10 Most Important Metal Bands Of All Time
4. Iron Maiden
By the late '70s, the entire metal spectrum was starting to operate in full swing. Though we were far from later genres like thrash or nu-metal, the origins of heavy music from bands like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple had given way to the golden age of metal, with bands like Rainbow and Scorpions rising to prominence. Though these bands certainly had their respective bites, Iron Maiden announced the new guard of heavy music with the force of a tidal wave.
Emerging from the depths of England in the late '70s, Maiden were one of the first success stories of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, from the harsh distorted riffs to the galloping bass lines of Steve Harris. Once the band welcomed belter Bruce Dickinson to their ranks, they embodied everything great about heavy metal music, from the dark lyrical themes to the relentless energy coming from the band.
Even when the riffs sounded somewhat happy, each of Maiden's songs fit the metal aesthetic through the sheer power behind their delivery. Over time, Maiden has gone from being an exceptional rock band to one of the godfathers of what we consider heavy today. Metal has veered in different directions since the '80s, but no other metal artist has come to the forefront without at least a little influence from Maiden.