Appetite For Destruction

Monster album. Just an instant classic. Don't think any band has ever had this energy and musicianship and sheer balls to the walls rocking ever since this. Axl Rose has a killer voice and Slash can really fuckin play, that solo on "Sweet Child O' Mine" sends the song into the stratosphere

the debut studio album of guns n' roses. it's horrifically, unimaginably 80s. the moment you press play, your hair will gain much more volume than usual. it's pumping anthem rock that has both positive layers and anger. there's a good reason this went to the top charts, dominating the rock ranks. it's no surprise these guys in their prime had a real chokehold on metal fans from all across the spectrum. it's hard rock music that isn't afraid to get a little ugly from time to time.

one of my favorite albums, really like the the dynamics and the flow of the album. really like paradise city, think about you, sweet child of mine and rocket queen. this album never disappoints. 5

So Teddy, my pug, does not like Welcome to the Jungle. When that opening came up, that head tilt & annoyed disposition & Axel began to squeal. He hid next to his mommy. This is not for a Pug Dog, no Sir. He proceeded to lick the air obsessively for 3 songs & fell asleep. 1 star from the pug. Luckily I'm not a pug. This is a solid album from top to almost bottom. Five standouts: Welcome to the Jungle, Mr Brownstone, Sweet Child, Paradise City &Night Train. Axl shows his sweeter side with Thinking About You. And of course there is that little layer of 80s cheese that you can't deny is totally there but you love it anyway. I listened to this with my wife & I asked her what she thought. She said: Its Guns N Roses!

Absolute classic. Not a whole lot of variation though.

a great listen to wake up to.

You can cringe all you want, but it’s a perfect album.

Classic.

fuck yea, I know this album inside out.

An album I once owned. Still solid. Great debut and maybe still their best. Slash's guitar phenomenal and Axl's vocals still fresh and distinctive.

Sian says 5. Not sure Deb has listened. When I eventually discovered this album it helped me through some tough times in my teenage years. Put it on, turn it up and sing/screech along!

Classic

I love this album. I think it starts out kicking our ass and drags you through the mud the whole time. I have to disagree with a lot of reviews here. I would never classify this album as "Metal". It's Hard Rock. At the time this album came out Metallica, Megadeth, Obituary, Nuclear Assault - THEY were metal. G 'N' R had the hair (because LA) but not the metal.

Just a classic album

A really great rock album with some absolute classics. The guitar riffs are some of the most iconic ever performed. Enjoyed the whole thing, not just the famous singles

Arguably the best Album 1 Song 1 debut ever by a band... "Welcome to the Jungle" right out of the box is unreal. They established a signature sound from their first notes. Had about 4 or 5 bangers with several generational songs. Amazing album.

Top ten all time

Top Five Albums of all time for me. They had such a raw energy and a 'we don't give an F" attitude AND they had Slash. If I could be a part of any band in history, I'd want to be in GnR.

YES.

This album felt like a game-changer when it was released, and it still holds up today. I don’t revisit it often anymore, but its impact on music at the time was undeniable. For that alone, it deserves a solid 5.

Welcome to the Jungle

This is a really good album but I am going to add an extra star because it was their debut album.

Probably one of the best, if not the best hard rock/metal album released in the 80's. This was basically essential listening from 1987 until....now? Yeah, now. It opens with Welcome to the Jungle and then finishes with one of the best album closing songs ever, "Rocket Queen". For close to an hour, you're enveloped in Guns N' Roses's world and it's full of drugs, sex (lots of sex), and rock. So many bangers on this album, it's hard to choose a favorite. But for my money, this album is one of the best of all time. Bangers: Welcome to the Jungle Mr. Brownstone Paradise City Sweet Child o' Mine You're Crazy Rocket Queen 5/5 no brainer.

10/10 This album rocks! No skips

This is top me one of the top 3 best rock albums of the 80s. Perfect album not one single bad song. This was raw and real. Rock had mellowed down a bit after the ealry 80s and the pop and new wave was taking over. This stopped everyone amd everything on its tracks and revived rock hair metal for a new evolution. Then came grunge. along with these: Appetite for destruction Back in black Blizzard of Ozz Number of the beast 1984 Then all others.

Sounds like 6th grade, baby

Like many kids who grew up in the 80’s, this album had the impact of an atomic bomb in my musical world. As a young guitar player learning “Sweet Child Of Mine” was a mountain I had to climb to increase my dexterity. The music videos were iconic, coupled with lyrics of addiction, debauchery, excess, sex and well.. destruction. This was the first glimpse into the rock star lifestyle for my young mind and I was fascinated. The unpredictable nature of this band kept my MTV news updates exciting, yet if you take all that celebrity noise away and just focus on these songs you’ll find an album with no skips and some of the greatest written and recorded rock songs of all time. Many have tried to match this albums ferocity and few, if any, have succeeded. Every song teleports me to the county fair of my youth. That nervous feeling of getting on a death trap controlled by a teenager, already nauseous from the bottle Jack Daniels you and your friends have been sharing hits from compounded by shitty fair food and rides that torture you with relentless spinning motions all while while some madman named Axel Rose is yelling at you… good times? Yes it absolutely was! Axel’s vocal performances though out this album are insane, so much energy and intensity while still maintaining infectious melodies that stay with you long after listening. The rhythm section of Steven Adler and Duff McKagen is almost punk at times but with more variation and intricacy. I love how the two different guitar playing styles are exaggerated by hard panning Izzy to the left and Slash to the right. I could focus on how those two attack these songs differently while playing exactly what these songs needed and be amazed every listen. One other side note, the fact that “Patience” was a B side of this album is crazy, this album was huge and it’s hard to imagine it being any bigger but if that was a single for this album instead of Lies.. damn. Also “Shadow Of Your Love” is a killer song and shouldn’t have been a B side either. Needless to say this band was a huge influence on me even if they only had 2 phenomenal albums, if you combine the best of the 2 Use Your Illusion albums into one that is. This is an easy 5 for me.

Well, this album is no Chinese Democracy... Seriously, though, this is a legendary banger. So many hits on this debut album. I remember all these videos like yesterday. I eventually grew to make fun of these guys, but there is a great deal of nostalgia from this album to the Use Your Illusion albums. This is an iconic debut album for a band. I give this a 5.

Giving this a 5 before I even re listen. It's just fun, full of amazing riffs and rocks. A couple of tracks don't hold up (and are a little dodgy - It's Ao Easy, Anything Goes) but doesn't take away from the standard of the rest. Cliche as it is Sweet Child's solo is up there with the best (Baker Street), the basa in Nighttrain kills and the outro of Rocket Queen remains great.

This tremendous. One of the best rock albums ever made. The guitar playing is sublime, the energy is brilliant. The tunes are great, it manages to be heavy and poppy in a way that most bands can't muster. I should mention that some of axel lyrics are pretty derogatory. I've marked down albums for that before, although, I think the ones I did were worse on that front. But it's not great. Unfortunately for the laws of fairness I love the songs and I don't take much notice of the meaning behind the lyrics here so it's gonna stay as a 5 for me.

Awesome

Timeless classic. Great guitar tone and riffs, combined with the rough and incredible voice of Axl

Absolutely a banger 5/5

Album full of great songs and great playing, especially on the guitar department. What a classic!

This is the audio equivalent of shoving those nerd electronica albums into a locker. Kind of the perfect album to start your Friday morning if you are a hard rock/metal aficionado like me. Nine of the twelve songs are hits, a crazy rate for any album, let alone a debut. Listening to this is like eating a greasy cheeseburger: you know it's not good for you and it's not particularly complex, but goddamn is it tasty and fun. 5/5, this is THE hair metal album.

Absolute banger of a debut album

Absolute banger after absolute banger. One of my favourites. Nice to listen in full and hear some of the album tracks which I'd forgotten about.

Hadn't actually listened to Guns n roses beyond their greatest hits, so hearing most of the songs on the album for the first time. Enjoyed it a lot.

Using the Bryn method of scoring this has to get a 5. An album that I would listen over an over again. No filler in my view, outside the most famous songs I quite enjoy Rocket Queen and Think About You.

