SHEER HEART ATTACK--The Top 50 Heavy Metal Albums

[ABlairican Pie]

Okay, from the same Guitar World Magazine I was just mentioning before (August '92 with Tony Iommi and James Hetfield on the cover), there is a list of the GW Editors top 50 heaviest albums. Remember this was by 1992 standards when metal and hard rock were at a definite crossroads. So let's start with:

1. "PARANOID" --BLACK SABBATH, 1970
"The album defined metal, musically, sonically, and thematically. Hate-mongers ("War Pigs"), lunatic robots ("Iron Man") and schizos ("Paranoid") dance a jig while Sabbath's four horsemen of the apocalypse play intruments of mass destruction. The star of the show is Tony Iommi's detuned SG which pukes the largest, loudest guitar sound known to man. Add Geezer Butler's sci-fi lyrics and Ozzy's prophet-in-the-wilderness vocals and you have the rock equivalent to The Book of Revelation.":rock: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
Okay, from the same Guitar World Magazine I was just mentioning before (August '92 with Tony Iommi and James Hetfield on the cover), there is a list of the GW Editors top 50 heaviest albums. Remember this was by 1992 standards when metal and hard rock were at a definite crossroads. So let's start with:

1. "PARANOID" --Black Sabbath, 1970
"The album defined metal, musically, sonically, and thematically. Hate-mongers ("War Pigs"), lunatic robots ("Iron Man") and schizos ("Paranoid") dance a jig while Sabbath's four horsemen of the apocalypse play intruments of mass destruction. The star of the show is Tony Iommi's detuned SG which pukes the largest, loudest guitar sound known to man. Add Geezer Butler's sci-fi lyrics and Ozzy's prophet-in-the-wilderness vocals and you have the rock equivalent to The Book of Revelation.":rock: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:

Mmmmmmmmmmm I don't know about #1, but I suppose we are off to a good start

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Miss Karly


Mmmmmmmmmmm I don't know about #1, but I suppose we are off to a good start

Yeah, I know, but for those of us fortunate to grow up in the '70's, this was THE baddest-ass album. I was about 9 when I first heard Iron Man for the first time, and when the airwaves were glutted with "Horse With No Name" by America and "Me and Mrs. Jones", this was a revelation. Several years later, when I heard the album all the way through, it was totally way cool and heavy.

[ABlairican Pie]

2. "RIDE THE LIGHTNING" --METALLICA, 1984
"James Hetfield fused punk rock's aggression and velocity with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), and gave birth to the Golden Age of Metal.":rock: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
Okay, from the same Guitar World Magazine I was just mentioning before (August '92 with Tony Iommi and James Hetfield on the cover), there is a list of the GW Editors top 50 heaviest albums. Remember this was by 1992 standards when metal and hard rock were at a definite crossroads. So let's start with:

1. "PARANOID" --BLACK SABBATH, 1970
"The album defined metal, musically, sonically, and thematically. Hate-mongers ("War Pigs"), lunatic robots ("Iron Man") and schizos ("Paranoid") dance a jig while Sabbath's four horsemen of the apocalypse play intruments of mass destruction. The star of the show is Tony Iommi's detuned SG which pukes the largest, loudest guitar sound known to man. Add Geezer Butler's sci-fi lyrics and Ozzy's prophet-in-the-wilderness vocals and you have the rock equivalent to The Book of Revelation.":rock: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:


Awesome!!! I Love Iron Man!!! That is the best heavy metal song.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
2. "RIDE THE LIGHTNING" --METALLICA, 1984
"James Hetfield fused punk rock's aggression and velocity with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM), and gave birth to the Golden Age of Metal.":rock: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:

YEAH! :guitar: I'm actually listening to that CD now.

Go me. :rock:

[Rickenbacker]

Hah! Don't think I can list a full 50 myself! And we gotta keep in mind that what was considered 'metal' changed from say, 1970 to 1995. I don't think I even *own* 50 metal albums, but among my choices would be:


Rush Moving Pictures- Though not a "true" metal band in the traditional sense, they sorta bridged a gap between prog & metal. But this album is a must for its metal leanings alone. A classic.

