Top 10 Decade Defining Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Songs: All Time

these toons rocked us hard fast and

these toons rocked us hard fast and everything in between

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten

counting down our picks for the top ten decade defining hard rock and heavy

decade defining hard rock and heavy

decade defining hard rock and heavy metal songs of all time for our series

metal songs of all time for our series

metal songs of all time for our series on the top ten decade defining hard rock

on the top ten decade defining hard rock

on the top ten decade defining hard rock and heavy metal songs of all time we’ve

and heavy metal songs of all time we’ve

and heavy metal songs of all time we’ve based our choices on a mix of a track

based our choices on a mix of a track

based our choices on a mix of a track success popularity and their ability to

success popularity and their ability to

success popularity and their ability to represent the decades they were released

represent the decades they were released

represent the decades they were released in this is part of a series of video

in this is part of a series of video

in this is part of a series of video spanning hard rock and heavy metal music

spanning hard rock and heavy metal music

spanning hard rock and heavy metal music from the 1970s to the 2000s

number ten walk Pantera beginning with

number ten walk Pantera beginning with that swinging riffing style so

that swinging riffing style so

that swinging riffing style so reminiscent of groove metal this song is

reminiscent of groove metal this song is

reminiscent of groove metal this song is filled to the brim with anger and

filled to the brim with anger and

filled to the brim with anger and threats of violence an embodiment of

threats of violence an embodiment of

threats of violence an embodiment of what Pantera stood for mess with them

what Pantera stood for mess with them

what Pantera stood for mess with them and you’ll experience a Vulgar Display

and you’ll experience a Vulgar Display

and you’ll experience a Vulgar Display of power that you won’t recover from any

of power that you won’t recover from any

of power that you won’t recover from any time soon

you

you as the most well-known track two diehard

as the most well-known track two diehard

as the most well-known track two diehard fans and casual listeners alike walk is

fans and casual listeners alike walk is

fans and casual listeners alike walk is an anthem that will make you want to

an anthem that will make you want to

an anthem that will make you want to slam your fists to the beat

number nine welcome to the jungle Guns

number nine welcome to the jungle Guns and Roses

this song took the hard rock and heavy

this song took the hard rock and heavy metal worlds by storm in the late 80s

the second single off their debut

the second single off their debut Appetite for Destruction welcome to the

Appetite for Destruction welcome to the

Appetite for Destruction welcome to the jungle introduced a fresh sound into the

jungle introduced a fresh sound into the

jungle introduced a fresh sound into the genres and became a Hot 100 top-ten

genres and became a Hot 100 top-ten

genres and became a Hot 100 top-ten smash for Guns N’Roses

the raw talent of slashes guitar solos

the raw talent of slashes guitar solos matched with Axl Rose’s intense vocals

matched with Axl Rose’s intense vocals

matched with Axl Rose’s intense vocals gave us a precise yet powerful tune

gave us a precise yet powerful tune

gave us a precise yet powerful tune that’s not only a band Live staple but

that’s not only a band Live staple but

that’s not only a band Live staple but is consistently cited as one of rock’s

is consistently cited as one of rock’s

is consistently cited as one of rock’s greatest

you can’t think of Motorhead without

you can’t think of Motorhead without thinking of this song

lemme signature gravelly vocals and a

lemme signature gravelly vocals and a speedy style of guitar play you get a

speedy style of guitar play you get a

speedy style of guitar play you get a recipe for a classic rock tune with a

recipe for a classic rock tune with a

recipe for a classic rock tune with a metal twist

this heavy combination ensures that ace

this heavy combination ensures that ace of spades is a simple yet effective

of spades is a simple yet effective

of spades is a simple yet effective anthem and that it will go down in music

anthem and that it will go down in music

anthem and that it will go down in music history as one of the greats of heavy

history as one of the greats of heavy

history as one of the greats of heavy metal

number seven run to the hills

number seven run to the hills iron meat white man came

Oh

Oh known among rock and non rock fans this

known among rock and non rock fans this

known among rock and non rock fans this song is the beginning of a new era for

song is the beginning of a new era for

song is the beginning of a new era for the bear

rotten fruit

rotten fruit with the introduction of Bruce Dickinson

with the introduction of Bruce Dickinson

with the introduction of Bruce Dickinson as lead vocalist Iron Maiden released

as lead vocalist Iron Maiden released

as lead vocalist Iron Maiden released several epic and genre-defining tracks

while the number of the beast is

while the number of the beast is certainly up there it’s run to the hills

certainly up there it’s run to the hills

certainly up there it’s run to the hills from the former’s parent album that

from the former’s parent album that

from the former’s parent album that steals the spot

thanks to its galloping baseline classic

thanks to its galloping baseline classic heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of

heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of

heavy metal sound and vivid imagery of America’s violent history

number six highway to hell

number six highway to hell ac/dc one of the Bands signature Tunes

ac/dc one of the Bands signature Tunes

ac/dc one of the Bands signature Tunes highway to hell is a hard Rocking song

highway to hell is a hard Rocking song

highway to hell is a hard Rocking song that became an unfortunate reflection of

that became an unfortunate reflection of

that became an unfortunate reflection of life on the road for the aussie

life on the road for the aussie

life on the road for the aussie musicians the lyrics about a grueling

musicians the lyrics about a grueling

musicians the lyrics about a grueling tour along with the sudden death of

tour along with the sudden death of

tour along with the sudden death of frontman Bon Scott six months after the

frontman Bon Scott six months after the

frontman Bon Scott six months after the track’s release has made the single all

track’s release has made the single all

track’s release has made the single all the more potent

with mutt Lang’s production work and a

with mutt Lang’s production work and a signature riff introducing it this is

signature riff introducing it this is

signature riff introducing it this is one ac/dc number that won’t soon be

one ac/dc number that won’t soon be

one ac/dc number that won’t soon be forgotten

while holy wars the punishment due is an

while holy wars the punishment due is an excellent track

it’s the fact that peace cells is a

it’s the fact that peace cells is a landmark in heavy and speed metal that

landmark in heavy and speed metal that

landmark in heavy and speed metal that it makes our list

the four-minute number also helped

the four-minute number also helped propel Megadeth from Dave Mustaine

propel Megadeth from Dave Mustaine

propel Megadeth from Dave Mustaine stream project into a reality

first in line

first in line especially since it was released

especially since it was released

especially since it was released following their signing to a major label

following their signing to a major label

following their signing to a major label record deal

able to hold its own against the most

able to hold its own against the most renowned thrash metal tracks peace cells

renowned thrash metal tracks peace cells

renowned thrash metal tracks peace cells is regarded as a classic of the genre

the opening baseline along with the

the opening baseline along with the sharp vocals are all you need to hear

sharp vocals are all you need to hear

sharp vocals are all you need to hear before the song takes hold

while aziz origins in Black Sabbath may

while aziz origins in Black Sabbath may have made him a household name it was

have made him a household name it was

have made him a household name it was this single that broke him into the

this single that broke him into the

this single that broke him into the United States as a solo artist

meanwhile randy rhoads main guitar riff

meanwhile randy rhoads main guitar riff on crazy train is legendary

now one of the Prince of Darkness ha’s

now one of the Prince of Darkness ha’s most popular tunes it also became a top

most popular tunes it also became a top

most popular tunes it also became a top ten on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart

ten on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart

ten on Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart during the early 80s and honestly what

during the early 80s and honestly what

during the early 80s and honestly what more could you expect from The Godfather

more could you expect from The Godfather

more could you expect from The Godfather of heavy metal

number three cashmere Led Zeppelin this

number three cashmere Led Zeppelin this song borrows elements from classical

song borrows elements from classical

song borrows elements from classical Arabic African and Asian music all the

Arabic African and Asian music all the

Arabic African and Asian music all the while invoking thoughts of an endless

while invoking thoughts of an endless

while invoking thoughts of an endless journey with its hard rock and

journey with its hard rock and

journey with its hard rock and progressive rock vibes

writing the lyrics to such a mighty

writing the lyrics to such a mighty composition was such a challenge for

composition was such a challenge for

composition was such a challenge for frontman Robert Plant that he was almost

frontman Robert Plant that he was almost

frontman Robert Plant that he was almost brought to tears

though we reckon those later turned into

though we reckon those later turned into tears of joy upon completion as the band

tears of joy upon completion as the band

tears of joy upon completion as the band members have stated the cashmere is the

members have stated the cashmere is the

members have stated the cashmere is the definitive Leeds Epling song and it

definitive Leeds Epling song and it

definitive Leeds Epling song and it quickly became an essential live track

it may have started as an afterthought

it may have started as an afterthought for the album of the same name but

for the album of the same name but

for the album of the same name but paranoid became one of the band’s

paranoid became one of the band’s

paranoid became one of the band’s greatest hits

ozzie and crew managed to create a

ozzie and crew managed to create a heavy-metal monster of a sophomore

heavy-metal monster of a sophomore

heavy-metal monster of a sophomore effort with this track spearheading its

effort with this track spearheading its

effort with this track spearheading its way into musical history through a blast

way into musical history through a blast

way into musical history through a blast of sound

praised for its incredible guitar riff

praised for its incredible guitar riff the less than two-minute track is still

the less than two-minute track is still

the less than two-minute track is still placed in the top tier of heavy metal to

placed in the top tier of heavy metal to

placed in the top tier of heavy metal to this day and has also found its way into

this day and has also found its way into

this day and has also found its way into pop culture

before we unveil our pick for decade

before we unveil our pick for decade defining hard rock and heavy metal song

defining hard rock and heavy metal song

defining hard rock and heavy metal song of all time

of all time

of all time here are some honorable mentions

and their mainstream breakthrough Enter

and their mainstream breakthrough Enter Sandman

it’s this Metallica single that really

it’s this Metallica single that really changed the face of thrash metal and the

changed the face of thrash metal and the

changed the face of thrash metal and the band’s career as we know it

with its heavy speed and heavier sound

with its heavy speed and heavier sound Master of Puppets stopped fans of the

Master of Puppets stopped fans of the

Master of Puppets stopped fans of the genre dead in their tracks

the sharp vocals dealing with the

the sharp vocals dealing with the all-consuming nature of drugs and it’s

all-consuming nature of drugs and it’s

all-consuming nature of drugs and it’s unforgettable guitar riffs all combined

unforgettable guitar riffs all combined

unforgettable guitar riffs all combined to deliver an eight and a half minute

to deliver an eight and a half minute

to deliver an eight and a half minute number that since become a Metallica

number that since become a Metallica

number that since become a Metallica signature tune a live concert and pop

signature tune a live concert and pop

signature tune a live concert and pop culture staple as well as one of heavy

culture staple as well as one of heavy

culture staple as well as one of heavy metals most indispensable singles

do you agree with our list what’s your

do you agree with our list what’s your favorite hard rock or heavy metal song

favorite hard rock or heavy metal song

favorite hard rock or heavy metal song of all time

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