His rhythm tone definitely is albeit with a lot of whacking the open strings to fill out the low-end. Solos tend to be a bit more processed while still being hella aggressive!
Not really, they were the first post GNR band to hit it big and the music industry was looking for the next edgy, bad boy type band. People think Skid is hair metal only because of Sebastian Bach’s looks.
I agree, but that album isn’t really hair metal. Honestly, I’d say that most of their albums aren’t hair metal. The only ones that really fall into that category are the first three, and even then, I have trouble putting their self titled under that label.
I see your point. They were in the era... they had the hair and makeup, even tho it was more for theatrics then glam, they wore spandex and leather, but had fake blood too lol... to be fair they weren't like the others. Hard to say on them for sure really.
They’re much different than the other hair metal bands of the day. Sure, they still had songs about typical hair metal topics, but they also had a lot of songs with deeper meaning behind them, and eventually they shifted towards more serious songwriting altogether. Nothing against hair metal, but I think it’s a huge disservice to call W.A.S.P. simply a hair metal band. They are so much more than that and Blackie Lawless is one of the most under appreciated songwriters in metal. He deserves a lot more recognition than he gets in my opinion.
I'm not lumping by any means. I've always liked them, never got crazy into them. I saw that Chris holmes show? Movie? Learned a lot from that. Only discovered K.F.D. a few years ago... mind blown! Lol
I’m sure they probably do.
I love all Metallica albums. I am of the opinion bands express and expand their music. my favorite MC album is Dr Feelgoof but agree with Vince Theater of Pain was forced. Still had hits though
https://preview.redd.it/fbiyj2q0rh9d1.png?width=448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51ac98fac3ddab90c5295dd738dc1e93d90010ee
Those who were there know exactly how they started.
I always had a soft spot for Cold Lake. The "hair metal" tropes on it always sounded so sarcastic that, to me, it sounded like a concept album taking the piss out of hair metal. Plus, that album is so chock full of awesome thrashy riffs. "Petty Obsession" is one of my favorite CF songs.
I’ve been on a jackyl kick lately. By the time they hit the scene I’d moved on to alternative and grunge so I’ve never given them much attention. But wow do they rock heavy.
L.A. Guns - *Waking The Dead* is pretty heavy.
Every goddamn post in this sub, “…that’s not hair metal ..”
How about you put a list together of all the hair metal albums and we’ll pin it.
I listen to some of their early stuff. It’s definitely heavier than I ever imagined they could make. I was shocked and impressed.
I like Dee Snidere solo stuff he did with Jamie Jasta. Dee can definitely do heavy ass music
Shotgun Messiah's second album was pretty heavy. Lesser known Swedish band with a shredder lead guitarist. They were actually really good. They went totally industrial, though.
I'd just place pre-1987 Snake in the Hard Rock category. Coverdale was trying to ride the glam/hair wave for a few years with 1987 onwards.
Imo as much as i love 1987 everything prior is Coverdales/Marsden/Moodys best work.
I’d go with early Crue. But overall it Seemed like “heavier sounding” came in two waves. The earlier 80s bands of the genre. Dokken, Crue, W.A.S.P, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot. Then you had the heavier stuff in the early 90s that coexisted with other rock. Winger with Pull, Warrant dog eat dog, SR- slave to the grind, Saigon kick - the lizard.
I was thinking Winger’s Pull as well. Junkyard Dog, No Man’s Land, and Blind Revolution Mad are all way heavier than their earlier albums. If you take out Kip’s voice and just listen to the music most people would think it’s someone heavier. The riff to Junkyard Dog could be an old Metallica B-side.
Two of my faves. We would be friends. I prefer the grittiness of their sound over many other hair metal bands. To me they’re in a distinct group within the (sub)genre.
A lot of good answers here. A few other honorable mentions should include [Lion](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFGmeJP-Z0&pp=ygUJTGlvbiBiYW5k), not White Lion, just plain old Lion, and [Leatherwolf](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VNyZtmUR7sQ). Still recognizable as hair metal but still heavy.
https://preview.redd.it/xte7t5xz5g9d1.jpeg?width=192&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81f33b4f47d6b0de70466fc551b60bd7126f129e
Megadeth
Just look at that hair..
[Blessed By a Broken Heart](https://youtu.be/O20QZlpkZSg?si=dTsgQmh33ZvjiIP-) since they’re a metalcore/hair metal mix.
Or if we’re not counting more modern stuff, then I’d say Pantera. Their last hair metal album was pretty heavy and obviously a sign of what was to come.
