Van Halen - Balance (2023 Remaster) (2023) Hi-Res

Balance features some of Van Halen's most interesting musical work, with complex song structures, virtuosic playing, and dense arrangements ... all of which are topped off with Sammy Hagar's yelping screech of a voice. Van Halen—or at least most of Van Halen—had taken its cues from the alt-rock revolution and, with Balance, set out to make an album that showcased an expanded palette of creativity. Whether it's the chanting monks of "The Seventh Seal" (truly one of the most adventurous and rewarding songs in the Van Halen catalog), three instrumental tracks, or even the relatively straightforward swagger of "Aftershock," Balance has more than its fair share of moments that remind you that Eddie Van Halen was a musical genius. But Hagar's presence—both vocally and lyrically ("Amsterdam" is positively cringe-worthy)—continually drags the proceedings down so badly that it's unsurprising that they parted ways with the Red Rocker after the Balance tour ended.