10 Greatest Hard Rock Debut Albums
Because everyone's got to start somewhere.
As the first impression offered to mass audience, it is incredibly important that any band get their debut spot on. The record must be raw, stylish, well written, and above all else, must show the world what a particular group is all about.
So often though, bands miss the mark, delivering mediocre debuts and showcasing nothing but inexperience and generic, re-hashed material.
It's a very difficult formula to crack, and all elements must fall into place. Musically the artists must to be on-point, both when writing and recording the tracks. On top of that, it's of paramount importance that a good marketing team is behind the record so it reaches an intended audience, and some eye-catching album art never hurts either.
This is where the cream rises to the top, however, as a band with a great debut will not only leave a lasting impression on listeners, but inspire other musicians for years to come. There are several instances of this throughout the history of hard rock, from legendary acts to those who are following in their footsteps...
10. Alter Bridge – One Day Remains
Born into the post-grunge era, Alter Bridge took the hard rock sound of the time and brought it to the next level when they released One Day Remains in 2004.
Taking a heavy drumming style, some grunge-esque riffs and the amazing singing voice of Myles Kennedy, the band produced one of the best hard rock albums of the 2000s.
Both heavy and harmonic in the right places, the album had a perfect sense of balance, and a sound that could resonate well with mainstream audiences. This was aided by the song Metalingus, which went on to be used as the theme for WWE's Edge.
The album’s lead single Open Your Eyes is also highly celebrated, and is widely regarded as Alter Bridge’s first hit song.