Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1981

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1981

01. Venom (UK) - Welcome to Hell
02. Iron Maiden (UK) - Killers
03. Accept (Germany) - Breaker
04. Def Leppard (UK) - High 'n' Dry
05. Riot (USA) - Fire Down Under
06. Ozzy Osbourne (UK) - Diary of a Madman
07. Demon (UK) - Night of the Demon
08. Black Sabbath (UK) - Mob Rules
09. Tygers of Pan Tang (UK) - Spellbound
10. Raven (UK) - Rock Until You Drop
11. Loudness (Japan) - The Birthday Eve
12. Saxon (UK) - Denim and Leather
13. Killer (Belgium) - Wall of Sound
14. Cirith Ungol (USA) - Frost & Fire
15. Saracen (UK) - Heroes, Saints & Fools
16. Girlschool (UK) - Hit and Run
17. Holocaust (UK) - The Nightcomers
18. Samson (UK) - Shock Tactics
19. Budgie (UK) - Nightflight
20. The Rods (USA) - The Rods

Let's all take a few moments to recite "God Save the Queen", because 1981 is all about the red coats. Yes. Again. 65% of the choices hail from the same damned islands, which is not much of a surprise since that is where the whole shebang got started, but here you were starting to see parallel developments in sound. Bands like Venom and Raven were taking things to a faster paced, dirty speed while other bands were seeking a more mainstream, refined sound like Def Leppard and Tygers of Pan Tang. At the time, I had not yet heard Welcome to Hell, so it wasn't until my teens that I became such a huge fan of their filthy Satanic follies, but in retrospect it's really the only choice for the top here and the one album on the list I consider perfect as is. Truth be told, the list might seem a little weak compared to later years, but only because there was such a limited field to play in.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1980

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1980

01. Angel Witch (UK) - Angel Witch
02. Diamond Head (UK) - Lightning to the Nations
03. Motörhead (UK) - Ace of Spades
04. Judas Priest (UK) - British Steel
05. Ozzy Osbourne (UK) - Blizzard of Ozz
06. Saxon (UK) - Wheels of Steel
07. Black Sabbath (UK) - Heaven and Hell
08. Iron Maiden (UK) - Iron Maiden
09. Quartz (UK) - Stand Up and Fight
10. Beowulf (USA) - Slice of Life
11. Samson (UK) - Head On
12. Girlschool (UK) - Demolition
13. Witchfynde (UK) - Give 'Em Hell
14. Tygers of Pan Tang (UK) - Wild Cat
15. Fist (UK) - Turn the Hell On
16. Saxon (UK) - Strong Arm of the Law
17. Def Leppard (UK) - On Through the Night
18. Scorpions (Germany) - Animal Magnetism
19. Manilla Road (USA) - Invasion
20. Accept (Germany) - I'm a Rebel

While I won't rule out the possibility of drafting up some 70s lists later on, I decided to start these at the year 1980, during which I turned six years old. I had already had a small handful of records, mostly KISS, Van Halen, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, and so forth passed on to me for a few years, but of course I was blissfully ignorant of the whole metal culture which itself was still in its infancy. At any rate, I'm sure you'll understand that a lot of what's on this 1980 list was picked up years later. Not surprisingly, these are almost all British bands, there wasn't a hell of a lot else out there. Angel Witch is my clear favorite of the batch, so highly melodic and catchy on every track, I've only grown fonder of it as the years have drifted on. A few relative unknowns here like Quartz, Fist and Beowulf, albums I've gotten into in more recent times. In general, this is not an incredibly strong selection, since metal itself was still picking up speed, but a few of these have become undisputed classics and influential on thrash/speed metal.

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Autothrall's Top Metal Albums of 2011

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 2011

01. Vader (Poland) - Welcome to the Morbid Reich
02. Antichrist (Sweden) - Forbidden World *debut of the year*
03. Flourishing (USA) - The Sum of All Fossils
04. Septic Flesh (Greece) - The Great Mass
05. Virus (Norway) - The Agent That Shapes the Desert
06. Deceased (USA) - Surreal Overdose
07. Negative Plane (USA) - Stained Glass Revelations
08. Infera Bruo (USA) - Infera Bruo
09. Sabbat (Japan) - Sabbatrinity
10. Burzum (Norway) - Fallen
11. Morbus Chron (Sweden) - Sleepers in the Rift
12. Doomsword (Italy) - The Eternal Battle
13. Arch/Matheos (USA) - Sympathetic Resonance
14. Pagan's Mind (Norway) - Heavenly Ecstasy
15. Barbarian (Italy) - Barbarian
16. Omitir (Portugal) - Cotard
17. Midnight Odyssey (Australia) - Funerals from the Astral Sphere
18. Sonne Adam (Israel) - Transformation
19. Vektor (USA) - Outer Isolation
20. Mitochondrion (Canada) - Parasignosis

