1985 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1985.

Newly formed bands

 * Acid Reign
 * Aftermath
 * Agathocles
 * Alvacast
 * Aria
 * Attitude Adjustment
 * Atrocity
 * Banshee
 * Blood Feast
 * Britny Fox
 * Carcass
 * Chakal
 * China
 * Cry Wolf
 * Dare
 * David Lee Roth
 * Defiance
 * Deliverance
 * Diamond Rexx
 * Doom
 * Dream Theater (under the name "Majesty")
 * Drivin N Cryin
 * Eternity X
 * Executer
 * Exhorder
 * Extreme
 * Extreme Noise Terror
 * Exumer
 * Faster Pussycat
 * Fate
 * Forbidden
 * Fu Manchu
 * Goatlord
 * Gore
 * Guns N' Roses
 * Holocausto
 * Hunter
 * Jane's Addiction
 * Juggernaut


 * King Diamond
 * L7
 * Loudblast
 * Love/Hate
 * Macabre
 * Meanstreak
 * Mekong Delta
 * Morgoth
 * Mortal Sin
 * Mr. Bungle
 * Mutilator
 * Neurosis
 * Osmi Putnik
 * Pentagram Chile
 * Poltergeist
 * Radiohead
 * Rata Blanca
 * Sabbat
 * Sacred Oath
 * Sacred Reich
 * Sadistik Exekution
 * Sanctuary
 * Sarcófago
 * Satanic Slaughter
 * Screaming Trees
 * Sea Hags
 * Shadow Gallery
 * Shotgun Messiah
 * Skin Yard
 * Stone
 * Stormtroopers of Death
 * Tarot (under the name "Purgatory" until record deal)
 * Thee Hypnotics
 * Tora Tora
 * Tormentor
 * Toxik
 * Tuff
 * Vio-lence
 * Viper
 * White Tiger
 * White Zombie
 * Whitecross
 * Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction

