Amen, brother. And there are ppl claiming metal is dead. Where it's never been more alive, well and relevant. Watching the news lately I cannot help but remember songs like Metallica's Beholder.
It's also kind of when even the nü-metal releases worth defending start to dry up. No Wisconsin Death Trip or Life is Peachy in sight. That said, it was a good time for gnarly old-school metalcore/mathcore/proto-deathcore, sludgy glowering doom and super weird black metal, so I can find plenty to speak well of.
1992 or 1993. It's when metal bands really started experimenting with what the genre could be capable of, both in the mainstream and underground. Examples: (1992) Alice in Chains - Dirt Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond Bolt Thrower - The IVth Crusade Cannibal Corpse - Tomb of the Mutilated Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky Danzig - Danzig III: How the Gods Kill Deicide - Legion Dream Theater - Images and Words Faith No More - Angel Dust Helmet - Meantime Incantation - Onward to Golgotha Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction Ministry - Psalm 69 Neurosis - Souls at Zero Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power Rage Against the Machine - s/t Rollins Band - The End of Silence White Zombie - La Sexorcisto (1993) Atheist - Elements Carcass - Heartwork Crowbar - s/t Cynic - Focus Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon Death - Individual Thought Patterns Dismember - Indecent and Obscene Dissection - The Somberlain Entombed - Wolverine Blues Eyehategod - Take as Needed for Pain Gorguts - The Erosion of Sanity Immortal - Pure Holocaust Life of Agony - River Runs Red Melvins - Houdini Morbid Angel - Covenant My Dying Bride - Turn Loose the Swans Necrophobic - The Nocturnal Silence Neurosis - Enemy of the Sun Paradise Lost - Icon Primus - Pork Soda Sepultura - Chaos A.D. Sleep - Sleep's Holy Mountain Suffocation - Breeding the Spawn Tool - Undertow Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
I'm shocked at how many great albums are on there which are, moreover, completely different from one another. Ministry, Sleep, Neurosis, Suffocation, Darkthrone, Sepultura, Primus, Eyehategod, Atheist, Tool, Paradise Lost, Carcass, Helmet, Pantera, Gorguts, Life of Agony, Entombed, Blind Guardian-even the bands on that list in the same basic subgenre have nothing to do with one another much of the time. What a fertile period, my god.
As a Swede I would argue that the late nineties where really good for metal, but I just listened basically to metal from Scandinavia at that time. It just shows that where you are shifts your perspective on the subject as well...
How did they say "1983" so many times and not include "Show No Mercy" every time? It probably is my favorite debut of all the big thrash bands. Edit: Martin mentioned it toward the end. I think the seminal year is '83 with ease. The volume of releases, including arguably the most important debuts of the bands that shaped what metal has become. Not to mention, the iconic figures associated with said releases. And then the breakout commercial success of several bands.
This was by far the best Lock Horns! It made me think about what the Underground was doing at the same time as the main stream in the eighties, and in a sense much more influential those bands and albums have had on nineties a definitely band in the two thousands. To me it seems that some subgenres in a whole are actually more popular to metal fans than what are considered mainstream metal bands. Some of those Underground bands that emerged from the nineties are considered mainstream now but still hold alot of the underground with them. It's really incredible to think how this music genre has grown in a short time, not really any other music genre can say that other than probably Hip-Hop, Rap whatever you wanna call It, it to has many subgenres. I classify hardcore in this to, cause that shit is heavy and vital part of thrash to me. This episode had me goose bumped it just really took me and made me break to the ereas that changed my life and when metal first took hold of me in 1990.
Love the conclusion/ consensus. I've been saying that year from the beginning. Great show. Thank you so much for sharing in a less than ideal time in the world. Love ya!
Maybe a tie....(including hard rock) 1984 1986 Metallica - Ride The Lightning Metallica - Master Of Puppets Iron Maiden - Powerslave Slayer - Reign In Blood Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith Megadeth - Peace Sells But Who's Anthrax - Fistful Of Metal Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time Slayer - Haunting The Chapel King Diamond - Fatal Portrait Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales Motorhead - Orgasmatron VoiVod - War & Pain Sepultura - Morbid Visions Metal Church - Self Titled Metal Church - The Dark Venom - At War With Satan VoiVod - Rrrroooaaarrr Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath Kreator - Pleasure To Kill Exciter - Violence & Force Destruction - Eternal Devastation Queensryche - The Warning Nuclear Assault - Game Over WASP - Self Titled Queensryche - Rage For Order Van Halen -1984 Judas Priest - Turbo Rush - Grace Under Pressure Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin Dokken - Tooth & Nail Flotsam & Jetsom - Doomsday for The Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
I was thinking 1984 too. Not that it's the greatest year albums-wise but, by then, Metal is very popular (both hair & heavy), Thrash is taking up and, well and there's all the seeds of what makes Metal great.
@@nimrodgutfreund4734 That's the thing, this episode of Lock Horns is way too focused on studio albums forgetting that metal is also live albums, demos and tours. Not once have I heard of Iron Maiden's World Slavery Tour, which was a momentum event for heavy metal everywhere and especially in North America, or any other tour for that matter... By narrowing the debate to only studio albums, they did a disservice to metal, me thinks.
Trying to be objective while choosing the most important "year" in heavy metal is so difficult ! as mentioned before in the programme i believe it's all to do with your age and that very moment you put the needle in the groove and became a metal head ! for me i was 13 in 83 and "kill em all" was a revolution !!
It's almost sure I'll see it morning. 1970- for birth metal; 1980- for rebirth of British heavy metal; 1983-1985- for birth of extrem metal- black thrash and death....and 1990's- when death metal and black metal started to become main subgenres in metal.....
1980 - NWOBHM was the foundation for everything in the future of metal and the last great moment before the split between the extreme and the commercial. Hundreds of important bands that never made it and one juggernaut who did: Iron Maiden 1983 - Breakout commercial success with Def Leppard, Crue, and Quiet Riot, but also the birth of Thrash with Metallica and Slayer. 1986 - The pinnacle of Thrash for many bands and especially all of the so called BIG FOUR (Anthrax is just okay) 1987 - The breakout moment of extreme metal - Death with Death metal and Bathory with the first insanely great black metal album. Also commercial success with Guns n Roses.
1986 also the year when mainstream metal/hard rock probably reached its pinnacle: Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet", Europe's "The Final Countdown" and Poison's "Look What the Cat Dragged In" as the biggest hits along with Cinderella's "Night Songs", Stryper's "To Hell With the Devil", Ratt's "Dancing Undercover" or the first "Van Hagar" album, as well as classic bands like Maiden, Priest, Ozzy or even Motorhead changing their sound to a far more polished, synth-influenced one. Probably the last time metal as a whole was so popular in the mainstream.
@@Kongorlobo Great Point. Thrash and glam really did peak in popularity at the same time. Another thing I forgot about 1987, Napalm Death's Scum. So 87 was the breakout year for Grindcore, Death Metal, and Black Metal...not necessarily the very beginning, but a huge breakout. I'd say 1980 was the most important year for Heavy Metal as a whole, 86 was the pinnacle, and 87 was the most important year for extreme metal. I don't think we can pinpoint one year for the pinnacle of extreme metal though, it was a pretty even peak between 89 and 93.
1986: thrash hits a major high point with classic releases by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Kreator, etc. Candlemass released a doom masterpiece. Cro-Mags lay down the framework for metalcore, which is important even if not good. Maiden released an album with 3 good songs. All in, a pretty good year.
I would argue that this is the year the underground starts in earnest as well, which is important to me personally as well as many of the subculture as a whole.
