Hard Rock 1980s Albums - Page 2

Bad Animals surrounds Ann Wilson’s deep, powerful voice with thick guitar and expansive keyboards.

The second album, which reached number 29 in the United States - a rare feat for an all-instrumental guitar record.

Crazy Nights keeps KISS’s thick guitar foundation but brings keyboards and huge choruses to the front.

Hurricane Eyes is the seventh Loudness album, released worldwide with English lyrics on 10 August 1987. Eddie Kramer — whose credits include Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix — produced. A Japanese-language version followed that December.

The solo debut, made in New York two years after Hanoi Rocks broke up, with Ian Hunter guesting on piano.

Perfect Timing is a useful way to hear MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP from a different angle within the 1987 catalogue.

Girls, Girls, Girls steps back from the pop shine of its predecessor and moves toward dirtier riffs and bluesy groove.

Rock 'n' Roll was released by GWR in 1987. An official video was made for "Eat the Rich", and the Japanese pressing followed on 21 November as VDP-1288.

Big Life balances Night Ranger’s multiple vocal voices, twin guitars and bright keyboard color with care.

The second album, recorded at Bearsville Studios in New York with three producers split by the character of each song.

Hold Your Fire brings together the synthesizer color Rush refined in the 1980s and the dense precision of its three players.

I Never Said Goodbye joins Sammy Hagar’s open, high voice to a stripped-down hard-rock frame.

SINNER's last album for Noise. Andy Susemihl joined to record it, and Mathias "Don" Dieth left afterwards to become a founding member of U.D.O.

Electric strips away much of the Cult’s earlier ornate atmosphere and places thick riffs and dry beats at the front.

Tell No Tales refines TNT’s hard-rock force through bright, soaring vocals and distinctive guitar phrasing.

Dreamhunter combines strong riffs, bright keyboards and memorable choruses with careful control.

The last studio album of the band's first run, issued by Zebra Records in 1987 as ZEB 10. Founder Robb Weir had already left, and the band stopped after it.

Whitesnake surrounds David Coverdale’s bluesy, powerful voice with huge guitar riffs and layered choruses.

Contagious keeps Y&T’s direct hard-rock feel while polishing its choruses and production toward a broader radio sound.

Who Made Who is a useful way to hear AC/DC from a different angle within the 1986 catalogue.

Tightrope is Anthem's second studio album, released on 21 April 1986. It was the first record they made with a foreign producer and it followed the debut by only nine months.

Nasty Nasty pulls Black ’N Blue slightly away from polish and puts thick guitars and a rougher rock-and-roll feel in front.

Slippery When Wet by BON JOVI: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

David Lee Roth's first full-length solo album, released on 7 July 1986 with Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan and Gregg Bissonette: a No. 4 hit.

Dead End's debut, released by the band's own Night Gallery label in June 1986, and a remarkable seller for an independent release of its time.

The Final Countdown expands Europe’s hard-rock drive through an iconic keyboard figure and melodies that seem to open into the sky.

Great White's second album, first issued on the band's own Telegraph label in 1986 and reissued by Capitol, reached number 82 on the Billboard 200.

The debut album, released on 18 December 1986. Its title track uses what Satriani calls pitch axis theory.

Shadows of War is the sixth Loudness album, released first in Japan on 24 March 1986. The same material appeared internationally that July as Lightning Strikes, in a different running order and with one song exchanged.

Released by GWR in July 1986 and a UK No. 21, Orgasmatron is the first studio album by the four-piece with Phil Campbell, Würzel and Pete Gill.

The Ultimate Sin joins Jake E. Lee’s cutting guitar work to Ozzy Osbourne’s uneasy, melancholy vocal character inside a wide 1980s production.

Look What the Cat Dragged In puts Poison’s lively playing and immediately singable choruses at the front.

Queen's twelfth album, from June 1986: built around the songs they wrote for the film Highlander, it entered the British chart at No. 1.

QR III retains Quiet Riot’s direct metal core while bringing in more keyboards and melody.

Dancing Undercover keeps Ratt’s hooks intact while pressing forward with harder riffs and tighter tempos.

Wants You! builds around Paul Shortino’s thick, powerful voice, pairing hard-rock weight with melody.

Produced by Chris Tsangarides. Around this record SINNER played an extensive German tour as special guests of Magnum.

The third album, released in 1986.

Mechanical Resonance is a debut that trusts riff texture and the feel of a real band more than excessive decoration.

The Pleasure Principle builds Treat’s catchy melodies and hard guitar riffs around bright keyboard color.

5150 introduces Sammy Hagar’s powerful, open-throated voice and gives Van Halen a new sense of lift.

Fly on the Wall by AC/DC: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Done with Mirrors brings Aerosmith back toward guitar-led rock and roll after the return of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.

Anthem is the band's debut album, released on 21 July 1985 on King Records' Nexus label under the slogan Power Metal Martial Law. It holds "Wild Anthem", "Warning Action!" and "Steeler".

Ready To Ride is an Anthem mini-album released on 18 December 1985: two new songs plus three tracks from the debut re-sung in English, issued as a twelve-inch record.

Without Love refines Black ’N Blue’s sharp guitar riffs and catchy choruses into a smoother 1980s sound.

7800° Fahrenheit keeps the debut’s momentum while putting harder guitar and higher-energy choruses further forward.

David Lee Roth's first solo record, a four-song EP of covers released on 28 January 1985 while he was still Van Halen's singer.

Dio's third album, released on 12 August 1985, was Vivian Campbell's last with the band and reached number 29 in the US and number 4 in the UK.

Under Lock and Key brings technical guitar and singable chorus writing together at a high level.

Heart’s self-titled album connects Ann and Nancy Wilson’s expressive strengths to a more open pop-rock design.

Asylum gathers bright 1980s keyboard color, firm guitars and easy-to-sing choruses into a focused KISS record.

Thunder in the East, released on 21 January 1985, was the first Loudness album issued worldwide. It reached No. 74 on the Billboard 200 — unprecedented for a Japanese band — and stayed on the chart for nineteen weeks, with a US tour supporting Mötley Crüe.

Marillion's third album, a continuous work recorded at Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin between March and May 1985 with Chris Kimsey producing.

Theatre of Pain keeps some of Mötley Crüe’s early aggression while moving further into glam-metal color and larger melody.

7 Wishes uses twin guitars, keyboards and multiple voices to build carefully crafted melodic rock.

Invasion of Your Privacy keeps the previous album’s momentum while tightening the placement of riffs, choruses and guitar solos.

Rough Cutt is a debut built around Paul Shortino’s soulful, powerful voice and twin guitars stacking heavy riffs.

Power Windows keeps Rush’s guitar-rock foundation while expanding its use of keyboards and electronic texture.