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Best power metal songs of the 1980s

Cheap drum machines and the first affordable samplers changed who was allowed to make a record. Hip-hop moved from a party you had to be at to a 12-inch you could buy, and MTV made how a song looked part of the argument.

Songs from the power metal albums of the 1980s, ordered by their own ratings rather than the record's.

Kings of Metal cover№ 1Heart of SteelManowar · Kings of Metal4.4Weighted score4.5 avg · 13 ratings
  1. 2Kings of Metal coverHail and KillManowar · Kings of Metal4.44.7 avg · 3 ratings
  2. 3Battle Hymns coverMetal DazeManowar · Battle Hymns4.44.7 avg · 3 ratings
  3. 4Fighting the World coverFighting the WorldManowar · Fighting the World2 ratings
  4. 5Keeper of the Seven Keys (Pt. 2 / Remastered 2024) coverEagle Fly Free (Remastered 2024)Helloween · Keeper of the Seven Keys (Pt. 2 / Remastered 2024)2 ratings
  5. 6Kings of Metal coverBlood of the KingsManowar · Kings of Metal1 rating
  6. 7Kings of Metal coverThe Crown and the Ring (Lament of the Kings)Manowar · Kings of Metal1 rating
  7. 8Esp coverImaginationEspionage · Esp
  8. 9Esp coverTurn AroundEspionage · Esp
  9. 10Esp coverAlwaysEspionage · Esp
  10. 11Esp coverCinema MajicEspionage · Esp
  11. 12Esp coverCouldn't Hold Back the TearsEspionage · Esp
  12. 13Esp coverDeliver MeEspionage · Esp
  13. 14Esp coverMake It On a LoveEspionage · Esp
  14. 15Esp coverIt's EasierEspionage · Esp
  15. 16Esp coverIn the Name of LoveEspionage · Esp
  16. 17Esp coverI Couldn't Get to Sleep Last NightEspionage · Esp
  17. 18Noble Savage coverNoble Savage (Flanging For Eternity early rough mix)Virgin Steele · Noble Savage
  18. 19Noble Savage coverWe Rule The Night (Bigger Gongs & Bombs early rough mix)Virgin Steele · Noble Savage
  19. 20Noble Savage coverRock Me Pre (Live Pre-Production Rehearsal Recording)Virgin Steele · Noble Savage
  20. 21Noble Savage coverFight Tooth & Nail (Live Pre-Production Rehearsal Recording)Virgin Steele · Noble Savage
  21. 22Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverMordor (Rerecorded Version 2003) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  22. 23Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverBranded and Exiled (Rerecorded Version 2003) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  23. 24Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverMarching to Die (Rerecorded Version 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  24. 25Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverFight the Oppression (Rerecorded Version 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  25. 26Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverBranded and Exiled (Rerecorded Version 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  26. 27Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverChains and Leather (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  27. 28Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverMarching to Die (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  28. 29Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverEvil Spirit (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  29. 30Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverFight the Oppression (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  30. 31Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverMordor (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  31. 32Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverRealm of Shades (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  32. 33Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverGods of Iron (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  33. 34Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverBranded and Exiled (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Branded and Exiled (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  34. 35Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverRaise Your Fist (Rerecorded Version 2003) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  35. 36Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverUnder Jolly Roger (Rerecorded Version 2003) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  36. 37Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverApocalyptic Horsemen (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  37. 38Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverBeggar's Night (Alternative Version 1992) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  38. 39Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverDiamonds of the Black Chest (Rerecorded Version 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  39. 40Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverRaise Your Fist (Rerecorded Version 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  40. 41Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverRaw Ride (Rerecorded 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  41. 42Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverUnder Jolly Roger (Rerecorded Version 1991) [2017 Remaster]Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  42. 43Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverMerciless Game (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  43. 44Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverDiamonds of the Black Chest (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  44. 45Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverLand of Ice (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  45. 46Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverRaise Your Fist (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  46. 47Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverBeggar's Night (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  47. 48Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverRaw Ride (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  48. 49Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverWar in the Gutter (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]
  49. 50Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster] coverUnder Jolly Roger (2017 Remaster)Running Wild · Under Jolly Roger (Expanded Version) [2017 Remaster]

One great song, one bad album

Tracks carry their own ratings here, so a record you would never play front to back can still have a song worth defending.

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