Heavy Metal Music From the Motion Picture Songs

Looking for some heavy metal to add to your movie soundtrack? Check out our picks for the best songs from the genre that have been featured in films.

Introduction

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and the United States. With roots in blues rock and psychedelic rock, the bands that created heavy metal developed a thick, massive sound, characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. The genre’s lyrics and performance styles are sometimes associated with aggression and machismo.

In 1970, four British rock bands released debut albums that defined early heavy metal. Led Zeppelin’s self-titled album (often called Led Zeppelin IV in references to its fourth studio album, released a year later), Black Sabbath’s Paranoid, Deep Purple’s In Rock, and Uriah Heep’s Very ‘Eavy… Very ‘Umble helped shape the sound and style of heavy metal. Although often considered hard rock at the time,[1][2] these albums also incorporated elements of blues and pop music, which would subsequently be amped up in subsequent releases. They also featured guitarists with definitive styles: Jimmy Page’s propulsive riffing style would become one of the most recognizable (and oft-imitated) in rock music;[3] Ritchie Blackmore later introduced psychedelic-influenced majesty to his fast-picked solos;[4][5] while Tony Iommi combined blues power with Simply speed to generate an immediately identifiable sound.[6][7]

After pioneering English bands such as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience began achieving mainstream success in 1967–68,[8][9] dozens of British psychedelic and art rock bands followed suit over the next few years – but few if any were as heavy as Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath.[10][11] Though often derided by critics at the time as pretentious or unnecessarily overblown,[12][13] many of these artists displayed a broad range of influences that would come to be Hampers as proto-metal. Self-proclaimed “heavy music” purveyors Cream mixing blues and psychedelia with feedback-drenched guitars;[14][15] The Who providing an explosive blueprint for power trio dynamics;[16] Traffic dabbling in eastern mysticism while simultaneously expanding on ideas explored by Cream;[17][18] Pink Floyd turning Syd Barrett-era psych into grandiose yet patient sonic landscapes;[19][20] Hendrix himself expanding on ideas first popularized by Cream.[21][22][23]

“The Touch” by Stan Bush

“The Touch” is a song by Stan Bush. It was released in 1986 as part of the soundtrack to the film Heavy Metal. The song peaked at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and is Bush’s only charting single in the United States to date.

“Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins

“Danger Zone” is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, and written by Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock. It was released in 1986 as part of the soundtrack to the film Top Gun. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States and reached number one in both Canada and Australia.

“Heaven” by Warrant

“Heaven” is a power ballad by the American glam metal band Warrant. It was released in December 1989 as the third single from their album Cherry Pie. The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1990, making it Warrant’s only top-ten single. It peaked at number six on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. “Heaven” was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards.

The music video for “Heaven” was directed by Doris Mrsic-Flogel and features the band performing the song in front of a live audience intercut with footage of the band members’ girlfriends from home videos.

“I Want Out” by Helloween

“I Want Out” is a song by the German power metal band Helloween, released in 1988 as the first single from the album Keeper of the Seven Keys, Part II. The song was a commercial success, reaching number 28 on Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

The song is about a person who feels trapped and wants to break free from their current situation. The lyrics were inspired by the experiences of Helloween’s then-lead singer Michael Kiske, who felt claustrophobic andrestricted during his time with the band.

The song has been covered by several other artists, including Blind Guardian, HammerFall, Mr. Big, andGamma Ray.

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister

The song “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister is one of the most well-known and iconic heavy metal songs of all time. The song was released as a single in 1984 and was included on the soundtrack to the film Heavy Metal. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” peaked at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it the highest-charting single by a heavy metal band at that time. The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including Devo, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, and Run-D.M.C.

“The Final Countdown” by Europe

“The Final Countdown” is a song by the Swedish rock band Europe, released in 1986. Written by Joey Tempest, it was the first single from the album of the same name and achieved huge success in many countries, including Sweden, West Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Israel and Japan. In France and Switzerland, the single even topped the charts for several weeks. In the United States “The Final Countdown” peaked at number 8 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart and number 3 on its Hot 100 chart.

“The Warrior” by Scandal

“The Warrior” is a song by the American rock band Scandal, composed by guitarist and lead singer Patty Smyth and keyboardist Walter Afanasieff. It was released on June 22, 1984, as the lead single from their second studio album, Warrior (1984). The song was a moderate commercial success, peaking at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The music video for “The Warrior” was directed by Bob Giraldi and features Scandal performing in a post-apocalyptic world. The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards, including Best Group Video, which it won.

“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor

“Eye of the Tiger” is a song by American rock band Survivor. It was released as a single from their third album of the same name on May 29, 1982 and was also the theme song for the film Rocky III, which was released six days later. The song was written at the request of Rocky III star and director, Sylvester Stallone. He asked Survivor lead singer Jim Peterik to write a song to inspire his character, Rocky Balboa, during his training montage in the film.

