Speed Metal 1990s Albums

Criteria for a Black Widow shapes high-tension thrash metal from slicing riffs, sudden turns and intricate guitar work.

Power Plant gathers fast twin guitars, clear high vocals and expansive choruses into a quintessential Gamma Ray power-metal record.

Metal Jukebox is a covers album on which the Deris-era HELLOWEEN reworks songs from hard rock, progressive rock and pop that shaped the band.

Kreator's ninth studio album, from 1999 and the furthest they went towards gothic metal.

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.

Overkill's covers album, from October 1999: it opens with Motörhead's "Overkill", from the album the band is named after, and runs from punk to hard rock.

Overkill's tenth album, released in February 1999 and recorded at the Carriage House in Stamford late in 1998, produced by the band with Andy Katz.

Ghosts draws Rage slightly away from its usual sharp metal attack and gives more attention to acoustic resonance and quieter melody.

The studio album that followed Everything Louder. The band's own album gallery files it under 2000.

Sons of Society brings together driving rhythm, sharp twin guitars and rising vocal melody in Riot’s power-metal mode.

Holy puts U.D.O.’s core elements directly up front: heavy riffs, a marching beat and a distinctive, powerful vocal.

Blind Guardian's sixth album, issued by Virgin in 1998. It is a concept record built on Tolkien's The Silmarillion.

Better Than Raw lets Helloween balance fast riffs, bright melodies and a sense of play.

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.

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.

XIII by RAGE: track list, Spotify player and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

No Limits puts steel-edged riffs, forceful rhythm and Udo Dirkschneider’s unmistakable voice at the front of a traditional heavy-metal statement.

Remains retains some of Annihilator’s thrash momentum while boldly bringing in programmed-feeling rhythm and colder sound.

Somewhere Out in Space brings fast riffs, thick choruses and futuristic storytelling into a large Gamma Ray concept.

Jugulator brings lower, heavier guitar and forceful aggression to the front of Judas Priest’s restart.

Kreator's eighth studio album, from July 1997, made at the height of their gothic and industrial period.

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.

Overkill's ninth album, released in September 1997: the first mixed by Colin Richardson, heavier and darker, with a nod to the textures of its decade.

A fifteen-track studio album from 1997, closing out the stretch the band spent working around the German metal scene.

Inishmore combines heroic riffing, singable melody and Celtic color in Riot’s late-period metal.

Solid is traditional heavy metal driven by Udo Dirkschneider’s metallic voice, thick riffs and concise song construction.

Predator brings Accept’s hard-edged riffs and Udo Dirkschneider’s cutting voice into a heavier, more contemporary frame.

Refresh the Demon puts Annihilator’s balance of razor-sharp riffs and memorable hooks back in the foreground.

The Time of the Oath brings Helloween’s power metal back into full view through racing riffs, bright extended melody and weighty choruses.

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.

Overkill's eighth album, released in March 1996: their first after leaving Atlantic, with a new guitar pair in Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino.

End of All Days keeps the symphonic imagination opened up by its predecessor in the background while returning Rage’s speed and riff-driven momentum to the front.

Lingua Mortis places Rage’s heavy metal directly against orchestral force and greatly expands the music’s dramatic scope.

X Japan's fifth album, out on 4 November 1996. It is the last before the band broke up, and the last to carry new work by hide.

Blind Guardian's fifth album, released in April 1995 and produced by Flemming Rasmussen: the last on which Hansi Kürsch also played bass.

Land of the Free puts Kai Hansen’s own lead vocal at the front and restores Gamma Ray’s sense of speed-metal uplift with real force.

Kreator's seventh studio album, from 1995, their first for GUN Records and the only one with a different drummer.

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.

Black in Mind uses Rage’s heavy riffs and intelligent shifts to create a dark, unsettling world.