10 Underrated Hair Metal Tracks You’ve Probably Never Heard
Hair metal — also known as glam metal or pop-metal — ruled the mid-to-late ’80s with its mix of huge hooks, wild fashion, and a party-all-night attitude. Bands from the Sunset Strip quickly became pinup stars, sparking a record label gold rush. Sure, the flood of lookalike acts produced plenty of forgettable music, but the best of the era proved there was more to glam than makeup and hairspray.
This list highlights 10 underrated deep cuts from legendary hair metal bands. These tracks show off impressive musicianship, sharp songwriting, and even flashes of heaviness. Some became live staples or fan favorites, but because they weren’t pushed as singles, they still deserve more recognition.
The Raw Beginnings
Twisted Sister – Under the Blade (1982)
Before the smash success of Stay Hungry, Twisted Sister had already laid the foundation with Under the Blade. Fans who discovered it later were often shocked by its raw, metallic attack. But the trademarks were already there: anthemic choruses, theatrical humor, and a rebellious spirit that made listeners feel part of a movement. Tracks like “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You)” and “Sin After Sin” echo Judas Priest, while “Bad Boys (Of Rock ’N’ Roll)” and “Shoot ’Em Down” reveal the hooks that would soon catapult them to fame.
Tesla – Mechanical Resonance (1986)
Named after inventor Nikola Tesla, this band stood out as smarter and more grounded than many of their glam peers. Mechanical Resonance includes plenty of fun fluff like “Ez Come Ez Go” and “Cumin’ Atcha Live,” but its real strength lies in tracks like “Modern Day Cowboy” and the powerful ballad “Changes.” Tesla would only get heavier and more ambitious later, but their debut already proved they were serious musicians.
L.A. Guns – L.A. Guns (1988)
By the late ’80s, glam was oversaturated with glossy pop-metal. L.A. Guns broke the mold with their gritty, streetwise debut. Guitarist Tracii Guns served up scorching riffs, and Phil Lewis’s raspy vocals gave songs like “No Mercy” and “Nothing to Lose” an edge. Singles like “One More Reason” and “Sex Action” oozed sleaze and swagger. Unlike many of their peers, this band wasn’t chasing radio — they were just out to rock unapologetically.
Glam Meets Grit
Cinderella – Night Songs (1986)
The album cover may scream glam, but Night Songs packs way more grit than its looks suggest. Credit goes to Tom Keifer’s raspy, gasoline-soaked vocals and the band’s bluesy swagger. “Shake Me” and “Push Push” carry an Aerosmith-style groove, while “Nobody’s Fool” shows they could deliver a power ballad as well as anyone. Cinderella balanced toughness with glam flash, and that mix made their debut stand out.
Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In (1986)
Musical virtuosos? Not exactly. But Poison didn’t need to be. Their debut was all about fun, excess, and campy charm. Recorded for just $23,000, the album exploded with singalong anthems like “Talk Dirty to Me” and “I Want Action.” Beneath the neon chaos, though, songs like “Cry Tough” and “I Won’t Forget You” revealed a softer, surprisingly heartfelt side. Love them or hate them, Poison defined glam’s over-the-top image — and made it a blast.
Heavy Hitters Who Deserved More
Badlands – Badlands (1989)
After parting ways with Ozzy Osbourne, Jake E. Lee teamed up with powerhouse singer Ray Gillen to form Badlands. Their self-titled debut opened with the scorching “High Wire” and never slowed down. From the bluesy drive of “Dancing on the Edge” to the dramatic “Seasons,” the album showcased Lee’s guitar fireworks and Gillen’s soaring vocals. Though mainstream success slipped through their fingers, Badlands delivered one of the decade’s most underrated albums.
Warrant – Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989)
Frontman Jani Lane had a knack for pop hooks that few in glam could match. Their debut overflowed with catchy riffs and clever lines. Songs like “Down Boys” and “So Damn Pretty (Should Be Against the Law)” brought the party, while “Heaven” and “Sometimes She Cries” delivered emotional power ballads. The tongue-in-cheek title track poked fun at materialism, showing Lane’s wit was sharper than most of his peers.
Ratt – Out of the Cellar (1984)
Fueled by the smash hit “Round and Round,” Ratt’s debut turned them into hair metal heavyweights. But the whole record is a gem. Guitarists Warren DeMartini and Robbin Crosby traded fiery solos and snake-like riffs, while Stephen Pearcy’s snarl gave tracks like “Wanted Man” and “Lack of Communication” their gritty bite. With its mix of punk energy, metal muscle, and pop polish, Out of the Cellar went triple platinum and defined the Ratt sound.
Setting the Stage for a Decade
Skid Row – Skid Row (1989)
Arriving at the tail end of the glam explosion, Skid Row leaned heavier and dirtier than many of their peers. Their debut went five times platinum thanks to hits like “18 and Life” and “I Remember You,” both showcasing Sebastian Bach’s jaw-dropping vocal range. But deep cuts like “Piece of Me” and “Midnight/Tornado” prove the band was more than radio ballads. “Youth Gone Wild” became a rallying cry for a generation of outsiders, cementing their place in hair metal history.
Mötley Crüe – Too Fast for Love (1981)
It all started here. Recorded in “three drunken days,” as Nikki Sixx put it, Mötley Crüe’s debut was messy, raw, and revolutionary. Blending Kiss-style bombast, New York Dolls sleaze, and Cheap Trick pop charm, it became the blueprint for the entire glam metal movement. Songs like “Live Wire,” “Take Me to the Top,” and the title track remain fan favorites, proving that even in their earliest chaos, Crüe set the tone for a decade of excess.
More Than Just Makeup and Hairspray
Hair metal may have been mocked for its big hair, flashy clothes, and endless power ballads, but albums like these prove there was plenty of substance behind the style. From Twisted Sister’s tribal anthems to Mötley Crüe’s reckless beginnings, the genre’s deep cuts capture the grit, ambition, and wild creativity that fueled an entire era of rock and roll.