Van Halen s/t- *This* album is what redefined metal for what was to come in the 80s. Do we have to count the Eddie imitators??

Zeppelin Toss-up w/ Zepp 2 & Zepp 4. What can you say about Zeppelin that hasn't already *been* said??

Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath- I think you'd get a different answer from every Sabbath fan, but this one's my fave!

Metallica Master of Puppets- This is the album that put them on top of the metal food chain! Another must-have.

Motorhead Another Perfect Day- (either that or their debut) Metal approach w/ punk attitude thrown in & a good dash of melody. Can't beat that!

Slayer Reign In Blood- I once read that if music was made in hell, *this* is what it'd sound like! I'd agree. Kings of speed metal...or is it 'death metal'? Or 'doom' metal..I lost track ages ago!

AC/DC Toss-up between Highway To Hell & Back in Black- Sure they've been making the exact same album since 1974. But who cares?! It's what the fans want. It still kicks ass. (although Brian Johnson's voice is totally shot now. I want Bon back!)


That's all I can think of right now, but other bands that I'm less familiar w/ have *got* to have albums that should be on the list. Like- Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pantera, Anthrax, Helmet etc etc...


If anyone dares lists sh*t like Poison, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Warrant or *any* of that false MTV "hair" pop-metal, I will hire a big fat guy named Vinnie to find you & break your knees.

:D

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker



If anyone dares lists sh*t like Poison, Bon Jovi

Oh....I liked Bon Jovi though. :(.

[Rickenbacker]

Originally posted by Miss Karly


Oh....I liked Bon Jovi though. :(.


LOL! Awww Karly! It's ok to *like* Bon Jovi....I guess. But metal, they ain't. Not by a long shot. I still have no idea to this day why many considered those guys metal. They were a pop band w/ an edge.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker



LOL! Awww Karly! It's ok to *like* Bon Jovi....I guess. But metal, they ain't. Not by a long shot. I still have no idea to this day why many considered those guys metal. They were a pop band w/ an edge.


Yeah, they weren't metal.. kind of like Twisted Sister. I mean, some people consider Twisted Sister metal. I'm sorry, but they aren't metal. I still love 'em though!

[Rickenbacker]

Originally posted by Miss Karly



Yeah, they weren't metal.. kind of like Twisted Sister. I mean, some people consider Twisted Sister metal. I'm sorry, but they aren't metal. I still love 'em though!

You're right. TS were an outgrowth of 70's glam. Not metal, I'd say. It's easy to see how they could blur those lines, though.

But I'll say this for Bon Jovi- Sambora is a great guitarist. :)

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker
Hah! Don't think I can list a full 50 myself! And we gotta keep in mind that what was considered 'metal' changed from say, 1970 to 1995. I don't think I even *own* 50 metal albums, but among my choices would be:


Rush Moving Pictures- Though not a "true" metal band in the traditional sense, they sorta bridged a gap between prog & metal. But this album is a must for its metal leanings alone. A classic.

Van Halen s/t- *This* album is what redefined metal for what was to come in the 80s. Do we have to count the Eddie imitators??

Zeppelin Toss-up w/ Zepp 2 & Zepp 4. What can you say about Zeppelin that hasn't already *been* said??

Black Sabbath Sabbath Bloody Sabbath- I think you'd get a different answer from every Sabbath fan, but this one's my fave!

Metallica Master of Puppets- This is the album that put them on top of the metal food chain! Another must-have.

Motorhead Another Perfect Day- (either that or their debut) Metal approach w/ punk attitude thrown in & a good dash of melody. Can't beat that!

Slayer Reign In Blood- I once read that if music was made in hell, *this* is what it'd sound like! I'd agree. Kings of speed metal...or is it 'death metal'? Or 'doom' metal..I lost track ages ago!

AC/DC Toss-up between Highway To Hell & Back in Black- Sure they've been making the exact same album since 1974. But who cares?! It's what the fans want. It still kicks ass. (although Brian Johnson's voice is totally shot now. I want Bon back!)


That's all I can think of right now, but other bands that I'm less familiar w/ have *got* to have albums that should be on the list. Like- Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pantera, Anthrax, Helmet etc etc...


