Top 10 for 1988

TheBigBlack's Rock Top 10

Noiseworks
Touch

Rock | Album | 14 November 1988

AC/DC
Blow Up Your Video

Hard Rock | Album | 18 January 1988

'Blow Up Your Video' is the eleventh studio album by AC/DC. It reached No. 2 in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal Or Instrumental in 1989.

Robert Plant
Now And Zen

Rock | Album | 29 February 1988

Mudhoney
Superfuzz Bigmuff

Grunge Rock | E.P. | 20 October 1988

'Superfuzz Bigmuff' is the debut E.P. by Mudhoney. The album was named after two of the band's favorite guitar effects pedals: the Univox Super-Fuzz and the Electro-Harmonix Big Muff, which helped to provide the band's signature dirty sound.

Green River
Rehab Doll

Grunge Rock | Album | ?? June 1988

'Rehab Doll' is the debut (and only) album by Green River. It is often referred to as a 'mini-album' due to it's short length of under 30 minutes. By the time the album was released the band had ceased to exist.

Soundgarden
Ultramega OK

Grunge Rock | Album | 31 October 1988

'Ultramega OK' is the debut studio album by Soundgarden. It contained elements of heavy metal, psychedelic rock, and hardcore punk. The band supported the album with a tour of the United States, as well as its first overseas tour. In 1990, the album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance.

Jane's Addiction
Nothing's Shocking

Alternative Rock | Album | 23 August 1988

'Nothing's Shocking' is the debut studio album by Jane's Addiction. Records. It was well received by critics and peaked at number 103 on the Billboard 200. Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album at number 312 on its "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time". It received a nomination for the 31st Grammy Awards in the category for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental.

1927
...ish

Rock | Album | 14 November 1988

Guns n' Roses
G N' R Lies

Hard Rock | E.P. | 29 November 1988

The Traveling Wilburys
Traveling Wilburys, Volume 1

Rock | Album | 8 October 1988

TheBigBlack's Rock Honourable Mentions

The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Radio One

Classic Rock | Compilation Album | ?? November 1988

U2
Rattle And Hum

Rock | Album | 10 October 1988

'Rattle And Hum' is a hybrid live/studio album by U2, and a companion to the rockumentary film directed by Phil Joanou. Following the breakthrough success of the band's previous studio album, 'The Joshua Tree', the Rattle And Hum project captures their continued experiences with American roots music on tour, further incorporating elements of blues rock, folk rock, and gospel music into their sound. Although Rattle and Hum was intended to represent the band paying tribute to legendary musicians, some critics accused U2 of trying to place themselves amongst the ranks of such artists. Critical reception to both the album and the film was mixed; one Rolling Stone editor spoke of the album's "excitement"; another described it as "misguided and bombastic". Facing creative stagnation and a critical backlash to Rattle And Hum, U2 reinvented themselves in the 1990s through a new musical direction and public image.

Various Artists
Sub Pop 200

-Various- | Compilation Album | 1 December 1988

TheBigBlack's Rock Dishonourable Mentions

Bob Dylan
Down In The Groove

Classic Rock | Album | 19 May 1988

TheBigBlack's Metal Top 10

Hobbs' Angel Of Death
Hobbs' Angel Of Death

Thrash Metal | Album | ?? July 1988

'Hobbs' Angel Of Death' is the debut studio album by Hobbs' Angel Of Death.

Vengeance
Human Sacrifice

Thrash Metal | Album | ?? ?? 1998

'Human Sacrifice' is the first studio album by Vengeance Rising (known as Vengeance at the time of release). It was the first full-length Christian thrash metal album released. Though controversial, 'Human Sacrifice' and the following album, 'Once Dead' (1990) were huge successes in the world of Christian music, making Vengeance Rising one of the few bands in the genre to cross over into the secular music scene. In 2010, HM ranked 'Human Sacrifice' the best Christian metal album of all time on its Top 100 list because it "tilted the Christian metal world on its ear".

Testament
The New Order

Thrash Metal | Album | 5 May 1988

'The New Order' is the second album by Testament. It was the album that broke Testament into the thrash metal mainstream, and was the first Testament album to enter the Billboard 200, reaching number 136 on that chart. It was also the band's first album to include an instrumental track.

