The Community Knows Better: The ACTUAL Most Important 50 Metal Bands of All Time

[Jack the Stripper]

Thanks for your thought out responses Zzz and Charger. I left Megadeth out purely on chronological order. I would’ve actually even have put Anthrax in before them, although I do love Megadeth much much more, so much more they’re in my top 5 favourite bands of all time.

Anyhow, let’s breakdown the thrash timeline

Metallica - Hit The Lights(Released June 14 1982 on the first Metal Massacre compilation. Note: Mustaine did not play on this recording)

Metallica - Kill Em’ All(Released July 25th 1983, Mustaine had writing credits on The Four Horseman, Jump In The Fire, Phantom Lord & Metal Militia)

Slayer - Show No Mercy(Released Dec 3 1983)

Anthrax - Fistful Of Metal(Released January 1984)

Slayer - Haunting The Chapel EP Released June 1984)

Metallica - Ride The Lighning(Released July 27 1984, Mustaine had writing credits on title track & The Call Of Ktulu)

Anthrax - Armed and Dangerous EP( Released February 1985)

Slayer - Hell Awaits(Released March 1985)

Exodus - Bonded By Blood(Released April 25 1985, recorded July 1984)

Megadeth - Killing Is My Business...and Business Is Good( Released June 12 1985)

So as you can see, their was a few thrash releases before Megadeth’s debut, not a lot in the scheme of things between between 83-85 but Metallica & Slayer alone had 2 full length albums beforehand. But there’s no question that Dave Mustaine had a hand in creating thrash with his early stint in Metallica and even taking it to a more technical level with his riffing style in Megadeth.

As for Maiden, I think their influence is immense in quite a few facets, more than you think. I’ve  listened to a lot of metal over the years and hear sections of songs that sound so similar to Maiden. As I mentioned, the harmonised guitar melody’s alone was quite influential.

Have a listen to Slayer’s debut Show No Mercy, you can hear Maiden all over it.
Exhibit A

Scorpions was a tough one to leave out. They represent the euro side and no doubt influenced a lot of young euro rock and metal heads to pick up an instrument and later had an influence in the US, but was their musical influence anymore or at the level of Purple, Sabbath, Zeppelin, Priest, Motörhead, Maiden and even UFO had in those markets? Their first few albums aren’t all all that heavy, more  psychedelic rock and not all that riff oriented either. They did eventually hone their music to a more straight ahead heavy rock and riff style but metal was well & truly getting established by then.

They probably would’ve been the next band chosen tbh but I also think Accept(another
German band)had an influence(more in the 80’s)

As for FNM Charger. Is this metal enough?

If I make this list 25. Who would you add?

 

[Charger]

^^^^

I don't know honestly...musically I think that's closer to hard rock than metal and vocally it's closer to the late 90s hiphop metal delivery. I do have to say though (eventhough they are most certainly no my cup of tea) FNM probably was pretty influential on that whole genre of alt/hiphop style metal, even if they weren't quite as "heavy" musically.
So yeah I suppose they can be on the list.

As for the thrash timeline...that's awesome work again as usual. And 100% accurate as well ofcourse!

I personally know very little about Scorpions (as I've never listened to them much for some reason) but I would still say that they probably were one of the forerunners of non UK Eurometal...


As for the additions ALICE COOPER needs to be there, even if they weren't 100% metal...they did create the whole horror rock scene and brought it out to the masses.

Megadeth also brought a lot to the the whole thrash table even if they were bit "late" in the game...Anthrax also brought a lot of different vibes to the thrash scene...mainly humor. I think the big 4 could be represented in whole.

Then DIO. They brought a lot of "magic" to the metal world. Ronnie's lyrics were unlike anything else. It would be a crime to NOT include DIO.


EDIT:
Oh and just listened to some Trouble....they're not bad...not at all...might have to check them out!

[Jack the Stripper]

^^^Awesome, they’re right up your alley Charger.

