The second album was better

We've all heard about the supposed "sophomore slump" when it comes to the second albums by bands, what are some albums that were better than the debut album? I'll start with two of the more obvious ones: Metallica-Ride the Lightning and Megadeth-Peace Sells,,but who's buying?

Motorhead, Skid Row, Scoprions, Judas Priest

Armored Saint, Cinderella.

I'm not sure about your Metallica call -
I was more astounded by Dokken -
sure, they had 'Breaking The Chain" - it was ok - on the map -
but when their "Tooth and Nail" LP was released - forget it -
Many a party that winter - everyone seemed to be surprised by it -
The lyrics were learned quickly and easily
Even now - 30 years later - in the car - cranked it out -
on warmish January/February days - perfect blend

Most people would include Zeppelin II (though I prefer the debut) and Paranoid (though I prefer the debut).  

Rush
Jethro Tull
Gentle Giant
Blue Oyster Cult
Nektar
Camel
Robin Trower

I think Ride The Lightning is a few notches better than Kill Em All. But it's hard to say, cuz I love all four of the early albums.

Peace Sells is definitely a lot better than Killing Is My Business!

I used to like Pantera's CFH the best. But now I think that Vulgar is a bit better in some ways (production, guitar sound). It's still a tough call... but for now, I'll give it to Vulgar Display.

Crue was another. " Shout At The Devil ".
It was supposed to be " Shout With The Devil " but Epic said no way.
Their first record was pretty good - Live Wire - Take me to Top
Shout At The Devil - was much faster and badder -
I was lucky enough to see them open for OZZY - crazy  -
I was shocked at how truly wild they actually were - crowd went wild -
You could see,immediately, the dark danger / black leather/ bravado
When the video hit : "Looks That Kill" - forget it.

Dream Theater - Images and Words. I really like the debut a lot, but this album was head and shoulders above the first.

I agree with what has already been mentioned so I will try to pick another. Van Halen 2 is my all time fave VH album, but only edging out the debut by like half a point,so I'm going with that one.

Ozzy / Diary of a Madman

Overkill / Taking Over

Testament / The New Order

Black Label Society - Stronger than Death
Dream Theater - Images and Words
Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider
Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny
Nightwish - Oceanborn
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Within Temptation - Mother Earth

And a million others with a marginally better second album, but I don't know if those are worth mentioning.

No to Skid Row, Metallica, Cinderella. I at least would dispute those, or at least put the debut on par with the 2nd release.

Dokken is a good call, I agree with that.

EDIT: No to Testament. I personally like the New Order slightly better, but the Legacy is still a classic. You can't even call it "better". Just different. Maybe better sounding.

Anthrax
Metallica
Overkill
Armored Saint
Megadeth

Hell Awaits
Persecution Mania (I'm counting Obsessed By Cruelty as the first full length)
Pleasure to Kill (Although I love Endless Pain)
Hit & Run
Overkill
Wheels of Steel
Spreading the Disease
Sad Wings of Destiny
Ride the Lightning
Rising
Darkness Descends
Melana Chasmata
Forward To Termination

I put Peace Sells in the same category as Killers, they sound better than the debut records but the quality of the songs on  the first records are untouchable.

Strongly disagree with Diary, Shout at the Devil, Fly to the Rainbow, Taking Over & The New Order although barring the Crue record, I like all of them

Troublezone wrote:

I used to like Pantera's CFH the best. But now I think that Vulgar is a bit better in some ways (production, guitar sound). It's still a tough call... but for now, I'll give it to Vulgar Display.

Only problem is that Vulgar is actually the SIXTH Pantera album. Like them or not, the "glam era" pantera albums are still Pantera.

Hadley wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

I used to like Pantera's CFH the best. But now I think that Vulgar is a bit better in some ways (production, guitar sound). It's still a tough call... but for now, I'll give it to Vulgar Display.

Only problem is that Vulgar is actually the SIXTH Pantera album. Like them or not, the "glam era" pantera albums are still Pantera.