Overall 2011 was not a match for either 2009 or 2010 in terms of sheer quality, but it's clear that the various genres are continuing to expand, and in some cases, contract. Old school death metal is back in full force, and we saw a few old friends return in spellbinding configurations. Unfortunately, a lot of letdowns as well. No perfect 10 scores for the first time in many years, but the Vader, Antichrist, Flourishing, and Septic Flesh were all pretty damned close, and have not left my normal rotation since I first experienced them. This list of 20 is drawn from a pool of approximately 614 new 2011 full-lengths & EPs I've listened to, at least once, through completion; around 370 of which I actually reviewed. You can find an expanded list of great 2011 titles over on my RYM page, if you're so included, or just scroll through the blog here using tag '2011'.

Autothrall's Top Greek Black Albums

Autothrall's Top 30 Greek Black Metal Albums (Ever)

01. Necromantia - Scarlet Evil Witching Black (1995)
02. Hail Spirit Noir - Oi Magoi (2014)
03. Rotting Christ - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers (1996)
04. Thy Darkened Shade - Liber Lvcifer I:  Khem Sedjet (2014)
05. Spectral Lore - Sentinel (2012)
06. Rotting Christ - Thy Mighty Contract (1993)
07. Necromantia/Varathron - Black Arts Lead to Everlasting Sins (1992/4)
08. Rotting Christ - A Dead Poem (1997)
09. Spectral Lore - III (2014)
10. Necromantia - Crossing the Fiery Path (1993)
11. Zemial - Nykta (2013)
12. Varathron - Untrodden Corridors of Hades (2014)
13. Rotting Christ - Sleep of the Angels (1999)
14. Thou Art Lord - The Regal Pulse of Lucifer (2013)
15. Wolfnacht - Zeit der Cherusker (2008)
16. Deviser - Transmission to Chaos (1998)
17. Rotting Christ - Genesis (2002)
18. Nightfall - Athenian Echoes (1995)
19. Macabre Omen - The Ancient Returns (2005)
20. Varathron - His Majesty at the Swamp (1993)
21. Rotting Christ - Khronos (2000)
22. Zofos - Lore Unfolds (2007)
23. Acherontas - Amenti (2013)
24. Varathron - Stygian Forces of Scorn (2009)
25. Rotting Christ - AEALO (2010)
26. Aenaon - Extance (2014)
27. Slaughtered Priest - World Wide War (2009)
28. Zemial - In Monumentum (2006)
29. Order of the Ebon Hand - IX: The Devil (2005)
30. Rotting Christ - Theogonia (2007)

Autothrall's Top Florida Death Albums

Autothrall's Top 30 Florida Death Albums (Ever)

01. Death - Leprosy (1988)
02. Cannibal Corpse - Bloodthirst (1999)
03. Morbid Angel - Altars of Madness (1989)
04. Obituary - Cause of Death (1990)
05. Death - Scream Bloody Gore (1987)
06. Nocturnus - The Key (1990)
07. Cannibal Corpse - Evisceration Plague (2009)
08. Morbid Angel - Domination (1995)
09. Cynic - Focus (1993)
10. Obituary - Slowly We Rot (1989)
11. Cannibal Corpse - KILL (2006)
12. Death - Spiritual Healing (1990)
13. Cannibal Corpse - Torture (2012)
14. Never to Arise - Hacked to Perfection (2012)
15. Cannibal Corpse - Gore Obsessed (2002)
16. Cannibal Corpse - Gallery of Suicide (1998)
17. Morbid Angel - Gateways to Annihilation (2000)
18. Brutality - When the Sky Turns Black (1994)
19. Atheist - Unquestionable Presence (1991)
20. Deicide - The Stench of Redemption (2006)
21. Brutality - Screams of Anguish (1993)
22. Atheist - Jupiter (2010)
23. Hate Eternal - Conquering the Throne (1999)
24. Six Feet Under - Undead (2012)
25. Cannibal Corpse - The Bleeding (1994)
26. Monstrosity - Imperial Doom (1992)
27. Death - Symbolic (1995)
28. Monstrosity - Spiritual Apocalypse (2007)
29. Hellwitch -Omnipotent Convocation (2009)
30. Malevolent Creation - The Ten Commandments (1991)

