What are your favourite Guardians-related releases?

Inspired by Sonny starting this kind of thread in The Fallen, I decided to give it a go with a different clan. I'll start with my other 3 clans (Guardians, Infinite, and Revolution). If there are any favorite albums you have, please share here. And if they're in a different clan, feel free to start a thread in that clan. In the meantime, what do you think are the best albums (top 10, 20, 30, etc.) in The Guardians? Here's my top 10:

10. Grand Magus - Iron Will (2008)

9. Persuader - When Eden Burns (2006)

8. Accept - Metal Heart (1985)

7. Crimson Glory - Transcendence (1988)

6. Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath (2003)

5. Lord - Fallen Idols (2019)

4. Running Wild - Death or Glory (1989)

3. Riot - Thundersteel (1988)

2. Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part II (1995)

Honorable mentions (from my earlier epic metal taste that I might revisit someday or already had revisited):

HammerFall - Glory to the Brave (1997)

Machinae Supremacy - Into the Night World (2016)

Nightwish - Once (2004)

Stratovarius - Visions (1997)

And finally #1:

DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage (2006) (forever my #1!)

Here's my top ten for The Guardians:

01. Iron Maiden – “Somewhere In Time” (1986)

02. Iron Maiden – “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” (1988)

03. Iron Maiden – “Powerslave” (1984)

04. Judas Priest – “Painkiller” (1990)

05. Ozzy Osbourne – “Speak Of The Devil” (1982)

06. Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” (1970)

07. W.A.S.P. – “The Crimson Idol” (1992)

08. Iron Maiden – “Live After Death” (1985)

09. Crimson Glory – “Crimson Glory” (1986)

10. Black Sabbath – “Live Evil” (1982)

OK, so I'm gonna go with a top 25:

1. Black Sabbath - Paranoid (1970)

2. Iron Maiden - Killers (1981)

3. Grand Magus - Hammer of the North (2010)

4. Judas Priest - Sad Wings of Destiny (1976)

5. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

6. Grand Magus - The Hunt (2012)

7. Iced Earth - Days of Purgatory (1997)

8. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality (1971)

9. Motörhead - Bomber (1979)

10. Witchfinder General - Death Penalty (1982)

11. Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind (1983)

12. Angel Witch - Angel Witch (1980)

13. Judas Priest - Stained Class (1978)

14. Black Sabbath - Sabotage (1975)

15. Rainbow - Rising (1976)

16. Grand Magus - Iron Will (2008)

17. Mercyful Fate - Melissa (1983)

18. Iron Maiden - Powerslave (1984)

19. Motörhead - Overkill (1979)

20. Queensrÿche - Operation Mindcrime (1988)

21. Witchfynde - Give 'em Hell (1980)

22. Iced Earth - Night of the Stormrider (1991)

23.Saxon - Wheels of Steel (1980)

24. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden (1980)

25. Arkham Witch - I Am Providence (2015

Alright. I'll bite. Here's my expanded list:

01. Iron Maiden – “Somewhere In Time” (1986)

02. Iron Maiden – “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” (1988)

03. Iron Maiden – “Powerslave” (1984)

04. Judas Priest – “Painkiller” (1990)

05. Ozzy Osbourne – “Speak Of The Devil” (1982)

06. Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” (1970)

07. W.A.S.P. – “The Crimson Idol” (1992)

08. Iron Maiden – “Live After Death” (1985)

09. Crimson Glory – “Crimson Glory” (1986)

10. Black Sabbath – “Live Evil” (1982)

11. Iron Maiden - "Rock In Rio" (2002)

12. Black Sabbath - "Sabotage" (1975)

13. Iron Maiden - "The Number Of The Beast" (1982)

14. Queensryche - "Operation: Mindcrime" (1988)

15. Iced Earth - "Alive In Athens" (1999)

16. Manowar - "Into Glory Ride" (1983)

17. Iron Maiden - "Piece Of Mind" (1983)

18. Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" E.P. (1984)

19. Unleash The Archers - "Apex" (2017)

20. Motorhead - "No Sleep Till Hammersmith" (1981)

21. Dio - "Holy Diver" (1983)

22. Black Sabbath - "The End: 4 February 2017 Birmingham" (2017)

23. Queensryche - "Operation:LIVEcrime" (2001)

24. Judas Priest - "Defenders Of The Faith" (1984)

25. Iron Maiden - "Maiden Japan" E.P. (1981)

I'm also gonna expand my list to top 25, to include more albums from my earlier epic metal taste that I might revisit someday or already had revisited:

25. Machinae Supremacy - Into the Night World (2016)

24. Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Beethoven's Last Night (2000)

23. Elvenking - Heathenreel (2001)

22. Edguy - Theater of Salvation (1999)

21. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica (1999)

