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

Rock Island - Chapter Eleven

There's not much to do on the island. Everyone is bored and tempers are starting to run high. The captain suggests everyone make up a game or activity. Some of the better ideas are golf clubs made from clam shells and bamboo with avocado pit golf balls, a badminton net and rackets (Roy says he can make the rackets, but he suggests you not ask how he makes the birdies), a bowling alley with bamboo lanes and coconut bowling balls, and turtle races.

At lunch one day (fish, again; no one wants to eat the turtles), Cinnamon mentions that you haven't finished telling her the songs on your MP3 player. Happily, you finish the list:

• Savatage - Sirens; Midas Knight; Hall of the Mountain King; Gutter Ballet; When the Crowds are Gone; Edge of Thorns; Chance; I Am; Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24); Drive
• Saxon - Princess of the Night; Power and the Glory; Run for Your Lives; Bloodletter; Circle of Light
• Scorpions - The Riot of Your Time; Another Piece of Meat; Can't Get Enough; Lovedrive; The Zoo; Animal Magnetism; Blackout; Can't Live Without You; No One Like You; Rock You Like a Hurricane; Still Loving You; Hit Between the Eyes; Alien Nation; Mind Like a Tree
• Seven Witches - Camelot; Second War in Heaven; Xiled to Infinity and One
• Silent Force - Infatuator
• Silver Mountain - Felo De Se
• Stratovarius - Eternity; Season of Change; Babylon; Infinity; Soul of a Vagabond; Fantasia; Elements; Awaken the Giant
• Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow
• Symphony X - Sea of Lies; Evolution (The Grand Design)
• Tad Morose - Anubis
• Testament - Alone in the Dark; Electric Crown
• Threshold - Consume to Live; Angels; Turn on Tune In; Ravages of Time; Mission Profile
• Thy Majestie - Wings of Wind; The Siege of Paris
• Tierra Santa - Pegaso
• Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry; I Wanna Rock
• Vanderhoof - Nowhere Train
• W.A.S.P. - L.O.V.E. Machine; Inside the Electric Circus; Headless Children; Kill Your Pretty Face; Shadow Man
• War Babies - Hang Me Up; Blue Tomorrow
• Warrior Soul - I See the Ruins; We Cry Out; The Losers; Trippin' On Ecstasy
• White Spirit - Midnight Chaser
• Whitesnake - Fool for Your Loving; Still of the Night; Judgment Day

You're alone with Cinnamon. She catches you staring at her. And then you hear the captain calling. "I guess I need to go," you say.

Top Ten - 1996

1996 might have been a down year in rock and metal. Or I just haven't gotten around to listening to many albums from that year. Whatever the case, I've only reviewed 28 albums, so the numbers are not impressive at all. The drop into lower ratings happens quickly, and more than half the bands shown are below a rating of 80. That doesn't necessarily mean you should avoid these albums, but it may be best to try before you buy.

1996 Top Ten:
87.13 -- Stratovarius - Episode
85.72 -- Blitzkrieg - Ten
83.84 -- Morgana Lefay - Maleficium
83.18 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Black Moon Pyramid
82.81 -- Riot - The Brethren of the Long House
82.67 -- Helloween - The Time of the Oath
82.58 -- Randy Holden - Guitar God
82.22 -- Iced Earth - The Dark Saga
82.21 -- Molly Hatchet - Devil's Canyon
81.02 -- Joe Stump - Supersonic Shred Machine

Other 1996 releases:
80.76 -- Rage - End of All Days
80.33 -- Dio - Angry Machines
79.66 -- Motörhead - Overnight Sensation
79.58 -- Deep Purple - Purpendicular
79.30 -- Bow Wow - Led by the Sun
78.95 -- Metallica - Load
78.38 -- Bruce Dickinson - Skunkworks
77.54 -- Angra - Holy Land
77.47 -- Manowar - Louder than Hell
77.06 -- Mägo de Oz - Jesús de Chamberí
75.84 -- Warrior Soul - Fucker
75.09 -- Michael Schenker Group - Written in the Sand
71.35 -- Anvil - Plugged In Permanent
67.26 -- ZZ Top - Rhythmeen
64.36 -- W.A.S.P. - Still Not Black Enough
61.40 -- Def Leppard - Slang
60.65 -- Scorpions - Pure Instinct
58.19 -- Rhea's Obsession - Initiation

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

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 - 2001

Five lesser-known bands made the top ten, along with solid efforts by veteran bands. And 49 album reviews without a single rating above 90 (unless you round up) may look like a down year in music, but that's misleading as many bands ended up in the 80 - 85 range. (For anyone who looked at this list previously, you may notice a change. I recently got a chance to listen to and review Anthem CDs, and as you can see, I liked Seven Hills a lot.)

