Recommended hard rock and heavy metal

An introduction to Western heavy metal: the masterpieces that changed the history of metal

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.
Music producer, composer, vocal coach, keyboard playerKei Takahata
From around 1995 to 2000, he built experience as a composer and producer at a major label, then moved to the United States. In Los Angeles, he studied vocalization and singing under top voice trainer Elizabeth Sabine, mastering the so-called Hollywood vocal method she advocated. After returning to Japan, he trained and produced a variety of singers, earning high praise for his direction that maximized the appeal of both the songs and the vocalists. In a collaboration video with Guild’s vocalist ryuichi, he handled keyboard performance, vocal direction, and sound production. (Passed away in 2025)

The heavy metal genre has countless subgenres, and its breadth is so vast that even devoted metal fans often have very different tastes.

Some people say, “I like metal, but death metal is a bit much,” while others are only interested in the extreme side of metal, and some can enjoy any kind of metal.

That diversity is part of what makes it so fascinating.

If you’re just getting into metal, you might not know where to start.

In this article, we’ll introduce some recommended classics and popular tracks for metal beginners!

We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging lineup that not only features staple heavy metal, but also spotlights subgenres that showcase metal’s possibilities.

An Introduction to Western Heavy Metal: The Classic Tracks That Changed Metal History (41–50)

Born In A Mourning HallBLIND GUARDIAN

BLIND GUARDIAN – Born In A Mourning Hall

Born In A Mourning HallBLIND GUARDIAN

Many of BLIND GUARDIAN’s early songs are fast and straightforward, but among them, this track is a bit different in style, featuring a story with a clear beginning, development, twist, and conclusion within a single song.

It’s a dramatic masterpiece that connects to the BLIND GUARDIAN we know today.

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Behind SpaceIn Flames

In Flames – Behind Space

Behind SpaceIn Flames

A song by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames.

While it is death metal, its defining characteristic is a sound that reflects influences from Swedish traditional folk, such as harmonized twin-lead guitar phrases and the incorporation of waltz-like rhythms.

This melancholic yet not merely aggressive track was one of the catalysts for the genre’s boom in Japan.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Still of the NightWhitesnake

Whitesnake – Still of the Night (Official Music Video)

Still of the NightWhitesnake

This song, included on Whitesnake’s smash-hit 1987 album “Whitesnake” (Serpens Albus), was created around ex-Deep Purple’s David Coverdale and became a hot topic at the time thanks to its star-studded music video.

With a sound that emphasizes the heft characteristic of HM/HR and David Coverdale’s powerful shouts, its production and songwriting pack in all the best elements of ’80s metal.

Even listening in 2021, more than 30 years after its release, I think it’s a track that still shines with undiminished appeal.

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One With The WorldGamma Ray

Gamma Ray One With The World 1992

One With The WorldGamma Ray

Gamma Ray, the German metal veterans led by Kai Hansen.

Many fans are probably expecting melodic speed metal, but these mid-tempo tracks are surprisingly great as well.

The way it gradually builds from the restrained guitar solo into the subsequent key change is downright dramatic.

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Last Ride Of The DayNIGHTWISH

Nightwish – Last Ride Of The Day (With Lyrics)

Last Ride Of The DayNIGHTWISH

It’s a song by a symphonic metal band that enjoys nationwide popularity in Finland.

With aggressive synth sounds, heavy guitar riffs, and powerful twin vocals, this track truly stands out as a classic of symphonic metal.

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