22 Best Rock Album Sequels

They say the sequel is never as good as the original, but that didn’t stop these artists from trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice – or even three or four times.
When modern music fans think of sequel albums, they often focus on hip-hop acts (every rapper from Lil Wayne to Fat Joe has done one) or European metal bands (which often create storylines that arc throughout multiple releases). Before those artists began stretching themes and characters over a series of LPs, however, classic rockers were continuing some elements from previous LPs on their records.

So what qualifies as a sequel? Merely having Roman numerals in the title doesn’t cut it. Van Halen II or Led Zeppelin III were merely the next albums, not a sequel. Same goes for double albums released in two parts, but on the same day (like Use Your Illusion II).
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Including one song that features a long-running character also isn’t enough. The whole album needs to include a subject or a musical approach that ties into an artist’s previous album – whether released the year before or maybe even with a span of decades between them.
This list of 22 Best Rock Album Sequels doesn’t adhere to a trend or a type. You’ll find glam rockers and prog rockers, metal heads and singer-songwriters, British invaders and theatrical Americans. Each returned to the same well of creativity at least once. Fans can decide if the water tasted just as sweet the second time:

22 Best Rock Album Sequels

They say the sequel is never as good as the original, but that didn’t stop these artists from trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice – or even three or four times. 

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