2001 Top Ten:
89.83 -- Anthem - Seven Hills
89.71 -- Magnitude 9 - Reality in Focus
87.92 -- Wayne - Metal Church
87.77 -- Gamma Ray - No World Order
87.62 -- W.A.S.P. - Unholy Terror
87.25 -- Iced Earth - Horror Show
86.64 -- Labyrinth - Sons of Thunder
86.62 -- Racer X - Superheroes
86.47 -- Silver Mountain - Breakin' Chains
86.09 -- Threshold - Hypothetical

Other 2001 releases:
85.54 -- Annihilator - Carnival Diablos
85.13 -- Savatage - Poets and Madmen
84.63 -- Blue Öyster Cult - Curse of the Hidden Mirror
84.27 -- Mahogany Rush - Eye of the Storm
84.24 -- Aria - Chimera
84.11 -- Saxon - Killing Ground
83.85 -- Dogface - Unleashed
83.81 -- Edguy - Mandrake
83.20 -- Brainstorm - Metus Mortis
83.01 -- Falconer - Falconer
82.77 -- Cydonia - Cydonia
82.73 -- Wizard - Head of the Deceiver
82.54 -- Lost Horizon - Awakening the World
82.38 -- Helloïse - Fata Morgana
81.80 -- Kamelot - Karma
81.76 -- Megadeth - The World Needs A Hero
81.22 -- Silent Force - Infatuator
80.77 -- Angra - Rebirth
80.24 -- Iron Savior - Dark Assault
80.13 -- Primal Fear - Nuclear Fire
78.41 -- Heavenly - Sign of the Winner
78.17 -- Balance of Power - Perfect Balance
77.65 -- Rage - Welcome to the Other Side
77.32 -- Nostradameus - The Prophet of Evil
77.11 -- Sonata Arctica - Silence
77.10 -- Michael Schenker Group - Be Aware of Scorpions
76.89 -- Arachnes - Parallel Worlds
76.69 -- Goat Horn - Voyage to Nowhere
76.28 -- Ozzy Osbourne - Down to Earth
76.26 -- Avantasia - The Metal Opera
75.68 -- Alice Cooper - Dragontown
75.53 -- Blackmore's Night - Fires at Midnight
70.44 -- Anvil - Plenty of Power
69.76 -- Manilla Road - Atlantis Rising
68.88 -- Judas Priest - Demolition
67.77 -- Aerosmith - Just Push Play
67.26 -- Beto Vázquez Infinity - Infinity
65.82 -- Demon - Spaced Out Monkey
52.33 -- Bow Wow - Another Place

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 - 2004

I rated 48 albums from 2004. I did something unusual here and removed the highest rated album. Let me explain... Twisted Sister's re-recording of Stay Hungry (entitled Still Hungry) slightly edged out Overlorde (receiving a 91.22 rating, same as the original), but because it will be recognized in the 1984 Top Ten list, I removed it from here. Now I won't have to list the same album twice, 20 years apart.



2004 Top Ten:

90.23 -- Overlorde - Return of the Snow Giant
90.11 -- Feinstein - Third Wish
89.91 -- Megadeth - The System has Failed
89.76 -- Cornerstone - Once Upon Our Yesterdays
89.53 -- Mob Rules - Among the Gods
89.24 -- Messiah's Kiss - Metal
88.78 -- W.A.S.P. - The Neon God, Pt. 2: The Demise
88.56 -- Tad Morose - Modus Vivendi
88.25 -- Nightwish - Once
87.09 -- Iron Savior - Battering Ram