If anyone dares lists sh*t like Poison, Bon Jovi, Ratt, Warrant or *any* of that false MTV "hair" pop-metal, I will hire a big fat guy named Vinnie to find you & break your knees.

:D

HELLOOOOOOOOO, VINNIE!!!!!!! :D I'M PROUD TO SAY HAIR-METAL RULZ!!!!!! :rock: :guitar: :notworthy
So if you were trying to show a chick your sensitive side, would you play "Angel of Death" by Slayer, or "Sometimes She Cries" by Warrant???

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker


You're right. TS were an outgrowth of 70's glam. Not metal, I'd say. It's easy to see how they could blur those lines, though.

But I'll say this for Bon Jovi- Sambora is a great guitarist. :)

Actually, since Twisted Sister were from New York, Dee Snider did say that he and his band had a bit more in common with harder-edged bands than "glam-pop" bands. He felt more of a kinship with Iron Maiden.

[ABlairican Pie]

3. "ALIVE!" --KISS, 1975
"With their flash pots, grease paint, comic bookisms,walls of Marshalls and hooks galore, KISS shepherded and entire generation through puberty, introducing millions to the decadent joys of money, power, crass capitalism and rock and roll. KISS were rock as Roman spectacle; this album made you feel like you were there."

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Miss Karly



Yeah, they weren't metal.. kind of like Twisted Sister. I mean, some people consider Twisted Sister metal. I'm sorry, but they aren't metal. I still love 'em though!

What is metal and what isn't? :confused: I'd say Twisted Sister and Bon Jovi were metal, not in the way Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were, though. I do like Bon Jovi, too.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica


What is metal and what isn't? :confused: I'd say Twisted Sister and Bon Jovi were metal, not in the way Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were, though. I do like Bon Jovi, too.

Welp.... "We're Not Gonna Take It" was probably TS's biggest, if not one of their biggest hits, correct? That song... doesn't sound like metal to me. I don't know why, it just doesn't. But, I have a CD which is entitled "80's Heavy Metal" (how appropriate, no?) and that song is on it...as is "Nothin' But A Good Time'' by Poison..

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Miss Karly


Welp.... "We're Not Gonna Take It" was probably TS's biggest, if not one of their biggest hits, correct? That song... doesn't sound like metal to me. I don't know why, it just doesn't. But, I have a CD which is entitled "80's Metal" (how appropriate, no?) and that song is on it...

Hmmm...It rocks, that's for sure, but...I wonder if THEY'D consider themselves metal...Sometimes I think what was considered metal was for SOMEONE ELSE to decide back in the day. Can you believe that back in the early 80's, some people didn't even consider METALLICA to be metal??:eek: :confused: It's true.

[ABlairican Pie]

4. "LED ZEPPELIN II" --LED ZEPPELIN, 1969
"Zep was always too arty and eclectic to be considered a real metal band--except on this supremely sexist ode to the region below the belt. For sheer power chord mania and horny, gutteral hoo-ha, it just doesn't get any better than 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Heartbreaker'. But the real key to this mighty blimp's power was their prodigious ability to make their plutonium swing, rather than plod."

[Rickenbacker]

I'm just wondering if Iron Maiden felt any kinship towards Twisted Sister.:rolleyes:

Oh no, another hair metal fan, eh? (Vinniiiie!) Well if I were forced to include Bon Jovi in the 'metal' category, I'd call em them 'metal-lite' at *best*....Very lite. They're to metal what Kenny G is to jazz.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker
I'm just wondering if Iron Maiden felt any kinship towards Twisted Sister.:rolleyes:

Oh no, another hair metal fan, eh? (Vinniiiie!) Well if I were forced to include Bon Jovi in the 'metal' category, I'd call em them 'metal-lite' at *best*....Very lite. They're to metal what Kenny G is to jazz.

Maiden must have, because they had Twisted Sister open for them on their Powerslave tour in 1984.

I think why people considered Bon Jovi "metal" was that they had the look, the hair, the super nifty guitar, THE BALLADS:eek:, all the requirements for a successful "metal" band on MTV back then.

HIIIIIIIIII, VINNIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..........:D

[Rickenbacker]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica


Maiden must have, because they had Twisted Sister open for them on their Powerslave tour in 1984.

