Whilst you truly consider it, it’s surprising what number of main heavy steel stars don’t parlay their luck right into a solo occupation. For each Ozzy Osbourne or Bruce Dickinson that constructed a legacy beneath their very own title, there are 100 that both don’t try it or are met with apathy from fanatics who’d reasonably the musician keep on with their day activity. Steel is potentially a band-based industry, so, on account of that, Hammer’s made up our minds to rejoice the figureheads who now not handiest continue to exist on their very own, however make some really must-hear song within the procedure. Those are the ten biggest solo albums in heavy song historical past (restricted to 1 consistent with artist):
Ozzy Osbourne – Snowfall Of Ozz (1980)
We couldn’t now not point out Ozzy Osbourne. The Black Sabbath singer has grow to be a multimedia superstar in his personal proper, with a truth TV display and podcast beneath his belt. And it used to be his solo occupation, which started with Snowfall Of Ozz, that introduced that push against superstar. Hiring Randy Rhoads proved Ozzy’s biggest transfer: his neoclassical masterclasses on Loopy Teach and Mr Crowley made this debut an immediate vintage.
Dio – Holy Diver (1983)
From one Black Sabbath singer to every other. Ex-Rainbow frontman Ronnie James Dio changed Ozzy with the Brummies from 1979 to 1982 (however within the ’90s), and after his first go out launched solo debut Holy Diver. It introduced the whole lot longtime fanatics had cherished in regards to the maestro’s paintings, from the fantastical lyrics of Rainbow to Sabbath’s lead-heavy riffing. The identify observe and Rainbow In The Darkish have since grow to be generation-spanning heavy steel hits.
Bruce Dickinson – Chemical Marriage ceremony (1998)
Bruce Dickinson’s solo paintings hasn’t ever been mentioned up to his Iron Maiden subject matter – or no less than it hadn’t, till the Air Raid Siren introduced his comeback The Mandrake Undertaking for 2024. Probably the most song launched beneath his title is really patchy, however on Chemical Marriage ceremony, he rediscovered the pageantry of his then-former Maiden days. In the meantime, collaborator Roy Z introduced a plethora of lead-heavy riffs to the fray.
King Diamond – Abigail (1987)
Abigail is when King Diamond become King. Fucking. Diamond! The place the Danish monarch’s solo debut Deadly Portrait felt like somewhat of a Mercyful Destiny rehash, this follow-up offered a lot of his now-essential solo signatures: guitarist Andy LaRocque’s co-writing, a gothic lyrical thought and squeals of “Abigaaaaaaaaaail!” It used to be the primary album for each the King and Roadrunner Data to chart in america, asserting his spot amongst steel song’s royalty.
Rob Zombie – Hellbilly Deluxe (1998)
Rob Zombie going solo shocked a lot of folks. From the outdoor taking a look in, his band White Zombie have been steamrolling throughout the steel scene, their ultimate album Astro-Creep: 2000 cracking america most sensible 10. Lifestyles with the ones musicians used to be shit, alternatively, so Rob broke rank and doubled down on the whole lot folks cherished about his now-ex-outfit within the procedure. Hellbilly Deluxe used to be camp, heavy and catchy, atmosphere the horror hound up for existence.
Halford – Resurrection (2000)
Deficient Rob Halford, throughout his absence from Judas Priest between 1992 and 2003, couldn’t truly cling a band down. Combat, 2wo and Halford all got here and went with out a lot fanfare throughout that point, however the singer’s first album beneath his surname is in fact badass. Resurrection’s an ante-upping rip-snorter that even includes a conflict of the titans in The One You Love To Hate, the place Bruce Dickinson lends his unmistakable pipes.
Devin Townsend – Ziltoid The Omniscient (2007)
Devin Townsend used to be already an inescapable polymath by way of 2007: between his solo paintings and Strapping Younger Lad, he used to be freeing albums like greyhounds out of a beginning gate. So, when the maverick dissolved the much-adored Strapping abruptly, it all of sudden left Ziltoid with the whole lot to turn out – then it become his quintessential remark. Eccentric, melodic and unabashedly hilarious, it stays certainly one of Dev’s (and prog steel’s) maximum loved works.
Myles Kennedy – Yr Of The Tiger (2018)
For years, as he used to be fronting the increasingly more revolutionary and heavy Regulate Bridge, rumours swirled of a Myles Kennedy solo album. It after all materialised in 2018 and, regardless of swerving into acoustic people, used to be fucking nice. Yr Of The Tiger stays a unprecedented instance of a solo free up that merits to be a solo free up, because it incorporates each new concepts and a deeply non-public narrative that no collaborative undertaking would have let Myles write.
Greg Puciato – Mirrorcell (2022)
After The Dillinger Get away Plan dissolved in 2017, singer Greg Puciato’s first stab at going solo used to be… fantastic. 2020’s Kid Soldier: Author Of God used to be stuffed with nice concepts however, at 64 mins, too lengthy and scatterbrained. Mirrorcell, alternatively, felt tight and useful, sounding dense right through whilst nonetheless flaunting the numerous modes of Greg’s unique voice. Arms crossed extra solo subject matter like that is to come back.
Ihsahn – Eremita (2012)
Ihsahn’s position within the revolutionary steel pantheon had lengthy been well-earned by way of 2012. The Norwegian’s black steel days in Emperor have been 11 years long past, and he used to be starting to get his rightful realize as a really countless and technical songwriter. Fourth solo album Eremita then summarised all his skills in 52 mins, boasting luscious melodies (Arrival) and an expansive imaginative and prescient (The Grave). After this, there used to be no excuse to doubt Ihsahn’s genre-spanning features.
