Top Favorite Melodic Metal/Hard Rock Albums ... rank them

[introclaus]

I've cheated here and divided the melodic metal genre into two parts: CLASSICS (heavy rock / heavy metal) & HAIR METAL
We can always discuss later if you think something I put into one of the two fit better on the other, but this is how I personally view 'em.

1) List only your top 15 albums ... no "bubblers" or "honorary mentions"
2) List only one (1) album per band

Go!

CLASSICS (Heavy Rock / Heavy Metal)
1. Michael Schenker Group - Michael Schenker Group (1980)
2. Thin Lizzy - Johnny the Fox
3. Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath
4. Rainbow - Rising
5. Yngwie Malmsteen - Rising Force
6. King Diamond - Abigail
7. Alcatrazz - No Parole from Rock'n'Roll
8. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
9. Pretty Maids - Future World
10. Accept - Balls to the Wall
11. WASP - The Crimson Idol
12. Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
13. Danzig - II Lucifuge
14. Dio - Holy Diver
15. Whitesnake - 1987


HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
1. Enuff Z'nuff - Strength
2. Twisted Sister - Under the Blade
3. White Lion - Pride
4. Skid Row - Slave to the Grind
5. Mr. Big - Lean into It
6. Tesla - Mechanical Resonance
7. Extreme - III Sides to Every Story
8. Great White - Hooked
9. Cinderella - Heartbreak Station
10. Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
11. Steelheart - Steelheart
12. Pretty Boy Floyd - Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz
13. Warrant - Cherry Pie
14. Love/Hate - Blackout in the Red Room
15. Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood

[GaetanL]

CLASSICS (Heavy Rock / Heavy Metal)
1. Judas Priest "Stained Class"
2. Ozzy Osbourne "Blizzard Of Ozz"
3. Metallica "...And Justice For All"
4. Scorpions "Blackout"
5. Stryper "To Hell With The Devil"
6. Iron Maiden "Powerslave" ("Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" would be on a prog metal favorite list)
7. Armored Saint "Delirious Nomad" (Discovered just recently!)
8. Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath"
9. Dio "Holy Diver"
10. Yngwie Malmsteen "Odyssey"
11. Accept "Balls To The Wall"
12. Sword "Metalized" (A new album is coming soon by the way!)
13. Lee Aaron "Metal Queen"
14. Anvil "Strength Of Steel"
15. Pretty Maids "Future World"

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
1. Triumph "Thunder Seven" (Not exactly hair metal but not classic heavy metal either)
2. Dokken "Under Lock And Key"
3. Mötley Crüe "Shout At The Devil"
4. Def Leppard "Pyromania"
5. Van Halen "Van Halen" (Not exactly hair metal but not classic heavy metal either)
6. Ratt "Out Of The Cellar"
7. Rough Cutt "Rough Cutt" (Discovered not so long ago!)
8. Guns N' Roses "Appetite For Destruction"
9. Headpins "Turn It Loud" (Not exactly hair metal but not classic heavy metal either)
10. Heart "Heart"
11. Icon "Night Of The Crime"
12. Skid Row "Slave To The Grind"
13. Whitesnake "Whitesnake" (Album called "1987" in Europe)
14. Brighton Rock "Take A Deep Breath"
15. Helix "No Rest For The Wicked" (Album discovered just recently!)

[Random Axe]

Kinda hard for me to distinguish between classics and hair since there's significant cross-pollination between the genres. So here's my attempt, though def not a full 15

CLASSIC

Fifth Angel- s/t I bought this for the cover art and stayed for the epicness.

Armored Saint/SoS - Reign of Fire alone makes this worthy

Savatage/Edge of Thorns - Not sure where else to put them.

Leatherwolf/Street Ready - could be hair but fits better here.

Vicious Rumors/st - Don't Wait for Me...crushing tune

I've never owned any Priest, Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Sabbath so I'm guessing my expulsion from the group is imminent.


HAIR

Tyketto/Don't Come Easy - blew me away with Forever Young

XYZ/ST - Very Dokken-like with Plant influenced vocals

Guardian/Fire and Love - still in regular rotation. Title track!

Alias/st - Freddi! Major musical influence of mine

Stryper/THWD - when I first heard this I thought it was metal Styx

Lillian Axe/Poetic Justice - great album, effed up cover art

Malmsteen/Odyssey - still a top 20 alltime for me. JLT!!!!

