I won’t sugar coat the glaring facts on the ground: metal is probably the most misunderstood, maligned, intimidating genre around
And maybe that’s just how metal fans like it
Known for being introspective, pensive, and critical of inherited truths, metal is more than just throbbing instrumentals and carnal screams ‘n wailing
It offers a powerful critique of the status quo, and invites its listeners to bravely explore taboo topics: satanism, paganism, anti-clericalism, anarchy, and maybe even socialism
This list is for the brave in any case – I invite you to expand the boundaries of what you think you know about music, and brace yourself for one immersive ride
Let’s dive into the best metal bands of all time
HellhammerBest Metal Bands – Final Thoughts
Needing no introduction, Iron Maiden’s brand of metal is electric, with a voltage that could kill on impact
With exhilarating, breathless guitar chords, they grip listeners by the neck and shake a few times for good measure
Their music retains the power rock elements of the eighties and maintains an unarguable vitality and rhythmic audacity
The first and best at incorporating a whole retinue of bizarre skeletons, ghosts, and phantasmagoric iconography into their musical-aesthetic brand, they have countless imitators
Their sound, chock full of horror-film allusions, has a magnetism and strange power to this day
Metallica can be single-handedly credited with bringing the genre into the mainstream, and to a stadium audience everywhere
I’ve seen them live, and it is riveting, riotous, deeply moving stuff
Their music features cascading, poignant melodies, and strangely raw and intimate lyrical flourishes
The guitar chords on songs like “Master of Puppets” could give you carpet burn, they’re so tightly-constructed and amped-up
But Metallica is not afraid of plumbing the depths of the psyche and unearthing the jagged diamonds that dwell therein
Songs like “Nothing Else Matters” are as heartrending and jarring as anything to come out of the alternative rock and grunge movement
One of the original metal anthems “Breaking the Law” comes courtesy of yours truly, British metal kings, Judas Priest
They formed in 1969 and were at the vanguard of a dynamic, vivacious, satisfyingly hostile new moment in music
Their sartorial expressionism was heavy on spikes, leather, occultist trinkets, and glam rock elements
They were not all pomp, however: their hair-raisingly compulsive pace and insightful, occasionally poetic lyrics added multiple dimensions of depth to their work
Without a doubt they are one of the best heavy metal bands to come out of the 20th century
4 Black Sabbath
4 Black Sabbath
The godfathers of the genre, British greats Black Sabbath were veritable game changers when they began their long careers in the late sixties
Fearlessly dabbling with themes of paganism, countercultural excess, anti-establishment calls to arms, and hermetic insinuations, their music certainly did not go down well among respectable circles
I consider the zingy, lightning-paced “Paranoid” one of the best rock songs of the century
If you do one thing for yourself today, become a fan of Black Sabbath
You’ll be in stellar company – they’re often considered the best heavy metal band of all time by obsessive fans the world over
Thrash icons Slayer defined in many ways what it meant to be a metal band in the 20th century
They were political vocalists above all, exploring taboo and controversial themes at every turn: genocide, corruption, hypocrisy, terrorism, fascism, and torture, among others
Their modus operandi was to ruffle the feathers of the powers that be with hostile, caustic, delectably fevered melodies
They are wildly influential to this day, and their brand of speed metal is enough to give you a well-earned migraine
Popular metal bands don’t typically come with such a world class reputation
Megadeth are one of the early pioneers of the genre and a top heavy metal band
They formed in 1983 and transformed what metal meant
Scathing, unapologetic, dirty, and carnal, their music possessed an arrogant sensuality that is damn near inimitable
Along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer they are considered one of the “Big Four” of thrash metal, and their sound was not for the faint of heart
They explored themes of occultism, historical symbolism, war, decay, and religion
Nothing was sacred and nothing was holy but everything was dark, dank, and sizzling hot
Dual-power guitars and frenetic rhythmics make for a killer listen
That’s unfortunately the beginning and end of most casual listeners’ understanding of the German metal musicians Rammstein
They are veritable legends, however, and are a fundamental reason people associate gothic metal with Germany
Their sound has a dark vitality, industrial flourishes, and what has been considered a droning, brute monotone
Their pyrotechnic-heavy live shows and multitude of controversies have made their names synonymous with all things hard and dark
Even listeners with a cursory interest in metal know Pantera, the preeminent American groove metal band
Founded in 1981 by brothers Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell (both tragically deceased), the band cast a powerful, inspirational shadow over rhythmic and glam metal during the genre’s resurgence during the mid-nineties
They are best remembered for their explosively influential 1990 album, Cowboys From Hell
They remain one of the most popular metal bands, particularly when it comes to the amount of casual listeners who tune in
Named after a killer bacteria – how very metal of you, Anthrax
Considered one of the big four of thrash metal, they were founded in NYC in 1981
They’ve sold over ten million albums and have achieved broad commercial success
Their songs make quirky references to cheeky humor and comic books, and they lean wholeheartedly into their bizarre crossover appeal
Their frenzied tempos make for some moshpit-approved head bashing
They always have their finger on the pulse of pop culture, regardless of how obscure or conventional
How many other bands can successfully draw inspiration from Stephen King novels?
