1983 was a monster year for heavy metal. It’s arguably the most important year for the entire genre. Why? Mainly because of the fact it’s the year a colossal number of iconic and influential metal records were unleashed onto its bloodthirsty fanbase.
You might be saying, “1983? That was like, 100 years ago!” And if you are saying that, you’re wrong because it was only 40 years ago. Regardless of how wrong you are, the majority of these classic records have, and will continue to stand the test of time. Whether you’re an old 50-something head who “was there MAAAAN,” or a “30-something poser” because you weren’t there, such as myself, this list of 20 metal masterpieces turning 40 years old in 2023 should be celebrated by every headbanger.
Dokken “Breaking the Chains”
Although not their best album, Dokken’s first record “Breaking the Chains” is a fantastic debut by THE band your drunk, mulleted uncle who reeks like Camel Unfiltered cigarettes is most certainly still “rockin” like.
Slayer “Show No Mercy”
Before leaving Hell in the spring of 1983, Slayer allegedly told Satan,”Sorry we can’t stay, but we have to release one of the greatest heavy metal records ever recorded, but we’ll be sure to visit!” And they did (not sure about visiting Lucifer).
Metallica “Kill Em’ All”
The birth of thrash metal? One of Metallica’s only four good albums? Metallica’s only good album? Just a bunch of Diamond Head riffs turned up at 100 mph? Whatever you say about Metallica’s iconic first record, you must admit it’s pretty essential.
Saxon “Power and the Glory”
Even though Saxon has many albums under their belt, 83’s “Power and the Glory” is considered to be their last “great album.” Speaking of great, Biff Byford is one of the coolest, most humble people in classic metal. Now that’s a guy you just want to share a pint and eat tinned tomatoes with, or something.
Dio “Holy Diver”
Come on, it’s fucking Dio. Holy Diver?! Do I really need to say anything else here? Rainbow in the Dark? Come on! Dio?! He did the hand….thi…the…hand, he did metal fingers!! That was Dio!
Accept “Balls to the Wall”
Accept comes from the country of Germany, which in my opinion, had the best heavy metal bands of the entire 1980s. Accept being one of them. Also one more thing: the little stunt dummy of Udo Dirkschneider riding the wrecking ball in the “Balls to the Wall” video.
Raven “All for One”
NWOBHM legends Raven put out arguably their best record in 1983. That’s really saying a lot considering how great their catalog is. Plus even them being in their 50s, to this day, they make bands half their age look like U2 in comparison.
Battleaxe “Burn This Town”
Awesome album from the year of 1983, with an album cover that looks like it was done by a 3-year-old. But there’s a certain charm to it, no? Yeah, I know the answer is no, but the album deserves a spot on this list regardless!
Mercyful Fate “Melissa”
Mercyful. Fucking. Fate. “Melissa” is one of those, “So glad this album exists” albums. Plus the title track is about an actual human skull King Diamond owned that was stolen from him. Happy birthday Melissa,*whispering* if you’re still with us.
Motörhead “Another Perfect Day”
In 1983, Brian Robertson of Thin Lizzy joined Lemmy and crew to make Motörhead’s most unique album at that time. I heard they kicked him out of the band because he always wore funny pants.
Iron Maiden “Piece of Mind”
“You Take My Life, Well I’ll Take Yours Too!” Words penned by one of metal’s greatest bands to help every 9th-grade student in AP history class remember what the fuck the Crimean War was.
Torch “S/T”
Sweden is known the world over for two things: one, their meatballs, and two, the band Torch. Actually, that might just be me. But at any rate, check out this record if you’re unfamiliar with it.
Trance “Power Infusion”
Not a super well-known record by any means, and that’s tragic. The album cover has a dude shooting up his arm with a Marshall amp head. In a perfect world, that cover would be on our nation’s flag, in a perfect world.
Exciter “Heavy Metal Maniac”
Speed metal kings from Canada Exciter are just one of maybe 10,000 metal bands who borrowed their name from a Judas Priest song. Essential listening.
Thin Lizzy “Thunder and Lightning”
Now, I’m not much into the idea of dying, or even the idea of climbing any sort of hill, but Thin Lizzy is THE greatest band of all time, and that’s a hill I am 100% willing to die on. And when the buzzards pick my rotting corpse apart on said hill, I’ll be fine so long as “The Sun Goes Down” is echoing throughout the land.
Savatage “Sirens”
“Sirens” is one of the U.S.A.’s finest heavy metal moments, and almost makes up for Bon Jovi, almost.
Satan “Court in the Act”
Can you believe it took all the way until 1983 for a band called Satan to release a full length album? Sorry Testament fans, but there’s only one true “Trial by Fire” and it’s on “Court in the Act.”
Grim Reaper “See You in Hell”
This album is an absolute classic. Beavis and Butthead were wrong. This isn’t the first time I’ve been staunchly opposed to music opinions of cartoon characters from two decades ago, and it won’t be the last.
Tank “This Means War”
This year we lost the legendary Tank frontman Algy Ward. Although not as iconic as their debut, “War” is definitely on par with it. RIP Algy.
Ashbury “Endless Skies”
This record is probably the best album you’ve never heard that’s turning 40 this year. Think of it as a heavy metal Allman Brothers Band. Yeah, it is that good.
Honorable Mention:
Warlord “Deliver Us” EP
“Deliver Us” is one of the U.S.A.’s finest heavy metal moments, and almost makes up for Poison, almost.
This sentiment was undercut when he proceeded to mistake one of the documents for Marla Maples.
It’s hard to blame Trump for keeping such a sentimental document marking the happiest day of his life.
If executed, this will be the first time a former U.S President has declared “Losers weepers” since Warren G. Harding
“I wish dad got indicted every day!”
