Metal never really went away,  the fans have stayed with it, while the bands keep putting out records. What did happen was the industry spent much of the 90's ignoring hard rock and metal in the wake of the grunge and alternative onslaught. 

All of that is about to change. Major labels are once more signing up metal bands, and there will be several major label releases from 80's metal bands in 1999. 

Cleopatra records in set to release new albums from Great White, Quiet Riot, Cinderella, and Dokken. Also look for the return of Warrant and Poison.

MTV is set to retool it's programming. It will include a new program devoted to metal, much like the classic Head Bangers Ball. 

Heavy Metal tours in the past couple of years have brought the genre back into the mainstream. The KISS and Black Sabbath reunion shows have sold out venues across the US, while smaller venues played host to the likes of The Rock Never Stops tour with Slaughter, and The Hard Tour with the Bullet Boys, Bang Tango and Enuff Z'nuff.

Perhaps the biggest indicator that metal with thrive in 99, the record industry is no longer shying away from hard rock bands, like the classic metals bands signed to Cleopatra, many new metal bands are getting signed. RCA will release the debut from former Rock n World artist of the month Lit in March. 

1999 is set to be a year to bang your head, and turn it up to 11.