North America has been central to the global evolution of heavy metal. In the United States, the 1970s brought early innovators like Kiss, Aerosmith, and Blue Öyster Cult, but the 1980s cemented America as a powerhouse. The Bay Area thrash scene (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Exodus, Testament) defined one of the most influential metal movements ever, while glam/hair metal dominated Los Angeles with bands like Mötley Crüe, Ratt, and Poison. Death metal emerged in Florida (Death, Morbid Angel, Obituary, Deicide), while New York gave rise to crossover thrash and hardcore-influenced acts (Anthrax, Nuclear Assault, Biohazard). The U.S. also became home to groove metal (Pantera), metalcore (Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God), and nu metal (Korn, Slipknot), shaping global trends across decades.
In Canada, bands such as Anvil, Exciter, and Voivod were early trailblazers in heavy, speed, and progressive thrash metal. Later, Annihilator gained international recognition with technical thrash, while the 2000s saw new voices like Kataklysm (death metal) and Protest the Hero (progressive/metalcore) reach global audiences.
Mexico became a major hub for metal in Latin America, with early heavy metal bands like Luzbel and Transmetal paving the way. By the late 1980s and 1990s, Mexico developed a fierce extreme metal underground with cult death/black acts such as Cenotaph, Shub Niggurath, and R’lyeh, while also building one of the world’s most passionate fanbases. Today, festivals like Hell and Heaven Metal Fest and Mexico Metal Fest draw huge crowds and international acts.
Across the continent, North America remains a defining force in heavy metal, producing some of the genre’s biggest legends and nurturing some of its most intense audiences.