BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 1988 As Chosen By You | Overkill Reviews

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Sam reviews the Top 5 Metal albums of 1988 as voted by you! (Scroll down for spoilers)
5. Queensrÿche, Operation: Mindcrime
4. Slayer, South of Heaven
3. Death, Leprosy
2. Iron Maiden, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
1. Metallica, And Justice for All
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[@Danimal77]

Lombardo's drums MADE South of Heaven the epic album that it is. Drum fills from HELL!

[@davidtingley9978]

One of the best drum sounds ever. So clear and natural.

[@beeemm2578]

Absolutely. The drum sound is fuckin perfect. This and Terrorizer-'World Downfall' have the best drum tones ever....well at least in heavy music. 🙂

[@WolfgangVonPoserkila]

Great Albums not even mentioned... Fates Warning - No Exit Blind Guardian - Battalions Of Fear Coroner - Punishment For Decadence Sabbat - History of a Time To Come Megadeth - So Far So Good...So What?

[@davidcatanus4922]

Flotsam and jetsam- no place for disgrace

[@groledo]

Thanks for mentioning Sabbat and Coroner! Man, these two did obsess me to the highest point...

[@alanlimpar5879]

Great shout on Fates Warning and Blind Guardian...and HOW THE FUCK WAS SO FAR SO GOOD...SO WHAT NOT MENTIONED ON THE VIDEO? SERIOUSLY WTF!!!??? LOL

[@markusorth5450]

They never mention Fates. Don't get it.

[@FDC42585]

Don't forget Overkill - Under The Influence & Anthrax - State Of Euphoria

[@szkcs]

it's a shame that Crimson Glory's masterpiece Transcendence didn't make the list, nor Testament's New Order ...

[@daoyang6055]

but "...and justice for all" made it

[@zombiemachinery4868]

Crimson Glory? I fucking love than band. Transcendence is way better than Operation Mindcrime by a mile.

[@DieCryMan]

the new order should have made it

[@azwris]

@Victor R. Vicious Rumors & Armored Saint as well..

[@timglasser9502]

I agree its a shame Look I get that Metallica took so much metal clout. I still argue that one seriously amazing and awesome album Forbidden Evil, is better than Operation Mindcrime. So Metallica is essentially the door- to metal genre and everyone just stops there never venturing into the genre itself, With other far better bands like Kreator, Overkill, Death Angel, Venom, Possessed, Sepultura, Athiest, Annihilator. The genre gets so much better the deeper inside you go. Pff, Testament New Order should have made the list.

[@Peccath]

1988, the year Hetfield sounded awesome and Lars tried his best.

[@MaverickMustaine]

Peccath lars tracked 79 takes per songs

[@VBshredder]

...and the result is a pretty epic performance. It's no secret he's not the most technically gifted drummer but he had alot of people fooled after 1988. Great drumming on both justice and the black album (in more groove oriented manner).

[@MaverickMustaine]

VBshredder oh god, shut up

[@VBshredder]

Sorry to disappoint you, I'm not your god. But anyway, so much for a reasonable discussion if that's what you come back with.

[@MaverickMustaine]

VBshredder no energy to come back to someone like you, lame ass jokes, and thinking that Lars is a great and technical drummer... ok I had enough

[@nickfanzo]

Seventh son is a masterpiece.

Helloween Keeper of the seven keys II and King Diamond Them should be on the list.

[@stephenkayes8981]

That was 1987.

[@galosniper7010]

@@stephenkayes8981 Keepers I was 87, Keepers II was 88, and it was the best album from that year by far

[@PerplexMusic]

Both choices better than seventh son of a seventh son

[@plciferpffer3048]

King Diamond "Them" is on the top 10 list of best heavy metal albums of all time.

[@premierrulz]

Suicidal Tendencies/ How will I laugh tomorrow( when I can't even smile today)

[@ShaunHensley]

Premieriz 1 The mix was so muted on that album, really held it back, imo

[@dannymontoya9469]

Agreed. ST4L!.

[@pags86]

My favorite suicidal album. Still listen to it today.

[@jeffreycollins7297]

Me too.

[@achillesmihail515]

My all time favourite album!

[@PamelaThrasher]

Sam's Pestilence shirt must be in the wash

[@jamesstaggs4160]

Justice could be released today and it would still sound heavy. Best songwriting they ever did. Then we got the Black album...... I have to question your ability to critique music if you doubt that Justice is a classic amongst their other records. Best damn album they ever put out. There's not a bad song on there. Far as the "no bass" thing everyone always brings up, I think it gave it this cold and, well, metallic sound that I've never heard anywhere else.

[@jace76ful]

james staggs I agree 100% it was in those times thee heaviest album among mainstream metal. That kill em all and the very first garage days i loved.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

It's all opinions, lol. I like Justice but I don't think it's anywhere as good as Ride the lightning or Master of Puppets

[@noahfaber8265]

There weren’t bad songs, but there weren’t any really any standout songs either. One and Blackened were both insanely good (I would really also put Dyers Eve on there too) but the rest weren’t as memorable as some of the previous and post albums. The production is totally opinion based. I strongly dislike the album sound, but I still think it is fantastic.

[@Cpt_Guirk]

Then we got the Black album......Sad but true. Masters is better. Song for song only One wins as the better ballad.

[@andrehb]

Nah man, Metallica felt for some reason they had to prove their musicianship on that record, and the result is an album full of bloated, proggy, reedy tracks that long outlast their welcome

[@bcg6760]

Infinite Dreams is not only my favorite Maiden song, my favorite of 1988, my favorite on Seventh Son, but it is also my favorite song period.

[@michaelhein5455]

I cannot believe they did not play Infinite Dreams during their tour which featured the Seventh Son album!