Autothrall's Top German Thrash Albums

Autothrall's Top 30 German Thrash Albums (Ever)

01. Deathrow - Deception Ignored (1989)
02. Kreator - Coma of Souls (1990)
03. Tankard - The Morning After (1988)
04. Destruction - The Antichrist (2001)
05. Tankard - Zombie Attack (1986)
06. Kreator - Terrible Certainty (1987)
07. Holy Moses - Finished With the Dogs (1987)
08. Kreator - Hordes of Chaos (2009)
09. Kreator - Pleasure to Kill (1986)
10. Destruction - Sentence of Death (1984)
11. Tankard - Chemical Invasion (1987)
12. Mekong Delta - Lurking Fear (2007)
13. Headhunter - Parody of Life (1990)
14. Kreator - Enemy of God (2005)
15. Paradox - Heresy (1989)
16. Vendetta - Brain Damage (1988)
17. Tankard - The Beauty and the Beer (2006)
18. Paradox - Riot Squad (2009)
19. Paradox - Electrify (2008)
20. Sodom - Persecution Mania/Expurse of Sodomy (1987)
21. Iron Angel - Hellish Crossfire (1985)
22. Mekong Delta - The Principle of Doubt (1989)
23. Destruction - Eternal Devastation (1986)
24. Headhunter - Rebirth (1994)
25. Vendetta - Go and Live...Stay and Die (1987)
26. Sodom - Agent Orange (1989)
27. Destruction - Mad Butcher (1987)
28. Sodom - Better Off Dead (1990)
29. Headhunter - A Bizarre Gardening Incident (1992)
30. Mekong Delta - The Music of Erich Zann (1987)

Autothrall's Top Metal Albums of 2010

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 2010

01. Ihsahn (Norway) - After
02. Enslaved (Norway) - Axioma Ethica Odini
03. Sadist (Italy) - Season in Silence
04. Deathspell Omega (France) - Paracletus
05. Urfaust (Netherlands) - Der frewillige Bettler
06. The Wounded Kings (England) - The Shadow Over Atlantis
07. Hooded Menace (Finland) - Never Cross the Dead
08. Darvulia (France) - Mysticisme Macabre
09. Solefald (Norway) - Norrøn Livskate
10. Sigh (Japan) - Scenes from Hell
11. Sargeist (Finland) - Let the Devil In
12. Hail of Bullets (Netherlands) - On Divine Winds
13. Mortualia (Finland) - Blood of the Hermit
14. Odem Arcarum (Germany) - Outrageous Reverie Above the Erosion of Barren Earth
15. Ghost (Sweden) - Opus Anonymous
16. Electric Wizard (UK) - Black Masses
17. The Sword (USA) - Warp Riders
18. I Shalt Become (USA) - Poison
19. Blizaro (USA) - City of the Living Nightmare
20. Hour of 13 (USA) - The Ritualist

Perhaps not so 'loaded' of a year as 2009, but still really deep and impressive. Enslaved, who have become one of my favorite artists on Earth, put out their best album, or at least my favorite. However, after revisiting this list to update it, I had to go with what has gradually grown into one of my favorite metal albums of the last decade, After, by their countryman Ihsahn. Just one of those cases where I wouldn't change a single note on the album, and outside of In the Nightside Eclipse this is the best music I've ever heard from him, and that's saying a lot...because he's consistently excellent. Actually looking through the list, there's a lot of progressive or eclectic black metal here, mixed in quite a lot of good heavy and doom metal from The Wounded Kings, Hour of 13, The Sword, Electric Wizard, and the debut from Sweden's Ghost which is another one that has grown a bit on me as the years have rolled on.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 2009

Autothrall's Top 20 Metal Albums of 2009

01. Oranssi Pazuzu (Finland) - Muukalainen Puhuu
02. Peste Noire (France) - Ballade Cuntre lo Anemi Francor
03. Klabautamann (Germany) - Merkur
04. Sólstafir (Iceland) - Köld
05. Nokturnal Mortum (Ukraine) - The Voice of Steel
06. Tribulation (Sweden) - The Horror
07. Insomnium (Finland) - Across the Dark
08. Nazxul (Australia) - Iconoclast
09. Blut Aus Nord (France) - Memoria Vetusta II
10. Pestilence (Netherlands) - Resurrection Macabre
11. Arckanum (Sweden) - ÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞÞ
12. Midnight Odyssey (Australia) - Firmament
13. Onirik (Portugal) - After Centuries of Silence
14. Hellveto (Poland) - Od południa na północ...
15. Thy Catafalque (Hungary) - Róka hasa rádió
16. Vektor (USA) - Black Future
17. Paradox (Germany) - Riot Squad
18. Absu (USA) - Absu
19. Ealdulf (UK) - Hrimcealde sæ
20. Abigail (Japan) - Sweet Baby Metal Slut

