Top Ten Lists - 1986

1. Watchtower Energetic Disassembly
2. Candlemass Epicus Doomicus Metallicus
3. King Diamond Fatal Portrait
4. Fates Warning Awaken The Guardian
5. Metallica Master Of Puppets
6. Sacred Blade Of The Sun And Moon
7. Manilla Road The Deluge
8. Crimson Glory Crimson Glory
9. Megadeth Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?
10. Slayer Reign In Blood

1. Metallica Master Of Puppets
2. Slayer Reign In Blood
3. Iron Maiden Somewhere In Time
4. Megadeth Peace Sells, But Who's Buying?
5. Fates Warning Awaken The Guardian
6. Kreator Pleasure To Kill
7. Queensryche Rage For Order
8. King Diamond Fatal Portrait
9. Metal Church The Dark
10. Ozzy Osbourne The Ultimate Sin

Judging from the albums featured here, it would appear that 1986 is easily one of the finest years in metal. Some may argue that Slayer and Metallica should be higher on this list, and there's no denying the excellence of those two albums, but I found the others here equally brilliant. Watchtower's Energetic Disassembly will forever be the standard for technical progressive thrash -- an unparalleled album.

The Internet appears to agree with me that 1986 is an outstanding year in metal. Hard to argue, given this list.