Slayer

Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, NY, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene. When thrash metal began to gain a major following in the mid-to-late 1980s, Anthrax were dubbed one of the "big four" of thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer. They were also one of the early thrash metal bands to sign to a major label (Island Records, in 1985).

Body Count is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1990. The group is fronted by Ice-T, who co-founded the group with lead guitarist Ernie C. out of their interest in heavy metal music. Ice T. took on the role of vocalist and writing the lyrics for most of the group's songs. Lead guitarist Ernie C has been responsible for writing the group's music. Their controversial self-titled debut album was released on Sire Records in 1992. The song "Cop Killer" was the subject of much controversy. Although Sire Records' parent company, Warner Bros.

Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1969. Known for twin lead guitars, a wide operatic vocal style, and for introducing the S&M leather-and-studs look into heavy metal, they have sold over 50 million albums worldwide. After an early career as a secondary act dogged by unsympathetic producers and lineup changes, the band found considerable commercial success in the 1980s. In 1989, they were named as defendants in an unsuccessful lawsuit alleging that subliminal messages on their albums had caused the suicide attempts of two young men.

Slayer formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 and became one of the 'Big Four' of American thrash metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Their 1986 album 'Reign in Blood' is widely regarded as one of the most influential and extreme metal records ever made. After disbanding in 2019, the band reunited in 2024 and continues playing select 2026 shows marking the 40th anniversary of Reign in Blood.

No band affected the metal world more so than Pantera during the early to mid-'90s. Beginning with its 1990 album Cowboys From Hell, the post-thrash band put to rest any and all remnants of the '80s metal scene, almost single-handedly demolishing any notion that hair metal, speed metal, power metal, et al., were anything but passé. Sure, a lot of critics point toward Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the subsequent alternative rock explosion as the death knell of '80s-style metal, but you could just as easily point toward Pantera. In fact, most metalheads do exactly that.

The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of the first bands of the genre. Although they never achieved significant commercial success during their existence, the band is highly influential in punk culture.

Formed in Leyton, East London in 1975, Iron Maiden are the flagship band of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and one of the most influential metal acts ever. Fronted by Bruce Dickinson with mascot Eddie, they built a global empire on albums like The Number of the Beast. They entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026.

"Whitechapel" is an American deathcore band from Knoxville, TN. The band has a recurring theme of Jack the Ripper, hence being named after the area of London (England) where the killer found his victims. They are signed to Metal Blade Records and have had a rapidly growing fanbase ever since their debut full-length "The Somatic Defilement" was released July 31st, 2007. Brandon Cagle left the band in November 2007 due to a motorcycle accident that has since left his right arm disabled and in need of surgery. The group released their second album, "This is Exile" , in July 2008.