The energy in this is nonstop Familiarity: 5 – Deep Familiarity Songs I would actively choose to listen to: 3 - Half What can I remember the next day?: 4 - Most Best song: Paradise City

Have it on CD. It's a classic grunge rock album, but also delves into slower songs sometimes.

Welcome To The Jungle will never not remind me of 9Round

I underestimated the band and I regret it. This album rocks!

love that album, my mum had it as a vynil

9/10

I don't even need to listen to this to rate it. I heard it so many times growing up that it's ingrained. This album comes on like a freight train and speeds you through with all the swagger and rebellion you'd expect. All the hits you remember. I didn't remember Nighttrain being as good as it is. Everyone thinks of this as Dad Rock, but I think, even with the current kids, this should resonate. My Rating: 5/5

good, one of my favorite albums. the only problem with it is that songs like sweet child of mine are often overplayed on the radio, it is kind of sad and sickening. other than that i really like the dynamics and the flow of the album.

Peak guns’n’roses - 5/5

A lot of ‘classic rock’ albums turn up on the 1001 and most of them are okay, not great. Every now and then there’s an exception to this rule and Appetite is one of these exceptions. The highs of the album are phenomenally high and the ‘filler tracks’ are as good as if not better than most of the tracks on a bunch of the other ‘classic rock’ entries here. Enjoyed it from start to finish

A great debut album. Full of groove and every note was clearly perfected before hand. A must hear album that I go back to time and time again.

A whole lot of record. At its worst it’s a little Crue-ish but the guitar reminds me of the Pistols now and again and I love it when Paradise City ends and you realise it’s still only half way through. I never bother with the last two tracks, but this is a real classic.

I absolutely love this album, it has the greatest rock guitar tones ever and the riffs are hype. Night Train is one of my favourite songs of all time in the genre.

Favourite tracks - Mr. Brownstone, Paradise City, Rocket Queen

Classic hard rock album. It’s actually not groundbreaking but it’s just a well executed version of the genre.

Look, I was like 9 or 10 the first time I listened to this album, on cassette tape, as one did in the late 80s, and it was transformative. I don't know what to tell you, but there's no objectivity with this. Paradise City hit my impressionable brain and never left. Even now, I dunno, there's something urgent and pressing about this record. It's gross and grimy, and real in a way their peers were not. And yeah, obviously Axl is Axl, with all that entails. But the band rips, the first half of Rocket Queen just SOUNDS like LA felt in the late 80s, and it's still one of the all time great debut albums of all time.

Oui il y a un petit côté kitschounet mais en vrai, combien d'albums de rocks ont autant de chansons cultes en moins d'une heure ?

Still hits as hard as when I was 12, with the exception of some of the lyrics. But a true classic of its time.

Proper rock and roll legendary stuff. Love nearly every song on it

Great album that let me know that real rock music was not dead after all of the terrible hair band/power ballad stuff of the mid 1980s. Slash, Axl and the gang gave me hope.

Probably the single most listened to album of my growing up years

Almost no fails because even the weaker tracks contain facettes I like. Plus the all-time banger "Sweet Child O'Mine", "Welcome To The Jungle" and "Paradise City". A fun listen even after years. Weak five stars just because of the moaning on "Rocket Queen". 4,5

Best from them? Probably. Sounds like gen x. Rock on. Probably 5 stars - very good.

Another legendary banger, I listen to this frequently.

goated album, love the first song

No private session used for Spotify. I didn't ever own this album, but I knew plenty of people who did. Lots of classic songs on this one, more than one of them have hit the I am ok with never hearing this song again level.

Nostalgia - I remember trying to emulate Axl's Davy Jones snake dance in front of MTV as a kid. So many good songs on this album. Slash is a beast. 4.5 rounded up

Good hard rock, expressive and solid. Early Axel Rose is like early David Lee Roth in that he knows when a squeal or groan helps add to the music.

Great surprising album

I don't care how much of a basic old-person take this is. I need to start being more unapologetic and just like what I like! This album fucking rules! Guns N' Roses are a band that have seen a considerably large amount of success over the years, but they're definitely lumped in with bands like AC/DC and Aerosmith these days in regards to being seen as basic overplayed hard rock that only old people like. I call BS on that! Well, okay, this album is definitely hard rock and I can kind of see why someone would consider this album's bigger songs to be overplayed. There's only so many times you can hear "Sweet Child O' Mine" before it starts to lose its luster, right? I don't know. I've heard this song plenty of times and I still love it! Easily the highlight of the album for me. Of course, the other classics like "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Paradise City" are in the same boat. Could definitely wear on someone with enough listens, but I still really like them. The deep cuts on here aren't bad. I especially like "Out Ta Get Me." That song's cool. Generally speaking, I think this album has a few key elements for me. For one, the sound is great. The thing that really puts this above something like an AC/DC album specifically is that, unlike AC/DC, Guns N' Roses don't really have the "every song sounds the same" problem. There are stand-out moments for me here. Most of these moments are pretty great, though there are questionable exceptions like the (REAL) orgasmic female moaning during that one part of the closer "Rocket Queen." Great song, but what were they thinking with that move? As far as talent goes, GNR definitely have it. Slash especially is an all-time great guitarist. The man's solos, riffs, and even his general imagery are all great. Of course, not every member is undeniably great. Take Axl Rose for example! He's not my favorite vocalist, sure, but I don't think he's as bad as others call him. He's kind of in that Dave Mustaine territory for me. I think they work decently well for the songs in question, BUT I can definitely see why others aren't fans of the vocal styles in question. Lyrically speaking, this album really takes the whole "Sex, drugs, and rock n' roll" thing to heart. But you know what? I wasn't too annoyed by this. Not only is the instrumentation excellent as described earlier, but the writing itself isn't too cringe-worthy. The energy here is just cool, okay? So, yeah, I think Appetite For Destruction is an all-time-classic. It's one of the best-selling albums of all time, and I think that's entirely warranted. The fact that this was the band's debut astonishes me. What can I say? This shit bangs. Low 5/5.

My good streak continues with an absolute classic and one of the great debut albums of all time. This took me an extra bit of time to listen to as I ended up repeating Paradise City 4-5 times, BANGER of a song.

The perfect rock album!

GNR is blends the perfect amount of glam and hair (smallest amount) into their more overall metal style. They’re not Pantera or Metallica but a close cousin to those bands then they are the likes of Motley Crue or Poison, but aren’t with many parallels. GNR wrote real songs with lyrics that were deeper than their contemporaries and the music is just pure magical adrenaline. Slash is quite possibly the best guitarist of his era, and maybe ever. Axle’s unique voice and ability to belt out his lyrics at the top of his lungs and at some raids speeds at times, is a leader in what alternative and grunge and metal will morph into in the 90s. The influence this album had in the 80s and early 90s is all this album needs to be on this list, but beyond that it is just a masterpiece. 9.1/10 103/1001

Greatest debut ever? Top ten for sure. Maybe top five. Bought this cassette along with Megadeth's "So Far So Good So What". There was a HUGE explicit lyrics sticker on the Megadeth tape and a little tiny one on the GnR tape, so I decided to listen to GnR on the car ride home, along with my entire family, and my grandma. Two songs in the f bombs start flying. Thanx Axle. 5

Welcome to the jungle, sweet child of mine. Mr. Brownstone wont leave us alone until takie him down to Paradise City. We'll just take the night train and look out for Michelle.

Hell yeah

Axl Rose sings "Out Ta Get Me" like someone who knows exactly what he did and isn't sorry. Shit, he sings the whole album that way. In the pantheon of gifted rock-n-roll shitheads he might be Zeus - within a few tracks he somehow gets away with bragging about DUI, mooching off a one-night stand for some more booze, and composing the most brazen ode to heroin since the Velvets. And then he has the fucking temerity to demand that we feel bad for him. And you know the worst part? Having seen the end of his story, I kinda do.

Hard not to rate this a 5 when it has this many well-deserved hits.

Rock Classic what can I say

Heavy hitter album. Some all timers on there

The number of great songs on that album is amazing. I had forgotten how they came onto the scene and slammed us with their original sound. So impressive.

I've listened to this album many times, and have heard the singles (and even tracks that weren't released as singles) many more times on the radio. So it was easy to listen to as everything was so familiar. Because of that, it doesn't quite hit the same as it used to, but that's no fault of the music. It's still an amazing album. Favorite track nowadays: Mr. Brownstone. The last couple of minutes of Paradise City still rocks pretty hard too.

