Top 10 Best Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Albums Released in 1971

The Top Ten
Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin

Hands down, no contest. This indestructible album, called Led Zeppelin IV, ZOSO, The Runes Album, The Four Symbols Album, and The No Name Album... is arguably the greatest rock album ever recorded. Power of Zeppelin? It sold 23 million copies in the States alone with absolutely no print on the cover jacket. None.

The one truly fantastic Led Zeppelin album, in my opinion.

Best album of the decade - not just 1971!

Master of Reality - Black Sabbath

I'm pretty sure "Children of the Grave" is the first Metallica song. And it wasn't even by Metallica, it was by the greatest metal band to grace the earth - Black Sabbath!

Without a doubt! Into the Void, Children of the Grave, Lord of This World, After Forever, and Sweet Leaf. You just can't beat that.

My favorite: Children of the Grave, Sweet Leaf, and Into the Void. It's awesome!

Fireball - Deep Purple

The Mule has one of the most complex and unique drum beats of the '70s.

Fireball - 10/5
No No No - 5/5
Strange Kind of Woman - 10/5
Demon's Eye - 5/5
Anyone's Daughter - 5/5
The Mule - 4.5/5
Fools - 100/5
No One Came - 3.5/5

Best album of '71, along with Zeppelin IV, Master of Reality, Love It to Death, and Killer.

Salisbury - Uriah Heep
Thin Lizzy - Thin Lizzy
Love It to Death - Alice Cooper
UFO 2: Flying - UFO

Great space rock album.

Look at Yourself - Uriah Heep
Killer - Alice Cooper
Nazareth - Nazareth

The Newcomers

? Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
? Madman Across the Water - Elton John

The first truly great Elton John album. Levon, Tiny Dancer, and Madman Across the Water. One of the best album sides in music.

The Contenders
For Ladies Only - Steppenwolf
Who's Next - The Who

Should be #2 behind Zeppelin. Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Riley, Behind Blue Eyes, Bargain, and Going Mobile. It's like a Who's greatest hits.

Budgie - Budgie

So underrated, it's unbelievable. In fact, I only found these guys because they showed up in Iron Maiden trivia. But wow, these guys are at the top of their era!

L.A. Woman - The Doors
Aqualung - Jethro Tull

#4 behind Zeppelin, The Who, and Black Sabbath. Yes, 1971 was a great year for rock.

Nursery Cryme - Genesis
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