Hard Rock 1990s Albums - Page 2

Believe, the Japanese title for this period of Harem Scarem, keeps the band’s melodic strength while making the guitar tone and rhythm heavier and drier.

Karma Cleansing, also issued as Believe in another territory, connects polished harmony with more modern guitar weight.

HIM's debut, published in Finland in November 1997. Nine songs are followed by fifty-six tracks of silence, with a hidden one at number 66.

20th Century centers on John Sykes’s thick, singing guitar and his melancholy vocal character.

Loveland is John Sykes's second solo album, built around ballads rather than the hard-rock attack he was known for.

Carnival of Souls: The Final Sessions moves KISS away from celebratory rock and roll toward dark guitar, sunk rhythm and more introspective vocal mood.

Ghetto Machine is the twelfth Loudness album, released in Japan by Rooms Records on 5 July 1997. It was recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, and was the first album with bassist Naoto Shibata.

Millenium’s debut centers on Ralph Santolla’s expressive guitar and Todd Plant’s strong vocal, joining AOR polish to melodic-metal heat.

Generation Swine reunites Mötley Crüe with Vince Neil but refuses a simple return to the glam-metal formula.

Neverland carefully rebuilds Night Ranger’s strengths: open melody, twin-guitar color and expansive chorus.

Food for Thought combines weighty riffs, clear vocals and memorable choruses in Pink Cream 69’s melodic hard-rock language.

A seventh album of thirteen songs, the longest of the period, opening straight out of its intro.

Marching to Mars places hard-driving rockers beside reflective ballads, bringing Sammy Hagar’s heat and human directness to the front.

Revolution retains Slaughter’s high vocal lines and hook sense while moving toward lower, heavier guitar and more varied songwriting.

The Hellacopters' second album, released on 1 October 1997 and the last studio record Dregen made with them before leaving.

Endless, Nameless throws the Wildhearts’ strong melodic sense into noise, processed sound and ragged arrangement.

Firefly finds the reunited TNT tightening its glossy hard-rock image and moving toward heavier guitar and darker arrangement.

Restless Heart combines bluesy guitar, soft keyboard and David Coverdale’s deep, settled vocal presence.

Endangered Species brings together thick riffs, blues-rooted guitar and Dave Meniketti’s heated vocal presence.

Purpendicular finds Deep Purple gaining a new set of gestures with Steve Morse on guitar.

Slang deliberately reduces Def Leppard’s grand polished sheen and turns toward lower, heavier guitar, dry rhythm and more inward-looking songs.

Dio's 1996 studio album, made with the Strange Highways line-up of Tracy G, Jeff Pilson and Vinny Appice and produced by Ronnie James Dio himself.

Rotator uses the agility of Dizzy Mizz Lizzy’s three-piece format to balance shifting rhythm with broad melody.

G. presents Gotthard’s melodic hard rock directly through thick riffs and Steve Lee’s open, powerful voice.

Great White's eighth studio album came out first in Japan, from Victor Entertainment in February 1996, and then on Imago in the US.

The fifth L.A. Guns studio album, released by CMC International on 29 October 1996 and reaching for an industrial surface across its thirteen songs. The Japanese edition followed on 21 November as BVCP-984.

The third solo album, made after Demolition 23. broke up and released by Finland's Poko Rekords: ten songs including covers of MC5 and The Damned.

Written in the Sand is built carefully around Michael Schenker’s fluid, singing guitar voice and a melodic hard-rock framework.

Released on 15 October 1996, Overnight Sensation is the first album made by the three-piece of Lemmy, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee, after Würzel's departure.

Hey Man uses Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan’s virtuosity in service of the songs, keeping Eric Martin’s melody at the center.

Curb presents Nickelback’s starting point with a raw, close-up sound rather than the large-scale rock image of later years.

Test for Echo brings Rush’s three-piece feel to the front, building songs from hard guitar, defined bass and precise drumming.

Satyricon's third album, issued by Moonfog Productions on 22 April 1996. The title is Latin for divine nemesis.

Pure Instinct places Scorpions’ melodic strength inside a more restrained, adult atmosphere.

A mid-1990s album from the period when SINNER toured with Mr. Big and Savatage. Japan had its own edition through Zero Corporation.

The fourth album: a concept record in two halves, instrumental first and sung second, across eighteen tracks.

The Hellacopters' debut, released in June 1996. It was recorded live in twenty-six hours and won the hard rock category of the Swedish Grammis.

Fishing for Luckies pushes The Wildhearts’ punk roughness, power-pop sweetness and long twisted structures into the same space.

Belly to Belly moves Warrant away from 1980s gloss toward lower guitar, muted tone and heavier rhythm.

Ballbreaker builds on the restored steadiness of Phil Rudd’s drumming, giving Angus and Malcolm Young’s riffs a dry, heavy frame.

Matters of Survival presents Axxis’ big choruses and sharp guitar work in a more polished frame.

These Days keeps Bon Jovi’s arena-scale reach while stepping into more reflective, grounded writing.

Dysfunctional reunites Don Dokken, George Lynch, Jeff Pilson and Mick Brown, bringing Dokken’s tense melodic metal back with a more contemporary weight.

Waiting for the Punchline moves Extreme away from its brighter funk-metal identity and toward thick riffs, rougher textures and a more tense atmosphere.

Rainmaker deepens Fair Warning’s clear melodies and lyricism through more settled, patient performances.

Voice of Reason expands Harem Scarem’s beautiful choruses and detailed playing into darker, more complex territory.

Love Parade is a useful way to hear JEFF SCOTT SOTO from a different angle within the 1995 catalogue.

The sixth album, self-titled: a looser, blues-leaning record produced by Glyn Johns.

Out of My Tree captures John Sykes’ cutting guitar and soulful vocal with a near-live sense of band chemistry.

Sacrifice, released on 27 March 1995, began the band's long association with SPV / Steamhammer of Germany and is the last album to feature Würzel, who had played guitar since 1984.

Feeding off the Mojo retains Night Ranger’s large choruses and guitar-led momentum while moving toward a drier, more mid-1990s sound.

Ozzmosis pairs Zakk Wylde’s thick guitar work with Ozzy Osbourne’s unmistakably uneasy, vulnerable voice.

Change introduces David Readman and gives Pink Cream 69 a heavier guitar frame with more mid-1990s shadow.

The fifth Praying Mantis studio album, released by Pony Canyon on 19 August 1995 as PCCY-00794. Eleven songs.

Queen's fifteenth album, from November 1995: the last studio album, completed over four years by the other three around vocals Freddie Mercury left.

Down to the Bone moves Quiet Riot a little away from its flashy 1980s image and toward bluesy riffs and rougher groove.

Stranger in Us All revives Rainbow through Ritchie Blackmore’s hard-edged riffs and folk-tinged melodic instincts.