Doro
Artist: Doro
Community Score: 10.00
Heavy Pettin'
Artist: Heavy Pettin'

Heavy Pettin', while created by a group of obviously talented musicians, is a classic illustration of the wisdom of the A&R man's maxim, "it ain't nuthin' without a hit song." Produced by the venerable Brian May of Queen, the guitars are big, the drums are bigger, and the vocals are appropriately high pitched and screechy. Unfortunately, there... Read More

Heads or Tales
Artist: Saga
Community Score: 9.00

While Saga began as a progressive rock band, increasing pop sensibilities put the group in a league with bands like the Fixx in the early '80s. This album, which follows the excellent Worlds Apart, is nearly as good as its predecessor; Michael Sadler's commanding voice leads the way while the rest of the band punches up the fairly succinctly... Read More

Best of Budgie - CUBE
Artist: Budgie
Community Score: 6.00
Best of Budgie - MCA
Artist: Budgie
Mean Streak
Artist: Y&T
Community Score: 6.38
Abominog
Artist: Uriah Heep
Community Score: 10.00

By the dawn of the 1980s, Uriah Heep was considered to be a relic in the heavy metal world and no one was surprised when they disbanded shortly after 1980s half-hearted Conquest album. However, everyone listening received an unexpected surprise when the band returned with a new lineup and a sleek, revamped sound on 1982's Abominog. If one can... Read More

Fire Down Under
Artist: Riot
Community Score: 10.00

Unquestionably the best offering from New York's Riot, Fire Down Under is considered by many to be an early-'80s metal classic. After two marginally successful LPs, 1977's Rock City and 1979's Narita, bandleader Mark Reale worked out all the kinks in Riot's membership and musical delivery, and the results are dramatic. The songs are tight and... Read More

No Remorse
Artist: Motörhead
Community Score: 9.12

There have been dozens and dozens of Motörhead compilations released over the decades, but the first one remains definitive, even if it's not perfect. Released in 1984 as a gap-filler -- for Motörhead were regrouping in the wake of the bandmember shuffling that followed the odd Another Perfect Day album -- No Remorse compiled two-dozen songs... Read More

Killing Time
Artist: Massacre

Of the many obscure and wonderful albums recorded by members of the downtown avant-garde elite in the early 1980s, this is one of the most obscure and most wonderful. Massacre (despite its heavy-metallish moniker) was a challenging but quirkily charming "power trio" consisting of guitarist Fred Frith, bassist Bill Laswell and drummer Fred Maher,... Read More

Battle Hymns
Artist: Manowar
Community Score: 8.33

Manowar were guilty of committing more heavy metal clichés in the first half of their 1982 debut, Battle Hymns, than most bands commit in their whole careers, but that's part and parcel of their often frustrating, sometimes endearing "death to false metal" credo. And yet, macho-man lyrics aside, the quality musicianship of guitarist Ross the... Read More

Creatures of the Night
Artist: Kiss
Community Score: 7.61

By 1982's Creatures of the Night, Kiss had finally ditched their plans of becoming "respectable artists" (starting with 1979's Dynasty) and had come to the realization that they were a loud, no-holds-barred heavy metal band. Easily their best since 1977's Love Gun, Creatures of the Night contains very little filler and sounds as if Kiss had been... Read More

Out of the Silent Planet
Artist: King's X
Community Score: 7.67

After nearly a decade struggling for recognition, Houston's King's X finally obtained a record deal with Megaforce Records, issuing their debut Out of the Silent Planet in 1988. The band's unique sound combines Beatles-esque vocal harmonies and melodies with heavy guitars, complex arragements, and singer Doug Pinnick's incredible, gospel-tinged... Read More

Overnight Sensation
Artist: Motörhead
Community Score: 5.40

Following the extremely thrashy Sacrifice, Motörhead returned to their typical three-chord rock & roll onslaught with 1996's Overnight Sensation. Also the band's most eclectic in years, its tracks range from pedal to the metal stompers like "Civil War" and "Eat the Gun" to mid-paced groovers like "Listen to Your Heart" (featuring acoustic... Read More