12 '80s Hard Rock Albums All Fans Should Own

Kiss had enjoyed immense success in the '70s, turning their back-to-basics rock and roll approach into gold via their iconic imagery and unforgettable no-holds-barred stage shows. By the dawn of the '80s, however, things had started to crumble inside the Kiss camp. The success and wealth had started to pull the band apart as guitarists Ace Frehley and drummer Peter Criss succumbed to the distractions of the party lifestyle.

As sales and live show attendances began to dwindle, the band were caught in a crisis of confidence. Sure, they'd recently had a huge hit with the disco orientated 'I Was Made For Loving You', but that was a divisive song for the hardcore Kiss Army, who felt the band had betrayed their roots and sold out to the prevailing disco trend. Smarting from the criticism, Kiss produced one of the hardest rocking albums in their catalogue.

This record marked the debut for new guitarist Vinnie Vincent, who was a short term shot in the arm for the band and who co-wrote 'I Love It Loud', which as a statement of intent pretty much sums up the whole album. Vinnie didn't last long, but Kiss are still on their eternal farewell tour.