Ozzy Osbourne
No Rest For The Wicked

Heavy Metal | Album | 22 October 1988

'No Rest For The Wicked' is the fifth studio album by Ozzy Osbourne. It was the first album to feature guitarist Zakk Wylde, keyboardist John Sinclair and the first to feature bassist Bob Daisley since 'Bark At The Moon'. The album was certified gold in December 1988 and has since gone double platinum. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200.

Death
Leprosy

Death Metal | Album | 16 November 1988

'Leprosy' is the second studio album by Death. The album is notable in its different tone and quality from the band's 1987 debut, as it is the first example of Scott Burns' work heard on many of the death metal and grindcore albums of that era. It is the first album to feature drummer Bill Andrews and the only one to feature guitarist Rick Rozz. In a poll by the German Rock Hard magazine, it was voted the number one of the 25 most important death metal albums of all time.

Anthrax
State Of Euphoria

Thrash Metal | Album | 18 September 1988

'State Of Euphoria' is the fourth album by Anthrax. The majority of the album's music was composed by drummer Charlie Benante while lyrics were composed by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian. The album reached No. 30 on the Billboard 200 chart in late 1988 and was certified Gold by the RIAA on February 8, 1989.

Danzig
Danzig

Metal | Album | 30 August 1988

From the moment 'Twist Of Cain' starts to play my head starts to bob, and there is nothing on this album that stops it. Debut albums are an interesting beast. Bands aren't burdened with expectation of fans and record companies, and therefore they can just be whatever they want to be, and have fun along the way. Sure, Glenn Danzig already had the legacy of the Misfits and Samhain behind him (although they weren't really 'legendary' yet), but this was still like a whole new start for him - and it shows. The music isn't particularly up tempo, and it certainly isn't technical, but it moves along with a swagger that most bands would never ever get close to. Every word that drips from Glenn's mouth feels like it is sung with a mischievous smile, and on tracks like 'She Rides' and 'Am I Demon' he really opens up, and let's not forget to mention the greatest track in the Danzig repertoire - 'Mother'. I think the thing that constantly draws me back is that on the surface it all feels a bit. tongue in cheek, and yet you still feel some underlying menace. I bit like discovering your kind old next door neighbour is possibly a genocidal war criminal in hiding.

Megadeth
So Far, So Good... So What!

Thrash Metal | Album | 18 January 1988

Slayer
South Of Heaven

Thrash Metal | Album | 5 July 1988

'South Of Heaven' is the fourth studio album by Slayer. Given the innovative speed metal pace of their previous album 'Reign In Blood', Slayer deliberately slowed the tempo on 'South Of Heaven' and used undistorted guitars and toned-down vocals. It reached number 57 on the Billboard 200.

Metallica
...And Justice For All

Thrash Metal | Album | 7 September 1988

'...And Justice For All' is the fourth studio album by Metallica. It was the first Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted, following the death of their previous bassist Cliff Burton in 1986. It was acclaimed by music critics for its depth and complexity, although its dry mix and nearly inaudible bass guitar were criticized. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989, controversially losing out to Jethro Tull in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental category. It was successful in the United States, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200, and was certified 8? platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2003 for shipping eight million copies in the U.S.

TheBigBlack's Metal Honourable Mentions

Iron Maiden
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son

Heavy Metal | Album | 11 April 1988

'Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son' is the seventh studio album by Iron Maiden. A concept album inspired by the novel Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card, the record incorporates elements of progressive rock, seen in the length and complex structure of the title track. It was also the first Iron Maiden album to feature keyboards. The album debuted at number one on the U.K. Albums Chart. The lead single 'Can I Play with Madness' was also a commercial success, peaking at No. 3 in the U.K. Singles Chart.

Manowar
Kings Of Metal

Heavy Metal | Album | 18 November 1988

'Kings Of Metal' is the sixth album by Manowar. The album was the last to feature guitarist and founding member Ross 'The Boss' Friedman, who later went on to rejoin punk band The Dictators. Drummer Scott Columbus left the band after this album as well, but rejoined for 1996's Louder Than Hell and remained with the band until 2008. In 2017, Loudwire ranked it as the 13th-best power metal album of all time.

Bathory
Blood Fire Death

Black Metal | Album | 8 October 1988

Coroner
Punishment For Decadence

Thrash Metal | Album | 1 August 1988