In the 80s and early 90s, hard rock and heavy metal became mainstream and attracted huge audiences around the world. The genre is divided into subgenres such as hard rock, glam metal, thrash metal, speed metal, NWOBHM, traditional metal, etc. No matter which subgenre you prefer, there is no doubt that hard rock and heavy metal reigned supreme in the 80s music scene. The hard rock and metal scene at the time was filled with bands vying for attention and radio/video exposure. We’ve rounded up over 400 of the best hard rock and metal bands from the 80s and 90s that you need to see and hopefully listen to.
Having made a splash in Australia, AC / DC are preparing to conquer the world. However, tragedy struck as Bon Scott reportedly choked on his own vomit after passing out after a night of drinking. Each album release propelled the band higher on the charts, but Scott’s death nearly crushed the band. The band considered disbanding but decided to leave with new vocalist Brian Johnson. In 1981, AC/DC released Back In Black and “Hell’s Bells”, a tribute to the late Bon Scott, with Johnson on vocals. It later proved to be one of the best-selling rock albums. The group picked up where they left off and were able to build an incredible fan base around the world.
This German metal band was heavily forgotten in America during the release of their great 80s albums. The single “Balls To The Wall” introduced them to a wider metal audience around the world, but it was with the 1979 album of the same name that they established themselves as a force to watch. Classic line-up released I am the Rebel (1980), Destroyer (1981), Restless and Wild (1982), Ball to the Wall (1983), Heart of Metal (1985), Russian Roulette (1986), Finally, Eat The Heat 1989 featuring American singer David Rees and a more mainstream sound. However, Udo Dirkschneider returned to record several albums before leaving for good. The band currently includes former TT Quick frontman.
After breaking up in the 1970s due to drug use and infighting between members of the group, Aerosmith reunited in 1985 with the album Done With Mirrors. Although it received average reviews from most critics, it was the start of a new era for the band, followed by 1987′s Permanent Vacation and 1989′s Pump, and the band had some of the most popular albums and songs of their career. career. Aerosmith charted on major rock charts and was featured on MTV and radio stations around the world. With this comeback, the band cemented their legacy and are still together today.
Best known as the debut recording of Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen, Alcatrazz is an impressive debut album featuring former Rainbow frontman Graham Bonnet. Unfortunately, Yngwie left the band after the release of this album. How did the band deal with the loss of Malmsteen? simple. They invited Steve Vai and helped him start his career. Alcatrazz released the following albums in the 80s: No Parole from Rock ‘n’ Roll (1983), Disturbing the Peace (1985), Dangerous Games (1986).
In 1982, Aldo Nova soared to number 8 with his hit “Fantasy” and the self-titled album climbed to number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100. His first three albums were commercially successful. In addition to being a performer, he has written many songs for other artists over the years, including Blue Oyster Cult, Jon Bon Jovi, and even pop star Celine Dion. Aldo Nova has released the following albums: Aldo Nova (1982), Subject…Aldo Nova (1983), Twitch (1985), Blood on the Bricks (1991), Nova’s Dream (1997), 2.0 (2018) and The Life and Eddie. Age of Gage (2020).
The Canadian band formed by members of Heart and Sherriff released a self-titled album in 1990. Sounds a bit like Survivor’s hard rock version, they mixed hard rock songs with radio ballads and ended up with “A Thousand Words More”. Alias only released two albums before breaking up.
Alien released their self-titled debut album in 1988. Their song “Brave New World” was used in the 1988 remake of the classic horror film The Blob. This Swedish rock band mixes AOR with a light metal sound, sometimes with a progressive tinge. The band reunited in 2010 and released their latest album Into The Future in 2020.
The early 80s weren’t kind to Alice Cooper, who said he didn’t even remember recording some of the songs on the album, such as “Flush The Fashion” (1980), “Special Forces” (1981), “Zipper Catches”. Skin” (1982) and Dada (1983). Cleaned up and sober, Alice returned to his rightful place in rock and roll, including Constrictor (1986), Raise Your Fist and Shout (1987) and 1989′s Trash. With these albums, Alice Cooper entered a new generation of glam metal. With these three albums and an MTV performance, Alice Cooper is once again a household name. Alice continues to work to this day, and she still has a loyal following.