[@scareviewzombies]

Infinite dreams is a epic beautiful song goosebumps moments for me one of my favorite maiden songs

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

@@michaelhein5455 I agree with you. It made no sense what so ever that they played Afraid To Shoot Strangers when every Maiden fan was expecting Infinite Dreams. I like the song Afraid To Shoot Strangers, but I LOVE Infinite Dreams way way more.

[@oldsrocket8841]

I saw the concert from that tour in Cleveland. I also saw the Piece of mind tour in Erie.

[@marcelo.bassalo]

Hardest song I ever sang. Bruce just spits high notes on succession on a single breath. Dude is a beast. I wonder why they don't play this live, you'd need an oxigen tank.

[@acw2237]

One of the best 1988 releases is RIOT - THUNDERSTEEL

[@Vaggelis68]

Yeap...

[@jonafernal]

Was really holding out for Manowar - Kings Of Metal Such a great album. Wheels Of Fire, Heart Of Steel, Hail and Kill etc. Am I the only Manowarrior here?! =|= Great work Sam, love all the content on Banger 🤘🏻

[@walidaf9491]

wheels of fire baby!! ross the boss was the boss!!!

[@sebastienspaisaux7984]

No doubt, Kings Of Metal was a strong vital sign from Manowar and I listened to that album a whole damn lot when I was a kid - know every song inside out. However, when listening to it today I feel like watching Top Gun today - it was great then, it fitted perfectly into the times. I get a strong nostalgic feeling of how it was like being a kid those days. But then I listen to "Into The Lungs Of Hell" (the opener of Megadeth's 1988 album "So Far, So Good... So What!" - and then the whole album) and I immediately recognize what is more relevant to Heavy Metal's history. On the other hand, I disagree with number one. Justice was a pure masturbation power contest between James and Lars. That feud made the album strong, but unfortunately very incomplete too (-> Jason's Bass Tracks and the overall mix, particularly the drums). And it spawned off some weird imitators (regarding the sound mix) -> Vulgar Display Of Power (again, an unbelievable piece of work - but who made the decision to mix that album so it sounds like a lawn mower has gone crazy). Justice has outstanding songs and powerful performances - but to me Slayer's South Of Heaven was better - it may sound weird, but because it was less "strict". And Kings Of Metal and Justice are very strict - the first random two songs are very exciting, after four songs I get bored.

[@bschuler6216]

Don't forget my favorite Manowar song: Blood Of The Kings!

[@dennissweeney6774]

I though HAIL TO ENGLAND was a great album. I remember seeing MOTORHEAD AND MANOWAR a couple of times. Great times.

[@metashadow3924]

You're right dude. This album is fantastic.

[@EliphasDesni]

Voivod - Dimension Hatröss Vio-Lence - Eternal Nightmare Forbidden - Forbidden Evil Blind Illusion - The Sane Asylum Bathory - Blood Fire Death

[@FightTi11Death]

My Top 5 of '88: 1) Metallica - And Justice For All 2) Slayer - South Of Heaven 3) Death - Leprosy 4) Vio-lence - Eternal Nightmare 5) Testament - The New Order *Honorable Mention: (Forbidden - Forbidden Evil)

[@patrickbateman4272]

FightTi11Death Nice list. I would have to disagree with you regarding Metallica AJFA being ahead of Slayer and Death. Why do you have And Justice for All as 1. Imo it could have been perhaps their best album had they fixed the bass and mixing issues.

[@FightTi11Death]

Patrick Bateman I agree. I have And Justice For All as number 1 simply because Metallica got me into metal and it happens to be my favorite album. Even though Slayer is my favorite band.

[@davidcatanus4922]

FightTi11Death death angel-frolic through the park, flotsam and jetsam- no place for disgrace, overkill- under the influence, voivod-dimension hatross, razor- violent restitution,

[@lostinoc3528]

you would think you would have DRI in that list, with ur avatar.

[@bammyjastard]

Metallica justice Voivod dimension hatross Sabbat history of a time to come Slayer south of heaven Death leprosy

[@jimbulbs]

Some other great 1988 albums not mentioned... Vicious Rumors "Digital Dictator" Manowar "Kings Of Metal" Sanctuary "Refuge Denied" Fates Warning "No Exit" Yngwie J. Malmsteen's Rising Force "Odyssey" Crimson Glory "Transcendence"

[@facelessandnameless]

jimbulbs Refuge Denied 🤘

[@darkjester2713]

Right on..check out Apochrypha Eyes of time..I played the hell out of that and Digital Dictator along with Crimson Glory ,Leatherwolf, Malice,Fates warning ,King Diamond etc...I'm still banging my head at 49..

[@ii_reich_loyalist9729]

The most underrated album with the most underrated singer: Transcendance by Crimson Glory.

[@wkr64691]

South of heaven is slayers finest hour in my opinion Silent scream at the big four show is one of my favorite concert experiences ever

[@202d]

not a fan of that song other than that its my favorite Slayer album

[@derekobs9688]

@@202d Its the 4th best song on that album imo after the title track, Mandatory Suicide and Ghosts of War

[@pags86]

Silent scream, bury the unwanted child! Love that song and break down after the solos.

[@denversexton7182]

1. suicidal tendencies - how will i laugh tomorrow 2.slayer- south of heaven 3. iron maiden - seventh son 4. overkill - under the influence 5. yeah i'll put justice on the list

[@davidcatanus4922]

My top 5: 1. Voivod- dimension hatross 2. Testament- the new order 3. Flotsam and jetsam no place for disgrace 4. Metallica- and justice for all 5. Iron maiden- seventh son of a seventh son Honrorable mentions: overkill- under the influence Death angel- frolic through the park Anthrax- state of euphoria Megadeth- so far so good so what Suicidal tendencies- how will I laugh tomorrow Forbidden- forbidden evil Nuclear assault- survive vio-lence- eternal nightmare Atrophy- socialized hate razor- violent restitution Coroner- punishment for a decadence Tankard- morning after Judas priest- ram it down Helloween- keeper of the seven keys

[@SpiralDream]

Dimension Hatross. Almost forgot how awesome that album is.