Really good episode. My pick would be 84 but 83 is a very close second. So many great releases and this was also an incredible time for the rise in guitar virtuosity. I do want to mention something I always find curious. Yes, Blizzard of Ozz was released in 1980-in Europe-but it was out in the US in Spring 1981. I first heard Crazy Train in May 1981 on a radio show showcasing new releases. Although it’s technically correct to say it’s a 1980 release, it’ll always be a 1981 release for me. Side note, although my vote for best HM year is 1984, I’d say 1981 is my overall favorite year for great releases for Rock, HM and pop. A solid year
To me, 1984 was the most exciting year in metal because the metal underground was exploding then and everything was new and fresh. 1983 was probably the most "important" year, but 1984 was my favorite.
It's so funny, how much I enjoy you guys talking about one of the most influential things in my life, which is music, and Metal in particular. Enjoyed your nerdy banter very much, thank you so much.
As someone who got into the newer era of metal bands and 2005 was a year that created some true gems of the genre that introduced me and loads of my friends into the genre Kreator - Enemy of God Dark Tranquility - Character Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama TRVIUM - ASCENDANCY Mudvayne - Lost and Found AVENGED SEVENFOLD - CITY OF EVIL Devildriver - Fury of Our Makers Hand As I Lay Dying - Shadows are Security Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine Children of Bodom - Are you Dead yet BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - THE POISON Roadrunner United
1986 for sure. Metallica- Master of Puppets, Megadeth- Peace Sells But Who’s Buying and Slayer- Reign in Blood. Three of the greatest metal albums ever. Also Iron Maiden Somewhere In Time is a great album from that year.
As far as decade, it’d be hard to argue against the 80s. The best NWOBHM albums were released, hair metal was huge, and practically all the genres that we love today began: thrash, death, black, grindcore, even avant-garde metal had their beginnings in the 80s
aquatic rhombus I wouldn't call "avant-garde metal" a genre, but I would say that the late '80s in particular were the point where metal began to *get* overtly experimental, whether we're talking about Celtic Frost's flirtations with high modernist classical tones or the wild treatments that defined the Morbid Angel guitar sound or the introduction of sampling, programmed percussion and outright noise elements with the likes of Godflesh, KMFDM, Malhavoc and Ministry. And, just, Voïvod, period, full stop. Extremely innovative band.
1983 This is the year NWOBHM peaked, thrash and glam metal were just starting to stake a claim, classic metal was having a second wind, and extreme metal was germinating. Stand out releases from this time: Metal Health - Quiet Riot, Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue, Kill Em’ All - Metallica, Show No Mercy - Slayer, Peace of Mind - Iron Maiden, Holy Diver - Dio, Pyromania - Def Leopard,
Born in 1970… Started playing guitar in 87. Going to try and frame my comment from that perspective in that era. I do feel a certain kinship to Martin Popoff , in regards to how I was exposed to music. We had to search, we had to dig through stacks of records, we had to get tapes from older brothers/sisters and neighbors and cousins and uncles and friends and shit like that...etc. I’m sure me being Teenager during this time says a lot , but ya...My first instinct is to point to the years 1980-1988... 10 years old when I saw the iron maiden album cover and said holy fuck I got to have that. At that point I was already in and out of the kiss army and I had the sabbath albums etc etc ...That period of time was just a bottomless well of discovery. Between digging up things that had already been released and the seemingly endless creativity of new bands I feel like I was hearing a new album every day. I listened to a lot of different styles but I know this is a metal hang out... so I will say that it felt like heavy music stomped on the gas , smashed through the walls , and blew through the fucking atmosphere like a goddamn rocket ship during that era....and yes , kept on going, with unstoppable greatness thru the years .
There was so much quality output in 1986, it was a tough one to compete against. 1980 also had similar output, but primarily British releases. 1978 gave us "Stained Class" AND "Killing Machine", a mere 9 months apart from each other ... just think about THAT dynamic, for a second, since everything that followed (with very few exceptions) owes some sort of hommage to those two monumental records by Priest (and, as Martin once wrote, the ancestral lineage to "Stained Class" was untraceable) My vote is 1978, purely for historical reasons.
I mostly agree. After those two Judas Priest albums undoubtedly was the point LOTS of bands starting playing the style. In most of the 70s there was black sabbath and bands that sounds 95% like them. Then Judas Priest had the 'screaming' guitar sound and Halford's fantastic vocals. Then 95% of bands tried to emulate that in at least some way.
For me it's one of the following : 1983 1984 1986 I kinda just think the albums that really defined metal and helped it evolve came out in these years. 1980 and 1988 pretty cool too.
1981 Venom - Welcome to Hell ( would of been no Metallica , Slayer , Bathory , Pantera , Carcass , or Devourment without it ) , Def Leppard - High n Dry ( which defined their style ) , Iron Maiden - Killers ( which received wider distribution stateside ) , Black Sabbath - Mob Rules ( much heavier than Heaven , and He'll ) , Riot - Fire Down Under ( the first classic US Metal album ) , Judas Priest - Point of Entry ( the most hated Judas Priest album prior to Turbo ) . The Hot Rocking video was the premonition to Rob Halford coming out of the closet .
I'm with Martin on this. I was there as a metal fan in the early 80's. 1983 was probably the year when not only NWOBHM peaked but it was also that year that a creative explosion happened in US metal. Without the albums that came out in '83 nearly all of modern metal would not exist.
1983. That was when metal got its fangs and claws and started really scaring the shit out of parents and the religious right. Because I was 11 at the time and in a conservative family, I was actually on the 'protected' side of it for a while so I definitely see 1983 as a pivot point where people really got more scared of metal and its potential. I find a special charm in the raw production from 1983 - Kill Em All and Show No Mercy, and on the more commercial gateway metal side you had Shout at the Devil and Metal Health.
1989-1991. Some of the most unique and innovative bands during that era. Excel, Kinghorse, Obituary coming into their own and Fear Factory’s groundbreaking debut on Roadrunner. So many killer albums.
Completly agree on 1980, although my desert island year is 2000, just because emotionaly speaking was the year that I bought both Brave New World and Hybrid Theory as a 12 year old kid, scrolling through album covers at the cd store, that was my gateway to a whole new universe.
One thing I’ll Say for years is just because an album comes out in a year like 1987 when Appetite for Destruction comes out. It doesn’t mean that the album made the year. Everyone slept on that album until almost a year later when it exploded, making it more of a win for 1988. You could factor albums from the previous year into the year you’re vouching for like 1983. Number of the Beast and Screaming for Vengeance probably had more impact in 1983 than 1982
Papa Billydeth Agreed. It’s important to really take in the historical context. When did people actually start listening to the album? When did the album’s influence become apparent? What tours were going on? What was the state of the underground and mainstream metal cultures during that year? And so on and so forth
We were metal in high school in small-town WI in 1982 by 83 it was fairly popular even among REO fans. By 86 it was near everywhere. By 1992 it changed sometimes change is good and even though I grew up as metal did. I still enjoy modern acts its all good if its real metal.
Completely agree that the 80s is the decade without question as most genres and all subgeneres in the tree and discussed in Banger come from the 80s. I also agree with 1980 as the most important year, although was also debating between 83 and 86 because of the significance to me age-wise and metal preference-wise. Excellent! Keep the good work and debates. Always enjoy listening to and reading Professor Popoff. \m/
Definitely agree on 1980 after all the points were made here. Gotta say though, I completely back 2004 as a choice. So many incredible records of different varieties which to me showed that metal was back at a forefront stronger than it had been in a long time. Even the old guard was experiencing a boom-Sabbath and Ozzy still going strong as one example.
Ohh shiit, that's an awesome topic to discuss! I would have to say 1982, with the release of The Number Of The Beast from Iron Maiden, where I personally believe metal took it's perfected form, only to become better and better later in the 80's.
