I was wondering, there's the Big 4 of U.S. Thrash Metal, so what would be the U.K. equivalent?

My first thought is Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead and Saxon. But some of these emerged much earlier than others and the Thrash Big 4, so what other bands emerged a bit later (80's as opposed to 70's) that could be considered part of the Big 4 of British Heavy Metal?

Maybe we can make a definitive MetalStorm decision?

*Sorry if something like this has been posted before, it probably has, but I tried the search function and couldn't find anything.

Dude, even if Black Sabbath was around before the 80s, I think you have to put them in the list.

I don't really see how compiling a list of these bands would be of any use, but whatever i have some time to kill. imo the big 4 of 70s british heavy metal are, of course:
-Sabbath
-Priest
-Zeppelin
-Deep Purple

no other bands came close to them when it comes to heavy guitar-centered music that was popular in the 1970's.

and for the 80s:
-Priest
-Maiden
-Sabbath
-Motorhead

Well but there is alos underground Wolfbaine, Blaze Baley, Paul D Annio , BRUCE DICKINSION , Halford of corse OZZY even he's relocated into ISA AND mighty RAINBOW in Dio era who was HV and so epic but there are more underground bands, who rule days in past and are same level, same level unknown bands who played good HM

I try not put in NWOBHM bands here

Angels Whit Dirty faces(I have heard this band, I have heard all), Bitches Sin, Black Rose, Bob Catley, Budgie, Fist, Viking Skull who's new band also awesome band DEALER

Written by Aristarchos on 23.04.2011 at 13:37

Dio

Dio is american !!!!!! anybody knows it

If the bands are for overall i think :

Iron Maiden
Black Sabbath
Motorhead
Deep Purple

note: one of my mates thought Motorhead was a German band coz it had an umlaut in the name

Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath and Saxon would be my four...

Iron Maiden
Black Sabbath
Saxon
Diamond Head

Omg its clearly, Crass, The Sex Pistols, Sham 69 and The Plague. Also other punk bands that have absolutely no link with this topic LOL

Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motorhead.

Written by Xim on 01.05.2011 at 07:17

Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motorhead.

I second that.

Also we can start matching them in odd numbers like ....17,in different size mega,big,less big,little big.....or if you ask my preference by their frontmans folk dancing ability.

Written by metaloprama on 03.05.2011 at 22:25

Also we can start matching them in odd numbers like ....17,in different size mega,big,less big,little big.....or if you ask my preference by their frontmans folk dancing ability.

hahahahahah

C'mon people
Iron Maiden (Paul Di'Anno era), Angel Witch, Saxon Motorhead

And there is no way that black sabbath are heavy metal
their first album was doom metal but all the rest were rock n roll

Written by eddie1994 on 17.05.2011 at 19:53

And there is no way that black sabbath are heavy metal
their first album was doom metal but all the rest were rock n roll

Please resit Metal 101

Written by eddie1994 on 17.05.2011 at 19:53

And there is no way that black sabbath are heavy metal
their first album was doom metal but all the rest were rock n roll

Did you sign up here just to troll or does some (obviously dysfunctional) part of you happen to believe that Black Sabbath shouldn't be considered as heavy metal?

They've touched on doom and hard rock as well, but denying their heavy metal foundation is just ignorance.

Black Sabbath are Heavy Metal. Their early 70's stuff may be considered Doom, but by the later half of the 80's they clearly adopted a more traditional Heavy Metal sound (Headless Cross etc).

I guess it would be the 4 bands that sold more records/ generally more popular and survived the 80's, like the US Big 4. Not sure about how to find the sales though but I'm guessing the ones I mentioned in my OP would be.

Written by eddie1994 on 17.05.2011 at 19:53

And there is no way that black sabbath are heavy metal
their first album was doom metal but all the rest were rock n roll

Hahahahah Hahahah Ha ! HAHA ! OH OH OH !! HE HE HE ! HZHAHAHAHAHAHAH

you can't be serious can you ? or maybe you are serious and I'm just being mean, am I ?
Maybe I don't care cos all im saying right now is a bunch of nonsense, just like you did earlier. LOL

Written by Andre on 01.05.2011 at 11:33

Written by Xim on 01.05.2011 at 07:17

Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motorhead.

I second that.

I third that.

From NWOBHM Maiden, Saxon and Def Leppard are the only big three. Why 4?

Judas priest, iron maiden, angel witch, black sabbath.

Written by eddie1994 on 17.05.2011 at 19:53

And there is no way that black sabbath are heavy metal
their first album was doom metal but all the rest were rock n roll

Beat it, punk!!

Written by Andre on 01.05.2011 at 11:33

Written by Xim on 01.05.2011 at 07:17

Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motorhead.

I second that.

Me too but I think Iron Maiden should be the #1

Iron Maiden,Judas Priest,Black sabbath,Saxon!

i like to say, that in 80´s era comes out a lot of good metal bands...and someone may disagree but motorhead are pure Rock´n ´Roll band you ve gotta just listen them moore carefuly ...

I would say; Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Motorhead.

What about Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Cathedral .... I know that everybody will disagree with this, but what the fuck if everybody writes the same names over and over again!

Written by ravendeath on 11.07.2011 at 17:51

What about Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Cathedral .... I know that everybody will disagree with this, but what the fuck if everybody writes the same names over and over again!

I'd agree that.

There's a few choices over different decades and different genres.
For me-
Black Sabbath
Iron Maiden
Venom
Cradle of Filth (You may not like them but you can't deny the impact they've made on the metal scene)

Of heavy metal and not including the hard rock bands that influenced early heavy metal's sound/scene, I would probably say Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, and Saxon. I mean they're about the earliest and all were definitely influential.

Written by Andre on 01.05.2011 at 11:33

Written by Xim on 01.05.2011 at 07:17

Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Motorhead.

I second that.

I third that