Through the years since 2009, I've docked dozens of album that I reviewed by about a half-point, since so many of them lost just that minimal amount of shine to me. Despite that, this was still an OBSCENE year in metal music, across many varieties. While the only 10/10 for me is my #1 choice,  there is such a depth of quality releases that I probably have another 30 or so albums that rank around a 9/10 which aren't even on the list! Extremely strong time for black metal, with a lot of bands really expanding that niche's portfolio of sounds, or evolving outside of it. There were some mighty tech/thrash records and a comeback from one of my favorite death metal bands that really delivered. But Oranssi Pazuzu wins the year with an amazingly memorable psychedelic black metal debut which remains my favorite in their excellent catalog.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1982

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1982

01. Venom (UK) - Black Metal
02. Iron Maiden (UK) - The Number of the Beast
03. Judas Priest (UK) - Screaming with Vengeance
04. Uriah Heep (UK) - Abominog
05. KISS (USA) - Creatures of the Night
06. Accept (Germany) - Restless and Wild
07. Scorpions (Germany) - Blackout
08. Shiva (UK) - Firedance
09. Motörhead (UK) - Iron Fist
10. Manowar (USA) - Battle Hymns
11. Girlschool (UK) - Screaming Blue Murder
12. Heavy Load (Sweden) - Death or Glory
13. Nightwing (UK) - Black Summer
14. Raven (UK) - Wiped Out
15. Anvil (Canada) - Metal on Metal
16. Witchfinder General (UK) - Death Penalty
17. Riot (USA) - Restless Breed
18. Tank (UK) - Filth Hounds of Hades
19. Demon (UK) - The Unexpected Guest
20. Twisted Sister (US) - Under the Blade

Venom dominates for the second year straight, though when I was a kid I had only been exposed to a few of their songs. I wasn't able to explore their records until later in middle school, and had to keep them in hiding due to the covers. Who was it that said "parents just don't understand?" Oh yeah, the Fresh Prince. Anyway, as expected the vast majority of the records here are all from the NWOBHM. Some cheesy American fun like Manowar and KISS started to show up, and Anvil was on track to make some headway for Canadian metal, but 60% of the list is strictly British. An odd choices here in the progressive band Shiva, but what an excellent record. I originally had Discharge on the list, but no matter how influential they were on thrash metal I think ultimately that's more of a punk album.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1983

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1983

01. Metallica (USA) - Kill 'Em All
02. Def Leppard (UK) - Pyromania
03. Slayer (USA) - Show No Mercy
04. Iron Maiden (UK) - Piece of Mind
05. Mercyful Fate (Denmark) - Melissa
06. Savatage (USA) - Sirens
07. Oz (Finland) - Fire in the Brain
08. Loudness (Japan) - The Law of Devil's Land
09. Witchfinder General (UK) - Friends of Hell
10. Exciter (Canada) - Heavy Metal Maniac
11. Saxon (UK) - Power and the Glory
12. Manilla Road (USA) - Crystal Logic
13. Satan (UK) - Court in the Act
14. Ozzy Osbourne (UK) - Bark at the Moon
15. Manowar (USA) - Into Glory Ride
16. Acid (Belgium) - Maniac
17. Raven (UK) - All for One
18. Accept (Germany) - Balls to the Wall
19. Riot (USA) - Born in America
20. Thin Lizzy (Ireland) - Thunder & Lightning

I was not yet aged to the double digits in 1983, so naturally a few of these more obscure choices were those I encountered way down the timeline. Bands like Slayer and Metallica were more or less banned in my circle, but that worked out as they took a few years to circulate and swell in popularity. It might seem heresy that I've included Def Leppard's Pyromania and ranked it above records from Slayer and Iron Maiden, but it was nonetheless a remarkable piece of music and I must have worn down both my vinyl and cassette versions I listened to it so damned much. Anyway I slice it, though, 1983 belonged to Metallica and Kill 'Em All, an immortal fusion of traditional British metal influences and the speed/thrash that was starting to come into fruition here in the States. Still a lot of NWOBHM here. A few totally overlooked gems like the Oz, Acid and Manilla Road that deserve a listen. Manilla in particular, they might not have shown up on a lot of these lists I've drafted, but they were a very good band for a very long time.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1984

