GenX Metal albums...what are your top 5?

Posted by bigSTUdazz@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 96 comments

1) Vulgar Display of Power - Pantera You just can't beat em...songs to make you wanba headbutt a fucking Bullmoose. Far Beyond Diven was there pinnacle, but that kind of falls out of the GenX timespan.

2) Master of Puppets - Metalli...you know who the hell they are. Every song...just banger after banger. "Orion" is the creepiest, moodiest, most hauntingly beautiful instrumental of its time. When I pass away..I want it to be to this song.

3) Ace of Spades- Motorhead Lemmy is god. That is all.

4) The Number of the Beast- Iron Maiden The album that freaked the hell out of all of our parents. *I have a very interesting, but NC-17 story regarding this band, and a first-hand account of what happened...kind of gave them even more cred in my eyes.

5) (only because I made an arbitrary rule that I would only list 1 album per band) So Far, So Good, So What? - Megadeath Their version of "Anarchy in the UK" got me into metal. It's a SHAME that Mustaine is now a coffee peddling, pseudo-Christian, right wang fucknugget now.

Honorable Mentions:

Among the Living - Anthrax

Painkiller- Judas Priest (the Scott Travis drum intro to the title track got me into playing drums...going on 35 years now)

What had you headbangin back in the day?

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bippsee@reddit

Metallica’s $5.98 tape.

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Th3L0n3R4g3r@reddit

Iron Maiden: Live after Death
Motorhead: No sleep till Hammersmith
Anthrax: Among the living
KISS: Creatures of the night
Motley Crue: Shout at the Devil

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AnarchiaKapitany@reddit

Metallica - Ride the lightning

Manowar - Fighting the world

Motörhead - Ace of spades

Iron Maiden - No prayer for the dying

Rammstein - Herzleid

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Patient-Cap-4004@reddit

Master of Puppets
Number of the Beast
Defenders of the Faith
Ride the Lightning
Powerslave

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woodworkingguy1@reddit

I like all a wide variety of music but in the early 90's I loved me Dr Feelgood and And Justice for All. Empire by Queensryche is at the top as well.

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SnatchAddict@reddit

I feel like it went Dr Feelgood then Appetite for Destruction.

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AnarchiaKapitany@reddit

Appetite is not metal, it's hard rock. Sure the lines are somewhat blurred, but still.

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VirtuaFighter6@reddit

Master of Puppets

Reign in Blood

Among the Living

Peace Sells

South of Heaven

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Several_Living_7362@reddit

Ride the Lightning - Metallica

Killers - Iron Maiden

Metal Church - Metal Church

Sound of White Noise - Anthrax

Diary of a Madman - Ozzy

Honorable mentions: Restless and Wild - Accept Lights, Camera, Revolution - Suicidal Tendencies

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PhineasFreak1975@reddit

Jesus Built My Hotrod 🤘

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PhineasFreak1975@reddit

Lightning Puppets South of Heaven Extreme Aggression Seasons in the Abyss

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TheYintoyourYang@reddit

1.Black Sabbath - Sabotage

2.Judas Preist - British Steel

3.Iron Maiden - Killers and Number of the Beast ..Paul Di'Anno vs. Bruce Dickinson

4.Metallica - Kill 'em All

5.Slayer - Hell Awaits

🍻

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Ineedlunch72@reddit

Cro Mags - AOQ Bathory-Blood Fire Death Iron Maiden-Killers Nuclear Assault- Game Over Carnivore - Retaliation

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box_elder74@reddit

Fuck yeah Age of Quarrel.

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Slitheytove1031@reddit

I'm going to define Gen-X metal as what I saw on Headbangers Ball. This might not meet everyone's criteria but, it does for me. 1) Fishbone-Reality of my Surroundings. This album changed my entire music perspective. Also, some insane pits at live Fishbone shows. SWIM ! 2) Iron Maiden-Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Their most beautiful album. I only wish I could have seen this tour. 3) Pantera-Cowboys From Hell was the soundtrack to my summer. 4) Faith No More-The Real Thing. I had never heard anything like it. Mike Patton and his crew are one of a kind. My friends and I even shaved the sides of our heads to be like Mike.

Last but, not least. Anthrax & Public Enemy Bring the Noize. My gods this was everything I wanted from a metal album. It was loud, it was obnoxious, it was so damn fun. Also, Evilnikcufecin ! I was there, Irvine Meadows. This was the biggest pit I've ever been in.