Best album of all time, no notes. Nothing will top the sheer rage, hedonism, prowess of this band at their prime; and nothing so closely fleshes out of the thrill of pure American rock n’ roll. Fave tracks: Nightrain, Sweet Child O’ Mine, & Rocket Queen. July 21, 1987. American/English. 12 tracks. 53:32 runtime.

I can see why this is a classic. Full of bangers. Were really cooking when they came up with this album. Shame it took me so long to listen to it.

Classic for a reason.

Reading the reviews made me laugh, As a 17-year-old stuck at a crumbling boarding school it the middle of the English countryside, I can assure you this album saved our sanity that summer! and will always take me back to green fields, cheap cider and illicit smoking. Not sure we cared less about the credibility or the type of rock, music really should just give you a vibe, this does in bucket loads.

This album has 3 pillars that otherwise prop up an otherwise overall decent album. It's truly elevated by just those 3 tracks. Strong and good instrumentals throughout with good vocal work. Except in those 3 songs, where they're just in another league of their own. 'Welcome to the Jungle' was always my least favorite from the 3. 'Paradise City' sits at 2nd, but it can at times supersede 'Sweet Child O' Mine' for first place depending on the vibe. All three songs are legendary in their own right, and truly what takes this album from a 4 to a 5.

Straight Banger

I think it was great especially if it's your introduction to them.

Yes.

Perfect

I was on the fence between a 4 or a 5. I ultimately settled on a 5 because I realised that some of the middle tracks were still great, it was just them living in the shadow of "Sweet Child O Mine". If I had to send an album to space to explain to aliens what rock music was, this is what I'd send. Slash is one of the greatest to ever do it.

Top tier album.

Hot damn

One of the best albums of all time! you can dig around looking for new artist and interesting new arrangements...but ultimately and inevitably, This!!

Probably the definitive 80s rock album? This is still so cool, so dangerous, so sexy. Even though you've heard most of these songs a thousand times, they are still exciting.

Super strong way to debut. I'm biased but this was already one of my favorites.

I love it. Especially Sweet child o mine

03/06/2025 Sit tight kids, I think we all know it's getting 5 stars. The live album is better too.

Welcome to the Jungle Nightrain Mr. Brownstone Paradise City My Michelle Sweet Child O' Mine Rocket Queen

An absolute classic. Every single song was memorable and had it's place in the album.

Fantastic album

One of the top Rock albums of all time

Even with Sweet Child O Mine being the most overplayed song of the last thirty years, this album is incredible

Świetne. Bardzo równy album. Od 4 do 5+ piosenki.

Brilliant! In their prime

This album is amazing top to bottom. All killer no filler. Not a weak song to be found.

Guns N' Roses does what many other hard rock bands cannot - balance an unapologetically punk attitude, with emotion, meaning, and lyrics that truly reflect the cynical attitude of 1980s LA - raw, hedonistic, and alienated. “Welcome to the jungle, it gets worse here every day / You learn to live like an animal in the jungle where we play” “They’re out to get me / They won’t catch me / I’m [...] innocent” “I used to do a little but a little wouldn’t do it, so the little got more and more”

At my most generous, I'm apt to consider this one of the dozen or so greatest albums of all time. Though it was released in 1987, it feels like the single thread between the glam-arena rock of the 1980's and the direct backlash to that, the grunge movement. Slash as a guitarist is simply a one-of-one, creating licks that sound more 'alive' than anyone else before or since. Axel Rose is at the top of his game, and the band as a whole is firing on all cylinders. While 'Sweet Child of Mine', 'Welcome to the Jungle' and 'Paradise City' have since become justifiable anthems, those songs so barely scrape the surface of the album. 'Mr Brownstone' is a perfect encapsulation of Slash's ability to create guitar hooks that sound like they've come to life and are walking down the street, interacting with the locals. 'You're Crazy' rips through a dusty desert in a stolen convertible and pops the emergency brake at the chorus, just for the fucking fun of it. Through it all, Slash is both the stabilizing force and the chaotic evil instigator, the true heir to the throne of the thrash guitar solo that Eddie Van Halen brought into the mainstream almost a decade earlier. Crank your headphones or stereo up to 17 and just let this album course through your veins.

A complete rock album that ushered in the end of hair metal. Every song a classic.

one of the few albums I listened to in full thats on the list before I started the challenge, such a great album

A great album. No fillers. Some nostalgia is influencing my opinion here, but who cares. It’s ace. Makes listening to all the Metallica albums on this list an absolute kick in the teeth.

é favoritismo se eu der cinco estrelas...?

10/10

Really good compositions. So many hits and such great energy. Highlights: Welcome To The Jungle Nightrain Mr. Brownstone Paradise City Sweet Child O' Mine

art, sex, drugs

Haven’t listened to it for decades. But it’s a classic for sure.

Better than Coldplay

I enjoyed the album, very upbeat, hype music, could definitely snowboard or something like that to it. Liked the energy throughout, didn't hear a single subpar song.

Of albums that I listened to in my childhood and teen years this is possibly the best of them. I truly forgot how good the rest of this album was

This was a very good album and suddenly I have an appetite for destruction

Incredible for being their debut album. There's so many bangers it's hard to imagine all of them being on the same album. Sure a lot of them are over played but they're still rock classics today. I thought about giving this album a four out of five rating but I really enjoy it and think it's great so it gets a five instead.

Standout Songs: Welcome to the Jungle Nightrain Mr. Brownstone Paradise City Anything Goes This is the first album in here that I have already heard in it’s entirety, always loved this album.

Iconic. From the playful intro of Welcome To The Jungle is over it’s like a bomb goes off in slow motion: all full throttle grooves, widdly diddly guitar wankery and cat-stranging vocals, not to mention hairspray, coke and money. It’s gross but impressive. Not a fan of the rape robot though. What were they thinking?

A classic

I think of GnR as the 80's/90's version of the Stones at their peak. Terrifying to parents, that edge of menace behind the riffs and lyrics, and an all-time great rhythm section. (Seriously, McKagan and Adler are just tremendous on this record.) It's dirty, nasty, and so much goddamned fun. They really are one of the last "band with a drug problem" instead of "druggies who happen play music" No unexpected bangers here -- they're pretty much all bangers. Wish Axl and Chris Cornell could have done something together...

Amazing album, was suprised how long the album feels. But everything in it is great.

It’s overplayed, has awful lyrics, and is completely gratuitous, still there goes one of the great metal debut albums of all time.

The swan song of my childhood innocence. I was already dabbling in harder edged music when Appetite came out, and this was the final nail in the coffin. I was hooked for life.

Favorite songs: My Michelle, Nighttrain, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, Rocket Queen, Anything Goes, Sweet Child O' Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, Out Ta Get Me, It's So Easy, Think About You Least favorite songs: You're Crazy 5/5

All time great debut album. Masterpiece start to finish.

Top 5 album ever and the best hard rock album of all time. Stop pretending like it isn't.

Great album

They really knew how rock.

I grew up with this one.

Ummm ROCK TF ON

listened before

a true classic!! no complaints i feel like im on top of the world when i listen to this one

Anything less is a crime. Banger after banger - no matter how overplayed.

Excellent, raw debut album from Guns N' Roses. It blew the lid off of everything when it was released and cemented their place in music history. Wish the rest of their albums were half as good as this one...

