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Best Of 1988… The Year That Defined My Metal Life
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While 1987 woke me up to metal and I hoovered up the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica and Helloween’s keepers, 1988 was my metal heyday and a year that produced albums that would still dominiate my top 20 list today. Lots of power metal and plenty of Noise Records!

Created by: billy4metal | 01.11.2023


1. Manowar - Kings Of Metal
2. Scanner - Hypertrace
3. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II
4. Candlemass - Ancient Dreams
5. Riot - ThunderSteel
6. Rage - Perfect Man
7. Danzig - Danzig
8. Running Wild - Port Royal
9. Realm - Endless War
10. Crimson Glory - Transcendence
11. Turbo - Last Warrior
12. Virgin Steele - Age Of Consent
13. Sword - Sweet Dreams
14. Hydra Vein - Rather Death Than False Of Faith
15. Sabbat - History Of A Time To Come
16. Blind Guardian - Battalions Of Fear
17. Chastain - The Voice Of The Cult
18. Overkill - Under The Influence
19. Flotsam And Jetsam - No Place For Disgrace
20. King Diamond - "Them"
21. I.N.C. - The Visitor
22. Angel Dust - To Dust You Will Decay
23. Liege Lord - Master Control
24. Cloven Hoof - Dominator
25. Death Angel - Frolic Through The Park
26. Nuclear Assault - Survive
27. Meliah Rage - Kill To Survive
28. Kinetic Dissent - Controlled Reaction [Demo]
29. Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
30. Metallica - ...And Justice For All
31. Judas Priest - Ram It Down
32. Testament - The New Order
33. Slayer - South Of Heaven
34. Bathory - Blood Fire Death
35. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
36. Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey
37. Attacker - The Second Coming
38. Vendetta (GER) - Brain Damage
39. Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator
40. Helstar - A Distant Thunder
41. Hexenhaus - A Tribute To Insanity
42. Hades (USA) - If At First You Don't Succeed
43. Deadly Blessing - Ascend From The Cauldron
44. Rigor Mortis - Rigor Mortis
45. Forbidden - Forbidden Evil
46. Mekong Delta - The Music Of Erich Zann
47. Coroner - Punishment For Decadence
48. Holosade - Hell House
49. Holy Terror - Mind Wars
50. Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For The Wicked
51. Pestilence - Malleus Maleficarum
52. Genocide - Black Sanctuary
53. Grinder - Dawn For The Living
54. Sanctuary - Refuge Denied
55. Necrosis - The Search
56. Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow... When I Can't Even Smile Today
57. Impellitteri - Stand In Line
58. Death - Leprosy
59. Pariah - The Kindred
60. Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice
61. Mandator - Initial Velocity
62. Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come
63. Bolt Thrower - In Battle There Is No Law
64. Brocas Helm - Black Death
65. Virus (UK) - Force Recon
66. Hallows Eve - Monument
67. Voivod - Dimension Hatröss


Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
[ More lists by billy4metal ]



Comments

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Comments: 6   Visited by: 20 users
05.11.2023 - 00:01
Starvynth
i c deaf people
Staff
I'm a simple man. My eyes read History Of A Time To Come and before my brain can even process this information, my right hand maneuvers the shortest route to the "Thumbs up!" button...
It's a reflex I can't control. Sorry!
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signatures = SPAM
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05.11.2023 - 14:26
John doe
I don't get it how and why that Manowar album is at the top, much better albums in this list. Just my opinion.
I enjoy a lot of albums here, 1988 was a great year for metal.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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05.11.2023 - 14:49
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Some phenomenal releases this year, Bolt Thrower, Queensrÿche, Riot, Crimson Glory, Death, Iron Maiden, Sanctuary, and Bathory in particular for me. But I have to agree that Manowar being your number one spot raised my eyebrows slightly, but each to their own I guess, and it's still a good list regardless
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Andy's 2024 album ranking
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05.11.2023 - 22:10
billy4metal
Written by AndyMetalFreak on 05.11.2023 at 14:49

Some phenomenal releases this year, Bolt Thrower, Queensrÿche, Riot, Crimson Glory, Death, Iron Maiden, Sanctuary, and Bathory in particular for me. But I have to agree that Manowar being your number one spot raised my eyebrows slightly, but each to their own I guess, and it's still a good list regardless

Haha - thanks Andy… I was a huge fan in the day. I think they were a different band back then - I always thought the vocals were incredible amd Ross had a soulful, bluesy way of playing the solos that I still think is fantastic). Sad that those first six albums are now seriously overshadowed by the poor material that came after. But I can’t betray my 16 year old self by pretending I didn’t love it!
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05.11.2023 - 22:15
billy4metal
Written by John doe on 05.11.2023 at 14:26

I don't get it how and why that Manowar album is at the top, much better albums in this list. Just my opinion.
I enjoy a lot of albums here, 1988 was a great year for metal.

Controversial I know - they always divided opinion and it’s got worse as time has gone by. Sad to see as their first four albums were incredible and this one hit the spot for me at the time (most of my friends would have agreed with you by the way!). Tried to see the list from what I felt at the time (or soon after as I can’t claim to have heard all those albums in 1988!) and I loved that top 5 - with Rage and Danzig vying to be there too
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05.11.2023 - 22:15
billy4metal
Written by Starvynth on 05.11.2023 at 00:01

I'm a simple man. My eyes read History Of A Time To Come and before my brain can even process this information, my right hand maneuvers the shortest route to the "Thumbs up!" button...
It's a reflex I can't control. Sorry!

Haha - I get that! Great album
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