![Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s](https://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2016/01/80-Best-Hard-Rock-Metal-Albums-of-the-1980s4.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s
The 1980s are perhaps the most defining decade in hard rock and metal. Bands like AC/DC, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, who emerged in the '70s, continued to release stellar discs, but a whole new form of metal burst onto the scene in the '80s when thrash took over and bands like Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth came to the forefront. Within the '80s also came the advent of glam, death metal, black metal, grindcore, goregrind and anything in between.
Meanwhile, punk rock continued to expand, as hardcore and other subgenres started to emerge. And in mainstream culture, hair bands dominated the airwaves, charts and the newly formed MTV, creating a worldwide revolution that saw heavy music reach its apex.
Elsewhere, industrial music started emerging in underground clubs, as bands like Ministry and Nine Inch Nails made their mark. By the end of the decade, grunge began to make its mark simultaneously with alternative rock, spreading fans of heavy music in all directions as they searched for their favorite genre niche.
It was a diverse 10 years that saw the most change in heavy music, and now it's time to take a look back at the best albums of the decade. Check out the gallery below, as we count down the Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s.
Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s
More From KZCD-FM
![The Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson Wards Off Stage Crasher With Guitar at Concert](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-Black-Crowes-Stage-Crasher.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine Calls On Metallica to ‘Step Up’ for Torch-Passing ‘Big 4′ Show](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-Dave-Mustaine-James-Hetfield-Lars-Ulrich.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger Explains Why Rockers Shouldn’t Care If Fans Smoke Weed at Shows](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-nickelback_chad_kroeger_weed_smoke.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![The Winery Dogs Book 2023 Tour Dates, Announce New Album](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2015/08/The-Winery-Dogs.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Machine Gun Kelly Takes On ‘Rock Community’ Critics During AMAs Speech](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-mgk-american-music-awards-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Nikki Sixx Disses Taylor Swift on Twitter, Fans Fire Back](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-motley_crue_nikki_sixx_taylor_swift.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Did You Know The Famous Leg Lamp From ‘A Christmas Story’ Was Created in Oklahoma](http://townsquare.media/site/115/files/2022/11/attachment-Leg-lamp-630X420.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Rockers at the 2022 American Music Awards [PHOTOS]](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-MGK-and-Maneskin-at-American-Music-Awards-2022.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![2023 Punk Rock Bowling Lineup Revealed – Bad Religion, Rancid + More](http://townsquare.media/site/366/files/2022/11/attachment-Bad-Religion-Greg-Graffin-Rancid-Tim-Armstrong-2023-Punk-Rock-Bowling.jpg?w=980&q=75)