Back In Black is a 1980 album by Aussie hard rock band AC/DC featuring Brian Johnson and Angus Young – hear MP3 samples and video

Distrubing the Peace is the 1982 second album from ex-Rainbow frontman Graham Bonnet’s band featuring Steve Vai – hear MP3 samples and video

No Parole From Rock N Roll is the 1983 debut album from Alcatrazz featuring Graham Bonnet and Yngwie Malmsteen.

At the forefront of the emerging thrash scene in the mid-1980s, New York’s Anthrax recruited vocalist Joey Belladonna and bassist Frank Bello for Spreading the Disease, their follow-up to their 1983 debut album Fistful of Metal.

Ark featured the Gabriel-esque vocal styling of frontman Anthony Short and a musical style mixing the likes of Marillion with a touch of folk and hearty dose of powerful rock on their powerful debut The Dreams of Mr Jones.

Asia is the 1982 debut from prog rock supergroup Asia featuring Carl Palmer, John Wetton, Steve Howe and Geoff Downes – hear MP3 samples and video

Californian electro-pop/new wave band Berlin hit the scene in the early 1980s but by Count Three and Pray, their fourth studio album in 1986, they had developed into a strong commercial-rock band all impeccably sung by the very underrated Teri Nunn.

The mini-album Star Fleet Project is short, but certainly sweet, and is the debut solo project for Queen’s Brian May released in 1983 featuring Eddie Van Halen.

On their 1984 debut album Cloven Hoof served-up a menu of powerful old school heavy metal with a lyrical content based in sword and sorcery that proved simultaneously dated and influential!

Holy Diver is the 1983 debut from ex-Rainbow frontman Ronnie James Dio’s band Dio featuring Vinny Appice, Vivian Campbell and Jimmy Bain – hear MP3 samples and video