Tag: Van Halen

Classic albums: 1975-1980

 

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Boston‘s self-titled debut album (Epic, 1976) is a landmark in the history of melodic hard rock, that showed how heavy rock guitars could be successfully combined with ultra melodic songs (review).

 

 

Futuristic motorcycle rider; the motorcycle has jet exhaust. A bat-like figure on the tower of a building.

Meat Loaf‘s second album, Bat Out Of Hell (Epic, 1977),  was extremely successful both artistically and commercially, not in the least because of Jim Steinman‘s stellar songwriting (review).

 

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Van Halen‘s self-titled debut album (Warner Bros, 1978) ‘rewrote the rules of rock guitar and hard rock in general’ as some put it. A very influential album (review).

 

 

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Thin Lizzy ‘s ninth album, Black Rose: A Rock Legend (Vertigo, 1979), is their most balanced work. It draws from their Irish heritage with great effect and has some excellent compositions (review)

Classic albums: the 1980’s

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Black Sabbath‘s second life started with this album,  Heaven And Hell (Vertigo, 1980). Ronnie James Dio‘s powerful vocals combined with Iommi ‘s riffs make it an almost unbeatable hard rock classic (review).

 

AC/DC Back in Black

AC/DC also needed a new singer on their 8th album Back In Black (Atlantic, 1980), because the charismatic Bon Scott had died. The album sold 50 million worldwide – the ultimate proof for the universal appeal of this uncomplicated and powerful rock machine (review).

 

Saxon - Wheels of Steel

Saxon‘s 2th album, Wheels Of Steel (Carrere, 1980) (reviews), and 3th album, Strong Arm Of The Law (Carrere, 1980) (review) are genre defining metal albums. The heavy yet accessible songs are prime NWOBHM.

 

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Foreigner – 4 (Atlantic, 1981)

Y & T – Earthshaker (A&M, 1981)

Journey – Escape (CBS, 1981)

Iron Maiden – The Number Of The Beast (EMI, 1982)

Hughes/Thrall – Hughes/Thrall (Epic, 1982)

Bryan Adams – Cuts Like A Knife (A&M, 1983)

Metallica – Kill ‘em All (Roadrunner, 1983)

Van Halen – 1984 (WB, 1984)

Survivor – Vital Signs (Scotti Bros, 1984)

Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet (Mercury, 1986)

David Lee Roth – Eat ‘em And Smile (WEA, 1986)

Joe Satriani – Surfing With The Alien (Relativity, 1987)

Whitesnake – 1987 (EMI, 1987)

Guns N Roses – Appetite For Destruction (Geffen, 1987)

Def Leppard – Hysteria (Vertigo, 1987)

Living Colour – Vivid (Epic, 1988)

TNT – Intuition (Phonogram, 1989)