[@jayjaytee9944]

I own all your top 5 plus most of your Honorables..... Sam is not exaggerating, 1988 really was a great year for Metal.....Maybe the best?

[@davidcatanus4922]

JAYJAY TEE I agree

[@derekobs9688]

Terrible list, you have under the influence and frolic through the park(really that album was beyond terrible), fuckin Atrophy and not soh or any other quality album lol

[@heretictemple9830]

1. Napalm Death - From Enslavement To Obliteration (I'm soooo disappointed this album is not even included in honorable mentions) 2. Carcass - Reek Of Putrefaction 3. Death - Leprosy 4. Slayer - South Of Heaven 5. Bolt Thrower - In Battle There Is No Law

[@h8ed121]

This list right here 🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@hithere2776]

For me Slayer South of heaven is the best🤘

[@PawelSorinsky]

Testament - New Order, Hobbs Angel Of Death, Incubus - Serpent Temptation...

[@wenxingwang7867]

Pablo Nino Nathanael Stoop Personally love The New Order album, but it was not their best effort...they made those instrumental songs just to fill up the album time

[@donnyminshall695]

Serpent temptation is great and Hobbs' Angel of Death. Razor - Violent Restitution is also killer. Check it out if you haven't heard it.

[@xIcOnx89]

You forgot Riot’s Thundersteel also

[@satanlaffing]

I went visit a friend of mine & he gave me a copy of "serpent temptation". I packed it away in my luggage & we went & got LOOOAAADDEEDD!!! totally forgot about the damn thing & found it in my bag @ a year or 2 later. CAN'T FUKKN BELIEVE I DID THAT SHIT!

[@debbetaklamakan2024]

+1 on ghosts of war...one of the best slayer songs

[@aquabot]

Indeed.

[@mdanmdan2109]

dive bombs with double bass background on silent scream its an nightmerish atmospheric awsome moment.

[@aquabot]

The lyrics of Behind The Crooked Cross are very good too.

[@jjvladimir6070]

Dave Lombardo's drum intro to Behind the Crooked Cross gives me chills.

[@jjvladimir6070]

Souls drift, they fill the air

[@itkojecockot]

1. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime 2. MetallicA - ......And Justice For Jason 3. IRON MAIDEN - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son 4. Crimson Glory - Transcendence 5. FATES WARNING - No Exit honourable mentions: Death - Leprosy Bon Jovi - New Jersey Helloween - Keeper Part II.

[@mrmcmcc1]

My top 5 albums of 1988 are 5-Megadeth - so far so good so what 4- Queensryche - operations mindcrime 3-Metallica - and justice for all 2-Iron maiden - seventh son of a seventh son 1-Scorpions - Savage Amusement

[@RolandsSh]

My top5 of 1988: 1. Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II 2. Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime 3. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! 4. Metallica - ...And Justice For All 5. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Honourable mentions: Crimson Glory - Transcendence, Mekong Delta - The Music Of Eric Zahn, Coroner - Punishment For Decadence, Testament - The New Order, Slayer - South Of Heaven, Death - Leprosy, Bathory - Blood Fire Death, King Diamond - Them

[@Mandilore89]

Crimson Glory - Transcendence definitely on my Top 5 list for that year!

[@errorcode99]

I'm glad you wrote Mekong Delta and Coroner as honorable mentions! Good choices! Also very good Exodus, Voivod, Flotsam and Jetsam... Good year.

[@jjvladimir6070]

Dimension Hatross by Voivod should be in the Top 5

[@The-Punnkk]

No one cares Rollie

[@davidcatanus4922]

JJ Vladimir agreed.

[@sunsty1e]

Danzig - Danzig

[@flippy7035]

*mother*

[@jeffreycollins7297]

I still remember the day I first heard/saw DANZIG on HBB. God what a great night that was. Changed everything.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

Awesome album

[@eclatshwartzbaumcybertune2063]

Danzing in the moonlight ...

[@SnowTheJamMan]

Very disappointed Bathory didn't make the cut

[@taurusguy9305]

HaliniSnow because no one ever voted that song

[@thomascampr]

HaliniSnow Who?

[@HTYM]

HaliniSnow I'm not going to hug you.

[@jjvladimir6070]

"Blood Fire Death" should be #2, with Slayer's "South of Heaven" as #1

[@mdanmdan2109]

Agree man... when the 1990 top comes around , ill vote for hammerheart.

[@StonyBlazestation]

Justice definitely tops my 1988 list. It might be my favorite metal album ever, and it is one of my primary inspirations for learning the guitar.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

My '88 list: 1.) Metalica - And Justice For All 2.) Slayer - South Of Heaven 3.) Death - Leprosy 4.) Bathory - Blood Fire Death 5.) Anthrax - State Of Euphoria (probably in a minority here, but I always liked this record) Always thought of Queensryche as Hard Rock and just never could get into Seventh Son So Far, So Good gets an honorable mention as does Vivid, even though I question how much metal Vivid actually contains. Cult Of Personality is a monster.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

StyxHitlerHammer 10.2 - why call me a moron? I haven't done any name calling. That's just rude. Go fuck yourself. I question the metal content of Vivid right there in my comment. If you look down the list, you'll find a thread where I state that Vivid contains less than 30% metal. But, Cult of Personality is a killer fucking song. Heavy. Also, nobody else was making music that sounded like it. There's maybe 2 other tracks on the record that might qualify as metal. On the whole (minus Glamor Boys) it's a killer hard rock record with a hand full of tunes that cross over into metal territory. That was mostly in another thread, I'll admit. I do question how much metal Vivid contains in this thread. I never said Vivid was a Metal record. Learn to fucking read.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

