An introduction to Western heavy metal: the masterpieces that changed the history of metal

Countdown to ExtinctionMegadeth

Megadeth – Countdown To Extinction (Live At The Fox Theater/2012)

Despite being the title track of their fifth album, this is a curious song that isn’t very well known—perhaps because it’s placed around the middle of the album and has a subdued, mid-tempo feel.

Dave Mustaine’s quiet, restrained vocals amplify the song’s eeriness.

Don’t Fear the WinterRage

Rage – Don’t Fear the Winter (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Among the many power metal bands, RAGE stands out as the one that most distinctly embodies a German essence.

Despite being a trio, their intensely powerful sound and melodies imbued with that uniquely German sense of melancholy make this a hidden gem that perfectly matches their forceful style.

Behind SpaceIn Flames

In Flames – Behind Space

A song by the Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames.

While it is death metal, its defining characteristic is a sound that reflects influences from Swedish traditional folk, such as harmonized twin-lead guitar phrases and the incorporation of waltz-like rhythms.

This melancholic yet not merely aggressive track was one of the catalysts for the genre’s boom in Japan.

Roots Bloody RootsSepultura

Sepultura – Roots Bloody Roots [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

A song by Sepultura, a Brazilian metal band formed in 1984.

They began as a thrash metal band, but drew on the culture of their home country to create a distinctive sound.

In particular, their “tribal beat,” which blends percussion elements of folk music into the drum parts, has influenced metal drummers around the world.

SuperheroesRacer X

Racer X – Superheroes (Official Audio)

A song by the American heavy metal band Racer X, led by Paul Gilbert—who, at 19 when the band formed, was dubbed the “light-speed guitarist.” As the band is known for the technical prowess of all its members, you can enjoy performances at a very high level.

In particular, the guitar work features highly demanding techniques not only in the solos but also in the rhythm parts, making it a track that’s compelling to listen to for the guitar alone.

Square HammerGHOST

Ghost – Square Hammer (Official Music Video)

This is a signature song by the Swedish band Ghost, released in 2016.

Its overwhelming impact is clear from its stellar achievements, including reaching No.

1 on the Billboard charts and being named the “Metal Song of the Decade.” Their unique flair for pairing a mysterious concept—swearing allegiance to the devil—with an instantly singable, catchy melody is truly one of a kind.

From the majestic organ intro that pulls you in at once, you’ll be captivated by its theatrical sound.

This track opens the door to the grand narrative Ghost weaves—why not experience it for yourself?

BlindKorn

Korn – Blind (Official HD Video)

Even in the 2020s, Korn remain in full force, with a long-awaited new album slated for release in 2022.

It hardly needs saying that they debuted in 1994—the year Kurt Cobain passed away and the grunge boom rapidly faded—and went on to spark the late-’90s nu-metal movement, achieving major commercial success.

As the anecdote goes, the Japanese edition of their self-titled debut barely sold upon release in Japan, yet the band’s sound—intertwining tricky riffs from two seven-string guitars, a bass defined by slapping with a fierce attack, drums full of ghost notes and complex grooves, and frontman Jonathan Davis’s anguished vocals that seem to shoulder America’s darkness—went far beyond merely fusing metal and hip-hop.

It was something so alien that it could only be described as KORN.

It’s true that traditional heavy metal fans criticized them amid the nu-metal boom, but from the mid-2010s onward, metalcore and deathcore acts began to incorporate sounds that clearly reflect Korn’s influence, and I feel their achievements deserve renewed recognition.

Among their early signature songs, Blind is a true masterpiece that opened up new possibilities in the history of heavy metal—and alternative rock at large—and its singular originality will never fade.