W7 Deadly Zens is a solo studio album by Styx guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw. It was released in 1998 by CMC International Records. The album is in a hard rock style.
W1011 Woodland is the eighth studio album by British new wave band the Fixx, released in 1999. All but the last three tracks are re-recordings of previous songs done by the band, largely in an acoustic and modern form. The final three tracks are live recordings.
WAbandon is the sixteenth studio album by the British hard rock band Deep Purple, released in the Spring of 1998. It was Deep Purple's second album with Steve Morse on guitar and the last album to feature founding member Jon Lord prior to his departure in 2002.
WAccident of Birth is the fourth studio album by Bruce Dickinson, released in 1997, through Castle Communications sublabel Raw Power in the UK and CMC International in the US.
WAcross from Midnight is the sixteenth studio album by Joe Cocker, released in 1997.
WAmerican Hardcore is the fifth album by the American rock band L.A. Guns. It is their only album to feature singer Chris Van Dahl and the first to feature bass guitarist Johnny Crypt. This album continues the increase in heaviness by the band started on their previous album Vicious Circle. The band was very influenced by Pantera during this time.
WSlaughter is an American glam metal band formed in Las Vegas by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album Stick It to Ya, which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad About You" and "Fly to the Angels". The album reached double platinum status in the United States. The band remains a steady act in national tours, mainly in the Rock Never Stops Tour which features several bands of the same era.
WBack to the Blues is the thirteenth solo studio album by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore, released in 2001. As implied by its title, it saw Moore return to the electric blues music with which he had found fame since 1990, after two more experimental albums. The cover photograph is of Moore at Therapia Lane Tram Depot, Croydon.
WBelly to Belly is the fifth studio album by American rock band Warrant. The record was released on October 1, 1996, through CMC International. The album features ex-Beggars & Thieves drummer Bobby Borg who replaced James Kottak. It is the last Warrant album of all original material to feature Jani Lane on vocals.
WBrave New World is the thirteenth studio album by Styx, released in 1999. It is the band’s first studio album to feature drummer Todd Sucherman, replacing John Panozzo, who died in 1996 and the last album to feature keyboardist/vocalist Dennis DeYoung. This is the last album that bassist Chuck Panozzo is credited as a full-time member, he would continue with the band as a part-time member. The album peaked at #175 on the Billboard 200 and reached the top 10 on the Top Internet Albums chart. However, its position on the Billboard charts was the lowest from a Styx album of new material since 1973's The Serpent Is Rising.
WThe Chemical Wedding is the fifth solo album by English heavy metal singer Bruce Dickinson, released on 15 September 1998 through Dickinson's own label Air Raid Records. The record draws some inspiration from the works of William Blake, featuring sung and spoken excerpts of his prophetic works and poetry, and with cover art from his painting The Ghost of a Flea, although the name of the album and its title track derive from the Rosicrucian manifesto the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz. As with the previous album, it featured Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith, then a member of Dickinson's solo outfit. This is the last Dickinson's album before he and Adrian Smith rejoined Iron Maiden the following year.
WCurse of the Hidden Mirror is the fourteenth studio album by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in June 5, 2001. The only single from the record was the poorly received "Pocket". Lackluster sales and poor relations led to the band being dropped by their label, Sanctuary Records; as a result, BÖC did not release another studio album for nearly 20 years, until the release of The Symbol Remains in 2020.
WCyclorama is the fourteenth studio album by Styx, released in 2003. This was the first studio album with Lawrence Gowan, following the departure of group co-founder Dennis DeYoung in 1999. It was also the latter of two albums to feature Glen Burtnik, and the only album released by the Lawrence Gowan/Tommy Shaw/James "JY" Young/Glen Burtnik/Chuck Panozzo/Todd Sucherman lineup, and as such the only original Styx album to feature four different singer-songwriters as opposed to the usual three. The album peaked significantly higher on the Billboard album charts than Styx's previous release, Brave New World (1999), ending up 48 slots higher at #127.
