Doom Metal 1980s Albums

Autopsy's debut, recorded at Starlight Sound in Richmond, California in January 1989 and released by Britain's Peaceville Records.

Headless Cross builds on Tony Iommi’s heavy riffs, joining gothic atmosphere to dramatic melodic writing.

Godflesh's debut, made by Justin Broadrick and G. C. Green with a drum machine in place of a drummer, and released by Earache Records in 1989.

Danzig's debut, recorded between September 1987 and April 1988 at Atlantic Recording Studios and Chung King in New York, produced by Rick Rubin.

The Eternal Idol places Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar at the center while Tony Martin’s soaring voice adds a new dramatic range.

Candlemass's second album, recorded at Thunderload Studios in Stockholm between July and September 1987 and released by Axis Records on 9 November that year.

Seventh Star keeps Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar at its core while Glenn Hughes’s soulful, soaring voice gives the music a new outline.

Candlemass's debut, recorded at Thunderload Studios in Stockholm in February 1986 and released by Black Dragon Records on 10 June that year.

Saint Vitus's third album and the first with Scott "Wino" Weinrich singing, recorded at Total Access in Redondo Beach, California in 1986.

Amebix's first full-length album, produced by Jason Rosenberg and released by Alternative Tentacles in September 1985.

Celtic Frost's second album, recorded between 14 and 28 September 1985 at Casablanca studio in Berlin. The gatefold sleeve carries H. R. Giger's 1977 painting Satan I.

Trouble's second album, out in 1985 and pushed further towards slowness and weight than the debut. It is still named among the classics of doom metal.

Celtic Frost's debut, recorded and mixed inside a single week in October 1984 at Caet Studio in West Berlin. It is the first record by the three musicians who had just dissolved Hellhammer.

Saint Vitus's debut, cut live in the studio over two nights in 1982 at Total Access in Redondo Beach, California, and held back nearly two years by a lawsuit before SST released it in 1984.

Trouble's debut, recorded at Track Record Studios in Los Angeles in February 1984 and released by Metal Blade that March. It was originally titled simply Trouble.

Born Again sets Tony Iommi’s sinking, heavy riffs against Ian Gillan’s rough, high vocal attack.

Mob Rules sharpens Black Sabbath’s dark world around Tony Iommi’s heavy riffs and Ronnie James Dio’s dramatic voice.

Heaven and Hell opens a new Black Sabbath chapter with Ronnie James Dio, giving the band’s heavy riff world a wider vocal horizon.