StyxHitlerHammer 10.2 - furthermore, I said I always thought of Queensryche as hard rock. This is not a demeaning statement. 1988 was a great year for hard rock records, too. All I did to your precious Queensryche was take them out of the same category as Slayer and stick them in the same category as AC/DC... and Living Color.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

Hank Hill - it is my opinion that Queensryche is progressive hard rock. Your opinion is different. That's okay. I like Cult of Personality. You don't. You seem to like Queensryche for some reason. I've heard plenty enough of Queensryche to know that I fucking hate Queensryche. Really, I feel like Sam owes Rush an apology for calling Queensryche, "...Rush with a layer of metal." That's okay, too. You know what, I'm not going to argue with you or John Landis on this because I don't care whether or not you agree. I'm more interested in people who can have a civil discussion. You win the internets. All of them.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

StyxHitlerHammer 10.2 - go fuck yourself. Seriously.

[@derekobs9688]

State of Euphoria over Seventh son, lmfao that album is the worst Anthrax album from the classic era

[@kewrock]

No love for the most enduring underground thrash band since 1985, Overkill. '88 saw Under the influence with Hello From the Gutter.

[@FenderUsa]

Operation Mindcrime is easily the best album of that year.

[@stainedclass7894]

Oh Agreed. KOTSK Part 2 should also be on the list.

[@FenderUsa]

Ivory Gates is one of the best prog metal songs ever, but the rest of the album isn't on the same level. Mindcrime is consistently incredible. Awaken the Guardian is my go to Fates record

[@kevinbrown5650]

Even Dickenson thought Mindcrime was better than SSOSS. Metallica thought AJFA had too many riffs and are highly critical of it. Both Metallica and Q-Ryche had more cerebral lyrics than most at the time. But nowadays the young fans are obsessed with production value. It wouldn't hurt to pick up a book every now and then like 1984. It's been at least since 1948 that this story was relevant. Read it again and quit whining about "production".

[@sebastianrawk]

But in no way was a Metal album.

[@cromlek]

easily the biggest turd

[@ontheroadwithyode390]

Millie Vanilli debut was in 89. The "scandal" was in 1990.

[@sabbatheus]

No Candlemass' Ancient Dreams even in honorable mentions?

[@llongone2]

1. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime (no question about it) 2. Testament - The New Order (of course) 3. Ozzy Osbourne - No Rest For The Wicked (Zakktastically perfect) King Diamond - Them (maybe) Megadeth - So Far, So Good...So What (maybe) Death - Leprosy (maybe) Overkill - Under The Influence (maybe) Kix - Blow My Fuse (maybe) Metallica - And Just For All (maybe) Ministry - Land of Rape And Honey (maybe) Manowar - Kings of Metal (maybe) Forbidden - Forbidden Evil (maybe) Helstar - A Distant Thunder (maybe) Fates Warning - No Exit (maybe) Anthrax - State of Euphoria (maybe)

[@shack8110]

Anyone can make a 'death' metal album. Just write some evil hate-filled lyrics growling vocals and play insanely-fast riffs. Who can stand that shit for 10 songs? Give me Kix, Ozzy, Metallica, Ratt, Queensryche, Megadeth anyday and everyday for the past 30 years.

[@kevins4222]

yu stu dude stop saying the same post everywhere. You like glam/hair bands...we get it.

[@jimmyzeke13]

7:53 You can't leave Iron Maiden's self-titled album out of their "Classic" lineup. I think it's better than Killers out of the two Di'Anno records.

[@j2oaks]

Nah, lacks Adrian Smith.

[@sabbatheus]

Maiden's self-titled one is the best band's record ever. Such a classic metal album. The roots of the new wave of british heavy metal movement.

[@MrCapone1996]

Matheus Sousa and they got better too

[@walidaf9491]

prowler! phantom! Transylvania! strange world! all that without adrian smith!

[@facelessandnameless]

Professor Fuzzymuffins I totally agree!

[@leonsfreden1869]

Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II

[@F1fan56]

No kidding, KOtSK2 is a fucking brilliant album.

[@vladradulescu6113]

5. Candlemass - Ancient Dreams 4. Blind Illusion - The Sane Asylum 3. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! 2. Vio-Lence - Eternal Nightmare 1. Anacrusis - Suffering Hour

[@Yiannisdryed]

crimson glory - transcendence

[@jamesblobb7115]

It's a disgrace King Diamond - "Them" didn't make the list

[@shawnboogz7546]

James Blobb Grandmaaaaaaaa

[@troelschristensen8562]

I am both shocked and appalled ... Shappalled..?

[@shawnboogz7546]

James Blobb "will you quit playing that thing and will you answer the door"

[@shawnboogz7546]

James Blobb the best part is when he says...we are going to repaint the front door soon...ha..gets me everytime

[@marc2000z]

I think “Them” was released in 1989

[@mvunit3]