They’d all be valid inclusions you’ve mentioned. But I’ve been conscious to not just make this a favourites list. I’ve left a lot of my all time favourites out. I feel Ronnie gets a doff of the hat with both Sabbath and Rainbow. You could make a case for Dio and Ozzy as pioneering metal solo artist. They are the two that instantly come to mind when you think of solo artist in metal and as far as I’m concerned there’s been none bigger or better.

Alice was another that was hard to leave out. He was definitely a pioneer in the whole shock rock genre, wasn't very heavy in the 70’s but he did influence later heavier bands. Also ticks the solo artist box. He’s the one I’d most be inclined to add.

[Charger]

Well yes you do have point about not including DIO or Ozzy...although DIO was more of a band effort all along where as Ozzy was (even if not originally intented as such) a solo project.

But yeah I follow your logic there.

[Zzzptm]

Well, if we look at this again as a list of 50, knowing the top 25 gets us closer to figuring out rankings for the higher and higher ranks. Or at least, the middle of the top... I think 1-4 go Sabbath, Purple, Zeppelin, Priest.

[JSTHECONQUEROR]

Faith No More is metal when they want to be.
https://youtu.be/th_KKvb9yO8

[Jack the Stripper]

The more I’ve thought about it the more tempted I am to add a metalcore band to this list. Love it or hate it(personally I mostly hate it) there’s no denying it’s become a well established and very very popular genre. Bands like Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Avenged Sevenfold, As I Lay Dying, Trivium etc that mix the clean singing with the death growls has become a genuine thing and is super big among the younger metal generation. I just go no clue who does it best or who’s been the most influential. Maybe Thel can help me out on this one?

[Thelemech]

The more I’ve thought about it the more tempted I am to add a metalcore band to this list. Love it or hate it(personally I mostly hate it) there’s no denying it’s become a well established and very very popular genre. Bands like Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Avenged Sevenfold, As I Lay Dying, Trivium etc that mix the clean singing with the death growls has become a genuine thing and is super big among the younger metal generation. I just go no clue who does it best or who’s been the most influential. Maybe Thel can help me out on this one?

Hatebreed are my personal fav Metalcore band. There are plenty of great bands in this genre IMHO. Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine, Underoath, Converge and several others have some really good albums. The problem with this genre though is that there is a saturation of groups trying to be the next Killswitch Engage. This has led to shitty bands like say Black Veil Brides being sold as the next big thing in Metalcore. I am by no means an expert on this genre but I do listen to several bands that are classifed as such.

[Jack the Stripper]

Yeah not sure there is one definite band you can pinpoint that started it, also I don’t think the early metalcore bands were doing the scream and growley vocals with the clean melodic singing either. Killswitch Engage seem to be a popular metalcore band that’s been around a long time though. Thanks for your input Thel.

[Zzzptm]

I concur with the Angry Ozzy. It's an important genre, be sure to add it to the list.

[Jack the Stripper]

Ok so after giving it considerable thought I’ve finally settled on my definitive 25 most Important/influential metal bands of all time adding the final 3 to bring it to a conclusive 25.

All these bands have been an influence on pioneering a genre or creating a new sound that has stood the test of time and not just been a flash in the pan or minimal genre or sub-genre.


