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Metal · 1980s

Best 1980s Metal Songs

The best metal songs of the 1980s (80s), ranked — each one links to the album it came from, on vinyl, CD or Amazon Music.

All song listsMetal albumsBest Metal albums of the 1980sAll 1980s songs

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  1. 1
    JP

    Breaking the Law

    Judas Priest · from British Steel (1980)

    Metal streamlined into a perfect anthem.

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  2. 2
    MO

    Ace of Spades

    Motörhead · from Ace of Spades (1980)

    Fast, dirty and immortal.

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  3. 3
    OO

    Crazy Train

    Ozzy Osbourne · from Blizzard of Ozz (1980)

    Randy Rhoads' riff and a huge hook.

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  4. 4
    IM

    The Trooper

    Iron Maiden · from Piece of Mind (1983)

    The gallop riff and the Charge of the Light Brigade: pure NWOBHM.

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  5. 5
    ME

    Master of Puppets

    Metallica · from Master of Puppets (1986)

    The thrash metal landmark — eight minutes of unrelenting tension and release.

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  6. 6
    SL

    Raining Blood

    Slayer · from Reign in Blood (1986)

    Four minutes of the most hostile thing on vinyl in 1986.

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  7. 7
    ME

    Peace Sells

    Megadeth · from Peace Sells... but Who's Buying? (1986)

    The bass intro and the political fury: Mustaine at his sharpest.

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Tap the artwork or "Listen" to find the track on Amazon Music; "Watch" opens a YouTube search; the song title opens its album page. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases and sign-ups.