The importance of compilation albums in the history of heavy metal cannot be overstated. Many labels' first releases were compilations (Metal Blade, Shrapnel, New Renaissance, Ebony etc..) There are also countless bands who built enduring careers starting with just one or two compilation tracks (SLAYER, OVERKILL, METAL CHURCH, HELLOWEEN etc). METALLICA and MALICE did not even exist as permanent bands prior to recording their tracks for the first Metal Massacre LP. Even the obscure compilation-only bands often have connections to the majors if you look close enough (e.g. Dennis Stratton in REMUS DOWN BOULEVARD).

In addition to the historic importance, there are also lots of great obscurities that you'll never hear anywhere else. It's also worth mentioning that compilations are often overlooked by collectors and therefore even the best and rarest are relatively cheap. That is, if you can find them! Of course there are exceptions but even the most expensive rarities barely break $100 (e.g. Chicago Metal Works).

What is included?

While this is obviously far from a complete list of all metal compilations, we hope that it represents a cross section of different albums that would be of interest to fans and collectors of obscure 80s metal. Some albums from the 70s and 90s are included and a wide variety of styles is covered, from hard rock to death metal. The only restrictions are that every album must have at least 3 bands (though some 3 band compilations could technically be called splits, how could we leave out an album like Roksnax?) and must include at least one exclusive track (thus avoiding all those pointless cash-in compilations on K-Tel etc..)

What is "exclusive"?

I think it's important to clarify this here, since the term exclusive can mean different things to different people. In this list, exclusive does not mean that the song was never released in any other format! A song may have been released on a demo or even another compilation and still count. Of course, alternate and rerecorded versions count as separate tracks. However, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference so any corrections are welcome.
 (NOTE: Some of these recordings have later turned up on band anthologys or as bonus tracks on reissues. If so we try to supply this info in the comment field, but to catch your attention the tracks are still highlighted as 'exclusive'.)

The list is divided into two categories: Metal and mixed genres. Metal compilations obviously include albums that are, at least in intent, focused on metal. Of course, many of these will still have one or two AOR tracks or other misguided inclusions but generally they will be around 90% or more metal. Mixed genre compilations are those that did not have a specific genre in mind (typically showcasing artists from a particular area instead) but happen to include one or more metal songs. A large portion of these are compilations sponsored by radio stations (mostly seen in the US) or local music organizations (more common in Europe), often in conjunction with some sort of local artist competition. A very useful resource for the radio albums is Radio Use Only. Unfortunately, there are so many of them and it can be hard to tell which ones have any relevant content. That's where we come in.

Keir







12 Commandments In Metal LP 1985
97 Underground: The Beast From The East… Vol. 1 LP 1987



A Rather Nasty Dream On Papplewick Pond LP 1989
All Hell Let Loose LP 1983
Attack From Downunda LP 1986



Battle Of Metal LP 1984
Battleaxe 7" EP 1987
Best Of German Metal Newcomer MLP 1990
The Best Of Metal Blade Records: Volume 3 DLP 1988
Born To Metalize LP 1984
Break Out: German Metal Tracks No. 1 LP 1985
Break Out: German Metal Tracks No. 2 LP 1986
(German Metal Tracks No. 3 & 4 released as Metal Hour)
Break Out: German Metal Tracks No. 5 LP 1987
Breaking With Tradition LP 1991
Brute Force LP 1980



California Metal LP 1987 (Regency Records)
California Metal volume II LP 1988
California's Best Metal LP 1985
Chicago Metal Works Battalion #1 LP 1986
Cleveland Metal LP 1983
Cleveland's Heavy Metal: Etched in Steel LP 1984



Death Metal LP 1984
Demolition: Scream Your Brains Out LP 1987
Descarga Norte LP 1988
Dutch Steel LP 1984



Eastern Front - Live At Ruthie's Inn DLP 1986
Escuadrón Metálico - Proyecto Uno LP 1986



Fast Forward To Hell LP 1987
French Connection Vol. I LP 1985
Friday Afternoon LP 1988
The Friday Rock Show LP 1981
From Electric Lady Land '84 LP 1984
Full Force Volume One LP 1988



German Metal Fighters No.1 LP 1987
Go To Eat (Metal Dom) LP 1985
Greece Attacks DLP 1989
Green Metal: New Irish Heavy Metal LP 1985



Hard & Heavy (Kleeblatt No. 22) LP 1987
Hard-Rock Rendez-Vous LP 1989
Headthrashers (live) LP 1987
Heavy Artillery MC 1990
Heavy Metal LP 1982 (Sweden, old review)
Heavy Metal Eruption LP 1983
Heavy Metal Force LP 1984
Heavy Metal Heroes LP 1981
Heavy Metal Heroes Volume 2 LP 1982
Heavy Metal Made In Italy LP 1984
Heavy Metal Sampler (Musiker-Initiative Rock e.v. Stuttgart Presents) LP 1984
The Heavy Touch LP 1985
Holland Heavy Metal Vol.2 LP 1982



