big 4

We asked a dad to come up with the big four of dad rock bands, and it did not disappoint. His five-year-old kid also sent along her reviews of the music.

They didn't reach the same commercial heights as their Bay Area brethren, but they still rocked.

Our picks for the 'Big 4' bands and artists that represent 1980s metal are Ozzy Osbourne, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Metallica.

Ozzy Osbourne, My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace and Yungblud are the four artists that impact rock and metal the most in 2025.

The following four artists were not only the biggest metal groups of the 2000s, but also shaped metal in some way and have had a lasting influence.

A lot of different subgenres peaked in popularity during the '90s, so we picked eight bands to represent both rock and metal for the decade.

They were defined by their tireless work ethic and defiant attitude.

Since there have been so many different eras of heavy metal, we picked four groups to represent the 'Big 4' of '90s metal.

Creed, Linkin Park, Knocked Loose and Gojira make up our list of the Big 4 bands of 2024 due to what they accomplished in rock and metal this year.

Who are the 'Big 4' of masked rock and metal bands? There's a lot of great bands to consider and we consider these four to be the best!