Looting from the past - 1992

The early 90s is a strange period. Many bands, especially in the extreme field, have changed or are changing: Metallica (who released the "black album" the year before) are experiencing the maximum of their commercial success and Megadeth with the release of "Countdown to Extinction" seem to take a similar path. On the other hand, Pantera unleash their ultra-winning record and even Kreator, while flirting with electronics, manage to remain at levels of excellence. 

The black metal genre is consolidated with the debut of Immortal, Norwegian Innominato (for socials) and the new work by Darkthrone, while, in the death metal scene, Cannibal Corpse perpetrates their musical carnage with a lot of censored album covers. Iron Maiden released an album with a famous title track (even if soon Bruce Dickinson will abandon the ship) and Black Sabbath are back with Ronnie James Dio and with one of the most underrated records ever. 

And if Rage and Running Wild confirm their state of grace, Manowar blow fans away with a real gem (in what is perhaps the last great album of their career), while the very young Stratovarius release their second - and more mature - album with Timo Tolkki in a double role as guitarist and singer. Blind Guardian also improved, already at high levels with the previous album and here dealing with a wonderful work with a magical cover. But the metal in 1992 will bring with it two absolute musical monuments, the stupendous "Crimson Idol" by W.A.S.P. (Blackie is still wondering how he managed to write such a jewel) and Dream Theater's perfect "Images and Words".  Finally, applause for the alternative debut of Rage Against The Machine. 

On the rock front, we applaud the debut of the Swiss Gotthard and Steven Wilson's Porcupine Tree. The Black Crowes are also excellent with their inspired southern rock and fantastic are the new albums by Cure, Leonardo Cohen, Bon Jovi and Roger Waters. Alice In Chains engrave their name in history with "Dirt", while Bruce Springsteen takes the luxury of releasing two albums... Great success for the return of  R.E.M. that comes back with a more acoustic approach than usual.

WRITTEN BY ENRICO SPINELLI

IRON MAIDEN Fear of the Dark
BLACK SABBATH Dehumanizer
BLIND GUARDIAN Somewhere Far Beyond
DREAM THEATER Images and Words
MANOWAR The Triumph of Steel
RAGE Trapped
RUNNING WILD Pile Of Skull
STRATOVARIUS Twilight Time
W.A.S.P. The Crimson Idol
MEGADETH Countdown to Extinction
CANNIBAL CORPSE Tomb of the Mutilated
KREATOR Renewal
PANTERA Vulgar Display Of Power
BVRZVM Bvrzvm
IMMORTAL Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism
DARKTHRONE A Blaze in the Northern Sky
GOTTHARD Gotthard
TOTO Kingdom of Desire
ROGER WATERS Amused to Death
BON JOVI Keep The Faith
R.E.M. Automatic for the People
PORCUPINE TREE On the Sunday of Life...
LEONARDO COHEN The Future
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Human Touch/Lucky Town
THE BLACK CROWES The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
ALICE IN CHAINS Dirt
RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE Rage Against The Machine
THE CURE Wish