WDevil in the Details is the fourth album by Saigon Kick, and the first to feature guitarist Pete Dembrowski.
WEdge of Forever is the tenth studio album by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Released in 1999, it is the last album to feature Leon Wilkeson before his death in 2001.
WElemental is the seventh studio album by British new wave band the Fixx, released in 1998.
WReleased in 1999, Erase the Slate is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken. It is the only Dokken studio album to feature former Winger guitarist Reb Beach and the last one with long time bassist Jeff Pilson.
WSlaughter is an American glam metal band formed in Las Vegas by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album Stick It to Ya, which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad About You" and "Fly to the Angels". The album reached double platinum status in the United States. The band remains a steady act in national tours, mainly in the Rock Never Stops Tour which features several bands of the same era.
WFrom the Underground and Below is the ninth studio album by the thrash metal band Overkill released in 1997 by CMC International. Two cover songs were recorded during these sessions; "No Feelings" by Sex Pistols and "Space Truckin'" by Deep Purple. Lead singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth considers From the Underground and Below to be one of his favorite Overkill albums. The album was re-issued along with Necroshine (1999) as part of a box set in 2003.
WHeaven Forbid is the thirteenth studio album by American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in March 24, 1998. It was the band's first studio album with new material in a decade. American science fiction and horror writer John Shirley wrote lyrics to most of the songs on the album. While he is primarily known as an author for his cyberpunk stories, many of the lyrics on this album revolve around early science fiction and mystery motifs. The album's working title was 'Ezekiel's Wheel,' after the Biblical story that some take to reference an early visitation by UFOs.
WHelldorado is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released in 1999.
WInnamorata is American rock singer Pat Benatar's tenth studio album, and her eleventh album overall, released in 1997. It charted a single week on the US Billboard album chart, at No. 171.
WThe Killing Kind is the eighth studio album released by thrash metal band Overkill in 1996. It was the first album to feature new guitarists Joe Comeau and Sebastian Marino, and was released on CMC International, whereas their previous studio albums were released by either Megaforce or Atlantic Records.
WKing of the Kill is the fourth album by Canadian heavy metal band Annihilator, released in 1994. This was the first Annihilator album not released on Roadrunner Records, and marked something of a comeback for the band, who had briefly went on hiatus after the commercial failure of its predecessor Set the World on Fire. It marked a return to the thrashier sound of their earlier albums, Alice in Hell and Never, Neverland, but also saw the band starting to move towards a groove-oriented vein. King of the Kill was also the first of three consecutive studio albums to feature guitarist and bandleader Jeff Waters on both lead vocals and bass.
WKingdom of XII is the tenth studio album by American southern rock band Molly Hatchet, released in 2000 by the German label SPV. It was reissued in the United States in 2001 by CMC International, a division of Sanctuary Records Group.
WLong Way Home is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released in the spring of 2002. It is the only Dokken album which features Europe guitarist John Norum and the first featuring bassist Barry Sparks.
WNecroshine is the 10th studio album released by the thrash metal band Overkill in early 1999, on CMC International records.
WObjection Overruled is the ninth studio album by German heavy metal band Accept, released in 1993. It is the first to feature Udo Dirkschneider on lead vocals since 1986's Russian Roulette. It was recorded at Dierks-Studios in Stommeln after pre-production at Roxx Studios.
WPurpendicular is the fifteenth studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple, released in 1996. It is their first album with guitarist Steve Morse from Dixie Dregs, who replaced Ritchie Blackmore.
WReady Eddie is Eddie Money's tenth studio album, released in 1999.
WRemains is the sixth studio album by Canadian heavy metal band Annihilator, released on July 21, 1997 by Music For Nations and CMC International. All instruments were performed by Jeff Waters following the dissolution of the previous line-up. However, John Bates and Dave Steele make an appearance on "No Love" on guitars and vocals respectively, with Steele also appearing on "Wind". The album features a more industrial-oriented sound and also features a drum machine. Remains was the last album for 18 years to feature lead vocals by Waters on an Annihilator album.
