10 Metal Albums That Shouldn't Have Been Great (But Totally Were)

Pantera's transformation from '80s glam rock cringe-inducers to ground-breaking '90s groove pioneers is one of the biggest and best tonal shifts in metal history.

And, in all seriousness, where in the living hell did the ingenious Cowboys from Hell (1990) come from? At times it seems the record just miraculously materialised. Because, let's not forget, just two years prior, the band released Power Metal (1988), a record so blandly '80s that you could practically smell the hairspray.

Because of Pantera's Kiss and Van Halen-inspired roots, nobody expected Cowboys from Hell.

Nobody.

For metalheads, it was the shock of the century, injecting new life into heavy music by bridging all-out thrash with abrasive yet captivating melodies. Entries like the title track, "Psycho Holiday" and "Domination" remain radio rock smash hits to this very day, for very good reason. Their sheer energy is primal and addictive, invoking an energetic, anarchic party atmosphere while somehow avoiding all gimmicks and cliches.