I think why people considered Bon Jovi "metal" was that they had the look, the hair, the super nifty guitar, THE BALLADS:eek:, all the requirements for a successful "metal" band on MTV back then.

HIIIIIIIIII, VINNIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..........:D

Be that as it may regarding Maiden & TS, I suspect $$ had a lot to do w/ that. In '84, TS were more or less at their peak. What better way to grab more music fans all in one venue than to have a band who's flying high (& w/ tons of exposure on MTV) open for you? I'd love to hear what the members of Maiden say when the cameras & tapes aren't rolling...
Still lost on why those people called Bon Jovi metal. They didn't have "the look" or the sound in *my* book. Well, they had a watered down version of the sound.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Rickenbacker


Be that as it may regarding Maiden & TS, I suspect $$ had a lot to do w/ that. In '84, TS were more or less at their peak. What better way to grab more music fans all in one venue than to have a band who's flying high (& w/ tons of exposure on MTV) open for you? I'd love to hear what the members of Maiden say when the cameras & tapes aren't rolling...
Still lost on why those people called Bon Jovi metal. They didn't have "the look" or the sound in *my* book. Well, they had a watered down version of the sound.

Yeah, I know...Bon Jovi....Hmmm...The problem was that in the 80's MTV relied a little too much on the visual bit and what was SEEN dictated what was heard...It all became a bunch of commercials, basically. Jon Bon Jovi's big mane of hair, that engaging grin, the babe-appeal for the chicks and a halfway decent guitar player--Ritchie Sambora--for the dudes...It all makes sense now when you see JBJ in all these movies... I do remember the videos of him in concert were pretty cool back then...(Yeah, I was 24...) Even though it WAS watered down, it did open the doors for the REAL metal-guys. I remember seeing a picture of his bass player in the guitar magazines in the 80's and that guy just looked UGLY...:eek: Not really in keeping with the pretty-boy image.

Hmmm...$$ having to do with TS paired with Maiden...I know. Just two years before, Maiden was being slammed by preachers and politicos for having a "Satanic" message and image, so I'll bet
the "cutting edge" glam bit had a lot to do with that pairing. A band that was popular being the big draw for a band that was too "controversial"...TS did have some good tunes, tho'...But "Leader of the Pack" wasn't one of them.

[ABlairican Pie]

5. "VAN HALEN" --VAN HALEN, 1978
"In the late Seventies, Van Halen's glitzy, Hollywood rock singlehandedly rescued heavy metal from the devouring, polyester jaws of disco. While much has been written about Edward Van Halen's revolutionary lead guitar acrobatics, it was his impossibly huge "brown sound" and chunky rhythm playing that made "Runnin' With the Devil" sound like more than an idle boast. Also a landmark because it introduced the notion that hard rockers could have a sense of humor. Tongues firmly planted in their cheeks, VH were the grin reapers of metal.":D

[ABlairican Pie]

6. "REIGN IN BLOOD" --SLAYER, 1986
Thrash metal's finest 28 minutes. A quickie, to be sure, but it got the job done.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Miss Karly


Welp.... "We're Not Gonna Take It" was probably TS's biggest, if not one of their biggest hits, correct? That song... doesn't sound like metal to me. I don't know why, it just doesn't. But, I have a CD which is entitled "80's Heavy Metal" (how appropriate, no?) and that song is on it...as is "Nothin' But A Good Time'' by Poison..

What would you say about a song like "You Can't Stop Rock and Roll" by Twisted Sister?

Btw, I really like the song and video, "Nothin' But a Good Time" by Poison. Reminds me of "Deuce" by KISS. Yeah, it was kind of a stretch to call it metal, tho'...But it depends on your definition of what is metal. What do you consider metal?

[Tuscadero]

Slayer's "Undisputed Attitude" is one of the *best* albums I own. Anyone else like that one? (I don't think it would make the top 50, just sharing my own personal taste).

Sabbath is a great pick for #1.

