10 Most Underrated Metal Albums Of The 80s

This adrenaline-pumping debut solidified Annihilator as a force to be reckoned with in thrash metal from the onset.

On and off frontman Randy Rampage leads the pack here with arguably their finest effort, a technically sound but uncompromising work of heavy art. Songs such as 'Wicked Mystic' and 'Word Salad' feature the machine gun drums and chainsaw guitars one comes to expect from the golden era of thrash.

While nothing here is revolutionary, the general consistency and attention to detail is commendable in a genre often criticised for lacking in both areas. Guitarist Jeff Waters does much of the heavy lifting, from his tireless shredding to his input in the lyrics and composition of each track. His efforts ensured a red hot debut for a group that would sadly never come all that near such a peak ever again.

This superlative start should've been followed by something even better. Frustratingly, Randy Rampage bowed out of the group for the next decade, leaving them to flounder in search of a similarly fearsome frontman. There's no telling how different this band's trajectory and the legacy of this historically overlooked debut LP could've been had Rampage persevered for a sophomore effort.