@@Maryyyschka Yay :) ! And let's not forget Screaming for vengance from Judas priest! 82 is my personal pick but again 84,86,88 all have masterpiece albums. I think traditional metal reached its peak in 88, because of Maiden's Seventh son of a seventh son which is my favorite album of all time, im obssesed with that album! And then groove/gunge/extreme subgenres took over the 90's, I like pantera for example and they are indeed very important, but Maiden has influence every single band after it.
Megadeth, Slayer & Priest put out arguably their greatest albums with their classic line-up while Pantera & Alice In Chains burst onto the scene with a couple of classics. Cowboys From Hell Rust In Peace Seasons In The Abyss Painkiller Facelift Those 5 alone have to put 1990 in the discussion. Plus Exhorders underrated masterpiece Slaughter In The Vatican, Anthraxs Persistence Of Time is one if their best records. Testament, Dio and Black Sabbath records are also very underrated.
don't forget quite a few death metal albums came out that year Left Hand Path Deicide Cause of Death Dark Recollections Eaten Back To Life Harmony Corruption Master (after being locked away for 5 years)
1966( to go back further than 50 years) .... Acid Rock signals the birth of Heavy Metal White Rabbit,Journey to the center of the mind, Purple Haze : three of the many songs that started it all !
1994! This year takes the standard of metal to a completely new level of production, guitar tone and tuning, style of vocals, everything.. metal hasn't jumped as far in progress than it did that year. And even at that Pantera had a number 1 platinum selling album, and look how heavy that album is! Cobain died in 94 and put a nail in the grunge coffin, all the black metal, machine heads burn my eyes, cannibal corpse, Korn's first album, And there was also a Woodstock!
Can’t really argue against 1969 or 1970 for the formation of Black Sabbath or the release of their debut album. 1981 is runner-up for the release of Venom’s Welcome to Hell.
1984. Not just because of the albums and bands that came out that year but also because of the albums and bands that were popular that year. People finally heard of Metallica, Venom and so many other extreme bands. Established bands had one of there best years. Ozzy, Mötley Crue, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister owned 1984. Too many bands finding new audiences to name them. That was the year metal hit the mainstream. Extreme metal firmly Established and gaining speed. Awesome year.
About '83: it's the year Quiet Riot's metal Health topped the charts, making lots of people aware of metal. Also, there's the '83 US Festival, with Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy, Priest, Triumph, Scorpions and Van Halen sharing the stage on the same day. So yeah, I agree '83 was the year metal broke out of the underground as a genre. Add to that Pyromania, Kill 'Em All, Holy Diver, Piece Of Mind, Gary Moore's Victims Of The Future, Savatage's Sirens, Show No Mercy, Thin Lizzy's Thunder And Lightning, Grim Reaper's See You In Hell, Alcatrazz's No Parole For Rock N' Roll (with a certain swedish guitar player that would make quite a splash)... Definitely a turning year.
1986 without a doubt!!! I was 12 when slayer,metallica,flotsam,dark angel,nuclear assault,megadeth just to name a few entered my life & been a head since
I'd say 1980. The NWOBHM was in full force, which really cemented Heavy Metal as a unique subculture and separate form of music and the music produced within that movement influenced more or less every metal band that followed in the years to come. Plus in terms of albums you had British Steel, Ace Of Spades, Heaven And Hell, Iron Maiden, Wheels Of Steel, etc.
Fantastic metal albums have been released every year since it's inception. I'd agree with 1980 being extremely important. The 90s are still great once you look past the most popular sounds. The 90s was for more exploration than ever. Black metal came into its own and bands like Opeth got their start too.
I would say that we might write down the 6 most important things that happen at every year plus the 6 top albums per year. Example 1980 1. Death of John Lennon - THE BEATLES 2. Death of Bon Scott - AC DC 3. Death of John Bonham - LED ZEPPELIN 4. Peter Criss left KISS 5. Brian Johnson joins AC DC 6. Ozzy Osbourne stars his solo career. ALBUMS 1. IRON MAIDEN - Iron Maiden 2. OZZY - Blizzard of Oz 3. AC DC - Back in Black 4. KISS - Unmasked 5. BLACK SABBATH - Heaven and Hell 6. MOTORHEAD - Ace of Spades Just to mention an example.... and that could be the most important year in metal (rock, heavy or music) history.
Haven't watched this yet but I'm about to. The obvious first point of course is '70 when it was birthed, but I believe the best year for metal was definitely '86. So many life changing and groundbreaking things happened in that year with honorable mentions to '82, '83 '87, '90, and '94.
Of course everything is a moment in time and all of the opinions are valid, but important and influential are different. Most important is the mid 80s where the image faded and the music moved to the front, early Metallica and other Big 4 members were SO important. Most influential would be IMO the early 90s Pantera, Slayer and Sepultura ruled the early 90s. Vulgar Display of Power, Seasons in The Abyss and Chaos AD still hold up 100% today and spawned SO many other bands.
I'd say 1980 or 1981. You had Saxon first album, Witchfynde's Stage Fright and Give Em Hell, Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell, Def Leppard's debut, Iron Maiden's debut, Judas Priest's British Steel, Michael Schenker Group, Ozzy's first solo record, ACDC Back In Black, Angel Witch's first album, Tygers of Pan Tang's Wild Cat, etc. Then in '81 you got Motorhead's Ace of Spades, Venom's Welcome to Hell, Motley Crue's debut, Loudness Birthday Eve, Cirith Ungol Frost and Fire, Accept's Breaker, Riot's Fire Down Under, VH's Fair Warning, etc. Shit, even 1982 had important records. Either way, early 80's was when Heavy Metal really got it's sounds and identity.
I was well chuffed to see that the year I picked (1980) won out in the end, though there were a couple points that didn't get mentioned....Heaven and Hell got scant mention but that's a really important part of the argument for 1980. Also, though thrash and black metal was still a few years away, Motorhead was the one band that released a record that year that pointed the way forward to all things faster and heavier. And I was surprised that there was no mention of the fact that Def Leppard's debut album came out in 1980. Though pretty lightweight compared to all other bands mentioned, they definitely could be called hair metal or pop metal, and this was one of the first records of that ilk aside from maybe Van Halen. Lastly, let's not forget that British Steel was released in 1980 as well. Great episode fellas.
@@BBQcheese unpopular because its not true! JK mate but I cannot agree there. Master isn't even my favourite Metallica record (I prefer Ride the Lightning) but Peace Sells is not close to Rust in Peace... change my mind!!!
The 1992 guy with the plaid jacket didn't even mention Tool and Rage Against the Machine for 1992, as well as Rollins Band and Danzig and of course Pantera. I'd throw in Iced Earth as well.
1980 (by far) AC/DC - Back in Black Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden Judas Priest - British Steel Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz Motörhead - Ace of Spades Saxon - Wheels of Steel Angel Witch - Angel Witch Def Leppard - On Through the Night Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations Scorpions - Animal Magnetism Thin Lizzy - Chinatown Van Halen - Women and Children First Any questions?
I've heard of Mercyful Fate...I even owned a copy of Come to the Sabbath lp back in the day Just a thought: Mercyful Fate is the Godfather band of Occult metal
86 no contest. 3 of the biggest thrash albums of all time and a ton of other masterpiece thrash, Motörhead, maiden, priest , Saint Vitus, candlemass etc.
Based on my listening habits lately, 1991 (surprised it didn't get more than a footnote in this conversation). It was to death metal what 1986 was to thrash. Anyone who knows OSDM knows what I'm talking about. Outside of DM, there were exciting things happening all over music in general.
When you guys are talking about the 70s into the progression to 1980 I think you missed some key acts or sounds at least. While American Rock/Metal went more towards the glam/theatric side, in Europe you had Judas Priest finding their sound in the 70s, Motörhead coming out, and guitarists such as Ritchie Blackmore from Rainbow and Michael Schenker of UFO creating that icon guitar sound and style which influenced the guitar solo prowess of NWOBM and early Thrash.
