Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music
Hard rock, rooted in blues rock, transformed its sound to become heavier and more dramatic.
The achievements of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Van Halen, Queen, and Aerosmith are nothing short of legendary.
For those who listened in real time, it remains a beloved formative musical experience; for younger generations, it offers chances to discover music they didn’t know and to make new findings.
In this article, we’ve picked out great hard rock bands and classic tracks that will surely be talked about for generations to come.
Even within the hard rock genre, there are songs that head in many different directions, so please enjoy!
Playlist
| Legendary hard rock masterpieces and popular songs etched in the history of music | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Whole Lotta LoveLed Zeppelin |  play_arrow | This one features a biting guitar riff that leaves a strong impression... |
| 2east | Back In BlackAC/DC |  play_arrow | Mid-tempo, with a palpable weight and groove... |
| 3east | Smoke On The WaterDeep Purple |  play_arrow | This intro, the most famous in rock history, ... |
| 4east | Paradise CityGuns N’ Roses |  play_arrow | Whipping up a storm in the hard rock scene of the ’80s... |
| 5east | the name of the roseTen |  play_arrow | Gradually, from the quiet beginning of the electro-acoustic guitar in the intro… |
| 6east | Walk This WayAerosmith |  play_arrow | This song was released in September 1975 and... |
| 7east | we all fall downBlue Murder |  play_arrow | Known for his work with former Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake... |
| 8east | Rock BottomMichael Schenker Group |  play_arrow | You could say they’re a hard rock band that represents the UK… |
| 9east | Bohemian RhapsodyQueen |  play_arrow | The original unconventional rock band, Queen. Thi... |
| 10east | Crazy NightsLOUDNESS |  play_arrow | He took the world by storm and became synonymous with rock... |
| 11east | Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne |  play_arrow | In 2020, they released a thrilling comeback album... |
| 12east | Rock & Roll All NiteKISS |  play_arrow | Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley... |
| 13east | Dr. FeelgoodMötley Crüe |  play_arrow | The heavy drum-and-bass intro is irresistib… |
| 14east | take coverMr. BIG |  play_arrow | The super technique that, needless to say, everyone can sing... |
| 15east | ParanoidBlack Sabbath |  play_arrow | The originator of all hard rock and heavy metal... |
| 16east | The Final CountdownEurope |  play_arrow | The heroic keyboard phrase is just too awe-inspiring... |
| 17east | The TrooperIron Maiden |  play_arrow | The i… who led the global heavy metal boom |
| 18east | Breaking The LawJudas Priest |  play_arrow | A song characterized by a simple main riff and chorus... |
| 19east | Cum On Feel The NoiseQuiet Riot |  play_arrow | The ... of 1980s American hard rock |
| 20east | JumpVan Halen |  play_arrow | Familiar as a leading authority on right-hand technique… |
| 21east | Purple HazeThe Jimi Hendrix Experience |  play_arrow | What Mr. Hendrix saw, shrouded in a purple mist… |
| 22east | Welcome To The JungleGuns N’ Roses |  play_arrow | The 1980s—something everyone has heard of at least once... |
| 23east | Foxy LadyJimi Hendrix |  play_arrow | A hard rock guitarist who would later become famous... |
| 24east | PanamaVan Halen |  play_arrow | The exhilarating guitar in the intro hits my ears and... |
| 25east | Run To The HillsIron Maiden |  play_arrow | Released as a single in 1982… |
| 26east | Enter SandmanMetallica |  play_arrow | James Hetfield was la… |
| 27east | TushZZ Top |  play_arrow | At first, they gave a strong impression of being a blues rock band… |
| 28east | ASSAULT ATTACKMichael Schenker Group |  play_arrow | The transitional period from hard rock to heavy metal... |
| 29east | Mr. CrowleyOzzy Osbourne |  play_arrow | Introduction to Ozzy Osbourne’s classic songs |
| 30east | Hot For TeacherVan Halen |  play_arrow | This song that sings about being captivated by the teacher... |
| 31east | Pour Some Sugar On Me – Remastered 2017Def Leppard |  play_arrow | Starting with a shout, heavy and tight do... |
| 32east | gimme all your loveMasquerade |  play_arrow | They’re a band from Sweden. They remind me of TNT… |
| 33east | Helter SkelterThe Beatles |  play_arrow | Commonly known as “Why…,” released in 1968 |
| 34east | I love Rock N RollJoan Jett |  play_arrow | The legendary girls’ band, The Runaway… |
| 35east | letting goPRAYING MANTIS |  play_arrow | The twin-guitar harmonies and chorus feel so good… |
| 36east | Bad MedicineBon Jovi |  play_arrow | This is a quintessential masterpiece of 80s hard rock… |
| 37east | Raining BloodSLAYER |  play_arrow | Sung about the strength to defeat heaven... |
| 38east | SURRENDERCheap Trick |  play_arrow | Speaking of Cheap Trick, back in their home country, the United States... |
| 39east | Rock You like a HurricaneScorpions |  play_arrow | The wave of hard rock was not limited to the UK and the US; it also spread to... |