Bangers front to back, though ya kinda have to be in a specific mood to want to listen to Guns N’ Roses

To start, let’s get them out of the way.. Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and especially Sweet Child O’ Mine are great songs. Boldened by tight production and hooks at every turn. Are they the very best songs on the album? They’re certainly up there. But what I am certain of is that Slash’s guitar solo in Sweet Child O’ Mine is the album’s centerpiece, and what I consider the band’s signature moment. Moving away from the album’s biggest hits.. Some people might find it hard to believe, but the majority of this album is genuinely really fucking good. Some songs are catchy, thoughtful, and melodic (Think About You, the second half of Rocket Queen) while others are aggressive, curse-laden pitfalls providing a deeper view into some of the real experiences of the band and their contemporaries (It’s So Easy, the first half of Rocket Queen). Just about every track on this album is backed by a thick but unobtrusive rhythm section playing with unique charisma of their own and some particularly fat pockets on tracks like Mr. Brownstone and My Michelle. Duff McKagen is one of the real MVP’s of Appetite for Destruction and Steven Adler’s drumming is a performance worthy of a “Recorded Rock Drumming Hall of Fame”. Guns N’ Roses, like the guitar/vocal icon groups that laid the path before them (Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, the Stones) would not have been able to produce this magnum opus without the immense contributions of their overshadowed drum and bass department.. Appetite for Destruction was one of the first full albums I listened to by one of the very first musical ensembles I was ever intrigued by. As a result it’s a record I’ve returned to over the years with mixed feelings and to varying degrees of enjoyment. But with this listen and the few before it being overwhelmingly positive, I’m buying this album’s “classic” stock. 9/10

She's got a smile that it seems to me reminds of childhood memories~~ Bangers

some bands would be lucky to have 1 song of the calibre of Sweet Child O'Mine, Welcome to the Jungle or Paradise City in their entire career

One of the top ten first 30 seconds of an album of all time. And then it’s all gas, no brakes. I don’t love Axl Rose, but I do kinda love Axl’s vocals (in the early G N’ R days at least). And Slash’s wailing guitars. It’s not high-end art - it’s junk food. And we love junk food. We grew up on it. Against Me!’s Laura Jane Grace, who named her band’s first album “Reinventing Axl Rose,” said "Guns N' Roses were my favorite band when I was a kid. The title was meant as a tribute in a way. It was also about destroying your heroes." Let’s give tribute to “Appetite for Destruction.” Let’s also let Against Me! destroy them. (That was a great start for Against Me!, but their albums “New Wave” and “Transgender Dysphoria Blues” are the 5-star albums that are some of the best modern punk.)

One of the greatest albums ever made

The best!!!!

Great

What a debut! A classic of the hard rock history

Solid rock&roll

I listened to this album all day! honestly, several bangers on this one

Best intro to a rock album ever - this album broke us all out of the glam-hair-metal of the late 80’s and brought rock back.

5 - one of the greatest debuts of all time

The classic 99s album.

This album makes me want to become a stripper. One of the greatest debut albums of all time. Turn it up & shake your moneymaker!

Banger after banger on this album. This will never get old

4.5.

This is the album that first got me into harder rock music, therefore it will always have a special place in my heart. I am aware it is not perfect, but for this reason I can't give it anything less than a 9/10. Fave track: Paradise City? It's so easy? IDK.

Excellent first album! Welcome to the jungle, baby!

(PREFACE: as I have gotten older I do know OF COURSE the lyrics are gross sometimes) One of the best albums of all time - I still vividly remember finding this album properly on the plane aged 11. I still remember falling instantly in love w/ Paradise City but never being able to listen to it properly bc my brother kept changing the channel when it was on Kerrang. I remember playing Welcome to the Jungle on Guitar Hero for hours on repeat. I remember my brother surprising me with a Slash figure and me putting it on top of my CD rack bc he was the definition of music to me. AHHHH I LOVE THIS ALBUM WITH ALL MY HEART - alsooo this genre is everything to me, it is home in a lot of ways, it is one of the first rock sub-genres I fell in love with on my own, also I had sm piccies of Axl Rose on my Sony Ericsson (yet another long-haired man who changed my brain chemistry) - Love u forever Appetite For Destruction <3 <3 <3 (Also thank u to this album for accompanying me during my 3 month rebel phase when I actually sneaked out to go to a gig while wearing a leather jacket and black eyeshadow UGH I MISS BEING CRINGE AND 14). I'm not about to try and find standout tracks musicality wise, I am obsessed with every single track. BUT memories wise, the ones I hold closest to my heart are: - Welcome To The Jungle - Paradise City - Sweet Child O' Mine - Nightrain - Mr. Brownstone

You wanted the best, but they didn't fucking make it. So here's what you get. From Hollywood. Guns and fucking Roses! What an album. Pure rock and roll. Filth, danger, sex, swagger, groove, drugs, melody, hooks, sex, riffs, humour, drugs, sex, drugs, sex, sex, drugs, defiance, joy, sex, drugs and beauty all wrapped up in one iconic package. GnR grew to become a by-word for the sort of boring rock excess that they were sent to destroy, but this album is a record of them living in garages, squabbling with the law and screwing each others' women (resulting the album's best track) whilst loaded like a freight train and flying like an aeroplane. Favourite debut album ever. Favourite tracks: Rocket Queen, Out Ta Get Me, Night Train, Paradise City, Think About You, Sweet Child O Mine, Anything Goes, It's So Easy, Mr Brownstone, Welcome to the Jungle, My Michelle, You're Crazy

This is obviously Guns N' Roses at their absolute best - when I first listened to it years ago I thought "there's no way the whole album is as good as the Welcome to the Jungle" and it proved me wrong.

Love this album/ I hope people have watched steve Welsh’s 1 album 12 bands video on this. 5/5

Classic album. Always loved playing this hungover the next morning.

An all time great rock album

Night Train remains an eternal banger. Timeless.

I took the NIGHTTRAIN and met MR. BROWNSTONE who spoke of the magical PARADISE CITY. Initially, I thought he was OUT TA GET ME. But when we arrived, he proclaimed, "WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE!"

All the stars. So much loud fun. Death to hair metal. Chaos. Pure rock.

Simplemente uno de los goats

Axl might be a dick but Appetite for Destruction is straight-up flawless. This isn’t just a great debut album; it’s one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded. It’s loud, dirty, unhinged, and absolutely bursting with energy from the first riff to the last scream. Guns N’ Roses sounded like a band with nothing to lose and everything to prove — and they proved it in 12 tracks. “Welcome to the Jungle” is a masterclass in opening an album — explosive, menacing, and iconic. “Sweet Child o’ Mine” brought melody and vulnerability without losing any of the band’s grit, and “Paradise City” is a full-blown anthem that somehow gets better the louder you crank it. Then there’s “Nightrain” — a whiskey-soaked, riff-heavy banger that perfectly captures the band’s reckless charm and relentless drive. Even the deep cuts go hard. “Mr. Brownstone,” “My Michelle,” “Rocket Queen” — there’s not a weak moment on the entire album. And let’s not forget Slash’s guitar work, which is nothing short of legendary throughout. Axl may bring the drama, but he also brings the fire. Appetite for Destruction is pure, unfiltered rock and roll — dangerous, unpredictable, and absolutely essential. Favorite song: Nighttrain

10

Merits a 5 for the quality of some of the songs and their longevity.

Infectious energy and includes several big hits - Welcome To The Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child O' Mine are great. Lots of albums throw together a bunch of distinct, unrelated songs, or they are filled with very similar songs that get repetitive. I think this album finds a good middle ground though.

not a big GnR fan but the amount of hits on this album cannot be denied. if you want fm radio/dad rock this is the peak.

Loved it growing up and still love it! A classic. 🎩🎸

Okay. Look. I'm 50. Appetite entered my ears at precisely a critical period in my young life as I made the journey into high school and whatever that period of pre-adulthood that entails. The lyrics, the content, and certainly the behaviors of the band members tack incredibly problematic. Nevertheless, this album is seminal for so many, and it arrived like a sonic nuclear bomb. It changed things. I cannot separate myself from this album and really can't judge it objectively. It arrived four full years before Nevermind, though it didn't HIT (e.g. MTv) until 1989 or even 1990 for some. But *it* came first. Not Nevermind. Nevermind finished the job of "killing grunge and hair metal," but Appetite cracked open that door. To my experience and knowledge.

What cocaine sounds like.

Excellent. Haven’t heard it since the early 90s.

One of my favourites when I was a teenager

Not sure if it's really that good or it's just the nostalgia talking

I don't need listening notes for this, since it has been a favourite album of mine since it was first released.

10/10 - have not listened to this whole album in decades, my bad! No weak spots. Up there with any album ever. Too bad they couldn't keep it up.

One of the greatest debut albums of all time.

Absolute banger

I mean, what is there to say about this album? The best selling debut album of all time, one of the best selling albums of all time, you know most of the songs. It's ubiquitous. It's the evolution of bands like AC/DC and Aerosmith. It's not complex, it's rock n roll, and it's some of the best ever put to tape.

