1) Dio – Holy Diver
"The definitive Heavy Metal album! The best heavy metal vocalist, backed up by one of the heaviest drummers still in the business, Vinnie Appice (Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell), Jimmy Bain (Dio's pal from the Rainbow days) and guitarist Vivian Campbell (later in Def Leppard, Thin Lizzy, etc.). Anyway...there isn't ONE bad moment on this album, it will have your full attention and cause chills down your spine from the opening riff in "Stand Up And Shout" until the fade-out of the closer "Shame On The Night"...so SHAME ON YOU if you don;t think this album deserves to be the heavy metal soundtrack of everyone's life. The guitar harmonies....so much melody, so much heaviness yet so much sensitivity, perfectly contoured by Dio's godly voice. Full of lyrical messages that will apply to anyone's daily situations for centuries to come. An album of a heavy metal prophet, this one is, if you ask me. Perfection. Every song is catchy, every song is a classic. Look Out!!!"
2) King Diamond – Abigail / Them
"Although they stir up different atmospheres when i listen to these albums, i couldn't help but to put them on the same rank...because both of these atmospheres always make me enter another constant King phase for a week. I get really into it too. i start learning songs off all the albums in shorter periods of time than i would expect, i start thinking in terms of concepts, i start to feel possessed by the guitar works of six-string extraordinaire Andy LaRocque (i.e. one day i just decided it's time to get the tattoo...i'll never get fed up of this band, its discography, its history, its reputation, the mood it creates, the impact King had on me). It reeks of originality, King still does to this day. The best concept albums in metal, a new style has been created. A style that only King Diamond can elaborate upon. The ones that try...are obviously influenced by him. It's so easy to tell...you can set King apart in any song. "Abigail" is among the most evil albums ever recorded, and i never listen so "Them" unless i'm in some attic. Hint: ALWAYS listen to KD at night. Otherwise...you're ruining everything!"
3) Black Sabbath – Heaven & Hell / Mob Rules
"They're the last two masterpieces Dio did before releasing his first solo album (see #1 in the top). I can't really say enough praises about these albums. For me...they were the first actual heavy metal albums ever. nothing sounded quite like this before and everything sounded very similar to this afterwards. I think Tony Iommi, Geezer Buttler, Bill Ward and then Vinnie Appice made one of the finest decisions in music history for co-opting Dio for the vocal duties. Flawless albums! Sabbath really set the standard for what Heavy Metal means as we know it today through these two opuses."
4) Manowar – Louder Than Hell
"I believe Eric Adams' vocals stand out the most on this album. The man has so much passion in his voice, it's ridiculous. I have heard few who have the same charisma, power and aggression in their throats, and the instrumental section isn't too shabby either. Karl Logan does a face-melting solo that's perfect for a heavy metal show-off guitarist...and the songs will have you tearing down fences and riding choppers for days and nights on...if you're into this sort of things. It's an album that is dead-set on awakening the flame of passion in anyone who has a heart. And loves metal of course. This album is like the gospel of Heavy Metal."
5) Blind Guardian – A Night At The Opera
"Even though the title might suggest it anyway, it wouldn't be necessary for the album to be compared to the genius of Queen. But it is. It's beyond the Queen in heavy metal, Blind Guardian are at their peak on this album. Hansi Kusch is one of the best metal vocalists alive, Oliver Holzwarth, my friend from Sieges Even, has some amazing bass highlights, the guitars have a sound that can already be distinguished as Blind Guardian on any recordings, it's the most creative on this album, the drums are perfect, but the songs and structures??? Forget about it, no one comes CLOSE to what you can hear on this album. Everytime i listen to it, it's like the first time. And the first time i listened to it...well i'm kind of embarrassed to say what happened. It involved pants...that were mine. It's too new to be put higher up, but i would've. I'll let it age for a bit....like wine."
