Best Heavy Metal Band of all time. (Do people still listen to metal?) (2 Viewers)

[UncleTrvlingJim]

Led Zeppelin certainly inspired heavy metal, but were not a metal band themselves. What they did was light years beyond 'mere' heavy metal. Probably the purest and most innovative rock and roll band ever.

Slight deviation... while I love Led Zeppelin, their "innovation" was really repackaging old blues music into a heavier version. It was great, and did take skill to do so, but I'm not sure I'd call them super innovative for it. I also would have preferred that they gave credit to those blues musicians in advance instead of under duress.

 

[RaginCajun83]

Black Sabbath > Led Zepplin when it comes to heavy metal music

 

[FL_Saint]

I wouldn't classify all these bands as "metal". Some are just "hard rock". And just when you think you have it sorted out, someone comes along to blur the lines, which is how subgenres get created. And the subgenres of each class are almost too much to keep track of. And the names of some of these subgenres....hair metal, glam metal, speed metal, thrash metal, doom metal....are misnomers; as they aren't really "metal", but subgenres of "hard rock". These subgenres tend to describe a bands appearance, moreso than their musical stylings, IMO.

In very broad and general terms, at its basic premise, blues is the basis for hard rock, while classical music is the basis for metal. Generally speaking, hard rock tends to be lighter in nature/content, happier, optimistic...a "celebration" of something; while metal tends to be darker in nature/content, discontented, and somewhat pessimistic. Hard rock tends to be about a "self" experience, while metal tends to be about a larger societal experience or issue. As a result, hard rock musicians place a higher priority on partying and getting laid; while metal musicians place a higher priority on musical talent and instrumental proficiency.

We're painting in very broad strokes here, and there are exceptions to every rule. If the above criteria were a checklist, we're looking for the "overall fit", as very few bands are going to fit 100% entirely within a classification. And it is somewhat objective, subject to individual interpretation. But in my opinion, many of the bands on that list are "hard rock" bands, not metal bands. Here are my outlooks on each listed band:

• Metallica - metal band, no argument whatsoever
• Black Sabbath - a metal band in most respects, but music is blues-based, not classical-based; i'll still give 'em the nod for fitting most other criteria though, which is why they're the fathers of heavy metal, before classical influences defined it
• Guns N Roses - a hard rock band all the way; no metal here
• Pantera - a good blend of hard rock & heavy metal; music is a combo of blues & classical bases; I'd give 'em the nod to metal though
• Sound Garden (I think they are metal) - I can't comment...not really familiar with them
• System of the Down - only heard a few tunes, but what I heard is classical-infused; metal band
• Rush - constantly evolving; no 2 albums sound the same; by definition a "progressive rock" band; not metal
• Led Zeppelin - heavily blues based; the fathers of hard rock genre, not metal
• Anthrax - another solid metal band
• Iron Maiden - a good mix of blues and classical influences, but overall presentation of metal
• Megadeth - a solid metal band with obvious classical nuances in nearly every tune
• Slayer - metal
• Dream Theater - seems to fit most criteria as metal...."progressive metal"; what Rush would sound like if Rush were metal?!
• Judas Priest - often referenced as metal, and embrace the moniker; but a blues-based hard rock band all the way (my favorite on this list, but not metal)
• Ozzy - which version of Ozzy? Rhandy Rhoads era, sure! Jake E. Lee era, maybe. Zakk Wylde era...Zakk is a blues guitarist with classical influences. I guess I'd give him the nod to metal, but his band has constantly shifted & evolved. And Ozzy doesn't write music...or even all his own lyrics. But it's almost always dark. Only Ozzy could take a lovely ballad with Lita Ford and make it about death...."Close Your Eyes Forever"
• ACDC - ain't nothing metal about AC/DC; quintessential hard rock band!

Of course, these are all just my opinion. Subject to interpretation by others, as well!

This a good interpretation. Thanks!

 

[antipop]

Probot.

hands down the best work Grohl has ever done

 

[sfidc3]

Slight deviation... while I love Led Zeppelin, their "innovation" was really repackaging old blues music into a heavier version. It was great, and did take skill to do so, but I'm not sure I'd call them super innovative for it. I also would have preferred that they gave credit to those blues musicians in advance instead of under duress.

