Named for the famed serial killer of the late 1500's, Bathory stand out as a foundation for extreme metal to follow. With snarling screams, fast-paced drum beats, and bass grooves that compete with Black Sabbath, they put out their self-titled album thanks to the success of two recorded tracks on a compilation EP.

Sitting at the intersection of Black Sabbath, Motorhead, late 70s Hardcore Punk, and the occult, Black Metal is the album that gave the genre its name. With more dissonant sounding guitar chords, heavy riffs, deep growling vocals, groovy bass lines, and quick double bass work, Venom created a blend of genres and added a punch of satanic darkness that created the foundation for black metal and other extreme metal subgenres that followed.

Emerging from the Los Angeles heavy metal scene of the early 1980s, Armored Saint are one of those bands that never quite got the recognition they deserved. Founded by the Sandoval brothers, Gonzo and Phil, they were fronted by one of the most talented vocalists of the 1980s, John Bush. Their debut release, March of the Saint, saw middling success; however, die-hards recognize the power that this album holds.

Blasting on the scene with their debut album Sirens, Savatage immediately started setting the pace for the thrash metal scene of the 80s that would later be born from the power metal era. Released in 1983 during the rise of heavy metal in the US, Sirens delivered a blast of hard-pounding, thrashing, and screaming heavy metal.

Matt Carter is one of the founding members of the post-hardcore band Emery. Giving rise to the early-2000s "screamo" genre, notably among the rise of Tooth and Nail and Solid State artists in the mainstream, Emery are one my longtime favorite bands all time.

Anthrax introduced the world to a more extreme version of early 80s power metal with their first album, Fistful of Metal. Showcasing Scott Ian's guitar prowess and Neil Turbin's soaring vocal capabilities, Fistful of Metal packs some serious speed and easily set the tone for power metal albums to follow. Bordering on the verge of speed metal in this album, Anthrax were a force to be reckoned with early in their career.

Accept found their start in the late 70s during the rise of the NWOBHM, but they didn't reach any critical acclaim until their 4th album, Restless and Wild. Helping set the bar for power metal bands, then and now, they put out some tracks on this album that have helped define both the power and speed metal genres of heavy metal. Udo and company shred through the album and help define the budding power metal genre of the early 80s.