10 Alternative Rock and Heavy Metal Bands from the 80s You Need to Know

If you’re a fan of hard rock and metal, then you definitely need to check out these 10 bands from the 80s! With a mix of heavy metal, thrash metal, and alternative rock, these bands shaped the genre and set the stage for metal’s future.

Introduction

The 1980s were a heyday for alternative rock and heavy metal, with bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Motörhead leading the way. But it wasn’t just the big names that defined the decade’s sound; there were also plenty of lesser-known bands that made their mark on metal and rock.

So, if you’re looking for something a little different from the 80s rock norm, check out these 10 essential alternative metal and hard rock bands from the decade. You’re sure to find something to suit your taste!

1. Diamond Head
2. Mercyful Fate
3. Venom
4. Tank
5. Witchfynde
6. Budgie
7. Angel Witch
8. Tokyo Blade
9. fiery Thrash Metal Band X Japan

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 includes founding members Hetfield (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Ulrich (drums), longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo. Guitarist Dave Mustaine (who went on to form Megadeth) was a member of the band from 1984 to 1987.

The band achieved commercial success with their eponymous fifth album Metallica (also known as The Black Album), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. With this release the band expanded its musical direction resulting in an album that appealed to a more mainstream audience. The group has released ten studio albums, four live albums, five extended plays, 26 music videos. The band has won nine Grammy Awards and metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009.

Megadeth

Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson. Along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer, Megadeth is one of the “big four” of American thrash metal. Their music features complex arrangements and fast guitar solos, and has earned them the nickname “the technical thrash metal band”. Megadeth rose to international fame in the 1980s and was ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time in an article by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.

Slayer

An American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, Slayer was formed in 1981 by Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. The band rose to prominence with their 1986 album Reign in Pain, and is credited as one of the “big four” thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Anthrax, and Megadeth. Slayer’s musical style involves fast tremolo picking, double bass drumming, and shouted vocals; their lyrical themes include death, violence, war, Satanism, and anti-Christianity.

Slayer’s influence on heavy metal has been particularly acknowledged by other bands; Exodus guitarist Gary Holt said that “there would be no Exodus without Slayer”. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said that “Slayer is one of those bands that defined what ‘metal’ is”. Over the course of their career, Slayer has released twelve studio albums, two live albums, a box set, six music videos, two extended plays and a cover album. The band has received five Grammy Awards – two for Best Metal Performance and three for Best Metal Recording – out of fifteen nominations.

Anthrax

Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. The band has released ten studio albums, with a combination of thrash metal and power metal elements. They have also been credited as one of the leaders of the metalcore genre.

The band was one of the most successful metal bands of the 1980s, with their 1986 album Among the Living reaching number seven on the Billboard 200 chart. Anthrax was also ranked No. 20 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock in 2009. They were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

Exodus

Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. They are considered to be one of the pioneers of the thrash metal genre. The band’s current lineup includes founder and guitarist Kirk Hammett, lead vocalist Steve “Zetro” Souza, bassist Jack Gibson, and drummer Tom Hunting.

The band has released ten studio albums, two live albums, and two compilations. Their debut album, Bonded by Blood, was released in 1985 and is considered a classic of the thrash metal genre. It was followed by their second album, Pleasures of the Flesh, in 1987. The band’s third album, Fabulous Disaster, was released in 1989 and is their most commercially successful album to date.

Other notable Exodus albums include Impact Is Imminent (1990), Force of Habit (1992), and Tempo of the Damned (2004). The band has been through numerous lineup changes over the years; however, they have continued to record and tour relentlessly. They are currently working on a new studio album, which is scheduled for release in 2018.

Testament

Formed in the early ’80s by current frontman Chuck Billy and guitarist Eric Peterson, Testament has seen a number of lineup changes over the years but has always remained a force to be reckoned with in the metal world. With a sound that blends elements of thrash, speed, and traditional heavy metal, the band has released a string of classic albums including The Legacy (1987), The New Order (1988), and Practice What You Preach (1989). Testament is still going strong today, with a new album, Dark Roots of Earth, set for release in 2012.

Death Angel

Death Angel is a thrash metal band from the Bay Area of California, formed in 1982. The band is best known for their 1980s material, which includes their debut album The Ultra-Violence and their follow-up Frolic Through the Park. Death Angel went on hiatus in the early 1990s, but reformed in 2001 and have since released five albums, the most recent being The Evil Divide in 2016.

Sacred Reich

Formed in 1986, Sacred Reich is a Phoenix, Arizona-based thrash metal band that is considered one of the key players in the second wave of thrash. The band’s first album, 1988’s “Surf Nicaragua”, was produced by famed punk/metal producer Rick Rubin and was a surprise hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart. While Sacred Reich never achieved the mainstream success of some of their contemporaries, they remained an active and popular touring band throughout the ’90s and 2000s, playing regular shows and festivals around the world. In 2019, the band released their first album in 23 years, “Awakening”, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hard Rock chart.

Voivod

One of the most interesting and innovative bands to come out of the 80s, Voivod were a metal band from Quebec, Canada who blended elements of hardcore punk, progressive rock, and thrash metal to create their own unique sound. They were one of the first bands to truly experiment with incorporating different genres into their music, and their knowledge of progressive music theory helped them to create some truly technical and complex songs. While they were never a hugely popular band, they did gain a significant cult following, and are considered by many to be one of the most influential metal bands of all time.