7. Appetite for Destruction // Guns N’ Roses, 1987
Few albums begin with the aggression that is ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, and for good reason too – few bands can start with that and follow it up.
The debut album first appeared as a study in the appreciation and nuances of eighties hard rock, but was catapulted to the upper reaches of the period, the band watching as they left their peers in their dust. Axl Rose’s unmistakable voice, rippling through its paces while Saul Hudson aka Slash’s epic guitar solos walk beside the frontman. The combination of funk, blues and the boisterous drumming of Steven Adler created the perfect storm.
It was the peak of the band, as is often the case with such resoundingly successful debuts. Released four years before Pearl Jam’s Ten, the members of Guns N’ Roses found themselves adorned with unexpected fame – and pressure. While they would continue to release successful music, such as ‘November Rain’ and ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’, it would never quite match their first album.