Tradiční heavy metal, také známý jako klasický metal nebo často jednoduše heavy metal, zahrnuje skupinu kapel a umělců, kteří hrají metalový hudební styl podobný stylu, jaký byl slyšen před vývojem žánru a jeho rozšířením do mnoha různých stylů a subžánrů. Vyznačuje se středně rychlými řezavými riffy, dunivými basovými linkami, náročnými sóly a čistými, často vysokými vokály a hymnickými sbory.
Je poněkud obtížné tento žánr definovat, zahrnuje totiž vše od popovějších glam metalových skupin (Mötley Crüe, KISS), přes agresivnější speed/thrash metalové kapely (Metallica, Megadeth) až k těm power metalovým (Helloween, Manowar, Hammerfall) i NWOBHM skupinám (Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Judas Priest).
Není obecně kategorizován jako subžánr metalu, ale jako hlavní žánr. Mezi 'klasické kapely' patří Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden nebo Dio.
Do klasického heavy metalu jsou běžně řazeny i původně hard rockové kapely jako AC/DC, Alice Cooper nebo Aerosmith.
V druhém desetiletí nového tisíciletí dochází k oživení tradičního metalu a vzniká záplava kapel, které se hudebně navrací do počátků 80. let. Někdy je toto oživení nazýváno Novou vlnou klasického (nebo tradičního) heavy metalu.
Black Sabbath (GBR)
Mahogany Rush (CAN)
Lucifer's Friend (NSR)
Buffalo (AUS), Cirith Ungol (USA), Pentagram (USA)
Bleak House (GBR), Bonfire (Cacumen, NSR), Jerusalem (GBR), Resurrection Band (USA), Tarkus (PER), Triarchy (GBR), Twisted Sister (USA), Van Halen (USA)
AC/DC (AUS), Edda Müvek (HUN), JPT Scare Band (USA), KISS (USA), Mass (NSR), Max Webster (CAN), Montrose (USA), Quiet Riot (USA), Ritual (GBR), Vardis (GBR), Witchfynde (GBR)
Helix (CAN), Limelight (GBR), Moxy (CAN), Praying Mantis (GBR), Raven (GBR), Stress (BRA), Y&T (USA)
Iron Maiden (GBR), Jameson Raid (GBR), Jerusalem (SWE), Krokus (CHE), Legs Diamond (USA), Motörhead (GBR), Ted Nugent (USA), Rainbow (GBR), Riot (USA), Sorcery (USA, Kalifornie), Sorcery (USA, Illinois),Starz (USA), Toad the Wet Sprocket (GBR), Triumph (CAN), White Spirit (GBR), White Wolf (CAN)
Accept (NSR), Angel Witch (GBR), Black Rose (GBR), Bow Wow (JPN), Bronz (GBR), Canis Major (GBR), Citron (ČSSR), Crys (GBR), Diamond Head (GBR), Ethel the Frog (GBR), Heavy Load (SWE), Kick Axe (CAN), Līvi (LVA), Marseille (GBR), Mentors (USA), Ratt (USA), Rose Tatoo (AUS), Running Wild (NSR), Saracen (GBR), Saxon (GBR), Sister, Spider (USA), Stormtrooper (GBR), Urchin (GBR), Vitacit (ČSSR)
44 Magnum (JPN), Barnabas (USA), Black Death (USA), Clientelle (GBR), Death SS (ITA), Dedringer (GBR), Def Leppard (GBR), Divlje Jagode (YUG), Dragster (GBR), Gordi (YUG), Gravestone (NSR), Great White (USA), Holocaust (GBR), Charlie ’Ungry (GBR), Manilla Road (USA), Overdrive (GBR), Oz (FIN), Paralex (GBR), Quartz (GBR), Rock Goddess (GBR), Samson (GBR), Sarcofagus (FIN), Thor (CAN), TKO (USA), Vatreni Poljubac (YUG)
Angeles de Infierno, Anvil, Aragorn, Arkangel, Atomkraft, Bodine, Cockney Rejects, Cracked Mirror, Dark Star, Denigh, Dragonslayer, Earthshaker, E.F. Band, Electric Sun, Exciter, Fist, Gamma, The Gary Moore, Gillan, Girlschool, Grand Prix, Hades (USA), Ig-Elit (ČSSR), Leno, London, Mad Dog, Mama’s Boys, Messiah Prophet, Money, Nightwing, Pagan Altar, Race Against Time, Savage, Sledgehammer, Trance, Trespass, Trouble, Tygers of Pan Tang, Venom, Whitesnake, Wild Horses, Wrathchild America
