Judas Priest

Judas Priest profoundly influenced the direction of metal, especially speed metal and the genre known as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Fusing hard rock with gothic gloom, they became metal archetypes. Anthems like "Living After Midnight" and "Breaking the Law," coupled with the group's leather-and-chains wardrobe, embodied the genre's outlaw image.

From 1978 to '85, Judas Priest set the sonic foundation upon which much of today's metal rests. Brazen blasts of attitude, like "Painkiller," "Tyrant," and the aptly titled "Metal Gods" — all featuring the twin axe barrage of K.K. Downing and Glen Tipton, and the teeth-clenching screech of singer Rob Halford — inspired the noise of virtually all the metal and thrash bands that formed in their wake.

Even the deepest cuts on Judas Priest's best albums sound fresh today. Songs like "Saints in Hell" and "Parental Guidance" resonate with the same anthemic qualities and stellar metallic guitar work found on their biggest hits — a credit to the band's remarkable consistency throughout its three-and-a-half-decade career.

Found at the vanguard of all things metal, Judas Priest took the sounds of its sonic ancestors and shaped them into classic heavy metal. Not only that, they invented the genre's look and feel with a daring dress code still abided by today. Even as tastes in metal began to change, and a heavier, faster, and thrashier product took root, Judas Priest remained steadfast, standing strong at a vitally important place atop the kingdom. In retrospect, the group's longevity is a testament to their dedication and the truth of their original mission: to go out with "All Guns Blazing."