Switzerlands Celtic Frost saw its beginnings as Hellhammer, a band labeled at the time as extreme metal in 82. Both bands, led by Thomas Gabriel Warrior (!), are considered major influences to the development of black and death metal with Celtic Frost continuing in one form or another from 84 to as recently as 2008. Circles Of Tyrants is among the better recorded entries on our list from a production standpoint and a ripper of a tune. This selection is from the bands 2nd album, To Mega Therion which incidentally, is the inspiration behind the name of Swedish symphonic metal band, Therion.
7. "Raise The Dead" by Bathory, 1984
Sources disagree as to whether Bathory was named after the notorious Countess or the Venom song. Bathorys debut album from 84 stands as another classic influence. Out of Sweden and led by Quorthon (Thomas Forsberg) the bands satanic imagery was specifically chosen to provoke religious sorts. A couple of albums later however he is reported to have rejected Satanism as part of the flawed system of religious hocus pocus, Christianity. Raise The Dead seems to be a tribute to the Venom song Buried Alive although Quorthon disputed that, saying that he hadn't heard of Venom until after the recording of Bathory. Quorthon died in unexpectedly in 2004 from heart failure.