Top 10 Heavy Metal Bands of All Time

they were the loudest and fastest guys

they were the loudest and fastest guys around welcome to watchmojo.com and

around welcome to watchmojo.com and

around welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most influential heavy metal

the top 10 most influential heavy metal

the top 10 most influential heavy metal bands of all time

number ten venom

number ten venom though initially criticized for being

though initially criticized for being

though initially criticized for being less skilled than other axe venom made

less skilled than other axe venom made

less skilled than other axe venom made up for it by composing some of the

up for it by composing some of the

up for it by composing some of the fastest metal around all your souls to

fastest metal around all your souls to

fastest metal around all your souls to the dogs

because of this their trailblazing

because of this their trailblazing influence and death and black metal

influence and death and black metal

influence and death and black metal can’t be denied their dark sound

can’t be denied their dark sound

can’t be denied their dark sound combined with morbid lyrics and imagery

combined with morbid lyrics and imagery

combined with morbid lyrics and imagery also made them forerunners of the

also made them forerunners of the

also made them forerunners of the extreme metal scene and heavily inspired

extreme metal scene and heavily inspired

extreme metal scene and heavily inspired fresh metals big for all your souls to

fresh metals big for all your souls to

fresh metals big for all your souls to the number nine Motorhead

by taking hardcore punk rock into a

by taking hardcore punk rock into a faster and heavier realm and adding loud

faster and heavier realm and adding loud

faster and heavier realm and adding loud guitars and raspy vocals Motorhead has

guitars and raspy vocals Motorhead has

guitars and raspy vocals Motorhead has been called the originator of speed

been called the originator of speed

been called the originator of speed metal

the band set the stage for the new wave

the band set the stage for the new wave of British heavy metal with its first

of British heavy metal with its first

of British heavy metal with its first few albums and eventually joined the

few albums and eventually joined the

few albums and eventually joined the movements ranks they also planted the

movements ranks they also planted the

movements ranks they also planted the seed for thrash metals foundation with

seed for thrash metals foundation with

seed for thrash metals foundation with their consistently hard rock and sound

with the hiring of phil anselmo on

with the hiring of phil anselmo on vocals Pantera went from a glam metal

vocals Pantera went from a glam metal

vocals Pantera went from a glam metal band to pioneers of the new wave of

band to pioneers of the new wave of

band to pioneers of the new wave of American heavy metal

they first distinguished themselves with

they first distinguished themselves with the groove and thrash-metal effort

the groove and thrash-metal effort

the groove and thrash-metal effort Cowboys from Hell but within a few short

Cowboys from Hell but within a few short

Cowboys from Hell but within a few short years they topped the charts with far

years they topped the charts with far

years they topped the charts with far beyond driven Pantera’s legacy continues

beyond driven Pantera’s legacy continues

beyond driven Pantera’s legacy continues to live on

to live on

to live on despite their breakup and Dimebag

despite their breakup and Dimebag

despite their breakup and Dimebag Darrell tragic death

founded by X Metallica guitarist Dave

founded by X Metallica guitarist Dave Mustaine Megadeth has had a revolving

Mustaine Megadeth has had a revolving

Mustaine Megadeth has had a revolving lineup since its inception even so the

lineup since its inception even so the

lineup since its inception even so the band remains a force in metal today

band remains a force in metal today

band remains a force in metal today because they haven’t lost any of their

because they haven’t lost any of their

because they haven’t lost any of their speed or intensity

with complex instrumentals memorable

with complex instrumentals memorable guitar solos and volatile lyrics they

guitar solos and volatile lyrics they

guitar solos and volatile lyrics they made a name for themselves as one of the

made a name for themselves as one of the

made a name for themselves as one of the big four early on and have since earned

big four early on and have since earned

big four early on and have since earned gold records and a massive international

gold records and a massive international

gold records and a massive international following

without anthrax and the rest of the big4

without anthrax and the rest of the big4 thrash-metal wouldn’t be what it is

thrash-metal wouldn’t be what it is

thrash-metal wouldn’t be what it is today

as one of the first thrash metal acts to

as one of the first thrash metal acts to gain major label recognition the

gain major label recognition the

gain major label recognition the American outfit helped define the genre

American outfit helped define the genre

American outfit helped define the genre with their rapid-fire rips and hardcore

with their rapid-fire rips and hardcore

with their rapid-fire rips and hardcore punk inspired ferocity

by adding humor to their lyrics or

by adding humor to their lyrics or collaborating with hip-hoppers Public

collaborating with hip-hoppers Public

collaborating with hip-hoppers Public Enemies they also showed they weren’t

Enemies they also showed they weren’t

Enemies they also showed they weren’t afraid to experiment number five Slayer

Slayer set the pace for thrash metal