[ABlairican Pie]

7. "BLIZZARD OF OZZ" --OZZY OSBOURNE, 1981
"When Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne parted company in 1979, fans wondered who would prosper more. Blizzard was Ozzy's decisive answer. Brilliantly crafted songs like "I Don't Know", "Crazy Train", and the infamous "Suicide Solution" were lifted to a higher level by Randy Rhoads's inspired combination of classical influences and state-of-the-art techniques. Randy's sound and stunning melodicism made him an instant hero, a status only magnified over the years by his untimely death."

[ABlairican Pie]

8. "SAD WINGS OF DESTINY" --JUDAS PRIEST, 1976
"Judas Priest's democratic twin-guitar architecture revolutionized hard-rock orchestration, laying the foundations for such formidable bands as Queensryche, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. This ferocious gem is as hard as they come."

[ABlairican Pie]

9. "BACK IN BLACK" --AC/DC, 1980
"It's funny how classic albums have a way of rising from the ashes of disaster. Shattered by the death of singer/showman Bon Scott, AC/DC rebounded with what remains the greatest album in their 18-year career (This list was compiled in 1992.--C.A.) Replacement vocalist Brian Johnson wasn't as worldly or witty as Scott, but he contributed his own raw edge. Most importantly, the brothers Young wrote 10 songs that proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that heavy, blues-based rock could
still be a commercial force. Angus also became a bona fide guitar hero, sticking to his roots while the rest of the world was being converted to the Church of Van Halen. Simplicity and power--what
Back In Black, and all great heavy metal, is about."

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
9. "BACK IN BLACK" --AC/DC, 1980
"It's funny how classic albums have a way of rising from the ashes of disaster. Shattered by the death of singer/showman Bon Scott, AC/DC rebounded with what remains the greatest album in their 18-year career (This list was compiled in 1992.--C.A.) Replacement vocalist Brian Johnson wasn't as worldly or witty as Scott, but he contributed his own raw edge. Most importantly, the brothers Young wrote 10 songs that proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that heavy, blues-based rock could
still be a commercial force. Angus also became a bona fide guitar hero, sticking to his roots while the rest of the world was being converted to the Church of Van Halen. Simplicity and power--what
Back In Black, and all great heavy metal, is about."

'Course, "She Shook Me All Night Long" was one of the best AC/DC songs ever made in the whole entire world :D And how about that.... it just happened to come from that album....

:guitar:

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Miss Karly


'Course, "She Shook Me All Night Long" was one of the best AC/DC songs ever made in the whole entire world :D And how about that.... it just happened to come from that album....

:guitar:

"Happened"...??:confused: You mean like it was a coincidence??

Funny, tho', the guys of AC/DC don't like the term heavy metal...

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica


"Happened"...??:confused: You mean like it was a coincidence??


Yes..... a coinky-dink

[ABlairican Pie]

10. "BAND OF GYPSYS" --JIMI HENDRIX, 1970
"With the widest array of textures, tones and colors ever extracted from a Stratocaster, BOG boasts the most hair-raising, explosive live rock guitar ever captured on tape. A breathtaking document of pure, fire-breathing genius."

[Faith]

Originally posted by Miss Karly


'Course, "She Shook Me All Night Long" was one of the best AC/DC songs ever made in the whole entire world :D And how about that.... it just happened to come from that album....

:guitar:

I agree..:D :guitar: :rock:

[ABlairican Pie]

11. "APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION" --GUNS N' ROSES, 1987
"Originally, Axl N' Slash set out to copy Aerosmith. But something
went right along the way, and they created one of the most pissed-off, high-octane rock records since the Sex Pistols' debut."

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
11. "APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION" --GUNS N' ROSES, 1987
"Originally, Axl N' Slash set out to copy Aerosmith. But something
went right along the way, and they created one of the most pissed-off, high-octane rock records since the Sex Pistols' debut."

