The biggest difference between the heavy metal of today and heavy metal during the glory days of the 1980s is that today it is rife with division. Mainstream versus underground. “Extreme” versus “traditional.” Rigid versus experimental. Cartoonishly vulgar versus socially conscious. Those who like screamed vocals versus those who don’t understand why bands don’t sing anymore. Thirty-five years ago, it was a lot simpler. Venom, Celtic Frost, and Bathory were metal. Metallica, Slayer, and Mercyful Fate were metal. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Ozzy Osbourne were metal. And Def Leppard, Ratt, and Mötley Crüe were metal. If any geezer who witnessed the rise of heavy metal in the ’80s...
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