Amazin

Yes

Very good, but the lyrics are ass if we’re being honest. Too many hits though so gotta give it five stars.

Eines der besten Hardrock Album, ever!

Not usually a fan of heavy metal, but I sure do have a sweet spot for Guns N' Roses. Would I like this album if it didn't include Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child O' Mine? It doesn't matter, because it does include these three masterpieces.

Nice classic rock. Amazing guitar riffs and Axl's iconic singing voice is unmatched. Lurv.

iconico

Barrrrrrbaro

Como va a ser el primer disco jaja

Ωραίοι

nightrain and mr. brownstone should have been their welcome to the jungle and paradise city. this is one of the few CDs I've worn out to the point of not being able to play anymore. I would blast this and drive 40 in a 25 on my way to my shift at jc penneys in my red oldsmobile alero (Emma you remember) and felt invincible. truly a classic objectively and meant so much to me growing up

This album made my hair bigger and my pants tighter. Never listened to the full album before. I like it.

Monster album.

It's been a while since this generator gave me a 'real' (as in universally recognised) classic. Quite enjoyed it. Micky Mouse sound alike Axl may be. And people criticise Knocked Loose...

Some of the best work, of the 80's metal. Kicks ass.

Utter Perfection!!! Sadly the follow us were subpar and the first 6 months of this tour were weak shows but they did improve.

The lyrics did not age well; lots of misogynistic and immature non-sense. That been said, it has some very good and iconic sons that defined a generation. The entire album is quite good, which is something difficult to find, particularly so early in a band's history. 9/10

F'n bangarz.

So many amazing songs! A must listen for sure

Quintessential hard rock album. The good parts of the 80s hard rock (catchy songs, good mixture of metal and pop...) but with the punk/rock-n-roll vibe of AC/DC and the likes. Top-notch songwriting, killer raspy vocals, great guitar work... what else could we ask for? If this is one of the most popular albums ever, it is for a reason!

Boomers rejoice Nee sick hoor , iconisch album

Back when axl could still sing

dobar

Five stars, well 4.75 as last track Rocket Queen is a bit sprawling. But just undeniable all the way through - and passes the 'no singles' test by missing out the three tracks nobody nears to hear again. Still a great album without them, with them, five stars.

an absolute masterpiece. nothing more to add. welcome to the jungle baby.

I have to admit that I never wanted to hear Sweet Child Of Mine ever again, because it was on Guitar Hero, which my roommate in college suuuuuuuuuuuuucked at. I had to hear this song stutter step whenever he fucked up the notes, which he so often did, so many times for that year that I was dreading having to listen to it once more. But I stuck it out. Welcome To The Jungle rips as always but I forgot how hard Mr. Brownstone rocks. Heroin never sounded so fun. Paradise City and Sweet Child Of Mine have been overplayed to death but still remain good songs. My Michelle shreds and the last three songs finish off a fantastic debut album. I can't let my biases towards the two mega hits mentioned above cloud my judegment. This album rocks

You can sometimes forget how awesome Guns N' Roses were because the hits are overplayed and because of Axl Rose's general douchebaggery. But, listening to it after not hearing these songs for a while, you remember that this album is absolutely incredible. Head banging from beginning to end, to the detriment of my hearing.

I played this album to death when I was a teen. There is nothing nuisanced about this, they are not saying anything of political importance, they are literally singing about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. They do a damn good job of it, by playing raw, riff driven belters. Even more impressive considering how much drugs they were taking! Slash is a guitar legend and the whole band oozed coolness, which was in direct contrast to most heavy metal of the time. The albums yields 3 massive singles which propelled them to success, but the whole album is packed full of great tracks, with perhaps only Anything Goes a duffer. My musical tastes have changed a lot since then, and I don’t think history has judged the casual misogyny well, but this album remains a classic and is untouched in its genre. Top track: Paradise City

Appetite For Destruction is raw and full of energy. The riffs hit like a freight train, and the drums keep everything moving fast. It’s like Zeppelin on a caffeine binge, leaning into chaos but still feeling tight. There’s something about it that’s impossible to ignore.

Certainly one of the classics of the late 80s.

Appetite for Destruction is one of my all-time favorites. It came rushing out of the Southern California hard rock scene like a speeding Nightrain. For my money it is one of the greatest rock records ever. https://tinyurl.com/55pbcea7

A game changing album and band.

A favorite

"Oh my God." That's Axl's first line, before "Welcome to the Jungle" gets rolling. It's probably the best 3-word description of this CD. It is an "Oh My God" CD. Right from the get-go, it's extremely intense. Axl is a class-A singer, and he's on his game the entirety of this CD. Just on the opening track, "Welcome to the Jungle", he displays incredible range - in just the bridge and the last chorus, he nails lines over multiple octaves and totally different timbres. And of course he's an incredible showman - too many examples to count, but just witness the moaning at the end of Slash's main solo. Slash himself is as good a lead guitarist as Axl is a singer - he has multiple solos on several tracks, all of them stellar, and his lead lines are often just breathtaking. The conclusion of his solo on "Rocket Queen" before the outro gives me the chills every time, as does solo during the double-time section of "Paradise City". The rest of the band brings it all together to make a really "cool" sound. Steven Adler is the unsung hero here - he brings kind of a funk sound to the band just by having a fat, slow, and lazy guitar style. It's easier to appreciate once you hear earlier demos where they play at warp speed just how much better this makes their band. The segments where he just lazily bangs a cowbell, like the solo on "Mr. Brownstone", just perfectly anchor the chaos happening elsewhere, and it just sounds cool. The rest of the band, both rhythm and lead, just fills in the sound with so much syncopation and so much raw noise that you need a drumming style like that to even it out. And it works, it works perfectly. So many songs on here have become radio staples, even on the strength of those alone this is a five. But literally every song on here is pretty good, and some stretches of this CD are just incredible. I especially like the conclusion, with "Sweet Child of Mine", "You're Crazy", "Anything Goes", and "Rocket Queen". Several of those are in fact part of the canon, absolute bangers, but even "Anything Goes" is really fun, with funky riffs and a very novel vocal solo. I loved this album growing up. In almost every respect, it totally holds up. Re-listening to it now as an adult, is does stand out to me though just how crude the lyrics are. "Its So Easy" is blatantly, blatantly misogynistic. "My Michelle" appears to be airing the dirty laundry of a particular person that the band and their friends knew in the LA shithead scene circa 1987, probably a whore (I wonder if she knows she's the girl and now tells her grandchildren with pride, "I'm the whore in My Michelle"). "Out to Get Me" is incredibly juvenile and anti-social, and "Mr. Brownstone" blatantly advocates taking heroin. And then of course there's the mock orgasm in the middle of "Rocket Queen" (or maybe it was a real orgasm and they just recorded it right there in the studio, you never know with these guys). The mock orgasm does kind of work for that song, and it's an amazing song (they all are), but it's still pretty dumb. I don't really care, I'm not a lyrics guy. And some of the lyrics are nice - especially on the big hits ("Welcome to the Jungle", "Paradise City", all of the lines in "Rocket Queen" from after the fake orgasm). But they're not what you'd call positive or inspirational. Whatever. I'll take it any day.

Vaikka en mikään iso Guns N' Roses fani olekkaan niin onhan tää ihan pirun kova levy täynnä hittejä. Eka ajattelin että onko tällä yhtään kappaletta mitä en olisi ennen kuullut mutta kyllä niitä sitten kuitenkin jokunen oli. Parhaat: Welcome To The Jungle, Nightrain, Sweet Child Of Mine, Rocket Queen, Paradise City

One of my favourite albums of all time.

Excellent all the way through!

Classic blast from thr past.

One of my favorites

This is probably the last perfect rock debut album. I remember hearing in the late 80's that Axl and Slash were voted 'most likely to die of unnatural causes' like 3 years in a row. This band should've been my generations Rolling Stones. Drugs and egos fucked that up though. This album is proof that nothing exceeds like excess. Game changer and total banger.

Great album, that is something that I really enjoyed. I knew half of the songs, which I was surprised by, because I was a big fan of Guns N' Roses' music when I was younger. I still enjoy their greatest hits and clearly also enjoyed their not-so-greatest hits. I would say that out of all of the albums that I have gotten on here, this one might be overall the best one, as the other albums are either super weird or not all of the songs are 5-star worthy ones.

