Heavy Metal Music Magazines from the 1980’s

Looking for some great heavy metal music magazines from the 1980’s? Here are some of our favorites that you’ll definitely want to check out!

Defining Heavy Metal

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s. It is characterized by highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness. The first heavy metal magazine, Kerrang!, was founded in 1981.

The Beginnings of Heavy Metal

The origins of heavy metal music can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when a number of bands began pushing the boundaries of rock music. These bands were influenced by a range of genres, including blues, psychedelia, and even classical music. The result was a new style of music that was louder, faster, and more aggressive than anything that had come before.

In the early 1970s, a number of bands began to emerge that would help define the heavy metal sound. Bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple were all influential in the development of heavy metal, as they created a sound that was both heavier and more metallic than anything that had come before.

The late 1970s and early 1980s saw the rise of a new generation of heavy metal bands. These bands took the sounds pioneered by earlier groups and added a new level of energy and aggression. Bands like Motörhead, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest helped to define the genre with their blistering speed and catchy songwriting.

Today, heavy metal is one of the most popular genres in the world. It has spawned countless subgenres and continues to evolve as new bands push the boundaries of what is possible.

The Evolution of Heavy Metal

The term “heavy metal” can trace its roots back to the late 1960s, when bands such as Cream, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin began experimenting with distorted guitars, blues-based song structures and apocalyptic lyrics. These bands took the existing framework of rock music and pushed it to its limits, resulting in a new sound that was both heavier and more aggressive than anything that had come before.

Over the next few years, heavy metal would continue to evolve, as new bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden added elements of speed and Power Metal to the mix. In the 1980s, Thrash Metal would take things even further, with bands like Metallica and Megadeth pushing the boundaries of what was possible both musically and lyrically.

Today, heavy metal is one of the most popular genres of music in the world, with countless subgenres and subcultures existing within its vast umbrella. Whether you’re a diehard fan of Black Sabbath or a newcomer to the genre, there’s a heavy metal band out there that’s sure to appeal to you.

The 1980’s Heavy Metal Scene

The 1980’s were a great decade for heavy metal music. There were many great bands that came out of this decade, and many great albums were released. There were also many great heavy metal magazines that were published during this time. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best heavy metal magazines from the 1980’s.

The Birth of Thrash Metal

In the early 1980’s, a new form of heavy metal began to emerge. Called “thrash metal”, it was characterized by a faster, more aggressive sound. Bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer were at the forefront of this movement, and their popularity began to grow.

Heavy metal music magazines played an important role in promoting this new sound. They gave fans access to news, interviews, and reviews of both established and up-and-coming bands. These magazines also helped to create a sense of community among metal fans around the world.

During the 1980’s, many thrash metal bands achieved commercial success. This was due in part to the support of heavy metal magazines. Without them, the scene may have remained underground.

The Big Four of Thrash Metal

The 1980’s were a golden era for heavy metal music, with a new subgenre called “thrash metal” beginning to take shape. This style was characterized by its fast tempo, aggressive guitar playing, and often politically-charged lyrics. The so-called “Big Four” of thrash metal were four bands that are widely considered to have defined and shaped the genre: Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax.

Each of these bands had a unique sound that set them apart from the others, but they all shared a common passion for hard-hitting metal. Metallica was known for their technical prowess and unforgettable riffs, Megadeth for their dark and complex songwriting, Slayer for their pure aggression and energy, and Anthrax for their New York hardcore roots.

While the Big Four may have been the most famous thrash metal bands of the 1980’s, they were by no means the only ones making great music. Other notable bands from this era include Exodus, Testament, Overkill, Kreator, Destruction, Tankard, Sodom, Death Angel, Nuclear Assault, Voivod, Forbidden, and Sepultura.

The Rise of Death Metal

Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that first emerged in the early 1980s. It is characterized by highly distorted guitars, blast beat drumming, deep growling vocals, and sometimes macabre lyrics.

