Metal Sludge Gossip Board

I've given up hope there would be any good new music. And all the albums by the veteran bands (after the 90's) are just bad. Mediocre at best.

So. I know there are lots of stuff at the 80's that I never knew of, hidden gems if I should say.

Could you recommend me something from the 80's hard rock/AOR/metal (even prog) that I don't know yet.
I prefer good sound quality/vocals and catchy choruses. No monster cookie vocals or double bass.
IMO Screaming For Vengeance > Painkiller for example.

Thank you in advance.

I always say Blue Tears, but you may already know them.

(1986) Metal Church - The Dark FULL ALBUM [HQ]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjUjmL9mSXE

Fat_Elvis wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:52 pm I always say Blue Tears, but you may already know them.

Yeah, their debut is just perfect.

I’d recommend Slik Toxik’s Doin’ the Nasty, Sleeze Beez’s Screwed, Blued & Tattooed, and Dirty Looks’ first two albums, but you’ve probably already heard of those, too.

Rox Diamond from 1992 is great!
Big Bad Wolf S/T also!
Stun Leer "Once"

EuroJR wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:35 pm I've given up hope there would be any good new music. And all the albums by the veteran bands (after the 90's) are just bad. Mediocre at best.

So. I know there are lots of stuff at the 80's that I never knew of, hidden gems if I should say.

Could you recommend me something from the 80's hard rock/AOR/metal (even prog) that I don't know yet.
I prefer good sound quality/vocals and catchy choruses. No monster cookie vocals or double bass.
IMO Screaming For Vengeance > Painkiller for example.

Thank you in advance.

‘Heavy Pettin’ - Lettin’ Loose 1983 (1st album). Reminds me of “High n Dry” era Def Leppard. Produced by Brian May
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvA ... oWDGNaO3Q8

The Big F

https://youtu.be/bD1kS7sHsbY?si=asUxADypHl7-AmfI

King Kobra - “Ready to Strike”
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyX ... BmgcAU50ym

If you want AOR then give, Signal - Loud and Clear, a listen.

The Loveless - A Tale of Gin and Salvation, maybe my favorite album ever.

I’ll be 48 in a week and never heard this hit song until this year: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j3QLFFVFp ... 5pIGRyZWFt

It’s not like it’s the greatest but I listen to it all the time now, not sick of it at all!

muffinman14 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 3:15 pm I’ll be 48 in a week and never heard this hit song until this year: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j3QLFFVFp ... 5pIGRyZWFt

It’s not like it’s the greatest but I listen to it all the time now, not sick of it at all!

Jeezis God were you raised in a cave? That was the lead top 20 single from a #1 album...

I don’t know how big Helix was in your neck of the woods. But they has some solid 80’s albums. Some were overlooked like Wild In The Streets. : https://youtu.be/JcIl65i73pk?si=hglyW2pLMYTnqFuq

Von Groove - Von Groove
Strangeways - Walk In The Fire
Harem Scarem - S/T, Mood Swings
Beau Coup
Helix - Long Way To Heaven
Coney Hatch - Friction

Kings of the Sun -
Serpentine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyEwj4E ... gsofthesun

Cats in Boots -
Her Monkey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ODLn_X ... albanger87

Sven Gali
Under the Influence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3FW9Uu ... enGaliVEVO

Big House
Dollar in My Pocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sLvsQb ... l=NohWhone

Four Horsemen
Rockin is My Business
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9GCA0c ... ohnnyRingo

Frank Marino – The Power Of Rock And Roll (1981)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02Aqo69bVmk

daveg wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 6:09 pm Kings of the Sun -
Serpentine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyEwj4E ... gsofthesun

Cats in Boots -
Her Monkey
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ODLn_X ... albanger87

Sven Gali
Under the Influence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3FW9Uu ... enGaliVEVO

Big House
Dollar in My Pocket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sLvsQb ... l=NohWhone

Four Horsemen
Rockin is My Business
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9GCA0c ... ohnnyRingo

Good call on all of those, especially the Cats In Boots and Big House songs.

DAD - Rim of Hell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfcN1Rc7CN0

EuroJR wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 1:35 pm I've given up hope there would be any good new music. And all the albums by the veteran bands (after the 90's) are just bad. Mediocre at best.

So. I know there are lots of stuff at the 80's that I never knew of, hidden gems if I should say.

Could you recommend me something from the 80's hard rock/AOR/metal (even prog) that I don't know yet.
I prefer good sound quality/vocals and catchy choruses. No monster cookie vocals or double bass.
IMO Screaming For Vengeance > Painkiller for example.

Thank you in advance.

