In honor of season #2, we introduce The Heavy Metal Yearbook: 1980’s Edition, wherein Eric, of the Heavy Metal 101 podcast (https://anchor.fm/heavymetal101podcast), explores every nook and cranny of 1980’s heavy metal history so that you can just sit back and enjoy the highlights:
The year 1980 was ground zero for a new leaner, meaner, and more focused strain of heavy metal that would soon rise to cultural domination throughout much of the world. This was due in large part to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that had fully matured by 1980 and produced some of the finest albums of that year, most particularly the magnificent self-titled debut of the mighty Iron Maiden as well as the shamefully underappreciated masterpiece that was the eponymous debut of Angel Witch.
Meanwhile, the old metal guard which had laid the groundwork for the NWOBHM was also in peak artistic form in 1980, with the newly Dio-led Black Sabbath releasing their iconic Heaven and Hell, and both Motorhead and AC/DC reaching their respective career peaks via Ace of Spades and Back in Black. The great Van Halen was also busily keeping up their masterful streak of killer Roth-era albums via Women and Children First.
However, to my mind the freshest, sharpest, and most significant heavy metal album of 1980 was the one that featured the extraordinary guitar work of the late, great Randy Rhoads. My pick for the best heavy metal album of 1980 is Ozzy Osbourne’s solo debut, Blizzard of Ozz.
For more fun-filled heavy metal chat, please do check out the Heavy Metal 101 podcast, available everywhere you like to listen! https://anchor.fm/heavymetal101podcast