The 1980s are perhaps the most defining decade in hard rock and metal. Bands like AC/DC, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, who emerged in the '70s, continued to release stellar discs, but a whole new form of metal burst onto the scene in the '80s when thrash took over and bands like Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth came to the forefront. Within the '80s also came the advent of glam, death metal, black metal, grindcore, goregrind and anything in between.
Meanwhile, punk rock continued to expand, as hardcore and other subgenres started to emerge. And in mainstream culture, hair bands dominated the airwaves, charts and the newly formed MTV, creating a worldwide revolution that saw heavy music reach its apex.
