Many people do not know this about me. Right after college I accepted a dream position as a publicist for some of the most well respected and hardcore metal bands of all time. Opportunities arose where meeting legends in the metal music community became my reality. It is an experience I will never forget and I am lucky to say I was able to be “backstage” and be a part of a movement that will never die out! This Insider List is dedicated to who I think is deserving of the Top 10 Best Metal Bands of all time.
( Let the arguing and backlash begin. I can take it…)
#1 Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music.
#2 Iron Maiden
Despite little radio or television support, Iron Maiden are considered one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history, with The New York Times reporting in 2010 that they have sold over 85 million records worldwide
#3 Metallica
Metallica has released nine studio albums, four live albums, five extended plays, 26 music videos, and 37 singles. The band has won nine Grammy Awards and five of its albums have consecutively debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Metallica ranks as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time having sold over 110 million records worldwide and many may argue the should be number one spot. Metallica has been listed as one of the greatest artists of all time by many magazines, including Rolling Stone Magazine, which ranked them 61st on its list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
#4 Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in England in 1969.Known for twin lead guitars, a wide operatic vocal style, and for introducing the S&M leather-and-studs look into heavy metal, they have sold over 45 million albums worldwide. The band is widely recognized as one of the finest and most original heavy metal bands of all time, with many artists within the genre having cited them as a major influence. MTV ranked them the second “Greatest Metal Band” of all time.
#5 Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash band formed in 1981. Slayer rose to fame with its 1986 release Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the “Big Four” thrash metal bands, along with Metallica, Megadeath, and Anthrax, as well as a pioneer of the thrash metal sub-genre of heavy metal. Between 1991 and 2004, the band sold more than 3.5 million albums in the United States.
#6 Pantera
While being a heavy metal band, Pantera’s style was frequenting between groove metal, thrash metal and alternative metal,and their early material has been described as glam metal. They also have been influential to the development of nu metal, metalcore, and several other movements.They have also been called one of the pioneers of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Popmatters has claimed that, “Darrell Abbott’s influence on the entire genre of heavy metal is massive; after Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power, every notable young American metal band since has, in some way or another, copied their guitar style from those records: Korn, Limp Bizkit, Slipknot, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Shadows Fall… the list is endless.”[
#7 Lamb of God
Lamb of God (sometimes abbreviated as LoG) is an American groove metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994 (as Burn the Priest), the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler. The band is considered a significant member of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement.
#8 Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine’s dismissal from Metallica. A pioneer of the American thrash metal scene, the band is credited as one of the genre’s “big four” with Anthrax, Metallica and Slayer, responsible for thrash metal’s development and popularization. Megadeth plays in a technical style, featuring fast rhythm sections and complex arrangements; themes of death, war, politics and religion are prominent in the group’s lyrics.
#9 Machine Head
Machine Head is an American metal band from Oakland, California.[Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by vocalist and guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn, drummer Dave McClain, guitarist Phil Demmel, and bassist Jared MacEachern. Machine Head is one of the pioneering bands in the New Wave of American Heavy Metal.
#10 Anthrax
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The group was considered one of the leaders of the thrash metal scene during the 1980s.
*Honorable Mention*
This list is influenced by all those bands out there living the rock star life. Talent and ambition often starts with a group of friends in someone’s basement or garage… but you never know, one day you could be labeled a trail blazer in metal and a non-stop force of musical geniuses!
AFC is a high energy metal band with extremely melodic roots. Formed in 2004 and disbanded in 2006; Now reformed in 2014 with the complete original lineup.