Angel Witch is probably best known as part of the new wave of British heavy metal. The album titles Angel Witch (1980), Screamin’ n’ Bleedin’ (1985) and Frontal Assault (1986) tell you what the music is. Their self-titled album is considered an NWOBHM classic and remains one of the most famous metal albums in the scene. The band has returned with different lineups over the years, with a slightly more modern sound but still recognizable.
Angelica tried to emulate the voices of guitarists such as Van Halen and George Lynch, choosing a more charming Mark Slaughter-like vocalist. The original vocalist was replaced by Rob Rock, and Dennis Cameron had this to say about the band: “Angelica started out as my vision for the perfect band of religious musicians.” The band appealed to folk fans and those who loved an experienced guitarist but never ventured far beyond the Christian metal market.
Annihilator is Canada’s best-selling thrash band with over 3 million albums sold worldwide. The band’s first two albums, Alice in Hell (1989) and Neverland (1990), were critically acclaimed, and the band has released 17 studio albums to date. The only remaining original member is Jeff Waters, but the band is still very popular and has a loyal following.
After Loudness became Japan’s first mainstream heavy metal band, many bands followed suit. One of the best Japanese bands is Anthem. The band still releases new albums regularly. Bound To Break became the band’s biggest hit in the US, but failed to capture the attention of album buyers as Loudness did. The band has an excellent reputation in Japan with a long recording history and deserves much more recognition overseas than they have received.
Anthrax was the New York version of Thrash, often compared to West Coast bands such as Metallica, Flotsam And Jetsam, Megadeth and Death Angel. While Bay Area bands sound their own way, Anthrax has a rougher and more urban sound. While the band has had several vocalists over the years, the classic line-up of Joey Belladonna, Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello and Charlie Bennant is the best known. Anthrax released the albums Fistful Of Metal (1984), Armed & Dangerous (1985), Spreading The Disease (1985), Among The Living (1987) and State Of Euphoria (1988) in 1984. With the exception of Dan Spitz, the classic line-up is currently on tour.
Canadian metal band Anvil released Hard ‘n’ Heavy (1981), Metal on Metal (1982), Forged in Fire (1983), Strength of Steel (1987) and Pound for Pound (1988) in the 80s. Known for their outrageous antics, including playing the guitar with a dildo and performing in the nude, Anvil earned big opportunities for other metal bands but failed to reach the same level themselves. The band eventually faded into obscurity, but returned after the release of the documentary Anvil!: The Story Of Anvil. Almost like the fictional band Spinal Tap, Anvil suffered for their art and finally got the recognition they deserved over the years.
After more than a decade of existence, April Wine released the platinum album The Essence of the Beast in 1981. The group also released the following albums in the 1980s: Power Play (1982), Animal Grace (1984) and Through Fire (1986). Although they could no longer earn “Nature of the Beast” status, the band continued to tour but had not released a new studio album since 2006.
Armored Saint is a rough LA version of Judas Priest. In the 1980s, the band was busy releasing a self-titled EP (1983), March Of The Saint (1984), Delirious Nomad (1985), Raising Fear (1987) and finally 1987′s Saint Will Conquer. Lead singer John Bush later replaced Joey Belladonna in Anthrax for many years. Songs such as Can U Deliver by Armored Saint and a cover of Saturday Night Special by Lynryd Skynrd became huge hits. The band still has a large following and continues to record and tour.
Their self-titled debut album, hitting store shelves in 1991, was an interesting mix of hard rock, blues, southern rock, grunge and metal that actually seemed to work well. After an impressive performance, the band had internal conflicts that led to the release of their second and final album “Pigs”.