The genre’s origins can be traced back to bands such as Venom, whose 1982 debut albumWelcome to Hell laid the foundations for what would become death metal. In subsequent years, death metal proved to be hugely popular, particularly in the United States and Europe. Notable death metal bands from this era include Death, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, and Morbid Angel.

The 1990s saw the rise of so-called “melodic death metal”, which saw the incorporation of more melody and melody into the death metal sound. Notable bands from this era include In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and At The Gates.

Today, death metal remains hugely popular all over the world, with many different subgenres and stylistic variations having emerged in recent years.

Heavy Metal Magazines of the 1980’s

In the 1980’s, Heavy Metal music was at its peak. Many fans of the genre turned to magazines for the latest news, album reviews, and interviews with their favorite bands. Some of the most popular Heavy Metal magazines of the time included Kerrang!, Metal Forces, and Hit Parader. Let’s take a look at some of these magazines and how they influenced the Heavy Metal scene.

Kerrang!

Kerrang! is a British weekly magazine devoted to heavy metal and hard rock music, currently published by antipope Bauer Media Group. It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper. Named after the onomatopoeic word that derives from the sound made when playing a power chord on a distorted electric guitar, Kerrang! was initially devoted to the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) and the rise of hard rock acts. In the early 2000s it became known for its strong support of bands like Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne, as well as disdain for nu metal and pop punk.

In 2014, Kerrang! again diversified into digital long-form journalism, launching Kerrang! TV & Film – a website devoted to music-related films and documentaries.

Metal Forces

Metal Forces was a British heavy metal music magazine that was published from 1984 to 1995, and again from 2002 to 2014. The magazine was founded in 1984 by Bernard Doe, who was also the editor for many years.

The magazine featured many innovative features such as the “Hall of Fame” in which classic metal albums were reviewed and rated by current metal musicians, as well as “Demolition” in which upcoming metal bands were given a platform to present themselves to the metal world.

Metal Forces was also known for its strong support of underground metal bands, and its reviews and interviews with established metal bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth helped bring them to the attention of a wider audience.

The magazine ceased publication in 1995 due to financial difficulties, but was relaunched in 2002. It ceased publication again in 2014 due to declining sales.

Rock Hard

Rock Hard was a German music magazine that was first published in 1984. It focused on hard rock and heavy metal music. The magazine featured interviews, album reviews, and live reviews. It was one of the most popular heavy metal magazines of the 1980s.

The Legacy of the 1980’s Heavy Metal Scene

The 1980’s were a golden age for heavy metal music. With groundbreaking bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer, the genre was taking the world by storm. Heavy metal magazines were in high demand, giving fans a way to keep up with their favorite bands. These magazines were filled with news, interviews, and photos of the biggest names in metal. They were a window into a world of excitement and rebellion.

The Influence of the 1980’s Heavy Metal Scene

The 1980’s was a decade that saw the rise of heavy metal music. This aggressive and often grungy genre of music was popularized by bands such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Megadeth. Heavy metal music magazines were popular at the time, and many of them are still in circulation today. These magazines helped to promote the bands and the music, and they continue to do so. They also serve as a reminder of the impact that the 1980’s heavy metal scene had on the world of music.

The Impact of the 1980’s Heavy Metal Scene

In the early 1980’s, a new form of music was emerging. This music was called heavy metal, and it quickly gained a large following. Young people loved the heavy metal bands of the day, and they eagerly bought their albums and went to their concerts.

The 1980’s were a time of great change in the music industry. With the advent of MTV, music became more visual. Music videos became popular, and heavy metal bands began to make them. This helped to increase the popularity of heavy metal music.

In the late 1980’s, the popularity of heavy metal began to decline. Grunge music, which was a darker and more serious form of rock, became popular. Heavy metal bands lost their audience, and many disbanded or broke up.

Despite the decline in popularity, the legacy of the 1980’s heavy metal scene still remains. Many heavy metal bands from the 1980’s are still active today, and their music is still popular with fans old and new. The impact of the 1980’s heavy metal scene can still be seen and heard in today’s world.