Top 10 Bands that Aren't Metal According to Encyclopaedia Metallum

I didn't create this list to make people feel ashamed or offended because of their music preferences - it's OK if you like some of these bands. I believe everyone can listen to all bands under the sun - just keep in mind that the bands on this list are probably not metal.

I know that many people will be shocked and confused.

Metalheads know the site Encyclopaedia Metallum (aka The Metal Archives) very well - it's a site with extensive database of information about metal bands such as discography, lyrics, origin, band members, years active, album reviews and many more details. Encyclopaedia Metallum is widely considered the best and most accurate source of information about metal music.

As of September 2016, they have articles on about 111,350 metal bands, even including very small bands that only released a demo in the 80s. But the site has no articles and information about some very well known bands because the people from Encyclopaedia Metallum think these bands aren't metal.

So this list is about bands many people believe are metal but according to Encyclopaedia Metallum they are not - if you put band names from this list into their search bar, you will see this:
"No matches found. Please try with different search terms."
The Top Ten
1 Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band, that was formed 1999 in California. Their longest lineup of members was M. Shadows (Vocals), Synyster Gates (Lead Guitar), Zacky Vengeance (Rhythm Guitar), Johnny Christ (Bass Guitar), and The Rev (Drums). ...read more.

I don't mind the majority of the exclusions stated by the Metal Archives, but if for nothing else, City of Evil should've been enough to qualify them.

I am agreed with most of the bands here that they aren't metal.I still can't believe Avenged Sevenfold aren't metal.But I searched for "Uriah Heep" in the Encyclopaedia Metallum,but this band wasn't there.I think Uriah Heep should be there.

It is an undebatable FACT that they are metal. Denying it only makes you look like the ignorant fake that you are. Posers

Of course they're Metal. If they're not Metal, then neither is Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, or Opeth.

2 Slipknot Slipknot is an American metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1996. The band is best known as one of the pioneers of the New Wave of American Alternative Metal during the late 1990s - 2000s and are distinguishable by the band's clothing choices, consisting of black/red jumpsuits and horror inspired masks. ...read more.

Yeah, I don't consider them metal either. In fact, considering them to be metal is about as ridiculous as the fact that the band members themselves think that they are a thrash band.

I'm no metalhead but seriously how is Slipknot not metal?.They play Alternative Metal and Groove Metal and yes they may have a few Nu Metal stuff but Slipknot is still metal.

I like many of the bands on the list but I Think Slipknot is the only band that should be allowed of these bands to be listen on metal-archives

@FireWasp2004 - because their music isn't metal. It's heavy but not metal. Not every heavy sounding music is heavy metal.

3 Rammstein Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte and Industrial Metal band consisting of Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (electric bass), Christoph Schneider (drums) and Christian Lorenz (keyboard), that formed in 1994 in Berlin . ...read more.

I think that Rammstein is a metal band, but a lot of bands in their genre aren't. But they are more rooted in metal, you can tell that even by their keyboard licks.

I think EM is being unfair towards industrial artists. There's a lot more to industrial music than just heavy electronic sounds.

Spirit Of Metal is better

4 Tool Tool is an American alternative metal/progressive metal band, that was formed in 1990. ...read more.

Ha! This is a big surprise for me. But I actually agree with Encyclopaedia Metallum. Thank you, Powerfultekin, for adding them. I double-checked and confirm they are not on Encyclopaedia Metallum.

Yeah, this one I get. Progressive/alternative rock with metal tendencies.

Obviously metal. Not as heavy as other metal bands, but still metal.

They aren't metal, but they're a good band.

5 Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), and Rob Bourdon (drums). Linkin Park is associated with a mixture of alternative rock, hip hop, and techno. Some of their influences include Nine Inch Nails, Deftones,... read more

This has been a very helpful list. However I still don't agree with two or three decisions of Metallum. But for more than 90% I agree with their decisions.

Anyone who knows what metal is knows that Linkin Park isn't metal at all.

Linkin Park is an overaged boy band but with Guitars. They suck.

6 Disturbed Disturbed is an American alternative metal/nu-metal/hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band comprises vocalist David Draiman, bassist John Moyer, guitarist Dan Donegan, and drummer Mike Wengren. They are known for songs like "Down With the Sickness" and "Stricken".

They actually kind of are on Metal Archives. They had a different name when they first started, and that incarnation of them is on there.

Alternative metal/heavy metal

7 Between the Buried and Me Between the Buried and Me is an American progressive metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2000, the band consists of Tommy Giles Rogers, Jr.

Definitely are Metal, no elitist website will make me think otherwise

They are progressive metal, shows how inaccurate the site is

Definitely Progressive Metal, especially albums like Colours and Parallax II.

This one really surprised me

8 System Of A Down System of a Down, formed in 1994, is an Armenian-American alternative metal group from Glendale, California. The band name is sometimes shortened to System or SOAD. They've always been a very political band since their inception. Often being against genocide and war most notably in songs like: Pluck, Holy Mountains, and BYOB (Bring Your Own Bombs). Serj is an active activist who wants to change the world for the better.

