Horns up! There is nothing like listening to insane guitar riffs, heavy bass, soaring, even growling vocals, and a powerful drum beat. Even better, much of metal music is based on classical theory. Who are the top five metal bands of all time? Unfortunately, there are so many we could include, but only five will take the top spots.
The ranking here is based on a couple factors. First, we considered the staying power of the band; if they’re relevant today. Secondly, we looked at the sheer talent of the musicians. These two elements influenced our decision. It was tough to restrict it to only five metal bands. So it comes down to…
Top 5 Metal Bands of All Time
5. Metallica
With Kirk Hammett on the guitar and James Hetfield doing much of the writing with an ultra-talented rhythm duo, how can this band not be in the top five? Metallica fans are extremely loyal and have seen the band through years of turmoil, drama, and victory. Metallica is also responsible for commercializing much of metal music and bringing it to a wider audience. Therefore, it definitely marks its place in the top 5 metal bands of all time.
4. Iron Maiden
If there ever was a band that could be called pioneers of metal, look no farther than Iron Maiden. Formed in the UK in 1975 the six piece band brought a new sense of composition and heavy, driving music to the scene. Bruce Dickinson‘s operatic vocals are a perfect blend of power and restraint. With deep lyrics, memorable chord progression, and deliciously dark themes, Iron Maiden ranks high as an extraordinary metal band.
3. Pantera
Big things come out of Texas and there are not many bigger bands in the metal realm than Pantera. The Abbott brothers (Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell) started the band in Arlington, Texas, then recruited Rex Brown on bass and Phil Anselmo on vocals. It’s no secret Pantera has had their share of problems. Between addiction and the tragic death of Dimebag in 2004, the band has pressed on. The band has support on tour from Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante on guitar and drums, respectively.
2. Judas Priest
The Rob Halford-fronted band deserves a place here as they have had their share of challenges and triumphs throughout the past 55+ years. Judas Priest has seen a procession of vastly adept musicians who are gifted at both songwriting and performing. Their talent still holds true today. Rob Halford has been called the “Metal God” due to his vocal prowess and six-octave range. Fun fact: this band’s name was inspired from the Bob Dylan song ‘The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest.’
1. Black Sabbath
Our top pick for metal bands of all time is Black Sabbath. They were formed in Birmingham, England in 1968. The current lineup of Black Sabbath has returned full circle to the original iteration. This not only shows staying power, but it attests to the band members’ perseverance. The incredible lineup of Iommi, Butler, Ward, and Ozzy has weathered decades of change and growth.
Although Black Sabbath dealt with lineup changes and tackled many other issues, they have remained true to their sound. They use the diminished fifth interval, also called a tritone, which gives their music an eerie, devilish resonance. Black Sabbath also will frequently tune down, usually to a “drop D.” By the way, remember those devil horns? One of their past lead vocalists, Ronnie James Dio, is credited with popularizing the hand sign!Ozzy
A Few Final Thoughts
That was a little tough, admittedly. There are so many great metal bands that we feel we should name a few honorable mentions. Dave Mustaine’s band, Megadeth should be here, as well as Motörhead. Slayer is certainly an honorable mention. If you’re leaning more towards thrash metal, then Anthrax should be recognized. For prog metal, Dream Theatre and Queensrÿche would be strong contenders. Furthermore, Amorphis and Dimmu Borgir would round out European dark metal.
There are too many talented metal bands who should be listed here, but the list would be at least 10 times as long. Even though we have named our top five metal bands, you might have one or two in mind who hold a special place in your heart – or in your music collection. So, horns up and very happy listening!
