Black Sabbath – Tyr: When Sabbath Looked North Released: August 20, 1990 By 1990, Black Sabbath barely resembled the band that recorded “Paranoid.” Tony Iommi was the only original member left, the drums
Megadeth – Countdown to Extinction: The Sound Beneath the Complexity Released: July 14, 1992 Rust in Peace pushed Megadeth’s technical side about as far as it could go. The playing was rapid, tangled, and
Megadeth – United Abominations: When the Riffs Argue Back Released: May 15, 2007 United Abominations leaves few dots for the listener to connect. Dave Mustaine names governments, wars, weapons, media outlets, and the United
Judas Priest – Ram It Down: Metal in Capital Letters Released: May 13, 1988 How do you prove you’re still Judas Priest after Turbo? Ram It Down answers by turning everything up: faster tempos,
Morbid Angel – Altars of Madness: Finding Shape Inside the Chaos Released: May 12, 1989 How does music this unruly leave such clear shapes behind? Altars of Madness rarely stays with one riff for long. Pete
Morbid Angel’s Domination: The Slow March to Death Metal Supremacy Domination isn’t an album that begs for attention. It doesn’t explode—it envelops.
Testament – The New Order: Between the Pit and the Dirge Released: May 10, 1988 Most of The New Order’s best-known songs were built to set a room off: “Into the Pit,” “Trial by
LIK – Necro: Keeping the Corpse Moving Released: April 18, 2025 How much room does LIK have to move when the band’s identity depends on Stockholm death metal sounding unmistakably like
Amorphis – Circle: The Damage Stays Audible Released: April 19, 2013 Survival stories can turn cheap in a hurry. Once the damaged outsider discovers his strength, the story can start treating every
Black Label Society – Catacombs of the Black Vatican – When the Guitar Answers to the Song Released: April 8, 2014 Nobody came to a Black Label Society record wondering whether Zakk Wylde could play. By 2014, the solos, squeals, and bulldozer
Venom – Metal Black: The Dirt Was Part of the Sound Released: March 27, 2006 Venom invited the comparison themselves. Twenty-four years after Black Metal, they reversed the words, put the goat back on the