Terrific topic; the whole thing is a rather tough one, so I am glad you covered it. I'm fairly torn, even though I have a clear decision. For me, it must be the 80s, because that's where you get a million heavy metal bands, tons of subgenres are born, guitar heroes left and right; heavy metal is at its most commercial and earns the reputation is still has 40 years later. The 70s, though not as barren of heavy music as generally though, has none of these things. The main reason for considering the 70s more significant is that the blueprint for everything is done in the 70s just about. There's no fresh ideas in the 80s. Rush pioneers progressive metal, Uli Jon Roth invents shredding, Ritchie Blackmore invents neoclassical and the heavy metal gallop, Eddie Van Halen popularizes two-handed tapping, Alice Cooper, Sweet, and Angel pioneer glam metal, Lemmy pioneers the harsh vocal, Black Sabbath creates doom metal, Wishbone Ash/Thin Lizzy create the twin lead, harmonized guitar parts commodity. Other than black metal and death metal, there are really no new ideas in the 80s. But still, the 80s is THE decade I have to go with. The years really interest me a lot as well too. '70, '76, '80, and '83 are without a doubt the turning points for everything I think. '70 of course is the invention, '76 to me acts as a foreshadowing, also showing the diversity of heavy music at the time as a lot of heavy acts had their day in the sun, showing that the future of heavy metal was bright and could continue in diversity, '80 of course is the explosion, and '83 takes up a lot of the history that heavy metal has left. Thrash, hair metal, even progressive metal a little bit with the rise of Savatage and Queensryche, plus the Satanic lyrics of Mercyful Fate influencing black metal. Although '80 is a good pick, I would also have to go with '83.
Will there be any new LockedHorns episodes? It is always a great show with interesting topics. Seems like it’s been a while since this episode was released.
I have a hard time deciding between '83 and '84. in '83 we got Show No Mercy and Kill 'em all and Melissa. and in '84 we got Hellhammer and Bathory, in addition to more albums by Slayer, Metallica and Mercyful Fate
Shoutout to '78, with the release of Van Halen. Eddie's playing reinvented how rock guitar is played, but at the same time he might have invented heavy guitar. The speed and ferocity of his playing at that time was unheard of and spawned hundreds of imitators but influenced so many players as well. If thrash was about speed, then Eddie was the first shredder. As far as a single year though, I was also dead set on '86. Hearing the arguments for the different decades and years had me swaying, but im making my case for '91 though. Slave to the Grind was the first heavy metal album to hit #1. the Use your Illusion albums catapulted GnR into the biggest band in the world and The Black Album catapulted Metallica as the biggest metal band in the world. Metal/Heavy metal/hard rock had become not only mainstream, but the biggest music genre, period, thanks to MTV. Sepultura released Arise. Ozzy had his second career resurrection with No More Tears. Pantera were working on unleashing Vulgar Display of Power the following year. A lot of the hair metal bands were having their last hurrah's before the explosion of grunge. Heavy music was probably never as popular as it was in 91, which would then lead many to go back and search for the classics from the 80's. People who discovered Metallica thanks to the Black Album would go back and listen to the 80s stuff, and then seek out the other bands in the genre, and so on.
I think we needed to define what we were looking for... Most influential or most important?... The year that had the most albums that influenced the most bands I think is 1980... However, the most important year depends on what type of music you listen to... For extreme metal, the most important year is definitely 1986.
1976, no question. The year of Sad Wings of Destiny, 2112 and Rainbow Rising. Before that, Sabbath were the only game in town. After that, the whole world got on board.
1980 defines the genre and it reached its peak of popularity in 1986 from my point of view. That doesn´t mean that a year would be more important than other. Anyway i would go with 1980.
When I saw the topic I immediately thought, "oh, it's gotta be 1980, that's easy." The discussion dances around to fill an hour-long show, and then they conclude with the obvious choice.
I was persuaded... 1980 it is! Though I was rooting for 83 since it's the year I graduated high school. (Yes, I am older than heavy metal.) And I actually thought the reader argument for 2004 was pretty solid, too. We all owe so much to the web (and to TH-cam, which I think launched in 2005?), even old farts like me who have been able to catch up with the new stuff, fill in gaps, and not stay stuck in the past.
It's funny, Sam had me convinced about 1989 with Pantera, Megadeth's Countdown to Extinction--both huge and great, so much better than the Black Album, and Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness leading us into the extreme. Plus Kyuss, FNM, and so many others. I wish John the plaid guy had stuck up for 1992. I was all ready to give up my 1986. But then Sam switched it up for 1980? As he said "I don't really listen to a lot of albums from 1980... but... for historical reasons..." Anyway, very fun show and lively discussion. Now let's nail down the best MONTH in metal ;)
I think there's a distinction between the best year (1986 in my opinion) and the most important year, which I think they nail with 1980. Without 1980, in terms of influence we don't get what comes next in '83 onwards, this is also when Metal as a culture starts to be defined. A case could of course be made that without Sabbath in 1970 you don't get to where we end up in 1980, in turn you could look at who influenced Sabbath, then you get into a real Chicken and Egg argument!
1986...thrash changed everything for everyone!!!!
The most important year in metal is the year we live in - because it shows that metal is more alive than ever and constantly developing.
This
Bingo. The current year.
Amen, brother. And there are ppl claiming metal is dead. Where it's never been more alive, well and relevant. Watching the news lately I cannot help but remember songs like Metallica's Beholder.
Exactly
Also, you can listen to all the records from the previous years (insert eddie murphy meme here)
On the 90s:
“I can see why the back half of the decade can get a bad rap.”
Good unintentional pun right there
Haha!!
It's also kind of when even the nü-metal releases worth defending start to dry up. No Wisconsin Death Trip or Life is Peachy in sight. That said, it was a good time for gnarly old-school metalcore/mathcore/proto-deathcore, sludgy glowering doom and super weird black metal, so I can find plenty to speak well of.
I can't tell if that was supposed to be sexual or hip-hop related... either would be true.
1992 or 1993. It's when metal bands really started experimenting with what the genre could be capable of, both in the mainstream and underground.
Examples:
(1992)
Alice in Chains - Dirt
Blind Guardian - Somewhere Far Beyond
Bolt Thrower - The IVth Crusade
Cannibal Corpse - Tomb of the Mutilated
Darkthrone - A Blaze in the Northern Sky
Danzig - Danzig III: How the Gods Kill
Deicide - Legion
Dream Theater - Images and Words
Faith No More - Angel Dust
Helmet - Meantime
Incantation - Onward to Golgotha
Kyuss - Blues for the Red Sun
Megadeth - Countdown to Extinction
Ministry - Psalm 69
Neurosis - Souls at Zero
Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
Rage Against the Machine - s/t
Rollins Band - The End of Silence
White Zombie - La Sexorcisto
(1993)
Atheist - Elements
Carcass - Heartwork
Crowbar - s/t
Cynic - Focus
Darkthrone - Under a Funeral Moon
Death - Individual Thought Patterns
Dismember - Indecent and Obscene
Dissection - The Somberlain
Entombed - Wolverine Blues
Eyehategod - Take as Needed for Pain
Gorguts - The Erosion of Sanity
Immortal - Pure Holocaust
Life of Agony - River Runs Red
Melvins - Houdini
Morbid Angel - Covenant
My Dying Bride - Turn Loose the Swans
Necrophobic - The Nocturnal Silence
Neurosis - Enemy of the Sun
Paradise Lost - Icon
Primus - Pork Soda
Sepultura - Chaos A.D.
Sleep - Sleep's Holy Mountain
Suffocation - Breeding the Spawn
Tool - Undertow
Type O Negative - Bloody Kisses
What about Mr Bungle? They kind of blew open the possibilities of what metal could be along with a ton of other music genres.
