15 Most Underrated Hard Rock Albums Of All Time
Hard Rock's Unsung Hymns.
Ever since rock first started, there have always been mainstays of the genre. Whether they be from heavyhitters of the genre or the debuts of the nice regime, these records have become modern classics and are rightly celebrated for it. At the same time, it's also possible that some artists have even more classics you may not have heard.
These are the albums that have fallen under the radar of the casual hard rock fan but still have their fair share of essential tracks. The tunes that these bands were pumping out during this time were on par with the material they created when they were at their peak.
So why are they not revered like their other work? Well...that's where it gets a bit complicated. These records could have been a bold new reinvention, but the end results may have underperformed, the promotion may have been spotty, or the album may have just been misunderstood by the fanbase at the time. With all the benefits of hindsight at our advantage, let's take a look at a few of the greatest records that never had the chance to become classics.
They may feel like cult favorites, but these albums manage to hit harder than most other bands could do at their best.
15. Insomniac - Green Day
Green Day had gone through the ringer quite a few times after the success of their landmark masterwork Dookie. Though the band garnered a whole new fanbase based on the album's sales, they returned to their old stomping grounds in California only to be ostracized by the punk faithful.
Rather than just rest on their laurels and make Dookie Pt. 2, the band took their new material and gave it a healthy dose of anger and aggression. While Green Day have been known to be more of an alternative act, Insomniac is probably the closest they have ever gotten to full blown punk rock. Whereas Dookie benefited from a certain sonic polish, the guitar tones on this album are a lot more throaty as they bang out power chords with an enhanced fury.
Even the hits from this album like "Geek Stink Breath" almost feel like they're trying to rip the entire place apart through the power of sound. Each track on here is angsty, loud, and full of anger, which is exactly what you'd want from any good punk rock outing. This is still the Green Day that you know and love, but the tunes on display will leave you bloodied and bruised if you're not careful.