After an exhilarating journey through four rounds of competitive voting, only two legendary bands remain in our Best ’80s Album March Madness bracket: AC/DC and Van Halen. This final showdown pits Back in Black against 1984, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Voting is open for just three days to determine which album will be crowned the ultimate champion of the 1980s music scene. Check out the results from last week’s thrilling round below, and make your choice on who deserves to triumph, cut down the nets, and celebrate with champagne.
In the previous round, AC/DC’s iconic album Back in Black triumphed over U2’s critically acclaimed The Joshua Tree, securing an impressive 74% of the votes. AC/DC has been a force throughout this competition, previously overcoming Ozzy Osbourne's classic Blizzard of Ozz with a commanding 78% to 22% margin, dominating Phil Collins’ No Jacket Required by 84% to 16%, and decisively beating The Talking Heads’ Remain in Light with an astounding 86% to 14% vote.
Meanwhile, Van Halen’s groundbreaking album 1984 has faced fiercer challenges in its path to the finals. Most recently, they narrowly edged out Guns N’ Roses’ legendary Appetite for Destruction by just a single percentage point. The week prior, they successfully defeated Def Leppard's masterpiece Hysteria with 56% of the total votes. Before that, the iconic lineup of Eddie, Dave, Alex, and Michael showcased their prowess by defeating Metallica’s Master of Puppets with a score of 64% to 36% and triumphantly outperformed the Rolling Stones’ Tattoo You with a 79% to 21% victory.
Now, we stand at the climax of Ultimate Classic Rock’s Best '80s Album tournament. You have the opportunity to cast your vote below in this decisive matchup for the title of the best ’80s album. Voting is open once every hour, so ensure your voice is heard before the deadline on April 7 at 11:59 PM ET.
The victorious album will be announced the day after voting concludes, so stay tuned!
Adrian Borromeo, UCR
Explore the Top 20 Heavy Metal and Hard Rock Albums of 1984
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Gallery Credit: Matthew Wilkening