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May 23, 2023 · Top 1980s Heavy Metal Bands. Heavy metal evolved greatly throughout the 1980s. The blues and psychedelic rock formed the base for the genre in the '70s—but as bands began incorporating more elements of punk rock, industrial, and prog into their sound, their influences fell out of favor.
- Iron Maiden. 328 votes. Few bands exemplify the spirit of 80s heavy metal more than Iron Maiden, whose intricate musicianship and darkly fantastical lyrics continue to captivate legions of fans.
- Metallica. 337 votes. As pioneers of the thrash metal movement, Metallica burst onto the scene in the early 1980s, delivering a relentless barrage of aggressive riffs and visceral lyrics.
- Black Sabbath. 258 votes. As the godfathers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath's influence on the genre can still be felt today. Their ground-breaking 1970 self-titled album set the tone for the entire movement, but it was in the 80s that the band truly shone, with lineup changes and a revitalized sound.
- Judas Priest. 269 votes. Hailing from Birmingham, England, Judas Priest helped bring heavy metal to the forefront of popular music with their soaring vocals and driving dual guitar attacks.
- Guns N' Roses, 'Appetite for Destruction' (Geffen, 1987) After slowly working its way up the charts over the course of a year, ‘Appetite for Destruction’ finally overtook the No. 1 spot on the charts and went on to sell over 30 million copies.
- Metallica, 'Master of Puppets' (Elektra, 1986) ‘Master of Puppets’ is one of heavy metal’s most defining albums and Metallica’s major label debut with Elektra Records.
- AC/DC, 'Back in Black' (Atlantic, 1980) Singer changes for big bands rarely succeed and hardly ever as well as they did for AC/DC. In 1980, reeling from the death of Bon Scott, AC/DC entered the studio with vocalist Brian Johnson and came out with one of the biggest selling albums of all-time.
- Iron Maiden, 'The Number of the Beast' (EMI, 1982) Another Iron Maiden album, another lineup change. Exit Paul Di’Anno and enter Bruce Dickinson! After parting ways with their iconic singer, Maiden enlisted Samson frontman ‘Bruce Bruce’ and the Brits cashed in on the singer’s talents with their finest release.
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Jan 3, 2021 · A comprehensive list of hard rock and metal bands from the 80s, covering various sub-genres like glam, thrash, speed, NWOBHM, and more. Learn about the history, albums, and legacy of each band, from AC/DC to Zebra.
- Metallica
- Def Leppard
- Iron Maiden
- Black Sabbath
- Van Halen
- Judas Priest
- Megadeth
- Poison
- Mötley Crüe
- Queensrÿche
Master of Puppetsdebuted in 1986, and the world of metal hasn’t been the same ever since. Metallica has stood as the cornerstone of metal for several decades, putting out multiple albums, consistently touring, and winning numerous industry awards. Founding members James Hetfield on guitar and vocals and drummer Lars Ulrich are household names today...
Aside from American bands, the English metal contingent also swept the music scene in the 80s, fronted by the powerhouse that was Def Leppard. Their hit “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” was one of the first videos that MTV replayed for eager audiences. Though most of their music is harder-edged, Def Leppard is perhaps best known for “Pour Some Sugar On...
Another British group emerged to the forefront of 1980s metal when Iron Maiden burst onto the scene. One of the most prolific bands to date, they have won nearly every possible accolade there is for a rock band to receive. Iron Maiden managed to rise above the confines of the metal genre to be somewhat of a high-art phenomenon. Referencing themes f...
Though this band had a lot going for them as historical figures in heavy metal, they’re best known these days as a vehicle for their frontmen. Ozzy Osbourne was the defining voice of the 1980s hard-rock scene, but his substance abuse led to his departure just a few years after Black Sabbath’s peak of fame. Ronnie James Dio from Rainbow stepped in a...
The relentless energy of David Lee Roth and then Sammy Hagar were the catalysts for Van Halen’s fame. However, the eponymous member, Eddie, and later his son Wolfgang are truly the mainstays of this 80s group, with their virtuoso chops that defined guitar-playing history. Known less as an edgy metal group and more for their accessible party vibe, V...
Harder than some of their contemporaries who flirted with pop-rock, Judas Priest nonetheless somehow kept one foot in the glam-metal genre with their onstage image. The band was active throughout the 1970s but didn’t reach commercial success until their album British Steelin 1980. Judas Priest pioneered the sound of heavy metal guitars combined wit...
One of the “Big Four” of 80s thrash metal, Megadeth dominated the subgenre with their signature high-speed drums and growling guitar riffs. The band formed in 1983 when founding member Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica. Megadeth still tours today, though the personnel has changed numerous times over the band’s 39 years of performing. They came...
The infusion of 1970s glam metal is apparent in the sound and live-show appeal of Poison. Big hair and flamboyant costuming take center stage with this act, a band who unapologetically embraced the aesthetic of glam without compromising their heavy-metal sound. In 2012, VH1 ranked Poison as first place in their list of “Top 5 Hair Bands of the 1980...
Another metal group that embraced the glam persona was Mötley Crüe. With songs celebrating women, partying, and the pursuit of pleasure, they brought hedonism to the forefront with their devil-may-care lyrics and arena shows. Drummer Tommy Lee and bassist Nikki Sixx both enjoyed respectable solo careers in entertainment beyond their involvement in ...
Heavy metal giants Queensrÿche formed early in the 1980s and continue to tour to this day. The personnel lineup has changed a few times, spurring a legal debate that ruled that both bands could continue to use the same name. Eventually, the secondary split-off group changed its title to Operation: Mindcrime. The original group has garnered several ...
Sep 20, 2022 · Easy to say now, but this spandex ’n’ studded wristband pounder helped propel the Metal Health album to No.1 in the US – the very first metal record to achieve that elevated position. Slayer - Die By The Sword If Metallica had the speed, Slayer had the malevolence, as the highpoint of debut album Show No Mercy proved.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about understanding heavy metal 80s music. Step 1: Understanding the Roots of Heavy Metal. Heavy metal music traces its roots back to the late 1960s and early 1970s when bands like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple dominated the scene with their blues ...
