Speed Metal 1980s Albums

Eat the Heat brings David Reece into Accept and moves the band toward a more melodic, open sound than before.

Alice in Hell is a thrash-metal debut built around Jeff Waters’s razor-sharp riffs and unpredictable turns.

Blind Guardian's second album, from 1989. Kai Hansen, just out of Helloween, guests on it, and it made the band's name among German-metal fans in Japan.

The fourth album, out on 19 June 1989. Sessions begun in Berlin were stopped by producer Randy Burns and the record was made again in Hollywood in January and February 1989. Noise issued it in Europe and Epic in the United States, the band's first major-label release there.

Soldier of Fortune, released on 17 September 1989, was the first Loudness album with the American vocalist Mike Vescera after Minoru Niihara's departure. Max Norman and Roger Probert produced; it opened the band's second era.

Overkill's fourth album, recorded at the Carriage House in Stamford, Connecticut over June and July 1989 with Terry Date producing.

Secrets in a Weird World places more complex, shadowed melody on top of Rage’s speed-metal drive.

Mean Machine places Udo Dirkschneider’s singular roar at the center of short, forceful riffs and crisp rhythm work.

X Japan's major-label debut, recorded between January and March 1989 and released by CBS/Sony on 21 April that year, billed as X.

Blind Guardian's debut, from 1988: raw speed metal recorded with producer Kalle Trapp, built on songs from their demos as Lucifer's Heritage.

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part II gathers fast riffs, bright melody and grand choruses at remarkable density.

Ram It Down puts Judas Priest’s heavy riffing, rapid drumming and Rob Halford’s high voice back at the front.

Jealousy is a mini-album released only in Japan on 25 May 1988. It was the last recording by the original line-up; Minoru Niihara left the band at the end of the domestic tour that supported it.

Overkill's third album, released in July 1988: the first with drummer Sid Falck, and the one whose "Hello From the Gutter" video was played on MTV.

Perfect Man adds more ordered melody and structure to Rage’s speed-metal sharpness.

The seventh album, self-produced for Combat Records in America and the first with ex-Pentagram drummer Joe Hasselvander.

Thundersteel is Riot’s high-speed restart, driven by cutting riffs, urgent drumming and Tony Moore’s soaring voice.

Vio-lence's debut, recorded between February and April 1988 at Music Grinder in Los Angeles and Alpha & Omega in San Francisco, and released by MCA's Mechanic sublabel.

Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I connects bright, racing riffs with clear high vocals and story-driven melody.

The third album, released on 22 September 1987 and the first Kreator made as a four-piece, with Jörg Trzebiatowski on lead guitar. It was recorded at Horus Sound Studio in Hanover, and it is where arrangement starts to matter as much as speed.

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.

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.

Overkill's second album, recorded at Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, New York from September to December 1986 and produced by the band with Alex Perialas.

Execution Guaranteed builds on fast picking and tense rhythm while taking Rage into broader song structures.

The last Raven record for Atlantic, and the last with Rob "Wacko" Hunter on drums. Twelve tracks.

Animal House builds around Udo Dirkschneider’s sharp, unmistakable voice with hard riffs and straight-ahead beats.

Russian Roulette directs Accept’s sharpened, compact riff craft toward a heavier and more uneasy mood.

Dark Angel's second album, recorded from April 1986 at Music Grinder and Mad Dog studios in Los Angeles with Randy Burns producing. It is Gene Hoglan's first Dark Angel record.

Turbo keeps Judas Priest’s twin-guitar sharpness while bringing in brighter guitar-synth texture and larger hooks.

The second album, out on 1 November 1986. It was made at Musiclab in Berlin with Harris Johns, the first professional producer the band worked with, and it is named as a starting point by death metal and black metal musicians alike.

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.

Nuclear Assault's debut, recorded at Pyramid Studio in Ithaca, New York in May 1986 and released by Combat Records.

Reign of Fear builds on speed-metal momentum and puts cutting guitars alongside Peavy Wagner’s rough vocal attack.