California nu metal nineties cult heroes Korn are every basement dwelling slackers favorite band – and I don’t mean that in a negative way
Their music touched a nerve, hitting on themes of alienation, isolation, and apathy and they spoke to the peculiar anxieties that defined the turn of the century
Melodic, with vocals disintegrating into intricate walls of guitar and drum beats, they created a full body listening experience
They’ve sold more than 40 million albums and have achieved broad critical and commercial success
They’ve gotta be on the top 10 heavy metal band list for sheer mainstream success alone
Who knew one of the most influential, imposing metal bands of all time would come out of flyover agricultural state, Iowa?
Their spirited, chaotic, belligerent music and stage presence certainly doesn’t sound like the tunes polite Midwestern society would be grooving along to
With down-tuned guitar, intrepid percussion, and vocals that range from growling to lullaby-soft the band defined nu metal
They touched on themes of loneliness, nihilism, and disaffection, relating on a spiritual and psychological level with their legions of fans
With hordes of cult-obsessive fans, Motorhead has a reputation that precedes it, and it has brought rock and glam aficionados alike over to the dark side
Formed in London in 1975, they are one of the originators of the early metal sound, and their sensual, masculine, chauvinistic aura has an enduring allure
They are often thought of as one of the key originators of the British heavy metal movement, and they never blinked when it came to themes like promiscuity, gambling, and drug abuse
Death
Death
American death metal band, well, Death, are straight out of the eighties in terms of audaciousness, sartorial cant, and bold expressive arrangements
Their music was melodic, rage-fuelled, and always in on the joke
Their album Scream Bloody Gore is considered by critics to be the first true death metal album
The impressive endurance of their speed, velocity, and strength of vision is captivating stuff for a first time listener
The band tragically disbanded after lead singer Chuck Schuldiner’s wildly untimely death, but their legacy lives on in documentaries like 2016’s Death by Metal
It seems like 1995 was a watershed year for modern metal, with countless American bands getting their start in that blessed year – Godsmack being one of them, of course
Depending who you ask, they exemplify post-grunge, nu metal, or good ol’ classic metal
The band cited Alice in Chains founder and lead Layne Staley (RIP) as an influence
There is a sensual, sinister, melancholy cast to their sound that often draws comparisons to their grunge idols
There is a ghostly patina that complements the percussive vigor of their music and they are some of the most talented metal musicians of their generation
While Led Zeppelin are certainly considered the kingpins of classic rock, during the early days of their musical tenure they were considered heavy metal
And while their themes and foregrounded melodies place them more firmly in the rock camp (in my humble opinion) their razor-fast guitar riffs and intransigent posturing made them heroes for generations of sapling rockstars
When it comes to their brazen, calculus-complex chords, metal rock bands the world over owe Led Zeppelin a huge debt
Defined by throbbing, industrial-duty drum beats, and a vocal range that can be at once plaintive and unflinching, Disturbed are masters in the field
Don’t believe me about the vocal dynamism?
Try listening to their cover of “Sounds of Silence” – that’s some powerful stuff
Formed in Chicago in the early nineties, they are also considered big players in the metalcore and nu metal subscenes
They are certainly on the more melodic side of the divide, with less of the chaotic, frenzied, anarchic patina that defines the sound of some of their peers
Their record sales confirm their status as one of the greatest metal bands of all time
With a name like that, what other genre could they feasibly be?
Formed in 1988, they put the morbid and vile in death metal, and proudly so
With album titles like Butchered at Birth (1991) and Tomb of the Mutilated (1992), you can rest assured that their music never reached wide commercial circulation
They’ve certainly developed a cult following, however, and they’ve released 15 studio albums during their careers
They are shamelessly committed to themes of horror and gore and they’ve embraced the controversies they’ve been embroiled in in true heavy metal fashion
Classic metal bands rarely come as outlandish
Why does it seem like so many bands originate from Huntington Beach, California?
