Most Skilled Metal Singers
These may not be the best, but there still the most skilled.
Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, (born 7 August 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.Outside his career in music, Dickinson has pursued a number of other activities. He undertook a career as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines, which led to a number of media-reported ventures such as captaining Iron Maiden's converted charter aeroplane, Ed Force One, during their world tours. Following Astraeus' closure, he created his own aircraft maintenance and pilot training company, Cardiff Aviation, in 2012. Dickinson presented his own radio show ...read more. Yep, the best singer ever!
The best singer ever
Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the former lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween. Most skilled singer = best vocal skill/technique = the best singer.
Here’s the Top 10 based on detailed breakdowns of their skills, such as: Breath support, Consistency, Endurance, Switching, Runs, Blending, Pitch, Vibrato, Volume control, Use of range, Sustain, Resonance, Versatility, etc.
1. Michael Kiske (Helloween; Avantasia)
2. Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
3. Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
4. Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian; Demons & Wizards)
5. Roy Khan (Kamelot)
6. Tobias Sammet (Edguy; Avantasia)
7. Russell Allen (Symphony X)
8. Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)
9. Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio)
10. Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
He IS the MOST SKILLED metal singer because he's got the best vocal skill/technique. It also means that he IS the BEST metal singer.
Most skilled singer = best vocal skill/technique = the best singer.
Who's the best driver? - the one with the best driving skills. Simple.
Pains me to see Corey Taylor above this legend.
Hansi Kürsch, born Hans Jürgen Kürsch, is the lead singer, lyricist, co-composer and bassist for German power metal band Blind Guardian . Heavily influenced by Freddie Mercury, he creates a huge choir effect by overdubbing his own voice multiple times in complex, overlapping vocal harmonies. He records each vocal track individually because harmonizers and "perfect pitch" programs don't work with his voice due to distortion and the natural double layer effects his vocal cords have .His early technique made use of a more aggressive and harsher, "screaming" technique . ...read more.
He's one of the most skilled metal singers and currently my favorite (for a reason). Every other singer from the top 5-6 most skilled singers would be a great choice, too (Kiske, Tate, Halford and Khan, even Sammet) - skill differences among them are not that big and it's only a matter of preference.
I prefer Hansi because he sings with unmatched passion and sounds most committed to the song, which moves me instantly. Another reason is the contrast in his voice: his soft voice is the softest possible and his raw, harsh voice is the most aggressive one among the singers in this group (Kiske, Tate, Halford, Khan, Sammet). Hansi's outro to 'Heaven Denies' is the most beautiful voice I've ever heard.
Songs:
Demons And Wizards - My Last Sunrise, Path Of Glory, Heaven Denies, Fiddler on the Green.
Blind Guardian - Majesty, Sacred Mind, The Bard's Song (In the forest), Thorn, The Throne, Nightfall.
Unique voice, power, range, different styles in one singer.
Freddie Mercury of modern metal music (modern = since the 90s now; Halford, Dio, Kiske, Dickinson and Tate peaked earlier - in the 70s and 80s).
Roy Sætre Khantatat, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he was the lead vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot from 1997 to his departure in 2011. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood during his tenure. Should at least be in the top 5. Just an awesome and powerful vocalist! Studied opera before he got into metal, to start with Conception. Also a great band! they broke up, and then Roy came to Kamelot.
If you want to know if he did his job? Just...listen to the Epica-The Black Halo concept albums, and you'll know why he is often named as 'the voice of God' and why he's one of the greatest vocalists this world has ever known.
Just listen Kamelot...
Geoff Tate is a German-born American singer and musician who rose to fame in the 1980s with the progressive metal band Queensrÿche. I wouldn't include his personality here because we are talking about vocal skills and not about our favorite singers based on likes/dislikes. And his vocal skills are/were over the top. By the way I'm not his fan either, but I can't deny the most obvious thing.
He used to be good, but his personality has seriously made me dislike him. Also, his vocals have only been average since Promised Land.
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice. The statement in the heading is somewhat confusing - "These may not be the best, but there still the most skilled".
No, the most skilled singer IS the best singer.
Most skilled singer = best vocal skill/technique = the best singer.
Top 5 Most skilled metal singers, i.e. best vocal skill/technique:
Michael Kiske, Geoff Tate, Rob Halford, Hansi Kürsch, Roy Khan.
Michael Kiske and Hansi Kürsch are "naturally skilled" (not trained) singers, while the rest are also "technically skilled" (trained).
Everything from Sad Wings to Painkiller has awesome vocals.
To me, his 2000's and 2010's voice is better than 70's and 80's!
