COUNT VLAD: 80 THAT TURN 30 IN 2026



Do you remember 1996? I do! So this is a selection of records released in 1996 that celebrate their 30th anniversary in 2026. Among the hundreds of albums released 30 years ago, here are my most preferred ones. 
I am surely missing something, but from the distance of time, it is difficult to recall everything that moved me back then. Most of these turned into klassiks, and 30 years later they are still in heavy rotation. Others just mark the particular moment in time...

Play them loud!

Metallica - Load
Hypocrisy - Abducted
Dimmu Borgir - Stormblåst
Cradle of Filth - Vempire
Cradle of Filth - Dusk and Her Embrace
Cemetary - Sundown
Anathema - Eternity
Burzum - Filosofem
Type O Negative - October Rust

Sepultura - Roots
King Diamond - The Graveyard
Edge of Sanity - Crimson
Satyricon - Nemesis Divina
Gates of Ishtar - A Bloodred Path
Katatonia - Brave Murder Day
Algaion - Vox Clamentis EP
Helloween - The Time of the Oath
Manowar - Louder Than Hell

Borknagar - Borknagar
Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill
Prong - Rude Awakening
Arcturus - Aspera Hiems Symfonia
Theatre of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear
Opeth - Morningrise
Marduk - Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered
Cryptopsy - None So Vile
In Flames - The Jester Race

Alice in Chains - Alice In Chains Unplugged
Amorphis - Elegy
Cannibal Corpse - Vile
Dark Funeral - The Secrets Of The Black Arts - The Secrets of the Black Arts
Gorgoroth - Antichrist
Grave - Hating Life
My Dying Bride - Like Gods of the Sun
Bathory - Blood on Ice
Slayer - Undisputed Attitude

Neurosis - Through Silver in Blood
Moonspell - Irreligious
Mercyful Fate - Into The Unknown
Rotting Christ - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers
Motörhead - Overnight Sensation
Marilyn Manson - Antichrist Superstar
Soundgarden - Down on the Upside
Napalm Death - Diatribes
Old Man's Child - Born Of The Flickering

Sentenced - Down
The 3rd and the Mortal - Painting on Glass
Therion - Theli
Summoning - Summoning - Dol Guldur (MP3 EP)
Iced Earth - The Dark Saga
Immolation - Here in After
Crowbar - Broken Glass
Kvist - For Kunsten Maa Vi Evig Vike
Vinterland - Welcome My Last Chapter

Falkenbach - ...En their medh riki fara...
Blut aus Nord - Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age
Sacramentum - Far Away From the Sun
Forgotten Woods - The Curse Of Mankind
Setherial - Nord...
Hecate Enthroned - Upon Promeathean Shores
The Exploited - Beat the Bastards
Drain - Horror Wrestling
Apocalyptica - Apocalyptica Plays Metallica By Four Cellos

Thy Serpent - Forests of Witchery
Empyrium - A Wintersunset...
Limbonic Art - Moon in the Scorpio
Impaled Nazarene - Latex Cult
Troll - Drep de Kristne
Dismal Euphony - Soria Moria Slott [Limited Edition]
Carcass - Swansong
The Abyss - Summon the Beast
Dio - Angry Machines

Nevermore - The Politics of Ecstasy
Ministry - Filth Pig
Heavenwood - Diva
Evereve - Seasons
Dog Eat Dog - Play Games
Korn - Life Is Peachy
Bad Religion - The Gray Race
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire

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