Best Hard Rock Album for Each Year of the 1980s

What were the best hard rock albums of the 1980s? In this feature, we’re going to take you through the decade year by year and you’ll be able to see how the trajectory of the rock landscape changed over just a 10 year period.

Though other forms of rock found their moments in the spotlight, it truly was a decade where straight on, guitar-fueled, hard rocking music seemed to dominate. Whether it be the glam-inspired rock of Def Leppard, the lightning infused guitar wizardry of Van Halen or the no holds barred raucousness of Guns N’ Roses, it was a time where it was good to have amps that go to 11.

As stated, the ’80s also gave us some standouts from the punk world, an industrial gem and an album that seemed to portend the fascination with alt-rock in the decade to come. We also had some classic rock carry-over from the ’70s, showing that there was still some appreciation for what had worked in rock for years prior.

Which albums were the best for each year of the 1980s? We’ll take a deeper dive into the records that were essential in defining the ’80s rock sound. Check out the gallery in full below.