Speed Metal 2010s Albums

Firepower reignites the heavy-metal language Judas Priest established over decades with a muscular, contemporary sound.

Armor of Light finds Riot V making the Riot legacy of speed metal, twin guitars and melody even more secure after the loss of Mark Reale.

Play to Win brings Striker’s speed-metal attack and eighties hard-rock chorus sense into one of the band’s most buoyant balances.

Steelfactory finds U.D.O. returning to direct, heavy metal with a strong sense of performing unity.

The Rise of Chaos delivers Accept’s steel-hard riffs and large choruses with present-day weight.

For the Demented centers Annihilator on thrash-metal sharpness while layering Jeff Waters’ intricate guitar work and uneasy melody around it.

Seasons of the Black places Rage’s power-metal speed and thrash sharpness inside a darker tonal world.

The self-titled Striker record joins the band’s speed-metal sharpness with approachable hard-rock hooks in a very concentrated form.

The Devil Strikes Again reunites Rage’s speed-metal sharpness, heavy riff pressure and technical development in one aggressive flow.

Stand in the Fire brings together Striker’s speed-metal guitar attack, energetic beat and memorable choruses.

Suicide Society pushes Annihilator’s sharp thrash picking and memorable songcraft at the same time.

My God-Given Right fills Helloween’s power metal with racing riffs, bright melody and a touch of playful humor.

Decadent drives U.D.O.’s traditional heavy metal through hard guitar riffs, steel-like vocals and direct rhythm.

Blind Rage sharpens Accept’s hard-chopped riffs, precise forward rhythm and shouted vocal attack.

Empire of the Undead delivers Gamma Ray’s power metal with fast riffs, clear melodies and a cosmic sense of scale.

Redeemer of Souls brings Judas Priest’s classic heavy-metal language into the present with authority.

Unleash the Fire carries Riot’s history forward with renewed energy and a full commitment to traditional metal.

City of Gold fires off Striker’s sharp riffs, energetic drumming and fist-raising choruses in rapid succession.

Feast is built around Annihilator’s cutting riffs, tense rhythm work and technical guitar playing.

Straight Out of Hell delivers power metal’s exhilaration through fast rhythm, bright sharp guitars and soaring choruses.

Steelhammer delivers traditional heavy metal through U.D.O.’s steel-hard riffs, forward-driving rhythm and instantly recognizable vocal character.

Stalingrad drives Accept’s sharp guitar riffs, marching rhythm and commanding choruses into a concentrated statement of traditional metal weight.

21 joins Rage’s cutting guitars, tight rhythms and constantly changing structures into power metal that is aggressive yet intelligent.

Armed to the Teeth uses cutting twin guitars, speedy drums and big choruses to deliver youthful traditional metal.

Immortal Soul combines Riot’s sharp twin guitars, speedy rhythm and powerful high-register singing to renew the heat of traditional US metal.

Rev-Raptor puts U.D.O.’s hard riffs, forceful drums and Udo Dirkschneider’s unmistakable raspy voice at the front of traditional metal.

Blood of the Nations finds Accept rebooting the classic heavy-metal frame with Mark Tornillo and a modern sense of weight.

Annihilator is a self-titled dose of Annihilator’s cutting thrash riffs, complex rhythm and Jeff Waters’ distinctive guitar spark.

To the Metal! puts Gamma Ray’s racing riffs, heroic choruses and Kai Hansen’s forceful vocal style directly in front.

7 Sinners pushes Helloween toward a more aggressive power-metal attack with fast riffs, rougher rhythm and large choruses.

Strings to a Web combines Rage’s hard riffs, speed and multi-part large-scale construction.

Eyes in the Night is Striker’s youthful traditional-metal debut, powered by sharp guitar riffs, racing rhythm and high-reaching vocals.