Motley Crue, WASP, Skid Row, Stryper, King Kobra's first album, Badlands, Dokken, Ratt, mid 80's to present day Whitesnake, Blue Murder, 80's Bon Jovi, 80's Kiss, mid 80's to early 90's Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Cinderella, Fastway, early Great White, Kindgome Come, Krokus, Guns N' Roses, Quiet Riot, Steel Panther, White Lion.
I don't think I'd call them hair metal though. Given the fact that so many of their songs are about "true metal" and scoffing at "posers", they'd probably be offended to be put in the hair metal category LOL
I saw Dream Theater in 2006 and a drunk a few rows behind me started yelling SLAYER! Over and over.
When security told him to settle down he resisted and was carried out.. :/
Dokken and Skid Row(especially their second album Slave to the Grind).
Agreed! I’m biased since Dokken are perhaps my favorite band in the genre though!
George's sound was called crunchy at one time. I can go with that.
His rhythm tone definitely is albeit with a lot of whacking the open strings to fill out the low-end. Solos tend to be a bit more processed while still being hella aggressive!
He had a sound at one time that everyone of my guitar friends were after. If the band didn't blow up we could be having a different conversation.
Dokken has some heavy riffs
I never thought of Skid Row as hair metal. Dokken however.
their first album is one of the most hair metaliest albums of all hair metal
Not really, they were the first post GNR band to hit it big and the music industry was looking for the next edgy, bad boy type band. People think Skid is hair metal only because of Sebastian Bach’s looks.
Agreed
Dokken up to Back For The Attack
Mr Scary is heavy metal.
W.A.S.P. without a doubt. Name a heavier “hair metal” song than Tormentor.
Or entire K.F.D. album! Some bad ass stuff right there. Still rocking it to this day
I agree, but that album isn’t really hair metal. Honestly, I’d say that most of their albums aren’t hair metal. The only ones that really fall into that category are the first three, and even then, I have trouble putting their self titled under that label.
I see your point. They were in the era... they had the hair and makeup, even tho it was more for theatrics then glam, they wore spandex and leather, but had fake blood too lol... to be fair they weren't like the others. Hard to say on them for sure really.
They’re much different than the other hair metal bands of the day. Sure, they still had songs about typical hair metal topics, but they also had a lot of songs with deeper meaning behind them, and eventually they shifted towards more serious songwriting altogether. Nothing against hair metal, but I think it’s a huge disservice to call W.A.S.P. simply a hair metal band. They are so much more than that and Blackie Lawless is one of the most under appreciated songwriters in metal. He deserves a lot more recognition than he gets in my opinion.
I'm not lumping by any means. I've always liked them, never got crazy into them. I saw that Chris holmes show? Movie? Learned a lot from that. Only discovered K.F.D. a few years ago... mind blown! Lol
Skid Row
Skid row
The Shout at The Devil LP was pretty heavy.
Their heaviest album by a landslide
I'm surprised MC doesn't have a small subset of their fandom who constantly complain that they "sold out" like Metallica does
I’m sure they probably do. I love all Metallica albums. I am of the opinion bands express and expand their music. my favorite MC album is Dr Feelgoof but agree with Vince Theater of Pain was forced. Still had hits though
It was heavy. As a side note, those bad lip reading videos of Vince are comedy gold. Gold, Jerry!
Definitely WASP and then probably GnR
Is GnR really hair metal? Not saying you’re wrong, but I think of them as rock more than hair metal.
They were not hair metal and anyone that says they were weren’t there.
https://preview.redd.it/fbiyj2q0rh9d1.png?width=448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=51ac98fac3ddab90c5295dd738dc1e93d90010ee Those who were there know exactly how they started.
We didn't call anything hair metal. Pass.
Appetite definitely is in my opinion, and they had the look. Use your illusion not as much
I don't classify W.A.S.P. as hair metal
Spread Eagle’s first album was perfection.
Skid Row or Seduce.
I'm in Detroit Metro and my local record shop has a vintage copy of Seduce's record.
I love that album. Not a bad song on there
Skid Row, Dokken, WASP (if they count for hair metal), Queensryche (same as WASP)
Man I saw Queesryche open for Quiet Riot on the Metal Health tour. Was Queensryche, Axe, QR. Geoff Tate flattened me he was so good.
Early Crue
Lizzy Borden
Maybe not the heaviest, but Dangerous Toys was grittier than most hair bands
Good point. We might need to define “heavy.” If the gritty, sleazy sound is heavy, Dangerous Toys have to be near the top. Love that band.
How about Ratt?
RATT has so many killer riffs.