Rescue Me - Y&T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erm55NomCFQ

jorn
kick axe
sweet water
wig wam
hell in the club
dust bowl junkies

The Ultras: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw3n_PIGgU0

Bang Gang: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKKEWVEaHYo

Shooting Gallery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WIw0tAhfRU

The Dirty Strangers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2WhkNxK9QE

Kill City Dragons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp5iG_rVuKU

Androids- Let It All Out
Baby Tuckoo- Force Majeure
Coney Hatch-s/t
Cobra- First Strike
Gringos Locos- s/t
Heavy Pettin- Lettin Loose & Rock Ain't Dead
Helix- No Rest For The Wicked & Walkin' The Razor's Edge
Havana Black- Indian Warrior
Hughes/Thrall- s/t
Kick Axe- Vices
Kings Of The Sun- s/t
Kix- s/t
Mentors- To The Max (ok, it's 90's)
Outlaws- Los Hombres Malo
Pretty Maids- Future World
Racer X- Second Heat
S.A.D.O.- Dirty Fantasy
Shotgun Messiah- s/t & Second Coming
Signal- Loud And Clear
Smack- On You & Rattlesnake Bite
The Storm- s/t
Unruly Child- s/t
Waysted- Save Your Prayers
Victory- Cuture Killed The Native
Vinnie Vincent Invasion- s/t
Yngwie Malmsteen- Odyssey & Marching Out

Both Spread Eagle CDs even though they're technically the 90s.

Kid-Wicked wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 11:36 pm hell in the club

Awesome band (although not 80's)
We'll never leave the Castle is great
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CY-fiyF ... rsMusicsrl

Another recent band that has a strong 80's vibe is Temple Balls
TOTC sounds like a song that Skid Row would have released between S/T and Slave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5e280O ... rsMusicsrl

Tall Stories - both the S/T and Skyscraper (Frontiers 2009) are excellent. Augeri is a beast on these records.

Tyketto - "Shine" - this is the Augeri fronted version. The very definition of hidden gem.

Cry Wolf - "Crunch" - Slick and classy hair metal.

David Drew - "Safety Love" - More Billy Idol that anything else, but amazing AOR regardless.

Try the later Pink Cream 69 albums with David Readman. "Endangered" and "Thunderdome" are great.

Saraya - "When the Blackbird Sings" - Huge sounding record and Sandi just wails.

Pretty Maids and The Loveless are good calls.

I'd like to add:

Icon - s/t and Night of the Crime
Electric Angels - s/t and Lost in the Atlantic
Heavens Edge - s/t and Some Other Place, Some Other Time (technically 90s releases...)
Slash Puppet - No Strings Attached (2007 remaster of 1989 demo)
Hardline - Double Eclipse
Lion - Dangerous Attraction and Trouble in Angel City
House of Lords - Demons Down
MSG - Perfect Timing and Save Yourself
Lessdress - Dumblondes and Love Industry
Phenomena - s/t and Dream Runner

Metallica "Master Of Puppets" is one that flies under the radar and is pretty obscure.

In 1985 the band Gogmagog released a 3 song EP and that was it. Its worth tracking down or going to UTube or some other streaming service and listening to it.

Gogmagog - I Will Be There (EP)

1. I Will Be There
2. Living In a Fucking Time Warp
3. It's Illegal, It's Immoral, It's Unhealthy But It's Fun

The members of Gogmagog were:

Paul Di'Anno: Vocals (Iron Maiden)
Pete Willis: Guitars (Def Leppard)
Janick Gers: Guitars (Iron Maiden)
Neil Murray: Bass (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath)
Clive Burr: Drums, Percussion (Iron Maiden)

wildside1969 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 07, 2025 9:40 am In 1985 the band Gogmagog released a 3 song EP and that was it. Its worth tracking down or going to UTube or some other streaming service and listening to it.

Gogmagog - I Will Be There (EP)

1. I Will Be There
2. Living In a Fucking Time Warp
3. It's Illegal, It's Immoral, It's Unhealthy But It's Fun

The members of Gogmagog were:

Paul Di'Anno: Vocals (Iron Maiden)
Pete Willis: Guitars (Def Leppard)
Janick Gers: Guitars (Iron Maiden)
Neil Murray: Bass (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath)
Clive Burr: Drums, Percussion (Iron Maiden)

F*ck dude, that just made my day. Have no idea how this ever passed my radar, but this is awesome. Songs are catchy as hell. Thanks for posting this.

BulletProofPoet wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2025 2:42 pm If you want AOR then give, Signal - Loud and Clear, a listen.

The Loveless - A Tale of Gin and Salvation, maybe my favorite album ever.

Am I dreaming? These are my favorite "hidden gem" albums.

And Blue Tears, Heaven's Edge, Hardline that are already mentioned. I think I saw ROXXI mentioned recently too. Wow! I thought I was the only one who had that album!

I'll add one: JOHNNY LIMA. The dude put out a few AOR masterpiece albums. Some are more pop (the debut) some are more hard rock (Livin' Out Loud) Check him out! Although he's not actually 80's!

Phantom Blue, their 2nd album Built to Perform.
RIP Michelle (John Norums wife).