Yeah. I thought of that earlier and that's why I didn't pick it. I would like to add Rainbow. The debut is awesome, but "Rising" is like ...amazing!

You could argue that Haunting the Chapel was the second Slayer and Hell Awaits since the third, even though Haunting the Chapel is a three song EP (well, four if you count Aggressive Perfector as a bonus track). Either way, both are far superior to Show No Mercy.

I prefer the second Heathen album, Victims of Deception, to the debut, Breaking the Silence, although both are fantastic albums.

Also, although I didn't see it mentioned here yet, but I much prefer the second Gorguts album, The Erosion of Sanity, to the debut, Considered Dead, although Considered Dead is very good, too.

Here's some more:
Samson: Shock Tactics
Stryper: Soldiers Under Command
Bride: Live to Die
Alice In Chains: Dirt
and on a lighter note:
Vixen: Rev it Up
Trixter: Hear
Tora Tora: Wild America
Lita Ford: Dancin on the Edge

Judas Priest: Sad Wings of Destiny > Rocka Rolla
Megadeth: Peace Sells...But Who's Buying > Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good
Metallica: Ride The Lightning > Kill 'Em All
Motorhead: Overkill > S/t
Overkill: Taking Over > Feel the Fire
Exodus: Pleasures of the Flesh > Bonded By Blood
Scorpions: Fly To the Rainbow > Lonesome Crow
Tygers of Pan Tang: Spellbound > Wildcat
Europe: Wings of Tomorrow > S/t
Def Leppard: High 'N Dry > On Through the Night
Black Sabbath: Paranoid > S/t
Vinnie Vincent Invasion: All Systems Go > S/t
Slayer: Hell Awaits > Show No Mercy
Whitesnake: Lovehunter > Trouble
Danzig: Danzig II: Lucifuge > Danzig
Ozzy: Diary of A Madman > Blizzard of Oz
Dokken: Tooth and Nail > Breaking the Chains
Faith No More: The Real Thing > Introduce Yourself
Nuclear Assault: Survive > Game Over
Motley Crue: Shout at the Devil > Too Fast For Love
Nevermore: The Politics of Ecstasy > S/t
Bon Jovi: 7800 Fahrenheit > S/t
Kreator: Pleasure To Kill > Endless Pain
Rainbow: Rising > Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Rush: Fly By Night > S/t
Tesla: The Great Radio Controversy > Mechanical Resonance
White Lion: Pride > Fight To Survive
Yngwie Malmsteen: Marching Out > Rising Force

I've noticed the sophomore slump in many genres except for metal; it seems that most follow up albums here in this genre are winning moments at the least.

Hadley, you are the first I've heard say Wild America is better than Surprise Attack.I don't agree with you but it's all good.Haha.

Stryper-Soldiers
Megadeth-Peace Sells
Testament-New Order
Metallica-RTL
Skid Row-Slave to the Grind
Forbidden-Twisted Into Form
Mötley Crue-Shout
Exodus-Pleasures
Nuclear Assault-Survive
Barren Cross-Atomic Arena
The Crucified-Pillars of Humanity
Believer-Sanity Obscure
Sacrament-Haunts of Violence
Warrant-Cherry Pie

Hadley wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

I used to like Pantera's CFH the best. But now I think that Vulgar is a bit better in some ways (production, guitar sound). It's still a tough call... but for now, I'll give it to Vulgar Display.

Only problem is that Vulgar is actually the SIXTH Pantera album. Like them or not, the "glam era" pantera albums are still Pantera.

Sure, technically "Metal Magic" was the first recording they made. But I'm going by their major label albums. They viewed their career in two eras. 1990 was a new beginning for them. I'm fully aware of their previous independent albums and I actually like some of them. But I also think their 80s albums are like glorified demos. Would a band's catalog start with demos or the professional recordings? It's a matter of how you look at it.

Boris2008 wrote:

Spreading the Disease

Forgot about that one. Definitely a good choice. Probably the best 'Thrax record.

the sentinel wrote:

I would like to add Rainbow. The debut is awesome, but "Rising" is like ...amazing!

I actually like the debut better. I find Rising to be overrated.