Almost all album titles fall in one of two categories: The album shares the title with one of its songs (the title track) or, alternatively, the album title is independent from the songs (no title track).

However, there are examples of songs that have a central link to the album title without sharing the same name. In these cases, certain lyrics from the song were chosen as the album title.

This (alphabetical) list shows the names of these “hidden title tracks” and the central lyrics that gave the name to the corresponding album.

Please feel free to suggest more of your favorite metal/hard rock examples of these “hidden title tracks”.

1.40 Watt Sun - Wider Than The Sky

2.A Forest Of Stars - A Shadowplay For Yesterdays

3.Acid Bath - When The Kite String Pops

4.Agalloch - The Mantle

5.Agalloch - Ashes Against The Grain

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In my opinion, these albums are the best in heavy metal history and that includes best riffs, amazing solos and especially very unique vocals.

1.Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith

2.Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance

3.Def Leppard - Pyromania

4.Savatage - Gutter Ballet

5.Skid Row - Slave To The Grind

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My top ranked (in order from best down) favorite hard rock/heavy metal albums. I've also one included my top three favorite tracks from each album.

Enjoy!

1.Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime

2.Black Sabbath - Paranoid

3.Rush - Hemispheres

4.Uriah Heep - Demons And Wizards

5.Judas Priest - Painkiller

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Updated 14.4.2024

My rather personal and improvised take on the subject matter. The list is pretty wage, I'll be updating it a lot and the order might vary a little depending on some things, but they're all great and awesome records no matter what. If there are some great records missing, that doesn't necessarily mean I consider them bad, maybe I just forgot about them or just haven't listened to them enough to consider them personal favourites.

Limited to metal and rock albums found on Metal Storm. Most of them (at least 90%) are anyway, so doesn't matter. The absent ones are mostly more pop and synth oriented stuff and some really obscure jazz and fusion albums.

1.Marillion - Marbles

2.Anathema - Weather Systems

3.Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time

4.Moonsorrow - Voimasta Ja Kunniasta

5.Moonsorrow - Kivenkantaja

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These are the 211 essential hard rock/metal albums of the 80's, as were selected by the Greek Magazine "Metal Hammer" (August 2001 issue).

The albums followed by a star are the "must have", whereas the rest albums are the "could have".

1.Angel Witch - Angel Witch

2.AC/DC - Back In Black

3.Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell

4.Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations

5.Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden

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Metal Albums from 1983

1.Metallica - Kill 'Em All

2.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

3.Dio - Holy Diver

4.Suicidal Tendencies - Suicidal Tendencies

5.Slayer - Show No Mercy

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1.Metallica - Kill 'Em All

2.Dio - Holy Diver

3.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

4.Accept - Balls To The Wall

5.Mercyful Fate - Melissa

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As a long time guitarist, i have a passion to learn and play guitar riffs and solos and these ones are an ultimate guide for guitar playing. Some solos are just more memorable than others and the following are the most well craftted solos i have heard till now.

1.Angra - Temple Of Shadows

2.Scorpions - Love At First Sting

3.Judas Priest - Painkiller

4.Symphony X - The Odyssey

5.Savatage - Edge Of Thorns

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1.Accept - Balls To The Wall

2.Dio - Holy Diver

3.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

4.Journey - Frontiers

5.Manowar - Into Glory Ride

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A list of my favorite album covers

1.Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion

2.Mercyful Fate - Melissa

3.Slayer - Reign In Blood

4.Motörhead - Motörhead

5.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

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So … you want a start listen Metal and you don’t know how to start? Then this list is for you.

1.Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV

2.Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast

3.Saxon - Denim And Leather

4.Rush - 2112

5.Van Halen - 1984

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My personal favorites. These albums are as perfect as an album can get, they always bring up the adrenaline and have in many ways changed the way I perceive music, expanding the horizons of metal in various ways. Most important of all they never get old or boring and therefore should be given a chance.

1.Angra - Temple Of Shadows

2.Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II

3.Symphony X - The Divine Wings Of Tragedy

4.Adagio - Underworld

5.Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith

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1.Iron Maiden - Powerslave

2.Metallica - Ride The Lightning

3.Megadeth - Rust In Peace

4.Judas Priest - Painkiller

5.Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

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1.Metal Church - Metal Church

2.Crimson Glory - Transcendence

3.Slayer - Show No Mercy

4.Viva - What The Hell Is Going On

5.Satan - Court In The Act

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1.Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind

2.Metallica - Kill 'Em All

3.Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon

4.Dio - Holy Diver

5.Manowar - Into Glory Ride

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