Bands that never topped their 1st album

I would add Slayer here. I love Show no Mercy more than any of their latter releases. I know I'm probably in the minority, but to me it was the perfect album.

Agreed on Dream Theater and Crimson Glory.

GnR
Motley Crue

Ratt

Objectively I suppose there are a lot, but these days I honestly don't often listen to albums that I consider "the best" from a given band, usually because I've overplayed said album in the past.

So it's a bit difficult for me to separate a band's best album from the one that I most enjoy listening to at present.

To take the first example offered up--Slaughter--Stick It To Ya is unquestionably their best, but these days I am much more likely to put on Revolution or Fear No Evil as the songs on those just sound more fresh and interesting.

One of the sole exceptions for me would be KISS, where I think their debut was their absolute best album. But still, I listen to literally every single one of their albums as often as I listen to the debut.

RATT
Cinderella

Nearly every NWOBHM band that managed to release an album.

Witchfinder wrote:

Nearly every NWOBHM band that managed to release an album.

Well, definitely don't count Saxon in that group.

I was just listening to Battering Ram. They sound better in 2016 than they did in 1979 on their debut.

FoJ wrote:

I totally agree with Dream Theater and Living Sacrifice.

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

Agreed on Dream Theater and Crimson Glory.

People really think that? I never even heard the Dream Theater debut.

And I thought I hang out with a lot of DT fans and they all say either Images & Words or one of the new ones like Black Clouds (the weird DT dude).

No-one ever told me they prefer the debut. In fact, some even dislike it.

Maybe I should check it out. When Dream and Day Unite, right? So there's no confusion? I always felt James LaBrie was the weak link with that band.

Boston
Pearl Jam

Know what Lari? I always forget DT had an album before Images and Words.

Lari wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

Nearly every NWOBHM band that managed to release an album.

Well, definitely don't count Saxon in that group.

I was just listening to Battering Ram. They sound better in 2016 than they did in 1979 on their debut.

I don't because Saxon's debut isn't very good. They are one of those bands that's aged like fine wine.

Lari wrote:

FoJ wrote:

I totally agree with Dream Theater and Living Sacrifice.

BearOnUnicycle wrote:

Agreed on Dream Theater and Crimson Glory.

People really think that? I never even heard the Dream Theater debut.

And I thought I hang out with a lot of DT fans and they all say either Images & Words or one of the new ones like Black Clouds (the weird DT dude).

No-one ever told me they prefer the debut. In fact, some even dislike it.

Maybe I should check it out. When Dream and Day Unite, right? So there's no confusion? I always felt James LaBrie was the weak link with that band.

People who don't really like progressive metal DT popularized with I&W and onwards, I suppose. When Dream... is different. If you have ever heard Elegy, I think they perfected that sound on thier Supremacy.

crashdiet
Reckless Love
Keel
Metallica
Fastway
Ted Nugent
Motley Crue
Autograph
Montrose
Moxy
Badlands
Whitecross

Metal Church !

No way, Metal Church with Howe was way better.

Metal Church ?

RATT - That E.P and "Out of the Cellar" are so much better than anything that came after. I enjoy "Invasion of Your Privacy" and was able to get on board with "Dancing Undercover". After that, not at all!

Since I'm not a huge King Diamond fan, I will say "Fatal Portrait" would be on my list of one that was never topped. It sounds the most like something from Mercyful Fate.

Guns n Roses is the first to come to mind.

Spread Eagle
Dangerous Toys
Tora Tora
Living Sacrifice
Firehouse
Slaughter
Badlands
Ugly Kid Joe
Britny Fox
Shotgun Messiah
Extol
Antithesis

If Images and Words was Dream Theater's debut, I'd list them here. I like When Day and Dream Unite, but it's not a complete masterpiece like their second one is.

Boo to everyone who said Pearl Jam. Ten is awesome, but it's nowhere near their best. I think Vs is miles better, and I like their third, Vitalogy, a bit more as well.

I'd say Trouble's first album is better than anything they released after, but that's not to say they didn't release killer stuff afterwards.

An unpopular opinion I hold is that Nevermore's first album is their best. I find myself not able to really get too heavily into any of their other releases.

Ghost's first album is their best, too.

Honestly, I thought Images and Words was Dream Theater’s debut. Oops.

Common mistake since nobody heard it until after I and W.