220 Volt, A II Z, Bengal Tigers, Black Angels, Boss, Briar, Cloven Hoof, Crimson Glory, Daniel Band, Deep Machine, Demon, Demon Pact, Dokken, Europe, Export, Fallout, Girl, Grim Reaper, Hanoi Rocks, Headpins, Hellanbach, Hollow Ground, CHEVY, Chorny Kofe, Icon, Jaguar, Kat, Killer, Metal Mirror, MSG, Nightmare, Night Ranger, Ozzy Osbourne, Persian Risk, Picture, Projektil, Rekuiem, The Rods, Salem, Satan, Savatage, Shark Island, Shiva, Silverwing, Spinal Tap, Starfighters, Stos, Sweet Savage, TAM (ČSSR), Tokyo Blade, Truffle, TSA, T.T.Quick, V8, Vicious Rumors, Voltz, Witchfinder General
Alkatrazz, Anthem, Anvil Chorus, Baron Rojo, Battleaxe, Bitch, Bitches Sin, Blitzkrieg, Dealer, Destiny, Ezy Meat, Gaskin, Grave Digger, Heaven, Heritage, Chariot, Incubus (GBR), Kroket, Lee Aaron, Legend, Lionheart, Los Suaves, Manowar, Metal Church, More, Neptune, The Obsessed, Odin, Omega (GBR), Ostrogoth, Pokolgép, Queensrÿche, Rage (GBR), Riff, Rok Mašina, Samurai, Satanic Rites, Seventh Son, Sound Barrier, Spartan Warrior, Syron Vanes, Tank, Tritón (ESP), Vanadium, Viva, Vixen, Warlord, Weapon (GBR), White Sister, Wolfbane, Wrathchild
Autobus, Black’n Blue, Crossfire (BEL), Culprit, Desolation Angels, Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, Easy Action, Hawaii, Heavy Pettin, Chasar, Chateaux, Chinawite, Jag Panzer, Kerber, Kern, Killer Dwarfs, LeatherWolf, Leviticus, Loudness, Mad Max, Malice, Mercyful Fate, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Obús, Pantera, Paradoxx, Parasite, Pomaranča, Pretty Maids, Rough Cutt, Rox, Saber Tiger, Sacred Rite Sam Thunder, Sapphire, Savage Grace, Seducer, Skitzo, Sortilége, Stampede, Steeler, Stormwitch, Syar, Tesla, Thunderstick, Tobruk, Tyrant, Tytan, Virgin Steele, Vulcain, Wild Dogs, Wolf, Železná neděle
Ace Lane, Ampér, Arakain, Argema, Armored Saint, Avenger (GBR), Cinderella, Dio, Ezo, Fastway, Glasgow, Guardian, Hazzard, H-Bomb, Hell, Hellion, Holland (GBR), Krull, Lita Ford, McCoy, Millennium, Obsession, Saint, Sinner, Steelover, Tredegar, Tröjan, Tublatanka, Tyran' Pace, Warfare, Warlock (DEU), Warrior, Warriors, WASP, Waysted, Witch Cross, Wolfpack, X Japan
Alcatrazz, Autogen, Autograph, Blade Runner, Blind Fury (GBR), Bon Jovi, Bride, Dark Heart, Di’Anno, Elixir, Explorer (GBR), Fifth Angel, Hunter (DEU), Iras, Jess Cox, Karrier, King Kobra, L.A. Guns, Lizzy Borden, Maniac, Metalinda, Mournblade, Omen, Paganini, Pirillo, Poison, Puls, Q5, Rogue Male, Rosy Vista, Santa, Shy, Stratus, Stryper, Telefon, Terraplane, Touched, Tysondog, Vengeance, War Machine, White Lion, Wolfram, Razor
Agent Steel, Bad News, Barren Cross, Blackmayne, Bloodgood, Blood Money, Cobra (GBR), Deep Switch, Enuff Z'Nuff, Fast Kutz, Hammer, Hell's Belles, Hlahol, Holland, Chainsaw (NSR), Chastain, Chrome Molly, Iced Earth, Jarra, Keel, Kraken, Maineeaxe, Muro, Polymetal, Preyer, Racer X, Rankelson, Regon, Sapon, Sentinel Beast, Titanic, Triton, Vinnie Vincent Invasion, Voodoo, Warrant, Wolfsbane
