11 Best Metal Albums of 1984

Here are the 11 best metal albums of 1984.

When it comes to metal, 1984 saw some of the biggest names solidify their spots alongside those who we still consider among the greatest today.

Metallica brought forth a more sophisticated version of thrash metal with the release of Ride the Lightning. Tracks like "Fade to Black" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" showed Metallica's sound could more than just a pulverizing bulldozer.

Iron Maiden was another act that leveled up in 1984 with the landmark release, Powerslave. The album mixed Intricate musical arrangements with storytelling in a way that few were doing in the metal genre.

The fully-teased roots of hair metal can also be traced back to 1984. Bands such Ratt and Motley Crue burst out of the Sunset Strip and onto mainstream airwaves with a sound that appealed to a broader audience.

Here is a look at the best metal albums that were released in 1984.

11 Best Metal Albums of 1984

When 1983 came to an end, metal fans had a lot to be happy about.

The world saw albums like Kill 'Em All, Holy Diver, Piece of Mind, and a slew of other classics that would certainly be on constant rotation on record players for years to come.

The main question was how could 1984 even compete with such a monumental year for metal as 1983?

Bands that made our 10 Best Metal Albums of 1983 stepped it up once again and, as always, some new bands came along, too.

Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita

10 Best Metal Albums of 1994

In 1994, heavy metal was taking sharp turns in all directions as it continued to evolve and branch out even further. Grunge had a vice grip on the music world and metal acts were starting to react to this new and popular style. Bands that were known for virtuosic guitar playing began to strip down their sound while others simply incorporated a grungier vibe when starting a new band. 1994 was also a pivotal year for the Norwegian black metal scene as future legends released some of their most acclaimed discs.

Not everything had taken a drastic turn though. Some bands rediscovered their roots and carried the flag of the '80s while others took influence from traditional metal and reacted harshly to the simplistic music being played and churned out incredibly progressive music. In a period of absolute turmoil where new subgenres kept cropping up, heavy metal began to divide fans into very different crowds where one metalhead had the potential to have little musical taste in common with another metalhead. We embrace it all, so join us in taking a look at the 10 Best Metal Albums of 1994.

Gallery Credit: Joe DiVita