What a fuckin list. Incredible albums there
I'm shocked at how many great albums are on there which are, moreover, completely different from one another. Ministry, Sleep, Neurosis, Suffocation, Darkthrone, Sepultura, Primus, Eyehategod, Atheist, Tool, Paradise Lost, Carcass, Helmet, Pantera, Gorguts, Life of Agony, Entombed, Blind Guardian-even the bands on that list in the same basic subgenre have nothing to do with one another much of the time. What a fertile period, my god.
You three have great chemistry. This is easily the best Lock Horns of the new season. More, please.
As a Swede I would argue that the late nineties where really good for metal, but I just listened basically to metal from Scandinavia at that time. It just shows that where you are shifts your perspective on the subject as well...
As a Canadian I agree with you !
Martin's reasoning for '83 made the most sense to me.
Best episode you've made! I hope you'll start this series up again soon, it's sorely missed.
How did they say "1983" so many times and not include "Show No Mercy" every time? It probably is my favorite debut of all the big thrash bands.
Edit: Martin mentioned it toward the end. I think the seminal year is '83 with ease. The volume of releases, including arguably the most important debuts of the bands that shaped what metal has become. Not to mention, the iconic figures associated with said releases. And then the breakout commercial success of several bands.
For me it was 1984. I "discovered" Judas Priest's Defenders of the Faith. Turned me on to the heavier shit and I haven't looked back.
Defenders of.. was their break through LP imo. They Really got a new sound & was just harder..
Some heads are gonna roll! 😲😳
This was by far the best Lock Horns! It made me think about what the Underground was doing at the same time as the main stream in the eighties, and in a sense much more influential those bands and albums have had on nineties a definitely band in the two thousands. To me it seems that some subgenres in a whole are actually more popular to metal fans than what are considered mainstream metal bands. Some of those Underground bands that emerged from the nineties are considered mainstream now but still hold alot of the underground with them. It's really incredible to think how this music genre has grown in a short time, not really any other music genre can say that other than probably Hip-Hop, Rap whatever you wanna call It, it to has many subgenres. I classify hardcore in this to, cause that shit is heavy and vital part of thrash to me. This episode had me goose bumped it just really took me and made me break to the ereas that changed my life and when metal first took hold of me in 1990.
Love the conclusion/ consensus. I've been saying that year from the beginning. Great show. Thank you so much for sharing in a less than ideal time in the world. Love ya!
Maybe a tie....(including hard rock)
1984 1986
Metallica - Ride The Lightning Metallica - Master Of Puppets
Iron Maiden - Powerslave Slayer - Reign In Blood
Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith Megadeth - Peace Sells But Who's
Anthrax - Fistful Of Metal Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Slayer - Haunting The Chapel King Diamond - Fatal Portrait
Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales Motorhead - Orgasmatron
VoiVod - War & Pain Sepultura - Morbid Visions
Metal Church - Self Titled Metal Church - The Dark
Venom - At War With Satan VoiVod - Rrrroooaaarrr
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath Kreator - Pleasure To Kill
Exciter - Violence & Force Destruction - Eternal Devastation
Queensryche - The Warning Nuclear Assault - Game Over
WASP - Self Titled Queensryche - Rage For Order
Van Halen -1984 Judas Priest - Turbo
Rush - Grace Under Pressure Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin
Dokken - Tooth & Nail Flotsam & Jetsom - Doomsday for The
Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers Dark Angel - Darkness Descends
Very well said 🤘
I was thinking 1984 too. Not that it's the greatest year albums-wise but, by then, Metal is very popular (both hair & heavy), Thrash is taking up and, well and there's all the seeds of what makes Metal great.
1984 had both the "Death Metal" and "Death by metal" Demos that started Death metal
@@nimrodgutfreund4734 That's the thing, this episode of Lock Horns is way too focused on studio albums forgetting that metal is also live albums, demos and tours.
Not once have I heard of Iron Maiden's World Slavery Tour, which was a momentum event for heavy metal everywhere and especially in North America, or any other tour for that matter...
By narrowing the debate to only studio albums, they did a disservice to metal, me thinks.
Saint Martins Also in ‘86 - Helloween’s pre-Kiske “Walls of Jericho” ... the blueprint for what is now called Power Metal (to me it’s still thrash) 🤘
Trying to be objective while choosing the most important "year" in heavy metal is so difficult ! as mentioned before in the programme i believe it's all to do with your age and that very moment you put the needle in the groove and became a metal head ! for me i was 13 in 83 and "kill em all" was a revolution !!
It's almost sure I'll see it morning. 1970- for birth metal; 1980- for rebirth of British heavy metal; 1983-1985- for birth of extrem metal- black thrash and death....and 1990's- when death metal and black metal started to become main subgenres in metal.....
1980 - NWOBHM was the foundation for everything in the future of metal and the last great moment before the split between the extreme and the commercial. Hundreds of important bands that never made it and one juggernaut who did: Iron Maiden
1983 - Breakout commercial success with Def Leppard, Crue, and Quiet Riot, but also the birth of Thrash with Metallica and Slayer.
1986 - The pinnacle of Thrash for many bands and especially all of the so called BIG FOUR (Anthrax is just okay)
1987 - The breakout moment of extreme metal - Death with Death metal and Bathory with the first insanely great black metal album. Also commercial success with Guns n Roses.
1986 also the year when mainstream metal/hard rock probably reached its pinnacle: Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet", Europe's "The Final Countdown" and Poison's "Look What the Cat Dragged In" as the biggest hits along with Cinderella's "Night Songs", Stryper's "To Hell With the Devil", Ratt's "Dancing Undercover" or the first "Van Hagar" album, as well as classic bands like Maiden, Priest, Ozzy or even Motorhead changing their sound to a far more polished, synth-influenced one. Probably the last time metal as a whole was so popular in the mainstream.
@@Kongorlobo Great Point. Thrash and glam really did peak in popularity at the same time.
Another thing I forgot about 1987, Napalm Death's Scum. So 87 was the breakout year for Grindcore, Death Metal, and Black Metal...not necessarily the very beginning, but a huge breakout.
I'd say 1980 was the most important year for Heavy Metal as a whole, 86 was the pinnacle, and 87 was the most important year for extreme metal. I don't think we can pinpoint one year for the pinnacle of extreme metal though, it was a pretty even peak between 89 and 93.
Saw the title of this video and I instantly thought 1983.... glad to see my memories haven't failed me!
1986: thrash hits a major high point with classic releases by Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Kreator, etc. Candlemass released a doom masterpiece. Cro-Mags lay down the framework for metalcore, which is important even if not good. Maiden released an album with 3 good songs. All in, a pretty good year.
I would argue that this is the year the underground starts in earnest as well, which is important to me personally as well as many of the subculture as a whole.
Somewhere in time is amazing album!
@Antonio Viera Iron Maiden with synths is so damn mesmerizing!
Agreed. 1986 is when metal peaked and with the exception of Rust in Peace, never reached the same heights.
86 for sure.
Don't forget 83 ....Show No Mercy and Kill Em All
One of the best and most contentious topics for a debate in the metal community. Awesome discussion.... I have to go with '84.
1984 was the best year for quality releases that are being hailed as classics today.
1984 with certainly my favorite year for metal. Everything was new and fresh back then and the underground was exploding in that year.
Really good episode. My pick would be 84 but 83 is a very close second. So many great releases and this was also an incredible time for the rise in guitar virtuosity. I do want to mention something I always find curious. Yes, Blizzard of Ozz was released in 1980-in Europe-but it was out in the US in Spring 1981. I first heard Crazy Train in May 1981 on a radio show showcasing new releases. Although it’s technically correct to say it’s a 1980 release, it’ll always be a 1981 release for me. Side note, although my vote for best HM year is 1984, I’d say 1981 is my overall favorite year for great releases for Rock, HM and pop. A solid year
To me, 1984 was the most exciting year in metal because the metal underground was exploding then and everything was new and fresh. 1983 was probably the most "important" year, but 1984 was my favorite.