Black Sabbath(The most influential heavy band of them all, nearly every genre of metal can be traced back to the early works of Black Sabbath)
Deep Purple(The ultimate heavy jam band. Combined heavy rock riffs with organ sounds. Blackmore’s riffs and classically inspired solos have influenced generations of players)
Led Zeppelin(Love em or hate em their influence on heavy rock/metal is undeniable. Along with Sabbath and Purple make up the holy trinity of the first major heavy rock/metal bands)
Judas Priest(Bought a more metallic sound with a twin guitar attack and duelling solos along with high pitch operatic singing. They embraced the heavy metal tag and ran with it. British Steel kicked off a new era of metal in the 80’s)
Kiss(One of the earliest American metal bands. Theatrical, big over the top stage shows. Influenced many American heavy rock/metal bands that followed.
AC/DC(Took the blues boogie style of rock and heavied it up and went on to become one of the biggest selling bands of all time.
Rainbow(Proto power metal, Ronnies singing style and fantasy lyrical themes had a huge influence on metal and later what would be known as power metal. As above for Blackmore)
Motorhead(Bought rawness, speed and aggression into heavy rock n roll. Lemmy’s harsher vocals were quite extreme for their time. An influence of Venom and thrash)
Van Halen( Ushered in a new era of American heavy rock/metal. Eddie’s guitar playing inspired a new generation of guitar playing)
Iron Maiden(The most important band of the new wave of British Heavy metal movement. Inspired a lot of the 80’s metal bands with their twin harmonised style of guitar playing along with epic and historical themes)
Venom(The most extreme band up until that time. Inspiration for black metal and other forms of extreme metal)
Mötley Crüe(Virtually kicked started the LA glam/hair metal scene that became huge in the 80’s)
Metallica(Invented thrash purely and simply which also influenced other extreme metal styles. Ride The Lightning inspired other newer thrash bands to lift their game.
Slayer(Another thrash pioneer but also an inspiration of other forms of extreme metal like death and Black)
Death(Pioneered Traditional Death metal and also later incorporated technical/prog death and Melodic Death. Is regarded as one of the important and influential bands in metal history.
Helloween(Started out as speed metal but quickly morphed into style that has since been known as power metal)
Candlemass(Didnt create the doom sound but created the genre with Epicus Doomicus Metallicus)
Celtic Frost(Another pioneer in extreme and avant-garde metal)
Bathory(Pioneers of Scandinavian Black Metal)
Pantera(Pioneered a heavier groove style of metal which spearheaded metal into the 90’s)
Faith No More(One of the major alternative metal pioneers, combined funk, thrash and rap)
Korn(The forerunners of the Nu Metal generation)
Ministry(Pioneered the Industrial metal movement of the 90’’s which is still enjoys a large following in 2020 with Rammstein currently one of the biggest metal acts in the world.
Nightwish(While incorporating symphonic elements into metal dates back to Celtic Frost of the mid 80’s Nightwish was one of the pioneers of combining a power metal style with a full orchestral & operatic style that has become an extremely popular and genuine sub-genre of metal, particularly in Europe)
Killswitch Engage(Not the definitive pioneers of Metalcore music per se but they were pioneers of a more popular style of metalcore which fused metalcore and melodic death metal, combining death growls and aggressive screaming with clean singing passages which has since defined the genre and become a genuine force and commercial success)

[Zzzptm]

I'd say of Judas Priest's British Steel album - you can debate which albums were metal or proto-metal before that release, but that album is the archetype for metal albums to come. There's no question of it being proto-metal: It is quite definitely metal, through and through. You could even say that before British Steel, bands were somewhat metal, more or less, depending on their mood. After British Steel, bands were either metal or they weren't. We knew exactly what image a metal band should have, how it should sound, how it should play and have attitude. If a band didn't want to be labeled as a metal group, it knew what not to do. If it did want the label, then it knew *exactly* what to do.

[Charger]

Well there were metal albums released before British Steel too...namely Iron Maiden. And that most certainly was not "proto metal" in anyway.

Saxon's Wheels Of Steel also came out before British Steel but that might go more to the proto metal category...

Motörhead's Overkill was released already in 1979...but Motörhead always did categorize themselves as a rock band, but Overkill most certainly was atleast proto metal if not actual metal.

I'm sure there are others too...

But British Steel was influential for sure but it wasn't the "first" to come out though.

[Zzzptm]

No, it wasn't the first, but it was definitely out there in a big way and had a lot of airplay. It broke through whatever barriers held other bands back and opened the way for a lot more acts to get on the radio.

[Jack the Stripper]

^^I agree Z. The whole metal movement or “metal culture” is heralded to have kicked off in England in 1980 and Judas Priest and Iron Maiden were at the forefront setting the scene with British Steel and Maidens S/T debut which incidentally were released on the same day or very close to. There’s no doubt there was metal or “proto”metal albums before then, I think you’s have forgotten an important one in “Killing Machine” released in 78 but the heavy metal “cultural phenomenon” of if you will is time stamped to early 1980.