This could invite trouble, but I think we can all be adults and disagree on our faves. What is the best metal album from the 80's and why? Give an example why you believe its so great so that those who haven't listened to it can expand their musical horizons.

This is extemely hard and if I answered it next week, I might give a different answer.
Right now, I'm going with Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard of Ozz.

This album was explosive! Ozzy expanded his vocal horizons on songs like "Goodbye to Romance" and "Revelation (Mother Earth)". THE song on the album is "Crazy Train". That song blows me away to this day. The biggest highlight of all is Randy Rhodes. His guitar playing is legendary because of this and the next album by Ozzy.

Even if this isn't your top pick, its got to be in your top 5 or at least top 10. Or you haven't listened to it recently and need to.

Appetite for Destruction. Oh man was it the real thing. Heavy Metal was certainly an attitude, but it was about being real and being on the edge. Those boys were both in spades.

I bought that album way before the buzz took off. I bought it for the cover, but who cares why. It shocked me. It shocked me with the graphic depiction of rape, with the band members already dead on the front of a cross, but most of all the music was so different and real. Each song is a gem of it's own accord, but the album has such a strong unity it overwhelms. Together, the songs tell a story. There is rage, and apathy, and paranoia, and all of the other things I have felt magnified by 100. But there is also redemption and innocence (Rocket queen is the best example, Sweet Child Oh Mine), and finally just exhaustion and the wisdom of experience (paradise city). But all that aside, it rocks, it has great lyrics, and an attitude that I think has never been recaptured (even by GNR).

Swarm, Appetite For Destruction was kicka**. It was everything you said and then some. Unfortunately, it does seem to be a one of a kind. I wish someone could do something like that now.

You mean you don't think Limp Bizkit are for real? http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//wink.gif

I really like Ozzy. Crazy Train is one of the best metal songs of all time. I hear it in my sleep sometimes, or when I'm driving. I liked Killer of Giants and Shot in the Dark also, plus tons of other songs he's done. But I just don't think he did a defining album. There are too many songs that are derivative of his own work. It's almost like the albums all have a great song or two, some pretty rockin ones, then at least 3-4 "generic Ozzy" songs. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, and if you'd asked "Who do you think has consistently cranked out killer metal hits over the years" he'd be way up on the list. But as for the best metal album, I think there are others that supercede Blizzard. As you mentioned yourself, Crazy Train is "The" song from that album. Any album that is so overshadowed by one song doesn't fit my definition of a best album.

I'd put some semblance of the following:

GNR -Appetite for Destruction
Metallica- And Justice for all (too bad Black album came out in '91)
Dokken -Back for the Attack
Quiet Riot- Metal Health
Motley Crue -Shout at the Devil
Ratt -Out Of The Cellar
Metallica - Master of Puppets
*Iron Maiden - The Number of The Beast
*Judas Priest – Defenders Of The Faith
(I never got into these two, but in good conscience I have to put them here.)
Megadeth - Peace Sells

lets see, in no particular order:

Queensryche OPERATION MINDCRIME
Motley Crue SHOUT AT THE DEVIL
Dokken UNDER LOCK AND KEY
Van Halen 5150 (not all that hard, but great nonetheless)
Metallica RIDE THE LIGHTNING
KISS REVENGE (thier best of the "unmasked" era_
Skid row SKID ROW
House Of Lords SAHARA
WHitesnake Whitesnake
Blue Murder Blue Murder


I could go on and on but these would be in my "stranded on a dessert island" list.


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My morals are beyond reproach and I will brutally murder anybody who says different.

Great lists! All those albums rocked!!

Yeah, man. Skid Row definitely goes on that list.

I debated 5150, but is it "heavy" metal? Who can make that call? http://www.80sxchange.com/ubb/smilies//smile.gif

Under lock and key: Great! Loved it!