An introduction to Western heavy metal: the masterpieces that changed the history of metal
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.
Playlist
| An introduction to Western heavy metal: the masterpieces that changed the history of metal | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| show_chart | Title | Playlist | Review |
| 1east | Master Of PuppetsMetallica |  play_arrow | As one of the most globally successful metal bands, ... |
| 2east | PainkillerJudus Priest |  play_arrow | Among metal bands around the world, in particular… |
| 3east | The TrooperIron Maiden |  play_arrow | New …, born in the UK in the 1980s |
| 4east | Holy Wars…The Punishment DueMegadeth |  play_arrow | A signature song by the American metal band Megadeth... |
| 5east | Eagle Fly FreeHelloween |  play_arrow | A member who supported the golden era made a shocking comeback, and 20… |
| 6east | WalkPantera |  play_arrow | Vinnie Paul on drums and on guitar... |
| 7east | Angel Of DeathSLAYER |  play_arrow | From its aggressive sound, extreme me… |
| 8east | Mr. CrowleyOzzy Osbourne |  play_arrow | In Japan, he is known by the nickname “the Emperor of Metal,” and… |
| 9east | Pull Me UnderDream Theater |  play_arrow | A prog-infused blend of progressive rock and metal... |
| 10east | Rose Of SharynKillswitch Engage |  play_arrow | The revival of heavy metal since the 2000s... |
| 11east | Dr. FeelgoodMötley Crüe |  play_arrow | Flashy live shows held in large venues and intense com… |
| 12east | Never DieYngwie Malmsteen |  play_arrow | A bold infusion of classical elements into the metal sound... |
| 13east | Spit It OutSlipknot |  play_arrow | In the late 1990s, in that chaotic, fin-de-siècle era... |
| 14east | Hammer Smashed FaceCannibal Corpse |  play_arrow | With a consistent style that has remained unchanged since their formation... |
| 15east | Take This LifeIn Flames |  play_arrow | Traditional heavy metal in the brutality of death metal... |
| 16east | Through The Fire And FlamesDragonForce |  play_arrow | Slightly over-the-top fast-picked guitar and a catchy... |
| 17east | FaintLinkin Park |  play_arrow | They were effectively forced into hiatus due to the vocalist’s sudden death... |
| 18east | BleedMeshuggah |  play_arrow | A metal subgenre called “djent”… |
| 19east | Can You Feel My HeartBring Me The Horizon |  play_arrow | The British rock band Bring Me the... |
| 20east | Carry OnAngra |  play_arrow | The replacement for Angra, the metal band from Brazil, ... |
| 21east | Them BonesAlice In Chains |  play_arrow | “Them Bones” is an American meta… |
| 22east | UnisonicUnisonic |  play_arrow | A thrilling, fast-paced masterpiece of German metal by Hansen and Kiske. |
| 23east | Emerald SwordRhapsody |  play_arrow | A symphonic metal band from Italy… |
| 24east | Waking The DemonBullet For My Valentine |  play_arrow | The alternati... that enjoys high popularity in the UK |
| 25east | Black DiamondStratovarius |  play_arrow | A power metal band from Finland, S… |
| 26east | AfterlifeAvenged Sevenfold |  play_arrow | An American heavy metal band formed in 1999… |
| 27east | Wash It All AwayFive Finger Death Punch |  play_arrow | A song by an extremely popular American heavy metal band... |
| 28east | In The EndBlack Veil Brides |  play_arrow | Imitating the legendary heavy metal band KISS… |
| 29east | …To Be LovedPapa Roach |  play_arrow | A popular American alternative metal band… |
| 30east | Spotlight KidRainbow |  play_arrow | The guitarist who left DEEP PURPLE… |
| 31east | The World Is YoursArch Enemy |  play_arrow | Melodic death metal from Sweden… |
| 32east | In My DreamsDokken |  play_arrow | In the middle of interviewing Don Dokken, the vocalist... |
| 33east | DownfallExodus |  play_arrow | Thrash metal, which enjoys high popularity in the United States… |
| 34east | Countdown to ExtinctionMegadeth |  play_arrow | It is the title track of their fifth album and... |
| 35east | PsychosocialSlipknot |  play_arrow | All the members are dressed in masks and jumpsuits… |
| 36east | AmerikaUriah Heep |  play_arrow | It isn’t very well known in Japan, but in the United States and Eu... |
| 37east | Don’t Fear the WinterRage |  play_arrow | Among the many power metal bands, they stand out… |
| 38east | BlindKorn |  play_arrow | Still going strong and active in the 2020s, 202… |
| 39east | Black SabbathBlack Sabbath |  play_arrow | Formed in 1968, the pioneers of heavy metal... |
| 40east | Freezing MoonMayhem |  play_arrow | A band representing the early black metal scene... |
| 41east | Born In A Mourning HallBLIND GUARDIAN |  play_arrow | Early songs by BLIND GUARDIAN… |