Speaking of Axl and people being ticked off, does anyone remember when him and Kurt Cobain got into a fight before the 1992 Mtv VMA's??? At the end of Nirvana's performance Dave went to the mic and started waving saying "hi Axl, hi Axl....where's Axl? Oh Hi Axl!!!" :lol:

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by ~*Hannah_Lee*~


Speaking of Axl and people being ticked off, does anyone remember when him and Kurt Cobain got into a fight before the 1992 Mtv VMA's??? At the end of Nirvana's performance Dave went to the mic and started waving saying "hi Axl, hi Axl....where's Axl? Oh Hi Axl!!!" :lol:

I don't remember exactly, but I think Kurt and Courtney were making fun of Axl, and Axl says something like "Kurt, you better tell your bitch to shut up or else..." and so Kurt tells Courtney, "Shut up, bitch!" and he and Courtney start laughing hysterically...:rotflmao: I remember hearing when the Metallica/Guns N' Roses tour stopped at the Kingdome in 1992, poor old Axl made some comments about Kurt and them in concert...

[ABlairican Pie]

12. "MACHINE HEAD" --DEEP PURPLE, 1972
"'Smoke On the Water' gave mankind the riff that launched a million guitarists. But wait, that's not all: Additional cuts like 'Highway Star', 'Space Truckin'', and the Ritchie Blackmore jizz-whiz masterpiece, 'Lazy', make Machine Head a rock monolith on a par with Stonehenge."

[ABlairican Pie]

13. "THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST" --IRON MAIDEN,
1982
"Iron Maiden soar with unbelievably intense and melodic guitar solos, galloping bass lines and Wagnerian vocals, all in a vain attempt to mask the album's real message: 'Bond with us, won't you, in a consumer sense.'"

:rock: :guitar: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica


I don't remember exactly, but I think Kurt and Courtney were making fun of Axl, and Axl says something like "Kurt, you better tell your bitch to shut up or else..." and so Kurt tells Courtney, "Shut up, bitch!" and he and Courtney start laughing hysterically...:rotflmao: I remember hearing when the Metallica/Guns N' Roses tour stopped at the Kingdome in 1992, poor old Axl made some comments about Kurt and them in concert...

I remember what it was Kurt was saying to Axl. He was messing with him asking him "Hey, Axl? Do you wanna be the godfather of mine and Courtney's baby?" and then started laughing. It kinda ticked Axl off, but I can see why. Not that is wasn't funny hearing Dave say that at the VMA's.....:lol:

[ABlairican Pie]

14. "BLACK METAL" --VENOM, 1982
"The landmark release that spawned thrash's uglier sister, grindcore. With songs like 'Buried Alive', this evil and excellent album gave new meaning to the term groundbreaking."

[ABlairican Pie]

15. "TOYS IN THE ATTIC" --AEROSMITH, 1975
"Joe Perry and Brad Whitford have never played with sweeter emotion. We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"

16. "BLACK SABBATH" --BLACK SABBATH, 1970
"The album's opening thunder clap and ominous three-note guitar riff heralded the coming something wicked!--Namely, the guitar of Tony Iommi."


17. "SMASH HITS" --JIMI HENDRIX, 1969
"So funky it smells."

[ABlairican Pie]

18. "DOUBLE LIVE GONZO" --TED NUGENT, 1978
"They didn't call Ted Nugent the 'Ten Fingers of Doom' for nothing.
Taking live arena guitar solos to distorted heights, Whackmaster Nuge fries small, furry animals and disintegrates blonde cheerleaders with his Celestion-wrecking antics."

19. "BADMOTORFINGER" --SOUNDGARDEN, 1991
"Masterful grunge by the godfathers of the Seattle sound. Guitarist Kim Thayil makes feedback a household word, and demonstrates why a guitar doesn't necessarily have to be in tune to sell a million records."

20. "BONDED BY BLOOD" --EXODUS, 1985
"The debut of one of thrash metal's most lethal guitar duos--Gary Holt and Rick Hunolt, 'the H-Team." Bonded also finishes what Slayer's Show No Mercy started, but with better riffs, better songs, and a better relationship with Satan."

[ABlairican Pie]

21. "SHEER HEART ATTACK" --QUEEN, 1974
"Guitarist Brian May proves on 'Stone Cold Crazy' and 'Brighton Rock' that he is no mere silhouette-o of a man."

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
13. "THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST" --IRON MAIDEN,
1982
"Iron Maiden soar with unbelievably intense and melodic guitar solos, galloping bass lines and Wagnerian vocals, all in a vain attempt to mask the album's real message: 'Bond with us, won't you, in a consumer sense.'"