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Fun_Comfortable_7956@reddit

Dream Theater - Images and Words

Metallica - And Justice for All and Master of Puppets

Megadeth - Countdown to Exctinction

Iron Maiden - Fear of the Dark

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a_passionate_man@reddit

Nice to find Dream Theater being mentioned here 👍🏻

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BillionTonsHyperbole@reddit

Godflesh - Streetcleaner

Danzig - Danzig

Faith No More - The Real Thing

Ministry - The Land of Rape and Honey (Industrial, I know, but metal also)

Obituary - Slowly We Rot

By the way, I'd say we are living in a golden age of metal at this very moment. So many great acts out there right now.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Never got into Danzig and the whole I'm Glenn..and I'm all wicked and scary...and 5'4. Him getting KTFO by the singer of the Westside Kings was HOF epic. And I never thought they were metal.

Fucking LOVE Faith No More...got sloppy drunk with Mike Borden is Austin 30 or so years ago...but not quite what I would classify as metal.

And I agree that today's metal is great. My SatRad is usually on Liquid Metal...

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BillionTonsHyperbole@reddit

Danzig 1-4 are worth a listen, even if the man himself is an unstable knob of a man.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

That's fair...I think I still prefer The Misfits

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BillionTonsHyperbole@reddit

Yeah, but imagine The Misfits with good production and better musicians. That's what you get with Danzig (and to a lesser extent, Samhain). Seriously, give it a listen.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

I've listened to a fair share...Mother did nothing for me....Cantspeak (I see what you did there, Glen) was kinda cringe... maybe I need to dig into some deeper tracks.

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SnatchAddict@reddit

Lucifuge ll is a great album.

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BillionTonsHyperbole@reddit

Her Black Wings is a metal ballad for the ages.

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Limp-Piglet-8164@reddit

Godflesh and Obituary! My man!

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SomeCrazedBiker@reddit

I'm currently obsessed with Swedish Melodic Death Metal.

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goozen@reddit

I’ll add a few “lesser” albums:

“I hear black” and “Horrorscope” by Overkill

“Lights, Camera, Revolution!” Suicidal Tendencies

“Arise” and “Chaos AD” Sepultura

That’s 5 so I’ll stop 😂

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feder_online@reddit

Ride The Lightning - Better than Master of Puppets
Ace of Spade - It just kills
My War - Black Flag. Less punk, more "In Your Face"
Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy. A face full of guitar.
Moving Pictures - Rush. You can argue it isn't "metal", but between "Tom Sawyer", YYZ, and "Limelight", hard to say it isn't.

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revchewie@reddit

Number of the Beast, Iron Maiden

Blizzard of Ozz, Ozzy Osbourne

Screaming for Vengeance, Judas Priest

Shout at the Devil, Motley Crue

Black Album, Metallica

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IAmATree76@reddit

In no order

Tesla - Psychotic Supper - still holds up. Every song is good to great.
LA Guns- s/t - sloppy and rocking. One More Reason just shreds.
Slayer - Seasons In the Abyss. Dead Skin Mask and War Ensamble are just killer on a record with a lot of good stuff.
Anthrax - Sound of White Noise - I actually like Joey on vocals better than John Bush, but everything about this record kills. With the exception of their newer records, probably my fav front to back Anthrax record.
Faith No More - Angel Dust - this record blew my mind as a kid. I'm counting it as metal because Jim Martin was metal as fuck, and FNM took a dip after he left.

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Limp-Piglet-8164@reddit

War Ensemble is a great track.

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Bear_Salary6976@reddit

I always hated it when people would shit on Bush. White Noise is a great album, but peyote were mad that Anthrax sounded different.

I cut class so I could buy that album the day it was released.

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BrokenPinkyPromise@reddit

I almost threw that Anthrax album on my list too. Bush was undeniable.

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deadweights@reddit

Ride The Lightning Peace Sells, But Who’s Buying Vulgar Display of Power Reign In Blood Among The Living

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MommaBear354@reddit

I had to scroll way to far to find Slayer 🤘

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Limp-Piglet-8164@reddit

And Megadeth

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Nothing wrong with these picks. Not a damn thing. All of these would easily be in a Top 15.

