Classic metal

Classic metal is a term used to refer to heavy metal bands from any era, playing metal similar to what is viewed by fans as the original sound of the genre from when artists broke through to major mainstream su

Classic metal is a term used to refer to heavy metal bands from any era, playing metal similar to what is viewed by fans as the original sound of the genre from when artists broke through to major mainstream success. Alternatively, classic metal is considered by most to be a subgenre of heavy metal music since heavy metal itself has spilt into many different styles and subgenres. Classic metal bands are typically characterized by thumping fast basslines, not so fast, heavy but "clean", riffs, extended lead guitar solos, high pitched vocals and anthemic choruses. Its peak period was the early to mid 1980s and was closely related to such genres as glam metal, hard rock and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, sometimes even overlapping them. Classic metal should not be confused with Proto-metal/Traditional metal which was a purely 70s phenomenon and which are generally regarded as the pioneers of heavy metal, who laid the foundation of future metal to come.

Significant artists include Dokken, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manowar, Motörhead, Saxon and Twisted Sister.