| 40east | Comfortably NumbPink Floyd |  play_arrow | The monster band that Britain proudly boasts to the world, … |
| 41east | forever youngTYKETTO |  play_arrow | A bluesy vocal timbre paired with a weeping guitar… |
| 42east | Still of the NightWhitesnake |  play_arrow | Former Deep Purple vocalist, Day… |
| 43east | How Come It Never RainsThe Dogs D’Amour |  play_arrow | They gained popularity with mellow songs and hard-hitting performances... |
| 44east | overnight sensationFireHouse |  play_arrow | They are an American band. In their early days, they were catchy... |
| 45east | change comes aroundHarem Scarem |  play_arrow | They are a hard rock band from Canada. Fa... |
| 46east | stars and the moonFair Warning |  play_arrow | Originally, members of Germany’s ZENO gathered... |
| 47east | freak of the weekFreak Kitchen |  play_arrow | Matthias, known as a perverted guitarist, ... |
| 48east | (I Can’t Get No) SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones |  play_arrow | On June 6, 1965, Keith Richards... |
| 49east | Rising ForceYngwie Malmsteen |  play_arrow | To the point where the guitar could determine the band’s popularity… |
| 50east | My GenerationThe Who |  play_arrow | At the time, by Mr. Pete Townshend, ... |
| 51east | Born To Be WildSteppenwolf |  play_arrow | Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda… |
| 52east | ScatterbrainJeff Beck |  play_arrow | Counted as one of the three great rock guitarists… |
| 53east | Iron ManBlack Sabbath |  play_arrow | Watching the end of the world by going back in time... |
| 54east | Lay It DownRatt |  play_arrow | In Japan, what was commonly called “LA metal” ba... |
| 55east | the searchSIAM |  play_arrow | A British band. The vocalist Tony Mil... |
| 56east | native tonguePoison |  play_arrow | Ritchie Kotzen joined on guitar, and... |
| 57east | Rockin’ In The Free WorldNeil Young |  play_arrow | The legendary musician that Canada is proud of, Nie… |
| 58east | wicked sensationLynch Mob |  play_arrow | Former Dokken guitar hero, George L… |
| 59east | Wanted ManRatt |  play_arrow | It’s got a hint of darkness, kind of like Black Sabbath… |
| 60east | i am iQueensrÿche |  play_arrow | The 1994 album “promise… |
| 61east | Mississippi QueenMountain |  play_arrow | Moun…, an American hard rock band… |
| 62east | Deserted Cities of the HeartCream |  play_arrow | Mr. Eric Clapton, Jack Blu… |
| 63east | renegadeFortune |  play_arrow | To be frank, the vocals are weak. The performance is... |
| 64east | Metal Health (Bang Your Head)Quiet Riot |  play_arrow | A hard rock to heavy [metal] act emblematic of the 1980s… |
| 65east | Every Rose Has Its Thorn – Remastered 2003Poison |  play_arrow | A look with flashy makeup and catchy... |
| 66east | Runaway TrainSoul Asylum |  play_arrow | It is recognized as alternative rock... |
| 67east | Street LethalRacer X |  play_arrow | Standing alongside Yngwie Malmsteen... |
| 68east | pickin up the piecesGlenn Hughes |  play_arrow | A hard rock song that showcases Glenn Hughes’s soulful vocals. |
| 69east | The Boys Are Back In TownTHIN LIZZY |  play_arrow | Is the twin-lead guitar style around here...? |
| 70east | Sweet Home AlabamaLynyrd Skynyrd |  play_arrow | Rock music from the American South is called Southern rock... |
| 71east | can’t believeLionsheart |  play_arrow | Appearing on the scene like a comet, like a comet... |
| 72east | mama i’m coming homeOzzy Osbourne |  play_arrow | The ever-controversial Ozzy Osbourne… |
| 73east | can you feel itManic Eden |  play_arrow | The guitarist known for his work with Vandenberg… |
| 74east | Nobody’s FoolCinderella |  play_arrow | Looking at it again, that’s quite an impressive band name… |
| 75east | Rainbow in the DarkDio |  play_arrow | In the history of heavy metal and hard rock... |
| 76east | We’re An American BandGrand Funk Railroad |  play_arrow | As the song title suggests, something that seems to symbolize America… |
| 77east | Mother´s EyesEnuff Z’Nuff |  play_arrow | Influenced by Cheap Trick and the Beatles, … |
| 78east | RemedyThe Black Crowes |  play_arrow | Debuting in the style of the Rolling Stones… |
| 79east | all sussed outTHE ALMIGHTY |  play_arrow | A band from Scotland. The lead vocalist Ri... |
| 80east | SeventeenWinger |  play_arrow | This is pure American rock! I can’t help but burst into applause… |
| 81east | you make me smileGalactic Cowboys |  play_arrow | It’s a mysterious track. With rock-solid distortion… |
| 82east | Close My Eyes ForeverLita Ford |  play_arrow | The legendary girls' band that even got a movie adaptation, The… |
| 83east | breaking the gunVincent Neil |  play_arrow | The two solo releases after leaving Mötley Crüe… |
| 84east | SkunkMC5 |  play_arrow | Garage punk, psychedelic, rock 'n'... |
| 85east | Ride OnGotthard |  play_arrow | A Swiss hard rock band that is well-known in Japan... |
| 86east | silent screamRiot |  play_arrow | A seasoned band formed in 1975… |
| 87east | No One Like YouScorpions |  play_arrow | A world-famous hard rock band born in Germany… |