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1984

01. Iron Maiden (UK) - Powerslave
02. Mercyful Fate (Denmark) - Don't Break the Oath
03. Metallica (USA) - Ride the Lightning
04. Destruction (Germany) - Sentence of Death
05. Jag Panzer (USA) - Ample Destruction
06. Bathory (Sweden) - Bathory
07. Judas Priest (UK) - Defenders of the Faith
08. Piledriver (Canada) - Metal Inquisition
09. Manowar (USA) - Sign of the Hammer
10. Exciter (Canada) - Violence & Force
11. Witch Cross (Denmark) - Fit for Fight
12. Running Wild (Germany) - Gates to Purgatory
13. Twisted Sister (USA) - Stay Hungry
14. Grave Digger (Germany) - Heavy Metal Breakdown
15. Omen (USA) - Battle Cry
16. Fates Warning (USA) - Night on Bröcken
17. Samain (Germany) - Vibrations of Doom
18. Voivod (Canada) - War and Pain
19. Helstar (USA) - Burning Star
20. Manilla Road (USA) - Open the Gates

I personally might give the edge to Somewhere in Time in terms of what I'd consider the best of Maiden, but Powerslave is itself perfect and deserves the #1 slot here, with Mercyful Fate's flawless sophomore straight on its heels. Heavy/speed metal rules the day, with a few choices leaning towards the more hard rock or mainstream metal audience, like Twisted Sister and Manowar. Bathory arrives and things start to look a lot more evil for the future. Some of my favorite bands in history show up for the first time: Canadian sci-fi thrashers Voivod at their crudest, Teutonic masters Destruction and pirates Running Wild. Avenger would later become Rage, an amazing band throughout the later 80s. Note that the British dominance has passed, with only 10% of the list representing two of the three BIGGEST English metal bands. This is also the first year I had to struggle a little with choices, records from Trouble, RATT, W.A.S.P. and others were also worthy and some used to be on the previous version.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1985

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1985

01. Fates Warning (USA) - The Specter Within
02. Slayer (USA) - Hell Awaits
03. Celtic Frost (Switzerland) - To Mega Therion
04. Exodus (USA) - Bonded by Blood
05. Helloween (Germany) - Walls of Jericho
06. Razor (Canada) - Executioner's Song
07. Corrosion of Conformity (USA) - Animosity
08. Accept (Germany) - Metal Heart
09. Possessed (USA) - Seven Churches
10. Lizzy Borden (USA) - Love You to Pieces
11. Iron Angel (Germany) - Hellish Crossfire
12. Exciter (Canada) - Long Live the Loud
13. Bulldozer (Italy) - The Day of Wrath
14. 220 Volt (Sweden) - Mind Over Muscle
15. Running Wild (Germany) - Branded and Exiled
16. Agent Steel (USA) - Skeptics Apocalypse
17. Avenger (Germany) - Prayers of Steel
18. Loudness (Japan) - Thunder in the East
19. Thor (Canada) - Only the Strong
20. Saint Vitus (USA) - Hallow's victim

Only one album to which I'd attribute a perfect score here, but in general 1985 was a killer year with a lot of excellent sounds. Some superb, filthy speed metal here including Razor and Bulldozer who were all underrated and remain so, at least their material in this period. Possessed gave us an early glimpse of death metal, while Celtic Frost solidified into one of the most unique sounds in all of metal. Perhaps the one unusual choice I made here was the Corrosion of Conformity record, but trust me when I say that this is pretty much the ultimate example of crossover or splatter-thrash. Utterly filthy and puerile, mandatory for anyone into early thrash, hardcore or punk.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1986

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1986

01. Metallica (USA) - Master of Puppets
02. Slayer (USA) - Reign in Blood
03. Iron Maiden (UK) - Somewhere in Time
04. Tankard (Germany) - Zombie Attack
05. Fates Warning (USA) - Awaken the Guardian
06. Fifth Angel (USA) - Fifth Angel
07. Kreator (Germany) - Pleasure to Kill
08. King Diamond (Denmark) - Fatal Portrait
09. Rage (Germany) - Reign of Fear
10. Megadeth (USA) - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying
11. Cirith Ungol (USA) - One Foot in Hell
12. Hexx (USA) - Under the Spell
13. Détente (USA) - Recognize No Authority
14. Motörhead (UK) - Orgasmatron
15. Voivod (Canada) - Rrröööaaarrr
16. Destruction (Germany) - Eternal Devastation
17. Dark Angel (USA) - Darkness Descends
18. Metal Church (USA) - The Dark
19. Exorcist (USA) - Nightmare Theater
20. Manilla Road (USA) - The Deluge

