Our listing of the 11 finest hair metal debut albums reveals simply how a lot variety existed inside a subgenre that was too usually maligned by critics as one-dimensional fluff.
Granted, hair steel — or glam steel, or no matter you wish to name it — was much less of a sound and extra of a pejorative time period that was retrofitted to bands with teased hair, leather-based pants and hooky exhausting rock anthems about intercourse and partying. But it surely’s the best and most widely known categorization for the hedonistic rock scene that dominated the ’80s, so it should suffice.
Even when the bands on this listing shared some sonic and aesthetic similarities, in addition they put their very own spin on the so-called hair steel sound. Bands reminiscent of Motley Crue and Twisted Sister debuted firstly of the last decade with uncooked, raucous first albums that had been equally influenced by the glam rock, punk and steel acts of the ’70s.
READ MORE: The Heaviest Song by 11 Big Hair Metal Bands
Others, reminiscent of Poison and Warrant, had been a part of a later wave of hair steel, yet another centered on pop hooks and frothy energy ballads. These teams performed up the inherent ridiculousness of the style with their outrageous vogue selections and excessively attractive lyrics — and in hindsight, they got here to epitomize the entire period’s most prevalent (and infrequently unfavourable) stereotypes.
Micro variations apart, the albums on this listing additionally present simply how usually hair steel bands caught lightning in a bottle on their first attempt. Lots of the period’s largest acts appeared to emerge totally shaped on their debut albums, having refined their sound over years on the membership circuit. That a few of them would wrestle to recreate this first-album glory is irrelevant; it is spectacular that they managed to do it even as soon as.
Learn on to see how we ranked the 11 finest hair steel debut albums.
Prime 11 Hair Steel Debut Albums
Lots of the scene’s largest bands caught lightning in a bottle on their first attempt.
Gallery Credit score: Bryan Rolli