Lightning to the Nations is the debut album by British heavy metal band Diamond Head. The album was recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 through Happy Face Records, a label owned by the producer Muff Murfin of The Old Smithy studio of Worcester, due to lack of interest from major labels and the band feeling that they needed to get the ball rolling as other bands from the same era, such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, were already becoming big names. It was originally released in a plain white sleeve with no title or track listing, and was subsequently named after the first track on the album. Metal Blade Records re-released it on CD in 1992. In 2001, it was re-issued in its original "White Album" form by Sanctuary Records, featuring seven bonus tracks that were featured on singles and EPs from this era.
Enter is the debut studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation, released by DSFA Records in 1997. After the band became more widely known in foreign markets, it was released by the independent label Season of Mist in North America in 2007, and re-printed by Nuclear Blast in 2014. It was produced by Lex Vogelaar, founder of the Dutch death metal band Orphanage, and had to recorded, completed and mixed within three weeks.
"Overkill" is a song by English rock band Motörhead. It was released in 7" and 12" vinyl pressings in 1979. It is backed with B-side "Too Late Too Late" which appears on the CD re-issues of the Overkill album. Early copies came with an "Overkill" badge. The single reached number 39 on the UK Singles Chart.
Riot V, formerly known as Riot, is an American heavy metal band formed in New York City in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale. Reaching peak in popularity in the early 1980s, the band has continued a long-running successful career. Riot's sound initially started out as straightforward heavy metal, but since their 1988 release Thundersteel, their musical style has shifted a little towards power metal.
War and Pain is the debut studio album from Canadian heavy metal band Voivod, released on August 10, 1984 through Metal Blade Records. According to a 1986 TV interview with the band, it sold over 40,000 copies within 2 years of its release.
Psalm 9 is the debut studio album by American doom metal band Trouble, released by Metal Blade Records on March 10, 1984. The album was originally released eponymously and later renamed to Psalm 9 after the release of the band's fourth studio album, which was their 1990 self-titled release. Along with Saint Vitus' self-titled debut album from the same year, Psalm 9 is considered by many critics to be one of the first doom metal releases.
Restless and Wild is the fourth studio album by German heavy metal band Accept, released in 1982 in Continental Europe and in 1983 in the US and UK. It was the first Accept album not to be recorded at Delta-Studio, since the band had moved to Dieter Dierks' studio in Stommeln. It is also the first Accept album in which Udo Dirkschneider sings every track, as well as the first in which manager Gaby Hauke ("Deaffy") gains credits for songwriting. Michael Wagener, once again, handled recording and mixing duties here.
The Rods are an American heavy metal band formed in 1980 by David "Rock" Feinstein [Born in 1947], Steven Starmer, and Carl Canedy. After the first album Starmer was replaced by Garry Bordonaro. Feinstein had first come to mainstream attention after playing in Elf with his cousin Ronnie James Dio. The Rods' sound differed considerably from Elf, adopting a more traditional heavy metal sound compared with the boogie-rock sound that Elf preferred.
Rhett Forrester was an American musician best known as the lead singer for New York-based band Riot from 1981 until 1984.
The Natives Are Restless is the third and last studio release by the American speed metal band Hawaii and the only one to feature guitarist Tom Azevedo, formerly of Honolulu band Rat Attack.
Shock Tactics is the third studio album by British heavy metal band Samson, released in 1981. It was vocalist Bruce Dickinson's final album with the band before joining Iron Maiden.
Fire Down Under is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Riot, released in 1981, it's the last album to feature original vocalist Guy Speranza. The song "Flashbacks" is dedicated to Neal Kay, a British DJ who supported heavy metal in the UK during the new wave of British heavy metal.
Restless Breed is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Riot, released on May 21, 1982. It was the band's first record with vocalist Rhett Forrester. "When I Was Young" is an Eric Burdon and the Animals' cover.
Riot Live is Riot's first full-length live album, recorded in the UK in 1980, but not issued until 1989 on CBS/Sony Music in Japan. This is the band's last output with original vocalist Guy Speranza.
Born in America is the fifth studio album released by the American heavy metal band Riot, released in 1983. After getting dropped by Elektra Records the band signed with Canadian indie label Quality Records for what was to be the second and last record with Rhett Forrester on vocals. This was also the last album for guitarist Rick Ventura, bassist Kip Leming, and drummer Sandy Slavin.
Riot in Japan – Live!! is the second live album by the American heavy metal band Riot, recorded in June 1990 in Osaka and Tokyo, and first released in 1992 by Sony Music Japan. It marks the debut by bassist Pete Perez who replaced Don Van Stavern at the end of the U.S. leg of The Privilege of Power tour. This album was taken from Front of House console mixes by sound man George Geranios. There was no multi-track recording made.
Nightbreaker is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Riot. It was the band's first release with vocalist Mike DiMeo, as well as the studio debut of guitarist Mike Flyntz and bassist Pete Perez.
Before the Storm is the fourth studio album by British hard rock/heavy metal band Samson, released in 1982. It is the band's first album with vocalist Nicky Moore, who was recruited to replace Bruce Dickinson after Dickinson joined Iron Maiden. The drummer Mel Gaynor was also replaced by Pete Jupp, when Gaynor left to join Simple Minds. The album was included in the three-disc The Polydor Years, issued by Caroline International in 2017. The set also includes their followup album Don't Get Mad, Get Even and a third CD with various B-sides, live and studio rarities.
Shine On is third live album by American heavy metal band Riot, released in 1998 in Japan by Zero Corporation and in the US by Metal Blade Records.
The Nightcomers is the debut studio album by Scottish heavy metal band Holocaust, released in 1981 at the apex of the new wave of British heavy metal phenomenon. The album was released by Holocaust's own label Phoenix Record And Filmworks and re-issued on CD by Edgy Records only in 2000. It was remastered and re-issued as a double CD by Castle/Sanctuary in 2003, including all the tracks from the "Smokin' Valves", "Heavy Metal Mania", and "Coming Through" singles and from the Live from the Raw Loud 'n' Live Tour EP.
