Extreme’s high-concept ‘III Sides to Every Story’ may have been just a little too much of a leap for a lot of fans.

‘Cyperpunk’ was supposed to be an evolution. Instead, it almost ended Billy Idol’s career.

Before, Stryper had been too squeaky-clean, too “pretty” for metal. ‘Against the Law’ didn’t have that problem.

‘Fight for the Rock’ almost put Savatage’s career in a coffin before we got their best work.

A failed attempt to make Motley Crue relevant again, ‘Generation Swine’ is just a bad all-around record.

Celtic Frost was one of the pioneering bands of what would become death and black metal. Then came 1988’s ‘Cold Lake.’

With everything working against it, why do I actually like Metallica’s ‘St. Anger’?

Quiet Riot was probably headed for obscurity before ‘QR III’ was released 30 years ago, but this album certainly drove the nail in the coffin.

I joined many other Megadeth fans in immediately hating 1999’s ‘Risk.’ Returning to it, however, was a bit of a surprise.

Metal Meltdowns will explore those moments when my favorite metal and hard rock bands went off the rails. Let’s start with Danzig’s ‘blackacidevil.’