Another list I missed, What a damn good year for all the albums I purchased in 1988. Back then I was a total Thrash Metaller at 30 years old, but also a die hard Progressive Rocker since 1977. So any Metal that was starting to "Progress" (before it had the "umbrella" term Prog Metal, except for those few pioneer bands since 1985), that opened my ears to something new and "breaking rules", I wanted to explore more of those bands. Couldn't limit that year to only "5" Albums . . . This is the list I'd make "now" because these are the bands and albums I still listen to. In 1988, it be a whole different order. Bands with * I discovered decades later. I'd say the 1st 35 bands, I still listen to on a regular basis, because they had longevity. The others on the list I either listen to various tracks (adding them to Cassettes/CD compilations I'd create) or albums. Fates Warning - No Exit Forbidden - Forbidden Evil Realm - Endless War Sabbat - History of a time to come Queensrÿche - Operation: Mindcrime Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son King's X - Out of the Silent Planet Deathrow - Deception Ignored Metallica - ...And Justice for All Liege Lord - Master Control Flotsam & Jetsam - No place for disgrace Powermad - Let the Madness Begin; Debut Ep Sieges Even - Life Cycle* Pestilence - Malleus Maleficarum Anacrusis - Suffering Hour Toxik - World Circus Znöwhite - Act Of God Razor - Violent Restitution Vio-lence - Eternal Nightmare Mekong Delta - The Music of Erich Zann INC. (Indestructible Noise Command) - The Visitor Coroner - Punishment for Decadence Overkill - Under the Influence Atrophy - Socialized Hate Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! Carcass - Reek of Putrefaction Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator Slayer - South of Heaven Sanctuary - Refuge Denied Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part 2 Dead End - Shambara King Diamond - Them Candlemass - Ancient Dreams* Kingdom Come - Kingdom Come Manilla Road - Out of the Abyss Napalm Death - From Enslavement to Obliteration Death Angel - Frolic through the Park Judas Priest - Ram It Down Anthrax - State of Euphoria Blind Guardian - Battalions of Fear Testament - The New Order Helstar - A Distant Thunder Sadus - Illusions Bolt Thrower - In Battle There Is No Law Nuclear Assault - Survive Vengeance Rising - Human Sacrifice* Crimson Glory - Transcendence Cacophony - Go Off! Voivod - Dimension Hatröss Living Colour - Vivid Bathory - Blood Fire Death* Acrophet - Corrupt Minds OLD - Old Lady Drivers Van Halen - OU812 Yngwie J. Malmsteen - Odyssey If you don't know many of these bands, check them out. Just about all of them purchased on the date or a few months after their debut, and on Lp. Later I would buy most of them reissued on CD. Glad QR and Maiden made it on the Top 5, though Fates Warning is ALWAYS forgotten - if no one has heard the album "No Exit", especially Side 2 . . . GO! Do it NOW (better sound on the remaster)! And Forbidden, always forgotten as well, but that's awesome that Sam mentions it at the end :). As far as Death - I became a total HUGE fan with the release of "Human", "Spiritual Healing" got it started for me. Many of these bands and albums I discovered from either blind purchases, or were heard on a college radio show on 88.7 KSPC Claremont Calif. ("Infernal Rage"), a kid from Seattle would play all Thrash & Death Metal, and anything coming out of Europe, South America and the U.S. that were alien to most of us back then. It's why the local Record Store still has a great new & used Metal section to this day. \m/

[@asmodai2025]

You sir, have a really good taste. Coroner, Voivod, Vio-Lence, Death Angel, Flotsam & Jetsam, are awesome. So Far, So Good... So What! is surprisingly overlooked in Megadeth’s catalog (at when least compared to certain other Megadeth albums) despite have some of their most well known songs on it. I have also heard good things about Mekong Delta.

[@iwiggs6870]

Justice is by far Metallica's best work. I don't think it's fair to call it "prog" just because it has long songs and the occasional time signature change. It's not like it's a Tool album. To me, it's Metallica at their angriest and it's gotta be one of the heaviest sounding albums I've ever heard. There's just so much "Fuck you" buried in all of those notes.

[@MB-oc1nw]

The songs are good but it's destroyed by the horrible production, no bass and the drums sound like tinfoil.

[@iwiggs6870]

There was no bass because there was no Cliff. This is the source of the "Fuck you" which is present in every second of this. The reason why there's 12 riffs per song is because that was Hetfield's grieving process. The lyrics don't deal with what was fucking him up, but the music did. And if you listen to Metallica for Lars' drumming...well...not much I can do for you there. But the production being awful is a happy accident which gives the album that "Fuck you" attitude. You want bass? Fuck you.

[@mrpositronia]

I Wiggs there was no bass because Lars was being an idiot at the time, I mean more than usual. It has nothing to do with Cliff's death. Also, the drum sound is an unqualified mess. You don't have to look too far on the internet to hear the real story of the terrible mixing. Plus most of the songs are forgetful and tedious. Master was superior in every way.

[@iwiggs6870]

True, Lars told the engineer "Hey, use this EQ curve" and blahblahblah. But surely you can see why there's no bass. And if you need your album to sound pretty in order to like it, why in God's name are you listening to metal?

[@mrpositronia]

I Wiggs Because I have high standards, I guess.

[@matthiasmeier5588]

...and justice is to me the best metal album of all times! Seen them last weekend in Mannheim/Germany. They still kick ass! They do their thing. Respect to them!!!

[@volcanicwinter4417]

Mine: Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today Overkill - Under The Influence Danzig - Danzig I Candlemass - Ancient Dreams Anthrax - State Of Euphoria

[@mccallosone4903]

Suicidal never gets any love, they are still one of the best

[@artemselin3179]

Judas Priest - Ram it Down not even mentioned? It's not their best, but man, listen to Blood Red Skies or the title track. And, of course, King Diamond must be in top 5

[@ThemFuzzyMonsters]

Ram It Down!?? Hmmm! Sorry, no.

[@RexBarca]

It is an OK album but not at the level of these 5.

[@rohantiwari7801]

Ram it down sucks.

