When Heavy Metal Ruled The World

[@ericsyre9418]

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 love/sex/satan/sex/drugs/booze clichés a lot of bands relied on at the time.

[@desross2002]

@@ericsyre9418 excellent point brother

[@charlesfarrugia7898]

I still listen to All of the albums you mention.

[@Metalhead76880]

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.

[@danbal4185]

I've always thought that The Scorpions should be considered as one of the absolute top bands in hard rock/heavy metal history. The ten years streak of albums from 1974 "Fly to the Rainbow" to 1984 "Love at first Sting" is really up there with the discographies of Priest, Maiden and all the greatest bands.

[@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!

[@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!

[@toralm6974]

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.

[@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.

[@dndrd463]

The golden years! 🤘🏼

[@danilopetrovic4735]

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.

[@jeff_mossy]

Well written and thoughtful analysis!

[@redlaw8760]

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.”

[@PaulWilde83]

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

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I'm so glad to hear that! Thank you very very much! 🙏🤘😊

[@jerrytriplett5867]

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.

[@ericv7720]

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.

[@kurtzcol]

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

[@thomaskaba5600]

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.

[@anthonyjagers7770]

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

[@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.

[@vasilisvasiliadis3256]

80s was the best era pretty much for everything ...no doubt, freedom, no economic crisis, high technology but not too high, passion,originality, night life...golden times

[@John-k6f9k]

Lol the 80s sucked! I lived through it. Fucking awful decade for everything. Take off those rose tinted glasses.

[@vasilisvasiliadis3256]

@@John-k6f9k no glasses , just the truth, best times ever

[@rachaeltownend6872]

Fantastic summary of a pivotal year! 🙌 This was the year I first picked up a bass! The music that came out in ‘84, particularly Powerslave, Ride the Lightning, No Remorse and At War with Satan shaped me as a player and a person for decades to come

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you and Happy 40 years of playing!! Congrats! 🎉

[@joemiller9931]

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!

[@obirobi-c]

you mentioned just the best four albums of all times

[@WeGachaMetal]

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

[@BuenosTARDIS]

I wasn't born until 1988, but I love this music! 🤘

[@juanneman]

Uff I was 15 that year and I started my metal journey 3 years before, so my faves? Defenders of the Faith, Powerslave, Last in Line, Stay Hungry, Out of the Cellar, Love at First Sting, Hail to England, Ride the Lightning, Sign of the Hammer, Bon Jovi, Haunting the Chapel, 1984. Then the rest.

[@mobiusone3370]

Metal Church - Metal Church....what a debut album 🔥🔥🔥💪🤘

[@dab1748]

Dude love watching your vids. Every album you started with was the same for me and I am still listening to them all today. I started watching because I love Maiden and I can’t get enough of the way you break down the songs and play the riffs with such passion. Huge fan from London, Ontario, keep it up!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hey man, I appreciate that a whole lot!! Thank you for watching and for the encouraging words! 🙏🙏

[@dissectional01]

1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1988 the best years for heavy metal...basically the 80's is the golden decade for metal in general..!!

[@maiden4greece572]

Perfect...

[@seahwk5148]

Keraang was our sharing platform! lol! My first albums were almost exactly the same as yours but Rush exit stage left came first ,then Quiet riot and Blizzard. Great time to be a teenager !

[@nykterion7]

1. Ride the Lightning 2. Powerslave There are so so so many more good albums that came out that year but those two.. just untouchable. Those two in fact are the story of my life. They are the Mozart and Beethoven of our time and as such they will be considered in the upcoming years, if they are not already! Love your channel! Cheers from Norway!

[@jeffallen3382]

You forgot Dokken's Tooth & Nail album that came out in 1984. That was the album that lit a fire in me! Being a 14 year old teenager and hearing that album blew me away! I've been a fan of them ever since!

[@nickmarks8304]

One of the best years of my life,, WASP DEBUT ALBUM WAS A BEAST!! So many amazing metal bands,, the early /mid 80s were the golden years for metal

[@andrewbecker3700]

'81-'87 was all great years for hard rock and metal. Can pick any one.

