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1985 - Stryper - Soldiers
Under Command
Stryper released their first full
album in 1985. Michael has great vocals and the tracks give the
glory to God. At the time it was something new and amazing, and
still today it is a great album that many regard as Strypers best
effort.
Other greats
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1986 - Stryper - To Hell
With The Devil
Stryper go universal with this
album. They put themselves and christian metal on the map. Why
did this album do so much? Because it's truly a great album. The
title track sums up the album - thumping clear heavy metal with
a message of salvation in Christ.
Other greats
- Bride 'Show No Mercy' |
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1987 - Petra - This Means
War
Not Petras heaviest album (that
would be either 1988's On Fire or 2003's Jeykll and Hyde) this
album still rocks all the way through. Bob Hartman proves he can
write some amazing stuff, and the opening track alone gives it
a true feeling of power..
Other greats
- Whitecross 'S/T' |
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1988 - Neon Cross - S/T
Loud high pitched metal from Neon
Cross. They've only done a couple of albums, and this one is one
that'll pin you to the ground and make you listen to it again
and again. Not the greatest in terms of production, but still
an album which is compelling from start to finish.
Other greats
- Bride 'Live To Die'; Stryper 'In God We Trust' |
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1989 - Bride - Silence
Is Madness
Wonderful album by Bride. Not as
intense as their previous album (Live to Die) this still packs
a punch and has great artwork aswell. Every track (bar one) is
furious and loud and the christian metal scene can rejoice in
a landmark release from the longest serving christian metal bands
around.
Other greats
- X-Sinner 'Get It' |
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1990 - Tourniquet - Stop
The Bleeding
Guy Ritter hits the world with
his vocals that no one had ever heard of at the time (in the christian
metal world). His range was amazing from growls to high pitched
squeals. Ted Kirkpatrick on drums, and Gary Lenaire on guitars
brings together and awesome partnership that would last for 3
albums, and stun the metal world of it's day.
Other greats
- Holy Soldier 'S/T'; Stryper 'Against The Law' |
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1991 - Sacred Warrior -
Obsessions
Sacred Warrior aren't my favourite
band, but this album just works so well. Every track is great,
and Ray sings just in the right way that it's not abrasive but
truly spellbinding. The lyrics are bold too, and here is an album
that I don't have to press skip once!
Other greats
- |
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1992 - Bride - Snakes In
The Playground
The album that opened Bride to
the world. They've moved away from their almost thrash metal ways
of Live To Die and to a lesser extent Silence Is Madness, and
release a Guns N Roses style hard rock album. And it goes down
a storm. Dales sings like he could bring the house down!
Other greats - |
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1993 - Stairway - No Rest:
No Mercy
Stairway are one of the few remaining
Christian metal albums from the UK. They're still kicking out
great albums, but this album (which was their first) is their
best. Classic sounds and classic artwork from Rodney Matthews.
Other greats
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1994 - Barren Cross - Rattle
Your Cage
Oh, the mid nineties weren't agreat
time from metal. Grunge was the new thing and it just seemed to
destroy the true metal scene. Bands from the 80's that reformed
changed their style to suit. But not Barren Cross! They released
an amazing album which sounded every bit like their 80's stuff.
Classic metal all the way!
Other greats
- Bride 'Scarecrow Messiah' |
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1995 - Siloam - Dying To
Live
Sometimes accused of being over
produced, Siloam's second album is slick and smooth hard rock.
Not as heavy as most other albums on this list, it still is very
memorable and has plenty of hooks throughout.
Other greats
- |
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1996 - Impellitteri - Screaming
Symphony
Great name for an album! Great
album! Only nine tracks, but when the nine are this good, who
cares! Chris Impelliteri proves that his speed on the solos is
pretty much world class. Metal all the way!
Other greats
- |
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1997 - New Jerusalem - S/T
Not a great year for metal (the
mid late nineties weren't the best as the world was still interested
in grunge) but New Jerusalem produced a different and varied
album. Some tracks work brilliantly, whilst others are not so
good. Hard Rock, sometimes feeling like Guns N Roses, sometimes
a million miles away!
Other greats
- Saviour Machine 'Legend Part 1'
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1998 - Impellitteri - Eye
Of The Hurricane
Impellitteri's second album in
my list. Rob's vocals yet again prove he's one of the best in
the business, and Chris' blistering solos are world class. All
tracks are either great or better, and there's a bonus cd added
to the album which adds to the listening pleasure.
