The Best Year for Metal

[El Liontamer]

Over the few months I've come to the conclusion that 2007 is the year for metal. Great albums such as Paradise Lost, Scarsick, The 25 Hour, and many more that are still in the making ( new Riverside and Circus Maximus ). What year in your opinion was the best year for metal?

 

[Jibrille]

I agree this is a top year. Not sure I'd say it's the best. A lot of top players are coming out with albums this year so you can't help but drool. However, I think it's the albums that surprise you that really make a year. Generally I find these after the year is over, though.
I've really been enjoying last year releases from Stolen Babies, Diablo Swing Orchestra, & Unexpect in the last few months.

 

[Braxil]

I think this is the best year in a long time. Tons of great new releases, and plenty of tours here in the US too!

 

[Mosquito]

1985/86?

 

[The Invisible Guest]

1988 was my favorite year. Just off the top of my head three of my Top 10 favorites ever came in that year.

Queensryche - Operation:Mindcrime .. best disc ever, and has been in my #1 spot for a very long time. In all honestly it may never be knocked from the top spot.

Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son .. a top five all timer for me, and my favorite Maiden disc by a decent margin.

King Diamond - Them ... the disc that got me into KD .. it's a borderline top 10 of all time type release for me, although Abigail, and Conspiracy aren't far off the pace. Still though .. Them holds a special place in my black heart.

Britt

 

[swayn3rd]

It's been an excelent year thus far and still looks very bright, altho I cant say it will be the best year ever of all time I don't think any one person can say that.

 

[adaher]

Seems to me that it would be tough to beat 1997:

Return to Heaven Denied
Visions
Holy Land
Divine Wings of Tragedy
Vain Glory Opera

 

[Jibrille]

Seems to me that it would be tough to beat 1997:

Return to Heaven Denied
Visions
Holy Land
Divine Wings of Tragedy
Vain Glory Opera

Well.... We are getting a new Avantasia.

 

[johnfrank1970]

1989 wins in my book with 1988 breathing down its neck in second place.

1989 (18 releases on my list of all-time favorites)

Coroner / No More Color
Sabbat / Dreamweaver (Reflections of Our Yesterdays)
WatchTower / Control and Resistance
Dream Theater / When Dream and Day Unite
Mordred / Fool’s Game
Oliver Magnum / s/t
Exodus / Fabulous Disaster
Testament / Practice What You Preach
Sepultura / Beneath the Remains
Toxik / Think This
Faith or Fear / Punishment Area
Xentrix / Shattered Existence
Metal Church / Blessing in Disguise
Pariah / Blaze of Obscurity
Annihilator / Alice in Hell
Paradox / Heresy
Dyoxen / First among Equals
Anacrusis / Reason

1988 (15 releases on my list of all-time favorites)

Queensryche / Operation: Mindcrime
Coroner / Punishment for Decadence
Metallica / ...And Justice for All
Holy Terror / Terror and Submission
Deathrow / Deception Ignored
Forbidden / Forbidden Evil
Sabbat / History of a Time to Come
Vio-lence / Eternal Nightmare
Destruction / Release from Agony
Crimson Glory / Transcendence
Sieges Even / Life Cycle
Slayer / South of Heaven
Iron Maiden / Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
Pantera / Power Metal
Pestilence / Malleus Maleficarum

 

[rms]

This year has Manegarm, Devin Townsend, Symphony X and VIsion devine...I think tahts it for me so far..

 

[Joe-×]

1980

Accept - I'm A Rebel
AC/DC - Back in Black
Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
Def Leppard - On Through the Night
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Judas Priest - British Steel
Rush - Permanent Waves
Scorpions - Animal Magnetism
Triumph - Progressions of Power
UFO - No Place to Run

could be swayed toward 81 also.

 

[Dark One]

1984

Metallica - Ride the Lightning
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Dio - The Last in Line
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break the Oath
Ratt - Out of the Cellar
Dokken - Tooth and Nail
Europe - Wings of Tomorrow
Scorpions - Love at First Sting
W.A.S.P. - W.A.S.P.
Whitesnake - Slide it In
Twisted Sister - Stay Hungry
Anthrax - Fistful of Metal
Van Halen - 1984
Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith
Accept - Balls to the Wall

Pretty good year there.

Jason

 

[swayn3rd]

1992 - Images & Words nuff said.

 

[Braxil]

Seems to me that it would be tough to beat 1997:

Return to Heaven Denied
Visions
Holy Land
Divine Wings of Tragedy
Vain Glory Opera

Holy Land was 1996, RtHD and Vain Glory Opera were 1998. All great albums though.

 

[J-Dubya 777]

1980

Accept - I'm A Rebel
AC/DC - Back in Black
Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
Def Leppard - On Through the Night
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Judas Priest - British Steel
Rush - Permanent Waves
Scorpions - Animal Magnetism
Triumph - Progressions of Power
UFO - No Place to Run

could be swayed toward 81 also.

I think this might be it....FTW.....
Damn, I was just 16-17 years old......

 

[adaher]

Holy Land was 1996, RtHD and Vain Glory Opera were 1998. All great albums though

Oh. Damnit.