Queue the mushroom clouds! The two top records here are my favorite two metal records, ever. Hands down. This was really a great year for violent thrash like Reign in Blood, Darkness Descends, Pleasure to Kill. A lot of great shit, though, and this was the first year of these lists where I found I couldn't squeeze in all the greatness to just 20. Nothing unusual made the list. The Fifth Angel and Iron Maiden records might seem pretty tame in this environment, but both are possessed of phenomenal songwriting. In fact, Somewhere in Time is my favorite Maiden. 1986 through 1990 was more or less an age of prosperity in my record collecting and getting into new sounds, the vast majority of everything I picked up through the end of junior high through high school was among the most influential in my own development as both a musician and metal fan.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1987

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1987

01. King Diamond (Denmark) - Abigail
02. Voivod (Canada) - Killing Technology
03. Candlemass (Sweden) - Nightfall
04. Lizzy Borden (USA) - Visual Lies
05. Savatage (USA) - Hall of the Mountain King
06. Kreator (Germany) - Terrible Certainty
07. Helloween (Germany) - Keeper of the Seven Keys Pt. I
08. Bathory (Sweden) - Under the Sign of the Black Mark
09. Celtic Frost (Switzerland) - Into the Pandemonium
10. Running Wild (Germany) - Under Jolly Roger
11. Holy Moses (Germany) - Finished With the Dogs
12. Overkill (USA) - Taking Over
13. Death Angel (USA) - The Ultra-Violence
14. Tankard (Germany) - Chemical Invasion
15. Testament (USA) - The Legacy
16. Coroner (Switzerland) - R.I.P.
17. Rage (Germany) - Execution Guaranteed
18. Death (USA) - Scream Bloody Gore
19. Indestroy (USA) - Indestroy
20. Holy Terror (USA) - Terror and Submission

It might seem slightly underwhelming between two of the greatest years the genre has ever seen, but 1987 was actually quite loaded to the teats in quality. Only four perfect scores lead the way here, but the rest of the roster is admittedly quite impressive. Also, we've got more or less the first 'real' death metal record with Scream Bloody Gore, so that's a milestone. Helloween's sophomore also left a massive impression on all the Euro-power/flower bands to follow. In general though, just a lot of superb thrash, speed and heavy metal, with Germany kicking all sorts of posterior.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1988

The Best 20 Metal Albums of 1988

01. Voivod (Canada) -  Dimension Hatröss
02. Running Wild (Germany) - Port Royal
03. Queensrÿche (USA) - Operation: Mindcrime
04. Pestilence (Netherlands) - Malleus Maleficarum
05. Rage (Germany) - Perfect Man
06. Bathory (Sweden) - Blood Fire Death
07. Coroner (Switzerland) - Punishment for Decadence
08. Death (USA) - Leprosy
09. Znöwhite (USA) - Act of God
10. Tankard (Germany) - The Morning After
11. Danzig (USA) - Danzig
12. Realm (USA) - Endless War
13. Vio-lence (USA) - Eternal Nightmare
14. Slayer (USA) - South of Heaven
15. Razor (Canada) - Violent Restitution
16. Sabbat (UK) - History of a Time to Come
17. Scanner (Germany) - Hypertrace
18. Sanctuary (USA) - Refuge Denied
19. King Diamond (Denmark) - "Them"
20. Soundgarden (USA) - Ultramega OK

Though there have been a few amazingly productive and quality-soaked years of metal in the 21st century thus far, I'd have to say that 1988 stands as the pinnacle of achievement for the genre at large. The rush really started in '86, but bands just kept expanding and honing the sounds of thrash, speed and traditional metal to perfect. To be honest, there are so many albums I'd rate 9/10 (90%) or higher this year that it would probably take a list of 50 to cover the lot, but until such a time I feel like expanding I'll leave it at 20. I'd say the top eleven choices here were all absolutely perfect records, more than any other year since I've started listening. If I were to draft up a short list of my top 10 favorite metal albums in history, the top three here would make the cut. Danzig's solo debut might seem a questionable inclusion, as well as the Soundgarden debut, but they've certainly got a metal edge to the dark, doom rock and grunge and were pretty popular among the heshers. They stay.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1990