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PositiveCelery@reddit

Judas Priest - Priest...Live!
Megadeth - Peace Sells
Motörhead - Orgasmotron
Iron Maiden - Live After Death
Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow

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fuckssakereddit@reddit

Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath

Diary of a Madman - Ozzy

Screaming for Vengeance - Judas Priest

The Last in Line - Dio

Back in Black - AC/DC

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MerryMortician@reddit

Motley Crue Dr Feelgood Metallica Justice For All Pantera Vulgar Display of Power Fear Factory Obsolete Death Individual Thought Patterns

Sepultura Chaos AD almost made my list. Morbid angel, living sacrifice and a few others. I kinda think about what albums really made an impact during specific events in my life etc

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FPB270@reddit

Gretchen Mindcrime Master So Far… Vivid

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Sad-Maintenance3422@reddit

Just a fun fact: Dave Mustaines aunt sent me to prison twice. Crazy. Still appreciate the music though.

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CapitalRadioOne@reddit

Before or after he was born again?

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Sad-Maintenance3422@reddit

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Dirty_Wookie1971@reddit

I can’t believe nobody has said Anthrax - Spreading the Disease This is their defining Album.

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Parking-Power-1311@reddit

1. Unleashed In The East - Live In Japan - Judas Priest

2. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

3. Ace of Spades - Motorhead (total agreement)

4. Number of The Beast - Iron Maiden (total agreement)

5. Killing Machine - Judas Priest

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

I was soooo tempted to put some Sabbath on my list...they fell just outside...I should've had them as an HM at least. They paved the way for every other band on my list.

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Parking-Power-1311@reddit

It's so hard.

Took me a while to write my own list.

Difficult to narrow that stuff down and some get tossed in that really aren't metal.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Right!? You get 2 or 3 in.... and it gets tough.

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Lightningstruckagain@reddit

I had Unleashed In The East on every media. 8 track to CD.

The Ripper was so good

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LachlanGurr@reddit

Slayer reign in blood

Entombed clandestine

Sepultura arise

Carcass necrotism ...

Motorhead no sleep till Hammersmith

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cheesecheeseonbread@reddit

Slayer - Reign in Blood
Gwar - Scumdogs of the Universe
SOD - Speak English Or Die
Anthrax - Among The Living
Megadeth - Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?

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CapitalRadioOne@reddit

Hey Gordy gimme a shot!

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cheesecheeseonbread@reddit

Bleeearggh

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squirtloaf@reddit

Then:

Maiden-NOTB
Priest-Screaming for Vengeance
Ozzy-first 2
Metallica-Ride the Lightning
Riot-Fire Down Under

That's a cheater's 5...but at the time I would listen to any and all types of metal, so add Motley's first 2, Ratt's first 3 (including the EP), Scorpions Blackout and Manowar's Hail To England.

Now?

Maiden-first 2
Ozzy-first 2
Sabbath: first 6
Priest- British Steel, Point of Entry, SFV

Those ones stand, but Motley and Ratt have lost all meaning lol. More into UFO now than Scorpions. Hardly listen to Metallica.

Wait, are we counting Van Halen? If so all of the Dave Albums make my list.

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SaltyMargarita@reddit

D.R.I.

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Edward_the_Dog@reddit

Paranoid

Heaven & Hell

Piece of Mind

Holy Diver

Vulgar Display

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badcarburetor@reddit

Off the top of my head and not going past the early 90s:

Venom - Black Metal Motörhead - Another Perfect Day Obituary - Slowly We Rot Deicide - Legion Girlschool - Demolition

Do you still listen to new music? Death metal and hardcore are popping off big time nowadays and so much of the music is as good as it ever was back when.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Oh yessir... I'm a drummer... I'm BOUND to metal...

Lamb of God Orbit Culture Moon Tooth Black Dahlia Jinjer

....and the heavier shit...

Infant Annhilator (the Aaron Kitcher playback of "Cuntcrusher"...even though it's sped up in places...is still breathtaking: https://youtu.be/SImHi16cwqc?si=8BW5iEezNCWjsnvA )

Cattle Decapitation

...sooo much more...hell I even dig IWRESTLEDABEARONCE ....they make me laugh.

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LaurieIsNotHisSister@reddit

Master of Puppets.

Peace Sells, But Who's Buying.

Number of the Beast.

Seasons In the Abyss.

Practice What You Preach.

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adp15@reddit

Testament. Fuck yes. I listened to that album a million times. Alex Skolnik is not well known enough for how good he is.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Man...how the hell (no pun intended) did I leave out SLAYER?!? Kerry King jumping in and the end of No Sleep Till Brookyn was still badass as well....

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Rick--Diculous@reddit

Reign in Blood - Slayer

Master of Puppets - Metallica

Vulger Display of Power - Panter

The Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden

Rust in Peace - Megadeth

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Lightningstruckagain@reddit

In no particular order:

Metallica- Ride The Lightning

Dio- Holy Diver

Ozzy- Diary of a Madman

Iron Maiden- Piece Of Mind

Soundgarden- Badmotorfinger. Grunge to you, metal to me.

