Recommended Albums
These are albums that the House of Metal really likes (all time favorite albums). NOTE: These are not in order of my favorite albums.
Sword - Metalized (1986): The House of Metal's all time favorite Metal album. Every song on this album is straight forward anthemic metal. The song's are straight to the point with very little technical riffs, being that every song is under 4 minutes long. The singer has very powerful vocals and an impressive range and at times does a sort of AC/DC-ish voice but it just adds to the sound. A very highly recommended album to fans of any kind of metal.
Rating: 9.5/10
Titanic - Maiden Voyage (1996/2000 reissue): A strong Heavy/Power Metal album. Every song is is heavy and extremely catchy and memorable. There are no ballads on this album every song is aggressive and powerful. The singer has a very distinct voice that has the Power to front almost any kind of Metal band. For the 3 bonus tracks on the 2000 reissue Robert Sweet of Stryper joined the band on drums. Which they redid two songs from Maiden Voyage and wrote one new song. Strongly recommended to all metal fans.
Rating: 9.5/10
Titanic - Screaming in Silence (2002): The follow-up to Maiden Voyage. A fantastic album pushing the band to a more Power Metal sound, although still very much in the vain of their first album. This album also features 3 bonus tracks with Robert Sweet on drums redoing 3 Maiden Voyage tracks.
Rating: 9/10
Gemini - Out For Blood (1992): A concept album based loosely about the Terminator (the song Out for Blood is about Terminator 1). The songs are all heavy hard rock and singer, Lance King, is reminiscent of Geoff Tate and Rob Halford. The band has a very high rhythm section and the melodies fit the music perfectly. Highly recommended for 80s Metal fans.
Rating: 8.5/10
Hair of the Dog - Rise (2000): An excellent album very much in the vain of Slave to the Grind. This album has a terrific ballad called "Rescue Me" as well it has some great party songs "Five to Nine, Colour Me Fire and Twice" as well it has some very heavy songs "Rise and my personal favorite I Can't Fight You" also they do a great cover of the KISS classic "I". A must hear album for Fans of 80s rock/metal.
Rating: 9/10
Hair of the Dog - Ignite (2001): The follow-up to Rise. This album focuses more on hard rock songs. Each song is more powerful with grittier vocals. Lemmy (of Motorhead) contributes backing vocals on one of the best songs on the album "The Law" and it really came out great. This is a great album and a great band.
Rating: 8.5/10
KISS - Psycho Circus (1998): When you see Psycho Circus instead of say Destroyer or Alive, your probably wondering why I chose Psycho Circus? The answer is this: I don't necessarily like every single song on Destroyer or Alive. With Psycho Circus I like every single song on the album. Not only that but when I first heard Psycho Circus on Detroit's Rock Station, (WRIF) about a month before the album came out, I was crazy about the song. When I bought the album I listened to the album in it's entirety probably 15 times in 1 week and could not get enough of it (and I still can't). KISS fan's should really enjoy this album because it mixes all of their albums in one. You can clearly see elements of Destroyer, Lick It Up, Revenge, Hotter than Hell etc. KISS fan's should really enjoy this album.
Rating: 9.5/10
Wicked Maraya - Cycles (1995): An album that will please all fan's of Metal. They play a style somewhat like Titanic only they add some Prog, Power, and Classic Metal into their sound which makes it very accessible. Every song on this album is heavy with double bass, slamming guitars, and soaring vocals. Highly Recommended!
Rating: 8.5/10
Pink Cream 69 - Electrified (1998): A great album from these Germans! They really kick it into gear for this album. Every song on this album has very catchy choruses and strong melodies to keep you hooked all the way through. Not one bad song on this album. Highly recommended for fans of Heavy Melodic Rock.
Rating: 9/10
Skid Row - Slave to the Grind (1991): This is the album that Skid Row promised that would be heavier than their debut and they certainly weren't lying. Even though this album really has no radio hits on it beyond Monkey Business (although in Detroit they played Wasted Time, Quicksand Jesus and Slave to the Grind) it still went to No. 1 on the all music Billboard charts. An excellent album which will please Fans of heavier hard rock.