Stallone wanted something “with a lot of energy” and “a real pump-action rock song with a great hook.” Peterik immediately went to work on the lyrics while keyboardist Frankie Sullivan fashioned a basic melody. The pair completed the writing in about an hour and recorded a demo version that Stallone loved. However, United Artists Records executives were not thrilled with either the demo or with Sullivan’s guitar solo and asked for changes.

Sullivan ended up re-recording his solo and Peterik rewrote some of the lyrics (changing “getting strong now” to “gonna fly now”). With those changes made, “Eye of the Tiger” became one of Survivor’s most popular songs and an international hit, peaking at #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 chart and Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It won them a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 25th annual ceremony in 1983.

“The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News

“The Power of Love” is a song by American rock band Huey Lewis and the News, released as a single in December 1984. It was featured in the 1985 film Back to the Future, and its soundtrack album. The song was ranked at number 239 on Billboard magazine’s Top 500 songs of all time. In 2010, it was named the greatest movie song of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

“Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey

“Don’t Stop Believin'” is a song by the American rock band Journey, originally released as a single from their seventh album Escape in 1981. The song was written by Journey members Steve Perry and Neal Schon. It became a massive hit, spending six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and becoming one of the best-selling singles of all time.

The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Glee cast, who recorded a version for their 2010 tribute album to theTV show.

“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC

One of the most iconic and well-known heavy metal songs of all time, “Highway to Hell” was released as the lead single from AC/DC’s seventh studio album of the same name. The song was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Lonnie Mack, and it features one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock history. “Highway to Hell” is often cited as being responsible for popularizing heavy metal music in the mainstream and it remains one of AC/DC’s most popular songs today.

“Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourne

“Crazy Train” is a song by English heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne, released as the lead single from his 1980 debut solo album Blizzard of Ozz. The song was written by Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and Bob Daisley. It reached number 9 on the UK Singles Chart and number 45 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In 2009, “Crazy Train” was ranked at #43 on VH1’s Top 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs and #23 on Blender’s The 500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born. In October 2011, it was voted number 5 in Total Guitar magazine’s poll of the greatest guitar riffs ever.

“The Heat Is On” by Glenn Frey

“The Heat Is On” is a song written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, and performed by Glenn Frey. It was released in 1984 as a single from the soundtrack to the film Beverly Hills Cop. The song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, behind “When Doves Cry” by Prince, and went to number one on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. It also peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart. Outside the United States, “The Heat Is On” topped the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and Norway. The song won Frey a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 1985 ceremony.

“Rock You Like a Hurricane” by Scorpions

“Rock You Like a Hurricane” is a song by German rock band Scorpions, recorded for their eleventh studio album, Love at First Sting (1984). The song was written by Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker. It was released as the album’s lead single on 28 September 1984. The song is one of the band’s most popular songs, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1985, and reaching the top of the charts in Germany and Switzerland.

“I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

Released in 1982, this song was a big hit for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been certified Platinum by the RIAA and has been used in a number of movies and TV shows over the years.

“Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard

“Pour Some Sugar on Me” is a song by English rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. The song was written by Phil Collen, Joe Elliott, and Robert John “Mutt” Lange. It was released as the fourth single from the album in August 1987, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number three in Canada. In 2002, VH1 ranked “Pour Some Sugar on Me” number 59 on its countdown of VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the ’80s. The band performed the song at Live Aid in 1985.

“We Will Rock You” by Queen

“We Will Rock You” is a song written by Brian May and recorded by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it number 330 of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”. The song is widely used in popular culture, most notably as a sports anthem, particularly in baseball, football, and basketball. In 2004, “We Will Rock You” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The song is a staple at sporting events, where it is mostly played during the middle of the fourth quarter when one team is leading by a significant margin. Ailand its sister song “We Are the Champions” are commonly played consecutively at the end of games as victory celebrations by winning teams; their use has been extended to other triumphant occasions such as election victories.

“The Final Countdown” by Europe (reprise)

The final countdown by Europe is a reprise of the popular song by the same name. This version was featured in the motion picture Heavy Metal and is sung by the character of Den to motivate the other characters to battle the evil entity known as Admiral Borealis.

End Credits

The end credits song “Heavy Metal” by Don Felder, Steve cropper, and Michael Monarch was used in the film. It was released as a single in 1981 and peaked at #53 on the Billboard charts. The song is about a young boy’s love for heavy metal music.

The film also features the song “Fly Away” by Lita Ford. This song was not released as a single but appeared on Ford’s 1981 album “Out for Blood”. The song is about a young woman’s desire to leave her small town and make it big in the city.

Other songs featured in the film include “Radar Love” by Golden Earring, “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll” by Blue Oyster Cult, “Blackout” by Scorpions, and “I Wanna Be Somebody” by W.A.S.P..