This is a list of the most influential metal bands. If it were the best bands list, it would be very different. All bands here deserve props for what they did and should never be forgotten through the music made today. Narrowing down the selections was difficult and I almost feel like I cheated Metallica, but I think if they had stayed true to their original sound, they would have had a much greater impact.
Napalm Death are the creators of grindcore. On top of that they influenced all sorts of death and doom metal bands around their time. They have had great members in their band, some of whom found success over the years in bands like Cathedral and Carcass.
Death was one of the original death metal bands. Late guitarist Chuck Schuldiner was often considered the “Father of Death Metal.” It is no surprise that they paved the way for bands like Cannibal Corpse and Napalm Death.
Slayer is one of the big four that founded thrash metal along with Metallica, Anthrax and Megadeth. Other bands even created the genre speed metal around Slayer. With insane riffs and songs like Raining Blood, Seasons in the Abyss, Angel of Death, and Black Magic, it is obvious why they are on the list.
Manowar are power metal. Often singing about fantasy and looking the part of the warriors they claim to be. You can see lyrical similarities with current day power metal bands such as Blind Guardian, Hammerfall, and Dragonforce.
Celtic Frost is an incredibly influential gothic metal band. It is hard to say that they aren’t influential considering all of the covers of their songs that bands have done. They helped create that gloomy sound that metal has become so accustomed to.
Another founder of death/black metal. They directly influenced Slayer and bands of that ilk. They were not afraid to depict Satan in their music and that helped contribute to their fame. Although not a widely known band, their sound and depictions of religion are seen throughout metal today.
The Ace of Spades, Overkill, and Bomber. Need I say more? Lemmy’s gritty vocals and wild bass playing were unheard of at the time. It is very hard to say that Motorhead did not impact the world of metal.
The NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) has by far the greatest impact and was the start of metal. Iron Maiden helped lead the pack with wailing vocals, catchy and memorable songs and also helped led the way for power metal with its lyrical content. Still going strong today, any band looking for influence cannot cancel out Iron Maiden.
Another band out of the NWOBHM, they started with two guitarists in the band and high pitched vocals. Songs like Painkiller, You’ve got another thing comin’, and Breaking the Law have become timeless classics. Judas Priest is arguably one of the best bands to ever sport metal as their genre.
As soon as you read the topic I’m sure you knew that this would be the number one. The very first metal band, it’s only fair to give them the top spot. They started everything. You hear a riff or sound a guitar makes, it evolved from Black Sabbath. Thrash sounds are apparent in Symptom of the Universe and epic tones are present in Iron Man and War Pigs. The lyrical ideals of Geezer Butler were amazing and opened the eyes of the people.
Contributor: Vakattack91
Any takers for the Metal Band, ANVIL ????
***** man where is METALLICA
Top 10 Most Influential Metal Bands of All Time to quicken the downfall of society. It's all crap! Murder, death, Satan–oh! But he doesn't exist, there's not really a hell (remeber the line: "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing mankind he doesn't exist"?!)– witchcraft, hate, suicide, rape, deomons, posession, etc., etc. Let's turn on the music, blast it real loud, get stoned, play some graphically violent video games where we can rip someone's guts out with our bare hands and rape a few girls, tell our parents "f*ck you!" (and they think it's OK, of course, this is mom's third husband and he doesn't get involved, we don't know where dad is–maybe in the joint somewhere, or dead), then… Go meet our girlfriend and take her to the abortion clinic after which we agreed we'd both go get tested for STDs.
"And I think to myself… What a wonderful world." – Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World
Wow, and all that because of metal. your comments are so ridiculous. It looks that you never have heard metal music.
I like both Black Sabbath and Louis Armstrong.
Wow, are you for real. I listen to metal all the time, and most have passionate lyrics that have deep meaning. Take Megadeth for example, Dave’s earlier songs were about politcal reform and conspiracy theories. Yes, there were songs songs about drug use, but mostly about the down side of drug abuse. If you take the time to listen to the lyrics and figure out the meaning of some of the more figuative language, metal is full of some very intelligent bands. I just used one example.