This is the correct.
Raven or Accept
Wasn’t Raven part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal?
Accept \m/
Raven was progmetal. Live at the Inferno was awesome.
Early Accept was definitely heavy 🤘🏼but I’m not sure they’re considered hair metal
Are Scorpions considered hair metal? Early Pantera is pretty wild
No, they've been around before there was such a thing. They're more like hard rock/early metal.
Skid Row
Cold lake by Celtics frost
That album has grown on me over the years. Imagine Megadeath deciding to become a hair metal band. It would probably sound like Cold Lake.
I always had a soft spot for Cold Lake. The "hair metal" tropes on it always sounded so sarcastic that, to me, it sounded like a concept album taking the piss out of hair metal. Plus, that album is so chock full of awesome thrashy riffs. "Petty Obsession" is one of my favorite CF songs.
They were late to the party but Jackyl is definitely up there.
I fucking love Jackyl.
I’ve been on a jackyl kick lately. By the time they hit the scene I’d moved on to alternative and grunge so I’ve never given them much attention. But wow do they rock heavy.
L.A. Guns - *Waking The Dead* is pretty heavy. Every goddamn post in this sub, “…that’s not hair metal ..” How about you put a list together of all the hair metal albums and we’ll pin it.
L.A.Guns is as sunset strip hair metal as it was! Just such a sleazy sound to them! I believe they actually should have been bigger!
I haven't listened to enough hair metal to know, but as far as I've listened, ＬＯＵＤＮＥＳＳ is pretty heavy
Loudness is always welcome here.
Early Motley Crue?
I think 2F4L is more punk than heavy…
I just can’t get into their first album, even though most fans love it
TFFL is the perfect mix of Sweet and the New York Dolls. Take me to the Top, Toast of the Town, and Starry Eyes are absolute bangers.
Queensryche
Was Queensryche Hair Metal?
That’s what I’m really not sure of.
I don’t think so but plenty of people seem to. Operation Mindrime is a fucking masterpiece in my opinion
Whitesnake
I would agree. John Sykes rhythms are super heavy.
Sykes kicks so much ass
As far as live concerts go, I'd say Twisted Sister.
I listen to some of their early stuff. It’s definitely heavier than I ever imagined they could make. I was shocked and impressed. I like Dee Snidere solo stuff he did with Jamie Jasta. Dee can definitely do heavy ass music
XYZ - Hungry is a heavy hair album
Maybe not back then, but Stryper is pretty heavy now. And they sound phenomenal.
Shotgun Messiah's second album was pretty heavy. Lesser known Swedish band with a shredder lead guitarist. They were actually really good. They went totally industrial, though.
Did you know the drums were programmed on that album? Regardless, one of my favorite hard rock albums of the 90s.
Yeah, WASP or Twisted Sister. Destroyer is fucking immense.
Skid Row probably.
Old Whitesnake, Slide it In era. But hey, can we actually count old Whitesnake as Hair Metal ???
I'd just place pre-1987 Snake in the Hard Rock category. Coverdale was trying to ride the glam/hair wave for a few years with 1987 onwards. Imo as much as i love 1987 everything prior is Coverdales/Marsden/Moodys best work.
Bulletboys
Accept, hair metal with a bald singer.
Wasp
Maybe even Tigertailz? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cp\_GXO64fE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cp_GXO64fE)
They also did a cover of Megadeth’s “Peace Sells”. Honestly one of the best Megadeth covers I’ve ever heard
Wait, what???????? Must hear!
I wanna throw crimson glory into the ring...
W.A.S.P
I’d go with early Crue. But overall it Seemed like “heavier sounding” came in two waves. The earlier 80s bands of the genre. Dokken, Crue, W.A.S.P, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot. Then you had the heavier stuff in the early 90s that coexisted with other rock. Winger with Pull, Warrant dog eat dog, SR- slave to the grind, Saigon kick - the lizard.
I was thinking Winger’s Pull as well. Junkyard Dog, No Man’s Land, and Blind Revolution Mad are all way heavier than their earlier albums. If you take out Kip’s voice and just listen to the music most people would think it’s someone heavier. The riff to Junkyard Dog could be an old Metallica B-side.
Not saying they’re the heaviest but Dirty Looks deserves a mention here. Also Love/Hate.
Two fucking fantastic and seldom mentioned bands.
Two of my faves. We would be friends. I prefer the grittiness of their sound over many other hair metal bands. To me they’re in a distinct group within the (sub)genre.
Savatage
Jon Oliva definitely had a grittier vocal style than most hair metal singers of the time.
