If you’re looking to add to your record collection, here are 11 essential ’80s metal albums everyone needs on vinyl.
The 1980s were an especially interesting time in metal as the genre had only been established about a decade prior by none other than Black Sabbath. Except this time, they no longer had Ozzy Osbourne with them — he was ousted from the group in ’79 and replaced by Ronnie James Dio.
Metal really started to branch out in a few different directions in the ’80s. Iron Maiden and Judas Priest were among those leading the traditional heavy metal style as thrash slowly made its way from the Bay Area underground to the rest of the world.
Some of the more extreme styles of metal starting take shape too, such as death metal and black metal.
For metalheads, ’80s enthusiasts and vinyl collectors, we gathered a list of some of the essential records from the time that need to be in your collection, if they aren’t already. It’s not a definitive list, but they are all available in Loudwire’s own online merch store.
We tried to go with some different styles so we weren’t just giving you a list of thrash albums.
Underneath each album cover we cited three key tracks from the album and a link to purchase them.
Check out our essential picks below.
Black Sabbath, ‘Heaven and Hell’ (1980)
Black Sabbath, ‘Heaven and Hell’ (1980)
Key Tracks: “Neon Knights,” “Children of the Sea,” “Heaven and Hell”
Ozzy Osbourne, ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ (1980)
ozzy osbourne blizzard of ozz
Key Tracks: “Crazy Train,” “Suicide Solution,” “Mr. Crowley”
Scorpions, ‘Animal Magnetism’ (1980)
scorpions, animal magnetism
Key Tracks: “Make It Real,” “Lady Starlight,” “The Zoo”
Iron Maiden, ‘The Number of the Beast’ (1982)
iron maiden, the number of the beast
Key Tracks: “The Number of the Beast,” “Run to the Hills,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
Judas Priest, ‘Screaming for Vengeance’ (1982)
judas priest screaming for vengeance
Key Tracks: “The Hellion/Electric Eye,” “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”
READ MORE: Most Collected Albums by 11 Big ’80s Metal Bands
Dio, ‘Holy Diver’ (1983)
Holy Diver (Dio, 1983)”/>Warner Bros. / Vertigo / Mercury
Key Tracks: “Holy Diver,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Rainbow in the Dark”
Metallica, ‘Ride the Lightning’ (1984)
metallica, ride the lightning, 1984
Key Tracks: “Ride the Lightning,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Fade to Black”
Exodus, ‘Bonded by Blood’ (1985)
Exodus, Bonded By Blood
Key Tracks: “Bonded by Blood,” “A Lesson in Violence,” “Strike of the Beast”
Death, ‘Leprosy’ (1988)
death, leprosy
Key Tracks: “Leprosy,” “Left to Die,” “Pull the Plug”
Slayer, ‘South of Heaven’ (1988)
Slayer, ‘South of Heaven’ (1988)
Key Tracks: “South of Heaven,” “Silent Scream,” “Mandatory Suicide”
Overkill, ‘The Years of Decay’ (1989)
Overkill, ‘The Years of Decay’ (1989)
Key Tracks: “Time to Kill,” “Elimination,” “The Years of Decay”
50 Best Metal Album Openers of the 1980s (Ranked)
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Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita, Jordan Blum