Germany Metal & Hard Rock Albums of the 1990s

Theater of Salvation combines the drive of fast metal with dramatic development, keyboard color and large choral hooks.

Stairway to Fairyland is Freedom Call’s bright, fantasy-tinged power-metal debut, built from soaring melody, brisk rhythm and sparkling keyboards.

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.

Unification builds steel-plated power metal from mechanical riffing, heavy rhythm and heroic vocal melody.

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

Jaws of Death brings together thick guitar chug, forceful drums and piercing high vocals in Primal Fear’s heavy traditional-metal attack.

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

Eye II Eye finds Scorpions expanding beyond their familiar hard-rock frame with programming, pop texture and a more contemporary compactness.

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.

Vain Glory Opera gathers fast riffs, soaring high vocals and chorus lines made for collective singing.

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

Electrified combines strong vocals, low-slung guitar weight and open, anthemic choruses.

Primal Fear’s debut presents traditional heavy metal with soaring vocals and heavy guitar riffs as its main weapons.

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

The first Nuclear Blast album, and a deliberate turn back toward straight heavy metal. It reached number 63 in Germany and was followed by a support tour with Deep Purple.

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

Voodoo Vibes adds heavier guitar and tighter rhythm to Axxis’s melodic hard-rock core.

Kingdom of Madness is Edguy’s debut, built from fast riffs, high-reaching vocals and heroic choruses.

Go! brings warm guitar, thick harmony and Tommy Heart’s emotionally rich vocal together with high-level care.

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

Iron Savior’s debut combines heavy guitar, heroic choruses and science-fiction storytelling.

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

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

Rammstein's second album, released on 22 August 1997. It is the only album entirely in German to be certified platinum by the RIAA.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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