20. HammerFall - Glory to the Brave (1997)

19. Accept - Metal Heart (1985)

18. Alestorm - Back Through Time (2011)

17. Angra - Holy Land (1996)

16. Gamma Ray - Power Plant (1999)

15. After Forever - Decipher (2001)

14. Kamelot - Epica (2003)

13. Persuader - When Eden Burns (2006)

12. Grand Magus - Iron Will (2008)

11. Nightwish - Once (2004)

10. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side (1995)

9. Twilight Force - Heroes of Mighty Magic (2016)

8. Crimson Glory - Transcendence (1988)

7. Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath (2003)

6. Lord - Fallen Idols (2019)

5. Running Wild - Death or Glory (1989)

4. Riot - Thundersteel (1988)

3. Stratovarius - Visions (1997)

2. Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part II (1995)

1. DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage (2006) (forever my #1!)

1. Iron Maiden - Killers

2. Judas Priest - Painkiller

3. Grand Magus - Hammer of the North

4. Blind Guardian - Imaginations form the Other Side

5. Black Sabbath - Master of Reality

6. Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law

7. Crimson Glory - Transendence

8. Dare - Blood from Stone

9. Queensryche - Empire

10. W.A.S.P. - The Crimson Idol

8. Dare - Blood from Stone

I've never actually heard of this one before Vinny. What's the story behind that selection?

8. Dare - Blood from Stone

I've never actually heard of this one before Vinny. What's the story behind that selection?

It's arguably more hard-rock but has such a blistering intensity to it that it most definitely belongs in the list.  Former band of celebrated physicist Brian Cox as a point of trivia.

Also has Darren Wharton of Thin Lizzy keyboard fame as the frontman.  I won't say every song is perfect but the album is end to end stocked full of impactful tracks and the only real interruption to the flow is a couple of ballads that I usually skip in all honesty.  It is one of the most consistent albums in my collection and one that still gets regular plays.

Update on my list, to include a few more albums from my earlier epic metal taste that I might revisit someday or already had revisited:

25. Edguy - Theater of Salvation (1999)

24. Sonata Arctica - Ecliptica (1999)

23. Children of Bodom - Follow the Reaper (2000)

22. Dark Moor - The Gates of Oblivion (2002)

21. Rhapsody of Fire - Symphony of Enchanted Lands (1998)

20. HammerFall - Glory to the Brave (1997)

19. Accept - Metal Heart (1985)

18. Alestorm - Back Through Time (2011)

17. Angra - Holy Land (1996)

16. Gamma Ray - Power Plant (1999)

15. After Forever - Decipher (2001)

14. Kamelot - Epica (2003)

13. Persuader - When Eden Burns (2006)

12. Epica - Design Your Universe (2009)

11. Nightwish - Once (2004)

10. Blind Guardian - Imaginations From the Other Side (1995)

9. Twilight Force - Heroes of Mighty Magic (2016)

8. Crimson Glory - Transcendence (1988)

7. Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath (2003)

6. Lord - Fallen Idols (2019)

5. Running Wild - Death or Glory (1989)

4. Riot - Thundersteel (1988)

3. Stratovarius - Visions (1997)

2. Virgin Steele - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell Part II (1995)

1. DragonForce - Inhuman Rampage (2006) (forever my #1!)

Here's my updated list after revisiting Kamelot's "The Black Halo" album over the last couple of days:

01. Iron Maiden – “Somewhere In Time” (1986)

02. Iron Maiden – “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son” (1988)

03. Iron Maiden – “Powerslave” (1984)

04. Judas Priest – “Painkiller” (1990)

05. Ozzy Osbourne – “Speak Of The Devil” (1982)

06. Black Sabbath – “Paranoid” (1970)

07. W.A.S.P. – “The Crimson Idol” (1992)

08. Iron Maiden – “Live After Death” (1985)

09. Crimson Glory – “Crimson Glory” (1986)

10. Kamelot - "The Black Halo" (2005)

11. Black Sabbath – “Live Evil” (1982)

12. Iron Maiden - "Rock In Rio" (2002)

13. Black Sabbath - "Sabotage" (1975)

14. Iron Maiden - "The Number Of The Beast" (1982)

15. Queensryche - "Operation: Mindcrime" (1988)

16. Iced Earth - "Alive In Athens" (1999)

17. Manowar - "Into Glory Ride" (1983)

18. Iron Maiden - "Piece Of Mind" (1983)

19. Medieval Steel - "Medieval Steel" E.P. (1984)

20. Unleash The Archers - "Apex" (2017)

21. Motorhead - "No Sleep Till Hammersmith" (1981)

22. Dio - "Holy Diver" (1983)

23. Black Sabbath - "The End: 4 February 2017 Birmingham" (2017)

24. Queensryche - "Operation:LIVEcrime" (2001)

25. Judas Priest - "Defenders Of The Faith" (1984)