BTW, I am a professional, and have never done drugs in my life. My parents were together until they died. Please think before you spout off about stereotypes.
Thank you
To Walter, Bob, and others:
"Ever since I was 12 years old I had to defend my love for heavy metal against those who say it's a less valid form of music. My answer now is that you either feel it or you don't. If metal doesn't give that overwhelming surge of power that make the hair stand up at the back of your neck, you might never get it, and you know what? That's okay, because judging by the 40,000 metalheads around me we're doing just fine without you. " -Sam Dunn, from "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey".
Thank you for the list, vakattack. What a great way to start my morning. And thanks for including Iron Maiden..I'm even more stoked now to see Bruce tear up the stage Sunday night.
he says that at the end and then master of puppets begins :p saw that movie a hundred times xd
AC/DC and Metallica sucks.
List need Blind Guardian, best power metal band.
Nice list, just the type of list I wanted for my Birthday.
Motorhead rules
First! yeah Metallica would have been an addition if they hadn’t turned pop
But then again they still sell seats AND records…so money makes the world go round… 
But they sold out…
In a 1986 interview, Cliff Burton said this about whether the band had “sold out” because they joined a major record label, “we still make music. we do what we want. If you consider that selling out then…whatever.” Of course, that was when they still made good music. I like to pretend St. Anger, Load, ReLoad, and Death Magnetic had never happened.
Very decent list, the only omission I can think of is Satan himself, the purest metal influence (and drugs and getting laid of course).
your r sick and u need some rest.
I don’t really like metal all that much, but I Black Sabbath is pretty good.
Interesting list… although the fact that Metallica changed their sound later in their career in no way diminishes the lasting impact that their first 3 albums had and continues to have. To exclude them simply because they didn’t stay the same seems unfair. “Kill ‘Em All”, “Ride the Lightning” and “Master of Puppets” are 3 of the most influential metal albums ever produced- they still influence countless bands today.
And, um, Manowar?? Really? The album cover for “Anthology” should automatically exclude them from being taken seriously.
I don’t really like metal all that much, but Black Sabbath is pretty good.
great list
What about DIO? Should deserve an honourable mention at least.
Metal isn’t really my thing, so I’m pretty surprised that I actually recognize a few of these bands: Black Sabbath I’ve listened to, and I’ve at least heard of a few others.
Great list! HUGE fan of Maiden here, it’s good to see them up where they deserve, you can hear their influence in so many bands these days. I agree on Sabbath, they’re the only natural choice for the #1 spot.
“Generals gathered in their masseeeeeeeees…”
I’ll have to go check out some of the bands further up the list, the only band I listen to from 5 upwards is Slayer, who I also love.
If you’d continued your quote from War Pigs, we’d find that Ozzy rhymes “masses” with “masses”.
Yes, but, it’s Ozzy, and as such, it can be forgiven.
I think I would include Metallica on the list based on the first several albums. They took what most of the bands on this list did one step further & really broke metal through to the mainstream, for better or worse.
I’d also include Neurosis and/or Godflesh, who paved the way for Isis, Tool, Pelican, etc…
And maybe even Corrosion of Conformity, who have been around forever. Good list though I don’t expect too many comments other than “I hate metal.”
Slayer is the *****! Motorhead rules! I heart Lemmy
And Black Sabbath is indeed awesome! Freakin cool list, man.
Thanks for the support of the list. Keep it metal guys!
I agree. Leaving off Metallica and including Manowar was probably a big mistake. Metallica is one of the most influential metak bands ever. Just because Load/Reload/St. Anger kind of blew doesn’t diminish the fact that after Master of Puppets, just about every metal band was trying to be Metallica. Also, I don’t think it is fair to say that Black Sabbath coined the first heavy metal riffs. Actually, Led Zeppelin was doing their thing about 2-3 years before the band we know as “Black Sabbath” appeared on the scene (before then, they were a heavy rock group known as “Earth”), and many musicologists recognize Led Zeppelin as the first true heavy metal band. Essentially, Black Sabbath took their cues from Jimmy Page and company. So it is a mischaracterization to say that they invented it all. Not true. They lifted most of it from Led Zeppelin and developed their own style from there.
edit: “…one of the most influential *metal* bands ever…”
Testament
Testament is way better than Slayer.
Slayer sucks, so does *****allica
Why the monitoring? Did I say something wrong in my comment? No bad words, wrong grammar, politically incorrect statement there, not even a period out of place (I think). That’s sad when an individual can’t express his/her opinion freely.
hehe, funny how times change… I’m pretty sure you can find Black Sabbath in the easy listning section of the music store now.
Funny, I was just thinking about this type of music yesterday and wondering what on earth could be the aesthetic appeal of it. What is it in this genre that delights? Maybe it’s the savage screaming? The dissonant chords? The screeching? Sounds like I’m describing two cats fighting, doesn’t it? Funny thing that. . .
This list is great! I love all these bands. Thank you so much for adding Manowar to the list. They are often overlooked in the states. I saw them in Atlanta a couple of years ago! Amazing performance. They are true to themselves and don’t give a @#%& if people care. Eric Adams also has a beautiful voice. Nessun Dorma anyone?
jin-
comments claiming ‘first’ are kicked into moderation.
Bob: the typical views of someone who has had a very limited exposure to metal. Have you actually ever listened to Sabbath or Maiden? Not a scream or a screach in sight.
I was wondering when overused stereotypes were going to be brought out, I’m surprised actually it took until comment 18.
Do some research and actually LISTEN to the music before you start spouting crap like that.
Great List, but come on… Manowar and not Metallica? Two words… COME ON… id rather see Motley Crue that Manowar, (not that i think Motley Crue shouldn’t be on this list). It should have been a top 20 or even 15 and included Metallica, Motley Crue, Zeppelin, Pantera and Dio
You have Celtic Frost and Manowar but no Dream Theatre? Hmmm…
CleverMel: Dream Theatre are prog, not metal
Not a metal fan but stil entertaining.
Didnt you all know that Dio was with Black Sabbath before his solo project? With that said, Dio was not left out of this list. Its all of Black Sabbath, not just Sabbath with Ozzy.
Happy Birthday, Card!
I always thought Satan was more ‘Elevator Music’ than metal… soothing, deceptive, manipulating…
Manowar only works if you’re Portuguese.
I only lose my voice after the first 5 or 6 heavy bellowing tunes!
ah Venom. Slayer! Slayer! Reign in Blood is one of the best metal albums of all time. I’ve had the same casette tape running in replay for 20years.
Lemmy! Aw Lemmy! Dontcha luv me?
I still wakeup to Ironman every morning. Air guitar my way into the world
Iron Eddy Rules! I wore my tee until it was in rags..then I wore it some more.
jesus christ….gayest list ever.
except, of course, for Motorhead. Lemmy a fiver!
walter: If you’re going to post a comment like that, why don’t you tell us exactly WHY you think it’s the gayest list?
Slick & dangorironhide-
Thanks for your insight. I will admit that I have been reluctant to listen to many of the bands listed because I just assumed I wouldn’t like it.
Then I see Led Zepplin linked to the origins of Metal, which I had never considered.
I’ll check them out before forming any more opinions
Woohoo for Metal!
I think you nailed it, especially with the top choices.
BUT Metallica is Metallica. Whatever they may have become today, the band defined true metal as it is today during a time when hair metal seemed to be defining the genre *shudder*. They also brought metal into mainstream, which in the end turned up to be a good thing. They’re undoubtedly one of the most influential metal bands; certainly one of the top 10.
Calling Venom a founder of black metal is sort of inaccurate, the name black metal is taken from one of their albums, but the sound and themes of black metal come more from bands like Bathory, Mercyful Fate and Hellhammer.
sorry, ironsides…..didn’t mean to strike a nerve there, pally.
i should’ve written ‘gayest genre ever’. my apologies go out to vakattack or whomever wrote the list.
as far as influence goes…..who did these jackasses influence? other ‘metal up your ass’ groups that wear leather and sing about myth and magic, fairies, satan, and blood? wow…how far reaching.
sure, i liked that music in seventh grade, but then again i also thought kiss wearing make-up was tres cool.
This website is showing its Anti-Canadian bias once againg by not placing RUSH in the top 10
I don’t think Spinal Tap could have made a funnier picture than that Manowar band photo. That shim with the bangs in that pic is pretty rough.
Well hot damn! Another music list where I actually know most of the bands.
I am in agreement with Slick and others – The omission of Metallica is an egregious error.
And where the hell is Deep Purple?
Otherwise great list.
SoCalJeff; Rush is heavy metal? Not in my book.
S_R, were you not hugged as a child?? Looks like your violent imagination is doing just fine without the influence of heavy metal music.
Love the list!! Especially love the fact that Vakattack91 knows the difference between “influential” and “chart-topping” ^_~
\m/
wow. in order to be an influential metal band do you have to have bad hair and a thing for black clothing?
holy crap!!! after seeing people refer to the manowar album cover for anthology i had to go take a look.
how could this have ever been cool?
http://m.blog.hu/kl/klipperium/image/cover-manowar-anthology.jpg
i like to think that my comment on the last “Your view” helped inspire this list. It all seems pretty solid in my books, sure there are other bands that could be on the list, but the ones that are on it certainly deserve it.
DiscHuker; Can you say homo-erotic? They probably dated The Village People.
No Gorgoroth, Mayhem, or ACDC?
where is system of a down, they r really political and have very good music
they only influence each other, nick
Just had to chime in here. First of all, I’ll add my voice to those who say Metallica was very influential, and deserves to be on the list no matter how far they’ve fallen in recent years.
Second, though Led Zeppellin influenced metal bands, I wouldn’t consider them a metal band, as some have suggested. This is a controversial topic, though. Music is hard to categorize.
Third, speaking of categorization, Dream Theater is almost always called progressive metal (not simply progressive rock). There’s a noticeable difference between their sound and bands like Yes and Rush, though they clearly influenced them. Since this list includes speed metal, death metal, British metal, goth metal, and power metal, I think DT falls within the parameters of the list. Whether they’re influential enough or not is worth debating. There’s definitely a shared sound with some later bands, like Symphony X for example.
GREAT LIST!
I saw Iron Maiden a week ago with my brother, they were amazing! great performers. Iron Maiden is my favorite band
Great list, but I would’ve made it a top 15 and added these bands:
Possessed – also one of the pioneers of Death metal with many crediting Seven Churches as the first Death Metal album not Death’s Scream Bloody Gore.
Emperor – Black Metal at it’s finest.
Mercyful Fate\King Diamond – few bands that haven’t been influenced by them, from Black to even Power metal.
Alice Cooper – If Alice Cooper didn’t bring his evil persona on stage, metal would never be the same.
Dio – Need I say more about the godfather of Power metal?
Good list! I like almost all these bands.
Manowar is a very rocking band if you don’t take them too seriously. Plus it has Ross The Boss as guitar player who was also in The Dictators, a band many people consider to be the first punk rock group.
Mom424 -
nothing wrong w/ homo-erotic.
‘hair’ bands, glam-rock, ‘boy’ bands, over compensating goth/metal/death/whatevah…its all good..when its attractive young men thrashing about in tight pants.
without Tool, this list is fail. I am disappointed.
I Agree Cyn, Besides with those bods they deserve to show them off!!!!
Great List. Long live Metal.
A few points – I think having both Venom and Celtic Frost is a bit redundant. I also would have included Pantera instead of Manowar. Metallica probably deserved to be on the list but I like the fact that you left them off.
I would have included Alice in Chains before Tool. Their influence is far more widespread.