[@davidmccourt8174]

You missed 1980

[@mattmorrison1548]

Saxon Crusader, Accept Balls to the Wall, Pantera Projects in the Jungle, Dokken Tooth and Nail, Scorpions Love at First Sting and all the ones you've already mentioned.

[@chrisstargazer6529]

I turned 18 in the summer of '84, blasting Manowar's Hail to England and Dio's The Last in Line for the whole neighborhood to hear. Those were the days...

[@LuisMiguelCostaVideos]

Not a word about Megadeth, Saxon, Motörhead, DIO...? You couldnt mention them all. Great video, as always. Thank you. Greetings from your number one supporter in Lisboa, Portugal 🤘🇵🇹🤘

[@cr1s1s0ff41th]

well megadeth didn't come out until 1985 and he did quickly mention the last in line at the start :)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's what this section is for 😁

[@LuisMiguelCostaVideos]

@@cr1s1s0ff41th You have got a point there. My mistake. Best regards from a gray haired metal maniac.

[@LuisMiguelCostaVideos]

@@LicksOfTheBeast and we all love it!

[@volkerjansen3901]

Absolutely spot on video! I was born in 1974 and really started to listen to music more like 1986, of course on tapes copied from friends at school. With metal not being played on the radio, it did not really matter to me if a record was brand new or a few years old. The first Maiden album I heard was probably Piece Of Mind, with the catchy "Sun and Steel" being my entry drug. It did not matter when an album was released, but when somebody in my group of friends bought or copied it. Later on I bought them all on CD. Those are the albums and artists that still matter to me ...

[@antonnee]

The knob at 11 bit from Spinal Tap is Hysterical.

[@John-k6f9k]

I always found Spinal Tap painfully unfunny. Or maybe mildly amusing in one or two scenes. Why it's seen as one of the high water marks in comedy history I'll never understand.

[@bora4956]

Love Malmsteen's Rising Force!

[@charlesfarrugia7898]

@@bora4956 I wish Nico could do more mamlsteen

[@bora4956]

@@charlesfarrugia7898 that’d be great for sure

[@charlesfarrugia7898]

@@bora4956 I hope so

[@radiosygnal1782]

It's such an innovative & pioneering album. He arranged & produced every song as well as played Bass and the Moog Taurus on it. He definitely doesn't get the credit he deserves...

[@bora4956]

@@radiosygnal1782 plus he was just 21 when it came out… he was playing in Alcatrazz back then. Mind blowing. I recommend his 1984 live in japan solo, inspirational piece

[@francescogambino1419]

Excellent analysis! The thing is there's nobody who's able to keep that power, that creativity and that vibe today! It would be good talking about what rock / heavy metal are now! Ciao, sei grande!

[@dietersmit6639]

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.

[@howardmenkes2926]

Thank you.

[@nykterion7]

Ride the Lightning.

[@alfwalker5698]

I remember my first metal albums; bootlegs of Number of the Beast and Seventh Son... following that, I was all in. But man, how things changed in the 90s - I remember 1998 Virtual XI was released as a parallel import only here in New Zealand - it didn't make it into most record stores.

[@GG5150]

16 in 1984. Perfect age, but unfortunately not much money. Had to be very selective with the bands I got into.

[@mlourencoBeast]

You didn't mention Love at First Sting from The Scorpions

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Good one!

[@mattmorrison1548]

Queensryche The Warning, Stone Fury, Honeymoon Suite, Whitesnake Slide it in, and Bon Jovi

[@Tony_Kam]

What a knowledgeable, in-depth, massive analysis!! I'm absolutely stunned Nico, wow !

[@stormriders1186]

