Most Unique Metal Singers

The Top Ten
1 Mikael Akerfeldt Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, prominently known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth, as well as being the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath for three albums up until 2012. ...read more.
2 Hansi Kürsch 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.

Unique angelic/demonic tone and top notch skills. Overall, one of the several vocal gods in metal. It's the most emotive and expressive voice I've ever heard. He sounds equally brilliant when sings very aggressive speed metal (almost thrash) and also metal songs with slow sections - the softest and most beautiful voice I've ever heard.

Demons and Wizards - My Last Sunrise, Heaven Denies, Path of Glory, Crimson King, Love's Tragedy Asunder. [no other singers - his voice is the only one you hear, even in the background]

Blind Guardian - Majesty, The Bard's Song, Thorn, Sacred Mind, Banish From Sanctuary, Nightfall.

3 Jarkko Ahola 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.

One of the best vocalists in the world today and not nearly as famous as he should be. Three and a half octave vocal range and amazing high notes! He can sing not just metal but almost anything, including opera. Check out his DIO cover on youtube, especially his Holy Diver.

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 2:45), especially towards the end.

He's amazing! One of the best voices I have heard ever!

He is the best singer in the world today

4 Ian Gillan Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He originally found success as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, and the original singer on the rock opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, where Gillan had the leading role (Jesus Christ).

Unique and versatile singer - cool tone and psychotic screams. The first metal screamer.
Try "Disturbing the priest" (Black Sabbath), "Child In Time" (Deep Purple).

5 King Diamond Kim Bendix Petersen, better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish heavy metal musician. He is known for his extensive vocal range, usually sung in falsetto. King Diamond was originally known as the vocalist for Mercyful Fate, but has become notorious for his horror themed Concept albums ...read more.
6 Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath ...read more.

I expected to see really unique metal singers but unique in a good way - singers with extraordinary skills and abilities. I am disappointed to see again the same most popular singers I see on every list - some of them are actually bad singers and it's really unhealthy to perceive bad singing as unique singing.

Indeed very unique. In fact I just came here to vote for him. There are a lot of better singers for sure, but Ozzy is very unique, will always be that way.

@IronSabbathPriest - well, nobody sounds like Ozzy because nobody wants to sound bad :)
Several singers sound like Bruce D. (most notably T. Sammet and M. Kiske) and many more try to sound like Bruce, but this doesn't make Bruce a less unique singer than Ozzy.

Oh, please gimme a break! This is just bad singing, nothing unique.
You give the word 'unique' a bad name.

7 Michael Kiske Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the former lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween.

The most unique thing about him is that since the mid 80s his voice has remained almost the same. Even now Kiske sounds awesome, only minor changes.

8 Matt Barlow 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.

Best! His voice is worth millions and could bring world peace. He should rethink his career and start singing professional again!

Unique timbre and one of the most powerful voices - it's like an ocean tide.
Iced Earth: Dracula, Melancholy, Damien, Dante's inferno.

9 Devin Townsend 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.
10 Dave Mustaine 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.

His voice voice was one of the things that almost turned me off Deth, but then you get used to it, and then it's one of the best things about the band. So much attitude in it.

The reason I love megadeth

The Contenders
11 James Hetfield 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.

He's a very good vocalist. He plays guitar greatly. I think if Kirk Hammett wasn't there, he could still play lead guitar. One of the best metal singers with instrument in hands

Lead singer/songwriter of Metallica. genius.

12 Rob Halford 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.

His screams were never heard before.

13 Mike Patton 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.

Mike Patton is one of my favorite people in the music industry. He has performed such a huge variety of music, from avant garde metal to free jazz. He has such a fantastic singing voice, like in bands like Faith No More and Mr. Bungle. But at the same time, he's a great screamer, like in Fant 'mas or the amazing work he's done with legendary jazz musician John Zorn. It's like every single thing he touches turns to musical brilliance.

Unique range - probably the widest range in music history:
Vocal/melodic range - 6 octaves, 1/2 note (Eb1 to E7).

He sings: Avant-garde metal, Experimental metal, Alternative metal, Death metal (early).

14 Bruce Dickinson 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 ...read more.

My fave singer ever

15 Ronnie James Dio 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.

A very influential musician.

16 Corey Taylor 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 is quite recent.

17 Jon Oliva 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.
18 Phil Anselmo 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.

Should be in the top 10.

19 M. Shadows 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.

He is a good singer. I like his singing style

Get him off here

20 Chuck Schuldiner 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.
21 Till Lindemann Till Lindemann is a German singer, songwriter, musician, actor, poet, and pyrotechnician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the German Neue Deutsche Härte band Rammstein.
22 Marco Hietala Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bass guitarist and songwriter (Nightwish, Tarot).

Did you ever heard such a unique voice?

23 Peter Steele Petrus Thomas Ratajczyk, better known by his stage name Peter Steele, was the lead singer, bassist and composer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative.

He is a great vocalist, with a beautiful baritone vocals.

24 Axl Rose William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as 'Axl Rose', is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He Is the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock.
25 Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English musician, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

He sings in high-pitched vocals. But not enough powerful to sing like metal singers.

Like axl, he's not metal

He's not a metal singer.

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