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

[Zzzptm]

Put another way, name a metal band that had bondage gear as part of its outfit before Judas Priest... or name one that *didn't* have spikes and leather after JP broke out with British Steel!

OK, I'm sure they could be listed, but I think I made my point.

[Charger]

I do have two little gripes about that list though...

Choosing two rather marginal styles of metal to be represented here seems bit off...speaking of Ministry and Killswitch Engage ofcourse. There aren't that many bands out there that do those styles...well not big bands anyways.

I also just started thinking that women are very under represented here. So I'd replace either one of those with Warlock as they pretty much paved the way for women in metal and ofcourse Doro Pesch has since become the rightful metal queen. Not only has she inspired a lot of women to get into metal she also has proven that women can rock just as hard as men. So I would say her influence has been much greater than that of Ministry or KE on any day.

[Jack the Stripper]

I respectfully disagree Charger. Metalcore is big. You only have to look at the pure numbers sales and attendance wise and the amount of the younger generation that are into it. It’s always heavily represented at the big metal festivals as well. Been around 20 odd years now.

 Industrial was touch and go, but it did have an extended run throughout the 90’s with Ministry, Godflesh, KDFM, Marylyn Manson, Rob Zombie, Fear Factory used industrial elements,  Nine Inch Nails although not really that metal were huge, Rammstein were and are are still huge. Heck even W.A.S.P., Motley Crüe and Alice Cooper dabbled in Industrial. It’s not as big as it was in the 90’s but Rammstein are one of the biggest metal acts in the world right now.

As for women in metal, I’d say Girlschool were one of the original girl metal groups and Lita Ford flew the flag for women in metal throughout the 80’s.

[Charger]

Well honestly I don't know much about either styles...part from Rob Zombie ofcourse but I categorize him to the horror rock genre with Alice Cooper anyways.

Girlschool was before Warlock yes, but they weren't pure metal though...much more hard rock oriented...same goes for Lita Ford's solo stuff...which actually I guess was even more mainstream 80s rock than hard rock.

Metalcore for me is a totally unknown genre...

But I know you know better than me Jack but still think that I'd put Warlock in instead of Ministry, just so that women would be bit more represented. But yeah 25 is still a pretty short list so some great ones and influential ones are bound to be left out.

[Jack the Stripper]

I think your point about women is a fair one Charger, and no doubt Doro did pave the way for the current wave of women in metal, but is women in metal a genre? Shouldn’t it just be equal and their music should stand on its own whether it’s a man or woman fronted metal group?

My point on Industrial is that it got that big in the 90’s that even long time rockers like Alice, Motley and Wasp dabbled in it. Come to think of it I think even Guns ‘N Roses did also. There were other metal bands as well that weren't industrial metal bands but they did dabble in that territory for an album.

You might have to just trust me on Metalcore

[Charger]

Well no it's not a genre ofcourse but what I'm saying is that there ARE great metal groups lead by women that might deserve a place on a list like this.

I have never really looked at industrial like that. But yeah I guess it was big in the 90s.

[Jack the Stripper]

I am coming around to your women in metal theory. The influence is there even if it’s not a genre. Got no idea who I would take out though. Hmmm...How about Rainbow?   

[Zzzptm]

I am coming around to your women in metal theory. The influence is there even if it’s not a genre. Got no idea who I would take out though. Hmmm...How about Rainbow?