Perfection

Obra prima do rock

i think it was great. it wasn't too long or too boring. loved

It's difficult to label Guns N' Roses. They're a little too heavy for hard rock, but they're not quite full on heavy metal. It's glam like Mötley Crüe but there's an edge to it. It's got a grittier sound. Everyone knows the three big singles. I think I've been worn out on 'Welcome To The Jungle' by playing it a lot on Guitar Hero 3 and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' is just overplayed in general. Having said that though, I absolutely can't deny they're both very good tracks. 'Paradise City' is the other single and for me is the best song here. The mini epic of the album. Fantastic riff that makes you want to headbang, and when it kicks into overdrive, it's fast and furious with a great solo. 'My Michelle' is probably my favourite from the rest. Really catchy chorus and a gritty riff. Now to what I don't like. I'm afraid Axl Rose is the weak link here. His voice isn't for me at all. He sounds like he's squawking a lot of the time or like he's holding his nose shut. He's so nasally and whiny. Not all the time I have to say, but he's certainly more bad than good. Slash is the star. He plays very well throughout and really is a great guitarist. I can't knock a star off purely for Axl's vocals though, because the actual music is that good. A fantastic debut and from what I understand, they never quite reached these heights again.

One of the absolutely iconic late 80's hair metal albums. So many Hall of Fame intros. One of the top 25 albums.

I don’t care. It’s a great album.

Listened Before? Y One of the best hard rock albums of all time. Everyone is probably familiar with at least part of this record. Sometimes in these reviews I rail about juvenile subject matter... THIS is an example of how you should handle such in my opinion. Gritty and hard and unapologetic instead of treating everything as a joke. A killer album. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Welcome To The Jungle, Nightrain

Amazing album! Legendary

Appetite for Destruction is an album I’m incredibly familiar with. Guns N’ Roses have always been a band I’ve enjoyed, including Chinese Democracy, but this debut has more grit, aggression, and danger than any of their other releases. Overflowing with testosterone, this album strikes the perfect balance between rock ‘n’ roll swagger and skilled musicianship. Axl’s voice—like if a chainsaw and a wildcat had a baby—combined with a ridiculously talented band, results in what is quite possibly the greatest debut album in rock history. It’s packed full of classics. Standout track: Paradise City (seeing it live was extraordinary). Score: 5/5.

I forgot how great this album was. Axel Rose kills it

This album reminds me of fall weather, driving around with nowhere to go, blasting this at ear-splitting volume. Of course, this was almost 15 years after the album came out, but it was still in regular rotation, even among a bunch of college radio station punks. A truly great album, even if you hate the band, its members and everything else they even put out it is absolutely undeniable.

Ahh the album that broke me away from listening to Michael Jackson and Culture Club. The album where I heard my first swear word in a song. The album that produced the video for Paradise City which was the most energetic video I had ever seen. There was no turning back after this album. I had been molded into a new person that still exists today. I masturbated to the moaning in Rocket Queen and to the photo on the album sleeve of the naked cartoon girl. Times were different then and I was thankful for the experience. A great rock album from start to finish. Choice Cut: Rocket Queen

Today this album brings to mind ridiculously overplayed songs and a complete douche of a front man. That wasn't the case when this album was new though. In a landscape of polished, spandex wearing, soft hair metal bands like Poison and their ilk, Appetite For Destruction was like a bomb going off. Louder, faster, dirtier, sleazier, yet somehow more down to earth. It changed the game and helped pave the way for many other bands to come.

First and Best!

I loved listening to this. Of course, I recognised half the tracks despite never having actively listened to Gun N' Roses, but it was still an exciting, raw, libido-fuelled journey that showcased every instrument's potential. This is especially true for the vocals. Axl Rose, like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, has a great rock scream that toes the line between high-pitched and gritty. And there are so many great vocal and guitar hooks, making just about every track easily re-listenable. Paradise City, Welcome To The Jungle, Nightrain, Mr. Brownstone, It's So Easy... Then, of course, there's the star track – not just of the band, but (arguably) of all of 80s rock – namely, Sweet Child O' Mine. I think it's safe to say that there's nothing bad about this track (in isolation), and everything good. The semi-distorted, semi-melancholic guitar riff, the wistful lyrics, the stadium-rocker chorus. Quite good eh? Sure, half of these are played to death on rock radio stations, but can you really blame them? There's such a raw power in every instrument here, all brought together into a monster of an album that can absolutely stand up against other giants of the rock genre. Side note: "It's overplayed" is not a good criticism of any form of music. Don't give a 1-star review if that's your only justification. 5/5 Key tracks: Sweet Child O' Mine, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, It's So Easy, Nightrain, Welcome To The Jungle

Crazy that the opening track on their debut album is Welcome to the Jungle. Overall insipid and puerile lyrics, but dang Slash is so good at guitar

I dont think G&R has any non-5 star albums. Maybe the one that came out years later when Axl's voice was done.

Yyyereaaaaahhhhhh

My all time favorite album - so glad this one is one the list!

It’s easy to forget how damn good this album is. How a new band emerged this fully formed is amazing. Three of the songs - a quarter of the album - are radio stokes and rock classics (Jungle, Sweet Child, Paradise City) that are well deserving of both. Then there’s Nightrain, It’s so easy, and Mr Briwnstone, which would have been freshman album classics but are second tier only because they are overshadowed by the other big three. Interestingly, listening to this again, I realized how much of future albums, especially much of Use Your Illusion, draws on the sound of Think About You, rather than much of the above.

this album is so good it made me sing Sweet Child o Mine with my family while I was driving and I almost crashed into an oncoming car because I had to tell my wife she was flat

Best debut riff ever? Probably. On par with Lynyrd Skynyrd for best debut album.

Good album. Every song slaps

Album you should listen before you die or album you won't be able to ignore in your lifetime? This one for me is an album to grow up to. Sweet child o mine is just so fucking perfect. Easy time I hear it I can't help, but wonder - how did they do it? Love this album, love guns and roses. Five our of five ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Classic Album

