The best Doom Metal albums
of the 1980s.
Where to start with 1980–1989 doom metal — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top of the 1980s — doom metal
Top picks from 1980–1989, ranked by where we would start.
Black Sabbath
The Eternal Idol
A blend of brooding melodies and soaring vocals defines the heavy, atmospheric sound of Black Sabbath's return in the late '80s.
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Black Sabbath
Born Again
A chaotic fusion of heavy metal and experimental sounds, marked by a raw intensity that reflects the band's turbulent era.
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Ozzy Osbourne
No Rest for the Wicked
A hard-hitting blend of glam metal and traditional heavy metal infused with dark, theatrical themes and Osbourne's signature vocal style.
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Ozzy Osbourne
Bark at the Moon
A theatrical blend of heavy metal and glam rock, with eerie melodies and anthemic choruses that define a dark fantasy atmosphere.
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Saint Vitus
Thirsty and Miserable
Rumbling guitars and haunting vocals create a bleak atmosphere that encapsulates the essence of doom metal.
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Saint Vitus
Hallow's Victim
Heavy, sludgy riffs entwine with haunting melodies, creating an atmospheric landscape that defines the essence of doom metal.
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Pentagram
Day of Reckoning
A raw, thunderous blend of doom-laden riffs and haunting melodies that encapsulate the essence of heavy metal's darkest corners.
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Celtic Frost
Morbid Tales
A dark and menacing fusion of thrash and doom metal that explores themes of death and despair with unrelenting intensity.
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Celtic Frost
Emperor's Return
A relentless fusion of aggressive riffs and atmospheric darkness that redefined extreme metal in the mid-1980s.
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Trouble
Psalm 9
Heavy riffs and haunting melodies intertwine, creating a dark atmosphere that defines the essence of doom metal.
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Trouble
The Skull
Heavy, brooding riffs meld with haunting melodies to create an atmosphere of despair and reflection in this seminal doom metal album.
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Cirith Ungol
King of the Dead
A dark and brooding exploration of heavy metal that merges doom-laden riffs with theatrical storytelling.
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Cirith Ungol
Frost and Fire
A powerful blend of doom and heavy metal, infused with epic themes and theatrical vocal performances.
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Witchfinder General
Friends of Hell
A heavy, brooding exploration of despair and darkness, with guttural riffs and haunting melodies that define early doom metal.
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Witchfinder General
Soviet Invasion
A heavy, oppressive soundscape filled with dark riffs and haunting vocals that reflect the anxieties of the early 1980s.
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