1986 in heavy metal music

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1986.

Newly formed bands

• Acid Drinkers
• Atrophy
• 24-7 Spyz
• Bolt Thrower
• Cacophony
• DBC (Dead Brain Cells)
• Grave
• Immolation
• Pestilence
• Prong
• Terrorizer
• Vader
• Vio-Lence

Albums & EPs

Events

• Living Colour's line-up is solidified to a quartet, consisting of Corey Glover (vocals), Vernon Reid (guitar), Muzz Skillings (bass), and Will Calhoun (drums).
• Phil Lynott the former frontman of Thin Lizzy dies at the age of 36 on January 4 for drug related health problems.
• Metallica's third album Master of Puppets peaks at #29 on the Billboard 200, spending 72 weeks on the charts with minor radio airplay. Unfortunately, bassist Cliff Burton dies at 24 on September 27 in a bus accident in Sweden. Jason Newsted from Phoenix band Flotsam and Jetsam is hired after auditions are held.
• Metal Hammer magazine is first published.
• Slayer's third album Reign in Blood peaks at 94 on the Billboard 200 with no radio airplay. The album also reached number 47 on the UK Album Chart,[14] and on November 20, 1992, it was certified gold in the United States. Kerrang! magazine described it as the "heaviest album of all time,"[16] while Metal Hammer magazine named it "the best metal album of the last 20 years."[17]
• Europe, release The Final Countdown album on May 26. The title track is number one in 26 countries and became worldwide hit. Guitarist John Norum leaves the band on November. He is replaced by Kee Marcello.
• Jeff "Mantas" Dunn leaves British band Venom to pursue a solo career.