My top 20 of the Year -mostly (but not completely) Metal: 1. Queensryche - The Warning 2. Metallica - Ride The Lightning 3. Warlord - And The Cannons Of Destruction Have Begun 4. Iron Maiden - Powerslave 5. Mercyful Fate - Don't Break The Oath 6. Leatherwolf - Leatherwolf 7. Judas Priest - Defenders Of The Faith 8. Dio - The Last In Line 9. Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers 10. Cirith Ungol - King Of The Dead 11. Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction 12. Shok Paris - Go For The Throat 13. Omen - Battle Cry 14. Marillion - Fugazi 15. Armored Saint - March Of The Saint 16. Van Halen - 1984 17. Whitesnake - Slide It In 18. Metal Church - Metal Church 19. H.S.A.S. - Through The Fire 20. Pretty Maids - Red Hot And Heavy Even though starting to get into the genre of Hard Rock/Metal happened a little bit later than that i vividly remember "Perfect Strangers" and Van Halens "1984" both of which i got to know in the year of release, while all the other found their way to my ears in the period of 1986 to approx 1989. But I also remember watching the first showing of "Rockpop In Concert" in February 1984 on TV as a "little kid". To me 1984 might as you describet really be one of the most important years in metal history, and though i think 1989 had even more great albums to show, the list of album released in 1984 is impressive and the albums that came out that year might indeed be more defining than the ones released in every other year.

[@ethanhitchcock5431]

Love that mug shot of you at 9 yrs old !

[@kntzounis]

All the albums you mentioned and their previous albums for most of them!

[@makytrakys]

Great video! My fav album was Powerslave and Ride the lighting! Fade to black was my fisrt ever heavy song I heard and was a ballad 😂

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

It was actually the very first Metallica song I ever heard 😊

[@JuanKGM]

Great video! My favorite album from 1984 is definitely Ride the Lightning, and Powerslave a very close 2nd.

[@Elric70]

Congrats on 40 years a metalhead, I'm right there with you, though was more front and center since I had just gotten into high school in 84. Right around that time I got to go to my first concert ever, Bon Jovi opening up for Ratt.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you! You're very fortunate to have attended those 80s concerts! Must have been very special 😊

[@flaviopace4171]

I discovered Iron Maiden on March 2004 and since then, i became a Heavy Metal fans. The 80th were great years and its a shame that i was born a few years later (1990). I agreed with you that 1984 was Huge year for metal and Hard Rock music. My favourite is of course Powerslave by Iron Maiden and Love at First Sting by Scorpions.

[@jarivataja]

i think what made metal in 1984 significant was the fantasy escape element from the real world. The cold war was happening, but we had Powerslave, Defenders of the faith, Ride the lighning . Songs like Jawbreaker, Powerslave, Sentinel, Creeping death, etc. It was a means of escape from the true false world. You were transported into another dimension. No other genre could do that, and especially when you're a little boy in 1984 looking at these amazing album covers. Dee snider lured me in with Stay hungry, and then I just kept going deeper and deeper

[@UltraPvnk]

I just recently discovered how much a difference Hi-Bit rate recordings truly make. Little by little I have started to listen to albums I hadn’t heard in years, coming to realize how borderline genius some of the compositions/arrangements/lyrics/production/mastering/regionalisms. Just an example: Testament - The Legacy.

[@TheMack]

Such a great summary! I was 8 in 1984 and was exposed to all of the artists you show. 40 years later I still listen to these, In fact, Stay Hungry was on my turntable today! :)

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

How good does Burn in Hell still sound 40 years later?? 🤘😃

[@xguy_kourosh_5g889]

I think we're kinda slowly going back to the good old days

[@radiosygnal1782]

Don't forget about Armored Saint "March of the Saint". That drum intro to 'Stricken by Fate' was fierce, groovy & had such a huge influence on me as a (wannabe) musician. \m/\m/

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Funny thing is I had mentioned that album on an earlier take of the intro 😅

[@nanoriva9330]

82 and 83 were also great years for heavy metal.

[@dragonsbane6502]

Being born in 76 this is a history lesson of my life and why I am still a metal head. That said and Savatage being mentioned and should be said more often, I would love to hear your take on their song Ghost in the Ruins

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's a killer song too! 🤘

[@stratonut]

Your talent goes beyond guitar, great narration, great vid Sir.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Thank you so so much!! 🙏🙏

[@PlatinumBrunette]

Not just metal - I feel that pop music in general was really exciting around this time. You had Madonna, Billy Idol, Duran at their peak, Prince etc etc. Even though I was a scruffy metal teen back then, I also appreciated the poppier artists of the day. Nice trip down memory lane Nico, thanks 🙂

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I wholeheartedly agree! Those artists had some brilliant, catchy AF songs! Even Bryan Adams had a bunch of killer tunes on Reckless, Cindy Lauper's She Bop, Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics... To me a good song was a good song.... Still feel that way today actually 😊

[@constpegasus]

Mercyful Fate was great.

