As heavy metal approaches its half century mark, we are all reminded that it is one of the most influential music genres of the 20th century. It is still as popular and as relevant today as in its glory days.
In the late 70s, the genre ranked a slight fall in popularity but in the 80s it blew up and became one of the most famous genres enjoyed all around the globe. The controversy and criticism that surrounded heavy metal in the 80s boosted its popularity even more and made it bigger than ever.
Now that all the accusations of “bad influence” are long gone, we can freely say that heavy metal is one of the best things that happened to music ever.
The golden years of the genre gave us a tremendous amount of great songs and genre-pushing albums that will be cherished for decades to come.
Although it is really difficult to choose the best from so many popular and prolific heavy metal bands, here are 10 bands from the modern era that changed the heavy metal landscape forever.
Black Sabbath
Iron Maiden
Metallica
Judas Priest
Pantera
Slipknot
Dio
Tool
Motorhead
Megadeth
