The Year in Heavy Metal Music: 1988
Contents
A look back at the year 1988 in heavy metal music, including the top albums, songs, and bands of the year.
Introduction
In 1988, the heavy metal music scene saw the release of some of the genre’s most iconic and influential albums. Metallica’s …And Justice for All, Megadeth’s So Far, So Good…So What!, Slayer’s South of Heaven and Anthrax’s State of Euphoria all pushed the boundaries of what was possible in heavy metal, and each one has gone on to be considered a classic in its own right.
While these four albums may be the most well-known from 1988, they are by no means the only ones worth checking out. Other notable releases include Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, Overkill’s The Years of Decay, Obituary’s Slowly We Rot and Voivod’s Nothingface.
If you’re looking to explore the heavy metal music of 1988, this guide will help you get started.
The Year in Metal Music: 1988
In 1988, the metal music scene was booming. There were a number of great albums released and many new bands were starting to make a name for themselves. This was also the year that Metallica released their fourth studio album, …And Justice for All, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Let’s take a look at some of the other great metal albums that were released in 1988.
The Biggest Metal Bands of 1988
It was the year of the big four—Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer—who were all releasing their most seminal albums. Megadeth’s So Far, So Good… So What!, Metallica’s …And Justice for All, Anthrax’sState of Euphoria, and Slayer’s South of Heaven all came out in 1988 and are considered metal classics. Other important releases came from Cinderella (Long Cold Winter), Guns N’ Roses (Appetite for Destruction), Poison (Open Up and Say… Ahh!), Whitesnake (Slip of the Tongue), Ozzy Osbourne (No Rest for the Wicked), and many more. It was a great year for metal music, with many bands hitting their commercial and artistic peak.
The Most Important Metal Albums of 1988
While most people think of metal as a loud, aggressive genre of music, there is a lot of variety within the genre. Some metal bands are known for their fast-paced, hard-hitting songs while others are known for their slow, atmospheric tracks. There is also a wide range of subgenres within metal, includingdeath metal, black metal, and power metal.
No matter what your taste in metal is, there is no denying that the 1980s was a golden age for the genre. Some of the most influential and importantmetal albums were released during this decade, and many of them were released in 1988. In no particular order, here are 10 of the most important metal albums that came out in 1988.
1) Metallica – …And Justice for All
2) Megadeth – So Far, So Good… So What!
3) Slayer – South of Heaven
4) Anthrax – State of Euphoria
5) Exodus – Fabulous Disaster
6) Obituary – Slowly We Rot
7) Testament – The New Order
8) Napalm Death – Scum
9) Carcass – Symphonies of Sickness
10) Morbid Angel – Altars of Madness
The Most Influential Metal Songs of 1988
Metal music saw some major changes in 1988. The genre became more commercialized and popular, with bands like Metallica and Megadeth achieving mainstream success. This year also saw the rise of death metal and black metal, with bands like Death and Venom gaining popularity in the underground scene.
Here are some of the most influential metal songs of 1988:
Metallica – “One”
One of the most popular and commercially successful metal songs of all time, “One” was released as a single from Metallica’s fourth studio album, …And Justice for All. The song is about a soldier who is dealing with the aftermath of a nuclear war.
Megadeth – “In My Darkest Hour”
Released as a single from Megadeth’s third studio album, So Far, So Good… So What!, “In My Darkest Hour” is one of the band’s most popular songs. The song is about the death of Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine’s mother.
Death – “Pull the Plug”
“Pull the Plug” is a song from Death’s second studio album, Leprosy. The song is one of the earliest examples of death metal, and its fast tempo and brutal sound would influence many other bands in the genre.
Venom – “Black Metal”
The title track from Venom’s second studio album, Black Metal, is one of the most influential metal songs of all time. The song is credited with giving its name to the black metal genre, and its dark and Satanic themes would inspire many other bands in the genre.
Conclusion
In conclusion, 1988 was a great year for heavy metal music. Many of the genre’s biggest and most influential bands released new albums, and the music continued to evolve and change. There were plenty of highlights, from Metallica’s return to form with …And Justice For All to Megadeth’s seminal release So Far, So Good, So What! There was something for everyone in 1988, and it remains one of the strongest years in metal history.