Rating: 9.5/10
Skid Row - Thick Skin (2003): Skid Row's long awaiting album with new vocalist Johnny Solinger and drummer Phil Varone (of Saigon Kick). This album has a diverse range of tracks. Ranging from the 'could be a top 40 staple' Ghost to the very heavy Down From Underground, Thick Skin has it all. Johnny on this album proves he can fill Sebastian Bach's shoes in Skid Row easily. This album will appeal to fans of 80s metal all the way to New Rock fans.
Rating: 9/10
Metallica - S/T (Black Album) (1991): Another album where you're probably thinking why the hell is this here instead of their first four albums? Their are quite a few reasons. For one this album doesn't focus every song on being 7 minutes long. Another is that this album is one you can put on and not have to skip a single track on it. Many say Metallica sold out on this album but it's completely not true. They just spent more time on song structure. There are very heavy songs on this album (Sandman, Sad But True, Holier Than Thou). For people unfamiliar with Heavy Metal this album is a great place to start.
Rating: 9/10
Solinger - Chain Link Fence (1999): Johnny Solinger's last album with his former band Solinger before he joined Skid Row in 2000. This album displays some very heavy songs with excellent musicianship. This band is very much in the vain of Skid Row and displays Johnny's vocals very well (especially on songs like FUC Me Coming, Lying and I'm About To Rise). If you liked Slave to the Grind from Skid Row this album is for you!
Rating: 9/10
Rough Cutt - S/T (1985): A great 80s Hard Rock album. This band featured vocalist Paul Shortino before he joined Quiet Riot in the late 80s. This album displays very catchy songs with memorable choruses and great hooks. They also do a great cover of Janis Joplin's Piece of My Heart.
Rating: 8/10
Erotic Suicide - Perseverance (1999): This is what Skid Row and Guns N Roses would sound like in a blender. The songs on this album vary from ballads to heavy, catchy, hard rock songs. This is an album you can put on from start to finish without skipping a single song. Fans of sleazy heavy rock should really enjoy this.
Rating: 9/10
Fozzy - Happenstance (2002): This is WWE wrestler Chris Jericho's band. Their are quite a few covers on this album (the best being Accept's Balls to the Wall and WASP's LOVE Machine). As well they have 4 originals, all of which rock. Their style is a heavier form of Hard Rock. Guitarist Rich Ward really shines on this album with a very distinct guitar tone and style. Strongly recommended if you want top hear some great covers of Classic Metal songs.
Rating: 8.5/10
Nasty Idols - Vicious (1992): The lovechild of Guns N Roses and Skid Row. This album has some very heavy songs reminiscent of Slave era Skid Row and a ballad "No Time" which sounds exactly like Guns N Roses. The person who's singing on that track sounds exactly like Duff. The main singer of the band is a very sleazy singer. The guitars sound very close to Skid Row's. Highly recommended for fans of Skid Row and Sleaze.
Rating: 8.5/10
Wycked Synn - The Vision (2003): Melodic Metal at it's best. An album with awesome guitar playing, top notch vocals and a very right rhythm section. Every song on this album is very catchy and very well written. This is a concept album about a guy who makes the wrong choices in life and has to live with his choices. Very highly recommended for fans of 80s Metal.
Rating: 9/10
Takara - Eternal Faith (1992): This is the album that really made me appreciate Melodic Rock. Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Steel Dragon) Sang on this album and it came out totally awesome. Every song is very catchy and is instantly memorable. The guitars, drums and bass are all really well played. This is a very talented band. If you aren't really familiar with Melodic Rock I strongly suggest checking this album out!
Rating: 9/10
Nightmare - Cosmovision (2001): An outstanding Power Metal album. Top-notch production, A pounding rhythm section, outstanding vocals, rocking guitars and well written songs make this album so great. The songs sound like Sword playing European Power Metal. Strongly Recommended.
Rating: 9/10
Saigon Kick - The Lizard (1992): A great hard rock album. Every song on this album is memorable and well performed. This album has a few hits on it including the huge ballad Love is on the Way and the heavy song Hostile Youth. If you liked Skid Row's Slave to the Grind you'll this album.
Rating: 8.5/10