Whitesnake/st - possibly best guitar rock album ever. SYKES!!!

Heavens Edge/st - hooks, vocals and Kernon. Great combo

I'd have included a Dokken album but don't fully like any all the way through. Each one has two or three amazing songs. Again my odd tastes are on full display with lots of cursory selections, but thats the path I took in late teens and early twenties. Never had exposure to NWOBHM, so I'm staying clear of that thread.

[Norén]

Don't think I have enough to fill a list of each, so here is my top 10 melodic rock.

1 - Journey – Raised on radio
2 - Strangeways – Walk in the fire
3 - Dare – Out of the silence
4 - Night Ranger – 7 wishes
5 - Honeymoon suit – The big prize
6 - Def Leppard - Hysteria
7 - FM – Indescreet
8 - Fate – A matter of attitude
9 - Van Halen - 5150
10 - Voodoo X – Vol.1-The awakening

[Sir Exar Kun]

Now THIS is a list more up my alley..... This is what I grew up listening to before Dream Theater blew the doors off....

1. Def Leppard "Hysteria"
2. Guns N Roses "Appetite for Destruction"
3. Warrant "Dog Eat Dog"
4. Winger "Pull"
5. Lillian Axe "Love & War" (I could put almost ANY Lillian Axe album here!)
6. Killer Dwarfs "Dirty Weapons"
7. Saigon Kick s/t
8. Vain "No Respect"
9. Shotgun Messiah "Second Coming"
10. Saraya "When the Blackbird Sings"
11. Extreme s/t (could be any of the first three here)
12. Robert Plant "Manic Nirvana"
13. Richie Sambora "Stranger in this Town" (could easily go higher depending on my mood)
14. Blue Murder 2/t
15. Bonham "Disregard of Timekeeping"

So many others could slot in here depending on the day.... Lillian Axe would be my #1 band, as they are CONSISTENTLY great across decades.... Winger is there also, albeit a bit less output.

[John Frank]

So are "classics" by definition older (70s-90s) or can they also be more recent melodic metal albums (Disturbed, Dynazty, Eclipse, etc.)?

[introclaus]

So are "classics" by definition older (70s-90s) or can they also be more recent melodic metal albums (Disturbed, Dynazty, Eclipse, etc.)?

Whatever constitutes classic to you I guess.

That said, Disturbed???? Oh boy ….

[John Frank]

Classics

1. Dio - The Last in Line (1984)
2. Crimson Glory - Transcendence (1988)
3. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell (1980)
4. Leatherwolf - Street Ready (1989)
5. Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists (2005)
6. Hittman - s/t (1988)
7. Queensryche - The Warning (1984)
8. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King (1987)
9. Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out (1985)
10. Eclipse - Armageddonize (2012)
11. Dynazty - Renatus (2014)
12. Fifth Angel - s/t (1986)
13. Loudness - Hurricane Eyes (1987)
14. Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
15. W.A.S.P. - s/t <with the three originally excluded tracks> (1984)

Hair Metal

1. Skid Row - Slave to the Grind (1991)
2. Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
3. Ratt - Out of the Cellar (1984)
4. Dokken - Under Lock and Key (1985)
5. White Lion - Pride (1987)
6. Lillian Axe - Love and War (1989)
7. KISS - Animalize (1984)
8. Whitesnake - s/t (1987)
9. Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love (1981)
10. Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
11. Hardcore Superstar - Dreamin’ in a Casket (2007)
12. Aerosmith - Pump (1989)
13. Taking Dawn - Time to Burn (2009)
14. Scorpions - Love at First Sting (1984)
15. Sixx:A.M. - Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1 (2016)

[introclaus]

CLASSICS (Heavy Rock / Heavy Metal)
1. Judas Priest "Stained Class"
2. Ozzy Osbourne "Blizzard Of Ozz"
3. Metallica "...And Justice For All"
4. Scorpions "Blackout"
5. Stryper "To Hell With The Devil"
6. Iron Maiden "Powerslave" ("Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" would be on a prog metal favorite list)
7. Armored Saint "Delirious Nomad" (Discovered just recently!)
8. Black Sabbath "Black Sabbath"
9. Dio "Holy Diver"
10. Yngwie Malmsteen "Odyssey"
11. Accept "Balls To The Wall"
12. Sword "Metalized" (A new album is coming soon by the way!)
13. Lee Aaron "Metal Queen"
14. Anvil "Strength Of Steel"
15. Pretty Maids "Future World"