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. Dio is one of the top 10 most skilled singers and a metal icon for many different reasons. I'm glad he's not underrated on this list.
I think a list of the main vocal skills would be useful when we talk about the most skilled singers.
Vocal skills are things like:
Breath support, Consistency, Endurance, Switching, Runs, Blending, Pitch, Vibrato, Volume control, Use of range, Sustain, Resonance, Versatility, etc.
So many amazing songs.
Tobias Sammet is a German metal musician, best known as the vocalist and primary songwriter of the power metal band Edguy, as well as the founder, main singer and bassist of the metal opera Avantasia. Incredible vocal skills, godly range, beautiful and agile tenor voice.
His tone reminds of Bruce Dickinson and I love it. Try 'Nailed to the wheel' by Edguy.
Taking into account his vocal skills I'd put him in the 6th place (I listed the vocal skills above in Dio's section).
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. The best lead singer in Iced Earth.
What a voice! He's a Top 10 metal singer, his vocal skills are great and he should be lets say at #8.
Russell Allen is a singer and lyricist best known as the vocalist of American progressive metal band Symphony X.
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. His range is pretty wide but his skills are not good enough to use properly this range. As a result he sounds nowhere near Kiske, Tate, Halford, Hansi, Khan, Dio, and some other really skilled singers.
The main guy in the only good nu-metal band ever.
Not really. He sounds horrible live.
Corey is the best
Ralf Scheepers is the vocalist for German heavy metal band Primal Fear. He has a relatively high-pitched tenor-esque singing voice and sometimes uses a shriek reminiscent of Judas Priest's Rob Halford, although it is his baritone lows which give him a near four-octave range in the modal register.
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.Better known as max cavalera.
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist and lyricist of American heavy metal band Lamb of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts.
Jørn Lande is a Norwegian metal and hard rock singer known for his solo career as Jorn, and providing vocals for Avantasia, Masterplan, Ark, Beyond Twilight, Millenium, Allen/Lande, Mundanus Imperium, Vagabond, The Snakes, Ayreon.
Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens is an American heavy metal singer who first gained attention as the lead singer of Judas Priest, and then Iced Earth. He took the nickname "Ripper" from the Judas Priest song "The Ripper" during his time in the tribute band "British Steel". He currently performs with Beyond ...read more.
Jarkko Kalevi Ahola is a Finnish performing artist, composer and singer, best known as a metal singer. He is the vocalist, bass player and one of the three songwriters of the metal band Teräsbetoni. He also started a solo career as Ahola, a metal band. He's an amazing young singer from Finland. His skills are natural - he wasn't trained but very often he hits the notes such as an opera singer and those notes sound very powerful and absolutely effortless, even live.
His sustain is really impressive - he does that very often and effortless for 6-10 seconds and even 14-15 seconds! (Teräsbetoni - Pyhä maa, 3:15).
Here's his gorgeous voice on an epic slow metal song: Teräsbetoni - Teräksen taakka (2008).
Also try an ELO cover: Northern Kings - Don't bring me down (intro scream and 2:55-3:05! )
Try one of Ahola's live performances in Viiala, last stop of his X-Mas charity tour - copy and paste into the YouTube window:
Ave Maria -- J. Ahola -- 8.12.2013
Oh My God, what a voice! He's a metal singer but his Ave Maria (live! ) reveals his capacity to be an opera singer, too - the second half is more impressive (after 2:40), especially towards the end. Effortless!
If you check out his newer stuff on youtube, you'll also notice how much he has developed since Teräsbetoni days. He was already amazing back then, but now his voice is just incredible
Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist. The lead singer of the Devin Townsend Project
Saidus Salehin Khaled (Sumon), is a bass player, singer, songwriter, composer, music producer from Bangladesh and the vocalist and bassist for the rock band Aurthohin. He is known as "Bassbaba" (Father of Bass) among his fans and audiences for his bass guitar playing. He is best. Greatest boss. Very too much nice metal sir.
André Coelho Matos is a Brazilian vocalist, pianist and composer. He was involved in the heavy metal bands Viper, Angra and Shaaman. The most skilled and the best South-American singer (Brazil).
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.
Jeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is most well known for being the lead singer for the group Talisman from 1990 till the end of Talisman in 2007, the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and the lead vocalist for Journey on their 2006–2007 tours after ...read more.
Fabio Tordiglione is an Italian singer and lyricist who has sung with many music bands including Rhapsody of Fire, Labyrinth, Ayreon, Angra, Vision Divine, Hollow Haze, Kaledon, Ancient Bards, and Athena. Amazing singer in every way.