The poll has ended and the results for top 3 go as follows:
1.Germany - 10 votes
2.America / United Kingdom (Split) - 9 votes
3. Sweden - 6 votes
1. Germany - rough edged traditional heavy metal and thrash scene
There's no denying that Germany had a great bunch of bands at the time. They had their thrash scene with strong contenders like Sodom and Kreator among the more known ones of the scene. Then there was german traditional heavy metal with likes of Running Wild, Accept, Warlock, Scanner, Sinner, Rage (the list goes on). Not forgetting some unknown bands like Cutty Sark, Black Fate, Samain, Noisehunter.. some of the best heavy metal in the 80's certainly came from Germany.
2.1 America (United States) - Bay Area thrash and heavy metal
Slightly badly described in the poll, I should had set this as U.S and not America. Not surprised that America and U.K were high on the list also. America had their bay area thrash scene competing with the german counterparts. Exodus, Slayer, Testament, Megadeth, Metallica (who back in time released some good albums pre-90's!) - with perhaps more large thrash following than in Germany with several bit more obscure thrash bands like Nuclear Assault, Rigor Mortis, Death Angel, Dark Angel, Heathen, Vio-Lence and so on. Although german scene is quality - the U.S scene of the 80's is just so large that it cannot be but holding a great deal of awesome bands. Traditional heavy metal gems would be remembered such as Jag Panzer with their Ample Destruction, the horror themed Halloween with Don't Metal With Evil album, speedy and vicious Savage Grace, great high pitched vocals of singer "Midnight" in Crimson Glory.. not forgetting Vicious Rumors, Omen, the epic Manilla Road and many more.
2.2 United Kingdom - NWOBHM and then some
U.K on the other hand had very memorable early 80's and biggest thing remembered of the scene over there would be NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) - which is considered as a form of "(early) heavy metal". It was born from the rock, blues and punk rock music of the 70's when musicians took step to more aggressive and heavier form we know as NWOBHM. Some of the more known bands from that scene were Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, Diamond Head, Venom and Motörhead - the last two representing the most rough and heaviest form of the bunch. Some great semi-obscure bands were Angel Witch, TANK, Grim Reaper, Demon, Cloven Hoof, Satan, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Blitzkrieg, Witchfinder General, Jaguar, Witchfynde, Savage, Hell and Tokyo Blade. This was a great scene and one of my favorites. While not most aggressive form of heavy metal in general, it has great melodies (usually not overly happy) and soul in it. However my favorite obscure band so far would be perhaps rocking Battleaxe with a bit AC/DC'ish style combined to NWOBHM - with dirtier sound. That's not to say that after mid-80's U.K hadn't have anything good to offer which wasn't from NWOBHM genre. Some great obscure offerings were released like great speed metal effort Tröjan-Chasing The Storm at 1985 and for example two aggressive trash metal offerings from Deathwish at 1987 (At The Edge of Damnation) and 1989 (Demon Preacher), not forgetting bottom heavy as hell History Of A Time To Come (1988) by Sabbat and The Force by Onslaught among many others.
3. Sweden - mecca of melodic traditional heavy metal
Sweden on third place is a slight surprise because in a small country like that, the scene cannot be as huge as anything above. However Sweden bands pretty much pioneered in traditional melodic heavy metal and did it great. While Sweden didn't have many well known bands, they had great deal of melodic underground heavy metal scene going: Heavy Load, 220 Volt, Overdrive, Axe Witch, Gotham City, Six Feet Under, Keen Hue, Universe, Mercy, Silver Mountain and more hard rocking Torch. However the most known band coming from Sweden at 80's might very well be doom metal pioneers Candlemass - one of the very first bands in that genre. Either that or early black metallers of Bathory.
This remained quite little poll with not too many votes, however thanks for all who casted their votes! This means that out of next six reviews with full pre-listen available there will be three albums from Germany and one out of each: America, U.K and Sweden. Stay tuned!
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