The Best of 1981 Heavy Metal Music

Looking for the best of 1981 heavy metal music? Look no further than this blog post, which rounds up the top tracks from the year. From Iron Maiden to Judas Priest, it’s all here!

Best Overall Metal Album: British Steel by Judas Priest

When it comes to pure, unadulterated metal, there are few bands that can touch Judas Priest. The British Steel album is priest at the top of their game, with hit after hit of heavy riffs and attitude. From the opening anthem “Breaking the Law” to the closing ballad “Living After Midnight”, this album is a non-stop metal assault that is sure to please any fan of the genre.

Best New Metal Band: Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California by drummer Lars Ulrich and vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield, and has been based in San Francisco, California for most of its career. The group’s fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship placed them as one of the founding “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. Metallica’s current lineup comprises founding members Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo. Guitarist Dave Mustaine (who went on to form Megadeth) and bassists Ron McGovney (who was quickly replaced by Cliff Burton) and Jason Newsted are former members of the band.

Metallica achieved substantial commercial success with their eponymous fifth album Metallica ( 1991), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over 16 million copies worldwide. In 2000, Metallica was among a number of artists who filed a lawsuit against Napster for sharing the band’s music without permission. A settlement was reached, and Napster became a pay-to-use service. Despite pressure from fans for a new album, Metallica took its time to record St. Anger (2003), which entered the charts at number one and was certified platinum eight times. A film titled Some Kind of Monster documented the recording process; it incorporates home videos taken by Ulrich of the songwriting process.

During their career Metallica has won nine Grammy Awards; they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Rolling Stone ranked them at number 61 on their list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time; guitarist Kirk Hammett is ranked at number fifteen on Gibson’s “Top 25 Guitarists of All Time”, while James Hetfield is ranked at twenty-eight on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 100 Greatest Singers Of All Time”.

Best Metal Guitarist: Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen is widely considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on January 26th, 1955. His mother was a classical pianist, and his father was a saxophone player and big band leader. Eddie and his brother, Alex Van Halen, were both exposed to music at a young age. Alex took up drums, and Eddie began playing guitar.

Eddie Van Halen rose to fame in the early 1980s with his band Van Halen. Their debut album, released in 1978, became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. The album featured Eddie’s unique style of playing, which incorporated two-handed tapping and heavily-distorted power chords. His solos were also known for their use of novel techniques, such as “tapping” (playing rapid notes by hammering on and pulling off with both hands) and “two-handed finger vibrato” (producing a sustain by quickly moving both hands up and down the fretboard).

Eddie Van Halen’s playing style influenced a generation of guitarists, and he is widely considered to be one of the most important musicians in the history of rock music. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.

Best Metal Vocalist: Ronnie James Dio

Ronnie James Dio was one of the most influential figures in metal history. His unique voice and stage presence helped to shape the genre and launch the careers of many great bands. He was a true pioneer who always pushed the envelope and stayed true to his roots. His death in 2010 was a great loss to the metal community, but his legacy will live on forever.

Best Metal Song: “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead

There is no denying the appeal of heavy metal music. It is aggressive, it is loud, and it is often filled with angry lyrics. But there is also a sense of camaraderie among metal fans, a feeling that they are all in this together. And that feeling is what makes heavy metal so special.

“Ace of Spades” by Motorhead is the perfect example of why heavy metal is so loved. The song is full of energy and attitude, and it perfectly captures the feeling of being a metal fan. It is also one of the most popular heavy metal songs of all time, regularly appearing on best-of lists and earning praise from music critics.

If you are looking for a heavy metal song that perfectly encapsulates the genre, then “Ace of Spades” by Motorhead is the perfect choice.