Best Metal Bands of All Time

The best metal bands of all-time. Don't agree with the list? Place your vote or if you are a logged in, add a new item for others to vote on.

Vote for Metallica 1) Metallica

“The obvious choice.”

HALOOOOOOOO

“Metallica has changed my life. The are one of the greatest Metal bands of all time. Next to Black Sabbath.”

gibsonrock53

“metallica is the only metal band that has the absolutle BEST song of each metal category:

Balad: Fade to Black
Brutal Thrasher: Fight fire with fire
Epic: Ride the lightning

slayer and megadeth can’t compare.. I’m sorry. Metallica is #1 and always will be.”

uZi91

read more comments on Metallica

Vote for X Japan 2) X Japan

“X-japan is truly amazing and there so good they would be at the top if they were from America or something but there not and I like the japanese and english singing X rock.”

TD17

“People keep asking who X Japan is... X Japan is Japanese metal at its finest! And I’m glad it and Judas Priest topped Iron Maiden... Iron Maiden sucks...”

irish400

“The best of all..
Forever love.”

gziffra

read more comments on X Japan

Vote for Iron Maiden 3) Iron Maiden

“RUN TO THE HILLS this song saved metal when punk was about to take over there would not be a mettalica without iron maiden and they actually put some thought in the lyrics and write them themselves
”

thepainkiller

“These guys are the best better than Metallica and X-Japan”

rockisgood

“UP THE IRONS!”

IronMaiden

read more comments on Iron Maiden

Vote for Judas Priest 4) Judas Priest

“Please tell me why Judas Priest is notnumberone... I mean tht voice is like WAy out there.. NO DUPLICATIONS! I mean I may only be 17 but I know JUDAS PRIEST was the BEST!”

Asianavynuke

“Best and most influent metal band ever.”

Farctow

“...Gods of metal... Look up the definition for god if you still think metallica is better. Just because Metallica has "metal" in their name doesnt mean they’re the best.”

jewunit69

read more comments on Judas Priest

Vote for Avenged Sevenfold 5) Avenged Sevenfold

“awesome”

moose4life19

“One the best drummers ever and one of the best guitarists ever. Awesome”

RossMcC

“All I have I say is: HELL YES. Between Synyster’s nasty solos and Great vocals and drums, they are truely the greatest of the MODERN DAY. Metallica or Black Sabbath deserve to be at the top, but I like A7X the best.

P. S. Why in the world is three days grace on this list? They’re a POP band! And better yet, why are they at number 35, past AC/DC?”

TakinUrDignity

read more comments on Avenged Sevenfold

Vote for Slipknot 6) Slipknot

“Slipknot rule all. They might not be the best. But at least the Top 5! Slipknot rule!

And All Hope Is Not Gone. Not yet :)”

dharmiisha

“them and koRn should be no 1 and 2

listen to slipknots drummer freakin wicked man”

yobro

“slipknot should be up above number five atleast. my opinion.”

read more comments on Slipknot

Vote for Accept 7) Accept

“They are invencible on stage, their sound is amazing, their set list is perfect, and the performing is awesome. Shall be at the top behind Judas Priest.”

“The best German Metal ever existed.”

Vote for Megadeth 8) Megadeth

“Mustaine is ten times better than Kirk”

ciacrossfire121

“Megadeth is better than the guys who are at 1.
That is all.”

Jason-Scott

“MEGADETH can own any other metal band”

metal4ever

read more comments on Megadeth

Vote for Pantera 9) Pantera

“Pantera should be in 2nd!

How the heck did A7X get there?”

EvilDomo

“Pantera rocks Cowboys from Hell was just pure metal amen”

Vote for Disturbed 10) Disturbed

“with draimans explosivness
and dan donegans insane guitar work they are just such a force! I am just infected by there music it is just insprational”

markojosh

“They are the revolition of metal.”

klausmeine

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Choices Not In The Top Ten

Vote for Black Sabbath 11) Black Sabbath

“Black Sabbath are the reason metal exists. LISTEN TO WAR PIGS. Korn isn’t even metal anyway, and A7X have are great to listen to, for a poser. The true top ten
1. Black Sabbath
2. Metallica
3. Pantera
4. Slayer
5. Ozzy
6. Megadeth
7. Testament
8. Lamb of God
9. Iron Maiden
10. Children of Bodom”

what

“These guys invented metal, Without them, none of the greatest metal bands of all time would even exist”

