One of the biggest and best-loved progressive rock bands to come out of Germany, Eloy carved out a sound all their own: spacey, symphonic, deeply atmospheric prog, built around the guitar and vision of founder Frank Bornemann. Though they emerged alongside krautrock, Eloy always stood apart, closer in spirit to Pink Floyd and Camel than to their more experimental countrymen. Across a long and prolific career they became one of Germany’s biggest bands. Here we rank their essential studio albums, from worst to best.

The short version

At the top sits Ocean (1977), the Atlantis concept album that is a pillar of German symphonic prog, with the Floydian Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes and the gorgeous Dawn close behind. At the other end, the drum-machine-heavy 1980s duo albums tend to divide even the faithful. The full ranking is below.

How we rank them

This is one fan’s honest take on Eloy’s essential studio albums — the band recorded prolifically across five decades, so we have focused on the classic run and the most notable later records. We weigh songwriting, atmosphere, ambition and lasting impact. The facts are accurate; the order is where the arguments begin.

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The lower reaches

16. Ra (1988)

The low point, marred by heavy drum-machine programming and anonymous session players as Eloy became a studio duo. Competent but soulless, it is the sound of the 1980s at its most dated. A misstep best skipped.

15. Destination (1992)

A Bornemann and Gerlach duo effort, slicker than Ra but similarly short on the old magic. Pleasant enough, but a long way from their symphonic peak. A minor latter-day record.

14. Eloy (1971)

The raw, hard-rock debut, made before the band found their spacey progressive identity. Historically interesting, but unformed and dated, with the classic Eloy sound still years away. The seed of what was to come.

13. Time to Turn (1982)

The continuation of the Planets concept, more polished but less inspired than the classic era. Capable symphonic hard rock, if a touch anonymous, it passes pleasantly without leaving a deep mark. A solid, unremarkable entry.

12. The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 2 (2019)

The second half of the Joan of Arc rock opera, grand and ambitious but a little overstretched. Bornemann’s voice has aged, yet the symphonic sweep remains impressive. A dignified, uneven late work.

The middle of the pack

11. Colours (1980)

The first album after the classic lineup fractured, more concise and accessible than before. There are strong moments, but the loss of Schmidtchen and Rosenthal is keenly felt. A decent, transitional record.

10. Planets (1981)

The start of a two-part science-fiction concept, richer than Colours and back towards their symphonic roots. Ambitious if uneven, it has real highlights amid the 1980s sheen. An underrated early-80s effort.

9. The Vision, the Sword and the Pyre, Pt. 1 (2017)

The first of the Joan of Arc albums, and a surprisingly strong late-career return to grand symphonic prog. Ambitious and heartfelt, if a little long, it proved there was life in the old band yet. A welcome comeback.

8. Visionary (2009)

The 40th-anniversary reunion album, aiming to recapture the spirit of the early years. Melodic, warm and more successful than most of their latter-day efforts, it marked a confident modern return. A pleasant surprise.

7. Ocean 2: The Answer (1998)

The belated sequel to their masterpiece, and a genuine return to the classic symphonic sound after the wilderness years. It can’t match the original, but it is heartfelt and rewarding, and a favourite among the faithful. An underrated latter-day gem.

The upper tier

6. Power and the Passion (1975)

Their first concept album, and the record where Bornemann found his direction. Spacey, ambitious and a clear step towards greatness, even as the original band fractured around it. A crucial turning point.

5. Floating (1974)

A spacey, Floydian space-rock gem, and one of their strongest early albums. Hypnotic and atmospheric throughout, it firmly established the sound that would define them. An underrated early classic.

4. Inside (1973)

The second album, where Eloy planted their flag as a progressive band. Trippy, expansive and deeply atmospheric, with the sprawling title suite a highlight. A cult favourite, and the start of their true identity.

The masterpieces

3. Dawn (1976)

The first of the classic trilogy, warm, spacey and gorgeously symphonic, with the definitive lineup of Bornemann, Schmidtchen, Matziol and Jürgen Rosenthal. Some rate it above Ocean; “Between the Times” and “The Sun Song” shine. A diamond-studded jewel of German prog.

2. Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes (1979)

Their highest-selling album, and the Floydian peak of the classic lineup. From “Astral Entrance” to the epic suite “The Apocalypse”, it is symphonic space rock at its most transcendent. A masterpiece, and for some their very best.

1. Ocean (1977)

The masterpiece: the ambitious concept album about the fall of Atlantis, and one of the pillars of German symphonic prog. It outsold Genesis and Queen in Germany, crowned by the majestic “Poseidon’s Creation”. The definitive Eloy album, and the place to begin.

Every essential Eloy album, ranked

The full ranking at a glance, best to worst.

Where to start

New to Eloy? Begin with Ocean (1977) and Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes (1979), the twin peaks of their catalogue, then explore the gorgeous Dawn. For a guided path, see our where to start with Eloy guide, or follow the story in sequence with Eloy albums in order.

The verdict

For over five decades, Eloy have been the great symphonic voyagers of German rock — a band who blended Floydian space rock with soaring, cosmic ambition, and outsold almost everyone in their homeland at their peak. Frank Bornemann has steered the ship through every era, and the classic 1970s trilogy remains untouchable. If you only know Ocean, the deeper cuts reward exploration; our pick of the most underrated Eloy albums is a good place to dig.

Go deeper

Keep exploring: count down their finest tracks with the best Eloy songs, browse our pick of their best Eloy albums, or head back to the full directory of every prog band’s discography, ranked.

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