If It's Loud, We're Proud MLP 1983
Iron Tyrants LP 1984
Iron Tyrants Waging War (Iron Tyrants II) LP 1986
Italian Metal Vol. 1 LP 1985



Just'in Power LP 1987



KNAC: Pure Rock LP 1987
KNAC Presents: Son of Pure Rock LP 1988



L.A. Steel LP 1986
Ladykillers LP 1986
L'Amour Rocks LP 1987
The Last Warrior MLP 1987
Lead Weight LP 1981
Lethal Noise - A Blade Sample LP 1988



Maple Metal LP 1985
Massachusetts Metal LP 1988
Metal Attack LP 1987 (Italy)
Metal Clogs LP 1982
The Metal Collection - Volume III LP 1987
Metal Explosion LP 1980
Metal Fatigue LP 1982
Metal For Muthas LP 1980
Metal For Muthas Volume II LP 1980
Metal Gear LP 1990
Metal Hour - Metal Tracks No. 3 LP 1986
Metal Hour - German Metal Tracks No. 4 LP 1986
Metal Inferno LP 1985
Metal In Rocks Volume I LP 1988
Metal Madness: Volume One LP 1985
Metal Maniaxe LP 1982
Metal Massacre LP 1982
Metal Massacre II LP 1982
Metal Massacre III LP 1983
Metal Massacre IV LP 1983
Metal Massacre V LP 1984
Metal Massacre VI LP 1985
Metal Massacre VII LP 1986
Metal Massacre VIII LP 1987
Metal Massacre Nine LP 1988
Metal Massacre Ten LP 1990
Metal Meltdown Volume One LP 1985
Metal Meltdown II LP 1987
Metal Meltdown III LP 1988
Metal Meltdown Vol. 4 MC 1989
Metal Nacional Vol. I LP 1988
Metal Outlet LP 1987
Metal Over America LP 1984
Metal Plated LP 1983
Metal Power 7" EP 1983 (old review)
Metal Power II 7" EP 1984 (old review)
Metal Power III 7" EP 1984 (old review)
Metal Power IV 7" EP 1984
Metal Race LP 1986
Metal Warriör MLP 1987
Metal Warriors LP 1983
Metalgon EP 1987
Metallic Storm LP 1982
Metallo Italia LP 1985
Metalmania 88 LP 1988 (Poland)
Metalmania 89 LP 1989 (Poland)
Metalmania Vol 1 LP 1983
Metalmaniac LP 1987
The Metaluna Syndrome LP 1987
Monsters Of Rock USSR DLP 1992
Moose Molten Metal LP 1985
Moose Molten Metal Volume 2 LP 1986
Muthas Pride MLP 1980



Neo Hard Shock LP 1985
New Electric Warriors LP 1980
New York Metal-84 LP 1984
Nightpieces LP 1990
(Rodrigo D.) No Futuro LP 1990 (old review)
No Substitute For Steel LP 1985
Northcoast Steel LP 1988
Northwest Metalfest LP 1984
Norway Rocks LP 1988 (old review)
Not Just Spaghetti And Mandolini LP 1988



One Take No Dubs MLP 1982



Pacific Metal Project LP 1985







Raging Death LP 1987
Ready To Fire LP 1985
Ready To Rock LP 1986
Robbanásveszély! LP 1987
Rock Climbers: Hottest Of Hollywood DLP 1990
1.Rock-Fabrik Festival-84' LP 1984
Rock From Hell LP 1983
Rock Masters LP 1987 (UK)
Rock Meets Metal Volume 1 LP 1987
Rockbox LP 1989
Rockmapa LP 1989
(Rockmapa 2 listed under Mixed Comps - R)
Roksnax LP 1980
Roxcalibur LP 1982



Satan's Revenge LP 1985
Satan's Revenge Part II LP 1988
Scandinavian Metal Attack LP 1984
Scandinavian Metal Attack II LP 1984
Scene Of The Crime LP 1981
Skull Smash LP 1988
Skull Thrash Zone volume I LP 1987
Speed Metal Hell LP 1985
Speed Metal Hell II LP 1986
Speed Metal Hell Volume Three LP 1987
Speed Up (Heavy News) LP 1990
S.P. Metal LP 1984
S.P. Metal II LP 1985
Surgery Of The Power LP 1989
Swedish Metal LP 1984



Tampa Bay's Metal Mercenaries: The Invasion MC 1988
Teutonic Invasion Part One LP 1987
Teutonic Invasion Part Two LP 1988
Thrash LP 1991
Thrash Metal Attack LP 1986
Thrash Metal Attack II LP 1988



U.S. Metal LP 1981
U.S. Metal Vol. II LP 1982
U.S. Metal Vol. III LP 1983
U.S. Metal Vol. IV LP 1984







Whiplash Attack Vol.I LP 1990















0721 Manicomio LP 1989
1.2.3...Start LP 1985
3:an LP 1983



A Major Statement LP 1988
Always Catchin Snot In The Wind MLP 1988
American Underground 3LP 1983