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
1. Triumph "Thunder Seven" (Not exactly hair metal but not classic heavy metal either)
2. Dokken "Under Lock And Key"
3. Mötley Crüe "Shout At The Devil"
4. Def Leppard "Pyromania"
5. Van Halen "Van Halen" (Not exactly hair metal but not classic heavy metal either)
6. Ratt "Out Of The Cellar"
7. Rough Cutt "Rough Cutt" (Discovered not so long ago!)
8. Guns N' Roses "Appetite For Destruction"
9. Headpins "Turn It Loud" (Not exactly hair metal but not classic heavy metal either)
10. Heart "Heart"
11. Icon "Night Of The Crime"
12. Skid Row "Slave To The Grind"
13. Whitesnake "Whitesnake" (Album called "1987" in Europe)
14. Brighton Rock "Take A Deep Breath"
15. Helix "No Rest For The Wicked" (Album discovered just recently!)

Great lists!!!!

I never got into Triumph - where should I start?

Van Halen (w DLR), Ratt and Anvil always struck me as boring.

[introclaus]

Kinda hard for me to distinguish between classics and hair since there's significant cross-pollination between the genres. So here's my attempt, though def not a full 15

CLASSIC

Fifth Angel- s/t I bought this for the cover art and stayed for the epicness.

Armored Saint/SoS - Reign of Fire alone makes this worthy

Savatage/Edge of Thorns - Not sure where else to put them.

Leatherwolf/Street Ready - could be hair but fits better here.

Vicious Rumors/st - Don't Wait for Me...crushing tune

I've never owned any Priest, Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Sabbath so I'm guessing my expulsion from the group is imminent.


HAIR

Tyketto/Don't Come Easy - blew me away with Forever Young

XYZ/ST - Very Dokken-like with Plant influenced vocals

Guardian/Fire and Love - still in regular rotation. Title track!

Alias/st - Freddi! Major musical influence of mine

Stryper/THWD - when I first heard this I thought it was metal Styx

Lillian Axe/Poetic Justice - great album, effed up cover art

Malmsteen/Odyssey - still a top 20 alltime for me. JLT!!!!

Whitesnake/st - possibly best guitar rock album ever. SYKES!!!

Heavens Edge/st - hooks, vocals and Kernon. Great combo

I'd have included a Dokken album but don't fully like any all the way through. Each one has two or three amazing songs. Again my odd tastes are on full display with lots of cursory selections, but thats the path I took in late teens and early twenties. Never had exposure to NWOBHM, so I'm staying clear of that thread.

Nice stuff.
All those on your “classic” list would have fit in on the US power metal list from last week

Guardian, Lillian Axe, Heavens Edge: totally underrated albums.

[introclaus]

Don't think I have enough to fill a list of each, so here is my top 10 melodic rock.

1 - Journey – Raised on radio
2 - Strangeways – Walk in the fire
3 - Dare – Out of the silence
4 - Night Ranger – 7 wishes
5 - Honeymoon suit – The big prize
6 - Def Leppard - Hysteria
7 - FM – Indescreet
8 - Fate – A matter of attitude
9 - Van Halen - 5150
10 - Voodoo X – Vol.1-The awakening

Reminds me I should do a melodic rock / AOR list

[introclaus]

Now THIS is a list more up my alley..... This is what I grew up listening to before Dream Theater blew the doors off....

1. Def Leppard "Hysteria"
2. Guns N Roses "Appetite for Destruction"
3. Warrant "Dog Eat Dog"
4. Winger "Pull"
5. Lillian Axe "Love & War" (I could put almost ANY Lillian Axe album here!)
6. Killer Dwarfs "Dirty Weapons"
7. Saigon Kick s/t
8. Vain "No Respect"
9. Shotgun Messiah "Second Coming"
10. Saraya "When the Blackbird Sings"
11. Extreme s/t (could be any of the first three here)
12. Robert Plant "Manic Nirvana"
13. Richie Sambora "Stranger in this Town" (could easily go higher depending on my mood)
14. Blue Murder 2/t
15. Bonham "Disregard of Timekeeping"

So many others could slot in here depending on the day.... Lillian Axe would be my #1 band, as they are CONSISTENTLY great across decades.... Winger is there also, albeit a bit less output.

