‘Master of Puppets’ is one of Metallica's greatest albums, and the record comes to a screeching halt with the fiery "Damage, Inc." With five-and-a-half minutes of pure rigor and hard-charging heavy metal, the song is aggressive, fast and imaginative-- the perfect way to cap off such a legendary record. (AE)

In honor of WRIF’s 52nd anniversary (we were born on February 14th of 1971) I challenged myself to select only 1 album from each year.
These selections are my personal favorites from that calendar year and should you choose to compile a similar list, please note that it is equal parts fun and painful to pick an absolute favorite.

The Who (barley edges out Led Zeppelin IV)
Honorable mention to the other Deep Purple album in '72 "Made In Japan"
There is no dark side of the moon really, as a matter of fact it's all dark.
It's a Zappa thing.
one of the albums that changed my young (quite young at the time) life.
maybe...the greatest year for rock & roll. (I vote yes).
My favorite Queen album and all-time favorite album cover.
perhaps the best debut album of all time? (again, I vote yes).
Another Bob Ezrin produced album had had a huge impact on me.
None more black indeed.
Triumph were my first concert, first band I ever met, and my favorite during my middle school years.
ah yes, the high school era for me.
I may have been into metal at the time, but I was never too far from my prog/art-rock roots
Up the Irons!
Excuse the curve ball...but, I do enjoy the simplesity of The Cure.
'86 was my first time seeing Metallica (I've seen them 15 times...so far).
1987 was the single most inspirational, directional-shifting year of my life, so this was a very difficult selection.
Are you noticing there are a few concept albums, and a few with strong underlying themes?
'89 was the start of my "musician" years, and no band had a greater influence on my band at the time Surreal.
The year his Royal Vainess reinvented what was possible on guitar.
1991, my first year doing radio as a full-time job (I started as a part-timer in 1989), and nobody played more Metallica at the time.
probably my favorite album of the 90s
One of dozens of bands I helped to break in the 90s.
An under-rated album from the most under-rated band of them all.
The best album of 1995, and the launching point of TSO.
I was still a musician in 1996, and King's X were still my guide on how to do things right.
This was the start of my love for the mighty Foos!
This would be my pick for the best produced/mixed album in my entire collection.
I've joked for years that my middle name is weird, but if I were to collect evidence...here ya go.
My personal favorite of the TSO collection.
The early 2000's were very difficult years for me personally and Savatage helped me get through it all.
The early 2000's were very difficult years for my wife at the time Sabrina, and Audioslave gave her another reason to keep up the fight.
A key album and band for my radio career as I was just launching my new syndicated venture, The Chop Shop Guitar Show.
An album you've never heard of from a band you probably don't know, but easily my favorite of 2004.
More Foos please.
Tool's best album to date.
It took me a while to acquire a taste for The White Strips, who know I would some day end up at Jack's wedding. What? you were there too?
I like all things Shinedown, but this is by far my favorite from the band.
the definition of the word SUPER-Group.
The best twin guitar band album of the era as well I think.
Did I say more Foos? - Why yes I did.
I know it's 2 separate albums, but conformity and I don't play well together.
Another band I helped to break, as I was among the first to play the band dating back to their Guitar Gangsters record.
They were the best live band of 2014 as well.
I still only get certain songs from Muse, but his effort captured my attention front to back...yes I still listen to full albums. (I told you my middle name is weird).
Seal the Deal and Let's Boogie...my favorite album and album title of 2016.
Saw them at The Shelter, then St. Andrews, then Pine Knob and then the Fox.
There also one of my favorite bands to hang with. Good people and funny as hell.
It's a moody record, but the musicianship is just so solid.
It was also one of the more over-looked albums of that year.
Just a little more Foo for thought.
Shinedown's most ambitious project to date.