Barod Am Roc 1 LP 1984



Chicago Class Of '85 LP 1985
Chicago's Class Of '87 LP 1987
Chicago Rocks - Volume One LP 1980
Connecticut Compilation Record Volume 1 LP 1987



Debüt No. 1 LP 1982
Drag Utan Droger LP 1980
Drag Utan Droger II LP 1981
Dream Sequence LP 1986
Double Up DLP 1987
Dynamic Artists Rock Vol. I LP 1984



Elva Band LP 1987



First Rock Festival - Michourin LP 1988
Från Pop Till Ny Våg LP 1982
Four Fabulous Freaks LP 1987
Förortsrock - Musik Från Järfälla 1983 LP 1983
Förortsrock 84 LP 1984



Garázs LP 1989
Garázs II - Magyar Rock LP 1991
Gathered LP 1982
Gorau Sgrech - Sgrechian Corwen LP 1982
Gyda Chymorth C.A.C. 7" EP 1982



Happening 82 LP 1982
Heiße Würstchen LP 1983
Helgdagsrock Åt Far LP 1983
Home Spun, Too LP 1979
Högtryck LP 1982



Is The War Over? LP 1979
The Italian Rock Invasion LP 1987



Jarocin '88 3LP 1989



KAZY: Thunder On The Mountain LP 1980
KDKB Arizona Sounds Volume 2 LP 1978
KDBK Arizona Sounds Volume Three LP 1979
KDKB Arizona Sounds Volume IV LP 1980
KDKB Arizona Sounds Volume 5 LP 1981
The KGON Album 2: Homegrown LP 1982
KLOS 95 1/2: Rock to Riches LP 1983
Kommerciell Kultur LP 1983



Lend An Ear 1992? LP 1982
Lituanika '87 LP 1988
Live: A Week At The Bridge E16 LP+12" 1978



Max's Kansas City 1977 (volume 2) LP 1977
Merlin Music Presents... LP 1987
Mesto Vstrechi Diskoteka 4 LP 1988
Mixed Music For Lonely Nights.. LP 1983
Motala Vindar LP 1982
Musikfest Med Sångare & Musiker I Väsby LP 1979 (a.k.a. "Väsby-78")



New Performances For Soundproof Rooms LP 1983
N.J. Rock (WDHA) LP 1982



Offering: First National Rock of Anchorage LP 1982
On The Rocks LP 1983



Pang I Bygget LP 1983
Panorama '86 LP 1986
Panorama '86 (2) LP 1986
Playboy Street Rock LP 1981
Posloucháte Větrník 1 LP 1985
Projekt 12 LP 1987



Q-FM-96 Hometown Album Project LP 1978
Quattro LP 1986
The Quest Tapes LP 1982



R & R LP 1988
Radio 3 Südfunk Stuttgart: Nachwuchsfestival 1983 LP 1983
Rock 82 - Vetlanda LP 1982
Rock Beast LP 1982
Rock Cocktail LP 1982
Rock In' Flanders LP 1991
Rock n' Rock LP 1982
Rock On, Roll On LP 1983
Rock Panorama 87 (2) LP 1988
Rock Panorama 87 (3) LP 1988
Rock Rock Rock LP 1984
Rocklet '88 LP 1989
Rockmapa 2 LP 1990
Rockový Maratón 2 LP 1986
Rockslaget 3LP 1981



Skånsk Rock I LP 1982
Skånsk Rock II LP 1982
Skånsk Rock III LP 1982
SLO Grown LP 1978
Street Survivors LP 1989



Top Ardennes Volume 2 LP 1987
Tracks LP 1989



Underground Resistance Volume I LP 1987
Urval LP 1990







WAPP: New York Rocks 1983 LP 1983
WBAB: Homegrown Album LP 1981
WBAB: Son Of Homegrown LP 1982
WCMF 96: Rochester's Homegrown Bands LP 1980
WCMF 96: Homegrown 2 LP 1981
WCMF 96: Homegrown 3 LP 1982
WCMF 96: Homegrown 4 LP 1983
WCMF 96.5: Homegrown 5 LP 1985
WCMF 96.5: Homegrown VI LP 1986
WEBN Album Project 4 LP 1979
WEBN Album Project Five LP 1980
WEBN Album Project Six LP 1981
WEBN Album Project 7 LP 1982
Weine Wräk's Poporkester/Östgötarock LP 1982
WLLZ Motor City Rocks II LP 1983
WLLZ Motor City Rocks III LP 1984



The X L.P. - 97X LP 1981
The "Yunost" Radio Studio - 45-minute Radio Show LP 1987


....For more V/A-obscurities, check out the old article on Swedish Mixed Compilations.

Since you've shown enough interest to scroll all the way down here, we give you this:



...a CDR-compilation of the 18 most crackin' tracks from the albums above!
(click pic to download)




Cheers & creds to the following who have lent/ripped/scanned records for this list:
Stefan Mattisson, Rob Preston, Patrik Carlson, Joakim Westerlund, Mattias Rubarth, Kristian Knutsson.
Take me to the top!