Albums & EPs

 * Lee Aaron - Call of the Wild
 * Abattoir - Vicious Attack
 * AC/DC - Fly on the Wall
 * Accept - Metal Heart
 * Acid – Engine Beast
 * ADX - Exécution
 * Aerosmith - Done with Mirrors
 * Agent Steel - Skeptics Apocalypse
 * Agent Steel - Mad Locust Rising (EP)
 * Alcatrazz - Disturbing the Peace
 * Alien Force - Hell And High Water
 * Angel Witch - Screamin' 'n' Bleedin'
 * Anthem - Anthem
 * Anthem - Ready to Ride (EP)
 * Anthrax - Armed and Dangerous (EP)
 * Anthrax - Spreading the Disease
 * Anvil - Backwaxed (comp)
 * April Wine - Walking Through Fire
 * Aria - Mania Velichia
 * Armed Force - Heavy Artillery
 * Armored Saint - Delirious Nomad
 * Artillery - Fear of Tomorrow
 * Assassin (PA) - License to Kill
 * Astaroth - The Long Loud Silence (EP)
 * Atlain - G.O.E.
 * Atomkraft - Future Warriors
 * Attack - Return of the Evil
 * Attacker - Battle at Helm's Deep
 * Autograph - That's the Stuff
 * Avalanche (MO) - Pray for the Sinner
 * Avenger (UK) - Killer Elite
 * Avenger (Ger) - Depraved to Black (EP)
 * Avenger (Ger) - Prayers of Steel
 * Axewitch - Hooked on High Heels
 * Axis (OH) - Slightly Tilted
 * Axtion – Look Out For The Night
 * Bad Lizard – Power of Destruction
 * Bad Steve - Killing the Night
 * Barón Rojo - En un lugar de la marcha
 * Battle Axe - We're on the Attack
 * Bathory - The Return……
 * Barren Cross - Believe (EP)
 * Beast (Ger) - Like Living In A Cage
 * Black Angels – Broken Spell
 * Black Angels – Black and White
 * Black Hole - Land of Mistery
 * Black Knight - Master of Disaster (EP)
 * BlackLace - Get It While It's Hot
 * Blackmayne - Blackmayne
 * Black 'n Blue - Without Love
 * Black Rose – Nightmare (EP)
 * Black Sheep - Trouble in the Streets
 * Black Tears - The Slave
 * Blaspheme – Désir de Vampyr
 * Blessed Death - Kill or Be Killed
 * Blind Fury - Out of Reach
 * Blind Vengeance – Blind Vengeance
 * Blitzkrieg (UK) - A Time of Changes
 * Blitzkrieg (US) - Ready for Action (EP)
 * Bloodlust - Guilty as Sin
 * Bloody Climax - Back to the Wall
 * Bloody Mary - Bloody Mary
 * Blue Öyster Cult - Club Ninja
 * Bon Jovi -
 * Brainfever – Face to Face
 * Breaker - Dead Rider
 * Breathless - Breathless
 * Bulldozer - The Day of Wrath
 * Buster Brown – Sign of Victory
 * Cacumen - Longing for You (EP)
 * Carnivore -  Carnivore
 * Castle Blak - Babes In Toyland
 * Celtic Frost - Emperor's Return (EP)
 * Celtic Frost - To Mega Therion
 * Chastain - Mystery of Illusion
 * Chateaux - Highly Strung
 * Chrome Molly - You Can't Have It All...or Can You?
 * Cities - Annihilation Absolute (EP)
 * Cobra (UK) – Warriors of the Dead
 * Coney Hatch - Friction
 * Convict - Go Ahead... Make My Day!
 * Corrosion of Conformity - Animosity
 * Crack Jaw - Nightout
 * Crisis - Kick It Out
 * Crossfire - Second Attack
 * Crystal Knight - Crystal Knight
 * Crying Steel - Crying Steel (EP)
 * The Cult - Love
 * Cutty Sark - Heroes
 * Dagger – Not Afraid of the Night
 * Damien - Face the Danger
 * Dark Angel - We Have Arrived
 * Dark Lord – State of Rock (EP)
 * Dark Wizard - Reign of Evil
 * Darxon - Tokyo (EP)
 * Ded Engine - Ded Engine
 * Demon - British Standard Approved
 * Demon - Heart of Our Time
 * Der Kaiser – La Griffe de L'Empire
 * Destiny - Beyond All Sense
 * Destruction - Infernal Overkill
 * Destructor - Maximum Destruction
