Best Metal Song of Each Year Since 1970

What's the best metal song of each year since 1970? We've got the answer and the runner-up from those years as well!

During metal's first decade, which was sparsely populated as the lines between hard rock and what ultimately became heavy metal were still a bit of a blur. It makes the decision-making rather swift, which was not the case for the ensuing decades and through the present day.

In a lot of cases, selecting just one feels like an insult to so many other time-honored classics. When dealing with so many legendary recordings all released in any given year, the competition is remarkably steep. And while it generated intense discussion and agonizing selections over here, it's a testament to the overall embarrassment of riches that heavy metal offers, especially if you're a fan of the multitude of subgenres to choose from.

You'll probably disagree with a fair amount of our choices and that is completely okay. Debating things such as this are what we as metalheads do. There is nothing any of us can do to fend off the urge to argue over what's "better" or "best" in music.

What did we pick for Best Metal Song of 2024? Find out below!