Avenged Sevenfold are big players in the metal game, and have reached serious levels of critical success
Their hard metal sound, paired with their daring, thematically brazen imagery have garnered them a cult following
Throughout their careers they have incorporated punk, metalcore, orchestral arrangements, country, pop punk, and screamo into their sound
Never ones to be typecast, they offer up a dizzying variety of musical experiences
The California sun is good for nourishing metal, isn’t it?
Machine Head, founded in 1991, certainly benefited from the rays
They helped push metal back into the spotlight in the nineties and they never shied away from confrontational, aggressive sounds
Their tunes synthesized thrash and groove tendencies, and paid homage to grunge influences, too
Lead singer Robb Flynn defined his vocal style as “barking in key”
A famous metal band with a compelling attitude and enviable insouciance
I say Finnish melodic death metal – you say Children of Bodom
Their eerie band name is taken from the unsolved Lake Bodom murders, one of Finland’s most unsettling cold cases
That’s fair game for the name of a death metal band, if I ever heard one
Their sound is hypnotizing, obscure, and niche
With album titles like Follow The Reaper (2000) and Hatebreeder (1999) you know you’re in for a healthy dose of morbid themes and references
For the lovers of darkness among us, they are one of the most popular metal bands around
If you were ever curious about what a lovechild between progressive rock and alternative metal would sound like, American band Coheed and Cambria are here to rock your world
With turbulent, disorienting, noisy instrumentals and textured vocals, their songs unexpectedly descend into some soft, rhythmic places
Did you know that all of their albums, bar one, are concept albums based upon the science fiction series The Amory Wars?
Six of their albums have reached the Billboard Top 10, so fans certainly abound
Five Finger Death Punch
Five Finger Death Punch
Here’s another unapologetic metal band for you
With a name like that, they’re certainly not releasing nursery rhymes
Hailing from Las Vegas, they incorporate the stylistic elements of groove metal, nu, hard rock, and thrash into their complex, inimitable sound
Blending groovy melodies with assertive riffs and zingy choruses, their music is relentlessly energetic and soulful
With inspirations as far reaching as Bowie, Layne Staley, and Pantera, you are guaranteed a mind-opening listening experience with these guys, one of the best metal bands in American history
One of the most critically acclaimed metal bands to come out of the heady post-grunge days of the mid-nineties, Tool incorporated industrial instrumentals, alternative arrangements, and visual expressionism to originate an arresting, intrepid new style
They synthesized psychedelic beats and cerebral themes of inner evolution into their music, for a strange brew that puzzled many of the uninitiated
They have been described by Patrick Donovan as the “thinking person’s metal band”
While they aren’t exactly Georgia peaches, Mastodon brings a progressive, chill, slacker vibe to a metal world dominated by California and New York
They’ve been classified as “stoner metal” and if you choose to imbibe and give them a listen, do let me know how it goes
Their 2011 album The Hunter saw them land in the Billboard Top 10 and garnered them a measure of critical and commercial success
They shake up a progressive base with sludge- and grind-metal conventions, all with an experimental veneer thrown on top
Napalm Death
Napalm Death
British renegades Napalm Death chart the spectrum of obscure microgenres: from crust punk to grindcore to heavy metal
Their songs are pithy, politically fiery, and packed with sheer noise
Down-tuned guitars overdrive bass, shrieks that turn incomprehensibly to growls – it’s a spectrum of loud, discordant instrumentals
They are the 7th best selling metal band in the States, evidence that their anarchic, humanist, socialist fare is not falling on deaf ears
RIP Dio, you will always be our “Rainbow in the Dark”
The theatrical, campy king of metal is considered one of the most enduring, influential vocalists in the genre’s history
His themes were often centered around medieval mysticism, and he originated the “devil’s horns” hand gesture popular among metal fans
Throughout his career he fronted Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and Elf, but his solo work was just as electrifying and exuberant
One of the best metal musicians – may he rest in peace and darkness
Washington rockers with an unlikely name, Queensryche have sold over 20 million albums since they formed in 1982 and are often considered one of the most enduring heavy metal bands of the eighties
They are leaders in the progressive metal movement and their 1988 album Operation: Mindcrime is often thought of as one of the best heavy metal concept albums ever
Go listen to “Eyes of a Stranger” and “I Don’t Believe in Love” to get a glam taste of eighties metal
American metalcore legends Killswitch Engage definitely look the part, and are considered founders of the subgenre
Their songs ran the gamut from screeching, banshee-vocal heavy confections to those based around dreamy melodies, and otherworldly growls
They expertly blended the light and dark aspects of life and emotion, embracing a subtle degree of earnest lyrical frankness that other metal bands often shy away from
They might be more clean than dirty, but keep an open mind and you’ll see the magic happen
German power metal legends Bling Guardian more than carry the heavy expectations we’ve come to place on German gothicism
They’ve released 10 albums, as well as a fully orchestral album under the name Blind Guardian Twilight Orchestra – expect the unexpected, am I right?
