The Heavy Metal Music of the 80s

The 80s was a golden era for heavy metal music, with bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer breaking into the mainstream. If you’re a fan of this genre, then check out our blog for the latest news and reviews.

Introduction

The 1980s was a hugely important decade for heavy metal music. It was the decade that saw the genre really come into its own, with bands such as Metallica, Megadeth and Iron Maiden becoming global superstars. The 80s also saw the rise of the so-called ‘hair metal’ scene, with bands like Motley Crue and Def Leppard becoming huge commercial successes.

The 80s was a decade of huge innovation in heavy metal, with bands pushing the boundaries of what was possible both musically and lyrically. It was also a decade that saw the genre become more commercialised and mainstream, with heavy metal music videos becoming a staple of MTV.

If you’re a fan of heavy metal music, then the 1980s is definitely a decade worth exploring. Here are just some of the many highlights…

The Birth of Heavy Metal

It is hard to overestimate the importance of the decade of the 1980s in the history of heavy metal music. This was the decade when heavy metal came of age, both commercially and artistically. It was the decade when metal finally broke through to the mainstream and became a truly global phenomenon. It was also the decade when metal reached its peak of excess and excessiveness, when it produced some of its most over-the-top music and moments.

The 70s

The origins of heavy metal music can be traced back to the early 1970s, when a number of bands began pushing the limits of rock music with their distorted guitars, heavy drumming, and aggressive lyrics. This new sound quickly caught on with rock fans, and by the end of the decade, there were a number of bands making this type of music.

One of the earliest and most influential heavy metal bands was Black Sabbath, who formed in Birmingham, England in 1968. Sabbath’s dark and doomy sound was unlike anything else at the time, and their self-titled debut album (1970) is now considered a classic. Other early heavy metal bands include Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Blue Oyster Cult.

Heavy metal truly came into its own in the 1980s, with a new wave of bands that took the sound to new heights. These bands – including Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer – became known as the “Big Four” of thrash metal, and their popularity helped propel the genre to new levels. The 1980s also saw the rise of glam metal, a subgenre defined by its flashy visuals and catchy hooks. Bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison were among the most successful acts of this era.

Today, heavy metal is one of the most popular forms of rock music in the world. It has spawned countless subgenres and subcultures, and its influence can be heard in all corners of the musical landscape.

The 80s

The 80s was a time of great change for heavy metal. With the rise of glam metal and hair bands, the sound and look of the genre was evolving. This decade also saw the birth of thrash metal, a subgenre that would come to dominate the metal scene in the years to follow.

The early 80s were defined by bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Motörhead. These bands laid the foundation for what would become one of the most popular genres of music in the world. They also inspired a new generation of musicians who would take their sound in different directions.

Glam metal emerged in the early 80s as a response to the popularity of hard rock. Bands like Mötley Crüe and Poison embraced a more commercially acceptable look and sound that was still heavy enough to appeal to metal fans. This new style of metal would come to dominate the airwaves in the United States throughout the decade.

Thrash metal was born in the mid-80s as bands pushed the boundaries of speed and aggression. Bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer pioneered this new sound, which would go on to become one of the most popular subgenres of metal.

The 80s was a decade that saw heavy metal evolve into many different forms. From the early days of Judas Priest to the rise of thrash metal, this decade was essential to the development of heavy metal music.

The Big Four

The Big Four of 80s metal music are Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. These four bands are often credited with helping to create and popularize the heavy metal music genre. They are also considered to be some of the most influential bands of all time.

Metallica

Formed in 1981 by Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, Metallica quickly became one of the biggest bands in heavy metal. With a string of classic albums including “Master of Puppets” and “Ride the Lightning,” the band established itself as one of the genre’s most important groups. In the 1990s, Metallica expanded its sound with the release of “Metallica,” also known as The Black Album, which featured more accessible songs like “Enter Sandman.” Since then, Metallica has continued to be a force in heavy metal, with a loyal fan base around the world.

Megadeth

Hailed as one of the big four of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, Megadeth was formed in 1983 by Dave Mustaine after he was kicked out of Metallica. Megadeth went on to release a string of classic albums in the 1980s and 1990s including Peace Sells…But Who’s Buying?, Rust in Peace, and Countdown to Extinction. The band has continued to tour and release new music throughout the 2000s and 2010s, and they show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Slayer

Slayer is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. They are credited with helping to pioneer the fast, aggressive style of metal that came to define the genre. In the early 1980s, Slayer’s music was heavily influenced by that of their contemporaries, such as Metallica and Iron Maiden. However, they soon developed a sound that was uniquely their own, characterized by rapid tempos, complex riffing and a high level of aggression.

Slayer rose to prominence with their 1986 album Reign in Blood, which is considered one of the greatest thrash metal albums of all time. They have released 11 studio albums, five of which have received Grammy nominations. They have also achieved considerable success with their live performances, particularly their annual headlining spot at the prestigious Download Festival.

Anthrax

Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by rhythm guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group is considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal movement, and for a time was musical allies with Metallica. Of the “Big Four” thrash metal bands-Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer- Anthrax was the only band from the East Coast. As of 2016, the band has released eleven studio albums, a number of singles and an EP with American hip hop group Public Enemy.

The band’s first album Fistful of Metal was released in 1984 on Megaforce Records. Lilker soon left the band due to creative differences; he was replaced by roadie Frank Bello. Vocalist/guitarist Joey Belladonna joined around this time. With he and Ian as the core songwriting team, Anthrax released Spreading the Disease in 1985; Among the Living in 1987; State of Euphoria in 1988 (with Rob Caggiano on lead guitar); Persistence of Time in 1990; and Sound of White Noise in 1993 (with John Bush on vocals).

The Legacy

The 80s was the decade of big hair, shoulder pads, and heavy metal music. Some of the most iconic bands of all time came out of this decade, such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest. These bands defined an entire genre of music and continue to have a huge influence on metal music today.

The 90s

The 90s were a time of change for heavy metal. The genre became more diverse, with bands Experimenting with different sounds, structures and instrumentation. This led to the development of subgenres such as nu metal, black metal and death metal. Metalcore and post-hardcore also emerged during this decade. Many of the biggest names in metal released their most iconic albums in the 90s, with Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax all putting out records that would go on to define the genre.

The New Millennium

The beginning of the new millennium signaled a change in the music industry. With the advent of file sharing, the internet, and social media, it became easier for bands to connect with their fans and promote their music. This led to a new wave of metal bands that were able to find an audience without the help of a major label.

One of the most important things that these new bands had in common was that they were influenced by the metal of the 80s. This was a time when metal was at its commercial and critical peak. Bands like Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer were setting new standards for what metal could be. They were also influencing a new generation of musicians who would go on to form some of the most important metal bands of the 21st century.