The late-80s heavy rock renaissance
Yes, it was a long time ago. But something extraordinary was in the air from 1988-1990...like a new treasure every couple of weeks - new sounds and fresh takes on established styles.
These aren't really in any specific order, well...some are. |
| 20 |  | Sanctuary
Refuge Denied
Warrel Dane's sinus-clearing wails still gets the blood pumping. Die for me! |
| 19 |  | Raging Slab
raging slab
Arse-puckering southern rock from...NYC? |
| 18 |  | The Cult
Sonic Temple
Astbury and crew set their sights on American airplay (American Horse, New York City). Hey, aren't these guys from England? |
| 17 |  | Iron Maiden
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Harris and Co. show their proggy chops. "Infinite Dreams" is fantastic. |
| 16 |  | Sonic Youth
Daydream Nation
"Rain King" is worth the price of admission alone. Moore's drones and skronks straddle endless hooks. |
| 15 |  | The Accused
Martha Splatterhead's Maddest Stories Ever Told
Their patchwork assortment of caustic thrash, molestation of 70s covers, and other assorted weirdness ("The Hearse") comes into sharp focus. |
| 14 |  | Primus
Suck on This
The live version of "Tommy the Cat" causes 20% of the world's bass players to call it quits. |
| 13 |  | Trouble
Trouble
Rubin retools an already devastating band.
Rest.
In.
Peace. |
| 12 |  | Bathory
Blood Fire Death
Thrashy black metal or blackened thrash? Filthy and relentless - Quorthon's finest moment? |
| 11 |  | Public Enemy
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back
Hip hop's revolution begins in earnest. How great is "Night of the Living Baseheads?" |
| 10 |  | Pestilence
Consuming Impulse
“Process”, “Out of the Body”, “Chronic Infection” - my fave from the Dutch deathies. |
| 9 |  | Faith No More
The Real Thing
Funk metal's finest hour? Mike Patton becomes a household name. |
| 8 |  | Megadeth
Rust in Peace
Mustaine rises like a phoenix with their most impressive lineup to date and "Holy Wars...The Punishment Due" |
| 7 |  | Danzig
Danzig
The combination of Rick Rubin and Glen Danzig results in evilbluesdeathrock bliss. "Evil Thing" is so freakin' cool. |
| 6 |  | Voivod
Dimension Hatröss
Voivod's thorny-yet-satisfying space jam |
| 5 |  | Queensryche
Operation: Mindcrime
The band hits pay dirt with political corruption, mind-controlling drugs, murder and prostitutes-turned clergy. Speak! |
| 4 |  | Ministry
The Land of Rape and Honey
Punk becomes cyberpunk in an industrial rock masterpiece. Are there ever more than four degrees of separation from any band and Al Jourgensen? |
| 3 |  | Last Crack
Sinister Funkhouse #17
Volcanoes erupt! Gutiars buck and wail in a funk frenzy. A barenaked man rants and raves endlessly... |
| 2 |  | Pixies
Doolittle
Child-like simplicity, feverish guitar squalls, sawed-off rhythms and Eraserhead-like weirdness culminate in indie rock's finest moment. |
| 1 |  | King's X
Gretchen Goes to Nebraska
This band seemed to come out of nowhere and had it all - exceptional groove, vocal harmonies, weighty heaviness. Still a mindblowing record... |
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