Who Is The Greatest Heavy Metal Band Of All Time?

[ElectricEye72]

Ill start...Its gotta be between Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, my vote goes for the Priest! Though I love Iron Maiden and went to see them last summer to me Judas Priest symbolizes everything about heavy metal. Rob Halford comes out on a motorcycle as the crowd comes to its feet and then Priest tears into "Hell Bent for Leather" whipping the crowd into a frenzy. Priest has it all the leather and spikes,ear splitting music,killer live shows,etc. Rob Halford is also THE heavy metal icon not Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzy disgraced himself by making a ridiculous sitcom about his family. This once prince of darkness has been reduced to "The Dad". Now I feel it coming..."But Rob Halford is gay!" While this is undeniable it doesnt matter to me what Rob does in his personal life as long as it doesnt affect his music in the form of pro-gay lyrics which it most certainly does not. In my opinion Rob Halford transcends his gayness by being a metal god, in other words "who cares?" It seems the metal community has forgiven him for it according to internet sites and Metal Maniacs magazines letter section so dont bother slagging him for it. Of course longtime drummer Dave Hollands involvement in raping young boys is far different but Holland is gone replaced by way better skins thumper Scott Travis. Pound for pound Judas Priest is the best! Of course who can forget Iron Maiden, King Diamond, Dio, Motorhead, Slayer, Black Sabbath (if you dont consider them classic rock) etc. Tough choice to make!

 

[TummyDragon]

Greatest in terms of popularity? or in musicianship?

Of the former I'd have to say Priest or Metallica.. Slayer is also one of my all time favs..

The heavy metal band I think is probably *best* in terms of musicianship would be Dream Theater, though many may not categorize them as heavy metal. Perhaps they are more of a hybrid, but in terms of musicianship, they are tops.

 

[Dave2112]

I guess it depends on what one considers true Heavy Metal. I was always more into the "progressive" style of metal...the technical proficiency, the meaningful lyrics, the alternate time signatures. I was never one for most "pop-metal", although there were a few good ones that went a little beyone the hair and spandex and actually wrote some half-way decent tunes. Then there's the hammer-down "real" metal, some would call it. If you just count all of that together as "metal"...

I'd have to go with Triumph as my overall favorite metal band.

Others that rank among my favorites:

Hardcore Metal
Motorhead
Warlock
Judas Priest
Iron Maiden
Metallica (pre-sellout)
Slayer
Celtic Frost
Armored Saint
Belfegore

Progressive Metal
Triumph
Savatage
Dream Theater
Queensryche
Zebra
Early Rush (when they were still kinda-metal)
Voivod
Yngwie Malmsteen
Joe Satriani
Van Halen (with Sammy)

"Pop" Metal That Was Actually Good
Scorpions
Def Leppard (first three albums or so, anyway)
Kix
Twisted Sister (STUPID look and predictable lyrics, but Dee Snyder could sing...)
Y&T
Dokken
Europe (Most of thier tunes weren't my style of metal, but I really liked the keyboard player, he did a lot of neat shit other than laying down string chords on ballads)
King Kobra

 

[unclebill]

I`d say Happy Kyne and the Merthmakers.

 

[the_Baron]

lets hear it for AC/DC

 

[jugner]

lets hear it for AC/DC

I'm with you, AC/DC.

 

[Mimi]

I'd probably have to say AC/DC too. Honorable mentions to Judas Priest and Pre-Napster Metallica.

Mimi

 

[ElectricEye72]

Whos Metal and Whos Not

See here we are running into the problem of whos metal and whos rock. I cant deny how great AC/DC are, wouldnt even try but are they metal? In my opinion no. AC/DC are rock-n-roll much in the same kickass style George Thorogood and the Destroyers and early ZZTop are. I saw AC/DC in the Meadowlands in 1986 and they were awesome...ears still ringing from the 21 gun salute! Are Triumph metal? They played the US 83 heavy metal day festival but their music just isnt powerful enough, its great...saw Triumph 11/2/86 but are they metal? Tough one but id say yes simply because they are always played on metal stations and have metal bands opening for them. VanHalen? No way, not even close, theyre pure rock-n-roll Sammy or Dave. How about some tougher choices like KISS or Deep Purple? Man,now im confusing even myself!

 

[Psycho]

lol yall old fogeys don't know anything about heavy metal. I say System of a Down.

Psycho

 

[bass]

then you obviously dont know anything about metal either psycho 😱

 

[Mimi]

Hmmm. Modern metal would not exist if the previous bands mentioned in this thread hadn't paved the way first. It's called progression.