UFasten8Me

“X japan? judas priest? are you kidding me?
only retards would vote for them
black sabbath invented metal and without black sabbath any of these bands would have made it.
why is the world filled with retards?
im sick of you

by the way:

XJAPAN SUCKS”

metfan001

» more comments on Black Sabbath

Vote for Dream Theater 12) Dream Theater

“Should be WAY past XJapan and AVenged Sevenfold”

sanzeron

“the glass prison, thats all i have 2 say”

Vote for KoRn 13) KoRn

“feeling like a FREAK ON A LEASH”

Gamenerd78

“Avenged Sevenfold is Mickey Mouse... KoRn rocks dude...”

Overdose

“Not only influenced a new generation, but also their inspirations.”

Zahveed

» more comments on KoRn

Vote for System of a Down 14) System of a Down

“The best Rythme for songs with best Guitarist Ever, Daron Malakian. The BEST”

daronboy

“what system of a down is behind slipknot what is the worlds coming to”

Gamenerd78

“A7x, disturbed, and korn are ahead of SOAD!? SOAD is the best band ever”

Flying_spidermonkey

» more comments on System of a Down

Vote for Slayer 15) Slayer

“Slayer 14 and Xjapan And Slipknot and avenged sevenfold are in front of the gods of metal, truly bs”

copkiller

“Kerry King is a tank, best song- bloodline”

Vote for Children Of Bodom 16) Children Of Bodom

“Great guitar, vocals, drums, and even piano!”

josh49080

“o come on! children of bodom is the best!”

alexi_laiho

Vote for Bullet For My Valentine 17) Bullet For My Valentine

“YOU ALL WHO DIDNT VOTE FOR BFMV PLEASE! LISTEN TO Tears Don’t Fall”

Edywn

“BFMV ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!”

bde111223344

“better than A7X not the best ever just best modern”

cahum

Vote for Guns N Roses 18) Guns N Roses

“guns n roses are better than 1-17 bands”

ronluna

“most talented band as they only released 3 albums. Had the most high-profile songs of any metal band”

Vote for Linkin Park 19) Linkin Park

“ARE you joking... korn slipknoot van halen etc etc above LP... crazy stuff... Lp is d grestest band... should be up there with Metallica.”

Lpfan

Vote for Tool 20) Tool

“Bringing musical thought back to music.”

snufftherooster

“Linkin Park and BFMV better than Tool? what’s wrong with you people!”

Baseline

Vote for D'erlanger 21) D'erlanger

“heavier than x-japan”

ronluna

“they are not truly metal unlike metallica but their sound is like metal and heavy”

ronluna

Vote for Lamb Of God 22) Lamb Of God

“Lamb Of God should be in the top 5.”

Reaper921

Vote for Dragonforce 23) Dragonforce

“Herman Li and Sam Totman make Dragonforce the best metal band ever in my opinion.”

Sheevemasta

Vote for Dir en grey 24) Dir en grey

Vote for Three Days Grace 25) Three Days Grace

Vote for Ozzy Osbourne 26) Ozzy Osbourne

“How is ozzy only 29 th behind linkin park and dragonforce. He is the prince of freekin darkness and the king of metal. At least number 5!”

RossMcC

“Man ozzy should be higher than this. Without him none of these guy’s on the countdown would even be here. And he can still rock hard!”

JXJ

Vote for Seo Taiji 27) Seo Taiji

Vote for In Flames 28) In Flames

“hard metal at its best”

Vote for Van Halen 29) Van Halen

“i absolutley love van halen. they are amazing. i also have been a fan of korn for over 3 years, but why is van halen lower? their a classic.”

Vote for Motörhead 30) Motörhead

Vote for Dead to Fall 31) Dead to Fall

Vote for Slapshock 32) Slapshock

“Make that the first ever asian band to berform in Desert Rock festival in Dubai.”

aeromaxx777

“They are the only Philippine band who performed with Korn. Let’s see if "Bamboo" band can do that.”

aeromaxx777

“One of the best on my opinion...
”

Vote for Dio 33) Dio

Vote for Rammstein 34) Rammstein

“BEST GERMAN BAND EVER!”

Vote for AC/DC 35) AC/DC

Vote for Manowar 36) Manowar

“THE TRUE KINGS OF METAL THEY NEED TO BE HIGHER! HAIL TO THEM!”

cindilicious2009

“How a band like Manowar isn’t here? Who the hell are x-japan or Avenged sevenfold? Manowar are the kings of metal.”

Vote for Opeth 37) Opeth

“Amazing band. The first time I heard Blackwater Park I was blown away.”

Vote for KISS 38) KISS

Vote for Sodom 39) Sodom

Vote for As I Lay Dying 40) As I Lay Dying

Vote for Sepultura 41) Sepultura

Vote for Motley Crue 42) Motley Crue

“they invented the sex drugs rock and roll lifestyle were the hell are they they are way better than avenged sevenfold, slipknot, and all that nu-metal crap”

“The best band ever. PERIOD.”

Vote for Machine Head 43) Machine Head

“Awesome vocals. Awesome instrumental. Awesome band!”

Vote for Trivium 44) Trivium

Vote for Rage Against the Machine 45) Rage Against the Machine

“morrello revolutionised guitar effects

and the riff were ledgendary

top 10,at least”

Vote for Enslaved 46) Enslaved

Vote for Testament 47) Testament

Vote for Behemoth 48) Behemoth

“unbeatable”

Vote for Mudvayne 49) Mudvayne

Vote for Nirvana 50) Nirvana

Vote for Five Finger Death Punch 51) Five Finger Death Punch

“They round out the top ten because they are of the best new metal bands I have ever heard, only in competition with Lamb of God.”

Vote for Killswitch Engage 52) Killswitch Engage

“All the bands in the top ten arnt even metal. metallica is the most overrated band ever. Metallica and Killswitch Engage should be switched.”

xDisturbedx

Vote for Atreyu 53) Atreyu

Vote for Rhapsody (Rhapsody of Fire) 54) Rhapsody (Rhapsody of Fire)

Vote for Anthrax 55) Anthrax

Vote for Led Zeppelin 56) Led Zeppelin

“Yes I know, led zep is about as metal as bon jovi. but they influenced it so much that I had to include it in this list. jimmy page is one of the greatest players of all time.”

“you have to be kidding me since when is avenged sevenfold better than possibly one of the best bands of all time Led Zeppelin”

Vote for Dethklok 57) Dethklok

Vote for GWAR 58) GWAR

Vote for Blue Oyster Cult 59) Blue Oyster Cult

“Most underrated metal band ever.”

AlbertMond

“Can’t believe they haven’t even made it onto the list yet!”

Vote for Death 60) Death

Vote for Emperor 61) Emperor

“A black metal classic.”

Vote for Meshuggah 62) Meshuggah

“Just listen”

Vote for A Static Lullaby 63) A Static Lullaby

“hello? best band ever ~ just listen to them~”

bde111223344

Vote for Maximum The Hormone 64) Maximum The Hormone

Vote for Bridgefallen Prophecy 65) Bridgefallen Prophecy

Vote for Exodus 66) Exodus

Vote for Down 67) Down

“Holy crap slipknot and linkin park on the list but no Down.
Nola is amazing.”

Vote for Morbid Angel 68) Morbid Angel

Vote for Alice in Chains 69) Alice in Chains

“These guys were not a grunge band. Jerrys riffs were pure metal!”

Vote for Dead End 70) Dead End

“the 80s legendary japanese influential metal band dead end has returned”

ronluna

Vote for Cannibal Corpse 71) Cannibal Corpse

Vote for Heaven & Hell 72) Heaven & Hell

Vote for Red Hot Chili Peppers 73) Red Hot Chili Peppers

Vote for Wintersun 74) Wintersun

Vote for Exhorder 75) Exhorder

Vote for Kreator 76) Kreator

Vote for S.O.D. 77) S.O.D.

Vote for Soulfly 78) Soulfly

Vote for Suicidal Tendencies 79) Suicidal Tendencies

Vote for Annihilator 80) Annihilator

Vote for Atheist 81) Atheist

Vote for Earthshaker 82) Earthshaker

Vote for Loudness 83) Loudness

“one of the greatest metal bands in japan like DEAD END, GASTUNK, 44MAGNUM, THE STALIN, etc”

Vote for Gastunk 84) Gastunk

Vote for 44 Magnum 85) 44 Magnum

Vote for Anthem 86) Anthem

Vote for Black Label Society 87) Black Label Society

“black label society is the metal band to end all metal bands. they are so awesome! I personally think that they picked up where black sabbath left off. and besides, zakk wylde is one of the best guitarists ever. his work with ozzy is amazing!”