Top 10 for 1985

TheBigBlack's Rock Top 10

ZZ Top
Afterburner

Rock | Album | 28 October 1985

'Afterburner' is the ninth studio album by ZZ Top. Although critics' response to the album was lukewarm, it was a moderate success, going platinum and launching one hit single.

Twisted Sister
Come Out And Play

Hard Rock | Album | 8 November 1985

'Come Out And Play' is the fourth studio album by Twisted Sister. The album was significantly less successful than its predecessor 'Stay Hungry' (1984), both critically and commercially, although it achieved Gold status by selling more than 500,000 copies.

Motley Crue
Theatre Of Pain

Hard Rock | Album | 21 June 1985

'Theatre Of Pain' is the third studio album by Motley Crue. Released in the aftermath of lead vocalist Vince Neil's arrest for manslaughter on a drunk driving charge, the album marked the beginning of the band's transition away from the traditional heavy metal sound, towards a more glam metal style. The album reached No. 6 on the U.S. charts and No. 36 in the U.K., and was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA on June 5, 1995.

Dire Straits
Brothers In Arms

Rock | Album | 13 May 1985

Jimmy Barnes
For The Working Class Man

Rock | Album | 22 May 1985

INXS
Listen Like Thieves

Rock | Album | 14 October 1985

'Listen Like Thieves' is the fifth studio album by INXS. It spent two weeks at number one on the Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart. Considered an international breakthrough album for the band, it peaked at No. 11 on the United States Billboard 200, No. 24 on the Canadian RPM 100 Albums and in the top 50 in the United Kingdom.

AC/DC
Fly On The Wall

Hard Rock | Album | 28 June 1985

'Fly On The Wall' is the tenth studio album by AC/DC. The album was not well received by critics and its one million U.S. sales paled in comparison to earlier albums.

TheBigBlack's Rock Honourable Mentions

Green River
Come On Down

Grunge Rock | E.P. | ?? June 1985

'Come On Down' is the debut E.P. by Green River. It was released while the band were on their first U.S. tour. It is often considered as the first 'grunge' record released.

TheBigBlack's Metal Top 10

Bathory
The Return. (Of The Darkness And Evil)

Black Metal | Album | 27 May 1985

W.A.S.P.
The Last Command

Heavy Metal | Album | 9 November 1985

'The Last Command' is the second studio album by W.A.S.P. The album was produced by Spencer Proffer, who was perhaps best known for producing the six-time Platinum selling album 'Metal Health' by Quiet Riot in 1983. It is the first W.A.S.P. album to feature the work of drummer Steve Riley and the last album to feature founding member Randy Piper on guitar. The album reached No. 49 on the Billboard 200 album chart in early 1986. It was certified gold by the RIAA on June 4, 1998.

Possessed
Seven Churches

Thrash Metal | Album | 15 October 1985

'Seven Churches' is the debut studio album by Possessed. The album title refers to the Seven Churches of Asia mentioned in the Book of Revelation. "The Exorcist" begins with producer Randy Burns' version of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells', performed as it was in the 1973 horror film of the same name. 'Seven Churches' is widely regarded as the first death metal album to exist, and About.com named it one of the ten essential albums of the genre. Jeff Becerra and Larry Lalonde were only 16 when the album was recorded.

Celtic Frost
To Mega Therion

Black Metal | Album | 28 October 1985

Kreator
Endless Pain

Thrash Metal | Album | 1 October 1985

'Endless Pain' is the debut studio album by Kreator. The album combines elements of black metal and thrash metal, ultimately creating a black-metal influenced thrash sound inspired by bands like Venom, Mercyful Fate, and Bathory. Both guitarist Mille Petrozza and drummer Jurgen 'Ventor' Reil share vocal duties.

S.O.D. (Stormtroopers Of Death)
Speak English Or Die

Thrash Metal (Crossover) | Album | ?? December 1985

Exodus
Bonded By Blood

Thrash Metal | Album | 25 April 1985

'Bonded By Blood' is the debut studio album by Exodus. Although the album was completed in the summer of 1984, it was not released until 1985 due to issues their record label. It is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time. This is also the only full-length studio album of Exodus to feature Paul Baloff on vocals.

Megadeth
Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!

Thrash Metal | Album | 12 June 1985

'Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!' is the debut studio album by Megadeth, released on Combat Records. The band was given $8,000 by the label to record and produce the album, but after spending half of the album's budget on drugs, alcohol and food, the band was forced to fire their original producer and produce the album themselves. Despite the resulting poor production, the album was a well-received effort that obtained strong reviews in various music publications. The album played an essential role in establishing thrash metal as an authentic subgenre of heavy metal music.

Anthrax
Spreading The Disease

Thrash Metal | Album | 30 October 1985

'Spreading The Disease' is the second studio album by Anthrax. It was the band's first album to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello (but both had featured on the 'Armed And Dangerous' E.P. earlier in the year).

Slayer
Hell Awaits

Thrash Metal | Album | 16 September 1985

'Hell Awaits' is the second studio album by Slayer. Musically, the album features the band's most progressive and diverse work compared to their previous releases, and according to Kerry King, he and Jeff Hanneman were very into band Mercyful Fate at the time, which then led to the longer and more progressive songs.

TheBigBlack's Metal Honourable Mentions

Iron Maiden
Live After Death

Heavy Metal | Album | 14 October 1985

'Live After Death' is the first live album by Iron Maiden. It was recorded live at Long Beach Arena, California and Hammersmith Odeon, London during the band's World Slavery Tour.