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the_natis@reddit

Following your one album per band rule, these were the albums I listened to the most:

And Justice for All...
Peace Sells, But Who's Buying
State of Euphoria
Practice What You Preach
The Years of Decay

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cactusshooter@reddit

+1 for Testament

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EvilLLamacoming4u@reddit

Slayer - South of heaven Bolt Thrower - For victory Paradise Lost - Icon Pantera - Cowboys from hell Machinehead - Burn my eyes

Love the posts, so many good albums. Bringing back good memories.

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Monkeynutz_Johnson@reddit

Sorry, I gotta go with Metallica Kill Em All, can't beat Motor Breath. In it's day, Shout at the Devil was a good record.

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Kills em All was Kidtallica...they was all just young Cali rockers...loved it...but the production value was awful.

Crue was never metal to me. But Dr. Feelgood was in my Walkman every night when I ran to get in condition for football back in HS. They were a hair metal band that were too talented (outside out Neil's mid vox) to be relegated to just another hair metal band.

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deadweights@reddit

Ten Seconds To Love is a banger to this day. Jagged riff, 50 foot cab. Classic.

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citycouple30@reddit

1. Slayer -Reign in Blood

2 Slayer - south of heaven

3 Slayer

4 Slayer

5 Slayer

Did I mention Slayer….

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COVFEFE-4U@reddit

Black Sabbath: Heaven and Hell Pantera: Cowboys From Hell Type O Negative: Bloody Kisses Megadeth: Countdown to Extinction Motorhead: Ace of Spades

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BrokenPinkyPromise@reddit

I am okay with the Pantera pick. Outside of that…

Metallica - “Ride The Lightning”. This was my first Metallica album, and it started a 40 year love for their music.

Queensrÿche - “Operation Mindcrime”. Simply the greatest concept album of all time, regardless of genre.

Judas Priest - “Defender Of The Faith”. Peak Halford. Tipton and Downing were at their best too. “The Sentinel” alone makes this my favorite Priest album.

Iron Maiden - “Piece Of Mind”. I honestly could have swapped this out with “Powerslave”, but I’m feeling “The Flight Of Icarus” lately. Ask me again tomorrow and I’ll give you a different answer.

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AKCanonSong@reddit

Holygod, we are cut from the same cloth. 1000 times this!

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bigSTUdazz@reddit (OP)

Not a THING wrong with these picks homie. Lightning was great, but Cliff (RIFP) really elevated the entire band on "Puppets"...imvho.

Queensryche...ehh...I just could not Geoff Tate's singing...but Scott Rockenfield is a great drummer. Almost as good as his kit.

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throw123454321purple@reddit

No Pyromania?

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tkingsbu@reddit

Ride the lightning

Peace sells

Kill ‘em all

Practice what you preach

Live after death

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Mistergardenbear@reddit

In no order

* Sleep -Holy Mountain

* Anthrax -Among The Kiving

* Corrosion of Conformity - Deliverance

* Melvins - Stoner Witch

* Emperor/Enslaved -Split EP Hordanes Land

Special runner up for not metal, but kinda so: Black Flag -My War side 2

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JTBlakeinNYC@reddit

My uncle bought Lars Ulrich’s house last year. He said he knew who the owner was because of me making him sit through Headbanger’s Ball on Friday nights when he visited. 🤣

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Vincent_Curry@reddit

Slayer: Reign In Blood

Metallica: Ride The Lightning

Anthrax: Spreading The Disease

WASP: WASP

Iron Maiden: Caught Somewhere In Time

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this_is_Winston@reddit

A memorable one was Judas Priest Screaming for Vengeance. I bought it at release without hearing anything on it yet. Hearing Hellion and Electric Eye for the first time blew my middle school mind.

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CoastalKtulu@reddit

Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

Scorpions - Blackout

Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath

Metallica - Master of Puppets

Dio - Holy Diver

Honorable Mentions:

Ozzy - Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of Madman

Dio - Last in Line

Scorpions - Animal Magnetism/Lovedrive

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RSVPno@reddit

No Dokken? Tooth and Nail!

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ApatheistHeretic@reddit

Can't go wrong with those... 'Children of the Damned' was on - Number of the Beast, love it.

I would also propose 'Ride the Lightning' as a Metallica alternative to Master of Puppets. Though, I can't deny that 'Battery' is my favorite Metallica track.

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