Lesser-Known Metal Albums Featuring 80s Stars You Missed…Just because the 80s ended doesn’t mean the artists who were popular in the 80s hard rock and metal scene stopped releasing new albums in a similar musical style.
Bible Black – The Complete Recordings (1981-1983) Bible Black was formed by Gary Driscoll and Craig Gruber, former members of Elf and Rainbow, along with guitarist Andrew “Duck” MacDonald. The album features vocals by Eric Adams (Manowar), Jeff Fenholt, who was famous for the lead role in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar and for joining Black Sabbath (although he never performed on any of the band’s albums), and Joey Bellardini, who later changed his name to Joey Belladonna. It’s an interesting metal project that never received a record label but is rich with early 80s metal history thanks to its lineup.
Blackthorne – Afterlife (1993) Blackthorne was another all-star group that slipped under the radar for many people. Featuring Quiet Riot members Frankie Banali and Chuck Wright, Bob Kulick, Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz) and vocals by Graham Bonnet (Rainbow, Alcatrazz).
Blackthorne – Don’t Kill The Thrill (2016) This album is a compilation of unreleased tracks and demos, featuring the same lineup as the debut album. There are some really good tracks featured here, and it’s great to have since both Bob Kulick and Frankie Banali died in 2020.
Murderer’s Row – Murderer’s Row (1996) – Another fun all-star lineup, featuring Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), David Glen Eisley (Giuffria), Bob Kulick, Jay Schellen (Hurricane, Yes), and Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz).
Lillian Axe – Fields Of Yesterday (1999). This album, featuring previously unreleased material recorded in the 80s, is an interesting find for fans of the band. Featuring original singer Ron Taylor, the sound leans a little more toward their sound from the first two albums.
Skull – No Bones About It (1991) Another band featuring Bob Kulick on guitar with Bobby Rock (Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Nelson, Lita Ford) on drums and a relatively unknown but good singer, Dennis St. James.
Skull II: Now More Than Ever (2018) The second and final album by Skull has some really great songs for those who love the sound of 80s-style heavy metal.
All of the above titles are available to purchase digitally from Bravewords Records at https://bravewordsrecords.bandcamp.com/
Key Takeaways
- Many 80s stars continued to release metal albums even after the decade ended.
- Bible Black offers unique recordings with an impressive lineup, including Eric Adams and Jeff Fenholt.
- Blackthorne features all-star members like Graham Bonnet in their albums released in 1993 and 2016.
- Murderer’s Row, with its all-star cast, released its album in 1996, showcasing great talent.
- Albums like Lillian Axe and Skull provide previously unreleased material or new releases for fans of classic 80s metal.
