Manowar

If looking for a quintessential metal band, look no further than Manowar. Not only did bassist Joey DeMaio and guitarist Ross “The Boss” Friedman meet and decide to form a band while on tour with Black Sabbath—DeMaio was on Sabbath’s tech crew; Friedman played in the opening band—but the Auburn, New York, group signed their early-’80s contract with Megaforce Records using their own blood. This was extremely in character: Manowar are known for embracing over-the-top riffs and exaggeratedly aggressive themes, with highlights including 1982’s epic “Battle Hymns” and the title track of 1988’s swaggering Kings of Metal. Ross the Boss departed the group after the latter album, which kicked off a new Manowar era marked by towering metal moments such as 2002’s “Warriors of the World.” Despite lineup changes, the band persists, celebrating their 40th anniversary with a tour in 2022.