Hard Rock 1990s Albums

Sonic Brew establishes Black Label Society through weighty riffs, earthy blues feeling and rough vocal delivery.

Being Human builds melody-centered hard rock from clear vocals, lyrical keyboards and finely detailed guitar.

Buckcherry arrives with bluesy guitar riffs, gritty vocals and a dangerous rock-and-roll rush.

Burning Rain’s debut combines thick guitar riffs, blues-rooted lead work and soulful vocals.

Road of Desire combines thick guitar riffs, forceful rhythm and melancholy-tinged melody in Damned Nation’s melodic hard rock.

Euphoria brings Def Leppard’s signature strengths back to the foreground: stacked harmonies, polished guitar work and hooks built for instant lift.

Erase the Slate organizes sharp guitar work, firm rhythm and melancholy-tinged vocals into a return to classic melodic metal.

Theater of Salvation combines the drive of fast metal with dramatic development, keyboard color and large choral hooks.

Open combines thick guitar riffs and songful melody in Gotthard’s broad, arena-ready hard-rock style.

Great White's ninth studio album, produced by Jack Blades, came out in Japan in May 1999 and then on Portrait in the US.

Rubber finds Harem Scarem loosening its established melodic-hard-rock shape and bringing in tighter beats and more alternative-leaning textures.

HIM's second album, published in Finland in December 1999 and internationally in January 2000. "Join Me in Death" is the single that carried the band up.

The sixth L.A. Guns studio album, released in 1999 and the only one with Jizzy Pearl on vocals. The Japanese edition appeared on 24 July 1999 as ZACB-1008. Twelve songs.

Fields of Yesterday highlights Lillian Axe’s shaded melodies and carefully shaped guitar arrangements.

Engine is the fourteenth Loudness album, released by Rooms Records on 7 July 1999. It was the third and last studio record by the line-up of Takasaki, Yamada, Shibata and Homma.

The fourth solo album, with Monroe playing almost every instrument himself; Andy McCoy shares a writing credit and Hanoi Rocks' "Self Destruction Blues" is revisited.

The Unforgiven builds on Michael Schenker Group’s melodic hard-rock strengths: sharp riffs, singing lead guitar and songs shaped around real emotional movement.

Angelfire combines smooth vocal melody, shimmering keyboards and polished guitar in Millenium’s melodic-rock approach.

An eighth album whose opener, "Snakes in Eden," the band later re-recorded and kept.

Alive and Well puts Quiet Riot’s upbeat rock-and-roll spirit and big singable choruses back in front.

Ratt centers on dry, sharp guitar riffs, spring-loaded rhythm and a vocal presence with a little danger in it.

Red Voodoo is a useful way to hear SAMMY HAGAR from a different angle within the 1999 catalogue.

Eye II Eye finds Scorpions expanding beyond their familiar hard-rock frame with programming, pop texture and a more contemporary compactness.

Back to Reality retains Slaughter’s catchy melodies and smooth choruses while moving into a more settled rock texture.

The sixth album, with tributes to Frank Zappa and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and a guest turn from B'z.

The Hellacopters' third album, released on 17 May 1999 and the first of theirs to reach the Swedish top ten.

Transistor places electronic texture and tight beats alongside TNT’s melodic hard-rock foundation.

Sensitive Pictures is an early Blindman album built from soaring vocals, sharply defined guitar work and keyboard color.

David Lee Roth's 1998 album credited to the DLR Band, released on his own Wawazat!! label on 9 June and recorded and mixed in ten days.

Abandon brings Deep Purple’s heavy organ, blues-minded guitar and flexible rhythm into a mature hard-rock statement.

Vain Glory Opera gathers fast riffs, soaring high vocals and chorus lines made for collective singing.

It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll is an early Hardcore Superstar album built from rough guitar, forward-charging beat and provocative vocals.

Big Bang Theory keeps Harem Scarem’s melodic-hard-rock foundation while moving into a harder, more contemporary guitar texture.

The seventh album and his first for Epic, and the first on which he recorded with a seven-string guitar.

Psycho Circus gathers thick guitar riffs, handclap-ready beats and choruses made for everyone to sing.

Under Fire brings together forceful vocals, thick guitar and clear choruses in a melodic hard-rock setting.

Dragon is the thirteenth Loudness album, released by Rooms Records on 5 August 1998 — the second record by the line-up of Takasaki, Yamada, Shibata and Homma.

Monster Magnet's fourth album, out on 16 June 1998. "Space Lord" carried it to RIAA gold, and it is the band's biggest commercial success.

Snake Bite Love was released on 10 March 1998, its sleeve drawn by Joe Petagno, who created the band's Snaggletooth logo. Victor issued the Japanese pressing as VICP-60315.

Mourning Widows combines sharp guitar cutting, thick groove and alternative-rock shadow around Nuno Bettencourt’s playing.

The State is an early Nickelback record built from heavy guitar, hard rhythm and a grainy vocal delivery.

Seven brings Night Ranger’s soaring vocals, interlocking guitars and wide-open choruses back to the foreground.

Flying Dog gathers Paul Gilbert’s fast, precise guitar, flexible rhythmic sense and playful ideas into a lively rock record.

King of Clubs combines Paul Gilbert’s quick, vivid guitar playing with a pop-minded sense of melody.

Electrified combines strong vocals, low-slung guitar weight and open, anthemic choruses.

The sixth Praying Mantis studio album, released by Pony Canyon on 17 June 1998 as PCCY-01257 — the first with Tony O'Hora singing. Ten songs.

Queens of the Stone Age's debut album, from September 1998, made by Josh Homme after the end of Kyuss with Homme playing most of the instruments himself.

The first Nuclear Blast album, and a deliberate turn back toward straight heavy metal. It reached number 63 in Germany and was followed by a support tour with Deep Purple.

Truth brings supple bass, crisp guitar and expressive vocals together in Talisman’s melodic hard-rock world.

Van Halen III brings a new voice into the band and reaches toward wider song forms and longer developments than the group’s usual template.

Tangerine retains Vixen’s melodic sense while moving toward drier guitar textures and a more alternative-leaning atmosphere.

Nine Lives reconnects Aerosmith with thick riffs, loose-moving rhythm and Steven Tyler’s unruly vocal presence.

Voodoo Vibes adds heavier guitar and tighter rhythm to Axxis’s melodic hard-rock core.

David Lee Roth's 1997 Rhino compilation: nineteen songs from his five Warner releases of 1985 to 1994, opened by the new "Don't Piss Me Off".

Shadowlife moves Dokken away from glossy melodic hard rock toward lower-feeling guitar and a heavier atmosphere.

Kingdom of Madness is Edguy’s debut, built from fast riffs, high-reaching vocals and heroic choruses.

Go! brings warm guitar, thick harmony and Tommy Heart’s emotionally rich vocal together with high-level care.