[@markwiygul6356]

RAM IT DOWN rocks!! Take a listen to Hard As Iron, Come and Get it, Heavy Metal. The album got canned in '88 because they promoted their cover of Johnny B. Goode, and their metal fans couldn't accept a classic 50s style rockabilli tune done metal style. In fact, it was the worst track on the whole album, yet the producers promoted it. That sunk RAM IT DOWN. It's way heavier than Turbo, in fact, it's their heaviest album of the era, just before PAINKILLER in 1990, an ultimate metal gem. RAM IT DOWNS carries much of the same heaviness as PAINKILLER, but with the generic metal themes of Turbo, and the mid 80s "love" track lyric themes, and tastefully heavy drum machines. Otherwise, consider the period, and it's influence, but listen to the music. it ROCKS

[@Cour-des-etoiles]

i like Ram it down.. i know it gets a lot of flack from everyone, but i personally like it. That being said, i think that Justice, South of heaven, New order, 7th Son, Mindcrime all push it out of my top 5.

[@gabrielp9646]

Helloween - Keeper of the seven keys part II Manowar - Kings of Metal Megadeth - So Far, So Good So What... Anthrax - State of Euphoria Judas Priest - Ram It Down Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn Coroner - Punishement for Decadence Blind Guardian - Batallions of Fear Just saying... :S:S

[@goodfella2400]

So Far, So Good, So What.. So snubbed...

[@imyourgodmachine]

Their worst album. Mustaine even thinks so.

[@Faerie_Kim]

@@imyourgodmachine hardly their worst. In my darkest hour is a classic, as is set the world afire and hook in mouth.

[@imyourgodmachine]

@@Faerie_Kim yea yea you know everything blahblah

[@Faerie_Kim]

@@imyourgodmachine I could say the same to you

[@Destroyer_13]

If I ranked Megadeth's albums So Far So Good So What would probably be number 5 for me. Very underrated album.

[@Andre-fv4bn]

I'm suprise no one talked about Coroner's second album "Punishment for Decadence ". It's a really killer tech thrash album

[@sugarden5736]

ManOwaR - Kings of Metal, Guns n`Roses - Gn`R Lies, Megadeth - So Far So Good...So What?,Anthrax - State Of Euphoria !

[@777Mindcrimes]

Operation Mindcrime is one of the best albums of all time..not just 1988.

[@chiefmegadeth]

1. Megadeth - So Far,So good... So what! 2. Judas Priest - Ram it Down 3. Iron Maiden - Seventh son of a Seventh Son 4. Queensryche - Operation Mindcrime 5. Metallica - ...And justice for all

[@mauriciom5555]

Megadeth first? jajajajajajjajajaja

[@ifuwantpeaceprepare4war740]

You have a pretty much the same as I would have it I would just put Metallica in front of mindcrime

[@ifuwantpeaceprepare4war740]

Got to love the Megadeth haters so far so good was a transition. For me it really taught me how not only to play metal but what it was all about it wasn't no overproduced radio b******* which is why a lot of people I think hated it was Dave at his best amazing album Better Than Anything Metallica's have a released in my eyes except for the one that Mustaine helped them right Kill Em All

[@derekobs9688]

Ram it down is one of weakest priest albums, nowhere deserving of a top 5, and sfsgsw wasnt that good, the only high quality songs were set the world afire, in my darkest hour, hook in mouth, mary jane and into the lungs of hell

[@ifuwantpeaceprepare4war740]

@@derekobs9688 set the world afire was badass Mary Jane is a classic the whole album was a masterpiece in metal

[@sopwithsnoopy8779]

Queensryche - Operation:Mindcrime Metallica - ...And Justice For All Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son Crimson Glory - Transcendence Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II

[@SuperSparrow45]

As much as I love Maiden and Metallica, Operation: Mindcrime is easily the best album of '88. How it fell to #5 is a complete anomaly. It defies logic.

[@CodamATW]

Agree. Probably in my top 5 not only of 1988, or the 1980s, but just all time. Beast of an album.

[@hollywoodbuilder4192]

No doubt operation mindcrime owned that year and is more relevant as each year passes.

[@ProDoucher]

Just an appreciation for your College having Death in their music archive. My College just had Paul Robeson

[@MichaelHolmgaard]

1. Operation: Mindcrime - Queensrÿche 2. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - Iron Maiden 3. Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II - Helloween 4. Them - King Diamond 5. ...And Justice For All - Metallica

[@TimCarter]

my 1988 list: The best list. ;) 1. Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn 2. Fates Warning - No Exit 3. King Diamond - Them 4. Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss 5. Helstar - A Distant Thunder 6. Crimson Glory - Transcendence 7. Queensryche - Operation:Mindcrime 8. Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 9. Cacophony - Go Off! 10. Megadeth - So Far, So Good... So What! Honorable Mentions: Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey, Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can't Even Smile Today, Slayer - South of Heaven, Sanctuary - Refuge Denied, Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2

[@derekobs9688]

Mostly terrible list lol

[@sador42]

I wish you could talk about 1988 for at least 1-2 hours, love that year!! I has so many of those records when I was in High School, I was discovering Metal, it was one of the best memories ever buying all those records mentioned!

[@Krysztau]

1. Iron Maiden - Seventh son of aa Seventh son 2. Megadeth - So far, So good... So what 3. Metallica - ...And Justice for All 4. Running Wild - Port Royal 5. Slayer - South of Heaven / Testament - The New Order

[@jfk-od2wy]

South of heaven, Leprosy, 7th son, Justice, & MANOWAR-KINGS OF METAL!!!

[@nejobeigott2928]

1988...the time i start listen to metal! \m/...and my first two albums was justice and 7th son ! \m/

[@andref1868]

Sam. You are such a good guy. I like the ones you choose. May Banger TV never die.

