Speed Metal 1980s Albums - Page 2

The second Atlantic album, cut at Bearsville with Eddie Kramer producing — and the Raven record John Gallagher is hardest on.

Seikima-II's second album, recorded at CBS/Sony's Shinanomachi studio in January and February 1986 and released on 2 April that year; their first self-produced record.

Metal Heart preserves Accept’s hard, compact riff power while adding larger melody and more detailed arrangement.

Destruction's debut album, recorded at Caet Studio in Berlin and released by Steamhammer on 24 May 1985. With Sodom and Kreator, it is one corner of the German triangle.

Walls of Jericho combines Helloween’s raw speed-metal attack with the melodic instinct that would later blossom more fully.

Kreator's debut, cut and mixed inside ten days at Caet Studio in Berlin in March 1985 and issued by Noise that October. Mille Petrozza and drummer Ventor trade lead vocals from song to song, a split the band never repeated.

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.

Overkill's debut album, recorded at Pyramid in Ithaca, New York and released by Megaforce Records in 1985. It is one of the starting points of East Coast thrash.

The Atlantic debut, made after the move to New York, and home to the MTV single "On And On".

The second album by Canada's Razor, recorded at Phase One Studios in Toronto in July 1985 and released by Viper Records in October that year.

Defenders of the Faith packs the core vocabulary of heavy metal into an exceptionally focused record.

Disillusion is the fourth Loudness album, released on 21 January 1984. It was recorded, mixed and mastered in London in 1983, with Julian Mendelsohn — an engineer whose previous credits included Yes and Elton John — at the desk.

Mercyful Fate's second album, recorded at Easy Sound Recording in Copenhagen in May 1984 and released by Roadrunner Records on 7 September that year.

The double live album that closed the Neat years, its sleeve boasting that the record carries no overdubs.

Balls to the Wall layers thick guitar riffs, Udo Dirkschneider’s rough voice and marching rhythm into a forceful Accept statement.

The Law of Devil's Land is the third Loudness album, released by Nippon Columbia on 21 January 1983 and later distributed in Europe by Roadrunner Records. That July the band played its first shows on the US west coast and in Europe.

Another Perfect Day, released in 1983, is the only Motörhead album played by Brian Robertson of Thin Lizzy. Official videos exist for "I Got Mine", "Shine" and "One Track Mind".

The third album, co-produced by Michael Wagener and Accept's Udo Dirkschneider, and home to the song "Athletic Rock".

Born in America centers on hard guitar riffs, direct rhythm and Rhett Forrester’s forceful vocal, delivering heavy metal with plainspoken conviction.

Restless and Wild unites Accept’s sharp guitar attack, Udo Dirkschneider’s rough voice and tense drumming.

Screaming for Vengeance shapes Judas Priest’s twin-guitar precision, Rob Halford’s high attack and muscular rhythm into more refined song structures.

Devil Soldier is the second Loudness album, issued by Nippon Columbia on 21 July 1982. No Japanese engineer at the time had the experience to record heavy metal, so the band brought in the American Daniel McClendon for the sessions.

Released by Bronze on 17 April 1982 and a UK No. 6, Iron Fist is the last studio album by the three-piece of Lemmy, Eddie Clarke and Phil Taylor; Clarke left after it.

The second album, recorded and mixed in six days alongside the Crash Bang Wallop EP, and released in May 1982.

Restless Breed puts Riot’s thick riffs, twin-guitar interplay and forceful vocal presence at the front.

Breaker unifies Accept’s sharp riffs, blunt rhythm and Udo Dirkschneider’s unmistakably rough voice.

Point of Entry keeps Judas Priest’s metal bite while experimenting with more open, radio-ready songwriting.

The Birthday Eve is the first Loudness album, issued in Japan by Nippon Columbia on 25 November 1981. Guitarist Akira Takasaki and drummer Munetaka Higuchi formed the band after Lazy broke up, with Minoru Niihara on vocals and Masayoshi Yamashita on bass; their debut concert at the Asakusa International Theatre sold out.

The 1981 debut, and the first LP Neat Records ever issued — recorded a day at a time over a long stretch.

Fire Down Under places Guy Speranza’s high, urgent voice over the hard riffs of Mark Reale and Rick Ventura.

I'm a Rebel finds Accept exploring a more melodic, varied direction before its later hard-edged style fully came into focus.

British Steel strips Judas Priest down to the direct collision of riff, beat and Rob Halford’s cutting voice.

Motörhead's best-known album, released by Bronze in 1980. It entered the UK chart at No. 4 and the title single reached No. 15; the fortieth-anniversary edition gave all twelve songs official videos.