The 10 Best 'Final' Rock and Metal Albums

By Ralph Peterstone, from AIB Promotions

We always talk about great debut albums, and follow up albums, but we rarely talk about the albums that great bands and artists go out on. You know, their 'final' album.

Most music artists suffer a steady decline over their careers, which is perfectly normal, and understandable. That's probably why a truly great 'last' album is hard to find.  However, they do exist, and here, we've picked our top ten 'last' albums by rock and metal artists. 

10. Rush, 'Clockwork Angels'

Clockwork Angels is the nineteenth and final studio album by Canadian rock band Rush, released 12 June 2012 on Anthem Records. During the band's year-and-a-half break following its Snakes & Arrows Tour, the group decided to write a new studio album.It's not the band's best album by any stretch of the imagination, but still a great effort, nonetheless.

9. Iron Maiden, 'The Book Of Souls'

To many fans, Iron Maiden have been a bit of a mixed bag since their glory days in the 1980s. They've released some pretty good stuff since then (Brave New World), and some pretty not so good stuff too (Virtual XI). But Book Of Souls is a fantastic record that would surely rank as one of their best, certainly since 2000.

8. The Stone Roses, 'Second Coming'

Some say The Stone Roses pulled it off with Second Coming, others say they couldn't have delivered after losing the momentum that Madchester had given them. Still, with tracks like "Love Spreads" and "Ten Storey Love Song," it's a fine record… and although they've released some new tracks since, there's unlikely to be a proper follow-up.

7. Guns N' Roses, 'Chinese Democracy'

A Guns N' Roses album, or just an Axl Rose solo piece? Either way, Chinese Democracy is a beautifully crafted album with diverse musical settings, and some darn good individual efforts. This album probably doesn't get the full credit it deserves, because of the circumstances surrounding it.  

6. The Beatles, 'Let It Be'

Technically, The Beatles’ final outing in the studio was actually 1969’s Abbey Road, but the Let It Be material sat on the shelf for a year and finally made an appearance in May 1970, by which time John had quit, Paul and Ringo had both recorded solo albums and George was readying his own.

5. Joy Division, 'Closer'

It's easy to forget that the Manchester band, Joy Division, only managed to release two full studio albums within the short space of 18 months. When their second LP, Closer, was released, singer Ian Curtis had been dead for a month, having killed himself on the eve of a US tour. This album ranks as one of the most harrowing, yet stirring listens of the post-punk era.

4. David Bowie, 'Blackstar'

Sadly, David Bowie's twenty-fifth album is now his last. It was released in 2016, on his 69th birthday and just two days before his death. It now appears that the lyrics on the LP concern the superstar's 18-month long battle with cancer and have taken on an unbearably tragic significance. But… what a career, and what an impressive way to lower the curtain on it. 

3. The Sex Pistols, 'Never Mind The Bollocks'

Just one album is all it took for the mighty Sex Pistols to change everything, and ignite punk-rock to its highest ever heights. The 1976 studio album, Never Mind The Bollocks will go down as punk rock's best debut album, as well as its 'last'.

2. The Jimi Hendrix Experience, 'Electric Ladyland'

The third and final album from The Jimi Hendrix Experience was a double - and produced under the watchful eye of Jimi himself, before he disbanded the trio. An absolute beast of a record, Electric Ladyland bears all the hallmarks of the psychedelic production of the time.

1. Nirvana, 'In Utero'

For their third and final album, the grunge trio tried to veer away from the radio-friendly sound of Nevermind in favour of a much harsher sound and intent. The result was In Utero, and with tracks like "Heart-Shaped Box," "Pennyroyal Tea" and "Rape Me," the band couldn't have left on a higher note.