When Heavy Metal Ruled The World

1984 was a monumental year for heavy metal, shaping the genre with iconic albums from bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and more. In this video, we look at how the releases of that year collectively impacted the metal scene and helped define the sound of a generation.

Whether you're a lifelong metalhead or just getting into the genre, this video provides a broad look at why 1984 stands as such an important year in heavy metal history.

My Gear:

Plugins:
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Neural DSP Archetype: Petrucci
BIAS FX II

Guitars:
2024 Lado Earth - handbuilt by master luthier Joe Lado
Ibanez Destroyer DT300
Ibanez Destroyer DT50
Fender American Deluxe Fat Strat
Charvel Model 1
Fender Janick Gers Inspired Stratocaster
Lado II Superstrat
Lado Canadian Classic
Clarke Customs Tomahawk

[ericsyre]

Iron Maiden truly helped giving the genre some credibility by adding in elaborate artwork, English poetry, literature and movies-inspired songs instead of the already exhausted clichés a lot of bands relied on at the time.

[charlesfarrugia]

I still listen to All of the albums you mention.

[iakirov]

1984, what a year, and what a decade... I was 12, had recently discovered Iron Maiden, Saxon, ACDC, Ozzy, Judas Priest, VH. As a kid I grew up with KISS, Meat Loaf, Black Sabbath. Later the soundtrack of the rest of the decade included G'n'R, Stryper, Bon Jovi, Dio, Ratt, Queensryche, Dokken, Metallica... Perhaps it was 1986 a more determining year for me. Living in a small south american city at the time I got not that much access to all what existed, but every glimpse of what was out there kept the motor running!

[redlaw]

Defenders of the Faith defined my music journey. When I heard Freewheel Burning for the first time, I said to myself, “wow! This is heavy metal.”

[Metalhead]

Dokken-Tooth and Nail, Scorpions-Love At First Sting, Europe-Wings of Tomorrow, Metal Church-Metal Church, Whitesnake-Slide It In, KISS-Animalize are some others I enjoy from '84.

[patriotpizzaman]

Scorpions - Love at First Sting, Dokken - Tooth and Nail, Europe - Wings of Tomorrow, TNT - Knights of the New Thunder, Fates Warning - Night on Bröcken, Great White - Great White, and Icon - Icon. Manowar released two great albums in 1984 Hail to England & Sign of the Hammer. We also got Metal Church - Metal Church, Wendy O. Williams - WOW, and Y & T - In Rock We Trust. What a haul!

[patriotpizzaman]

To be fair, from 1982 to 1988 was the most fertile era of Heavy Metal and most of the greatest albums in Metal history were released during that Golden Age of the genre.

[toralm]

Manowar "hail to england" and " sign of the hammer" released in 84. Two classic albums with great inspiration to a lot of bands and the power metal way of metal.

[danilopetrovic]

Hey Nico, great topic as always. My first introduction to metal music was around the year 2000 (I was about 10 years old) when Brave New World was released (and it's still my favorite Iron Maiden album to this day). I can still remember how excited I was hearing the first notes of "The Wicker Man." I immediately started collecting CDs and listening to older Iron Maiden albums. As for 1984, it really was a phenomenal year, and I love all those bands you mentioned.

[joemiller]

I was 14 in 1984- have loved Heavy Metal all my life and always will. My favorite albums from '84:
Judas Priest- Defenders of the Faith
Iron Maiden- Powerslave (saw them in concert for this tour)
Scorpions- Love at First Sting
Metallica: Ride the Lightning
The '80s was the best decade for Metal, and a great decade for all genres of music!

[ericv]

I was 10 yo in 1984. I didn't get really into metal until '88 or '89, but before then, metal was everywhere. I would see older kids with Iron Maiden and Dio shirts, and metal videos were shown even on network TV (we didn't have cable, so no MTV). Van Halen, Quiet Riot, and Twisted Sister were all over the radio. Motley Crue was even from my hometown (Vince Niel and Tommy Lee both attended my high school about a decade before I did). 1984 was the watershed year where heavy metal matured and just became part of everyday culture.

[PaulWilde]

I love the direction you have taken this channel, Nico! Very entertaining and has a different spin than all of the others. 🤘

[kurtzcol]

metal churchs first album came out in 84 to its a great album

[anthonyjagers]

MTV is what brought this mainstream heavy metal. The whole country wasn't cabled until eary '83. So, '84 was the year for change.

[thomaskaba]

1984 really was a great year in Rock and Metal. Powerslave by Iron Maiden, Last In Line by Dio, Warning by Queensryche, Perfect Strangers by Deep Purple, Ride The Lightning by Metallica.

[diogocamacho]

Great video. As a 9yo nascent metal head in 1984, Powerslave and Iron Maiden really spoke to me. And on the other side you had Ride the Lightning with some incredible songs. Those 2 bands alone made me pick up the guitar, and opened the door to a wonderful musical heavy rock world.

[dietersmit]

Defenders and Powerslave were the highlights of 1984. Both these 2 albums will probably be on the all time top 20 list of most HM fans. Defenders will be in my top 5.

[WeGachaMetal]

Bravo. Same here, but I was 13. I love this video. 1984 was absolute Magic.

[jerrytriplett]

I am a 44 year metal head. Got into it back in 1980 with the NWOBHM and bands from the 70s. 84 was one of the best years for albums and tours. I saw so many concerts that year.

[darrinlowenthal]

Metal Church 1st CD was a favorite for me & my friends that year!🤘