It’s the lyrical and musical elements of songs that transform them into anthems. This article brings to life a list of the best heavy metal anthems.

The roots of heavy metal took shape in the 60s.  Bands started experimenting with a hard hitting sound that evolved in the decades to follow. The blues rock explosion in the 70s led to many bands taking musical ideas to a whole new level. The heavy metal movement became widespread in the 70s with many bands adopting the catchy chorus-verse routine in songs. The rhythm section in heavy metal music has been the focal point in giving the genre its signature sound. Guitar riffs backed with bass lines and power-packed drumming formed the core sound of heavy metal in the early years. Gradually keyboards made their presence in the realms of heavy metal giving the genre a raw-polished sound.

Throughout the 70s many rock bands paved the way for a new brand of heavy metal.

The lyrics and musical structure of few bands made their songs heavy metal anthems. A heavy metal anthem is best described as a song that impacts audiences in different ways. It’s the lyrical element or the riff that makes a song an anthem. Lyrical themes in heavy metal are diverse. Over the years a number of songwriters and musicians have enchanted audiences with their lyrics and music.

The heavy metal sound has evolved in every decade and given rise to extreme subgenres that have become insanely popular globally. Few rock bands of the 60s and 70s are considered the purveyors of the heavy metal sound. The classic heavy metal bands are often cited as influences by new metal bands. The aggressive-yet soothing sound of heavy metal has inspired musicians from other genres to craft a new sound. Heavy metal anthems are hugely popular at extreme metal concerts… the mayhem will never end. Keep metal alive!

The list below showcases an epic list of the best heavy metal anthems from various subgenres.

100 Greatest Heavy Metal Anthems

1. Paranoid- Black Sabbath
2. Holy Diver- Dio
3. Ace of Spades- Motorhead
4. One- Metallica
5. Highway Star- Deep Purple
6. Run To The Hills- Iron Maiden
7. War Pigs- Black Sabbath
8. Crazy Train- Ozzy Osbourne
9. Enter Sandman- Metallica
10. Am I Evil- Diamond Head
11. Breaking The Law- Judas Priest
12. Walk- Pantera
13. Symphony of Destruction- Megadeth
14. Welcome To The Jungle- Guns N’ Roses
15. Symphony of Destruction- Megadeth
16. We’re Not Gonna Take It- Twisted Sister
17. Raining Blood- Slayer
18. For Whom The Bells Toll- Metallica
19. Iron Man- Black Sabbath
20. Hammer Smashed Face- Cannibal Corpse
21. The Number of the Beast- Iron Maiden
22. Painkiller- Judas Priest
23. Beyond the Realms of Death- Judas Priest
24. Pull Me Under- Dream Theater
25. Cowboys from Hell- Pantera
26. Black Wind, Fire and Steel- Manowar
27. Stargazer- Rainbow
28. The Last In Line- Dio
29. The Trooper- Iron Maiden
30. Mr. Crowley- Ozzy Osbourne
31. Angel of Death- Slayer
32. Blackwater Park- Opeth
33. Nightfall- Blind Guardian
34. I Am The Black Wizards- Emperor
35. Fast As A Shark- Accept
36. Master of Puppets- Metallica
37. Pull The Plug- Death
38. Before I Forget- Slipknot
39. Transilvanian Hunger- Darkthrone
40. Hallowed Be Thy Name- Iron Maiden
41. Blinded By Fear- At The Gates
42. Keeper of the Seven Keys- Helloween
43. Seek & Destroy- Metallica
44. Hells Bells- AC/DC
45. Freezing Moon- Mayhem
46. Hangar 18- Megadeth
47. Bodies- Drowning Pool
48. Chapel of Ghouls- Morbid Angel
49. Solitude- Candlemass
50. Eyes of A Stranger- Queensryche
51. Back in Black- AC/DC
52. Heartwork- Carcass
53. Metropolis Part 1- Dream Theater
54. Bark At The Moon- Ozzy Osbourne
55. Divine Wings of Tragedy- Symphony X
56. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming- Judas Priest
57. Black Metal- Venom
58. Night Crawler- Judas Priest
59. Crystal Mountain- Death
60. Over The Wall- Testament
61. Slaughter of the Soul- At The Gates
62. Hail To The King- Avenged Sevenfold
63. Five Minutes Alone- Pantera
64. Down With The Sickness- Disturbed
65. Caught In A Mosh- Anthrax
66. Metal Warriors- Manowar
67. The Drapery Falls- Opeth
68. Bonded By Blood- Exodus
69. Elimination- Overkill
70. Kill The King- Rainbow
71. Rime of the Ancient Mariner- Iron Maiden
72. Hall of The Mountain King- Savatage
73. Souls of Black- Testament
74. Guardian- Fates Warning
75. Spit It Out- Slipknot
76. Mother- Danzig
77. No More Tears- Ozzy Osbourne
78. Alison Hell- Annihilator
79. Your Betrayal- Bullet For My Valentine
80. In Your Face- Children of Bodom
81. A Fine Day to Die- Bathory
82. Tornado of Souls- Megadeth
83. A Little Piece of Heaven- Avenged Sevenfold
84. Push It- Static X
85. Eve of the Apocalypse- Malevolent Creation
86. The Oath- Mercyful Fate
87. Warzone- Armored Saint
88. Locust- Machine Head  
89. Stricken- Disturbed
90. The Philosopher- Death
91. Not Alone- All That Remains
92. Nemesis- Arch Enemy
93. Ten Thousand Fists- Disturbed
94. Evil- Mercyful Fate
95. Sweet Leaf- Black Sabbath
96. Sign of An Open Eye- Gorgoroth
97. Awake- Godsmack
98. Hail To The King- Avenged Sevenfold
99. Duality- Slipknot
100. Gutter Ballet- Savatage

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Thank you for visiting my profile. I am a Freelance Content Writer. I like to learn something new every day. When I’m not at the computer, I’m either reading or on vacation. I dwell in peace, I hope you do too. My Favorite Quote “When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.”- Dalai Lama

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