WSacrifice is the twelfth studio album by British rock band Motörhead. It was released on 27 March 1995 via SPV/Steamhammer, the band's first release on the label. It is the second and final album to feature the four-piece lineup of Lemmy, Phil Campbell, Würzel, and Mikkey Dee, as Würzel left the band after the album's recording.
WNight Ranger is an American hard rock band, formed in San Francisco, California in 1979 by Jack Blades, Kelly Keagy and Brad Gillis. A year later Alan Fitzgerald and Jeff Watson joined completing their original lineup. Their discography consists of 12 studio albums, nine live albums, six compilation albums and 16 singles.
WShadowlife is the sixth studio album by the American heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1997. It marks a change in the band's musical style, moving towards alternative rock. However, critics and fans alike were not pleased with the change, and dismiss the album as one of Dokken's weakest. It is also the last studio album with original lead guitarist George Lynch.
WShow Business is the sixth studio album by the glam metal band Kix. It was released in 1995 through CMC International following their departure from Atlantic. The album was a commercial flop, as grunge had taken over the music scene. As a result, Show Business would be the band's last album before their long-term breakup. It would also be the final Kix album to feature founding band member and principal songwriter Donnie Purnell.
WSilent Reign of Heroes is the ninth studio album by American southern rock band Molly Hatchet, released on June 16, 1998.
WSix is the title of Loverboy's sixth studio album, released in 1997. It is the band's first album with new material since 1987, and their last album to feature original bassist Scott Smith before his death in 2000.
WStop In the Name of Love is the ninth studio album by American singer La Toya Jackson. The album, which was recorded and mixed in Sweden, is a collection of dance-style well-known Motown covers, including The Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Baby Love", the Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself", and The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There". The entire album was recorded in one hour.
WTangerine is the third album by the American rock band Vixen. It was recorded without contributions from Jan Kuehnemund and Share Pederson. The line-up for this album consisted of Janet Gardner, Gina Stile, and Roxy Petrucci. Tangerine has a different sound from the music of the previous albums of the band, more similar to post-grunge than glam metal. This is the only album to have Stile as Vixen guitarist and the final studio release to feature Gardner as vocalist-guitarist during their tenures in the band; they were forced to part ways following the Tangerine tour for legal reasons as the courts found Kuehnemund to be the sole owner of the band name thereby making this release unrecognized and unofficial.
WTwenty is the ninth studio album by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1997. The title of the album refers to the fact that it had been twenty years since the plane crash which killed original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines.
WUltraphobic is the fourth studio album by American rock band Warrant. Released on March 7, 1995 on CMC International, after the apparent break-up of the band, the record was regarded as the band's "comeback" album. It is the first album to feature former Kingdom Come and Wild Horses members Rick Steier and James Kottak who came in to replace original band members Joey Allen and Steven Sweet.
WUnleash the Beast is Saxon's thirteenth studio album, released in 1997. It is the first studio album without Graham Oliver on guitar, who was replaced by Doug Scarratt, making it the first album to feature the band's current lineup.
WWe Are Motörhead is the fifteenth studio album by British rock band Motörhead. It was released on 15 May 2000 via Steamhammer, their fifth with the label, equalling their Bronze Records total of full length original album releases.
WA Wild-Eyed Christmas Night is the eleventh studio album by the southern rock band 38 Special, released in 2001.
WWindows of Heaven is Jefferson Starship's first studio album since reforming in 1992 and ninth album overall. It was first released in Germany, but the band told fans to wait for a new American remixed version. The single "Let Me Fly" was released along with the American release, but did not chart on the Billboard charts. Grace Slick joined the band in the studio to record vocals on "I'm on Fire" which only appears on the American and Japanese versions. The track "Maybe for You" later reappeared on the 2008 album, Jefferson's Tree of Liberty.