[@kitoyobeni1]

Just to stand up for the radio metal of 1988 (my senior year in high school, lol), among others: Anthrax - State Of Euphoria, Apocrypha - Eyes Of Time, Bulletboys S/T, Jason Becker - Perpetual Burn, Cacophony - Go Off!, CInderella - Long Cold Winter, Crimson Glory - Transcendence, Death Angel - Frolic Through The Park, Dirty Looks - Cool From The Wire, Dokken - Beast From The East, Marty Friedman - Dragon's Kiss, Hittman S/T, Greg Howe S/T, Impelliteri - Stand In Line, Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking, King Diamond - Them, King's X - Out Of The Silent Planet, Kingdom Come S/T, Kix - Blow My Fuse, LA Guns S/T, Living Colour - Vivid, Yngwie Malmsteen - Odyssey, Vinny Moore - Time Odyssey, Overkill - Under The Influence, Pantera - Power Metal, Quiet Riot - QR, Racer X - Extreme Volume Live, Sanctuary - Refuge Denied, Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh, Sword - Sweet Dreams, Van Halen - OU812, Vicious Rumors - Digital Dictator, and surely more that I'm forgetting.....what a year in hard rock and metal!!!

[@metfan4l]

Hell of a year, great list!

[@nikolaosdimitriadis15]

1988: 13 yo, in a small town in Greece, and bought on vinyl or cassette 1 to 4 plus Testament, Halloween and Kind Diamond. Looking back I feel this was the year that metal matured fully. I am happy to see from comments that I am not alone in this... (and I would personally add Megadeth, Anthrax, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Blind Guardian to this amazing list)

[@joetrosclair8434]

I still listen to all of these. For me, South of Heaven will always be Slayers best.

[@eltthoughts]

"not really Queensryche?"at lp picture! were do you get that?

[@cabhi1804]

CORONER - PUNISHMENT FOR DECADENCE

[@JeffBarberDigideus]

"Masked Jackel" was my first Coroner song!

[@pablochacon666]

YES

[@toneloc223]

I love that album!

[@666angelripper666]

Keeper II should be on the top 5. That's a piece of art.

[@Tompa8989]

5. Metallica - ...And Justice for All 4. Iron Maiden -Seventh Son of a Seventh Son 3. Living Colour - Vivid 2. Manowar - Kings of Metal 1. Queenrÿche - Operation Mindcrime

[@FrankTheDoomriderJohansen]

Justice for all= best Metallica album!

[@jamesstaggs4160]

Agreed. Justice is metal for me. I was 11 when I got my hands on that album and I don't think that anybody has captured that guitar sound ever since then. Too bad it was all downhill from then on. Every song still holds up today and sounds just as heavy now as it did back then.

[@cfjelde]

Oh my god (no pun)....South of Heaven sounds so good right now. Great memories! Love Ghosts of War.

[@javiermunoz5574]

1-Iron Maiden- Helloween....Seventh Son-Keeper 2 2-Ozzy-No rest for the Wicked 3-Judas Priest-Ram it Down 4-Metallica-And Justice... 5-Blind Guardian-Battallions of Fear 6-Queensryche-Operation 7-Anthrax-State.. 8-Running Wild-Port Royal 9-Manowar-Kings of Metal 10-Slayer-South.... 11-Crimson Glory-Trascendence 12-David Lee Roth-Skyscraper

[@woodlandwanderer3929]

Danzig didn't get a mention and Bathory's Blood Fire Death should be like #3 cos it was just excellent

[@rufussamsquanch_6547]

Danzig first album should have definitely got at least a cursory mention.

[@ryanbazail]

1 Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2 2 The New Order 3 And Justice For All 4 Seventh Son 5 Leporosy

[@vinb9540]

My favorite album from 1988 is Manowar - Kings of Metal.

[@CelestialWoodway]

Cheesy ass band

[@acw2237]

Karl Logan played in a local band in northeast Pennsylvania called arc angel. . There's a video on KZbin that they did at a local TV studio.. not a big fan of Karl though. .. but fits this type of music

[@oskarstrom4034]

Couldn't agree more! That record was my personal introduction to Manowar, and is still one of my favourites.

[@acw2237]

It's a shame of his recent charges of children stuff

[@marcelo141224]

Alright

[@DiscipleOfSeth]

Well I can definately name the most underrated album of that year. No american list has it or ever will. Crimson Glory - Transcendence

[@CelestialWoodway]

Shitty

[@metalvideos1961]

better then anything on this list indeed. same goes for blood fire death from bathory

[@kristiankrastanov5995]

Do one for 1998 maybe? These rewinds are Fun to watch

[@BangerTV]

Coming soon, 1998 and 2008.

[@ironhammer8935]

There were good albums in 1998?

[@samalarie9767]

I would say Sound of Perseverance by Death is a pretty good album from 1998

[@kristiankrastanov5995]

Also 'Something Wicked this way comes'

[@DanJ30]

The mainstream was neck deep in nu-metal by 1998, but the underground was bursting with brilliance.

[@rdmetal73]

Operation Mindcrime Is The best album of that year.... 🤘

[@Cpt_Guirk]

I think it's the best Metal concept album of all-time.

[@vladivelchev5103]

1 Judas Priest -ram it down 2 Flotsam and Jetsam -no place for disgrace 3 Testament -the new order 4 megadeth -so far so good so what 5 Slayer -south of heaven

[@JuanMartinez-ib7mz]

here's a list of albums that could've perfectly reached the top 5 testament - the new order overkill - under the influence king diamond - them helloween - keeper pt. II megadeth - so far, so good... so what! ozzy osbourne - no rest for the wicked flotsam & jetsam - no place for disgrace coroner - punishment for decadence pantera - power metal judas priest - ram it down death angel - frolic through the park razor - violent restitution

[@robgoren8628]

Read Between the Lies is the real hidden gem on SoH.

[@derekobs9688]

Its kinda a mediocre track, that riff is basically really similar to ghosts of war's riff before the solo, that along with cleanse the soul are the 2 downfalls of that album

[@inglewatt]

@@derekobs9688 Live Undead is the gem

[@helterskelter1178]

Flotsam and Jetsam - No Place for Disgrace. Cracking album.