6) Sinergy – Suicide By My Side
"I think Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) is actually at his best on this album. I'm a huge fan of his work even though it's overrated, i can't deny a part of what determined me to start playing the axe. But this album has some of the best solos in metal, the best riffs in modern metal, the best sounds of a metal album...and Kimberly Goss' vocals absolutely kick everyone's ass!!! She's like the female Eric Adams...with balls (not to be confused with the actual Eric Adams, cause Kimberly's got TWO pairs)! It's just a real pleasure to listen to it from 00:01 to the saddest part of the album, 37:49, which is a second before the album ends. It's a really powerful release and i've heard few of this magnitude since!"
7) Vicious Rumors – Vicious Rumors
"Oh, Carl Albert, where art thou with thy metal angelic voice of thee?? I don't know what caused me to start this out so dramatic, but this album features another one of the finest vocalists in metal...that passed away. So: the vocals get a 100/10, no use to further ramble on about them, that's the voice any metalhead wishes they could have; the guitar work is just as fine as the vocal work (the solos are amazing, really creative, well thought-out) and the rhythm section is solid as a rock as well. Another mandatory listen if you're into heavy metal, this one flirts with thrash and speed metal too so it gets many bonus points form me. Plus the hooks and melodies that smother the album (in a good way) make my body manifest itself independently from my ability to control it when playing this record. I think it's a natural reaction..."
8) Stormwitch – The Beauty And The Beast
"Among the most underrated albums in Metal. WHY????? It's not only my favorite german heavy metal album, but it kicks the ass of so many bands that they were probably trying to imitate. It's got that horror feel to it too so for a King Diamond fan...it's a nut-busting album! From the opener, the title track, the albums maintains its genius and constant hooks, by the end of the listen you'll wonder how time flew by so fast...and that's the first symptom that tells you 'Beauty And The Beast' is starting to grow on you. A very awesome album!!!"
9) Manilla Road – Crystal Logic
"Among the most old-school releases in heavy metal. Classic! "Necropolis" should be the anthem of heavy metal, seriously. It's the perfect heavy metal song, Mark Shelton's voice has a sound of its own that have turned this album into an instant heavy metal classic, the sound is not of the best quality...which is the reason why it's among the most favored cult albums out there. I love this album from the bottom of my metal heart (Accept pun intended)."
10) Rainbow – Rising
"Actually, i take back what i said at #3...it was Dio's work on THIS album that helped shape Heavy Metal definitively. That is to say...i don't think #3 would've happened without this album. And it's Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple) on guitar, some of his best work can be found on this 6-track only magnificent opus. And....if "Manilla Road's 'Necropolis' isn't made the official heavy metal anthem...then why not make 'Stargazer' what weaker songs like "Fear Of the Dark" or "Breaking The Law" are today??? because that song, along with the whole album, ARE Heavy Metal. The real deal."
11) Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
12) King Diamond – Conspiracy
13) Scorpions – Best Of
14) Judas Priest – Ram It Down
15) Ozzy Osbourne – Blizzard Of Oz
16) Savatage – Hall Of The Mountain
17) Avantasia – Metal Opera 1
18) Helloween – Keeper of The Seven Keys 1
19) Hammerfall – Legacy Of Kings / Crimson Thunder
20) Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime
21) Primal Fear – Devil’s Ground
22) King Diamond – Fatal Portrait / The Eye
23) Morgana Lefay – Sanctified
24) Dokken – Best Of Dokken
25) Accept – Balls To The Wall
26) Demon – The Unexpected Guest
27) Rainbow – Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll
28) Yngwie Malmsteen – Rising Force
29) Jag Panzer – Age Of Mastery
30) Iced Earth – Night Of The Stormrider / Iced Earth
31) Iron Maiden – Powerslave / Brave New World
32) Dio - The Last In Line
33) Mercyful Fate – Don’t Break The Oath
34) Racer X – Street Lethal
35) Mercyful Fate – Melissa
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