The original Autograph lineup came together in 1983. The band consists of vocalist Steve Plunkett, guitarist Steve Lynch, bassist Randy Rand, drummer Kenny Richards and keyboardist Steve Isham. Best known for their biggest hit “Turn Up The Radio”, Autograph released three major albums for RCA Records including “Sign In Please”, “This’s The Stuff” and “Loud and Clear”. “Turn the Radio On” was one of the last songs the band recorded for the Please Sign In album. Obviously the band thinks it’s okay, not as intense as the other songs on the album. Lucky for them, they included it. It brought the album gold record status and entered the top 30 songs chart. The band returned to the studio and quickly recorded their next album, That’s The Stuff. Although its sales are not as good as the first album, it is also close to the level of a gold album.
Florida hard rock band AX mixes heavy guitars with keyboards to create their sound. In the 80s they released Living on the Edge (1980), Offering (1982) and 1983′s Nemesis. The group entered the top 100 with the singles “Now Or Never” and “I Think You’ll Remember Tonight”. The band’s sound is much less heavy than on their album cover, making them sound more like a heavy metal band.
The German guitarist who started his career with Steeler is not to be confused with the American version of Ron Keel and Yngwie Malmsteen. Like Malmsteen, Pell is considered one of the great new guitarists of the 80s. Pell released only one solo album in the 80s, Wild Obsession (1989), but his popularity with Steeler was enough to put his name on many lists of the most beloved metal guitarists. The band still performs with an ever-changing line-up, with Axel Rudy Pell being the main permanent member.
Baby Tuckoo appeared in 1982 as part of the second generation of NWOBHM. Even though their recording volume was minimal, with only two studio albums, First Born (1984) and Force Majeure (1986), they were still considered a hidden gem by many metal misses around the world when they first hit the number fans of the 80s. Unfortunately, the Baby Tuckoo name didn’t have a heavy metal sound, which may have contributed to their downfall.
Babylon AD barely survived the 80s, releasing their self-titled album in 1989. The original members, lead singer and songwriter Derek Davis, guitarists and composers Dan De La Rosa and Ron Fresco, drummer Jamie Pacheco, and bassist Robb Reid were childhood rivals. They signed to Arista Records and made a splash with their debut. Babylon AD is mostly considered to be a glam metal band that is talented and writes great songs. The band has released some great albums, the latest being 2017′s Revelation Highway.
The teen band was formed by guitarist Steve Vai. The group recorded only one album, released in 1991, called Refugee. Brooks Wackerman went on to become the drummer for Avenged Sevenfold and also played in the punk band Bad Religion. Lead singer Danny Cooksey is also an actor, appearing on the 80s TV show Another Move and voicing Montana “Monty” Max on Toon Adventures.
Bad English featured Journey guitarist Neil Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Kane, as well as vocalist John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips of The Babys, as well as drummer Dean Castronovo, who later joined Journey. The first album included three top 40 hits, including the No. 1 hit “When I See You Smile”. It went platinum in sales. The band’s second album “Backlash” was not a commercial success and the band disbanded before it was released.
Featuring vocals and guitar from Lion and bass and drums from Hericane Alice, the band got off to a promising start. Widely popular in Japan, they were unable to replicate the same success in the US due to changing musical trends. All albums and EPs were high quality releases and are still highly sought after by collectors.
After Jake E. Lee left or was fired from Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band, he formed a classic blues-rock band. Frontman Ray Gillen, along with Lee’s impeccable guitar prowess, turned Badlands into one of the most underrated hard rock bands of the ’80s. The band combines blues with classic rock and metal to create a unique sound. Badlands debuted in 1989 to rave reviews. They then released the impressive Voodoo Highway and eventually released Dusk after Gillen’s death. Eric Singer continued as the drummer for KISS after the death of Eric Carr.
Frontman David Rees (Ex-Accept) released an exciting debut album, but he was thwarted by changing trends in mainstream music. The grunge/alternative movement sends this album to the trash cans of most music stores. what a disgrace! The group included Hericane Alice and later members of Bad Moon Rising. Reece is a phenomenal form and this is a great album for anyone who loves melodic metal.