Slayer set the pace for thrash metal with the speed and aggression of 1986’s

with the speed and aggression of 1986’s

with the speed and aggression of 1986’s rain in blood

throughout the years the band built a

throughout the years the band built a reputation for technical mastery thanks

reputation for technical mastery thanks

reputation for technical mastery thanks to Tom Mariah’s raw vocals and bass Jeff

to Tom Mariah’s raw vocals and bass Jeff

to Tom Mariah’s raw vocals and bass Jeff Hanneman and Carrie Kings dual guitar

Hanneman and Carrie Kings dual guitar

Hanneman and Carrie Kings dual guitar solos and Dave the godfather of the

solos and Dave the godfather of the

solos and Dave the godfather of the double bass Lombardo on drums

despite their graphic and often

despite their graphic and often controversial lyrics the grammy-winning

controversial lyrics the grammy-winning

controversial lyrics the grammy-winning Slayer has influenced many subgenres and

Slayer has influenced many subgenres and

Slayer has influenced many subgenres and metal acts

number four Judas Priest if you’re

number four Judas Priest if you’re looking for pure heavy metal look no

looking for pure heavy metal look no

looking for pure heavy metal look no further than Judas Priest

in the 1970s these metal gods combined

in the 1970s these metal gods combined the double guitar style of KK downing

the double guitar style of KK downing

the double guitar style of KK downing and Glenn Tipton with Rob Halford

and Glenn Tipton with Rob Halford

and Glenn Tipton with Rob Halford theatrical vocals to create their unique

theatrical vocals to create their unique

theatrical vocals to create their unique and heavy sound

more radio-friendly tracks gave him

more radio-friendly tracks gave him success in the 80s the Brits remain in

success in the 80s the Brits remain in

success in the 80s the Brits remain in heavy-metal consciousness for their

heavy-metal consciousness for their

heavy-metal consciousness for their varied song structures fierce and fast

varied song structures fierce and fast

varied song structures fierce and fast tunes and fashion sense

while they’ve soften over the years

while they’ve soften over the years Metallica remains one of the most

Metallica remains one of the most

Metallica remains one of the most commercially successful heavy metal

commercially successful heavy metal

commercially successful heavy metal bands ever

the fast-paced and aggressive sound and

the fast-paced and aggressive sound and complex compositions of ride the

complex compositions of ride the

complex compositions of ride the lightning and Master of Puppets

lightning and Master of Puppets

lightning and Master of Puppets positioned the band as one of thrash

positioned the band as one of thrash

positioned the band as one of thrash metals big for thanks to the Black Album

metals big for thanks to the Black Album

metals big for thanks to the Black Album and they’re technically astounding

and they’re technically astounding

and they’re technically astounding performances their underground following

performances their underground following

performances their underground following turned into mainstream success and made

turned into mainstream success and made

turned into mainstream success and made them leaders in the genre

number two iron Mazen

number two iron Mazen with their iconic guitars and hard rock

with their iconic guitars and hard rock

with their iconic guitars and hard rock and attitude iron maiden spearheaded the

and attitude iron maiden spearheaded the

and attitude iron maiden spearheaded the new wave of British metal

despite controversial lyrics and imagery

despite controversial lyrics and imagery the number of the beast has become a

the number of the beast has become a

the number of the beast has become a classic while powerslave cemented them

classic while powerslave cemented them

classic while powerslave cemented them as heavy metal grades

known for their killer live shows maiden

known for their killer live shows maiden has always been open to trying new

has always been open to trying new

has always been open to trying new things and is continuously cited as an

things and is continuously cited as an

things and is continuously cited as an influence by scores of artists

ah see isn’t called The Godfather of

ah see isn’t called The Godfather of heavy metal for nothing

with Black Sabbath the Prince of

with Black Sabbath the Prince of Darkness set the blueprint for heavy

Darkness set the blueprint for heavy

Darkness set the blueprint for heavy metal and countless subgenres alongside

metal and countless subgenres alongside

metal and countless subgenres alongside Tony Iommi’s big bad riffs his signature

Tony Iommi’s big bad riffs his signature

Tony Iommi’s big bad riffs his signature vocals and tormented lyrics made for a

vocals and tormented lyrics made for a

vocals and tormented lyrics made for a dark and heavy blues rock sound unlike

dark and heavy blues rock sound unlike

dark and heavy blues rock sound unlike anything before

though they solidified their status as

though they solidified their status as heavy-metal pioneers with the seminal

heavy-metal pioneers with the seminal

heavy-metal pioneers with the seminal paranoid the band continued to mark the

paranoid the band continued to mark the

paranoid the band continued to mark the genre with later lineups as well

you agree with our list who is your

you agree with our list who is your favorite heavy metal band

if they’re not on the list be sure to

if they’re not on the list be sure to check out our top 10 hard rock bands of

check out our top 10 hard rock bands of

check out our top 10 hard rock bands of the 1980s and other entertaining videos

the 1980s and other entertaining videos

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