1985 Metal & Hard Rock Albums

Browse 34 metal and hard rock albums released in 1985, with detailed artist pages, track lists, Spotify players and English liner notes.

1985 Albums

/ NWOBHM, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

A studio album released by Music for Nations in 1985 as MFN 50, and by Roadrunner in Europe. This is the record most often misattributed.

ARTISTRAVEN
/ NWOBHM, Heavy Metal, Speed Metal

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

ARTISTSINNER
/ Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

The follow-up to Danger Zone, recorded with Accept guitarist Herman Frank in the line-up.

ARTISTAC/DC
/ Hard Rock, Blues Rock

Fly on the Wall by AC/DC: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

ARTISTACCEPT
/ Heavy Metal, Speed Metal

Metal Heart preserves Accept’s hard, compact riff power while adding larger melody and more detailed arrangement.

ARTISTAEROSMITH
/ Hard Rock, Blues Rock, Classic Rock

Done with Mirrors brings Aerosmith back toward guitar-led rock and roll after the return of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford.

ARTISTANTHRAX
/ Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal

Spreading the Disease keeps thrash-riff aggression but puts Joey Belladonna’s high, clear voice and larger melody in front.

ARTISTASIA
/ Progressive Rock, AOR

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

/ Glam Metal, Hard Rock

Without Love refines Black ’N Blue’s sharp guitar riffs and catchy choruses into a smoother 1980s sound.

ARTISTBON JOVI
/ Hard Rock, Melodic Rock

7800° Fahrenheit keeps the debut’s momentum while putting harder guitar and higher-energy choruses further forward.

ARTISTDOKKEN
/ Hard Rock, Glam Metal, Heavy Metal

Under Lock and Key brings technical guitar and singable chorus writing together at a high level.

ARTISTEXODUS
/ Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal

Bonded by Blood is Exodus’s debut collision of punk-like momentum and hard heavy-metal riffing.

/ Progressive Metal, Heavy Metal

The Spectre Within layers more complex movement and a fantastical atmosphere onto Fates Warning’s traditional-heavy-metal weight.

ARTISTHEART
/ Hard Rock, Classic Rock

Heart’s self-titled album connects Ann and Nancy Wilson’s expressive strengths to a more open pop-rock design.

ARTISTHELLOWEEN
/ Power Metal, Speed Metal

Walls of Jericho combines Helloween’s raw speed-metal attack with the melodic instinct that would later blossom more fully.

ARTISTKISS
/ Hard Rock, Glam Rock

Asylum gathers bright 1980s keyboard color, firm guitars and easy-to-sing choruses into a focused KISS record.

ARTISTMEGADETH
/ Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal

Killing Is My Business... captures Megadeth’s raw early drive around Dave Mustaine’s sharp, twisted riff sense.

/ Glam Metal, Hard Rock

Theatre of Pain keeps some of Mötley Crüe’s early aggression while moving further into glam-metal color and larger melody.

/ Hard Rock, AOR

7 Wishes uses twin guitars, keyboards and multiple voices to build carefully crafted melodic rock.

ARTISTPANTERA
/ Groove Metal, Thrash Metal

I Am the Night is a useful way to hear PANTERA from a different angle within the 1985 catalogue.

ARTISTRATT
/ Glam Metal, Hard Rock

Invasion of Your Privacy keeps the previous album’s momentum while tightening the placement of riffs, choruses and guitar solos.

/ Glam Metal, Hard Rock

Rough Cutt is a debut built around Paul Shortino’s soulful, powerful voice and twin guitars stacking heavy riffs.

ARTISTRUSH
/ Progressive Rock, Hard Rock

Power Windows keeps Rush’s guitar-rock foundation while expanding its use of keyboards and electronic texture.

ARTISTSHY
/ Melodic Rock, AOR

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

ARTISTSLAYER
/ Thrash Metal, Heavy Metal

Hell Awaits keeps Slayer’s speed while moving toward more complex, uneasy song structures.

ARTISTTHE CULT
ALBUMLove CD
/ Hard Rock, Alternative Rock

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

ARTISTTREAT
/ Melodic Rock, Hard Rock

Scratch and Bite is Treat’s debut foundation for Nordic melodic hard rock, combining firm guitar riffs with bright keyboard color.

/ Glam Metal, Heavy Metal

Come Out and Play places brighter choruses and theatrical humor over Twisted Sister’s rough metal frame.

/ Hard Rock, Melodic Rock

Alibi centers Adrian Vandenberg’s singing guitar style as the band refines its melodic-hard-rock outline.

ARTISTW.A.S.P.
/ Heavy Metal, Glam Metal

The Last Command keeps W.A.S.P.’s provocative momentum while bringing larger melody and drama into the songs.

/ Glam Metal, Melodic Rock

Fight to Survive joins White Lion’s accessible melodic-hard-rock side to Vito Bratta’s distinctive guitar voice.

ARTISTY&T
/ Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Down for the Count keeps Y&T’s blues-rooted hard-rock feel while bringing in brighter melodies and keyboard color.

/ Neoclassical Metal, Heavy Metal

Marching Out connects Yngwie Malmsteen’s classical-harmony sense and rapid phrases to a more aggressive heavy-metal attack.