Their poetic lyrics are heavily inspired by ancient legends, epics, high fantasy and fiction, with multiple references to the magical worlds of Tolkien and Stephen King
They are considered a power metal “Big 4” band, along with Helloween, DragonForce, and Sabaton
There seems to be a theme here, no?
California + 80’s = killer thrash metal
The ecosystem was fertile ground for some zinging guitars and wild, unruly vocal tangents
Give any of their hits a listen and you’ll feel a cold, electric tingle down your spine
This is unadulterated, high voltage metal, with no holds barred
Forceful, vicious vocals round out the experience and keep the stakes raised
They’ve released 13 studio albums, and a 14th is in the works for 2023
New Jersey and 80s to the core, Overkill are dizzyingly audacious and run on an insatiable reserve of energy
With vocals reminiscent of chaotic, uncaged banshees this is a provocative and enticing listening experience
There is the nuanced hint of tongue-in-cheek brashness and dynamism in songs like “Elimination” and “Necroshine”
Overkill is always feeling out the boundaries of respectable taste and venturing beyond
They were one of the most successful thrash metal acts of the 80s and incorporated a punk rock sensibility and swagger into their wild sounds
A Polish extreme metal band?
That’s something pretty compelling and niche, even within the multifarious world of metal
Warning for the weak: this fare is not for the faint of heart – it is dirty, unflinching, and confrontational
The growls are animalistic, the subversive lyrics are incendiary, and the experience is only for dedicated metal lovers
They explore occultist themes, with a heavy focus on Thelema (look it up, you won’t be disappointed)
One could call this heathenism at its very best
A luscious, evocative name for a prog metal band, no?
They may be a niche band to outsiders, but to those in the know they’re a power name: they’ve released over 15 albums in their thirty plus year tenure
Along with Queensrÿche and Fates Warning, they are considered one of the “Big Three” pioneers of progressive metal
Their execution belies a technical wizardry and maturity of vision that was often eclipsed by the loud and erratic glam metal of the day
If you want metal with some classical and symphonic elements thrown in, treat yourself to Dream Theater
Swiss heavyweights Celtic Frost were vital to the development of extreme and avant-garde metal that followed in the wake of their short-lived careers
Formed out of the ashes of the much-maligned Hellhammer, they were generous with their references, drawing in inspiration from gothic, doom, and thrash microgenres
They even incorporated sound bites of classic and electronica in their bizarre, intriguing synthesis
You can also catch a whisper of new wave and dream pop references in their sound
The undisputed mainstream-crossover kings of nu metal, the best word to describe SOAD would be eccentric
Their sound is fearlessly unlike anything that had come before or since, and takes listeners on a strange and surreal journey of sound, cognition, and sociocultural references
Their music doesn’t shy away from the grotesque and the appalling, covering topics like consumerism, hypocrisy, and child abuse
They even gave voice to the horrors of the Armenian Genocide in true eclectic fashion
Hailing from sweet and peaceful Denmark, Mercyful Fate dug into the darker side of life with lyrics about Satanism, occultism, and hermetic traditions
They are considered to be part of the first wave of black metal in the early 1980s, but their sound also borrowed motifs from the progressive tradition
While they don’t garner a lot of praise in the mainstream world, those who know know and bands from Slayer to Metallica have cited them as influences, or covered their tracks
King Diamond
The pseudonym of Danish rocker Kim Bendix Peterson (former vocalist for Mercyful Fate), King Diamond is the venue for all of his most theatrical and outrageous tendencies
He has a cult following due to his concept horror albums
His falsetto and the unusual intonation of his voice have made him a stand-alone figure in the metal world, and he stands as something of a free, flamboyant bird within the community
An extreme metal band hailing from the British heart of rock, Liverpool, Carcass were as far from their fellows The Beatles as is humanly possible
They were full morbid, with all the gore and excess and carnage implicit in the genre
Interestingly enough, two of the key members are vegetarians and their lyrics often feature animal rights themes
The metal world never fails to surprise, does it?