| 42east | Behind SpaceIn Flames |  play_arrow | Melodic death metal from Sweden… |
| 43east | Still of the NightWhitesnake |  play_arrow | ex. David from DEEP PURPLE… |
| 44east | One With The WorldGamma Ray |  play_arrow | The German metal led by Kai Hansen is hea… |
| 45east | Last Ride Of The DayNIGHTWISH |  play_arrow | A sympho… that enjoys nationwide popularity in Finland |
| 46east | SuperheroesRacer X |  play_arrow | At the time the band was formed, he was 19 years old and was called the “lightspeed guitarist”… |
| 47east | Just Another PsychoMötley Crüe |  play_arrow | The 2008 album “Saints …” |
| 48east | Roots Bloody RootsSepultura |  play_arrow | A Brazilian metal ba… formed in 1984 |
| 49east | MasqueradeSymphony X |  play_arrow | Speaking of SYMPHONY X’s hidden gems… |
| 50east | I Am The Black WizardsEmperor |  play_arrow | A black metal band from Norway, E... |
| 51east | Ich WillRAMMSTEIN |  play_arrow | A song by Germany’s national-level dance metal band… |
| 52east | The Final CountdownEurope |  play_arrow | As a founding presence of Scandinavian metal, metal fans... |
| 53east | Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy [The Electric Drill Song]Mr. BIG | ![Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy [The Electric Drill Song]Mr. BIG](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/46BCpSJKIjw/default.jpg) play_arrow | In 1989, Billy Sheehan (b), Paul… |
| 54east | Angel EyesRiot |  play_arrow | The sound production is extremely bad, and as a result... |
| 55east | Tears In The SkyTalisman |  play_arrow | Among TALISMAN’s songs, it’s relatively heavy… |
| 56east | Living For The NightViper |  play_arrow | While former ANGRA member Andre Matos was in the band... |
| 57east | Burn It To The GroundNickelback |  play_arrow | An alternative act that enjoys nationwide popularity in Canada… |
| 58east | Was It Worth It ?Children of Bodom |  play_arrow | A melodic style that enjoys high popularity in Finland… |
| 59east | Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24SAVATAGE |  play_arrow | An instrumental track, which is rare even among SAVATAGE’s songs… |
| 60east | Martial ArtsRoyal Hunt |  play_arrow | Neoclassical metal and progressive ele... |
| 61east | We’re Not Gonna Take itTwisted Sister |  play_arrow | The clown’s flashy, heavily made-up performance style and cat… |
| 62east | JadedSpiritbox |  play_arrow | Grammy-nominated songs by Spiritbox |
| 63east | Parallel MindsCONCEPTION |  play_arrow | A technical metal band from Norway. … |
| 64east | Endless DarkHiM |  play_arrow | Finlan..., which enjoys high popularity especially among young women... |
| 65east | Edge Of A Broken HeartVixen |  play_arrow | Sometimes called the female version of Bon Jovi, 19… |
| 66east | Look at YourselfUriah Heep |  play_arrow | The British hard rock band, Uriah… |
| 67east | OblivionMastodon |  | The Arime… which has been supported by enthusiastic fans for many years |
| 68east | Save meEdguy |  play_arrow | The German melodic ... which enjoys great popularity even in South America |
| 69east | Square HammerGHOST |  play_arrow | A signature song by Ghost. Number one on the Billboard chart. |
| 70east | Lets Get RockedDef Leppard |  play_arrow | A band from the UK, DEF LEPPA… |
| 71east | Green MachineKyuss |  play_arrow | A blend of metal and psychedelic rock... |
| 72east | Home Sweet HomeMötley Crüe |  play_arrow | Live performances centered around large venues and strong commercial promotions... |
| 73east | ShotgunLimp Bizkit |  play_arrow | A track by America’s hugely popular rap-metal band… |
| 74east | Death Of MeAsking Alexandria |  play_arrow | The British alternative ... which enjoys high popularity especially among young people |
| 75east | Round And RoundRatt |  play_arrow | A representative of LA metal, which flourished in the 1980s… |
| 76east | HeartworkCarcass |  play_arrow | A heavier sound than previous metal, agg... |
| 77east | Make me BadKorn |  play_arrow | An alternative ... centered on uniquely harsh, biting tracks |
| 78east | PapercutLinkin Park |  play_arrow | From the late 1990s to the early 2000s... |
| 79east | As I DieParadise Lost |  play_arrow | Genres like death-doom and gothic metal ja… |
| 80east | Radio MagicEARTHSHAKER |  play_arrow | Active from 1978 to 1994, 19... |
| 81east | Where Dead Angels LieDissection |  play_arrow | The extreme metal that Sweden prides itself on... |
| 82east | I’m No FoolElegy |  play_arrow | They’re a five-piece from the Netherlands. At the time, this song was… |
| 83east | One Of These DaysNARITA |  play_arrow | The technical collective from Denmark, NARI… |