Mr. D. Agreed
It's so funny, how much I enjoy you guys talking about one of the most influential things in my life, which is music, and Metal in particular. Enjoyed your nerdy banter very much, thank you so much.
As someone who got into the newer era of metal bands and 2005 was a year that created some true gems of the genre that introduced me and loads of my friends into the genre
Kreator - Enemy of God
Dark Tranquility - Character
Soilwork - Stabbing the Drama
TRVIUM - ASCENDANCY
Mudvayne - Lost and Found
AVENGED SEVENFOLD - CITY OF EVIL
Devildriver - Fury of Our Makers Hand
As I Lay Dying - Shadows are Security
Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine
Children of Bodom - Are you Dead yet
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE - THE POISON
Roadrunner United
1986 for sure. Metallica- Master of Puppets, Megadeth- Peace Sells But Who’s Buying and Slayer- Reign in Blood. Three of the greatest metal albums ever. Also Iron Maiden Somewhere In Time is a great album from that year.
This has been my favorite episode of lock horn redux! Great job BANGER!
As far as decade, it’d be hard to argue against the 80s. The best NWOBHM albums were released, hair metal was huge, and practically all the genres that we love today began: thrash, death, black, grindcore, even avant-garde metal had their beginnings in the 80s
aquatic rhombus I wouldn't call "avant-garde metal" a genre, but I would say that the late '80s in particular were the point where metal began to *get* overtly experimental, whether we're talking about Celtic Frost's flirtations with high modernist classical tones or the wild treatments that defined the Morbid Angel guitar sound or the introduction of sampling, programmed percussion and outright noise elements with the likes of Godflesh, KMFDM, Malhavoc and Ministry. And, just, Voïvod, period, full stop. Extremely innovative band.
1983
This is the year NWOBHM peaked, thrash and glam metal were just starting to stake a claim, classic metal was having a second wind, and extreme metal was germinating. Stand out releases from this time:
Metal Health - Quiet Riot, Shout at the Devil - Motley Crue, Kill Em’ All - Metallica, Show No Mercy - Slayer, Peace of Mind - Iron Maiden, Holy Diver - Dio, Pyromania - Def Leopard,
Great year indeed, I should add Mercyful Fate - Melissa.
Spot on Cassidy, my pick too.
don't forget the Queensryche EP, the birth of US Power metal, along with Manowar glory ride and Jag Panzer Ample Destruction
Born in 1970… Started playing guitar in 87. Going to try and frame my comment from that perspective in that era. I do feel a certain kinship to Martin Popoff , in regards to how I was exposed to music. We had to search, we had to dig through stacks of records, we had to get tapes from older brothers/sisters and neighbors and cousins and uncles and friends and shit like that...etc. I’m sure me being Teenager during this time says a lot , but ya...My first instinct is to point to the years 1980-1988... 10 years old when I saw the iron maiden album cover and said holy fuck I got to have that. At that point I was already in and out of the kiss army and I had the sabbath albums etc etc ...That period of time was just a bottomless well of discovery. Between digging up things that had already been released and the seemingly endless creativity of new bands I feel like I was hearing a new album every day. I listened to a lot of different styles but I know this is a metal hang out... so I will say that it felt like heavy music stomped on the gas , smashed through the walls , and blew through the fucking atmosphere like a goddamn rocket ship during that era....and yes , kept on going, with unstoppable greatness thru the years .
Best LockHorns yet. Great conversation.
There was so much quality output in 1986, it was a tough one to compete against.
1980 also had similar output, but primarily British releases.
1978 gave us "Stained Class" AND "Killing Machine", a mere 9 months apart from each other ... just think about THAT dynamic, for a second, since everything that followed (with very few exceptions) owes some sort of hommage to those two monumental records by Priest (and, as Martin once wrote, the ancestral lineage to "Stained Class" was untraceable)
My vote is 1978, purely for historical reasons.
I mostly agree.
After those two Judas Priest albums undoubtedly was the point LOTS of bands starting playing the style. In most of the 70s there was black sabbath and bands that sounds 95% like them.
Then Judas Priest had the 'screaming' guitar sound and Halford's fantastic vocals. Then 95% of bands tried to emulate that in at least some way.
1986- Look at all the classic metal albums that came out that year. Untouchable by far....and i was there
For me it's one of the following :
1983
1984
1986
I kinda just think the albums that really defined metal and helped it evolve came out in these years.
1980 and 1988 pretty cool too.
1981 Venom - Welcome to Hell ( would of been no Metallica , Slayer , Bathory , Pantera , Carcass , or Devourment without it ) , Def Leppard - High n Dry ( which defined their style ) , Iron Maiden - Killers ( which received wider distribution stateside ) , Black Sabbath - Mob Rules ( much heavier than Heaven , and He'll ) , Riot - Fire Down Under ( the first classic US Metal album ) , Judas Priest - Point of Entry ( the most hated Judas Priest album prior to Turbo ) . The Hot Rocking video was the premonition to Rob Halford coming out of the closet .
I'm with Martin on this. I was there as a metal fan in the early 80's. 1983 was probably the year when not only NWOBHM peaked but it was also that year that a creative explosion happened in US metal. Without the albums that came out in '83 nearly all of modern metal would not exist.
1983. That was when metal got its fangs and claws and started really scaring the shit out of parents and the religious right. Because I was 11 at the time and in a conservative family, I was actually on the 'protected' side of it for a while so I definitely see 1983 as a pivot point where people really got more scared of metal and its potential. I find a special charm in the raw production from 1983 - Kill Em All and Show No Mercy, and on the more commercial gateway metal side you had Shout at the Devil and Metal Health.
1989-1991. Some of the most unique and innovative bands during that era. Excel, Kinghorse, Obituary coming into their own and Fear Factory’s groundbreaking debut on Roadrunner. So many killer albums.
Great show, guy’s.
I watched the whole thing.
I can’t pick one year. It’s IMPOSSIBLE!!
Great statement! Open-minded!
Awesome Reed Mullin drum head on the wall!
Completly agree on 1980, although my desert island year is 2000, just because emotionaly speaking was the year that I bought both Brave New World and Hybrid Theory as a 12 year old kid, scrolling through album covers at the cd store, that was my gateway to a whole new universe.
One thing I’ll Say for years is just because an album comes out in a year like 1987 when Appetite for Destruction comes out. It doesn’t mean that the album made the year. Everyone slept on that album until almost a year later when it exploded, making it more of a win for 1988. You could factor albums from the previous year into the year you’re vouching for like 1983. Number of the Beast and Screaming for Vengeance probably had more impact in 1983 than 1982
Papa Billydeth Agreed. It’s important to really take in the historical context. When did people actually start listening to the album? When did the album’s influence become apparent? What tours were going on? What was the state of the underground and mainstream metal cultures during that year? And so on and so forth
We were metal in high school in small-town WI in 1982 by 83 it was fairly popular even among REO fans. By 86 it was near everywhere. By 1992 it changed sometimes change is good and even though I grew up as metal did. I still enjoy modern acts its all good if its real metal.
The most important year for me was 1990. So much groundbreaking metal and classic albums came out that year
I never knew that so many great metal albums were released on 1990. It could definitely rival 1986.
1987 grind and death started to roll out and take over the underground
Completely agree that the 80s is the decade without question as most genres and all subgeneres in the tree and discussed in Banger come from the 80s. I also agree with 1980 as the most important year, although was also debating between 83 and 86 because of the significance to me age-wise and metal preference-wise. Excellent! Keep the good work and debates. Always enjoy listening to and reading Professor Popoff. \m/
Definitely agree on 1980 after all the points were made here. Gotta say though, I completely back 2004 as a choice. So many incredible records of different varieties which to me showed that metal was back at a forefront stronger than it had been in a long time. Even the old guard was experiencing a boom-Sabbath and Ozzy still going strong as one example.
