Guns N Roses debut, "Appetite for Destruction" was a turning point for hard rock in the late 80s - it was a dirty, dangerous, and mean record in a time when heavy metal meant nothing but a good time. On the surface, Guns N Roses may appear to celebrate the same things as their peers - namely, sex, liquor, drugs, and rock & roll - but there is a nasty edge to their songs, since Axl Rose does not see much fun in the urban sprawl of L.A. and its parade of heavy metal thugs, cheap women, booze, and crime. The music is as nasty as the lyrics, wallowing in a bluesy, metallic hard rock borrowed from Aerosmith, AC/DC, and countless faceless hard rock bands of the early 80s. It is a primal, sleazy sound that adds grit to already grim tales. It also makes Rose s misogyny, fear, and anger hard to dismiss as merely an artistic statement; this is music that sounds lived-in. And that is exactly why "Appetite for Destruction" is such a powerful record - not only does Rose have fears, but he also is vulnerable, particularly on the power ballad "Sweet Child O Mine." He also has a talent for conveying the fears and horrors of the decaying inner city, whether it is on the charging "Welcome to the Jungle," the heroin ode "Mr. Brownstone," or "Paradise City," which simply wants out. But as good as Rose s lyrics and screeching vocals are, they would not be nearly as effective without the twin-guitar interplay of Slash and Izzy Stradlin, who spit out riffs and solos better than any band since the Rolling Stones, and that is what makes "Appetite for Destruction" the best metal record of the late 80s.