15 Greatest Hard Rock Albums You Need To Hear Before You Die
1. Led Zeppelin I - Led Zeppelin
Towards the end of the 60's, rock was slowly moving out of its blues tendencies and into its own legitimate style of music. Though Led Zeppelin were still staunch disciples of the blues, their debut shows the first birthing pains of hard rock.
The way this record seeps into your mind doesn't feel like you're listening to music but rather letting these sonic technicians engulf you with sound. The opening track "Good Times Bad Times" shows the group playing with the typical rock format, with the song dominated by riffs rather than the standard 12-bar blues. The thunder from John Bonham is what makes the record hard rock, with his caveman style fills evoking a more primal approach to rock instrumentation.
Not to be outdone is Jimmy Page, whose first stabs at riffs turn into incendiary performances like on "Communication Breakdown." Though countless accolades can be bestowed on each individual member, the way these four musical minds come together on songs like "Dazed and Confused" show just how much musical talent is on display here. There had been hard rock songs before and after Led Zeppelin's debut, but there was no other band who refined the heavier side of rock quite like they did. After this, hard rock had the power to become a real cultural force.