Other greats
- Bride 'Oddities' |
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1999 - Omega Highway - Love
In a year when hardly any great
christian hard rock or metal comes out, this album turns up.
Sure, the quality is lacking somewhat, but those lyrics really
are a cut above the rest. It's rock/hard rock with a basic kind
of sound but bucket loads of passion.
Other greats
-
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2000 - Alice Cooper - Brutal
Planet
Alice Cooper? Is he a christian?
Enough already! This album is Alice the way I like to hear him.
Lyrics that are clearly showing that there is a God and that it's
not being good that gets you to heaven. Love Alice's vocals, and
because of the lyrics this makes it my favourite by him.
Other greats
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2001 - Warrior - The Code
Of Life
Rob Rock again, for the 3rd time.
Just goes to show that where ever he goes you can pretty much
guarantee a top notch album. Bruce from Iron Maiden co-writes
one of the songs, which is an added bonus, but Rob, who writes
most of them (and from a christian perspective) shows us where
his heart really is!!!
Other greats
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2002 - Seventh Avenue -
Between The Worlds
Some of the tracks from the german
classic/epic metal masters aren't to my taste, but others are
so good that it beat many good albums to the top of the pile.
Herbie sounds the best to date and the lyrics keep getting better.
Other greats
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2003 - Harmony - Dreaming
Awake
Interesting album this one. From
Scandanvia comes this melodic and quite relaxing metal album.
If ever there's a time when you want to listen to metal, but nothing
heavy, then put this on and you'll be pleasantly surprised! Too
many instumentals for my liking, but the songs are just awesome.
Other greats
- Theocracy 'S/T'; Dreamquest 'The Release' |
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2004 - Seventh Avenue - Eternals
Seventh Avenue have their second
album on my list. Eternals is the best album they've done
to 2004. Herbie's vocals have improved again, and Mike writes
some great lyrics.
Other greats -
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2005 - Rob Rock - Holy
Hell
Rob did some amazing albums with
Chris Impellitteri and nothing else he's done has been quite as
good. That was until now. Holy Hell really puts Robs name on the
map. His vocals are truly amazing and just the opening track alone
shows how powerful the songs, and his vocals are.
Other greats
- Whitecross '1987' |
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2006 - Saint - The Mark
Saint have released many great
albums and this really is their peak. Saint are known for their
apocalyptic style and this album is exactly what it's all about.
It's the book of Revelation. Saint nail their image totally.
Other greats - |
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2007 - Boarders - The World Hates
Me
Total suprise to find this band,
who are from Italy. Never heard of them, but once I'd listened
to their 3 songs on myspace I was hooked. Thing is, all their
songs are absolutely great. Similar to Megadeth, but some songs
have some high pitched lines in them. Just the kind of album
I crave! Lyrics are good too.
Other greats - Bride 'Skin For Skin'
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2008 - Seventh Avenue -
Terium
Seventh Avenue have done it again
in producing a top class classic metal album. More tracks than
before, and a longer album aswell. What's so amazing about SA
is they keep getting better with each album. Eternals got 9.5
out of 10 and this is better! I've listened to it countless times
and it's still stuck in my cd player.
Other greats
- See below! |
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2008 - Theocracy - Mirror
Of Souls
Well, what can I say, but WOW!
2008 is the year when there HAS to be a split for best album.
Terium is absolutely great, but Mirror Of Souls is equally as
good. Matt Smith returns for his sophomore album, and even though
there's only 8 songs it's enough to keep any metal head happy
for months. Almost 70 minutes of metal bliss.
Other greats
- See above! |
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2009 - Bride - Tsar Bomba
Bride release their last
ever album, and although it's not their heaviest it still packs
a punch and proves that Dale can sing with all the power of
a true metal vocalist. Lots of tracks, lots of styles. It almost
lost out to ReinXeed's brilliant 'Higher' album, but Bride's
surefootedness in the world of christian rock makes them stand
out from the crowd.
Other greats
- ReinXeed - 'Higher'; Stryper
'Murder By Pride'; Impellitteri 'Wicked Maiden'
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2010 - ?
With Stairway to release
an album, Sacred Warrior's album being delayed until 2010 and
possibly (maybe not!) an album from Theocracy next year could
be an interesting year for metal. Also Eternal Decision's 4th
album is in the works.
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