1974 Metal & Hard Rock Albums

UFO's third album and first for Chrysalis, released in May 1974, introduced Michael Schenker and gave the band "Doctor Doctor" and "Rock Bottom".

Queen's third album, from November 1974: recorded in four studios around Brian May's illness, it reached No. 2 in Britain, as did "Killer Queen".

Queen's second album, released in March 1974: a Side White led by Brian May, a Side Black all Freddie Mercury's, and No. 5 in Britain.

Get Your Wings finds Aerosmith keeping the raw charge of its debut while taking a major step forward in songwriting, playing, and sound.

Burn is the opening statement of Deep Purple’s Mark III lineup, with David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes turning a personnel change into fresh momentum rather…

Stormbringer takes the Mark III Deep Purple sound beyond the framework of traditional hard rock and captures the individual instincts of its members in…

Rocka Rolla is Judas Priest’s debut, recorded before the band had fully forged the steel-like heavy-metal identity for which it later became known.

Hotter Than Hell keeps the debut album’s direct momentum but moves KISS into a darker, heavier, more humid sound world.

Kiss captures KISS before the giant stage productions and worldwide fame, reducing the distinct personalities of four musicians to short, sharp rock-and-roll…

Rush is the debut on which the group that would later build elaborate suites and conceptual worlds first appears as a direct, hard-rocking three-piece.

Fly to the Rainbow finds Scorpions before its later, streamlined heavy-metal identity, using Uli Jon Roth’s fluid guitar to blend psychedelic space, blues…

Nightlife is Thin Lizzy’s fourth album and the point at which Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson begin building the twin-guitar foundation of the band’s later…