Dang - there are some classics on here I haven’t heard in quite a while: Plant, Bonham, Saraya, Killer Dwarfs, Vain

Also, nice to see you go for “Pull” among the Winger albums. Solid!

[introclaus]

Classics

1. Dio - The Last in Line (1984)
2. Crimson Glory - Transcendence (1988)
3. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell (1980)
4. Leatherwolf - Street Ready (1989)
5. Disturbed - Ten Thousand Fists (2005)
6. Hittman - s/t (1988)
7. Queensryche - The Warning (1984)
8. Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King (1987)
9. Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out (1985)
10. Eclipse - Armageddonize (2012)
11. Dynazty - Renatus (2014)
12. Fifth Angel - s/t (1986)
13. Loudness - Hurricane Eyes (1987)
14. Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
15. W.A.S.P. - s/t <with the three originally excluded tracks> (1984)

Hair Metal

1. Skid Row - Slave to the Grind (1991)
2. Guns N Roses - Appetite for Destruction (1987)
3. Ratt - Out of the Cellar (1984)
4. Dokken - Under Lock and Key (1985)
5. White Lion - Pride (1987)
6. Lillian Axe - Love and War (1989)
7. KISS - Animalize (1984)
8. Whitesnake - s/t (1987)
9. Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love (1981)
10. Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
11. Hardcore Superstar - Dreamin’ in a Casket (2007)
12. Aerosmith - Pump (1989)
13. Taking Dawn - Time to Burn (2009)
14. Scorpions - Love at First Sting (1984)
15. Sixx:A.M. - Prayers for the Damned, Vol. 1 (2016)

I don’t get the Disturbed album (must be an American thing lol) but otherwise your classics list is really cool. Lots of albums I really like as well.

The hair list … hmmm I don’t care about Ratt, Kiss, Hardcore S, SixxAM …. And what the heck is Taking Dawn? I just listened on Amazon music and I’m at a loss for words (and not in a good way hahaha). At least we agree on technical thrash

[GaetanL]

I never got into Triumph - where should I start?

Of course I would say the album "Thunder Seven" (1984). To me this is Triumph at the top. I call that "intelligent" hard rock. This is close to neo-prog. The 2 albums following ("The Sport Of Kings" (1986) and "Surveillance" (1987)) are very good but are more commercial. The album before ("Never Surrender" (1983)) is excellent.

I know you may not have time or patience to watch a concert DVD but "A Night Of Triumph Live" released on DVD in 2004 is my #1 concert DVD of all time. It was filmed in 1987. Not many DVD of hard rock bands exists in pro shot quality like this one filmed in that period in time. I never saw Triumph live in real so at least I have this DVD. Also, the way the crowd is flimed is emotional for me as it reminds me my youth. One of the best part of the concert maybe would be when they play the song "Spellbound" if you don't have much time.

[GaetanL]

Anvil always struck me as boring.

My favorite Anvil song is "Forged In Fire" from the album of that name released in 1983. Great production (You know when they had the money...) I play this song often and the sound is amazing.
My favorite album as a whole is the one in my list ("Strength Of Steel" released in 1987).

Just in case you want to give a last try...

[John Frank]

The hair list … hmmm I don’t care about Ratt, Kiss, Hardcore S, SixxAM …. And what the heck is Taking Dawn? I just listened on Amazon music and I’m at a loss for words (and not in a good way hahaha). At least we agree on technical thrash

Yeah, it looks like we do not agree on much hair metal. I only like five of the fifteen albums on your list.

[introclaus]

The hair list … hmmm I don’t care about Ratt, Kiss, Hardcore S, SixxAM …. And what the heck is Taking Dawn? I just listened on Amazon music and I’m at a loss for words (and not in a good way hahaha). At least we agree on technical thrash

Yeah, it looks like we do not agree on much hair metal. I only like five of the fifteen albums on your list.

Yeah - I wonder if it has anything to do with when we got into that scene?

You have a bunch of second generation bands on there…

Also, I think my take on it is more the bluesy aspect (like the ones I enjoy most from Extreme, Cinderella and Great White as an example are their bluesists albums)

[introclaus]

I never got into Triumph - where should I start?