Mimi 😉

 

[tactillianlover]

It's still rock and roll to me!

 

[The Sean Man]

Spinal Tap.


The Sean Man

 

[Majestic]

LOL Sean @ Spinal Tap. I saw them live and they really were good!! I love the movie. My favorite part was "Can you hear the sustain? Well, you could if it were turned on". Anyway....I gotta go with Priest. NO ONE can touch Rob's vocals. I remember the first time I saw them live and he rode out on his motorcycle, decked in leather and then he cracked his bullwhip. I came straight up outta my seat and screamed. My ex husband was so embarrassed that he yanked me back down to my seat but it musta had a spring in it cuz I was right the hell back up. Definitely the Priest!

Majestic

 

[Lazarus]

Hands down, a great list of the best Heavy Metal bands of all time...
----------------------------------------

1. Metallica-(the Black album, Metallica S&M, and Garage Days Inc. being their three best albums)

2. Iron Maiden- Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Wicker Man

3. Saliva- NEVER have I heard a metal group with such diversity....

4. Nelson- Ya, I know what I put, but dammit, Love and Affection and After the Rain ROCK, and it just pisses off Meems when I throw them in as Metal Icons.

5. Korn- Now, who has taken some of the BEST classic songs so far, and done kick-ass remakes?- Brick in the Wall, Word Up, etc....

6. RAMMSTEIN!- A few pissed off German Metal Masters, who could ask for more?

In their day, Black Sabbath was great...
---------------------------------------

Now, I must ask the question....

Would 80's metal be included in this catagory, such as Poison, Warrant, Skid Row, Motley Crue, etc?

Or would these bands be considered "Hair" bands?

 

[The Sean Man]

4. Nelson- Ya, I know what I put, but dammit, Love and Affection and After the Rain ROCK, and it just pisses off Meems when I throw them in as Metal Icons.

Jesus....hope you've got some kevlar under that leather jacket


The Sean Man

 

[Lazarus]

Leather?!

No, no, my friend....

DENIM jacket with a Motley Crue iron on patch on the back....

And, with Meems, it's not my chest I'm worried about....

*Looks down at feet, with 45 pairs of socks, and steel-toed boots with dura-steel padlocks and guard dogs*


LOL

 

[The Sean Man]

LMAO.

The Sean Man

 

[Majestic]

I agree with Lazarus about Korn. They have done some awesome jobs with the cover tunes. "Word Up" blew me away when I first heard it. BUT Marilyn Manson isnt doin' too bad in the cover tunes arena either. I love his renditions of "Personal Jesus" and "Tainted Love". I have the Depeche Mode CD with Personal Jesus on it and Manson didnt change it too much. Just gave it a more evil tint with his vocals. OH and the CRUE!! They are the second best in my opinion, even though some considered them Glam Rock back in the day. How could you even look at Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx and say "GLAM"???? The Crue screams of Bad Boyz.

Majestic

 

[natural tickler]

Guns'n' Roses, Nirvana, AC/DC, Korn, Nine Inch Nails,

and even though you wouldn't consider this band heavy, I have got to say that Creed rocks😀

 

[EvlJester]

I am going to say megadeath, metallica, sevendust, mudvane, iron maiden, warrent, motley crue, quiet riot, korn, nirvan, simple plan, nine inch nail and guns-n-roses.

 

[TicklishSinner]

Guns N Roses, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Megadeath, Pantera, Motley Crue, Def Lepord

 

[some1somewhere]

Although I might be wrong (which I could possibly be)I would say that a lot of these bands had a few doors openned because of Alice Cooper in the 70s. I believe that he could be seen at least as an influence in the glam, hard rock/metal, and punk (especially with the Ramones).

 

[Nige]

Well I am going for Iron Maiden. 25+ years they have been making albums and touring. Many bands have come and gone during that time, but Iron Maiden just keep producing the goods. Up the Irons!!! 🙂

 

[ElectricEye72]

Iron Maiden In The UK

Good choice Nige! Let me ask you something about Iron Maiden in the UK. Iron Maiden stopped being a main event here around the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son album/tour in 88 when shows had to be cancelled because of low attendance but the tour in 88 was their most sucessful because in every other country in the world they demanded Maiden play more shows and sold out everywhere they went and the album was their biggest hit worldwide despite the "hair band" loving USAs snub of them. So my question is is Iron Maiden still super main event status in the UK? Or do they struggle with attendance and cd sales like they do here in america?