1979! Is Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Dead?

Hard 'n' Heavy 1979. The press was declaring the heavy metal was dead, but it was simply gearing up for Round #2. By the next year the NWOBHM movement would be in full swing and the U.S. metal scene would begin a revolution as well. Still '79 gave us some great albums.

Once again I deleted the live albums from the list, since there were too many albums. However, Strangers in the Night and Unleashed in the East are two seminal albums from two of the greatest heavy metal bands to grace the planet. Queen's Live Killers marked the end of an era for Queen as well. They would shed the hard rock/heavy metal and head into a more pop/radio friendly direction in 1980.

Aerosmith's "Night in the Ruts" is at least as heavy as "Rocks" and is one of their most underrated gems IMO. It's actually heavier/harder than "Draw the Line". Accept & Saxon released their first album but neither band had truly found their sound yet. Maiden's Soundhouse Tapes were released, but their revolution would begin with their self-titled full length. Hard to pick between "Hell Bent for Leather" and "Overkill" as the heaviest but I had to go with JUDAS PRIEST on this one. Doesn't get much heavier than that in '79 IMO.

Which rocks the heaviest and hardest?


AC/DC - Highway to Hell
Accept - Accept
Aerosmith - Night in the Ruts
Angel - White Hot
Blue Öyster Cult - Mirrors
Gamma - Gamma 1
Iron Maiden - The Soundhouse Tapes (EP)
Judas Priest - Hell Bent For Leather
Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
Motörhead - On Parole (recorded in '75, not released until '79)
Motörhead - Overkill
Motörhead - Bomber
Queen - Live Killers
KISS - Dynasty
Samson - Survivors
Saxon - Saxon
Scorpions - Lovedrive
Thin Lizzy - Black Rose/A Rock Legend
UFO - Strangers In The Night
Van Halen - Van Halen II
Whitesnake - Lovehunter

Woof...these are getting tough!!!

Of the stuff on this list, I've probably listened to Van Halen's II, Scorpions' LOVEDRIVE and Priest's HELLBENT FOR LEATHER (aka KILLING MACHINE) most often. In fact, I've kinda made myself a little sick of the Priest album over the years so it doesn't get much play anymore (haha).

Y'know what? I was just listening to that Scorpions album yesterday and it still sounds frickin great. So it's gonna get the nod from me.

Tough one..... I went with The Soundhouse Tapes because Maiden was about to be unleashed to the world!!! Could have easily been AC/DC (H2H is such a CLASSIC, AWESOME release), Motorhead (the classic lineup!), Scorpions (another GREAT release with the new lineup!!!) or Priest - Unleashed (one of the greatest live albums of all time)

Priest and Scorps....again neck and neck

Angus and Malcolm's tone on "H2H" gets my vote this time

AC/DC's Highway to Hell. This was the first rock band and first album I ever got into and Bon Scott is still my favorite vocalist in rock history

Highway.

I'll always have a soft spot for that album because I used it to annoy my high and mighty "Christian" dorm mates back in college.

Hellbent For Leather

Motorhead. Just because.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Motorhead. Just because.

When I started posting this thread I had every intention of voting for Motorhead. Overkill is a stinkin' heavy album, but then songs like "Delivering the Goods", "Hell Bent for Leather" and "Burnin' Up" kept going through my head! Those songs defined heavy for me when I discovered this album in high school.

I've been on a bit of a Motorhead kick lately, in anticipation of the new album, so I figured I'd show them some love.

Those Motorhead albums must have sounded like it came from another world back in 1979, heavier then anything else that came before it and also faster then anyone else, even out punking the punks, even Johnny Rotten declared himself a fan.

Voted for Hell bent for Leather as far as Heaviness goes but my favorite from that list would be Highway to Hell.

Did not really care for Night in the Ruts so I went with my fav ACDC Album Highway to Hell

I love 'Night in the Ruts' IMO a very underrated album, and would even better if they did not cover 'Walking in the Sand' a song I never cared for.

funny thing is thats one of the only songs I liked on Night in the Ruts

manny wrote:

I love 'Night in the Ruts' IMO a very underrated album, and would even better if they did not cover 'Walking in the Sand' a song I never cared for.

I remember getting that album on cassette and not caring much for it. It wasn't until years later when I got Aerosmith's Box of Fire that I upgraded to cd and found it to be much more enjoyable than I thought. Even 'Walking In the Sand'

Yeah, I quite like "Walking In the Sand" as well. In fact, I highly believe that Night in the Ruts and Rock In a Hard Place with Draw the Line are Aerosmith's most underrated work.

As far as the poll goes, it's Motorhead even though I pretty much love everything else on there.

Overkill and Bomber laid the groundwork for an entire sub-genre of metal that came into prominence in the 80s. They're both very consistent and just epitomize heaviness. Both are just brilliant!

MetalGuy71 wrote:

manny wrote:

I love 'Night in the Ruts' IMO a very underrated album, and would even better if they did not cover 'Walking in the Sand' a song I never cared for.

I remember getting that album on cassette and not caring much for it. It wasn't until years later when I got Aerosmith's Box of Fire that I upgraded to cd and found it to be much more enjoyable than I thought. Even 'Walking In the Sand'

Wow! Really? "No Surprise" is classic Aerosmith and also an autobiographical song. Killer riffs and licks! I've always loved the heavy blues of "Three Mile Smile/Refer Head Woman". "Think About It" and "Chiquita" are great, hard rocking songs as well. I can understand why people wouldn't like "Remember (Walking in the Sand)", but I've always liked it.

Apparently more people agree with MG, Ben and Addy when it comes to 'Walking in the Sand' since it was included on their multi-platinum 'Greatest Hits' album

I voted AC/DC - Highway to Hell but I could have easily voted for Priest. I am surprised in the midst of the disco era just how many good albums were being released!

Many great ones once again. Hellbent is such a classic though and influenced so many bands I went with it.

Lots of great albums on that list. But my vote goes to Highway To Hell. This album floored me when I first heard it and it's one of my all time favorites.

Almost went with Lovedrive but I'm gonna have to go with Hell Bent for Leather.

manny wrote:

Apparently more people agree with MG, Ben and Addy when it comes to 'Walking in the Sand' since it was included on their multi-platinum 'Greatest Hits' album

Growing up in a household where doo-wop, Motown and other "oldies" were on constant rotation, I was way familiar with the original version (The Shangri-La's I think). The idea of one of "my bands" covering it was pretty cool. I even remember playing it for my dad.

As for not caring for Night in the Ruts originally, eh, I guess it was just a case of youthful ignorance.