Best Of 1988… The Year That Defined My Metal Life

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Best Of 1988… The Year That Defined My Metal Life

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A list by
billy4metal
Created
November 01, 2023
Entries
67
Endorsements
1
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!
67.
1.
Manowar - Kings Of Metal
67.
2.
Candlemass - Ancient Dreams
67.
3.
Scanner - Hypertrace
67.
4.
Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II
67.
5.
Riot - ThunderSteel
67.
6.
Rage - Perfect Man
67.
7.
Danzig - Danzig
67.
8.
Running Wild - Port Royal
67.
9.
Realm - Endless War
67.
10.
Crimson Glory - Transcendence
67.
11.
Turbo - Last Warrior
67.
12.
Virgin Steele - Age Of Consent
67.
13.
Sword - Sweet Dreams
67.
14.
Hydra Vein - Rather Death Than False Of Faith
67.
15.
Sabbat - History Of A Time To Come
67.
16.
Blind Guardian - Battalions Of Fear
67.
17.
Chastain - The Voice Of The Cult
67.
18.
Overkill - Under The Influence
67.
19.
Flotsam And Jetsam - No Place For Disgrace
67.
20.
King Diamond - "Them"
67.
21.
I.N.C. - The Visitor
67.
22.
Angel Dust - To Dust You Will Decay
67.
23.
Liege Lord - Master Control
67.
24.
Cloven Hoof - Dominator
67.
25.
Death Angel - Frolic Through The Park
67.
26.
Nuclear Assault - Survive
67.
27.
Meliah Rage - Kill To Survive
67.
28.
Kinetic Dissent - Controlled Reaction [Demo]
67.
29.
Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime
67.
30.
Metallica - ...And Justice For All
67.
31.
Judas Priest - Ram It Down
67.
32.
Testament - The New Order
67.
33.
Slayer - South Of Heaven
67.
34.
Bathory - Blood Fire Death
67.
35.
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
67.
36.
Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey
67.
37.
Attacker - The Second Coming
67.
38.
Vendetta (GER) - Brain Damage
67.
39.
Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator
67.
40.
Helstar - A Distant Thunder
67.
41.
Hexenhaus - A Tribute To Insanity
67.
42.
Hades (USA) - If At First You Don't Succeed
67.
43.
Deadly Blessing - Ascend From The Cauldron
67.
44.
Rigor Mortis - Rigor Mortis
67.
45.
Forbidden - Forbidden Evil
67.
46.
Mekong Delta - The Music Of Erich Zann
67.
47.
Coroner - Punishment For Decadence
67.
48.
Holosade - Hell House
67.
49.
Holy Terror - Mind Wars
67.
50.
Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For The Wicked
67.
51.
Pestilence - Malleus Maleficarum
67.
52.
Genocide - Black Sanctuary
67.
53.
Grinder - Dawn For The Living
67.
54.
Sanctuary - Refuge Denied
67.
55.
Necrosis - The Search
67.
56.
Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow... When I Can't Even Smile Today
67.
57.
Impellitteri - Stand In Line
67.
58.
Death - Leprosy
67.
59.
Pariah - The Kindred
67.
60.
Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice
67.
61.
Mandator - Initial Velocity
67.
62.
Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come
67.
63.
Bolt Thrower - In Battle There Is No Law
67.
64.
Brocas Helm - Black Death
67.
65.
Virus (UK) - Force Recon
67.
66.
Hallows Eve - Monument
67.
67.
Voivod - Dimension Hatröss
More lists by billy4metal ››
Disclaimer: All top lists are unofficial and do not represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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Comments: 6 Visited by 23 users
Starvynth
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05.11.2023 - 00:01
Starvynth
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Posts: 3579


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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05.11.2023 - 14:26

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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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AndyMetalFreak
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05.11.2023 - 14:49
AndyMetalFreak
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Posts: 6609


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
----
My top ranked albums of 2026
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Posts: 87
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05.11.2023 - 22:10

Posts: 87
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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Posts: 87
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05.11.2023 - 22:15

Posts: 87
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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Posts: 87
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05.11.2023 - 22:15

Posts: 87
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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