[@smartrn1]

I was 14 and this is the soundtrack of my life. Even now. The best yrs. 🤘🏻🇺🇸🎸🔥 George Lynch and EVH were my favorites though.

[@ricardosensever]

Thank you for your perspective

[@ulfdanielsen6009]

It still does.

[@desross2002]

Excellent résumé Nico, nous au Québec on avait Solidrock avec Paul Sarrasin hahahahaha. Et on était donc frustrés de voir Pour some sugar on me gagner le combat des clips sans arrêt pendant un an. C'est Metallica avec One qui les avait détrônés. On a vécu les mèmes années, j'avais 12 ans en 1984. Mes premiers albums: Ride the lightning, The Warning, Bark at the moon, Powerslave.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Ooooh le combat des clips!! J'ai grandi à Montréal donc je m'en rappelle trop bien!! 😊 Quand One a battu Pour Some Sugar on a fêté! 😂😂

[@desross2002]

@@LicksOfTheBeast nous autres aussi c’était l’euphorie totale 🤣🤣🤣🤣 À polyvalente le lendemain ça parlait juste de ça

[@MrLugburz]

Manowar - Sign of the Hammer btw Seems like they are less known in US/Canada but here in Europe it's iconic band in a same row as Priest and Maiden

[@vincentthiffault5979]

Some other great ones: Voivod-War And Pain Scorpions-Love At First Sting Dokken-Tooth And Nail Bon Jovi-Bon Jovi KISS-Animalize

[@TonyHernando]

awesome video, totally nailed it!

[@MA-ln9rz]

Well done. Thoughtful and entertaining.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

That's high praise, man. Thank you! 🤜🤛

[@handofbodom]

Ride the lightning ❤

[@Mart_7512]

Motorhead, ZZ Top, Judas Priest, Metallica, Twisted Sister, Tears for Fears, Iron Maiden, etc, are the best 80s music, because of the nostalgic attitude. The PMRC has already lost long ago.

[@777Jonathan777]

Steve Vai FLEXABLE

[@guillaumekalfon9117]

Love at 1st Sting too

[@STERNWAERTS]

you mentioned "accept" and "balls to the wall", now i've been on a 1 hour binge of accept live stuff now... seeing them in november for the 5th time or so. going there with my dad and his mates, as always. i've been introduced to that music and metal in general through accept's live double cd "staying a life" some 20 years ago when i was 11. mega band, rock hymns galore!

[@STERNWAERTS]

on to hellfest 2024 videos... 😆

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I just saw them for the first time this week and those songs kicked so much ass! Balls to the Wall, the pre-chorus gave me massive goosebumps all three times they repeated it in the song 😊🤘

[@jarivataja]

Metal in 1984 was a means of escape through fantasy. Jawbreaker, the Sentinel, Creeping death, Powerslave. No genre took you to another dimension like metal. Dee snider brought me in with Stay hungry, but i just went deeper and deeper from there

[@MatteoAn93]

Excellent video!!! Thanks for sharing your memories regarding that Golden era! Looking forward for the "Satanic panic" metal stories 😄😄

[@tinrib656]

It was at its biggest circa 89/90, with 90 burning white hot, and actually went toe to toe with pop and the mainstream. Then grunge came around the following year and the whole thing from glam to grindcore went down the crapper.

[@carzz185]

i was born during the 2nd leg of the world slavery tour (jan 85), so i couldn't enjoy those albums during their time of release, but when i was 5-7 (90-92), heavy metal in my country (argentina), was all over the placer... i remember wherever i used to go there're would be metallica, iron maiden, ac/dc, van halen playing and that's how i got into it.... i agree in 84 metal was ruling the world, maybe reaching its peak during 84-86 as my favourite albums are from those years... powerslave, somewhere in time, the ultimate sin (yes, i love that album), peace sells, ride the lightning, 1984, eat 'em and smile, tooth and nail, spreading the disease to name a few...