Bang Tango was founded in Los Angeles in 1988. The original lineup of Bang Tango included Joe Leste, Mark Knight, Kyle Kyle, Kyle Stevens and Tigg Ketler. Signed to MCA Records, the band released their critically acclaimed debut album Psycho Cafe in 1989, which included the hit “Someone Like You”.
The Banshee hails from the Kansas City area of the American Midwest. While their image perfectly matched the glam metal scene of the time, musically the band had more of a power metal feel to it. Race Against Time, Banshee’s first full-length album released on Atlantic Records in 1989, is a perfect example of their melodic and power metal sound. The debut album was the band’s only release through Atlantic. The band still exists today and have released several albums in recent years, albeit with a more modern metal sound.
Barren Cross is a metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by two high school friends, lead guitarist Ray Parris and drummer Steve Whitaker. Lead singer Michael Drive (Lee) placed an ad in the local paper looking for a guitarist! Then Steve drives to Michael’s house, calls Ray and asks Michael to sing on the phone! As soon as they met to play together, there was an immediate chemistry between them; two weeks later Michael met bassist Jim LaVerde and the rest is history! After recording 6 songs for two demos in 1983 and 1984, “The Fire Has Begun” Burned recorded their first album. The band sounds close to Iron Maiden at times, a bit heavier at first than their “Stryper” contemporaries. Their biggest success was with the Atomic Arena, where the group also performed on MTV.
Bathory is from Sweden and is considered one of the first black metal bands along with Venom. They also put knowledge about the Vikings into their texts. The band took their name from the notorious Countess Bathory and released their first album in 1984 simply titled Bathory. Lead singer Quorthon (Thomas Börje Forsberg) died in 2004.
Another band that was overlooked in the 90s was Baton Rouge. An excellent hard rock, melodic metal band starring the much underrated singer Kelly Keeling. The group broke up without achieving mainstream success.
By the time Beau Nasty released “Dirty But Well Dressed” in 1989, the glam/hair metal scene was beginning to fade. It’s a shame for Beau Nasty, because the band showed real potential. With a Britney Fox-like voice, the band wrote some great songs, including album opener “Shake It”, “Piece Of The Action” and “Love Potion #9″.
Beggars & Thieves – This band released an excellent debut album with several singles that would have been enough to make them superstars a few years ago. However, they arrived on the scene too late to really succeed. The debut album is still highly sought after by collectors and is considered a hidden gem.
The Canadian band released their self-titled debut album in 1991. Unfortunately they were late to the metal party when it was released. The band has a catchy but commercialized hard rock sound that would probably have been even more popular had it been released in the mid to late 80s.
Bitch went for a shock with songs about bondage and sado-masochism. Led by singer Betsy, they offered a different approach to girl groups like The Runaways, Heart and Lita Ford. The band signed to Metal Blade Records and released the following albums in the 80s: Be My Slave (1983), The Bitch Is Back (1987) and Betsy (1989). They are almost more famous for their wacky stage presence than their real music, but they act like most.
The Black Crowes hit in 1990 with their debut album Shake Your Money Maker. They had huge success with “Hard To Handle” and “She Talks To Angels”, but never repeated the same success on an album. However, the band continues to enjoy critical acclaim and a huge fan base.
Blackeyed Susan was formed by former Britny Fox “Dizzy” frontman Dean Davidson after he parted ways with the band. Although its tone is still hard rock, it has more of the classic Rolling Stones rock style. The band released the single “Ride With Me” to critical acclaim, but never achieved true mainstream success.
Blacklace released their debut album Unlaced in 1984 and their second album Get It While It’s Hot in 1985. Blacklace’s voice is reminiscent of the early female vocals of Motley Crue. Their voices were slightly heavier than most of the leading girl groups of the time. Unfortunately, after the release of the second album, the group broke up.
Black N’ Blue is one of those bands that you have to puzzle over and wonder why they never made it to the top. The band has top-notch talent and has released four stellar albums for Geffen Records. Guitarist Tommy Thayer later replaced Ace Frehley in KISS. The demo preceding their debut album was produced by Don Dokken. Every song on this album is great and should cement the band’s status as the next big thing. The band reached the pinnacle of their success when they performed “I’m Be There For You” on MTV. Despite the absence of Tommy Thayer, the band is still performing live and is releasing a new album.
