A classic hard rock masterpiece. A must-listen recommended album.

Paradise CityGuns N’ Roses

Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City (Official Music Video)

A debut album that needs no introduction anymore and holds a crucial place not just in hard rock but in the history of rock itself is Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction.

Released in 1987, it made the astonishing climb from a debut at No.

182 on the U.

S.

Billboard chart to No.

1 fifty weeks later.

Its sales of 28 million copies worldwide are no fluke, either.

From the opening track, Welcome to the Jungle—driven by Slash’s undeniably cool guitar riffs and Axl Rose’s soaring high-register vocals—the record is an unassailable masterpiece packed with songs that have gone down in rock history.

While their style—eschewing polite rock in favor of unabashed rock ’n’ roll delinquency—has always sparked debate, the sheer musical talent on display has never faded with time; these songs keep shining with a gritty, glinting brilliance.

Back In BlackAC/DC

AC/DC – Back In Black (Official 4K Video)

Since forming in 1973, AC/DC—Australia’s miracle of a band—has kept racking up record-breaking success with simple yet irresistible guitar riffs, blues-tinged phrases, ultra-catchy melodies, and flamboyant shouts.

Even after the death of Malcolm Young, the rhythm guitarist who was the backbone of the band, they proved they were still going strong by releasing the new album “POWER UP” in 2020, which became a worldwide hit.

And if there’s one album that propelled AC/DC into a truly global phenomenon, it’s undoubtedly 1980’s “Back in Black.” As an original studio album, it’s said to be the second best-selling in the world after Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” It was the first album they made with Brian Johnson as their new vocalist, and it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say it contains everything that makes the band great.

No overthinking—just pure, unadulterated hard rock at its finest!

Smoke on the WaterDeep Purple

Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water (LIVE 1974)

The instantly recognizable main guitar riff that bursts in during the intro of the rock classic “Smoke on the Water” is something just about every guitar-playing rock fan has tried at least once.

Formed in the UK in 1968, Deep Purple is a legendary band that had a tremendous influence on subsequent hard rock groups.

Let’s take a look at their 1972 masterpiece album Machine Head, released by a band that produced countless great songs and albums and many outstanding performers.

Featuring quintessential tracks like “Smoke on the Water,” mentioned at the outset, and “Highway Star,” this record is packed with staples of their live repertoire.

The Hammond organ rings out freely amid the hard guitar sound, and the band’s ensemble—imbued with classical sensibilities—boasts an impeccable level of quality.

Also recommended is Made in Japan, released the same year and recorded at their Nippon Budokan concert!

Whole Lotta LoveLed Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta Love (Official Music Video)

Considering their overwhelming popularity and name recognition, their influence on subsequent bands, and their record-breaking sales that have gone down in music history, it’s no exaggeration to call them the greatest hard rock band ever to come out of the UK.

In the just-under-ten-year span from their formation in 1968 until the untimely death of original drummer John Bonham in 1980, the band left behind a monumental legacy that continues to be loved across genres—hard rock, heavy metal, alternative rock, and beyond.

While it’s hard to pick just one album from their catalog, this time we’re highlighting their second album, Led Zeppelin II, which topped the charts in both the UK and the US and cemented their status.

Released in 1969, the album sold over 12 million copies in the United States alone, and its hard-hitting sound—driven by youthful energy and exceptional musicianship—remains undeniably cool.

You could even say it was a forerunner of the hard rock boom of the 1970s.

(You Can Still) Rock in AmericaNight Ranger

(You Can Still) Rock In America

Night Ranger is a rock band formed in San Francisco.

Their second album, Midnight Madness, released in 1983, is one of their most successful works and propelled their career.

It’s characterized by energetic, catchy melodies and powerful guitar riffs; in particular, the eight-finger tapping technique heard on (You Can Still) Rock in America is sure to get rock fans fired up.

Blending elements of arena rock and hard rock, this is a highly recommended album that will captivate not only rock enthusiasts but also anyone who enjoys melodic songs.

Dani CaliforniaRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California [Official Music Video]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers—commonly known as RHCP—have a signature album in Stadium Arcadium.

Released in 2006, this double album received high acclaim, including becoming their first to reach No.

1 on the U.

S.

album charts.

Its sound blends diverse elements like pop rock, alternative rock, and funk metal, fully showcasing the band’s individuality.

Guitarist John Frusciante’s new playing style also drew significant attention.

With hit tracks such as Dani California and Snow (Hey Oh), it’s a must-listen not only for RHCP fans but for rock lovers in general.

StargazerRainbow

Rainbow – Stargazer

Rainbow began when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore—already boasting worldwide renown—left Deep Purple in 1975 and, in effect, absorbed American vocalist Ronnie James Dio and his band Elf, whom he had long had his eye on.

The band’s lineup would continue to change according to Ritchie’s wishes, but their second album from the period when the official band name was “Blackmore’s Rainbow,” Rising, enjoys great popularity as one of their signature works.

With legendary drummer Cozy Powell newly on board, the group—often described as a “three-headed” leadership—infused blues-derived hard rock with substantial elements of classical music to forge a heavy, dynamic sound.

In particular, the superb band ensemble showcased in the extended tracks on the latter half, Stargazer and A Light in the Black, both over eight minutes, can be considered historic, definitive performances.