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1990

01. Artillery (Denmark) - By Inheritance
02. Kreator (Germany) - Coma of Souls
03. Entombed (Sweden) - Left Hand Path
04. Judas Priest (UK) - Painkiller
05. King Diamond (Denmark) - The Eye
06. Megadeth (USA) - Rust in Peace
07. Obituary (USA) - Cause of Death
08. Nocturnus (USA) - The Key
09. Suicidal Tendencies (USA) - Lights...Camera...Revolution!
10. Danzig (USA) - II - Lucifuge
11. Vicious Rumors (USA) - Vicious Rumors
12. Carnage (Sweden) - Dark Recollections
13. Slayer (USA) - Seasons in the Abyss
14. Chastain (USA) - For Those Who Dare
15. Anthrax (USA) - Persistence of Time
16. Headhunter (Germany) - Parody of Life
17. Kinghorse (USA) - Kinghorse
18. Paradise Lost (UK) - Lost Paradise
19. Gruntruck (USA) - Inside Yours
20. Forbidden (USA) - Twisted Into Form

I consider 1990 to be the spiritual end of the 'Golden Age' of thrash metal, and the beginning of a lull in general for the genre. There were still some phenomenal albums here. The top five are all perfect 10's for me, with Rust in Peace close behind, but it felt like thrash and speed had begun to run its course, perhaps not peaking in experimentation but at least in its technical evolution. Death metal was still relatively young, but Entombed and Carnage upped the ante with their crushing Swedish tones and proved that England and the States were no longer alone in this race. No unusual choices here, the Vicious Rumors is not well loved but it happens to be my hands down favorite of their career. I remember how Painkiller kicking so much ass, in the studio and on the stage, was a bit of a surprise at the time, I don't think I expected them to come back so hard.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1991

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1991

01. Entombed (Sweden) - Clandestine
02. Paradise Lost (UK) - Gothic
03. Voivod (Canada) - Angel Rat
04. Armored Saint (USA) - Symbol of Salvation
05. Soundgarden (USA) - Badmotorfinger
06. Carcass (UK) - Necroticism - Descanting the Insalubrious
07. Root (Czech) - Hell Symphony
08. Dark Angel (USA) - Time Does Not Heal
09. Tad (USA) - 8-Way Santa
10. Autopsy (USA) - Mental Funeral
11. Crows (Germany) - The Dying Race
12. Pestilence (Netherlands) - Testimony of the Ancients
13. Immolation (USA) - Dawn of Possession
14. Darkthrone (Norway) - Soulside Journey
15. Master's Hammer (Czech) - Ritual
16. The Mist (Brazil) - The Hangman Tree
17. Atheist (USA) - Unquestionable Presence
18. Mind Funk (USA) - Mind Funk
19. Skyclad (UK) - The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth
20. Coroner (Switzerland) - Mental Vortex

Not a strong year overall; in fact 1991 was one of the weakest in memory for me. No 10/10 scores.  But don't think there was nothing important happening. It was a pretty diverse time in my listening. We see some black metal penetration from Czech bands Root and Master's Hammer. A few last gasps for thrash metal here, and a few surprise speed/heavy metal records. Some grunge that I love. Darkthrone, one of my favorite bands ever arrives, but not in the form that most recognize. A lot of dynamic death metal, but the absence of sacred cows like Blessed Are the Sick, Human and Sepultura's Arise is not an accident, I've always found them surprisingly average. You know. Opinions, like assholes.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1992

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1992

01. Darkthrone (Norway) - A Blaze in the Northern Sky
02. Faith No More (USA) - Angel Dust
03. Testament (USA) - The Ritual
04. Trouble (USA) - Manic Frustration
05. Incantation (USA) - Onward to Golgotha
06. Alice in Chains (USA) - Dirt
07. Dream Theater (USA) - Images and Words
08. Root (Czech) - The Temple in the Underworld
09. Tiamat (Sweden) - Clouds
10. Blind Guardian (Germany) - Somewhere Far Beyond
11. Master's Hammer (Czech) - The Jilemnice Occultist
12. Kreator (Germany) - Renewal
13. Demigod (Finland) - Slumber of Sullen Eyes
14. Fleshcrawl (Germany) - Descent Into the Absurd
15. White Zombie (USA) - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1
16. Samael (Switzerland) - Blood Ritual
17. Bolt Thrower (UK) - The IVth Crusade
18. Vader (Poland) - The Ultimate Incantation
19. My Sister's Machine (USA) - Diva
20. Amorphis (Finland) - The Karelian Isthmus

A pretty unusual year, all told. Sure, there's a metric fuck ton of cult death metal here, including the arrival of Incantation and Vader, not to mention the emergence of the Finnish scene bands like Amorphis and Demigod. But several of my choices were quite eclectic, to say the least. Not only with strange, beautiful records like the art metal of Angel Dust, or Dream Theater's incredibly successful sophomore prog metal opus which redefined an entire sub-genre, but other efforts upon which the bands in question made unpopular moves to branch out their styles (Kreator, Testament, etc). Root, Master's Hammer and Samael all make return appearances with killer black metal records, but more importantly, this was the year that Darkthrone exposed us to their new sound and turned everything, including my life on its head. I was never the same after that album, it challenged my perceptions of songwriting and atmosphere and took the Hellhammer influence to a place cold as fuck. Only two perfect 10s, but quite a lot of interesting material here.

