The Bitch Is Back
Artist: Bitch
Community Score: 10.00

Outrageous and provocative, L.A. heavy metal band Bitch earned a small but loyal following in the early '80s with its humorous odes to bondage/S&M. Though lead singer Betsy Bitch's portrayal of the dominatrix from hell was very tongue-in-cheek, the band had its share of critics -- who ranged from feminists on the left to Christian... Read More

The Collection
Artist: Motörhead

In the never-ending battle of Motörhead compilation albums, this one has both its strengths and its weaknesses. Certainly the disc does not hold up to No Remorse, the definitive "best of" collection by the group. That album has this one beat both on the basis of quantity and quality of material. However, there are some unique cuts here that are... Read More

Pleasure to Kill/Flag of Hate
Artist: Kreator

Two of Kreator's best albums -- 1986's Pleasure to Kill and 1987's Flag of Hate -- were reissued on a single CD by Combat Records in 1988. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read More

The Best of the Rest
Artist: UFO

The title of this compilation may as well have been "No Schenker," as it collects the best (or least worst, as it were) moments of UFO's mostly lackluster career sans the mad axe-man. Sad but true, for try as he might, vocalist Phil Mogg never quite duplicated the volatile but thrilling chemistry he enjoyed with Schenker with any other guitarist... Read More

U.S.A. for M.O.D.
Artist: M.O.D.

The first offering from S.O.D. (Stormtroopers of Death) vocalist Billy Milano's M.O.D. (Methods of Destruction), U.S.A for M.O.D. follows the S.O.D. formula with precision. The music on this debut is similar to the N.Y. hardcore-influenced metal made famous by Anthrax (with whom M.O.D. had close ties). Milano doesn't seem to be taking things... Read More

Hurricane Eyes
Artist: Loudness
Community Score: 8.00

Heavy metal Japanese style, "Hurricane Eyes" was their best effort. Earlier albums were slightly tacky, while later efforts lost the chances of Loudness becoming a household name. The album was good and it didn't sound typically Japanese, American or European. ~ John Book, All Music Guide Read More

Blow My Fuse
Artist: Kix
Community Score: 8.60

By 1988, Kix had only managed to squeeze out three modest-selling records for Atlantic Records. Led in tandem by the endearing frontman Steve Whiteman and chief songwriter and bassist Donnie Purnell, for years, Kix would be unfairly categorized as a supposed "hair band." Worse still, Whiteman would later wake up to find his... Read More

No Place for Disgrace
Artist: Flotsam & Jetsam
Community Score: 9.00

Though they had recently lost lyricist and principal songwriter Jason Newsted to Metallica, Arizona thrashers Flotsam and Jetsam neatly avoided the sophomore slump with 1988's No Place for Disgrace. The album basically repeats the formula of their debut but benefits from a cleaner, yet still-in-your face production job. And while Newsted... Read More

Dangerous Toys
Artist: Dangerous Toys
Community Score: 9.00

With their self-titled debut album, Dangerous Toys found themselves in regular rotation on MTV. At the time their Southern rock-influenced metal was noticeably different from the hair metal dominating MTV's Headbangers Ball. The album contains such memorable, and somewhat laughable tracks as "Take Me Drunk," "Feels Like a Hammer," "Sportin' a... Read More

Blood Rooted
Artist: Sepultura
Community Score: 6.50

Blood Rooted is an album designed for Sepultura fanatics -- a full disc of rarities and unreleased music, featuring live tracks, covers, and demos. There are several throwaways here, but what's surprising is how many of these songs are worthwhile, particularly a cover of Celtic Frost's "Procreation of the Wicked" and the Mike Patton duet "Mine."... Read More