:rock: :guitar: :guitar: :guitar: :rock:


YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

[ABlairican Pie]

22. "MASTER OF PUPPETS" --METALLICA, 1986
"Hetfield and company perform the impossible, blending lofty social commentary and crafty, complex arrangements--without compromising any of the band's inherent metallic crunch. Upon its release, this dazzling technical achievement forced every kid with an Explorer and a Marshall stack back into the woodshed."

(currently listening to "Leper Messiah")

(An Explorer is a model of Gibson electric guitars.)

[ABlairican Pie]

23. "LIVE AT LEEDS" --THE WHO, 1970
"Tony Iommi and James Hetfield may have perfected the power chord, but Pete Townsend invented it. A graduate course from the master."

24. "STRANGE BREW: THE VERY BEST OF CREAM" --CREAM, 1983
"Eric Clapton was once worshipped as the god of guitar, and this compilation demonstrates why. During their short, three-year career, Cream presaged Led Zep's mysticism ('Tales Of Brave Ulysses'), Black Sabbath's doom and gloom ('Born Under a Bad Sign'), Faith No More's surrealism ('SWABLR'), and Def Leppard's pop rock ('Badge'). And who could possibly forget 'White Room' and 'Sunshine of Your Love'?"

25. "IV" --LED ZEPPELIN, 1971
"Some call this the 'Sgt. Pepper's' of metal, though ambitious eclecticism is not always counted as a plus in this genre. The album does contain 'When the Levee Breaks' and 'Black Dog', which pack the kick of the entire Borax mule team."

[ABlairican Pie]

26. "NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE'S THE SEX PISTOLS" --THE SEX PISTOLS, 1977
"The album that kicked rock and roll in the ass and left the boot buried knee-deep. Bollocks made it okay for your sister to shave her head."

[ABlairican Pie]

27. "RUST IN PEACE" --MEGADETH, 1990
"Some of the most destructive 10-minute guitar battles ever fought on disc. And you though Mustaine snarls because his G-string is too tight."

28. "FAIR WARNING" --VAN HALEN, 1981
"This is what happens when the boy most likely to succeed gets drunk and ugly. An unusually pugnacious album from heavy metal's greatest party band."

29. "DESTROYER" --KISS, 1976
"The spit-shined Cadillac of Ace Frehley-era KISS albums. It also features some of their best songwriting. 'Detroit Rock City', "God of Thunder', 'Shout It Out Loud', "Do You Love Me'--case closed."

[ABlairican Pie]

30. "ACE OF SPADES" --MOTORHEAD, 1980
"Without Motorhead, there would be no Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax or Megadeth. This is their best."

31. "DIARY OF A MADMAN" --OZZY OSBOURNE, 1981
"Even though this was frenetically recorded between tours, the genius of Randy Rhoads still shines like a comet. King Ozz gets points for looking like a pooch on the cover."

(Wasn't that "Bark at the Moon" where he looked like a wolf on the cover? When I first saw that album B@tM 20 years ago, I could've sworn it was Ted Nugent!:lol: :lol: )

32. "MOUNTAIN CLIMBING!" --MOUNTAIN, 1970
"Occasionally majestic ('Theme From an Imaginary Western'), but mostly rude and disgusting in the best possible way (Mississippi
Queen')."

[ABlairican Pie]

33. "RISING FORCE" --YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, 1984
"Fast, faster, Paganini--dungeons and dragons at 78 r.p.m."

34. "RED" --KING CRIMSON, 1974
"The harbinger of such 'alternative' bands as Prong and Godflesh.
Fuzzy, dissonant and light-years ahead of its time."

35. "OPERATION: MINDCRIME" --QUEENSRYCHE, 1988
"Reagan-era metal--drug abuse, manipulation, greed, religion-gone-mad, power-mongering...kinda makes you miss the Eighties.
The most brilliant concept album since KISS' The Elder."

[ABlairican Pie]

36. "SHOUT AT THE DEVIL" --MOTLEY CRUE, 1983
"Pop-rock so explosive it would've killed Life cereal spokesboy Mikey--even without the Coca-Cola!"