Shotgun Messiah - second album Second Coming. Crashdiet - Automaton too.
Vince Neil looks like he’s gained a bunch of weight
Uhhh, okay... But that doesn't have anything to do with OP's post.
Us [The Naked High - Beautiful Discipline ](https://youtu.be/O8udAgJtvwg?si=qS6RRGSpVcPgANqo)
Twisted Sister was pretty heavy for the time
Probably Slik Toxik
Skids.
Cinderella Night Songs was pretty heavy before they went bluesy🤘
A lot of good answers here. A few other honorable mentions should include [Lion](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1TFGmeJP-Z0&pp=ygUJTGlvbiBiYW5k), not White Lion, just plain old Lion, and [Leatherwolf](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VNyZtmUR7sQ). Still recognizable as hair metal but still heavy.
Lion did hr Transformers song didn't they? That's metal. The whole transformers movie soundtrack is heavy hair metal.
I always think Ratt was like a hair metal Judas Priest. But I see skid row a lot in the comments and that makes more sense
RATT \\m/.
https://preview.redd.it/xte7t5xz5g9d1.jpeg?width=192&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=81f33b4f47d6b0de70466fc551b60bd7126f129e Megadeth Just look at that hair..
Pre-Cowboys Pantera
Judas Priest. Megadeath.
Neither one of these bands are hair metal
Priest went hair metal on Turbo
Firehouse
This is the correct answer
EZO
[Blessed By a Broken Heart](https://youtu.be/O20QZlpkZSg?si=dTsgQmh33ZvjiIP-) since they’re a metalcore/hair metal mix. Or if we’re not counting more modern stuff, then I’d say Pantera. Their last hair metal album was pretty heavy and obviously a sign of what was to come.
Slave raider
Hello Minnesota!
At the Iron Horse in Crystal
Motley Crue, WASP, Skid Row, Stryper, King Kobra's first album, Badlands, Dokken, Ratt, mid 80's to present day Whitesnake, Blue Murder, 80's Bon Jovi, 80's Kiss, mid 80's to early 90's Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, Cinderella, Fastway, early Great White, Kindgome Come, Krokus, Guns N' Roses, Quiet Riot, Steel Panther, White Lion.
Twisted Sister.
Manowar
I don't think I'd call them hair metal though. Given the fact that so many of their songs are about "true metal" and scoffing at "posers", they'd probably be offended to be put in the hair metal category LOL
Motley Crue
It should be quiet riot. After metal health they should have doubled down on their heaviness. They went the other way tho
W.A.S.P.
W.A.S.P is heavy af but just to be different from op I’ll say skid row especially the Slave To The Grind album
It will be a tie... W.A.S.P. or Stryper
Wasp
I’m going Ratt
Isn’t the only choice Pantera based on their initial look?
Steeler https://youtu.be/2RJgekccY1k?si=dIN9RQkfsvgZBchW
Wasp
Wrathchild
I remember Nitro being pretty heavy. The answer is probably W.A.S.P. though.
Definitely Skid Row
I personally would pick Britny Fox for the heaviest.
I was always told as a kid: W.A.S.P. = We Are Sexual Perverts.
First ones that come to my head are shotgun messiah , spread Eagle , XYZ to name a few
People underestimate Stryper. But they were/are pretty fucking heavy.
Gotta go with who Loudwire described as a thinking man's hair metal band - Tesla. Also, Dio
ManOwar
WASP I would say are too heavy to be hair metal, just my opinion
We are the dream warrrrrrriors Don’t want to dream no more
Sir you said hair metal... That in context, maybe GnR but a buddy of mine says they're the first grunge band and I don't think he's 100% wrong...
Sleaze or sleazy were always words describing G N R, never read or heard grunge with them
That is a compelling thought. I’d don’t think he’s even 20% wrong, if wrong at all. This is gonna be a fun one to ponder 🤔
I’d like to see the reaction you’d get over at r/grunge
Early Bon Jovi.
Slayer
BassString44 would agree
Not Hair Metal
There's always one random dude, drunkenly yelling "SLAYER!"
Wait... are we at a party in the woods in Michigan? Is it 1992 again??.... where am i???
I saw Dream Theater in 2006 and a drunk a few rows behind me started yelling SLAYER! Over and over. When security told him to settle down he resisted and was carried out.. :/
Except I’m very much NOT a random dude!
I'm using "dude" in a gender-neutral sense here. :p
No, no. She's a specific dude. Dude is gender neutral.
Black Sabbath
Sabaton. Historically accurate and awesome