 * Devil Childe - Devil Childe
 * Dio - Sacred Heart
 * Dirty Looks – Dirty Looks
 * Divine Rite - First Rite
 * Dokken - Under Lock and Key
 * Drysill - Welcome to the Show
 * Dungeon - Fortress of Rock 
 * Earthshaker - Passion
 * E.F. Band - One Night Stand
 * Mark Edwards - Code of Honor (EP)
 * Electric Sun - Beyond the Astral Skies
 * Elysian - Blinded by Sound
 * Emerald - Down Town
 * Excalibur (UK) – The Bitter End (EP)
 * Exciter – Feel the Knife (EP)
 * Exciter - Long Live the Loud
 * Exodus - Bonded by Blood
 * Fact - Without Warning
 * Fate - Fate
 * Faithful Breath - Skol
 * Faith No More - We Care a Lot
 * Fastway - Waiting for the Roar
 * Fates Warning - The Spectre Within
 * Fierce Heart - Fierce Heart
 * Fisc - Break Out
 * Fist (Can) - Danger Zone
 * Flames (Gre) - Made in Hell
 * Flatbacker - Accident
 * Foreplay - First Licks
 * Fortress - Fortress
 * Fortune (band) - Fortune
 * Robin George - Dangerous Music
 * Girlschool - Running Wild
 * Glacier - Glacier (EP)
 * Grave Digger - Witch Hunter
 * Gravestone – Back to Attack
 * Grim Reaper - Fear No Evil
 * Guitar Pete's Axe Attack – Dead Soldier's Revenge
 * Halloween - Don't Metal with Evil
 * Hallows Eve - Tales of Terror
 * Hammer - Contract with Hell
 * Hammerschmitt - Hammerschmitt
 * Hammers Rule - After the Bomb (EP)
 * Hatrik - The Beast
 * Hanover Fist - Hanover Fist
 * Hanover Fist - Hungry Eyes
 * Joe Hasselvander - Lady Killer
 * Haven - Haven (EP)
 * Hawaii - The Natives Are Restless
 * Headhunter (Swi) - Headhunter
 * Headpins - Head over Heels
 * Headstone - Excalibur
 * Heavy Pettin – Rock Ain't Dead
 * Helix - Long Way to Heaven
 * Helloïse - Cosmogony
 * Helloween - Helloween (EP)
 * Helloween - Walls of Jericho
 * Herazz - Yet to Come
 * High Tension - Warrior
 * Highway Chile - Rockarama
 * Hirax - Raging Violence
 * Holland - Little Monsters
 * Horizon - Master of the Game
 * Hunter (Ger) - Sign of the Hunter
 * Hunter (US) - Hunter
 * Icon - Night of the Crime
 * Impaler - Rise of the Mutants (EP)
 * Iron Angel - Hellish Crossfire
 * Iron Cross - Warhead
 * Iron Maiden - Live After Death
 * Jack Starr's Burning Starr - Rock the American Way
 * Jade – If You're Man Enough
 * Jag Wire - Made in Heaven
 * Joshua - Surrender
 * Karrier - Way Beyond the Night
 * Keel - The Right to Rock
 * Keen Hue – Ogre King
 * Kerber - Ratne igre
 * Kick Axe - Welcome to the Club
 * Killers (Fra) - Fils de la Haine
 * King Kobra - Ready to Strike
 * KISS - Asylum
 * Kix - Midnite Dynamite
 * Knightmare II - Death Do Us Part (EP)
 * Kreator - Endless Pain
 * Lȧȧz Rockit - No Stranger to Danger
 * L.A. - L.A.
 * L.A. Guns - Collector's Edition No. 1 (EP)
 * Labyrinth - So Wild
 * Leatherwolf - Leatherwolf, aka Endangered Species
 * Leviticus - The Strob¿ngest Power
 * Liege Lord - Freedom's Rise
 * Living Death - Metal Revolution
 * Living Death - Watch Out! (EP)
 * Lions Breed - Damn the Night
 * Lizzy Borden - Love You to Pieces
 * London - Non-Stop Rock
 * Loudness - Thunder in the East
 * Luzbel - Metal Caído Del Cielo (EP)
 * Lynx - Caught in the Trap
 * M-80 - Maniac's Revenge
 * Mace (WA) - Process of Elimination
 * Mad Butcher - Metal Lightning Attack
 * Mad Max - Stormchild
 * Magnum - On a Storyteller's Night
 * Maineeaxe - Going for Gold
 * Maineeaxe - The Hour of Thunder (EP)