[@ActualChef]

This is a fantastic analysis. All hail.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Much much appreciated, man! Thank you 😊

[@savic-e8m]

my faves from 84 Bathory Venom ATWS Voivod War and Pain Hellhammer ep Celtic Frost MT Slayer HTC ep Exciter V&F Jag Panzer AD Omen BC Warlord live album Cirith Ungol KOTD Brocas Helm Into Battle Lizzy Borden ep Fates Warning NOB Destruction ep Anthrax FOM Manowar HTE Manowar SOTH The Rods LTEM

[@bghammock]

Big surprise! We had all the same albums back then! I dressed up like Dee Snider for Rock and Roll Day during spirit week in 9th grade that year LOL Man, we truly lived in the Golden Years. I got into the scene in late '82, early '83 and was already blasting Blizzard and Number of the Beast but then Metal Health hit with Cum On Feel The Noize and I HAD TO HAVE that album.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

Hahaha golden years, indeed!! 😊

[@howardmenkes2926]

One day in 1985, every NY station was playing metal. I knew it was over.

[@jimjim7008]

Mercyful Fate Don't break the oath 🤘🏻

[@z7846]

It got better when Megadeth 🤘👍 debut album came out 😊

[@PolarisCastillo]

You're a true historian!

[@LuisMiguelCostaVideos]

Nico: is there a link where I could buy a beautiful T Shirt like yours? Are those "Licks of the Beast" T Shirts up for sale? Where and How can one purchase one? Thank You

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

www.licksofthebeast.com 😃 You can get t-shirts, book a guitar lesson, and I recently started adding some tabs.

[@ppnats]

Bathory first, self-titled album from 1984. It is criminal to leave that album out in this video. It is a blue-print for Scandinavian extreme metal.

[@uhtredragnarsson8961]

Yes...he just mention mainstream metal bands..it is ok but must know FULL LIST of albums in 1984...not just mainstream albums

[@brianmay1983]

Also The Works by Queen is a great album that came out in 1984

[@LuisMiguelCostaVideos]

Queen was my first election band ever... until the day I heard Run to the Hills, and went to the record store to buy "The Number of the beast". From that day on, I still liked Queen but the lighting would only strike my spinal chord to the sound of Heavy Metal Music!

[@brianmay1983]

@@LuisMiguelCostaVideos thats great! I love metal music but for me no other band be it rock or metal can come close to queen

[@LuisMiguelCostaVideos]

@@brianmay1983 Your nickname says it all. I happened to watch a few videos recently on John Deacon, Brian May personal lifeline. The amazing thing about Queen is the diversity of genres within their legacy. Some of their songs have that "metal touch"... when you listen to songs such as "Now Im here" or "Sheer Heart Attack" you can feel it. Thank you for replying my comments. Greetings from Lisboa, Portugal

[@richinderbyshire4779]

Alot of great films came out in '84 too.

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

True! Some of the most iconic ones, even! 😃

[@ln8300]

Dbto is a masterpiece

[@tonyeckman4822]

Heavy metal still rules the world!

[@chicsamson6457]

Try Spider,Rough Justice.......Whitesnake Slide It In....Saxon Crusader to name but three

[@tomitoikka367]

You're almost as old (or young) as I am 🤘 I remember purchasing 1984 cassette right after it was released (I was 10 years old). Still my favorite album 🤘😎👍 Don't Break The Oath is as well 🤘🤘🤘

[@CC-qb9sm]

Way too much to talk about 😂 I would have to do my own KZbin video 😂 An unbelievable body of work. Engaging content as always, Nico. Have a great weekend!

[@LicksOfTheBeast]

I know what you mean because I had to work on this one quite a bit to keep it to a reasonable length because it's so easy to go off on multiple tangents when it comes to a year like this one 😅

[@spice_krispies]

Balls To The Wall was 1983 and how did you forget Love At First Sting by Scorpions and Tooth and Nail by Dokken?

[@charliereese1002]

Epic year🤘🔥

[@ネクストップ]

Doken Tooth and nail

[@miguelalmeida5806]

Heavy metal rules my world since 86.

[@jaredlesperance6874]

Commercial Metal guy, didn’t even know about Omen -Battle Cry and Manilla Road - Open the Gates.