Gold

Love it

Fantastic

fucking great

**Appetite for Destruction** by **Guns N' Roses** is one of the most iconic and influential hard rock albums of all time. Released in 1987, it not only cemented the band's place in rock history but also became a cultural landmark, blending the grit of punk with the raw power of metal. Below is an in-depth review of the album, analyzing its **lyrics, music, production, themes, and lasting influence**, along with a critical assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ### **1. Lyrics** The lyrics of *Appetite for Destruction* embody a raw, unfiltered look at life in the underbelly of Los Angeles during the mid-1980s. They are unapologetically grim, focusing on themes of addiction, hedonism, street life, alienation, and violence. - **“Welcome to the Jungle”**: The album opens with this anthem of urban chaos and survival. Axl Rose’s portrayal of L.A. as a predatory environment ("You're in the jungle, baby!") perfectly encapsulates the dangers and excitement of the city’s nightlife. The lyrics present a hostile yet seductive landscape, where survival hinges on one's ability to adapt to the brutal realities of life on the street. - **“Paradise City”**: In stark contrast to the darkness of “Jungle,” “Paradise City” offers a nostalgic vision of escape. The refrain, “Take me down to the Paradise City / Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty,” serves as a desperate plea for innocence lost. Yet, even here, a subtle cynicism lurks, as the song reveals the illusion of paradise and the inevitability of decay. - **“Mr. Brownstone”**: One of the more autobiographical tracks, it dives into the band’s struggles with heroin addiction. The lyrics are blunt and direct, avoiding glorification while acknowledging the spiraling, inescapable nature of drug dependency. This song speaks to the band's personal demons and how these vices fuel and impair their creativity. - **“Sweet Child O' Mine”**: Perhaps the only love song on the album, this track stands out for its romanticism. Rose’s lyrics convey deep affection and admiration, which contrasts with the more destructive themes elsewhere. The simplicity and sincerity of the lyrics make it one of the most relatable tracks on the album. ### **2. Music** Musically, *Appetite for Destruction* is an aggressive, high-octane blend of hard rock, punk, and blues influences, perfectly reflecting the energy and chaos of L.A. life in the ‘80s. Each member of the band brings a distinctive sound that, when combined, creates a powerful, cohesive musical experience. - **Guitar Work**: Slash's guitar playing is one of the defining aspects of the album. His ability to blend bluesy undertones with raw, distorted hard rock riffs is on full display, especially in tracks like “Sweet Child O' Mine” and “Rocket Queen.” The interplay between rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin and Slash adds a layered texture to the sound. Their contrasting styles (Izzy’s more laid-back, groove-heavy playing and Slash’s fiery solos) complement each other beautifully. - **Bass and Drums**: Duff McKagan’s bass work is punk-inspired but maintains a solid foundation that keeps the songs grounded. His lines are intricate yet never overshadow the guitars. Steven Adler’s drumming is ferocious, providing the songs with a relentless, driving beat. His playing on “Welcome to the Jungle” and “It’s So Easy” brings a sense of urgency to the music. - **Vocals**: Axl Rose’s voice is perhaps the most polarizing element. His range spans from guttural screams to high-pitched wails, providing a dynamic emotional palette to the album. On tracks like “Nightrain” and “Rocket Queen,” Rose’s delivery is venomous, matching the lyrical content perfectly. Yet, on softer tracks like “Sweet Child O' Mine,” his voice can convey vulnerability, showing his versatility as a vocalist. ### **3. Production** *Appetite for Destruction* was produced by Mike Clink, whose work on the album is often praised for its clarity and balance. The production avoids the overly glossy, polished sound of many '80s rock albums. Instead, it captures a live, gritty energy that is essential to the band’s aesthetic. - **Rawness and Clarity**: One of the standout aspects of the production is its rawness. The instruments are allowed to breathe, and there is little in the way of unnecessary overdubbing. Clink’s approach gave the album a street-level authenticity that many other rock bands of the time lacked. The sharpness of Slash’s guitar and the snappy punch of Adler’s drums are given room to shine without being drowned out by excessive studio effects. - **Balancing Complexity**: The production also manages to maintain clarity even during the album’s more complex musical arrangements. Tracks like “Rocket Queen” switch between heavy riffs and lighter sections, yet each part is distinct, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the band’s musicality. - **Limitations**: If there’s a downside to the production, it’s that the raw sound may alienate listeners who prefer a more polished approach. While it works well for the high-energy tracks, the occasional lack of refinement can feel jarring. However, this “rough around the edges” sound is largely what makes *Appetite* stand out from its contemporaries. ### **4. Themes** *Appetite for Destruction* explores several core themes that resonate throughout the album. These themes give the album a thematic consistency that elevates it beyond a mere collection of songs. - **Urban Chaos and Survival**: The album is rooted in the band's experiences navigating the dark side of Los Angeles. “Welcome to the Jungle” encapsulates this theme best, serving as a cautionary tale for those seduced by the city’s allure. There’s a feeling of constant threat and the necessity to be tough to survive. This theme recurs in tracks like “It’s So Easy” and “Nightrain,” which further explore the band’s reckless indulgences and survival amidst vice. - **Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll**: Nearly every song on the album touches on one of these three pillars of rock debauchery. Songs like “Mr. Brownstone” and “Rocket Queen” explore the highs and lows of drug addiction and sexual exploits, while others, such as “Paradise City,” offer moments of reflection on the inevitable fallout of such a lifestyle. - **Alienation and Inner Conflict**: Tracks like “Out Ta Get Me” and “Think About You” delve into feelings of paranoia, alienation, and the strain of relationships. Axl Rose’s lyrical themes often reflect personal battles, internal demons, and a general sense of rebellion against authority and societal norms. ### **5. Influence** The influence of *Appetite for Destruction* is difficult to overstate. It reshaped the rock and metal landscape at a time when hair metal dominated the airwaves. Guns N' Roses brought a dangerous, rebellious energy back into rock, rejecting the glamor and excess of their contemporaries for a rawer, more primal sound. - **Reviving Hard Rock**: In a decade saturated with overly produced, image-driven bands, *Appetite* felt like a return to the raw spirit of early rock 'n' roll. It bridged the gap between the heaviness of metal and the rebelliousness of punk, inspiring countless bands to adopt a more stripped-back, authentic sound. - **Cultural Impact**: Guns N' Roses became the embodiment of rock’s darker side. They were dangerous, unpredictable, and lived the lifestyle they sang about. This authenticity resonated with a generation of listeners who were growing tired of the sanitized, polished pop-rock that dominated the charts. - **Longevity**: Even over three decades later, *Appetite for Destruction* continues to be regarded as a high-water mark for hard rock. Its influence can be seen in the resurgence of rock bands in the early 2000s, as well as its continued presence in popular culture. ### **6. Pros and Cons** #### **Pros** - **Timeless Music**: The combination of Slash’s iconic guitar work, Axl Rose’s dynamic vocals, and the tight rhythm section creates a timeless sound that has aged remarkably well. - **Gritty, Authentic Lyrics**: The lyrics provide a raw, unfiltered look into the band's lives, addressing themes that were often avoided or romanticized in rock music at the time. - **Consistent Energy**: From start to finish, the album maintains a high level of intensity. Each track feels connected, part of a larger thematic whole. - **Influence**: Its impact on rock and metal is undeniable, and it continues to inspire musicians across genres. #### **Cons** - **Polarizing Vocals**: Axl Rose’s unique voice is an acquired taste. Some listeners may find his high-pitched wails abrasive, especially on tracks like “You’re Crazy” and “It’s So Easy.” - **Thematic Repetition**: While the album’s focus on hedonism, urban chaos, and survival gives it thematic consistency, some may find that the subject matter lacks variety. - **Production Roughness**: The raw production is part of its charm, but for listeners accustomed to the cleaner, more polished sounds of later rock albums, *Appetite* can come across as a bit too rough around the edges. ### **Conclusion** *Appetite for Destruction* is a landmark album that encapsulates the danger, thrill, and chaos of the hard rock lifestyle. Its lyrics are brutally honest, its music intense, and its influence far-reaching. While not without its flaws—such as its polarizing vocals and thematic repetition—it remains one of the most important albums in rock history. It’s a definitive statement from a band at the peak of their rebellious powers, offering a glimpse into a world where survival and self-destruction walk hand-in-hand.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this record. I obviously knew of the 3 mega-hits from this album, but (aside from liking "November Rain") nothing after this their debut album was worth it to me. However, while the triforce of hits do still deliver, there is a lot to this album that stuck out to me. Axl Rose's early career screaming rock vocals are iconic, the hooks throughout this album are catchy as hell, and Slash's solos are masterful. This record to me explains why GNR remain the gold standard for 80s hair metal. While the rest of their discography pales in comparison, "Appetite For Destruction" is a veritable greatest hits, which is quite a feat in a debut record. Notable Tracks: - Welcome To The Jungle - Nighttrain - Paradise City - Sweet Child O' Mine - You're Crazy - Anything Goes 9/10

Given the hits on this album, it has to be a five.

This album defines the last two years of my high school life.

Excellent album even with Axl's voice resembling closely rusty door hinges.

Gritty and "in your face", rock and roll record. Most of the songs on the album are catchy and fun to listen to. I prefer the "Use Your Illusion" pair to the debut but there are many memorable songs, other than the three that garnered massive radio play. My favorites are, "Mr. Brownstone" and "Rocket Queen".

One of the best debut albums ever. And the best by GnR.

Quite simply one of the greatest rock albums ever made. PROBABLY the best debut album ever. Raw energy, brutal riffs, beautiful bass work, powerful drumming. It's got it all! Sweet child of mine can get in the bin, but everything else is AWESOME

Hell yes

A really good album with a lot of great songs, including the classics of Welcome To The Jungle, Paradise City and Sweet Child O' Mine.

Wow, nice start to this new challenge: three five-star, stone cold classic albums, nice! Because this one hit when I was 20, it’s probably the most resonate in my memories. Two things stand out on that front: this smashed ALL presumptions I had about Metal as it literally would define what the next 20+ years of the genre would morph into. Secondly, I remember visiting the Sunset strip for the first time with a bunch of college buddies and being in front of Guitar Center and thinking we walked into the fever dream (nightmare?) right out of the “Welcome to the Jungle” MTV video. And that’s the beauty of G&R right out the gate: strong songwriting that provides vivid images, and it’s of the dirt, grunge, drugs and crime of LA during the mid-late 80s. The sheen was off of any 70s rock star glamour that was aspirational, replaced with the grime of real life in the mud and muck. Couple that with amazing singing, blazing dual guitars, and you got a classic.

