An Unmatched Run of Greatness?

Has any other metal artist matched Dio's incredible run of amazingly great albums?

Rainbow - Rising - 1976
Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'N' Roll -1978
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell - 1980
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules - 1981
Dio - Holy Diver - 1983
Dio - The Last In Line - 1984

Those six albums in eight short years represent the bedrock foundation of most traditional/heavy/power metal. Truly incredible.

Are there any other candidates that can match this?

Very strong, never really thought about it like that.

Witchfinder wrote:

Has any other metal artist matched Dio's incredible run of amazingly great albums?

Rainbow - Rising - 1976
Rainbow - Long Live Rock 'N' Roll -1978
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell - 1980
Black Sabbath - Mob Rules - 1981
Dio - Holy Diver - 1983
Dio - The Last In Line - 1984

Those six albums in eight short years represent the bedrock foundation of most traditional/heavy/power metal. Truly incredible.

Are there any other candidates that can match this?

Amazing stuff!!!! I'd also put up Iron Maiden's amazing run as a candidate:

Iron Maiden - 1980
Killers - 1981
The Number Of The Beast - 1982
Piece Of Mind - 1983
Powerslave - 1984
Somewhere In Time - 1986
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 1988

Definitely a great run.

I would argue that Black Sabbath's six album run from 1970 to 1975 matches that.

I might also say that Iron Maiden's seven album run from 1980 to 1988 comes close as well.

Though Dio's was split between three different bands...so he was able to achieve that string of greatness while working with completely different people. So maybe that's what you were looking for. A single person being involved like that, not just a band having a string of excellent albums.

Joker, I was thinking the exact same thing. If anyone, any band can match that Dio stretch, it's those first years of Maiden.

Judas Priest
Sad Wings of Destiny 1976
Sin After Sin 1977
Stained Class 1978
Hell Bent for Leather 1979
Unleashed in the East: Live in Japan 1979
British Steel 1980
Point of Entry 1981
Screaming for Vengeance 1982

Point of Entry could arguably be the only mis-step in this run of albums that laid down the bedrock of heavy metal.

UFO had a similar run with Micheal Schenker in the band that could be in the same category.

Tesla.

Not a stinker in the bunch. Not even close.

I thought he meant one person with different bands. If it's just bands then AC/DC could be included or Savatage or Blind Guardian or.....

Just opinions of course.

This particular album cycle ain't too shabby...

Show No Mercy
Haunting The Chapel (yeah, it's an EP, it still counts)
Hell Awaits
Reign In Blood
South Of Heaven
Seasons In The Abyss

For my money:

King's X - Out Of The Silent Planet
King's X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska
King's X - Faith Hope Love
King's X - King's X
King's X - Dogman
King's X - Ear Candy

Those 6 in a row are, to me, absolutely amazing.

Dark Horseman wrote:

I thought he meant one person with different bands. If it's just bands then AC/DC could be included or Savatage or Blind Guardian or.....

Just opinions of course.

Yeah, I am unsure if he just meant in general, or by a single person with different bands.

Jeff Scott Soto probably has a run of great albums with different albums, but I don't off hand specifically what they would be.

I meant either a single person in different bands, or a single band's amazing output. I chose Dio only because I have been revisiting his material and realized that he was a part of those six amazing albums in a row. Three different bands and three different excellent guitarists. It really put into perspective the substantial influence RJD must have had in the writing process.

Pretty Maids have never released a bad album. Not even an uneven one!

So Witchfinder doesn't dig on

James B. wrote:

So Witchfinder doesn't dig on

I like that album but it's definitely subpar compared to the other two Dio-era Rainbow albums. Catch The Rainbow is an amazing song though.

ENSLAVED:


Monumension (2001)
Below the Lights (2003)
Isa (2004)
Ruun (2006)
Vertebrae (2008)
Axioma Ethica Odini (2010)
RIITIIR (2012)

Fates Warning:

The Spectre, The Guardian, No Exit, Symmetry, Parallels, Inside Out, Shade, Disconnected, FWX, Sympathetic Resonance

On a more serious note, Udo from "Breaker" up to "Timebomb" never failed.

IMO the longest run of great albums:

Motörhead (1977)
Overkill (1979)
Bomber (1979)
On Parole (1979)
Ace of Spades (1980)
Iron Fist (1982)
Another Perfect Day (1983)
Orgasmatron (1986)
Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
1916 (1991)
March ör Die (1992)
Bastards (1993)
Sacrifice (1995)
Overnight Sensation (1996)
Snake Bite Love (1998)
We Are Motörhead (2000)
Hammered (2002)
Inferno (2004)
Kiss of Death (2006)
Motörizer (2008)
The Wörld Is Yours (2010)

Personally I think you guys cut some of those runs short.

thejokeriv wrote:

Amazing stuff!!!! I'd also put up Iron Maiden's amazing run as a candidate:

Iron Maiden - 1980
Killers - 1981
The Number Of The Beast - 1982
Piece Of Mind - 1983
Powerslave - 1984
Somewhere In Time - 1986
Seventh Son of a Seventh Son - 1988

I agree

Maiden's self titled through Powerslave is an example 5 perfect albums.

I'd say Van Halen came close. But those last two albums with Roth were mostly mediocre IMO.

I agree with those that mentioned Sabbath and Maiden.

For me one of the greatest and underrated runs in metal is this"

Virgin Steele
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Pt 1-1994
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Pt2-1995
Invictus-1998
The House of Atreus Act I-1999
The House of Atreus Act II-2000

Unbelievable stuff!!!!

Troublezone wrote:

I agree with those that mentioned Sabbath and Maiden.

Me too.