Top 10 metal albums of the 80s

When your average American thinks about heavy metal, he immediately envisions the 1980s era of big hair, spandex, and music videos. “Hair metal,” as it was known, was metal's glorious moment in the spotlight. Ironically, it also happens to be a source of incredible shame for metalheads. See, hair metal was an abomination - a perversion of everything that heavy metal stands for. It's disgraceful that MTV, record labels, and Hollywood all made absurd amounts of money in the name of heavy metal. Absolutely disgraceful.

Thankfully, there was also an abundant crop of quality heavy metal blooming throughout the 80s. For the most part, these were bands who didn't get MTV air time or inspire Hollywood docudramas and movies. What they cared about was making quality music. And what they created was the sturdy branches that each grew into the myriad of metal subgenres - branches that continue to grow and thrive to this day.

I normally embrace the challenge of making lists that include rankings. However, I feel like there's no way to rank any of these legendary albums above the others. As such, I present to you the ten best metal albums of the 80s in chronological order:

Heaven and Hell Black Sabbath (1980)

Four months into the new decade, the most influential band in the history of the genre kicked off the most successful decade for the genre with this beast of an album. Combining Tony Iommi's signature riffing with Ronnie James Dio's virtuoso vocal talents made for an album of pure sonic ecstasy. Talk about starting the new decade off with a bang!

Blizzard of Ozz Ozzy Osbourne (1980)

Pulling himself up out of the gutter after being dumped by Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne struck absolute gold when he found young guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoades. Powered by Rhoades' neoclassical soloing and Ozzy's penchant for writing catchy-as-hell tunes, Blizzard would go on to reach four times platinum, making it one of the most successful metal albums of all time.

Number of the Beast Iron Maiden (1982)

Maiden ushered in a new era of heavy metal with this landmark album. Though the dual guitar sound had previously been pioneered by Judas Priest and Thin Lizzy, this album is the quintessential monument to dual-guitar melodies. Furthermore, the songs are among the catchiest of all time. And then there's Bruce Dickinson's vocals. There's just so much to say about this album. Many consider it to be the best metal album of all time, and for good reason. Just an unbelievable piece of work all around.

Holy Diver Dio (1983)

After a brief stint with Black Sabbath, Ronnie Dio went his own way and formed this self-named group. Dio's vocals are legendary, but in case you've been living under a rock your whole life and aren't familiar with him, he is widely considered to be the best vocalist in the history of the genre. Of course, Rob Halford/Judas Priest fans might have some beef with that (and rightly so), but the fact remains that Ronnie Dio's vocals are an orgasm in your ear and this album is easily one of the most revered of all time.

Ride the Lightning Metallica (1984)

Metallica introduced the world to the concept of thrash metal with their 1982 album Kill 'Em All. But they perfected that concept two years later with this album. If you ever find yourself searching for a definition of the term “thrash,” simply listen to this album. Never before or since has the genre been so clearly or powerfully defined. This is a legend among legends.

 Powerslave Iron Maiden (1984)

Everything that Maiden did right on Number of the Beast, they did even better on Powerslave. Of particular note is Steve Harris' bass lines, which have always been extraordinary, but on this album they seal the deal that he is the best bassist in the history of the genre. I could literally listen to this album ten times in a row, doing nothing but focusing on the bass each time. It's that good.

Metal Church Metal Church (1985)

Unlike the other albums on this list, this one has slipped through the cracks a bit. Metal Church were never as popular as groups like Ozzy or Sabbath. Nor were they as innovative as Maiden or Metallica. But when an album is this well executed, it doesn't need those other qualities. Simply put, this is a flawless collection of songs, and it deserves to be ranked up with the other albums on this list, even if was neither as popular nor as influential as the others.

Master of Puppets Metallica (1986)

If you took a poll of ten metalheads and music critics asking them what was the best metal album of all time, you would probably get ten different responses. However, if you polled a hundred or a thousand of them, it's likely a winner would eventually emerge, and that winner would almost certainly be this album. On March 3, 1986, the official bar for heavy metal music was set. Ever since then, every great album is inevitably compared to this particular masterpiece. Can there be a higher honor than that?

Peace Sells... but Who's Buying by Megadeth (1986)

Megadeth may be Metallica's redheaded stepchild, but it is the one that grew up to be that really hot redheaded chick with the perfect freckles and body - absolutely sublime. And this is arguably the sexiest of that redhead's albums from the 80s (though all three albums released by Dave Mustaine and company this decade were very, very good). If you don't get the song “Peace Sells” stuck in your head at least once after listening to this album, there's a good chance you weren't born at all, but rather grew in a lab, because you definitely do not have a soul.

Hall of the Mountain King Savatage (1987)

Modern prog metal bands like Dream Theater and Symphony X owe vast amounts of credit to this album. The title track in particular exhibits a very special combination of intricate songwriting, amazing musicianship, and a just flat-out badass guitar riffage (seriously, that is one of the most incredible riffs of all time). But that magical combination isn't limited to one track, as every single song here shines in its own eclectic way. Oh, and if Jon Oliva's vocals don't get your blood roaring, you need to have an autopsy because you are clearly not alive anymore. All-round, a spectacular album in every facet.