These songs are so over saturated and I don't even care. Ever since I first played Guitar Hero 3 and heard Welcome to the Jungle, this album has been iconic to me. I love Slash's solos in most of these songs and it's a really great hybrid of pop and metal that meets at the exact right spot. And Axl Rose has a great rocker voice. Dirty and drug fueled, but not ashamed of it. For the playlist, I'll probably pick It's So Easy or My Michelle so I don't have to hear one of the oversaturated singles (though they're all still good).

Eh fa molto teenager contro il sistema, ma spacca i culi.

This is near perfect 80s hard rock. Debut album full of energy, and very tight. There are basically no dud songs. A lot of overplayed songs but can’t deny it 5 stars

A pretty damn good album with a lot of raw, visceral energy. The biggest drawback for me, that could influence my rating, is that there has been such an over-saturation of these songs (as well as Axl Rose-fatigue) on the radio for the last 35+ years. While that may attest to the songs' staying power, I just am tired of hearing them and all the drama that Axl brings to everything all the time. With fresh ears, however, this album is raw, crude, and has aged pretty well for the genre.

i grew up to this :D

All time great hard rock album and definitely GnR's best. It helped bring the end to lame 80s big hair rock bands. It still holds up.

Oh fuck yeah! I know every single lyric to every song on this record because I bought it in high school and listened to it on loop. And I was a high schooler in the early 2000s hahaha. But I was deeply obsessed with all things 80s and this record’s screechy raw power meshed perfectly with my teenage disenfranchisement and need to rebel. I have to laugh looking back at teenage me, just vibing so hard with Mr. Brownstone, absolutely clueless that it’s about heroin addiction but feeling like I relate to it on a deeply personal level. Oh man, kids are dumb. My personal memories and feelings aside, we all have to acknowledge that Appetite for Destruction is one of the most powerful and impressive debut albums of all time. It came screaming out of the gates, cocky as all hell, telling the world exactly who these badass motherfuckers are and not to mess with them. And there’s real talent here. As much of an arrogant asshat as Axel is, you have to give him credit for his songwriting and artistry (at least at this moment in time, let’s leave Chinese Democracy out of it for now). There are 6 singles here! And some of them the most enduring songs in rock to this day! GnR came out swinging, they took no prisoners, pissed all over the global stage, and solidified their status as Demi-gods of rock. And this album still slaps today. Well done, lads!

One of the first “adult” albums I listened to; it still holds up. Production is incredible, every member of the band is vital and playing at the top of their abilities. Rose, who loses it later on, sounds fantastic here. One of the all-time great voices. I hadn’t listened to this in full for a really long time and it was a delight. Each song is catchy and has its own “thing” going on. In fact, and I remember thinking this as a little theater kid back in the day, there’s a certain theatricality to this album. Sometimes the songs sound like showtunes! This is a compliment! They’re just very dramatic and the lyrics do such a good job of setting a scene of grime and sin and bad behavior. Somebody should turn this into a jukebox musical, it’d rule. Don’t think you’re too good for GnR!!!

Rules

Bangers

This is a great. 5/5

Holy moly this is an amazing album. 100% required listening. The vocals, the guitar, the drums. All of it was exceptional and no song on here isn’t one I wouldn’t re listen to.

One of the greatest albums

This album helped define my freshman year of college. This band stormed radio and wiped out all the hair bands. This album is iconic and not a weak song on it. They were unapologetic, bombastic, raw, and made great music. The follow up albums were good…..but never topped their debut.

It still sounds better than anything their peers were doing in 1987.

I genuinely think that every song on this album could have been released as a single and shot Guns N’ Roses into stardom. It’s hard to find anything that doesn’t sound fantastic here. It has elements of glam rock left over from bands like Mötley Crüe, but focuses more on the rock and roll rather than the silly. He may be a big of a controversial figure, but Axl’s voice is nothing short of perfect on this album. Slash and Izzy’s guitar playing perfectly compliment each other (but let’s be real, Slash’s solos demonstrate the versatility of the blues scales in rock music and shines a little brighter). Duff’s bass playing together with Steven’s drums provide the backbone for it all to come together into something wonderful. If you can’t tell, this is up there as one of my all time favourite albums.

Energetic, raw, chaotic

I absolutely loved this album as a kid. GnR were huge for me and got me into rock, playing guitar etc. Dated now but still some absolute bangers. 5 stars for impact and longevity.

This is a slam dunk 5. I distinctly remember the first time a friend of mine played this “cassette” for me of this “new band” in ‘87. G & R did not break mainstream until sometime the next year. The hits are the hits and speak for themselves, but I always liked the deeper tracks “Night train” , “My Michelle”, and “Rocket Queen” as well. Solid staple of rock and roll and landmark Album. Side note: Check out Fergie covering “sweet child o mine” and Carrie Underwood covering “Welcome to the Jungle”. They absolutely kill it and look damn good doing it too.

I was fortunate enough to catch these guys live in the summer of ‘88 as part of a 5-band lineup that included the Smithereens, Ziggy Marley, Iggy Pop and INXS. They were one year removed from this album’s release and were at their drama-filled dysfunctional peak. All of which was on full display during this show that ended with Axl kicking over the sound system floor monitors and walking off stage 45 minutes into their “support” set before headliners INXS took the stage. And even though this wasn’t my go-to listening choice at the time, I still recognized how good this album was, especially for a debut. I was always more of a fan of the deep cuts on this one too, particularly Mr. Brownstone and Rocket Queen.

Classic 4.5/5

LP

I don't listen to much stadium rock as it's often dull. This however has a sleazy, slightly menacing edge to it that many of Guns N Roses cotemporaries lack. The songs are for the most part punchy and even the longer ones don't really outstay their welcome. Axl Rose might now look like Mama Fratelli from the Goonies, but before all the drink and drugs took their toll he had some serious pipes. His powerful, slightly raspy, vocals add a lot to the music. I think this just about deserves 5*. If I only gave it 4* I'd be setting the bar very high and barely giving out any.

Fav: Paradise City Least Fav: Mr. Brownstone Lived up to the hype

One of my favorite 80'es albums. And the riffs of Ole Beich lives on in some of the tracks.

Near perfect album, enjoyable from start to finish. The weakest songs still have enough appeal to maintain interest and forward momentum.

Hell yeah?

🎸

A straightforward no-skip album (yes, even "Sweet Child o' Mine")

nice

A classic!

One of my gateways into hard rock and metal. This is one of the best hard rock albums of all time, if not the best. Guns N Roses peaked on their first album, which is wild (they've got some bangers after, but nothing is as complete and good as Appetite). Welcome To The Jungle is the perfect opening - other favs of mine include Night Train, Think About You, and Out Ta Get Me. Of course the singles are all very good too.

First cassette tape I ever bought. Still sounds great over 35 years later. Every song is strong and well produced. This album helped save hard rock in the 80s.

Med bl.a. GnR, klarede jeg mig igennem teenageårene 🤘. Mega fedt album

The album starts with 'Welcome to the Jungle' which both became a huge hit, and kinda serves as a warning for what's to come. This album is quite frankly wild. I can never go back to the first time I heard these songs but if I could I am sure I'd love them again. Unfortunately, because of the success of this album and the songs on here the hits are very overplayed at this point. I don't think it's fair to fault the album for this though as it's basically suffering from success and staying-power. This amount of hits on a debut is just wild and I think for that alone the album deserves a pretty high rating, and for Slash's guitar and the sheer staying-power of still getting played ad nauseam almost 40 years later has to take it a bit higher. Even if *I* personally think these songs are a bit worn out I have to give credit. The last Guns N' Roses fan hasn't been born yet, and might not for many many years From a more musical perspective Guns N' Roses with this album changed what was the mainstream in rock to more hard rock away from the glam of yesteryear and ushered in the age of hard rock and arena rock while still keeping some of that hair metal influence, but almost in a mocking way Standouts Welcome to the Jungle Rocket Queen Anything Goes 5/5