1998 Metal & Hard Rock Albums

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.

Fireworks threads Brazilian rhythmic character, progressive movement and delicate melody through Angra’s power-metal drive.

Volume 8: The Threat Is Real keeps Anthrax’s thrash sharpness at the core while bringing in thick groove, hard-rock hooks and contemporary weight.

Inquisition Symphony uses the low end and sharp attack of cellos to translate metal riffs into a different kind of sound.

Stigmata is an early Arch Enemy record that combines cutting riffs, expressive lead guitar and harsh vocals.

Total 13 by BACKYARD BABIES: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Adult Orientation combines smooth keyboards, polished guitar and bright, opening choruses in Bad Habit’s AOR/melodic-rock world.

Sensitive Pictures is an early Blindman album built from soaring vocals, sharply defined guitar work and keyboard color.

Four the Hard Way brings together catchy choruses, crisp guitar and a bright rock-and-roll lift.

Abandon brings Deep Purple’s heavy organ, blues-minded guitar and flexible rhythm into a mature hard-rock statement.

Infinity joins Devin Townsend’s layered guitars, unpredictable movement and fragile, highly melodic writing.

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

Category 5 combines Firehouse’s soaring vocals, clean guitar work and easy-to-grasp choruses.

Godsmack’s debut combines low-tuned guitar, dragging rhythm and rough-edged vocals.

It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll is an early Hardcore Superstar album built from rough guitar, forward-charging beat and provocative vocals.

Big Bang Theory keeps Harem Scarem’s melodic-hard-rock foundation while moving into a harder, more contemporary guitar texture.

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

Virtual XI builds an epic atmosphere through heavy riffs, bass-led melody and extended song structures.

Siege Perilous is an early Kamelot album that adds classical color and story-minded drama to melodic-metal power.

Psycho Circus gathers thick guitar riffs, handclap-ready beats and choruses made for everyone to sing.

Follow the Leader expands Korn’s unique heaviness through low, rolling bass, bouncing rhythm and vocals that expose raw hurt.

Return to Heaven Denied combines fast guitar, vivid keyboards and soaring vocals in Labyrinth’s dramatic power-metal style.

Garden of the Moon centers Lana Lane’s clear vocal tone within symphonic keyboards, melodic guitar and a sense of cosmic space.

Under Fire brings together forceful vocals, thick guitar and clear choruses in a melodic hard-rock setting.

First Breath is Mercenary’s debut, combining thrash/death-metal sharpness with melodic guitar and shifting arrangements.

Garage Inc.

Mourning Widows combines sharp guitar cutting, thick groove and alternative-rock shadow around Nuno Bettencourt’s playing.

The State is an early Nickelback record built from heavy guitar, hard rhythm and a grainy vocal delivery.

Seven brings Night Ranger’s soaring vocals, interlocking guitars and wide-open choruses back to the foreground.

Oceanborn combines shining keyboards, fast guitar and operatic vocals in Nightwish’s symphonic-metal language.

Flying Dog gathers Paul Gilbert’s fast, precise guitar, flexible rhythmic sense and playful ideas into a lively rock record.

King of Clubs combines Paul Gilbert’s quick, vivid guitar playing with a pop-minded sense of melody.

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, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Symphony of Enchanted Lands combines grand keyboards, fast guitar and heroic melody in Rhapsody of Fire’s symphonic power-metal world.

Frozen by SENTENCED: track list, Spotify player, music videos and English liner notes on METAL BOOST.

Diabolus in Musica builds an oppressive heaviness from low, heavy guitar, hard-carved rhythm and cutting vocals.

Steelbath Suicide is Soilwork’s debut, driven by fast riffs, harsh vocals and aggressive rhythm.

Destiny uses fast guitar, shining keyboards and soaring vocals to create grand-scale power metal.

Twilight in Olympus joins classical harmony, intricate rhythm and powerful vocals in Symphony X’s progressive-metal world.

Truth brings supple bass, crisp guitar and expressive vocals together in Talisman’s melodic hard-rock world.

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

Van Halen III brings a new voice into the band and reaches toward wider song forms and longer developments than the group’s usual template.

Tangerine retains Vixen’s melodic sense while moving toward drier guitar textures and a more alternative-leaning atmosphere.

Concerto Suite for Electric Guitar and Orchestra is a useful way to hear YNGWIE MALMSTEEN from a different angle within the 1998 catalogue.