Ozzy Osbourne leads Black Sabbath with a classic line-up. During this time, the band reached legendary status. After nine years of recording and touring with Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne was fired and replaced by Rainbow frontman Ronnie James Dio. Although no one wanted to follow Osbourne, who along with Led Zeppelin is considered the godfather and founder of heavy metal, Dior was able to set a record in Black Sabbath with the release of two studio albums Heaven and Hell and Hell. Second Life Mob Rules, as well as the critically acclaimed “Live Evil” album. After Dio left to start his own solo band, Black Sabbath seemed like a revolving door for singers who could no longer maintain a cohesive group or image for long.
In 1985 Black Sheep, under the direction of Willy Basset, released their debut album Trouble In The Streets on Enigma Records. The group is known for having several members who have made it to fame in other bands, including Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Randy Castillo (Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford, Motley Crewe) and James. Kotak (Kingdom to come, Scorpio). While the making of this album may seem a little empty, it’s hard to find it anywhere these days.
These guys were instrumental in the growth of the Christian metal movement and are still collaborating to this day. They have a decent track record, definitely based on Bible verses, and always seem to be more eager to testify to their audience than many other bands in the genre. The band never hoped to land a record deal and be successful. The main goal of Bloodgood has always been to reach the lost through the good news of Jesus Christ. Bloodgood, a heavy metal and Christian rock veteran, has amassed a fan base with his unique combination of music and message that appreciates their music and loves God.
The Glamsters Blonz released their debut album in 1990 simply titled “Blonz”. Led by singer Nathan Utz, the band only recorded one album for Epic Records before disbanding. As the live vocalist of the Lynch Mob, Utz played with guitarist George Lynch on several occasions. This is great news for collectors as it was re-released in 2018 and is available through DDR Music Group.
Blue Murder formed when guitarist John Sykes left Whitesnake to team up with Carmine Appice and Tony Franklin. The result is an incredible debut album. Blue Murder still maintains a sound similar to the material he recorded with David Coverdale for the best selling album “Whitesnake” and their first single “Valley Of The Kings” was a moderate success. A few years later, Sykes released his second album, Blue Murder, in 1993 under the title Nothin’ but Trouble. The musical talent is outstanding and Sykes is admirable with vocals and guitar playing.
The Blue Oyster Cult enjoyed success with a few singles in the 70s, but their careers remained strong in the 80s, partly due to the satanic fears of the 80s when priests and orators taught hard rock and heavy metal bands. On the Dangers Worshiping their name makes them targets, and they are accused of everything from witchcraft and the occult to Satanism.
Bon Jovi was one of the most successful pieces of hard rock in the 80s. The band started with an album of the same name and their sound was a bit heavier in the beginning than later on. The band knows exactly how to draw the fine line between pleasant hard rockers and sweet radio ballads. The 80s band released Bon Jovi (1984), Fahrenheit 7800 (1985), Slippery When Wet (1986) and New Jersey (1988), which proved to be the band’s heaviest rock. Led by charismatic frontman Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora, the band became a hit machine throughout the 1980s. Of course, the band still records and performs there, but the duo of Bon Jovi and Sambora is no more.
The German band Bonfire started out as Cacumen before changing their name to Bonfire on their 1986 album Don’t Touch the Light followed by Fireworks (1987) and Point Blank (1989). The band had moderate success with their first two albums, but never achieved success in the US. They are often associated with the bright metal scene. Over the years, the band has had a different line-up, with guitarist Hans Ziller being the only permanent member.
In the late 80s, Bonham was barely successful. The band was formed by Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. The band went gold with their debut album “The Disregard Of Timekeeping”. The group included John Smithson, Ian Hutton and singer Daniel McMaster. The band released only one collaborative album before Jason Bonham left the band to pursue a solo career. Daniel McMaster died in 2008 from a group A strep infection.
Post time: Feb-25-2023