“If continuing to trust Trump is a telltale sign of my mental sun-downing then pass me the gravy!”
“The parking lot at Jake’s Jack Shack is huge, the best.”
According to the Super-Trump NFT card stats he’s stronger than Thanos and The Hulk combined, and unlike Superman, he is resistant to magic.
“More like ‘Aileen Can-not!’ Is that something?”
The phrase “we’re talking about a real dog here” was used 36 times.
“We need to focus on dismantling the insidious literacy-to-liberalism pipeline!”
“Let’s just say something tells me I’m gonna be tearing it up in the Florida Keys pretty soon.”
“Shamrock, extra whipped cream, shaken not stirred.”
Joe Biden has called the map “the whole reason I became President in the first place,” and considers Trump “a total dick for bogarting it.”
“Yaas Queens, stand down and stand by.”
Coming in dead last is the only album Beastie Boys ever released that won a Grammy. Which is interesting, considering it’s an instrumental album. I don’t know if the lack of singing is what finally landed the boys a grammy, but it’s certainly the reason it’s ranked last on the list. Not that it’s without its charm. The experimental funky jazz fusion is very on-brand and consistent with the band. But ultimately it feels like it’s missing something pretty fundamental, like you know, everything that makes the group so fun.
This one hits a bit of a sore spot, because it was the last record the Beastie Boys were ever going to make. It was delayed and in production limbo for a few years as the dark clouds rolled in with MCA’s announcing a cancer diagnosis. The final era for the Beastie Boys did bring their best music video to date, the form of a short film “Fight For Your Right Revisited” which is kinda the magnum opus of their music video saga. As for the album itself, not as memorable as their earlier work. But considering it came out a good 30 years into their career, it showed promise the Beastie Boys engine still had some gas in the tank. Try listening to this and not shed a tear over MCA’s untimely passing in 2012. You can’t. In fact, I’m crying right not just thinking about it.
I’ve never been to New York City, I’m not sure if I’ll ever go to New York City. But thanks to this album, I don’t even think I need to bother. While a post-9/11 love letter to the Big Apple might seem like a super cringey idea, leave it to the Beastie Boys to produce a record that hits the mark for both coolness and loving where you come from. If that place is New York, anyways. This one is pretty much as serious as the band is gonna get and pretty political in nature. But at least they’re all rapping on this one and the beats go harder than “Hot Sauce Committee.” Just gotta get used to how “grown up” they all sound on this one.
By the time this album came out the ‘90s were in full force and it was clear the band was trying to wash off all that frat boy image that launched them to extreme success in the mid-80s. Clearly that’s not what the band wanted to be anymore and this record was a solid swing at putting some distance between them and previous releases. If you skip this record, you’re really not missing out on a whole lot. They’re still working some kinks out. Are they gonna be more funky, produce some mediocre rhymes or show off some more production skills? It’s a mixed bag, but if you sit through the entire thing you’ll find something you enjoy. Also, nothing else was really going on in 1992 musically, kind of a slow time for auditory arts.
We’re only listing studio albums and there are numerous EPs and whatnot I could comb through to place in the rankings, but honestly the eight studio albums are just fine on their own. The only thing missing was this EP where the band decided to go back to their punk roots before they became massively successful rappers. I’m not going to pick a repeat or skip it for this one, the entire thing clocks in under 12 minutes and it slaps front to back, go listen to it three times in a row.
If I’m going to piss anyone off, it’s probably where I’m placing this one. This is the biggie. The first release that brought all those ‘80s beer-fueled party bangers to playlists all across your local campus for nearly 40 years. For good reason though, the use of samples aligns with the big beats and snotty kid attitudes all too well. Does it age well? No. It aged as well as most things that were widely successful in the mid-80s. That’s why it’s sitting at the halfway mark. While it is a rap album front to back, you’ve still got your punk rock bases covered. They show their early NYHC roots off at least a few times on this one, most notably back to back with “Fight For Your Right” into “No Sleep Til Brooklyn”
Ad-Rock claims this is the band’s best record overall. I’m not going to argue with him, but I do think he’s wrong. Although, this is kinda where the band “peaks” if you want to go that far. By the time this album came out in the late ‘90s, they were already more than well-established household names who can do new wrong. This album further expands on their experimental nature of working with everything in their vicinity and top-quality production. Bass particularly on this album seems more polished and perfected than anything they’ve released prior. This carries a weird techno, almost dance club element in with it at parts. You’ve definitely heard “Intergalactic” at numerous points in your life and that’s the vibe you’re going to feel throughout this one, so crank this one loudly if you’re stuck in traffic to set the mood for everyone around you to also enjoy.
There’s literally no other record out there that sounds like this one. Even as far as Beastie Boys albums, this one is unique. So unique there was a bunch of court bullshit over the number of samples used throughout so there will never be another “Paul’s Boutique.” This also cost a boatload to make and was considered overall to be a bomb, so that’s probably a good sign the album kicks ass. It’s more about consistently establishing how big of weirdos they are when they’re not pretending to be party bros. Taking any weird elements from their first album and just making it 10 times weirder while making it work. This one pairs better with getting high on weed more than it does getting drunk on beer.
Here’s that sweet patch of grass you can roll your blanket out on. This one is just the right balance on the Beastie Boys scale. You’ve got them rapping together, funkin’ together, jazzin’ it out, hauling out some punk tunes. It’s 5 Stars all around and shows off every skill set they have. The first track even whips off the last bit of their ‘80s image of frat boy party nonsense with MCA apologizing, how sweet of them. It’s lengthy, clocking in around an hour to get through. But you’re going on a ride and touching your foot off half a dozen musical styles being held together by that magical Beastie Boys glue that gives this album the number 1 ranking.
