A classic hard rock masterpiece. A must-listen recommended album.
The music genre known as hard rock is an outgrowth of rock influenced by the blues, defined at its core by an aggressive sound with loud, high-volume guitars.
That said, many people aren’t quite sure how it differs from heavy metal, and interpretations can vary depending on the listener.
In this article, we introduce classic hard rock albums that have gone down in music history, aimed at those who are interested in bands labeled as hard rock or are thinking of giving them a listen.
We’ve highlighted many “start here” albums, so be sure to check them out!
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Hard rock masterpieces: must-hear recommended albums (21–30)
Detroit Rock CityKISS
With their striking look featuring white face paint and flamboyant costumes, you’ve probably seen them at least once even if you don’t know the band.
Hailing from New York, KISS is a group that left a powerful impact and immense influence on subsequent bands in rock history.
Core members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley formed the band’s precursor in 1970, renamed it KISS in 1973, and spent a few years in the trenches.
Their ferocious live performances, however, became the talk of the town and gradually won them popularity.
Then, in 1976, they released Destroyer, which became a global hit and solidified their status as a top act.
While their true essence undoubtedly lies in their live shows, Destroyer is packed with catchy melodies and a diverse lineup of classic songs, showcasing their growth into more professional musicians.
It’s an ideal entry point for anyone new to the band.
Pictured LifeScorpions
The Scorpions are a band from Germany that began their activity at the remarkably early date of 1965 as a hard rock group, then exploded in popularity from the 1970s onward to achieve worldwide fame.
They’re also known for having featured guitarist Michael Schenker—original member Rudolf Schenker’s younger brother—who joined at the young age of 17 when they debuted.
The band’s fundamental style solidified after guitarist Uli Jon Roth joined in 1974, and their fourth album, Virgin Killer, released in 1976, can be considered a peak in terms of its rich, accomplished content.
Known in Japan by the delightfully ’70s-style title Kyonetsu no Sasoridan (“Frenzied Scorpions”), the album showcases hard guitars ringing throughout—technical yet melodic—blending with wistful melodies in a way that seems especially appealing to Japanese listeners.
Incidentally, the original album cover became infamous for being banned and subsequently replaced.
Foxy LadyThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
Some may feel it’s odd to discuss Jimi Hendrix—the guitar god known as “Jimi Hen”—within the framework of hard rock, but his innovative guitar playing, with distorted tones delivered at what was, for the time, a devastatingly loud volume, can truly be called the prototype of hard rock.
Though his career lasted only four short years after his major debut in 1966, there’s no need to reiterate the monumental achievements Hendrix left behind.
This time, I’d like to introduce the landmark debut album released in 1967 under the Jimi Hendrix Experience name, Are You Experienced.
The original edition, which opens with Foxy Lady and its feedback-drenched guitar noise, is of course insanely cool, but there are also versions that kick off with famous tracks like Purple Haze.
If you’re new to Hendrix, I recommend listening to both!
Iron ManBlack Sabbath
Formed in Birmingham, UK, in 1968, Black Sabbath are not only pioneers of what’s known as hard rock but are also hailed as the founders of heavy metal, influencing every strain of heavy rock to come, including the alternative rock of the 1990s.
Over their long career, lineup changes—especially among vocalists—brought shifts in their sound.
This time, I’ll introduce their early masterpiece Paranoid, released in 1970 by the four original members, including Ozzy Osbourne, whose outrageous persona is beloved worldwide.
It was the band’s second album and a bona fide classic packed with many songs that later became their signature tracks.
Left-handed guitarist Tony Iommi’s inventive riffs; the rock-solid rhythm section of Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, whose playing conjures a heavy, ominous groove; and Ozzy’s vocals, brimming with occult overtones and overwhelming charisma—this is by no means immediately accessible music, but once you’re hooked, there’s no escape.
It’s a work brimming with a spellbinding allure—practically sorcery.
Back in the SaddleAerosmith
The album title is extremely simple, but since the sound truly deserves to be called “THIS IS ROCK,” it can’t be helped.
Hailing from Boston, Massachusetts, the five-piece Aerosmith released their fourth album in 1976, which became an early major hit.
As a quintessential American hard rock band of the ’70s, they drew influence from British hard rock from the start while crafting a sound that uniquely distilled their homeland’s roots music—blues, country, and funk.
The many classics penned by the rock-solid songwriting duo of vocalist Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry have earned high acclaim both at home and abroad.
Aerosmith’s Rocks unleashes a torrent of sound with overwhelming intensity—exactly the kind of music that embodies rock, as mentioned at the outset—and its groove, steeped in rich funkiness, is irresistibly cool.
Horse Called WarPRIDE & GLORY
The album by Pride & Glory, led by Zakk Wylde, features a distinctive sound that fuses Southern rock and metal.
Formed after he left Ozzy Osbourne’s band, the project released its album in 1994.
It includes roots-driven tracks like “Losin’ Your Mind” and “Horse Called War.” Wylde’s commanding guitar work and powerful vocals stand out, and the barrage of heavy riffs and technical solos makes the guitar sound a must-hear.
It’s highly recommended not only for Southern rock fans but also for hard rock enthusiasts.
Parisienne WalkwaysGary Moore
Gary Moore, the legendary guitarist from Ireland.
Active as a professional guitarist since his teens in the 1960s, he played in bands that made their mark on rock history, such as Thin Lizzy and Colosseum II, and is highly respected by many musicians as a true guitar hero—enjoying great popularity here in Japan as well.
In 1978, Moore released Back on the Streets, his first album under his solo name.
The classic Parisienne Walkways, co-written with Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott and later one of his signature instrumental numbers in live performances, is incredibly famous.
That soul-stirring, crying guitar tone is quintessential Moore.
From hard-hitting tracks showcasing technical, loud playing to sounds steeped in roots like jazz and blues, it’s an outstanding album you can fully savor.