Mostly agree here....but they did venture into different styles (even country) on III (which is probably my favorite album)....Also while I do like LZ most blues purists absolutely can't stand them....

LZ and Rush are about as metal as Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins...

DP is a hard rock band, not metal. So they are disqualified (despite the fact that my guitar god has played with them for the last 25+ years)...

My vote for best is Judas Priest, when I hear them I think .....METAL!!!!!

 

[Devildog]

The definition of what is "metal" has definitely changed over the years.

 

[RaginCajun83]

The definition of what is "metal" has definitely changed over the years.

Well yeah it’s all subjective

 

[saintmdterps]

To me this is quintessential heavy metal. Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler at their best



Heaven and Hell also gets a nod, along with Speedy’s Coming and Pictured Life from Scorpions’ Tokyo Tapes, and Motörhead’s Ace of Spades from No Sleep ‘til Hammersmith.

 

[not2rich]

The definition of what is "metal" has definitely changed over the years.

Yeah, we haven't even talked about Lamb of God, Sepultura, slipknot, etc.

Modern metal is light years removed from what we listened to in the 80's.

 

[Goatman Saint]

Not really my favorite style of music, but there is plenty of good metal bands, and songs.

Rollingstone magazine has Metallica at the 1 spot, but are they right?

Readers' Poll: The Top 10 Metal Bands of All Time

Selections include Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Megadeth

www.rollingstone.com

There is.....

Metallica
Black Sabbath
Pantera
Sound Garden (I think they are metal) I think you’re wrong
System of the Down
Anthrax
Iron Maiden
Megadeath
Slayer
Dream Theater
Judas Priest
And whoever I was suppose to mention.


So, who is the best, and why?

Metalheads have more pull in opinions, because they listen to this stuff more. I think I know who are the metal heads on saints report, so let's hear it.

It depends on mood so much. It’s extremely hard to argue against Metallica as at one point they were simply the best.

Pantera and Slayer are right up there

But my personal favorite still has to be Black Sabbath. If there was ever a band that lived it it had to be Sabbath.

I mean Metallica now all look like they would be perfectly happy being grandpas and bbqing burgers on a Sunday afternoon.

Don’t get that impression from Black Sabbath

Now, on a positive note my 4th grade class today is enjoying Ozzy

 

[antipop]

Yeah, we haven't even talked about Lamb of God, Sepultura, slipknot, etc.

Modern metal is light years removed from what we listened to in the 80's.

Clutch could possibly fit in there somewhere since 'metal' is so broad....i wouldn't consider them metal currently but some of their older stuff definitely leans heavily into metal (pun intended)

and since you mentioned Lamb of God, here's their singer performing with Clutch:

 

[44slayer]

When we are talking about metal, Metallica is the Michael Jordan of the genre. You can try to say this band or that band, but its just because Metallica cut their hair in the 90s or you just have a thing for Mustaine. They have no peer as far as success and sheer riff lording.

Sabbath is the godfather. Pantera, GNR and Maiden round out the top 5.

 

[faceman]

Slight deviation... while I love Led Zeppelin, their "innovation" was really repackaging old blues music into a heavier version. It was great, and did take skill to do so, but I'm not sure I'd call them super innovative for it. I also would have preferred that they gave credit to those blues musicians in advance instead of under duress.

Like my friend #3 I pretty much agree. Then came Kashmir.

 

[tenordas]

DP is a hard rock band, not metal. So they are disqualified (despite the fact that my guitar god has played with them for the last 25+ years)...

Sorry to disagree, but you're wrong there.

Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are considered to be the originators of Heavy Metal rock music. Sure, metal has gone through changes over the decades, but you can't suddenly decide one of the two bands that originated the sound creating the rock sub-genre isn't heavy metal anymore.

And I'm in complete agreement with uncletravellingjim's categorization of Zeppelin (except that I can't stand their music at all, and consider Page just a flat out thief).