 * Malice - In the Beginning...
 * Mama's Boys - Power and Passion
 * Maniac - Maniac
 * Manilla Road - Open the Gates
 * Martyr - For the Universe
 * Mass (MA) - New Birth
 * Maxx Warrior - Maxx Warrior (EP)
 * Megadeth - Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!
 * Mercy - Witchburner
 * Metal Massacre - Metal Massacre VI (Compilation, various artists)
 * Midnight Darkness - Holding the Night
 * Mistreater - Mistreater
 * Gary Moore - Run for Cover
 * Morsüre – Acceleration Process
 * Mötley Crüe - Theatre of Pain
 * Mournblade - Time's Running Out
 * Mox Nix - Mox Nix
 * Nasty Savage - Nasty Savage
 * Nation (Ger) - Ride On
 * Nightmare – Power of the Universe
 * Nightwing – A Night of Mystery - Alive! Alive! (live)
 * Ninja - The Warriors of Rock
 * Obús - Pega con fuerza
 * Odin - Don't Take No... For an Answer (EP)
 * Omega - The Prophet
 * Omen - Warning of Danger
 * Overdose - Tight Action
 * Overdose - To the Top
 * Overkill - Feel the Fire
 * Overkill (CA) - Triumph of the Will
 * Onslaught - Power from Hell
 * Ostrogoth - Too Hot
 * Pandemonium - Hole in the Sky
 * Paganini - Weapon of Love
 * Pantera - I Am the Night
 * Paradoxx - Plan of Attak (EP)
 * Pentagram - Pentagram, aka Relentless
 * Phantom Lord - Phantom Lord
 * Phasslayne - Cut It Up
 * Philadelphia - Search and Destroy
 * Possessed - Seven Churches
 * Precious Metal - Right Here, Right Now
 * Prophacy - Rock 'n' Roll Nightmare
 * Prophet - Prophet
 * Rail - III
 * Railway - Railway II
 * Ran – Burning
 * Ratt - Invasion of Your Privacy
 * Raven - Stay Hard
 * Razor - Executioner's Song
 * Razor - Evil Invaders
 * Restless (Ger) - We Rock the Nation
 * Kelle Rhoads - Cheap Talkin' Romance (EP)
 * Rogue Male - First Visit
 * Romeo - Rocks (EP)
 * Rosy Vista - You Better Believe It (EP)
 * David Lee Roth - Crazy from the Heat (EP)
 * Rough Cutt - Rough Cutt
 * Ruffians - Ruffians (EP)
 * Runestaff – Runestaff
 * Running Wild - Branded and Exiled
 * Rush - Power Windows
 * Sabre (Ger) - Keepers of the Sword
 * Sabre (Can) - On the Prowl
 * Sacred Few - Beyond the Iron Walls
 * Sacred Rite - The Ritual
 * Sacrifice (Swi) - On the Altar of Rock
 * Sacrilege – Behind the Realms of Madness
 * Sadwings - Lonely Hero
 * Saigon - One Must Die
 * Saints' Anger – Danger Metal
 * Saint Vitus - Hallow's Victim
 * Satanic Rites - Which Way the Wind Blows
 * Savage - Hyperactive
 * Savage Grace - Master of Disguise
 * Savatage – The Dungeons Are Calling (EP)
 * Savatage – Power of the Night
 * Saxon - Innocence Is No Excuse
 * Scarlet - Phantasm
 * Scavenger - Battlefields
 * Scorpions - World Wide Live
 * Seduce - Seduce
 * Seducer - Caught in the Act
 * Shere Khan - Quite Enough for Love
 * Sinner - Touch of Sin
 * Silver Mountain - Universe
 * Slauter Xstroyes - Winter Kill
 * Slaven - Slave To The Heart (EP)
 * Slayer - Hell Awaits
 * Sodom - In the Sign of Evil (EP)
 * Spectre (CA) - Lady of the Night
 * Spellbound - Rockin' Reckless
 * Stainless Steel (Ger) - Stainless Steel
 * Stators - ...Never Too Late
 * Steel Angel – ...And the Angels Were Made of Steel
 * Steeler (Ger) - Rulin' the Earth
 * Steel Vengeance - Call Off the Dogs
 * Stormtrooper (US) - Armies of the Night (EP)
 * S.O.D. - Speak English or Die
 * Stormwind (Ger) - Taken by Storm
 * Stormwitch - Tales of Terror 
