Underrated and Largely Unheard of Rock / Metal Albums

These bands may not have hit the big-time or had multi-platinum success but they realeased some amazing songs and influenced countless acts to follow.  Each album listed awesome from start to finish.  Check em' out!

Band	Album to Check Out	GENRE / SOUNDS LIKE
Kings X	Out of the Silent Planet
		Style: hard rock, progressive metal, soul, funk. Similar artists: Rush, -Soulful vocals combined with harmonies galore yet heavy and in-depth rythyms make this album one of a kind in hard rock / metal history. Standout tracks: "Shot of Love", "Wonder", "Power Of Love".
Gruntruck	Push
		Style: hard rock, grunge. -Riffs that are unforgettable but yet so simple straight forward.  Total head-banging but yet hard grungy classic album. Similar artists: Motorhead, Skin Yard. Standout tracks: "Machine Action", "Tribe", "Racked", "Crazy Love".
Trouble	Manic Frustration
		Style: doom metal, stoner rock Similar artists: Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd. -Very unique blend of trip rock and doom metal on this album.  Very diverse style that should be one of metals biggest albums but somhow was overlooked by the masses.  One of Dave Grohl's favorite bands. Standout tracks: "Scuse Me", "Rain", "Memories Garden".
Circus Of Power	Circus of Power
		Style: biker rock, sleaze metal. Similar artists: Motley Crue,Motorhead. -This album could be the soundtrack to evey biker bar in America with the singers raspy flow and grooving guitars that remind of Crue's heydays.  This album should be in everones collection. Standout Tracks: "Motor", "Needles", "Machine".
Life Sex & Death	Silent Majoity	Style: alt rock, heavy rock. -A promising band, that attained minor MTV airplay with this album, combined the power of grungs with hard rock and has soaring choruses and fist-pounding rhythms. Similar artists: Stone Temple Pilots, The Trashmen.
Warrior Soul	Last Decade Dead Century	Style: metal / punk acid rock political metal Similar artists: Metallica, Queensryche. -Amazing 90's metal.  Album was one of LarS Ulrick's favorites according to an interiew.  Catchy and groove heavy hard rock standards. Standout tracks: "Losers", " I See the Ruins", Charlies Out Of Prison".
Shotgun Messiah	Second Coming	Style: glam, rock / metal. Similar artists: Brian Adams, KISS. -Each and every track on this album could have easily made it on the radio with the right promotion.  All very catchy and rockin tunes.  Check out the Bryan Adams style vocals on "Ride The Storm". Standout tracks: "Sex,Drugs,Rocknroll", "Red Hot", "Free".
Hanoi Rocks	Two Steps From the Move	Style: glam rock, pop metal. Similar artists: Creedance Clearwater Revival, Poison. -An album full of songs that many of them could have been radio hits.  Not your standard glam rock, Hanoi Rocks had their own unique style on this record.  Standout tracks:" "Boiler", Don't Ever Leave Me", "Can't Get It".
Life of Agony	River Runs Red	Style: hardcore rock, alt metal. Similar artists: Biohazard, Pantera -their first major release sounds way different than their later albums.  This album was powerful, heavy and had a thunderous groove. Standout tracks: "underground", "Words and Music", "This Time".
Saigon Kick	Saigon Kick	Style: hard rock, alt metal. Similar artists: Alice In Chains, Mr. Big. Songs that are heavy yet beautiful with amazing choruses and harmonies. Standout tracks: "What You Say", "Come take Me Now", "Come take Me Now".
Vicious Rumors	Vicious Rumors
		Style: power metal, thrash. Similar artists: Manowar, Helloween. -Great songs with pounding choruses..the singer is among the best in the genre.  A classic album.
Yngwie Malmsteen	Trilogy	Style: progressive metal / power metal -The vocalist is awesome, amazing keyboards, and Yngwie shreds as usual but great catchy songs with huge sing-a-long choruses.  Also has it's thrash moments! make this a must have for all hard rock fans. Similar artists: Dio, Stryper. Standout tracks: "You Don't Remember", "Liar", "Fury".