Of course I would say the album "Thunder Seven" (1984). To me this is Triumph at the top. I call that "intelligent" hard rock. This is close to neo-prog. The 2 albums following ("The Sport Of Kings" (1986) and "Surveillance" (1987)) are very good but are more commercial. The album before ("Never Surrender" (1983)) is excellent.

I know you may not have time or patience to watch a concert DVD but "A Night Of Triumph Live" released on DVD in 2004 is my #1 concert DVD of all time. It was filmed in 1987. Not many DVD of hard rock bands exists in pro shot quality like this one filmed in that period in time. I never saw Triumph live in real so at least I have this DVD. Also, the way the crowd is flimed is emotional for me as it reminds me my youth. One of the best part of the concert maybe would be when they play the song "Spellbound" if you don't have much time.

Thanks - I tried “Thunder Seven” and their greatest hits album this morning … no luck.

[John Frank]

The hair list … hmmm I don’t care about Ratt, Kiss, Hardcore S, SixxAM …. And what the heck is Taking Dawn? I just listened on Amazon music and I’m at a loss for words (and not in a good way hahaha). At least we agree on technical thrash

Yeah, it looks like we do not agree on much hair metal. I only like five of the fifteen albums on your list.

Yeah - I wonder if it has anything to do with when we got into that scene?

You have a bunch of second generation bands on there…

Also, I think my take on it is more the bluesy aspect (like the ones I enjoy most from Extreme, Cinderella and Great White as an example are their bluesists albums)

I got into hair metal in 1984 with Van Halen. Quickly got into Crue, Ratt, etc. after that. It was my gateway to the heavier stuff. How about you?

Yeah, I gave up on bands when they went bluesy. Hated that sound.

What are the generations to you? I always thought of the early 80s bands (Crue, Ratt, Twisted Sister, Dokken, etc.) as first generation and later 80s bands (Poison, Skid Row, etc.) as second generation. I did not care for many second generation bands.

[introclaus]

Yeah, it looks like we do not agree on much hair metal. I only like five of the fifteen albums on your list.

Yeah - I wonder if it has anything to do with when we got into that scene?

You have a bunch of second generation bands on there…

Also, I think my take on it is more the bluesy aspect (like the ones I enjoy most from Extreme, Cinderella and Great White as an example are their bluesists albums)

I got into hair metal in 1984 with Van Halen. Quickly got into Crue, Ratt, etc. after that. It was my gateway to the heavier stuff. How about you?

Yeah, I gave up on bands when they went bluesy. Hated that sound.

What are the generations to you? I always thought of the early 80s bands (Crue, Ratt, Twisted Sister, Dokken, etc.) as first generation and later 80s bands (Poison, Skid Row, etc.) as second generation. I did not care for many second generation bands.

I think it was a natural progression into the genre - in Europe we weren’t as exposed to the really early LA scene - or at least didn’t see it as a new genre totally. It was more viewed upon as an extension of the glitter/glam rock of TRex, Bowie etc, and then obviously Hanoi Rocks. Eventually we started hearing about Twisted Sister, WASP and those. It wasn’t “hair metal” to us - it was “glam metal”. Then came the GNR and LA guns and those bands who were an extension of the Aerosmith sound, so to us those were clearly “sleaze metal”. It wasn’t really until after the scene died out that I personally got acquainted with the whole “hair metal” tag. It wasn’t used in Europe or Japan (I had a close friend who was half Japanese and he traveled there all the time to visit family and brought home tons of vinyls).

Yes, I think you’re right about Poison, Skid Row etc being second generation - but I would still call that the first wave haha

I think there was another blooming of the scene later on with such bands as Hardcore Superstar etc. Perhaps third wave?

Also, I think the bluesy aspect appealed more to me as I grew up on the Purple/Lizzy/Rainbow stuff.

[John Frank]

Yeah - I wonder if it has anything to do with when we got into that scene?

You have a bunch of second generation bands on there…

Also, I think my take on it is more the bluesy aspect (like the ones I enjoy most from Extreme, Cinderella and Great White as an example are their bluesists albums)

I got into hair metal in 1984 with Van Halen. Quickly got into Crue, Ratt, etc. after that. It was my gateway to the heavier stuff. How about you?