Early 90s to Mid 90s was the best time for metal !!
Holy shit 1991 for death metal was huge
Ohh shiit, that's an awesome topic to discuss! I would have to say 1982, with the release of The Number Of The Beast from Iron Maiden, where I personally believe metal took it's perfected form, only to become better and better later in the 80's.
Yes! I agree! To me, The Number of the Beast is a very defining album in the genre, especially because its by a very defining band. 1982 it is!
@@Maryyyschka Yay :) ! And let's not forget Screaming for vengance from Judas priest! 82 is my personal pick but again 84,86,88 all have masterpiece albums. I think traditional metal reached its peak in 88, because of Maiden's Seventh son of a seventh son which is my favorite album of all time, im obssesed with that album! And then groove/gunge/extreme subgenres took over the 90's, I like pantera for example and they are indeed very important, but Maiden has influence every single band after it.
1970 Black Sabbath with two great records.
Deep Purple In Rock
Megadeth, Slayer & Priest put out arguably their greatest albums with their classic line-up while Pantera & Alice In Chains burst onto the scene with a couple of classics.
Cowboys From Hell
Rust In Peace
Seasons In The Abyss
Painkiller
Facelift
Those 5 alone have to put 1990 in the discussion.
Plus Exhorders underrated masterpiece Slaughter In The Vatican, Anthraxs Persistence Of Time is one if their best records. Testament, Dio and Black Sabbath records are also very underrated.
For real. I wish they would have at least talked about 1990.
don't forget quite a few death metal albums came out that year
Left Hand Path
Deicide
Cause of Death
Dark Recollections
Eaten Back To Life
Harmony Corruption
Master (after being locked away for 5 years)
1966( to go back further than 50 years) ....
Acid Rock signals the birth of Heavy Metal
White Rabbit,Journey to the center of the mind, Purple Haze : three of the many songs that started it all !
1994! This year takes the standard of metal to a completely new level of production, guitar tone and tuning, style of vocals, everything.. metal hasn't jumped as far in progress than it did that year. And even at that Pantera had a number 1 platinum selling album, and look how heavy that album is! Cobain died in 94 and put a nail in the grunge coffin, all the black metal, machine heads burn my eyes, cannibal corpse, Korn's first album, And there was also a Woodstock!
Can’t really argue against 1969 or 1970 for the formation of Black Sabbath or the release of their debut album.
1981 is runner-up for the release of Venom’s Welcome to Hell.
Loved John's comments regarding Venom. Right on the money.
1984. Not just because of the albums and bands that came out that year but also because of the albums and bands that were popular that year. People finally heard of Metallica, Venom and so many other extreme bands. Established bands had one of there best years.
Ozzy, Mötley Crue, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister owned 1984. Too many bands finding new audiences to name them. That was the year metal hit the mainstream. Extreme metal firmly Established and gaining speed. Awesome year.
About '83: it's the year Quiet Riot's metal Health topped the charts, making lots of people aware of metal. Also, there's the '83 US Festival, with Quiet Riot, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy, Priest, Triumph, Scorpions and Van Halen sharing the stage on the same day. So yeah, I agree '83 was the year metal broke out of the underground as a genre.
Add to that Pyromania, Kill 'Em All, Holy Diver, Piece Of Mind, Gary Moore's Victims Of The Future, Savatage's Sirens, Show No Mercy, Thin Lizzy's Thunder And Lightning, Grim Reaper's See You In Hell, Alcatrazz's No Parole For Rock N' Roll (with a certain swedish guitar player that would make quite a splash)... Definitely a turning year.
fan-fucking-tastic episode..this is why im subbed and a patreon \m/
I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!
JOURNEY OF METALHEAD!!
1986 without a doubt!!! I was 12 when slayer,metallica,flotsam,dark angel,nuclear assault,megadeth just to name a few entered my life & been a head since
I'd love to watch a show on post-2000 Canadian metal Keep doing the fantastic work -love everything on this channel
I'd say 1980. The NWOBHM was in full force, which really cemented Heavy Metal as a unique subculture and separate form of music and the music produced within that movement influenced more or less every metal band that followed in the years to come. Plus in terms of albums you had British Steel, Ace Of Spades, Heaven And Hell, Iron Maiden, Wheels Of Steel, etc.
Fantastic metal albums have been released every year since it's inception. I'd agree with 1980 being extremely important. The 90s are still great once you look past the most popular sounds. The 90s was for more exploration than ever. Black metal came into its own and bands like Opeth got their start too.
The 90s is my favorite era of metal, by far.
Loads of Releases in the 80’s
4 big years for Metal for me - 1986 , 1988, 1990 and 1992
I would say that we might write down the 6 most important things that happen at every year plus the 6 top albums per year. Example
1980
1. Death of John Lennon - THE BEATLES
2. Death of Bon Scott - AC DC
3. Death of John Bonham - LED ZEPPELIN
4. Peter Criss left KISS
5. Brian Johnson joins AC DC
6. Ozzy Osbourne stars his solo career.
ALBUMS
1. IRON MAIDEN - Iron Maiden
2. OZZY - Blizzard of Oz
3. AC DC - Back in Black
4. KISS - Unmasked
5. BLACK SABBATH - Heaven and Hell
6. MOTORHEAD - Ace of Spades
Just to mention an example.... and that could be the most important year in metal (rock, heavy or music) history.
Haven't watched this yet but I'm about to. The obvious first point of course is '70 when it was birthed, but I believe the best year for metal was definitely '86. So many life changing and groundbreaking things happened in that year with honorable mentions to '82, '83 '87, '90, and '94.
Of course everything is a moment in time and all of the opinions are valid, but important and influential are different. Most important is the mid 80s where the image faded and the music moved to the front, early Metallica and other Big 4 members were SO important. Most influential would be IMO the early 90s Pantera, Slayer and Sepultura ruled the early 90s. Vulgar Display of Power, Seasons in The Abyss and Chaos AD still hold up 100% today and spawned SO many other bands.
I'd say 1980 or 1981. You had Saxon first album, Witchfynde's Stage Fright and Give Em Hell, Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell, Def Leppard's debut, Iron Maiden's debut, Judas Priest's British Steel, Michael Schenker Group, Ozzy's first solo record, ACDC Back In Black, Angel Witch's first album, Tygers of Pan Tang's Wild Cat, etc. Then in '81 you got Motorhead's Ace of Spades, Venom's Welcome to Hell, Motley Crue's debut, Loudness Birthday Eve, Cirith Ungol Frost and Fire, Accept's Breaker, Riot's Fire Down Under, VH's Fair Warning, etc. Shit, even 1982 had important records. Either way, early 80's was when Heavy Metal really got it's sounds and identity.
I just think it's neat that the years they picked happened to all 3 years apart from each other(80,83,86,89,92) with the exception of 84.
Holy Diver was released in 83 - So this has to be the best year, even before factoring in all the other bands and developments!
1970, as for me Black Sabbath with Black Sabbath is the definitive starting point and without it we wouldn't have metal the way we do.
I cant believe this show didn't get more thumbs up it was great! I guess was quite long so not many people got to see?
The most important year in metal is ahead of us, not in the past.
I was well chuffed to see that the year I picked (1980) won out in the end, though there were a couple points that didn't get mentioned....Heaven and Hell got scant mention but that's a really important part of the argument for 1980. Also, though thrash and black metal was still a few years away, Motorhead was the one band that released a record that year that pointed the way forward to all things faster and heavier. And I was surprised that there was no mention of the fact that Def Leppard's debut album came out in 1980. Though pretty lightweight compared to all other bands mentioned, they definitely could be called hair metal or pop metal, and this was one of the first records of that ilk aside from maybe Van Halen. Lastly, let's not forget that British Steel was released in 1980 as well. Great episode fellas.
