France’s best metal export of any decade, let alone the 70’s/80’s, was The Trust. A punk influenced metal band that seemed influenced by Nazareth, AC/DC and Killers era Iron Maiden.
Their best known track on this continent was the song “Prefabricated,” that appeared on the Heavy Metal Motion Picture Soundtrack.
The Trust’s albums were all largely in French, but three albums were released in English, Savage, Repression, and Man’s Trap. All three are genuinely great crunchy metal that somehow still manages to hold up today. The fact that the bulk of their work was complete before Hair Metal changed the music climate probably has a lot to do with that.
Savage doesn’t have a “Prefabricated” quality track on it, but “Crusades,” and “Repression” are both great listens.