Heavy metal had been slowly growing in popularity for decades by the time it hit its commercial peak. The ’80s are considered mainly the heyday of heavy metal in its official definition. That being ...

Tony Iommi is the undisputed champion of the heavy metal riff. He earned that title in the early ’70s, as his memorable guitar riffs — short, repeated chord progressions that help form the rhythmic ...

Metallica's Kirk Hammett named one particular guitar riff that he believes "shifted heavy metal." "The first three Black Sabbath albums are like gospel. Everyone kind of universally agrees. They ...