I'm surprised Sam didn't talk about Megadeth when it comes to 1986, as well as Dark Angel.
@@BBQcheese unpopular because its not true! JK mate but I cannot agree there. Master isn't even my favourite Metallica record (I prefer Ride the Lightning) but Peace Sells is not close to Rust in Peace... change my mind!!!
The 1992 guy with the plaid jacket didn't even mention Tool and Rage Against the Machine for 1992, as well as Rollins Band and Danzig and of course Pantera. I'd throw in Iced Earth as well.
1980 (by far)
AC/DC - Back in Black
Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Judas Priest - British Steel
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
Motörhead - Ace of Spades
Saxon - Wheels of Steel
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Def Leppard - On Through the Night
Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations
Scorpions - Animal Magnetism
Thin Lizzy - Chinatown
Van Halen - Women and Children First
Any questions?
1983 was the year when Melissa was released, by a then, little known danish act called Mercyful Fate. You might have heard of them.
I've heard of Mercyful Fate...I even owned a copy of Come to the Sabbath lp back in the day
Just a thought: Mercyful Fate is the Godfather band of Occult metal
86 no contest. 3 of the biggest thrash albums of all time and a ton of other masterpiece thrash, Motörhead, maiden, priest , Saint Vitus, candlemass etc.
Based on my listening habits lately, 1991 (surprised it didn't get more than a footnote in this conversation). It was to death metal what 1986 was to thrash. Anyone who knows OSDM knows what I'm talking about. Outside of DM, there were exciting things happening all over music in general.
When you guys are talking about the 70s into the progression to 1980 I think you missed some key acts or sounds at least. While American Rock/Metal went more towards the glam/theatric side, in Europe you had Judas Priest finding their sound in the 70s, Motörhead coming out, and guitarists such as Ritchie Blackmore from Rainbow and Michael Schenker of UFO creating that icon guitar sound and style which influenced the guitar solo prowess of NWOBM and early Thrash.
Popoff mentioned Love/Hate on the internet. I can't believe it. Love that band.
Terrific topic; the whole thing is a rather tough one, so I am glad you covered it. I'm fairly torn, even though I have a clear decision. For me, it must be the 80s, because that's where you get a million heavy metal bands, tons of subgenres are born, guitar heroes left and right; heavy metal is at its most commercial and earns the reputation is still has 40 years later. The 70s, though not as barren of heavy music as generally though, has none of these things. The main reason for considering the 70s more significant is that the blueprint for everything is done in the 70s just about. There's no fresh ideas in the 80s. Rush pioneers progressive metal, Uli Jon Roth invents shredding, Ritchie Blackmore invents neoclassical and the heavy metal gallop, Eddie Van Halen popularizes two-handed tapping, Alice Cooper, Sweet, and Angel pioneer glam metal, Lemmy pioneers the harsh vocal, Black Sabbath creates doom metal, Wishbone Ash/Thin Lizzy create the twin lead, harmonized guitar parts commodity. Other than black metal and death metal, there are really no new ideas in the 80s. But still, the 80s is THE decade I have to go with.
The years really interest me a lot as well too. '70, '76, '80, and '83 are without a doubt the turning points for everything I think. '70 of course is the invention, '76 to me acts as a foreshadowing, also showing the diversity of heavy music at the time as a lot of heavy acts had their day in the sun, showing that the future of heavy metal was bright and could continue in diversity, '80 of course is the explosion, and '83 takes up a lot of the history that heavy metal has left. Thrash, hair metal, even progressive metal a little bit with the rise of Savatage and Queensryche, plus the Satanic lyrics of Mercyful Fate influencing black metal. Although '80 is a good pick, I would also have to go with '83.
Every year is a important metal year.
Finally! Somebody gets it!
Will there be any new LockedHorns episodes? It is always a great show with interesting topics. Seems like it’s been a while since this episode was released.
I have a hard time deciding between '83 and '84. in '83 we got Show No Mercy and Kill 'em all and Melissa. and in '84 we got Hellhammer and Bathory, in addition to more albums by Slayer, Metallica and Mercyful Fate
I am so glad this turned my phone. And scared at the same time
Shoutout to '78, with the release of Van Halen. Eddie's playing reinvented how rock guitar is played, but at the same time he might have invented heavy guitar. The speed and ferocity of his playing at that time was unheard of and spawned hundreds of imitators but influenced so many players as well. If thrash was about speed, then Eddie was the first shredder.
As far as a single year though, I was also dead set on '86. Hearing the arguments for the different decades and years had me swaying, but im making my case for '91 though. Slave to the Grind was the first heavy metal album to hit #1. the Use your Illusion albums catapulted GnR into the biggest band in the world and The Black Album catapulted Metallica as the biggest metal band in the world. Metal/Heavy metal/hard rock had become not only mainstream, but the biggest music genre, period, thanks to MTV.
Sepultura released Arise. Ozzy had his second career resurrection with No More Tears.
Pantera were working on unleashing Vulgar Display of Power the following year.
A lot of the hair metal bands were having their last hurrah's before the explosion of grunge.
Heavy music was probably never as popular as it was in 91, which would then lead many to go back and search for the classics from the 80's. People who discovered Metallica thanks to the Black Album would go back and listen to the 80s stuff, and then seek out the other bands in the genre, and so on.
Amazing topic for today. (Imo it’s 83’ for sure). 🤘
I completely agree w Martin about 1983
I think we needed to define what we were looking for... Most influential or most important?... The year that had the most albums that influenced the most bands I think is 1980... However, the most important year depends on what type of music you listen to... For extreme metal, the most important year is definitely 1986.
The word important is in the video title.
Damn! Martin knows his metal . Impressive.
1976, no question. The year of Sad Wings of Destiny, 2112 and Rainbow Rising. Before that, Sabbath were the only game in town. After that, the whole world got on board.
(I can live with 80 though. New decade, new era. . .)
Hi from Sweden. Hope you are all ok 🎸🥁🎤
Greetings. I enjoy Swedish and Finnish metal 👍
I agree 1983
1980 defines the genre and it reached its peak of popularity in 1986 from my point of view. That doesn´t mean that a year would be more important than other. Anyway i would go with 1980.
Another great metal album released on 1980, Scorpions- Animal Magnetism
When I saw the topic I immediately thought, "oh, it's gotta be 1980, that's easy." The discussion dances around to fill an hour-long show, and then they conclude with the obvious choice.
I was persuaded... 1980 it is! Though I was rooting for 83 since it's the year I graduated high school. (Yes, I am older than heavy metal.) And I actually thought the reader argument for 2004 was pretty solid, too. We all owe so much to the web (and to TH-cam, which I think launched in 2005?), even old farts like me who have been able to catch up with the new stuff, fill in gaps, and not stay stuck in the past.
It's funny, Sam had me convinced about 1989 with Pantera, Megadeth's Countdown to Extinction--both huge and great, so much better than the Black Album, and Morbid Angel's Altars of Madness leading us into the extreme. Plus Kyuss, FNM, and so many others. I wish John the plaid guy had stuck up for 1992. I was all ready to give up my 1986. But then Sam switched it up for 1980? As he said "I don't really listen to a lot of albums from 1980... but... for historical reasons..." Anyway, very fun show and lively discussion. Now let's nail down the best MONTH in metal ;)
I think there's a distinction between the best year (1986 in my opinion) and the most important year, which I think they nail with 1980. Without 1980, in terms of influence we don't get what comes next in '83 onwards, this is also when Metal as a culture starts to be defined. A case could of course be made that without Sabbath in 1970 you don't get to where we end up in 1980, in turn you could look at who influenced Sabbath, then you get into a real Chicken and Egg argument!