[@madmax0188]

Justice is best thrash album ever! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@Hatemoth]

Garbage

[@ralphdarc3094]

Nope ! Kill em all is !

[@JohnSmith-oe4bw]

Yep, Seventh Son & Justice were the kings of one of the best years for metal. \m/

[@debbetaklamakan2024]

I think we all agree that south of heaven is underrated:) I personally like it as same as reign in blood if not more...it was different but it was very good

[@FrankTheDoomriderJohansen]

Justice for all is my nr.1 metallica album!

[@Bossketu]

i really like this guy, he"s very serious on his reviews. the others are mocking their reviews all the time, making me feel like i am wasting my time watching.

[@TheTonybudd]

~i dont like the way he . . drags . . out . . sentences

[@gh0stcat387]

1. Judas Priest 2. Slayer 3. Ozzy Osbourne 4. Metallica 5. Megadeth

[@MosheAlvarez]

Megadeth- So far, so good, so what?

[@biscuitsforsmut2791]

Moshe Alvarez That was a transition album for Megadeth. Even Dave Mustaine, doesn't like that one. Their masterpiece comes right after that one.

[@FreeMTrider]

@@biscuitsforsmut2791 actually it was the production and rotating producers, band members, etc. that taxed that album. They were deep into drugs that year.....worse than other years.

[@kodypagel9167]

@@biscuitsforsmut2791 I realize that was their least popular in the metal clique back then, but it's my favorite because of the agression of it.

[@cmlguerra]

a band with such a pathetic vocalist can’t be taken serious

[@mehdisadaghdar1533]

Megadeth was never Thrash

[@Lovelockmm]

I had all of those on tape except Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime. I miss being 12 years old and waiting sometimes impatiently for your favorite bands' next album to be released. The time inbetween Maiden records seemed to take forever back then. Anthrax "State of Euphoria" and Overkill "Under the Influence" would definitely be in here if it were a top 10 list.

[@amievil3697]

1988 was a good year

[@miniwolfang9563]

I had each of these on cassette tape that I played on my Walkman, secretly tucked into my jean jacket inner pocket so I could listen to them during class.

[@SkateTrash117]

Suicidal tendencies. How will I laugh tomorrow when I can’t even smile today

[@shawnboogz7546]

Liam Smetzer great band...with a great body of work

[@isakurdad7056]

This was pretty close to my favorite mine goes 5.Testament-New Order 4.Metallica-aJFA 3. Death-Leprosy 2. Slayer-South of Heaven 1. Iron Maiden- SSotSS

[@dydy0928]

That's right! And justice for Jason sounds so much better than the original album

[@SilverTounge85]

Priest w. 'Ram It Down' anyone? Apart from the electronic drumtracks, the album is killer, and laid path for the 'Painkiller'-era. The only Turbo-ish tracks were the singles, the cover 'Johnny B Goode' and 'Im a Rocker'. The rest of the album is epic. ''Heavy Metal', 'Ram It Down', 'Come And Get It', 'Blood Red Skies' and 'Monsters of Rock'. The tour was epic. 'Beyond the Realms of Death' have never been played better Live and the band was tight. The band brought 'Sinner' back into the setlist as well and they played FAST.

[@mybluguitar6051]

I personally love the fuck out of that album. TBH, although i am a massive priest fan, I personally feel the albums listed here are better. However, the album has some of the craziest guitar solos in the Priest catalogue. Another thing that's a damn shame about the album is that the band was obligated by the record company to bullshit half of the album. again, i still love this album, but objectively speaking, it isn't one of the best of the 88's unfortunately. Painkiller imo is def the best of 1990

[@Mandilore89]

My top 5: Crimson Glory - Transcendence Judas Priest - Ram it Down Scorpions - Savage Amusement (judge all you want but you can hear a lot of early Power Metal on this record!) Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime Winger - Self Titled (I don't care! Judge all you want! The AMAZING guitar work of Reb Beach and vocals of Kip Winger along with quality songwriting just KILLS in this record! The heavy songs especially sound BIG and very noticeable on a big sound system!)

[@HTYM]

- judges all I want -

[@nickhurst4772]

Idgaf reb beach fuckin shreds

[@chrishawkins2267]

I like the love for Crimson Glory, a band never really receiving enough credit.

[@dominantpersona3326]

CRIMSOM GLORY IS BEAST

[@elyado1]

Judas priest scorpion perfect we can make a case but winger in best top 5 1988 fuck no

[@andrewhart9310]

Excellent list! I'm pleasantly surprised 7th Son made it this high, and I'm thrilled with the Queensryche inclusion. #1 was just too obvious, but ... it had to be, period. What a great year for metal, with some excellent albums that just couldn't crack the top 5!

[@brianroberts9943]

How does Megadeth not even get an honorable mention???????🤬

[@kevins4222]

brian Roberts So Far So Good is their weakest album up until Risk

[@ifuwantpeaceprepare4war740]

@@kevins4222 I don't know what type of metal you like but to me it is a killer album it's definitely in my top three 80s rock albums.

[@allsystemsgo8678]

A lot of filler on that album. Weak lineup. Liar, Hook in mouth, abs and In my darkest hour are great songs

[@raymondwirth89]

Rust in piece came out 87

[@brianroberts9943]

Raymond Wirth no it didn’t.

[@andycutthroat1574]

should be on the list. Manowar - Kings Of Metal Coroner - Punishment For Decadence Rigor Mortis Fates Warning - No Exit Danzig Anvil - Pound For Pound Destruction - Release From Agony SDI - Sign Of The Wicked Crimson Glory - Transcendence