Twenty Five years ago was 1988, and it was a fantastic year for the awareness of metal. Some might say it was busting at the seams and possibly reached its height in popularity. Our beloved genre had bands on the charts, dominated MTV countdowns, and several arena tours simultaneously roaming the country.
Marty Friedman released my favorite record ever, Motley Crue entered rehab, and Pantera still wore spandex. Bands like Nine Inch Nails, Cannibal Corpse, and Paradise Lost were just starting to form while Metallica, Megadeth, Danzig, Slayer and Queensryche released some of their most celebrated work to date.
The following is a list of new albums I was rocking out to, many of which my dad also blasted on a daily basis!
Marty Friedman – Dragon's Kiss
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ljjh5uyIlw[/youtube]
Danzig – Danzig
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkFsZHe_NGY[/youtube]
Metallica – …And Justice For All
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU_ggFovJNo[/youtube]
King Diamond – Them
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJH0eBtnbcs[/youtube]
Jason Becker – Perpetual Burn
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lR1tt24mo4[/youtube]
Testament – The New Order
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9GWNFLHg58[/youtube]
Death – Leprosy
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYYUR21_G9c[/youtube]
Slayer – South of Heaven
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqduxsQ8WVs[/youtube]
Manowar – Kings of Metal
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bkPyfzgIpg[/youtube]
Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvgLj8pawGI[/youtube]
Suicidal Tendencies – How Will I Laugh Tomorrow…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVr5RtEqpc0[/youtube]
Iron Maiden – Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSZbbTjM0Es[/youtube]
Living Colour – Vivid
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzdUy90vTuk[/youtube]
Megadeth – So Far, So Good… So What!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqH5Tn0vHpg[/youtube]
Anthrax – State of Euphoria
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0SOC0FIK7o[/youtube]
For more, check out Frank's top list of 1987.
