1983 was a very good year for heavy metal. It saw the debut album of Metallica, who would change the face of the genre. New Wave Of British Heavy Metal bands were still making an impact, and 1983 was the year that Def Leppard would skyrocket in popularity. Old standbys like Ozzy and Iron Maiden also made the list. Here is the latest list as I make my way year by year through the best metal albums of all time. Make sure to post your comment below on the ones I got right and the ones you think should be included on the list for 1983.

Top 10 Heavy Metal Albums Of 1983

And in case you missed any of the earlier lists, here they are:

• Top 10 Heavy Metal Albums Of 1982
  
• Top 10 Heavy Metal Albums Of 1981
  
• Top 10 Heavy Metal Albums of 1980
  

The British extreme metal band Anaal Nathrakh have signed with Candlelight Records for the release of their fifth full-length. True believers are already well aware of the band, but now should get even more exposure to U.S. fans. In The Constellation Of The Black Widow is a powerful and diverse album that mixes elements of black, death, industrial and grindcore.

After a brief intro, the opening track “In The Constellation Of The Black Widow” launches like a punch to the gut, vaulting out of the gate at lightning speed with frenetic drums and a wall of extremity. Throat ripping screams and growls are tempered by brief melodic vocals. The melodic vocals get more of a showcase on songs like “More Of Fire Than Blood,” which has plenty of intensity, but also eases up from time to time.

Read the complete Anaal Nathrakh - In The Constellation Of The Black Widow Review

(CD cover courtesy Candlelight Records)

Goatwhore's dedication to craft and years of touring that would break most bands appear to have paid off. The band's full-length Carving Out The Eyes of God broke the Billboard 200 chart in its first week and is getting the best write-ups of the band's career. Falgoust checked in from a stop in Minneapolis with to chat with About.com's Justin M. Norton about the new album; where guitarist Sammy Duet gets all of his riffs; how Goatwhore survives their gypsy-like travel schedule and how it's possible to play a show when you are suffering from bronchitis and walking pneumonia.

Justin M. Norton: Can you tell me more about making Carving Out The Eyes of God?
Ben Falgoust: The experience and professionalism were there more this time than in the past, particularly with our newer members Zack (Simmons, drums) and Nathan ( Bergeron, bass). The writing process was pretty much the same. Sammy has a bunch of tapes of riffs. He’s recorded them fast and stockpiled them. We go through the riffs and pick things out to create a song. Sometimes we tear it apart again or come up with new parts. There were some parts recorded on a computer and sent to Rutan (producer Erik Rutan) so when we entered the studio he was familiar with the direction and where we were headed with the songs.

Read the complete Goatwhore Interview

(photo courtesy Metal Blade Records)

Motörhead will be touring North America, starting August 28th in Minneapolis. Opening acts will be the Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy:

2009 Motorhead Tour Dates:
Aug. 28 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
Aug. 29 - Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom
Aug. 30 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
Sep. 01 - Detroit, MI - Motor City Casino
Sep. 02 - Toronto, ON - Sound Academy
Sep. 03 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
Sep. 05 - Atlantic City, NJ - House of Blues
Sep. 06 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
Sep. 08 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
Sep. 09 - New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom
Sep. 11 - Charlotte, NC - Fillmore
Sep. 12 - Cherokee, NC - Cherokee Motorcycle Rally
Sep. 15 - Tampa, FL - Jannus Landing
Sep. 16 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
Sep. 18 - Houston, Texas - Warehouse Live
Sep. 19 - Dallas, TX - Palladium
Sep. 20 - Austin, TX - Stubb's
Sep. 23 - St. Louis, MO - Pageant
Sep. 24 - Kansas City, MO - Midland Theater
Sep. 26 - Denver, CO - Fillmore
Sep. 28 - Calgary, AB - Flames Central
Sep. 29 - Edmonton, AB - Events Center
Oct. 01 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue
Oct. 02 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
Oct. 03 - Portland, OR - Roseland
Oct. 05 - San Francisco, CA - Warfield
Oct. 09 - Los Angeles, CA - Nokia Live
Oct. 10 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues