)
88.23 -- Lucifer's Friend - Lucifer's Friend (1970)
88.14 -- Helloween - Rabbit Don't Come Easy (2003)
88.04 -- Gamma Ray - Land of the Free (1995)
87.94 -- Helloween - The Dark Ride (2000)
87.90 -- Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come (1988)
87.77 -- Gamma Ray - No World Order (1990)