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Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1993

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1993

01. Paradise Lost (UK) - Icon
02. Demilich (Finland) - Nespithe
03. Carcass (UK) - Heartwork
04. Mercyful Fate (Denmark) - In the Shadows
05. Darkthrone (Norway) - Under a Funeral Moon
06. Sepultura (Brazil) - Chaos A.D.
07. Necrophobic (Sweden) - The Nocturnal Silence
08. Dissection (Sweden) - The Somberlain
09. Voivod (Canada) - The Outer Limits
10. Grave Digger (Germany) - The Reaper
11. Rotting Christ (Greece) - Thy Mighty Contract
12. Poison (Germany) - Into the Abyss
13. Necromantia (Greece) - Crossing the Fiery Path
14. Cynic (USA) - Focus
15. Entombed (Sweden) - Wolverine Blues
16. Burzum (Norway) - Det Som Engang Var
17. Type O Negative (USA) - Bloody Kisses
18. Cathedral (UK) - The Ethereal Mirror
19. Immortal (Norway) - Pure Holocaust
20. Monster Magnet (USA) - Superjudge

After high school ended in '92, I definitely found my tastes drifting all over the place. Who didn't in the 90s? Grunge, jazzy hip hop, electronic music, and 'alternative rock' were among the few sounds I was newly exploring, but at the same time I was starting to play with a metallic hardcore band (combining two of my interests) and stuck to the harder sounds as loyally as possible. When it came to metal, I was definitely fond of the new 'extremes', and found myself further and further enamored with black and death metal. Norway was just beginning to make an impact as the infamy of bands like Burzum, Mayhem and Immortal was spreading. The Greeks also arrived on my radar via Rotting Christ and Necromantia. At the same time, I also found that I was fond of the more accessible, unique directions several popular underground bands like Carcass and Sepultura were taking. In hindsight, a lot of people seem furious over these 'sell out records' (utter bullshit, of course) but they really sounded fantastic, and they helped keep metal fresh during the 90s when it had so much else to compete with. Icon was easily my favorite this year, a beautiful and rainy doom metal record with loads of solemn guitar melodies and it still holds up. Nespithe was the other highlight.

UPDATE FOR 2020

Autothrall's Best Metal Albums of 1994

The Top 20 Metal Albums of 1994

01. Emperor (Norway) - In the Nightside Eclipse
02. Darkthrone (Norway) - Transilvanian Hunger
03. Amorphis (Finland) - Tales from the Thousand Lakes
04. Soundgarden (USA) - Superunknown
05. Tiamat (Sweden) - Wildhoney
06. Enslaved (Norway) - Frost
07. Burzum (Norway) - Hvis Lyset Tar Oss
08. Helloween (Germany) - Master of the Rings
09. Samael (Switzerland) - Ceremony of Opposites
10. Edge of Sanity (Sweden) - Purgatory Afterglow
11. Septic Flesh (Greece) - Mystic Places of Dawn
12. Prong (USA) - Cleansing
13. Running Wild (Germany) - Black Hand Inn
14. Skyclad (UK) - Prince of the Poverty Line
15. Incantation (USA) - Mortal Throne of Nazarene
16. Headhunter (Germany) - Rebirth
17. Brutality (USA) - When the Sky Turns Black
18. Forgotten Woods (Norway) - As the Wolves Gather
19. Helmet (USA) - Betty
20. Mercyful Fate (Denmark) - Time

Norwegian black metal was in full session this year, with a good number of releases that would carve their names into legend. I realize De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas is a sacred cow of the genre, but to be honest I've never enjoyed it quite so much as some of its peers. Great to see a comeback from Helloween with their then-new singer Andi Deris, and several bands put out their best work in this year: Skyclad and Edge of Sanity in particular. There were also a number of 'growers', especially in the black metal spectrum. Emperor's full-length debut easily wins the year, a staggering display of symphonic tyranny which would prove immensely influential to whole scenes of the genre in later years, but Transilvanian Hunger was also a spotless exercise in rabid darkness.

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