Heavy Metal Timeline

1980

Best Heavy Metal Album Of 1980: AC/DC - Back In Black

AC/DC lead singer Bon Scott dies and is replaced by Brian Johnson. Also Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham dies.

Bands formed this year: Manowar, Mercyful Fate, Overkill

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1980:
Angel Witch - Angel Witch
Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
Def Leppard - On Through The Night
Diamond Head - Lightning To The Nations
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Judas Priest - British Steel
Motorhead - Ace Of Spades
Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz
Saxon - Wheels Of Steel

1981

Venom's first album was released, beginning the genre of black metal.

Bands formed this year: Anthrax, Dark Angel, Metallica, Pantera, Slayer

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1981:
Def Leppard - High 'N Dry
Iron Maiden - Killers
Judas Priest - Point Of Entry
Ozzy Osbourne - Diary Of A Madman
Saxon - Denim And Leather

1982

Quiet Riot's Metal Health becomes the first heavy metal album to top the U.S. Billboard chart.

Paul Di'Anno is replaced by Bruce Dickinson as the lead singer for Iron Maiden.

Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Randy Rhoads is killed in a plane crash.

Bands formed this year: Death Angel, Dio, Exodus, Kreator, Napalm Death, Sodom, Voivod, W.A.S.P.

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1982:
Accept - Restless And Wild
Anvil - Metal On Metal
Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
Motorhead - Iron Fist
Twisted Sister - Under The Blade
Venom - Black Metal

1983

Metallica releases Kill 'Em All, which would begin the rise of the genre of thrash metal.

Queensryche's self-titled debut is released. They are considered the first progressive metal band, combining progressive rock and heavy metal. Later groups like Dream Theater and Fates Warning would help popularize the genre.

Bands formed this year: Bathory, Death, Fates Warning, Helloween, Mayhem, Megadeth, Morbid Angel, Metal Church, Savatage, Testament

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1983:
Accept - Balls To The Wall
Def Leppard - Pyromania
Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind
Mercyful Fate - Melissa
Motley Crue - Shout At The Devil
Ozzy Osbourne - Bark At The Moon

1984

Def Leppards' Rick Allen loses an arm in a car accident. In another car accident, Hanoi Rocks drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley was killed in a vehicle driven by Motley Crue's Vince Neil.

Bands formed this year: Annihilator, Candlemass, Celtic Frost, Iced Earth, Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Tesla

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1984:
Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales
Dio - The Last In Line
Iron Maiden - Powerslave
Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith
Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath

1985

Led Zeppelin reunites at Live Aid.

Bands formed this year: Blind Guardian, Candlemass, Carcass, Dream Theater, King Diamond, White Zombie

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1985:
Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
Megadeth - Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good
Possessed - Seven Churches
Slayer - Hell Awaits

1986

Candlemass releases Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, the genre-defining doom metal album.

Metallica bassist Cliff Burton is killed in a bus accident and former Flotsam and Jetsam member Jason Newsted takes his place in the band.

Bands formed this year: Immolation, Pentagram, Terrorizer, Vader, Vio-Lence

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1986:
Bathory - Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Kreator - Pleasure To Kill
Megadeth - Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?
Slayer - Reign In Blood

1987

Headbangers Ball debuts on MTV.

Death releases Scream Bloody Gore, pioneering the death metal genre.

Napalm Death releases their debut album Scum. They are considered by many to be the first grindcore band.

Bands formed this year: Autopsy, Burzum, Danzig, Darkthrone, Deicide, Entombed, Primordial, Therion

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1987:
Anthrax - Among The Living
Celtic Frost - Into The Pandemonium
Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I
King Diamond - Abigail
Testament - The Legacy

1988

The movie Decline Of Western Civilization II: The Metal Years is released.

Bands formed this year: Amon Amarth, Cannibal Corpse, Dismember, Gamma Ray, Paradise Lost

A sample of heavy metal albums released in 1988:
Helloween - Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II
Iron Maiden - Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
Megadeth - So Far, So Good, So What
Slayer - South Of Heaven
Voivod - Dimension Hatross

1989

The first Grammy for hard rock/heavy metal performance is given. It was won by Jethro Tull.

Bands formed this year: Bal-Sagoth, Cathedral, Dark Tranquillity, Dissection, The Gathering, Immortal

A sample of heavy metal albums released this year:
Annihilator - Alice In Hell
Exodus - Fabulous Disaster
King's X - Gretchen Goes To Nebraska
Sepultura - Beneath The Remains
Voivod - Nothingface

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