Grammys 2026: Who Will Take Home Best Metal Performance?
The Grammys are upon us in just a few days, and with all the excitement it brings, some people are anxiously awaiting a specific category: Best Metal Performance. Started in 1989, the Hard Rock/Metal category (this is for vocal or instrumental) combined the two genres, but this led to criticism and controversy within the Recording Academy. Between combining Metal and Hard Rock, then splitting them again (as they should be), we now have contenders who generally are heavy enough to be considered metal.
The Grammy Nominees for Best Metal Performance
This year has been slightly less controversial within the industry, as we have five talented bands. The songs nominated fall within the genre either because of drop tuning and/or the musical cadences within the work. The award is presented to the performing artist, then the songwriter, producer, and engineer can later apply for a Grammy Winners Certificate.
“Night Terror” by Dream Theater
Dream Theater’s album, Parasomnia, marks the return of the prodigal drummer, Mike Portnoy. The 10-minute-long song, “Night Terror,” is a perfect example of transcendental music, blending the four instruments played by some of the most talented players in the industry.
James LaBrie’s vocals don’t start until about two and a half minutes into the song. Guitarist John Petrucci and drummer Portnoy play off each other, almost flirting with the haunting and driven composition. Also noteworthy is a guitar solo around the seven-minute mark.
“Lachryma” by Ghost
Ghost’s sixth album, Skeletá, produced a few commercial hits, with “Satanized” receiving the most airplay. It’s not that surprising, as the group is known for their “Devil-worshipping proclivities” (not really), but Ghost has had some controversy surrounding them. What metal band worth its rock salt hasn’t?
“Lachryma” is a five-minute ride into moody gothic music, with dual trailing guitars that sound, at times, almost symphonic. If their song “Satanized” is poking fun, “Lachryma” is an excellent introspection of loss and mystery. Now, if we could just figure out who else is behind those masks – besides Tobias Forge.
“Emergence” by Sleep Token
Another group that is masked and who remain anonymous has been nominated. British band Sleep Token took the scene by storm in 2019 with their initial release of the album, Sundowning. Vessel, the band leader, and other members (II, III, and IV) carefully cloak their real identities on and off stage.
“Emergence” is likely the most ambient song in this array of nominees. Combining multiple genres, the song starts off dimly with piano, then mixes jazz, djent, electronica, and full escapades of heavy guitar riffs. Like this enigmatic band, “Emergence” is hard to classify – and that might be the draw for the Grammys.
“Soft Spine” by Spiritbox
From the ashes of Iwrestledabearonce came Spiritbox – and we’re glad they arrived. This Canadian heavy metal band, fronted by Courtney LaPlante, has released two albums and dominated the metal scene since late 2017. “Soft Spine,” the first single from the 2025 album Tsunami Sea, perfectly demonstrates why listeners need to take note of this band.
LaPlante’s growling vocals, Mike Stringer’s soaring guitar, along with a fully fleshed-out rhythm section, provide a unique sound for “Soft Spine.” This is a solid contender for Grammys best metal performance.
“Birds” by Turnstile
One of the hardest working bands, Turnstile, checks the boxes for punk, hardcore, and old school thrash. Vocals, drums, and bass dominate until the guitar kicks in. Their song “Never Enough” is also up for the 2026 Grammys Best Rock Performance. (Interestingly, Sleep Token is a double dipper, too, with “Caramel” as another nomination in the rock category.)
“Birds” hits hard coming out of the gate – with heavy riffs, speed drums, and vocals that echo back to 90s garage band days. It will be interesting to see if this could translate to a potential Grammy win.
Who has the Best Metal Performance?
Because the bands this year reflect multiple genres, it’s difficult to make predictions in terms of who will score the Grammy. Technical bands like Dream Theater would normally win hands down, but with other bands performing that have different styles and energy, the competition is going to be fierce.
Tune In Live!
To find out who will triumph in attaining the gold phonograph, tune in on Sunday, Feb. 1, on CBS. It also streams on Paramount+. It starts at 8 pm and runs until 11:30 pm EST.