Yeah, I gave up on bands when they went bluesy. Hated that sound.

What are the generations to you? I always thought of the early 80s bands (Crue, Ratt, Twisted Sister, Dokken, etc.) as first generation and later 80s bands (Poison, Skid Row, etc.) as second generation. I did not care for many second generation bands.

I think it was a natural progression into the genre - in Europe we weren’t as exposed to the really early LA scene - or at least didn’t see it as a new genre totally. It was more viewed upon as an extension of the glitter/glam rock of TRex, Bowie etc, and then obviously Hanoi Rocks. Eventually we started hearing about Twisted Sister, WASP and those. It wasn’t “hair metal” to us - it was “glam metal”. Then came the GNR and LA guns and those bands who were an extension of the Aerosmith sound, so to us those were clearly “sleaze metal”. It wasn’t really until after the scene died out that I personally got acquainted with the whole “hair metal” tag. It wasn’t used in Europe or Japan (I had a close friend who was half Japanese and he traveled there all the time to visit family and brought home tons of vinyls).

Yes, I think you’re right about Poison, Skid Row etc being second generation - but I would still call that the first wave haha

I think there was another blooming of the scene later on with such bands as Hardcore Superstar etc. Perhaps third wave?

Also, I think the bluesy aspect appealed more to me as I grew up on the Purple/Lizzy/Rainbow stuff.

How old are you?

Yeah, we did not use the term hair metal in the 80s. It was glam metal. The use of hair metal came about in the 90s as a derogatory term but was then adopted by fans.

[introclaus]

I got into hair metal in 1984 with Van Halen. Quickly got into Crue, Ratt, etc. after that. It was my gateway to the heavier stuff. How about you?

Yeah, I gave up on bands when they went bluesy. Hated that sound.

What are the generations to you? I always thought of the early 80s bands (Crue, Ratt, Twisted Sister, Dokken, etc.) as first generation and later 80s bands (Poison, Skid Row, etc.) as second generation. I did not care for many second generation bands.

I think it was a natural progression into the genre - in Europe we weren’t as exposed to the really early LA scene - or at least didn’t see it as a new genre totally. It was more viewed upon as an extension of the glitter/glam rock of TRex, Bowie etc, and then obviously Hanoi Rocks. Eventually we started hearing about Twisted Sister, WASP and those. It wasn’t “hair metal” to us - it was “glam metal”. Then came the GNR and LA guns and those bands who were an extension of the Aerosmith sound, so to us those were clearly “sleaze metal”. It wasn’t really until after the scene died out that I personally got acquainted with the whole “hair metal” tag. It wasn’t used in Europe or Japan (I had a close friend who was half Japanese and he traveled there all the time to visit family and brought home tons of vinyls).

Yes, I think you’re right about Poison, Skid Row etc being second generation - but I would still call that the first wave haha

I think there was another blooming of the scene later on with such bands as Hardcore Superstar etc. Perhaps third wave?

Also, I think the bluesy aspect appealed more to me as I grew up on the Purple/Lizzy/Rainbow stuff.

How old are you?

Yeah, we did not use the term hair metal in the 80s. It was glam metal. The use of hair metal came about in the 90s as a derogatory term but was then adopted by fans.

50.

I started listening to this music in late 70s as my uncle was hugely into purple, zep, lizzy etc and although I was only 7-8 years old it grabbed me.

Same thing w my own son who is now 11 - he has been the biggest classic rock fan for years now and he can name any foreigner, journey, Styx, Metallica, leppard, gnr, etc tune within the first few seconds.

[GaetanL]

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
2. Twisted Sister - Under the Blade

Thanks for waking me up! Excellent first album! I think I was blinded by their hit songs (I Wanna Rock, We're Not Gonna Take It) which are good but not representative of this album! I now have both, the original mix CD edition and the 1985 Remix CD edition. I prefer the 1985 Remix. I'm ok with the fact that the original mix is more raw but the sound quality is rather bad, particulary the drum sound. The 1985 Remix sounds better.

This reminds me my recent discovery of the first Helix album "No Rest For The Wicked" which is also excellent! I was blinded by their hit song "Rock You".

