These tunes rocked us hard, fast, and everything in between.
Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we're counting down our pics for
the Top 10 Decade Defining Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Songs of all time.
For our series on the Top 10 Decade Defining Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Songs of all time,
we've based our choices on a mix of a track's success, popularity,
and their ability to represent the decades they were released in.
This is part of a series of videos spanning Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music from the 1970s to the 2000s.
Beginning with that swinging, riffing style so reminiscent of Groove Metal,
this song is filled to the brim with anger and threads of violence.
An embodiment of what Panthera stood for.
Mess with them, and you'll experience a vulgar display of power
that you won't recover from anytime soon.
As the most well known track to die hard fans and casual listeners alike,
'Walk' is an anthem that will make you wanna slam your fists to the beat.
This song took the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal world by storm in the late 80s.
The second single off their debut, 'Appetite for Destruction',
'Welcome to the Jungle' introduced a fresh sound into the genres,
and became a Hot 100 Top 10 smash for Guns N' Roses.
The raw talent of Slash's guitar solos, matched with Axl Rose's intense vocals,
gave us a precise yet powerful tune, that's not only a band's live staple, but is consitently cited
as one of rock's greatest.
You can't think of Motörhead without thinking of this song.
With Lemmy's signature gravely vocals, and a speedy style of guitar play,
you get a recipe for a classic rock tune with a metal twist.
This heavy combination ensures that Ace of Spades is a simple yet effective anthem,
and that it will go down in music history as one of the greats of Heavy Metal.
Known among rock and non-rock fans, this song is the beginning of a new era for the band.
With the introduction of Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist,
Iron Maiden released several epic and genre-defining tracks.
While 'The Number of the Beast' is certainly up there, it's 'Run to the Hills'
from the former's parent album that steals the spot;
Thanks to its galloping baseline, classic heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of America's violent history.
Of one the band's signature tunes, 'Highway to Hell is a hard rocking song that became
an unfortunate reflection of life on the road for the aussie musicians.
The lyrics about a grueling tour, along with the sudden death of front man Bon Scott
six months after the track's release, has made the single all the more potent.
With Mutt Lange's production work and a signature riff introducing it,
this is one AC/DC number that won't soon be forgotten.
While 'Holy Wars... The Punishment Due' is an excellent track,
it's the fact that 'Peace Sells' is a landmark in heavy and speed metal that it makes our list.
The four-minute number also helped propel Megadeath from Dave Mustaine's dream project into a reality.
Specially since it was released following their signing to a mayor label record deal.
Able to hold its own against the most renowned trash metal tracks,
'Peace Sells' is regarded as a classic of the genre.
The opening baseline along with the sharp vocals, are all you need to hear before the song takes hold.
While Ozzy's origins in Black Sabbath may've made him a household name,
it was this single that brought him into the United States as a solo artist.
Meanwhile, Randy Rhoads' main guitar riff on 'Crazy Train' is legendary.
Now one of the Prince of Darkness's most popular tunes,
it also became a Top 10 in Billboard's rock charts during the early 80's.
And honestly, what more could you expect from the godfather of heavy metal?
Keep that crazy train rollin', Ozzy.
This song borrows elements from classical arabic, african and asian music,
all the while invoking thoughts of an endless journey with its Hard Rock and Progressive Rock vibes.
Writing the lyrics to such a mighty composition was such a challenge for front man Robert Plant,
that he was almost brought to tears.
Though we reckon those later became tears of joy upon completion,
as the band's members have stated that 'Kashmir' is THE definitive Led Zeppelin song,
and it quickly became an essential live track.
It may have started as an afterthought for the album of the same name,
but 'Paranoid' became one of the band's greatest hits.
Ozzy and crew managed to create a heavy metal monster of a sophomore effort,
with this track spear-heading its way into musical history through a blast of sound.
Praised for its incredible guitar riff, the less than two-minute track
is still placed on the top tier of heavy metal today, and has also found its way into pop culture.
Before we unveil our pick for Decade Defining Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Song of All Time,
here are some honorable mentions.
Though we considered the power ballad 'One'...
... and their mainstream breakthrough 'Enter Sandman'...
... it's this Metallica single that really changed the face of trash metal and the band's career as we know it.
With its heavy speed and heavier sound, 'Master of Puppets' stopped fans of the genre in their tracks.
The sharp vocals, dealing with the all-consuming nature of drugs, and its unforgettable guitar riffs,
all combine to deliver an eight and a half minute number, that's since become a Metallica signature tune
a live concert and pop culture staple, as well as one of heavy metal's most indispensable singles.
Do you agree with our list?
What's your favorite hard-rocker heavy metal song of all time?
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