United Kingdom Metal & Hard Rock Albums of the 1980s

Headless Cross builds on Tony Iommi’s heavy riffs, joining gothic atmosphere to dramatic melodic writing.

Carcass's second album, recorded at The Slaughterhouse Studios in East Yorkshire over July and August 1989 with Colin Richardson producing.

Tough It Out is built around FM’s detailed harmonies and Steve Overland’s soaring voice.

Godflesh's debut, made by Justin Broadrick and G. C. Green with a drum machine in place of a drummer, and released by Earache Records in 1989.

Blue Murder puts John Sykes forward not only as a guitarist but as a frontman shaping his own sound.

Save Yourself is a useful way to hear MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP from a different angle within the 1989 catalogue.

Queen's thirteenth album, released in May 1989: the first to credit every song to the whole band, behind a cover that merges the four faces into one.

Misspent Youth brings Shy’s strong guitar riffs and rich choruses together with a distinctly British melodic feeling.

Sonic Temple expands the Cult’s dark sense of style into larger, more direct hard rock.

Slip of the Tongue centers David Coverdale’s forceful vocal delivery inside a hard, glossy guitar-driven sound.

Carcass's debut album, issued by Earache in 1988 and generally taken as the first record of what came to be called goregrind.

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son keeps Iron Maiden’s traditional charge while adding keyboard color and a connected narrative.

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

Napalm Death's second album, recorded at Birdsong studio in Worcester, England in July 1988 and released by Earache Records. It entered the UK Indie Chart at number one.

No Rest for the Wicked sets Ozzy Osbourne’s uneasy, unmistakable voice against Zakk Wylde’s thick riffs and rough guitar attack.

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

Saxon's ninth album, from March 1988 and their last for EMI. It opens with a cover of Christopher Cross's "Ride Like the Wind".

Ain't Misbehavin', a seven-track EP issued by FM-Revolver in 1988, was the last record Phil Mogg made with guitarist Atomik Tommy M.

The Eternal Idol places Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar at the center while Tony Martin’s soaring voice adds a new dramatic range.

The House of Blue Light puts Ritchie Blackmore’s hard-edged guitar and Jon Lord’s Hammond organ back in direct conversation.

Hysteria layers guitars, lead vocals and choruses until each song carries an enormous hook.

Gary Moore's eighth album, dedicated to Phil Lynott, who died in 1986, and built around Irish melody.

Perfect Timing is a useful way to hear MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP from a different angle within the 1987 catalogue.

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.

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

Excess All Areas wraps Shy’s strong vocal ability and melodic sense in bright keyboards and polished guitar sound.

Electric strips away much of the Cult’s earlier ornate atmosphere and places thick riffs and dry beats at the front.

The last studio album of the band's first run, issued by Zebra Records in 1987 as ZEB 10. Founder Robb Weir had already left, and the band stopped after it.

Whitesnake surrounds David Coverdale’s bluesy, powerful voice with huge guitar riffs and layered choruses.

Seventh Star keeps Tony Iommi’s heavy guitar at its core while Glenn Hughes’s soulful, soaring voice gives the music a new outline.

Indiscreet combines FM’s smooth AOR melodic sense with the drive of hard rock at an impressively finished level.

Somewhere in Time keeps Iron Maiden’s fast riffs and narrative drive while adding new color through synthesized guitar texture.

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

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.

The Ultimate Sin joins Jake E. Lee’s cutting guitar work to Ozzy Osbourne’s uneasy, melancholy vocal character inside a wide 1980s production.

Queen's twelfth album, from June 1986: built around the songs they wrote for the film Highlander, it entered the British chart at No. 1.

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

Saxon's eighth album, released in September 1986. Steve Dawson had gone, so Byford played the bass himself; Elton John plays piano on one track.

Amebix's first full-length album, produced by Jason Rosenberg and released by Alternative Tentacles in September 1985.

Astra centers John Wetton’s soaring voice and Geoff Downes’s layered keyboards as Asia moves toward a harder, more edged sound.

Iron Maiden's first live album, drawn from the World Slavery Tour of 1984 and 1985 and released by EMI as a double LP on 14 October 1985.

Marillion's third album, a continuous work recorded at Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin between March and May 1985 with Chris Kimsey producing.

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

Saxon's seventh album, released in September 1985. It is their first for EMI and the last with the founding bassist Steve Dawson.

Brave the Storm builds polished hard rock around Tony Mills’s soaring high voice and Steve Harris’s melodic guitar.

Love by THE CULT: track list, Spotify player and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

A studio album released by Music for Nations in 1985 as MFN 50, and the first the band made without founder Robb Weir. Victor issued the Japanese edition on 21 January 1986 as VDP-1066.

Misdemeanor, released by Chrysalis in November 1985, brought UFO back with a new line-up around Phil Mogg, Atomik Tommy M and Paul Gray.

Perfect Strangers reunites Deep Purple’s Mk II lineup and brings the members’ individual strengths back into one powerful sound.

Powerslave is one of the records where Iron Maiden most naturally joins fast metal, dramatic development and historical subject matter.

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

Queen's eleventh album, released on 27 February 1984: a UK No. 2 with four singles, among them "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free".

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

Saxon's sixth album, released on 30 January 1984 and reaching eighteen in Britain. Recorded at Sound City in California, it steps away from the sound they had made their own.