[introclaus]

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
2. Twisted Sister - Under the Blade

Thanks for waking me up! Excellent first album! I think I was blinded by their hit songs (I Wanna Rock, We're Not Gonna Take It) which are good but not representative of this album! I now have both, the original mix CD edition and the 1985 Remix CD edition. I prefer the 1985 Remix. I'm ok with the fact that the original mix is more raw but the sound quality is rather bad, particulary the drum sound. The 1985 Remix sounds better.

So happy to hear you got around to realize these guys were more than just the singles. That said, I enjoy those as well, but for different reasons obviously. Dee is one of the most incredible frontmen there ever was, love his stage presence.

This reminds me my recent discovery of the first Helix album "No Rest For The Wicked" which is also excellent! I was blinded by their hit song "Rock You".

I honestly don’t know enough Helix to have an opinion about them. I might have one or two of their albums but it’s been years since I’ve listened to them. I’ll go spin “no rest…” now and see what I think

[GaetanL]

Lillian Axe/Poetic Justice - great album, effed up cover art

Lillian Axe "Love & War" (I could put almost ANY Lillian Axe album here!)

Lillian Axe - Love and War (1989)

I currently having fun at Rock Candy Records and ordered Lillian Axe - S/T and Lillian Axe "Love + War"...

[GaetanL]

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
8. Great White - Hooked

This one is a bit too bluesy in general for my taste but I like some songs on it. Nevertheless, I have updated my Great White discography up to the farewell concert "Thank You... Goodnight!" released on CD in 2002. I had only the album "... Twice Shy" (1989). I'm not the bigest Great White fan but I like this band. I'm currently playing a lot this song I've just discovered:

Artist: Great White
Album: "Let It Rock" (1996)
Song: "Pain Overload"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gW9XHmvkLs

[introclaus]

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
8. Great White - Hooked

This one is a bit too bluesy in general for my taste but I like some songs on it. Nevertheless, I have updated my Great White discography up to the farewell concert "Thank You... Goodnight!" released on CD in 2002. I had only the album "... Twice Shy" (1989). I'm not the bigest Great White fan but I like this band. I'm currently playing a lot this song I've just discovered:

Artist: Great White
Album: "Let It Rock" (1996)
Song: "Pain Overload"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gW9XHmvkLs

I'm a "fair weather" Great White fan ... lol ... I don't like everything they've done, far from it in fact, but what I like, I really LOVE.

For me "Hooked" and "Psycho City" are the pinnacles of their career, and those two albums are quite on same level in my opinion. One day I'll choose "Hooked" and another I'll go with "Psycho City".

I really dig "Once Bitten..." and "...Twice Shy", I quiteenjoy the debut as well as their "Back to the Rhythm" reunion album from '07, and their "Recovery! Live" live album was lots of fun. Anything else (including "Shot in the Dark" - sorry...) was pretty lackluster in my opinion.

[GaetanL]

I'm a "fair weather" Great White fan ... lol ... I don't like everything they've done, far from it in fact, but what I like, I really LOVE.

For me "Hooked" and "Psycho City" are the pinnacles of their career, and those two albums are quite on same level in my opinion. One day I'll choose "Hooked" and another I'll go with "Psycho City".

I really dig "Once Bitten..." and "...Twice Shy", I quiteenjoy the debut as well as their "Back to the Rhythm" reunion album from '07, and their "Recovery! Live" live album was lots of fun. Anything else (including "Shot in the Dark" - sorry...) was pretty lackluster in my opinion.

Personally, my favorite Great White albums are:

Once Bitten (1987)
... Twice Shy (1989)
Psycho City (1992)
Let It Rock (1996)

[GaetanL]

5 - Honeymoon suite – The big prize

I did an Honeymoon Suite update up to "13 Live" (1995) and I agree that this is their best album. I had only the compilation "The Singles" (1989).

[GaetanL]

HAIR METAL (Glam / Sleaze)
6. Tesla - Mechanical Resonance

Hair Metal
10. Tesla - The Great Radio Controversy (1989)

I know Tesla since the beginning. I had only their "best of" released in 1995. I bought the first 4 studio albums and some live stuff. The first 3 studio albums are excellent! So I have to add "Psychotic Supper" (1991) from the ones already mentionned. Better late than never! I have tried a little bit their more recent stuff but I'm not sure I wanna go there...

[GaetanL]

10. Saraya "When the Blackbird Sings"

Wow! I love this! never heard of this band before!