Manowar

For a while in the 1980s, American metal outfit Manowar held the Guinness record as the World's Loudest Band. Their '82 debut was pure, pummelling, primal riffage set to a furious beat, tinged with classical touches that underlined the epic quality of the music. More an American answer to NWOBHM than anything akin to the poppier American hair metal of the day, they plied their heavy trade to a legion of fiercely loyal fans but couldn't seem to win over critics. Nevertheless, the band soldiered on and, through some line-up changes, have continued to follow their own dark muse, and tour and record on a semi-regular schedule. The band's uncompromising commitment to their original vision of unrelenting metal was a huge influence on a generation of young bands from Sludgfeast to the Sword, and Turisas.