Up next is what I feel is a very underrated band. They have one or two hits and everyone should at least know the song Don’t Fear The Reaper. Of course I’m talking about Blue Oyster Cult and they are next on the chopping block so let’s take a look……..
Blue Oyster Cult- I feel like if you don’t like heavy metal or hard rock for that matter, you might actually like this record. It’s got a very awesome groove to it and it’s just overall a great rock record. It’s actually a very tight record for being the debut album in the 70’s. Check this one out if you haven’t. I’ll give this one 9/10
Standouts: Transmaniacon MC, Before The Kiss A Redcap, Workshop Of The Telescopes
Tyranny And Mutation- i like the songs on here but for some reason I feel like this one just isn’t quite as strong as the last record. I will say that the sound on here is brighter. I don’t know this one just didn’t grab my attention as much but it’s still a good record. I’ll give this one 8.5/10
Standouts: The Red & The Black, Hot Rails To Hell, Wings Wetted Down
Secret Treaties- to me this one could be a direct continuation of the last album. Now I did read that they used the same production team on this one and the last one so I guess it makes sense. So with that I’ll give this one 8.5/10
Standouts: Me 262, Career Of Evil, Harvester Of Eyes
Agents Of Fortune- ah yes this is the album that gave us the song that needs more cowbell. Aside from that one song however, the album as a whole is excellent. The songs are more cohesive and this is BOC at their best. I’ll give this one 10/10
Standouts: E.T.I., Tattoo Vampire, True Confessions
Spectres- this one for me is a hit or miss album. There are some great songs and some that are just ok. It does have another one of their hits that being Godzilla but overall, this one is just ok. I’ll give this one 8/10
Standouts: Golden Age Of Leather, Nosferatu, Fireworks
Mirrors- this one again isn’t bad but it’s just ok. I know that they attempted to make a high charting album but ultimately that didn’t happen. I do think this album is that bad. No it’s not their best but it’s far from being a bad album. This one is just ok but none of the songs are that special. I’ll give this one 7/10
Standouts: In Thee, The Vigil, Dr. Music
Cultosaurus Erectus- this one has almost a metal tinge to it and even a “proginess” to it. It’s a very interesting and unique record. I’ll give this one 9/10
Standouts: Black Blade, Hungry Boys, Lips In The Hills
Fire Of Unknown Origin- this album has my favorite BOC song on it which is Burnin For You. Aside from that, the album itself is darker than the last couple records. The songs take you on almost a spiritual journey but I can’t describe it. You just have to hear the rest of the record to understand. I’m definitely going to give this one 10/10
Standouts: Joan Crawford, Heavy Metal: The Black And Silver, Sole Survivor
The Revolution By Night- for some reason when I hear this record, I can picture hearing it at night or at night while it’s raining. I’m honesty not sure why but I just do. This one definitely has some pop and rock elements to it. I do know they were trying to capitalize on the success of the last record but this one just isn’t as good. I did enjoy it just not quite as much as the previous. I’ll give this 8/10
Standouts: Take Me Away, Shooting Shark, Let Go
Club Ninja- I feel like when people talk about this album it’s one that gets overlooked. Yes it’s from the 80’s and while the songs themselves may not be as memorable they’re still really good. I feel like at this time, a lot of bands had that MTV style production and while this one had it, it’s still a good album. I’ll give this 9/10
Standouts: White Flags, Make Rock Not War, Shadow Warrior
Imaginos- so this one definitely sounds very 80’s and from what I gather, this is their most metal record but I don’t feel like it is. For the most part, this isn’t a metal band and overall, this album is just average and kinda forgettable. I will say thought that the album cover is pretty cool and it definitely matches the album. It’s a very 80’s record but a dark 80’s record. I’ll give it 7/10
Standouts: I Am The One You Warned Me Of, Astronomy, Del Rio’s Song
Bad Channels- so this one is actually a soundtrack to the movie Bad Channels (I haven’t seen it). This kind of reminds me of when Queen did a complete soundtrack for the movie Flash Gordon. The album itself isn’t bad but I mean really if you are a completist then you should listen to it. I honestly wish more bands would do complete movie soundtracks. I’m sure if I had actually seen this movie then I’ll appreciate this one a lot more. Anyway, I’ll give this one 8/10
Standouts: Demon’s Kiss, That’s How It Is, Blind Faith
Cult Classic- there isn’t a lot to say about this one except that it’s basically a bunch of their hit songs that have been remastered. I don’t really have a lot to say about this except that the songs sound good however, some of them seem a bit softer vocally. If it were me I’d say stick with the originals. I’ll give this one 7/10
Standouts: Burnin For You, Harvester Of Eyes, This Ain’t The Summer Of Love
Heaven Forbid- the opening song is probably the heaviest song these guys have written. The rest of the album is also pretty good too. It’s certainly more metal than Imaginos and some of the songs are also pretty catchy. Overall, this is a great record and I definitely recommend it (you have to find it on YouTube though). I’ll give this 9/10
Standouts: See You In Black, Hammer Back, Live For Me
Curse Of The Hidden Mirror- I feel like on a lot of their albums there was a sort of mystery to them. Here not so much. A lot of that is gone and this one is just a straightforward rock record. It’s not a bad record but it’s just I don’t know it’s fine. If you like run of the mill rock records. Give it a listen because it deserves that but don’t expect fireworks or anything like that. I’ll give it 6/10
Standouts: Showtime, Pocket, Dance On Stilts
The Symbol Remains- so between this and the last record there was about a 19 year gap. And how is the newest album? Well it’s great. It’s got some of that mystery to it and the songs remind me a lot of their older material. This is definitely a worthwhile record and (as I write this) it only came out about two years ago. If they keep going like this, then the next record should be great. I’ll give this 8/10
Standouts: That Was Me, The Machine, The Alchemist
This was a long deep dive but it’s great when the albums stand apart from one another. This also just goes to show that these guys are more than just Don’t Fear The Reaper or Godzilla. Definitely check out these other albums and you’ll appreciate their other songs.
Final Grade: A
Album Rankings:
- Fire Of Unknown Origin
- Agents Of Fortune
- Club Ninja
- Heaven Forbid
- Cultosaurus Erectus
- Blue Oyster Cult
- Tyranny And Mutation
- Secret Treaties
- Spectres
- The Revolution By Night
- The Symbol Remains
- Bad Channels
- Imaginos
- Cult Classic
- Mirrors
- Curse Of The Hidden Mirror
Sinister Reviews 