The band's current members include Serj Tankian (vocalist, keyboards), Daron Malakian (guitarist, vocalist), Shavo Odadjian (bassist), and John Dolmayan (drummer). ...read more.

Great and correct explanation, zxm! Yes, their guitars aren't metal. A similar detailed analysis of the other elements of this song (and all their songs) prove the same - NOT metal.

System of a down is radio friendly horrorcore with horses in it. Not metal at all.

System of a Down is Metal. Case closed.

This is definitely not metal

9 Korn Korn is an American nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, with the addition of Ray Luzier, who replaced the band's original member, David ...read more.

It's good Korn admitted they weren't metal because Korn fans didn't believe anyone who was saying the same.
OK, but will Korn return the Grammy for Best Metal Performance they got in 2003? Megadeth had to wait for 14 more years to get their first Grammy in 2017. Dio has never gotten one. But in 2017 Korn were nominated again for a Metal Grammy, for the song Rotting In Vain...

They aren't and they never were. The band members freely admit that they aren't metal.

10 Infant Annihilator Infant Annihilator are an English/American deathcore band based in Hull, East Yorkshire. The band was formed in 2012 by drummer Aaron Kitcher and guitarist Eddie Pickard.

Are the guys at Metallum being pristine or what? What is the reason why Infant Annihilator are not on the encyclopaedia? Too extreme? This is metal, and a good one too. One might not agree with their visual...insanity, but that does not affect the music. Blasphemian is one of the best-structured metal songs of the 2000s. The video is disgusting, though.

Deathcore is metal, metallum has tons of deathcore bands on their site.

The ones that are excluded are the bands that are more meralcore than deathcore, but infant annihilator is deathcore/tech death.

Death is hardcore with death metal. They are and should be considered metal

Can someone please tell me what genre this is that isn't a sub genre of metal?

The Contenders
11 Alter Bridge Alter Bridge is an American hard rock/alternative metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 2004. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Myles Kennedy, lead guitarist and backing vocalist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips.

Their sound is definitely a lot closer to Heavy Metal than the likes of Disturbed, Slipknot, Shinedown, A7x etc. They do have some selective tracks that can be classified as Metal, but overall, their albums as a whole lies more or less on the fringe between Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. I personally think of them as an Alternative Metal band - 60% Metal & 40% Hard Rock. Nonetheless, they are an amazing modern rock band, unlike Creed and Nickelback, of course.
But, I also have a doubt concerning why Rush is on the Metal archive's bands list? Similar to Tool they are a progressive rock band. Maybe the website has a specific criteria that a band must possess at least one full metal album to be considered as a Heavy Metal band, which I reckon is the only logical reason why Rush is featured in there.

They never sounded like heavy metal to me.

12 Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin was an English hard rock band formed in London in 1968 as the New Yardbirds. The group consisted of Robert Plant (Vocal), Jimmy Page (Guitar), John Paul Jones (Bass, Keyboard) and John Bonham (Drums) and was very much the child of Jimmy Page who even financed their first tour. He had tasted some previous success with The [original] Yardbirds and was friendly with some big names in rock. Page states it was Keith Moon of The Who that claimed the band could only go down, like a lead balloon -- thus prompting the iconic name of Led Zeppelin. The band's heavy, guitar-driven sound, rooted in blues and psychedelia on their early albums, has earned them recognition as one of the progenitors ...read more.

Led Zeppelin is not a heavy metal band.I am sure of it.Though their sound wasn't heavy to become metal but their musical style was little bit of heavy metal.Especially riffs of Jimmy Page.But ultimately they aren't a heavy metal band.They are a hard rock and blues rock band.

Deep Purple and Black Sabbath are on Encyclopaedia Metallum.

Led Zeppelin themselves refuse to be labeled metal.

They were always Hard Rock, Folk Rock and Blues Rock

13 Five Finger Death Punch Five Finger Death Punch, often shortened to Five Finger or Death Punch, also abbreviated as 5FDP or FFDP, is an American metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Formed in 2005, the band's name comes from the kung fu movie The Five Fingers of Death.

Groove metal with strong alternative metal influences

? How so? Encyclopaedia is confusing me.

14 Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine is a rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California. The band consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk.
15 Breaking Benjamin Breaking Benjamin is a American post-grunge/alternative metal/rock band formed in 1998. The bands members all changed in the time between 2010 to 2014, with the exception of Ben Burnley (Vocals). The Ex-Members included Chad Szeliga (Drums), Aaron Fink (Guitar) and Mark Klepaspi (Bass). The band is one of the most well-known bands of its genre and is associated with its electronic sounds in their songs and overall technicality. After the release of their second album "We Are Not Alone", the band gained a lot success in Europe and Asia.

