Heavy Metal Bands That Only Cover 80s Music
Looking for some new heavy metal bands to add to your playlist? Check out our list of bands that only cover 80s music – perfect for headbanging and nostalgia!
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden is a British heavy metal band formed in Leyton, London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The band’s discography has grown to thirty-eight albums, including sixteen studio albums, twelve live albums, four EPs, and seven compilations.
Metallica
Formed in 1981, Metallica was one of the first thrash metal bands. They rose to prominence with their second album, Ride the Lightning, and their third album, Master of Puppets, which is considered one of the greatest metal albums of all time. Metallica’s biggest hits from the 80s include “Enter Sandman,” “One,” and “Battery.”
Megadeth
Formed in 1983, Megadeth is an American heavy metal band that has sold over 38 million records worldwide. The band was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson in Los Angeles, California. The group’s debut album “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!” was released in 1985 and featured the hit singles “Mechanix” and “Last Rites/Loved to Deth”. Megadeth went on to release a total of 12 studio albums, including their most recent effort “Dystopia” which was released in 2016.
Slayer
Slayer is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Park, California. The band was founded in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman, and bassist and vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer’s fast and aggressive musical style made them one of the founding “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Slayer’s current lineup comprises King, Araya, drummer Paul Bostaph and guitarist Gary Holt. Hanneman died of alcoholic cirrhosis in 2013; Holt has filled in for him since 2004.
Slayer has released twelve studio albums, two live albums, a box set, six music videos, two extended plays and a cover album. Four of the band’s studio albums have received gold certification in the United States. The band has received five Grammy nominations, winning one in 2007 for the song “Eyes of the Insane” and one in 2008 for “Final Six”, both of which were from the album Christ Illusion. Slayer has also played at several music festivals worldwide, including Unholy Alliance, Download Festival, Ozzfest and Warped Tour. The band has headlined shows such as Rock in Idro and Hellfest.
Anthrax
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. The band is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene from the 1980s and is known for their signature sound blending elements of thrash metal with hard rock and punk rock. Anthrax was one of the first bands to fuse hardcore punk with heavy metal, and they are credited as one of the “big four” thrash metal bands alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer. The band has released 11 studio albums, severalother compilations, and 26 singles, including two number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Anthrax has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