Other 2004 releases:
86.67 -- W.A.S.P. - The Neon God, Pt. 1: The Rise
86.41 -- Edguy - Hellfire Club
85.67 -- Silent Force - Worlds Apart
85.62 -- Anthem - Eternal Warrior
85.33 -- Ten Years After - Now
84.50 -- Threshold - Subsurface
84.47 -- Persuader - Evolution Purgatory
84.06 -- Saxon - Lionheart
83.91 -- Sonata Arctica - Reckoning Night
83.88 -- Iced Earth - The Glorious Burden
83.85 -- Force of Evil - Force of Evil
83.11 -- October 31 - No Survivors
82.30 -- Tarot - Suffer Our Pleasures
81.86 -- Irish Coffee - Irish Coffee
81.62 -- Seven Witches - Year of the Witch
81.57 -- Metal Church - The Weight of the World
81.50 -- Nostradameus - Hellbound
81.43 -- Cans - Beyond the Gates
80.65 -- Heavenly - Dust to Dust
80.26 -- Dream Evil - Book of Heavy Metal
79.15 -- Fates Warning - FWX
79.04 -- UFO - You are Here
78.54 -- Axel Rudi Pell - Kings and Queens
78.34 -- Dio - Master of the Moon
77.48 -- Motörhead - Inferno
77.03 -- Statetrooper - The Calling
76.89 -- Chinchilla - Take No Prisoners
76.77 -- Scorpions - Unbreakable
71.87 -- Rottweiller - Rage of War
69.61 -- Dokken - Hell to Pay
69.54 -- Bang - The Maze
66.50 -- Jørn - Out to Every Nation
63.90 -- Angtoria - God Has A Plan for Us All
62.02 -- Winterhawk - Wind from the Sun
57.86 -- The Zombies - As Far As I Can See
57.52 -- Anvil - Back to Basics
48.73 -- Anubis Gate - Purification

Top Ten - 2007

I rated 65 albums released in 2007. As in 2008, some well-known artists released some very good albums that still fell outside the top ten. I think that's more a testimony to how good the other artists are, and is a definite endorsement to check them out if you don't know them.

2007 Top Ten:
90.25 -- Gamma Ray - Land of the Free II
89.47 -- Dominici - O3 - A Trilogy Part 2
88.92 -- Wizard - Goochan
88.66 -- Manticora - The Black Circus Part 2
88.38 -- Cornerstone - Two Tales Of One Tomorrow
88.31 -- David Shankle Group - Hellborn
88.30 -- Kotipelto - Serenity
87.35 -- W.A.S.P. - Dominator
87.00 -- Iron Savior - Megatropolis
86.67 -- Saxon - The Inner Sanctum

Other 2007 releases:
86.66 -- Pink Cream 69 - In10sity
86.34 -- Diamond Head - What's In Your Head
86.12 -- Ted Nugent - Love Grenade
85.81 -- Messiah's Kiss - Dragonheart
85.08 -- Megadeth - United Abominations
84.84 -- Leaf Hound - Unleashed
84.78 -- Dark Moor - Tarot
83.81 -- Empire - Chasing Shadows
83.79 -- Masterplan - MK II
83.67 -- Helloween - Gambling with the Devil
83.54 -- Iron Fire - Blade of Triumph
83.26 -- Symphony X - Paradise Lost
83.11 -- Kamelot - Ghost Opera
82.76 -- Silent Force - Walk the Earth
82.46 -- Intense - As Our Army Grows
82.39 -- Blitzkrieg - Theatre of the Damned
82.29 -- Annihilator - Metal
82.10 -- Iced Earth - Framing Armageddon - Something Wicked Part 1
82.09 -- Excalion - Waterlines
81.72 -- Rob Rock - Garden of Chaos
81.70 -- Sarcofagus - Core Values
81.65 -- Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
81.50 -- Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain
81.32 -- Sonata Arctica - Unia
80.83 -- Blue Cheer - What Doesn't Kill You
80.53 -- Nostradameus - Pathways
80.03 -- Ride the Sky - New Protection
79.95 -- Pride Tiger - The Lucky Ones
79.60 -- Great Sorrow - New Day Comes
79.07 -- Domine - Ancient Spirit Rising
78.62 -- Threshold - Dead Reckoning
77.81 -- Seven Witches - Deadly Sins
77.76 -- Scorpions - Humanity - Hour 1
77.33 -- Nocturnal Rites - The 8th Sin
77.19 -- Allen / Lande - The Revenge
76.11 -- Morgana Lefay - Aberrations of the Mind
76.10 -- Shaman - Immortal
75.91 -- Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
75.82 -- Prophesia - Eye of the Storm
74.53 -- Barbarian - Heavy Metal Resurrección
74.05 -- Jikuu Kaizoku Seven Seas - Confusion
73.86 -- Bloodbound - Book of the Dead
73.39 -- Mägo de Oz - La Ciudad De Los Árboles
72.60 -- Evile - Enter the Grave
72.10 -- Anvil - This is Thirteen
71.35 -- Symphorce - Become Death
70.14 -- Double Dealer - Desert Of Lost Souls
69.94 -- Ken Hensley - Blood On the Highway
69.26 -- Circus Maximus - Isolate
67.31 -- Labyrinth - 6 Days to Nowhere
66.85 -- Edu Falaschi - Almah
65.57 -- Icy Steel - Icy Steel
64.78 -- Dawn of Destiny - Begins
61.38 -- Manowar - Gods of War
53.48 -- Civilization One - Revolution Rising