37. "EAT 'EM AND SMILE" --DAVID LEE ROTH, 1986
"Rock's squirreliest supergroup. Vaudevillain David Lee Roth, note-juggler Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan were, for a short time, the greatest show on earth. Fun for the entire family."

39. "MOVING PICTURES" --RUSH, 1981
"Hard rock's most progressive intellectuals permanently redefined
and tightened their sound on this, their ninth album. Long instrumental passages were eliminated in favor of tightly structured, catchy songs like "Tom Sawyer" and "Limelight". The playing is flawless, especially by drum deity Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson, one of metal's most fluid, understated and underrated axemen. Arguably the Canadian trio's finest hour."

[ABlairican Pie]

39. "MELISSA" --MERCYFUL FATE, 1983
"Quintessential black metal. The only thing more frightening than
King Diamond's voice is the demonic harmonics of hell-rocking guitarists Hank Sherman and Michael Denner."

40. "GREATEST HITS" --ALICE COOPER, 1974
"The classic, early-Seventies Alice Cooper band brought horror and humor to heavy metal, while producing a string of masterful teen anthems. 'I'm Eighteen' and 'School's Out' featured perfect pop hooks wrapped in snarling guitars, delivered with decadent gusto by one of metal's two authentic Princes of Darkness (Ozzy is the other one). Often imitated and never quite duplicated."

41. "STREETCLEANER" --GODFLESH, 1990
"A seminal combination of death metal and industrial sludge. The sound of the future."

[ABlairican Pie]

42. "LIVE ALBUM" --GRAND FUNK, 1970
"Grand Funk was in their day one of the least talented bands to ever sign a record contract. But they were terrific at making a lot of heavy, loud, distorted noise with plenty of raw passion and sincerity, if not much tunefulness. With its bare-budget, raw-to-the-bone sound, Live Album could only have been recorded in 1971. In its own weird way, it still holds up."

(Why does the reviewer say it was recorded in 1971 when it says 1970 at the top?:confused: I'm quoting this verbatim.)

43. "THE RAMONES" --THE RAMONES, 1976
"Faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive, these speed-punk pioneers begat both the Sex Pistols
and Megadeth. Johnny Ramone proved it was possible to rattle off 50 barre chords faster than you could say 'Yngwie Malmsteen'."

44. "HEAVEN AND HELL" --BLACK SABBATH, 1980
"The final word to anyone who thought that Black Sabbath were washed up after Ozzy split. Tony Iommi rarely sounded or played better; he is the true Iron Man of metal."

[ABlairican Pie]

45. "HOLY DIVER" --DIO, 1983
"The final word to anyone who thought Ronnie James Dio were washed up after the Black Sabbath split. A young and cocky,pre-Def Leppard Vivian Campbell shines throughout this scale-covered
monster. A holy masterwork of traditional fire 'n' brimstone metal."

46. "IN FOR THE KILL" --BUDGIE, 1974
"Demonstrates why this English trio is one of the most underrated
bands in rock history, and also indicates why Budgie may have been ahead of their time. Start with the nuclear riffing of Sabbath, then add the intricate arrangements of Rush, a bizarre sense of humor, and an eloquent guitarist named Tony Bourge, who could be brutal and lyrical in the space of a drumbeat. Stir 'em all up and you've got Budgie."

47. "LIVE AND DANGEROUS" --THIN LIZZIE, 1978
"Every band that's incorporated harmony leads owes something to these guys."

[ABlairican Pie]

48. "METALLICA" --METALLICA, 1991
"This is the new sonic bible of urban punk and suburban spunk."

49. "VINCEBUS ERUPTUM" --BLUE CHEER, 1967
"The mutant godfathers fo metal, thrash and punk. This 1967 release features guitars that replicate the amplified clatter of a spoon in a garbage disposal, a singer whose voice could drive Ward Cleaver to psychoanalysis, and a rhythm section that sounds like it's giving birth to a cement truck. In other words, pure, primal genius."

50. "SEASONS IN THE ABYSS" --SLAYER, 1990
"Not only did this blitzkrieg of thrash prove that Reign In Blood was no fluke, it also solidified King and Hanneman's standing as the genre's quintessential bulldozers."