Best Heavy Metal Band of all time. (Do people still listen to metal?) (1 Viewer)

[Devildog]

Foo Fighters

Probot.

After that, Gojira.

 

[Madmarsha]

Oh, and, yes, I still listen to metal. But not ONLY metal and certainly a lot less than in my youth. I was afraid I was going to be forced to listen to only Henry Mancini or Montovani once I hit 50 but no.

 

[boutrous]

If you’re going to have Rush and Zepplin in there, you might as well put 3rd Bass and Waylon Jennings

That being said, the correct answer is Gwar

My friend and I saw GWAR at Tipitinas in December of 1994. I remember getting stared at on the streetcar ride back to my dorm covered head to toe in different colors. It. Was. Awesome!!!!!

It's all very subjective.

I loved mid-80's Metallica, and Slayer too, but I prefer Megadeth's Peace Sells and Rust in Peace to any album by the other two. But at the same time I loved Motley Crue's mid-80's work.

And speaking of Alice in Chains, they might be better than 90% of "metal" bands, even though they weren't stereotypical "metal."

Not sure if best, but my first thought was these 2 Megadeath albums as my favorite.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Spinal Tap

 

[saintmdterps]

Judas Priest not in the mix? British Steel, Hell Bent For Leather, and Unleashed in the East are all classics, and Halford is a top 3 metal vocalist. I saw them 3 times back in the 80's, great band live!



Y'all left off Motorhead as well.

 

[0rion]

Subjective but I think #1 has to be Metallica with everyone else tied for 2nd. Those of us old enough probably remember when Metallica hit and they were definitely different from everything else that was out there at the time. They kind of took it to that next level.

 

[Plow]

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. So move to strike Led Zep from the list, AC/DC and Rush too.

Metal: Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Scorpions

 

[BroKV]

Subjective but I think #1 has to be Metallica with everyone else tied for 2nd. Those of us old enough probably remember when Metallica hit and they were definitely different from everything else that was out there at the time. They kind of took it to that next level.

40 years of Metallica albums and touring speaks for itself. They are still going strong today even at 60 years old (some of them). I mean how many fans have been at their shows in total and they still sellout.

 

[Hedon James]

Steel is a heavy metal, so i'd nominate Steel Panther. If we're limited to the original list, it's Judas Priest. Honorable mentions to Iron Maiden & Black Sabbath, even though I'm not fond of either. Credit due where it's earned though,

I'll 2nd the Scorpions, nominated by Plow. That's my choice!

 

[RaginCajun83]

I listen to most already listed but where’s Dio? Plus I’ve gotten into a couple bands from Sweden just to listen to something different

 

[FL_Saint]

I would agree with Metallica. As was mentioned, many of the other bands mentioned aren't really considered heavy metal. There is, and should be, a distinction between heavy metal, hair bands, hard rock, grunge, etc., although the lines blur sometimes.

 

[Lustmord]

Im ok with that list if we are talking more mainstream, commercial 'heavy metal'

 

[Hedon James]

There is.....

Metallica
Black Sabbath
Guns N Roses
Pantera
Sound Garden (I think they are metal)
System of the Down
Rush
Led Zeppelin
Anthrax
Iron Maiden
Megadeath
Slayer
Dream Theater
Judas Priest
Ozzy
ACDC
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.

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!

 

[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