 * Stranger - The Bell
 * Stryker (FL) - Stryker
 * Stryper - Soldiers Under Command
 * Sweethard - Sweethard
 * Sweet Pain - Sweet Pain
 * Sweet Savage (US) – Sweet Savage (EP)
 * Sye - Turn on the Fire
 * Talon - Never Look Back
 * Terraplane – Black and White
 * Thor - Only the Strong
 * Thor - Live in Detroit (live)
 * Thrasher - Burning at the Speed of Light
 * Titanic - Then There Was Rock
 * Tokyo Blade - Black Hearts & Jaded Spades
 * Tobruk (UK) - Wild on the Run
 * Touchdown - Tricks of a Trade
 * Trance – Victory
 * Trilogy (Aus) - Life on Earth
 * Tröjan - Chasing the Storm
 * Trouble - The Skull
 * Trouble (Swe) - Warrior
 * Twisted Sister - Come Out and Play
 * 220 Volt - Mind over Muscle
 * Tygers of Pan Tang - The Wreck-Age
 * Tyran' Pace - Long Live Metal
 * Tyrant (Ger) - Fight for Your Life
 * Tyrant (US) - Legions of the Dead
 * Tysondog - Shoot to Kill (EP)
 * Tytan - Rough Justice
 * Tzar (Can) – Players of the Game
 * UFO - Misdemeanor
 * Universe - Universe
 * Vampyr - Cry Out for Metal
 * Vanadium - On Streets of Danger (live)
 * Vandenberg - Alibi
 * Vectom - Speed Revolution
 * Venom - Possessed
 * Vicious Rumors - Soldiers of the Night
 * Victim (CA) - DMN
 * Victory - Victory
 * Virgin Steele - Noble Savage
 * Vitriol - The Beginning
 * Vow Wow - Cyclone
 * Vulcain - La dame de fer (EP)
 * Vulcain - Desperados
 * Vyper - Afraid of the Dark (EP)
 * W.A.S.P. - The Last Command
 * Wallop - Metallic Alps
 * Warchylde - Murder by Decibels
 * Warfare - Metal Anarchy
 * Warlock -  Hellbound
 * Warrant - First Strike (EP)
 * Warrant - The Enforcer
 * Warrior - Fighting for the Earth
 * Watchtower - Energetic Disassembly
 * Waysted - The Good the Bad the Waysted
 * White Heat – Runnin' for Life
 * White Lion - Fight to Survive
 * Wild Cat - Love Attack
 * Winged Messenger - Guardians of Eternity
 * Witch (OH) - Salem's Rise
 * Wizard - Marlin, Grog, Madman & The Bomb
 * World War III (PA) – World War III
 * Wrathchild (UK) - Trash Queens (comp)
 * Xxaron - The Legacy
 * Y&T - Open Fire (live)
 * Y&T - Down for the Count
 * Yngwie Malmsteen - Marching Out
 * Zero Nine – White Lines
 * Zoetrope - Amnesty
 * Znowhite - Kick 'Em When They're Down EP

Disbandments

 * Mercyful Fate (reformed in 1992)
 * Van Halen (Roth quits band)

Events

 * Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid cofounds the Black Rock Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the creative freedom and works of black musicians interested in playing rock music.
 * Twisted Sister's Dee Snider testifies at The Parents Music Resource Center Senate hearings on rock censorship at Washington, D.C., on September 19, 1985.
 * David Lee Roth releases his solo debut (EP) Crazy from the Heat in January 1985. With it comes the announcement he has permanently left Van Halen.
 * Black Sabbath reunites at Live Aid with Ozzy Osbourne.
 * Led Zeppelin reunites at Live Aid with Phil Collins replacing deceased drummer John Bonham.
 * Kam Lee leaves Death and Chuck Schuldiner becomes the vocalist.
 * Uriah Heep's former lead singer, David Byron dies on February 28, due to alcohol complications.
 * Welcome to Venice compilation is released, featuring Suicidal Tendencies, Beowulf, and others, showing the growing crossover trend among the Venice Beach hardcore and metal scenes.