The albums that define
hard rock.
Our picks for where to start with hard rock — with a one-line read on why each one matters.
Top hard rock artists
Start with one of these.
The hard rock essentials
Twenty-four picks. Press play on any of them.
Pearl Jam
Binaural
Start here
Creed
Weathered
Start here
Queens of the Stone Age
Rated R
Start here
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Are You Experienced
Start here
Van Halen
Diver Down
Start here
James Gang
James Gang Rides Again
Start here
The Who
Who's Next
Start here
Bijelo Dugme
Bitanga i princeza
Start here
John Lennon
Live Peace in Toronto 1969
Start here
Alice Cooper
Brutal Planet
Start here
Alice Cooper
Welcome to My Nightmare
Start here
Bon Jovi
Slippery When Wet
Start here
David Bowie
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Start here
Toto
Dune
Start here
Kansas
Kansas
Start here
Van Halen
Women and Children First
Start here
Van Halen
Van Halen
Start here
Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Start here
The Kinks
BBC Sessions: 1964–1977
Start here
Soundgarden
Badmotorfinger
Start here
Meat Loaf
Midnight at the Lost and Found
Start here
Meat Loaf
Heaven & Hell
Start here
B'z
B'z The Best "Ultra Pleasure"
Start here
B'z
B'z The Best "Pleasure II"
Start here
B'z
Bad Communication
Start here
B'z
B'z The Best "Pleasure"
Start here
Pearl Jam
Vs.
Start here
Pearl Jam
Yield
Start here
Pearl Jam
Lightning Bolt
Start here
Pearl Jam
Riot Act
Start here
Pearl Jam
No Code
Start here
Pearl Jam
Ten
Start here
Pearl Jam
Backspacer
Start here
Pearl Jam
MTV Unplugged (Pearl Jam album)
Start here
Pearl Jam
Vitalogy
Start here
Wishbone Ash
Locked In
Start here
Ozzy Osbourne
Blizzard of Ozz
Start here
Ozzy Osbourne
Scream
Start here
Ozzy Osbourne
Ordinary Man
Start here
Aerosmith
Devil's Got a New Disguise: The Very Best of Aerosmith
Start here
Aerosmith
Honkin' on Bobo
Start here
Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Start here
Aerosmith
Toys in the Attic
Start here
Kiss
Destroyer
Start here
Kiss
Sonic Boom
Start here
Kiss
Alive!
Start here
Kiss
Monster
Start here
Kiss
Double Platinum
Start here
Kiss
Psycho Circus
Start here
Deep Purple
Infinite
Start here