@Ananya - RE "I don't think that anyone would call them metal". Obviously many people think they are metal because Ben Burnley is at #5 on the list "Top Metal Singers". And he is not even that good. But some of the most talented metal singers are way lower than Ben - Russell Allen is at #81, Jon Oliva #79, Tobias Sammet #50, Michael Kiske #32, Hansi #21...

I don't think that anyone would call them metal

16 Animals As Leaders Animals as Leaders is an American progressive metal band from Washington, D.C. It is composed of guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes along with drummer Matt Garstka, having been formed by Abasi in 2007. Their musical style has also been described as djent.
17 Uriah Heep Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 that was one of the top rock bands in the early 1970s. Twelve of the band's albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart (Return to Fantasy reached No. 7 in 1975). Uriah Heep's distinctive features include a massive keyboard sound, strong vocal harmonies and (in the early years) David Byron's quasi-operatic vocals. They have sold over 45 million albums worldwide with over 4 million sales in the U.S, where its best-known songs include "Easy Livin'", "The Wizard", "Sweet Lorraine", and "Stealin'".

Okay I have checked it more than 3 times and this band wasnt there.But they are a heavy metal band,Traditional heavy metal.Though they were also a progressive and hard rock band but I don't think they have never been a metal band.MT, if you read this then what's your opinion on this band?

Ballsier than Deep Purple and slightly proggier. Great riffs and time changes. I don't understand why they don't consider the Heep Metal. Epic fail.

18 Anal C*** Anal C*** was an American grindcore band founded by vocalist Seth Putnam in 1988 in Newton, Massachusetts. The band is known for their highly offensive lyrics which included themes of misogyny, homophobia, racism, Nazism, antisemitism, and schadenfreude (ridicule of the unfortunate). Their music has been received negatively by critics, which the band stated that their music was intentionally bad, just to get negative reviews. Anal C*** ended when Seth Putnam died from a heart attack in 2011.

They aren't on Encyclopaedia Metallum.
I am pretty happy Metallum are trying to separate metal-based and punk-based bands (both types may sound heavy). Because grindcore is mostly punk and not metal. Some of the bands from genres with "core" and "grind" in the name only give metal a bad name when they aren't really metal.

19 Aurthohin Aurthohin is a Bangladeshi hard rock and metal band formed in 1998 by bassist, singer and songwriter Sumon. He is the only founding member still with the band. Aurthohin are known for their mix of melodic acoustic numbers and extremely heavy metal numbers in their albums often containing lots of bass slaps, taps and solos.

I tried to submit them a lot of times. But finally I understood why Metallum won't approve them. Is because they want a complete metal album. So I cannot add individual songs of their's. Because Aurthohin has always played hard rock and other genres in their albums along with metal. So it's impossible to add them there. But I can assure that they have lots of metal songs. For first two of their rules, they pass, they failed at the third rule.

All right, this band is not on the site. I though it's a foreign band that's why it isn't on the site. but when I saw other bands like - Warfaze, Cryptic Fate and Artcell on the site, then I think I should add it here. Because it's a metal band. I am sure of it

Now I'm more certain of that this is a metal band. but not on the site.

20 A Perfect Circle A Perfect Circle is an American alternative rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan.
21 Kvelertak Kvelertak is a six-piece heavy metal band from Rogaland, Norway, formed in 2007. The group comprises vocalist Erlend Hjelvik, guitarists Vidar Landa, Bjarte Lund Rolland and Maciek Ofstad, bassist Marvin Nygaard and drummer Kjetil Gjermundrød.
22 AC/DC AC/DC are a Australian hard rock band, formed in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young, who continued as members until Malcolm's illness and departure in 2014 . They were fronted by Bon Scott until his untimely death due to alcohol poisoning in 1979, after which they hired Brian Johnson to front the band. Commonly referred to as a hard rock or blues rock band.

They were never Metal. They're hard rock or at least rock and roll like angus said.

The line between hard rock and heavy metal is really thin.

23 Halestorm Halestorm is an American hard rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania, consisting of lead vocalist and guitarist Lzzy Hale, her brother drummer and percussionist Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger, and bassist Josh Smith.

Agree, they never sounded like metal to me.

24 Hatebreed Hatebreed is an American metalcore band from Connecticut, formed in 1994. They have released 7 studio albums to date, most recently The Concrete Confessional on May 13, 2016. Their musical style blends influences from hardcore punk and heavy metal; a prominent band within the hardcore scene, they have also been considered part of the metal scene.

There's no conceivable reason for Hatebreed to not be on Metal Archives. Hatebreed's absence is strictly trolling

25 Porcupine Tree Porcupine Tree are an English progressive rock band formed by musician Steven Wilson in 1987. The band began essentially as a solo project for Wilson, who created all of the band's music.

I don't understand. Rush is on Encyclopaedia Metallum, but Porcupine Tree isn't? �"

8Load More
PSearch List