Best American Metal Singers
Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture and is known for his medieval themed lyrics. Dio possessed a powerful versatile vocal range capable of singing both hard rock and lighter ballads; according to Rainbow/Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore upon hearing him sing, "I felt shivers down my spine." Dio sold over 47 million albums throughout his career.
He died from stomach cancer in 2010 at the age of 67. At his time there were only few metal singers like Ian Gillan,Rob Halford.And Ronnie is one of them
Mr. Golden Voice deserves to be here, at #1. His pure personality was also very inspiring. R.I.P. Dio.
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Pantera. He currently is the vocalist of heavy metal bands Down and Superjoint Ritual. He's very good - vocal range of 4 octaves, 1/2 note, very powerful voice and pretty good technique for what he sings (mostly harsh/rough vocals). Actually he's a better singer than one may conclude from songs like "Walk". Give a listen to a very obscure speed metal song from the 80s Pantera - Burnnn. Enjoy his Harford-esque high notes.
Corey Todd Taylor was born in December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the Nu-metal band Slipknot and hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour. He has the biggest vocal range on this list
James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. I wanted to add that Hetfield range is pretty good - 3 octaves, 3 notes. For comparison, Bruce Dickinson has 3 octaves, 4 notes (one note more). What makes Bruce Dickinson a better singer is his better vocal technique and not this 1 note.
However, vocals aren't priority in thrash - people listen to thrash for the speed, riffs, solos, aggression and drumming. And very often for the lyrics that deal with social and political problems. Well, I also like the voices of Hetfield and Araya.
I know that his singing isn't very polished and his vocal technique has some flaws but I like his voice. His roar immediately speaks "metal" to me and I like this adrenaline. However, the best singer is the singer with the best vocal skills and without a doubt at least Tate, Dio, Allen, Barlow and Eric Adams have better vocal skills than Hetfield.
@Metal_Treasure, I know he hasn't got that much of vocal skills but still I like his voice.
He is the best metal singer from america.Only singers like Bruce Dickinson can beat him but he is from UK
Matthew 'Matt' Barlow is an American heavy metal singer and police officer. He was the lead singer for Iced Earth in the 1990s and 2000s. He is currently the lead singer for Ashes of Ares. After the September 11 terrorist attacks Matt Barlow decided to become a police officer and contribute to the "real world" instead of living the illusion of a "rock star." In 2007 he returned to music. This is an extremely powerful voice with immense passion and emotion. His voice can be quite aggressive when needed. His range is pretty awesome - less than 4 octaves but Matt Barlow even has half a note (1/2 note) more than Bruce Dickinson (Yay! )
I really love Matt Barlow. Some of his vocal performances:
Iced Earth - Dracula, A Question of Heaven, Dante's Inferno, Damien, Ghost of Freedom, Melancholy.
Geoff Tate is a German-born American singer and musician who rose to fame in the 1980s with the progressive metal band Queensrÿche. His nationality isn't exactly German - he is a German-born American singer. He was born in Germany but his mother's side is from New Orleans. I don't know about his father (American or German) but shortly after his birth, his family relocated to Tacoma, Washington. So he was raised in the US and he was a singer for an American band. He was born Jeffrey Wayne Tate - a very American name.
Now shortly - on this list Tate is the singer with the best vocal skills, meaning that technically he is the best singer.
I was about to add him but his german nationality stopped me
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. Mustaine is best known as a pioneer in Thrash Metal, being the former lead guitarist of Metallica before his dismissal in 1983, leading to finding and becoming the front man of his own band Megadeth shortly after. A great guitarist and songwriter but not very good singer and I respect him for admitting that - he said "I'm not a great singer". I like his shallow growls (different from death growls) but when he tries real singing it doesn't sound very good.
Best thrash metal singer after James
Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor, best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool. He also is the singer of A Perfect Circle and Puscifer bands that vary in style.
Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone Temple Pilots they released two albums with Chester before his death. Wake Me and No Sun Today, a third album called Amends would be released in 2020 consisting of voice samples from Bennington. After Grey Daze dissolved, Bennington would join Linkin Parkin in 1999 formerly called Hybrid Theory, replacing former vocalist Mark Wakefield, who would go on to become Taproot's producer. Even with Bennington's ...read more.
Eric Adams has been the singer of the American heavy metal band Manowar since its inception in 1980. Previously, he sang for a group called LOOKS, a band which also included future Manowar bassist and childhood friend, Joey DeMaio.
Russell Allen is a singer and lyricist best known as the vocalist of American progressive metal band Symphony X. Russell Allen and Matt Barlow have the most powerful voices on this list - voices that are also equipped with corresponding vocal skills.
John Bush is a singer who was first in the band Armored Saint however he then went on to join Anthrax after they got Joey Belladonna their last singer out of the band. John Bush then left Anthrax in 2005 though briefly rejoined in 2009 only to leave again in 2010
Matthew Charles Sanders, better known by his stage name M. Shadows, is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the American metalcore/alternative metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Probably he is the best metal singer of modern metal
Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens is an American heavy metal singer who currently performs with Beyond Fear, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force and Charred Walls of the Damned. Many Judas Priest and Iced Earth fans were not happy with him because he wasn't Rob Halford and Matt Barlow. Yes, he isn't Halford and Barlow but he's got a voice that is amazing in its own right. Tim Ripper also has some mad vocal skills. I honestly think he is overhated. And underrated.
Judas Priest - Cathedral Spires
Tim 'Ripper' Owens - Flight Of Icarus (Iron Maiden cover)
Tim Ripper Owens - Santa Claus Is Back In Town (Xmas song cover, esp. after 3:05).
Charles "Chuck" Billy is an American vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal band Testament.
John Nicholas Oliva, known as Jon Oliva, is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Co-founder of the metal band Savatage and the rock opera Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He's got a real 4 octave range, able to morph the sound of his voice to any style, from John Lennon and Freddie Mercury, ...read more.
Lacey Nicole Sturm is an American singer and songwriter from Homestead, Florida, raised in Arlington, Texas. She is co-founder and former lead vocalist of the hard rock band Flyleaf.
David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the vocalist for the band Disturbed as well as for the band Device.
Aaron Lewis is an American musician, who is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and founding member of the rock group Staind, with whom he has released seven studio albums.
Joey Belladonna is the American Thrash Metal singer, best known for leading the band Anthrax. He also sings and drums for the cover band Chief Big Way.
Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, film composer, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the alternative metal band Faith No More. Of course he is
Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the founder and vocalist, guitarist and bassist of the American heavy metal band Death. He is considered the most influential figure in Death Metal, with some publications referring to Chuck ...read more.