April 16th, Archon, Battlezone, Britny Fox, The David Lee Roth Band, Extaze, Gogmagog, Guns N' Roses, Hematit, Holy Soldier, Hunter (POL), King Diamond, Koridor, Open Fire, Řetěz, Shogun, Superbox, Whitecross, White Tiger, X-Mas Project
Cassandra, Circus of Power, Fata Morgana, Impellitteri, Ossian, Rage (DEU), Sára, Skid Row, WWIII
Danger Danger, Dangerous Toys, Detto, Femme Fatale, Kraken, Lef de Bard, Makar Čudra, Marshall Law, Meliah Rage, Panzer, Phantom Blue, Pink Cream 69, Trezor, Winger
Badlands, Blitzspeer, Doga, Merlin, Metanoon, Mr. Big, Nitro, Roxor, Saigon Kick, Slaughter, Tokyo Yankees, Velká Morava, White Skull
Arkus, Brix, Cerberus, Damn Yankees, Doro, Dungeon (AUS), FireHouse, Gamma Ray, Komunál, Kreyson, Leather, Loretta, Messalina, Monster Magnet, Skylla, Tantrum
Alkehol, Bad4Good
Gotthard, Lordi, Pororoca
Attack, Bastard, HammerFall, Saphet
Excalibur, Hammerheart, Babylon Whores
Buckcherry, Harlej, Innerwish, Notorest, Sabatan, Shandy a Ester
Feanor, Iron Savior, The Pant
Alžběta, Enemy, Fireball Ministry
Black Label Society, Crucified Barbara, Firewind, Sacred Outcry
Blaze Bayley, DNA, Epitaf, Grand Magus, Chewbacca, Witch Hammer
Altaria, Crashdiet, Steel Panther, Vainglory, Vetrol, Vigo, Vindex
Act of God, The Iron Maidens, Navar, Reckless Love, Traktor, Volbeat, Zhiva
Baron Blade, Blamage, Dark Forest, David Shankle Group, Firezone, Magica, Rentgen, Sister Sin
Crystal Viper, Early Man, Hellcats, Ignitor, Katana, Kilmara, Menhir
Alter Bridge, Bloodbound, Enforcer, Hydrogyn, Mantinel, Raskasta Joulua, RebelSky, Satycarion, Texas Hippie Coalition, Warhawk
Battle Beast, Epidemy, Five Finger Death Punch, Hysterica, Imortela, Katrina Johansson, Orphans of Doom
Cauldron, Diemonds, Ghost, Mastaba, Skull Fist, Sunstorm, Volnaya Staya
Abi Gail, Ahard, Blackslash, Evolucija, Halestorm, H.E.A.T, Hejtman, Huntress, Rocka Rollas, Santa Cruz, Striker
A Sound of Thunder, Bombus, Holy Grail, Sacred Gate, Whipstriker
Booze Control, High Spirit, Kobra and the Lotus, Perseus, Steelwing, Sunlight, Unisonic
Axe Crazy, Digger, Kramp, Possessed Steel, Silent Avenger, Tezaura, Titanium
Blazon Stone, Crobot, Demon Bitch, Durbin, Enola Gay, Hetzer, Hitten, Instorm, Midnite Hellion, Night, Riot City, Roadwolf, Warning Vision, Wytch Hazel
Adrenaline Rush, Black Soul Horde, Brothers Of Metal, Donor, Headfire, Last in Line, Salieri, Slight Lie, The Struts, Tenemit, The Winery Dogs
The Agony, Bastilla, Eld Varg, Leopard Machine, Night Screamer, Savage Master, Silverbones, Spell, Temperance, The Warning
Against Evil, Assassin's Blade, Consonance, Kartel, Lords of Black, Pänzer, Regen, Tytus
Anarchia, Beast in Black, Burning Witches, Demos, Eredar, Hammer King, Khargados, Limetall, Nordic Union, Sanhedrin, Vanaheim
Adamantis, Fatal Curse, FirstBourne, Hunter (BEL), Liv Sin, Lovell's Blade, Mortalis, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Rebel, Tinnitus
Bad Wolves, Fat Bat, Frozen Crown, Midnight Spell, QFT, Scorzonera, Steel Witch, Tanith
Denner's Inferno, Dream Child, Megaton Sword, Moon Chamber, Respect, Ritualizer, Saber, Sascha Paeth's Masters of Ceremony, Trahir
Affected, Cobra Spell, KK's Priest, Laurenne/Louhimo, Warrior Path
Crowne, Icon of Sin, Moonpark, Tyran
Porcelain Shards, Stray Gods, Metal Factory
All for Metal, Bestie, Dream Widow, Elegant Weapons, Ikara
J:T C.O.R.P, Niakara