Give their melodic death metal album Heartwork (1993) a listen for an enriching, vitalizing experience
Just what you would expect a Florida death metal band formed in 1983 to look like, Morbid Angel has all the dark, sulky glam that defined the genre as it came into its own in the eighties
Their sound was atmospheric, frequently up-tempo, and vividly vocal
They were one of the first heavy metal acts to gain critical success
Their themes are an occult historian’s holy grail: Sumerican lore, barbarism, satanism, and anti-clericalism
Florida rockers Deicide have produced 12 studio albums throughout their dynamic careers, and are no strangers to controversy, the ultimate bedfellow for any death metal band
Their Satanic, anti-Christian lyrics have drawn lawsuits and uproar from religious authorities
They take it in stride, incorporating the vitriol into their staunchly anti-clerical themes and doubling down on Satanic references
Norwegian black metal as cold and icy as a Nordic winter?
Foundational to the development of the subgenre, and one of the heavyweights in Scandinavian metal more generally, their career has been absolutely saturated with controversy
In 1993 their guitarist was killed by another former band member – yikes
That just about sums up the dark, brooding, morbid themes and aesthetics that the band engaged with throughout their careers
Sorry to be trite, but here’s another California metal band that got their start in that hallowed time – the late 70s and early 80s
Thrash was the name of the game and no surprise, Exodus was all thrash with their frenetic pace and frenzied chords
Many consider them the oft-neglected fifth wheel of thrash metal’s “Big Four”
Some even see them as the stylistic mavericks and innovators of the form
British act Venom came of age musically during the tailend of the new wave of British heavy metal in the late 70s
Call them thrash, speed, or black metal – one thing is undisputed: they were heavyweights that had an inordinate impact on the bands that followed, particularly within the pagan-tinged Nordic black metal scene
They have a campy, cult following and punk legend Henry Rollins of Black Flag fame compared them to fictional glam band Spinal Tap
German thrash metal – the phrase puts fear into the hearts of pop lovers everywhere
Throbbing, industrial strength drums and relentless, full-force chords drive the tightly-constructed, compulsive pace of Kreator’s music
Animalistic, sinister vocals ensure that only true metal fans will be drawn to their sound, which is certainly not for the casual listener
With titles like “Satan is Real” and “Violent Revolution” you can taste the intransigence that powers their ethos
Burzum is the music project of Varg Vikernes, who as you may not know, was the murderer of his former Mayhem bandmate Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth, mentioned above
While in prison, he recorded two dark ambient albums using only synthesizers
Upon release he began to produce fuzzy, atmospheric dark metal with elements of pagan mythology and neofolk
Burzum means “darkness” in Tolkien’s fictional black speech, and that’s a pretty apt name for the spooky, haunting, cerebral fare of this former convict
A Swedish classic black metal band that carries on the unsettling, sinister tradition of Nordic darkness
Their fifth album Hammerheart (1990) is considered the world’s first viking metal album – a genre you probably didn’t know you needed
Their sound combines ambient lullaby passages with primal roars, growls, and droning guitars
A crossover thrash metal band with a name to kill, Municipal Waste do their home state, Virginia, proud
With elements of basement punk, reckless posturing, and tightly constructed instrumental arrangements, their sound is like a raunchy punch to the gut
Guitars that would make Eddie Van Halen proud pierce the frenetic soundscape and keep the listener ever-ready for an epic musical climax
Songs like “Sadistic Magician” even bring to mind the early underground days of acts like Black Flag – it is epic and compulsive fare
Swedish extreme metal found its form in spooky, intimidating, and industrial Meshuggah
These were some unsavory looking characters, and they soon drew a cult following around themselves
Their technical death metal is nothing if not complex, and even academic, in its polyrhythmic structure and off-beat insertions
They’ve incorporated groove, jazz-fusion, and progressive conventions into their sound as well
A doom and stoner metal band from California – quelle surprise!
I mean, their third album was called Dopesmoker
Down-tuned, languid guitar and hypnotic instrumentals keep their sound spaced out and unconventional
The distorted vocals often disappear behind a steady wall of nonchalant drums and steady guitars
Psychedelic tones and cannabis-inspired lyrical excursions have made Sleep something of a, well, sleeper hit, in their respective circles
How could we disregard the heavily criticized black sheep of the metal world, Swiss act Hellhammer?
They’ve become something of a parody and their style and sound were pilloried during their short tenure
Two of their members went on to found successful band Celtic Frost, but Hellhammer can’t be discounted completely
They influenced black metal, despite being accursed outcasts of the genre
If you like low budget, you’ll love the bizarre, raw legacy of Hellhammer
Best Metal Bands – Final Thoughts
Feeling dark, moody, and ready to lock yourself in the basement and imbibe in all the thrilling tangents that heavy metal has to offer?
Go enjoy the full spectrum of metal and get into the best bands the genre has produced – you’ll be the better for it
Best Heavy Metal Songs