Top 10 Bands that Often Open the Door for Heavier Music
I'm not talking about genres here. I'm talking about bands that helped brought many music fans to enjoy heavier more intense music. These bands necessarily don't have to be extremely heavy, just heavy enough to lead music fans to even heavier music. For example:I started to really dig heavier music after I listened to Linkin Park. Linkin Park was one of the bands to attract me to heaviness, with drop tuned guitar riffs and such. Now I love a lot of really heavy bands like Meshuggah, Gojira, Nile etc.
So basically this list will contain bands that could help start newcomers take on a wonderful journey into heavy music.
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 As mentioned already in the list description, Linkin Park was essentially the band to make me appreciate heaviness in music. I noticed a lot of music fans that grew up in the heyday of LP often shared the same feeling. Linkin Park while maybe not a band everyone has to like, is definitely a common ground for many who were introduced to heavier music.
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.
I still love System of a Down after all these years, and they definitely helped me enjoy heavier music. Next to Linkin Park, I think System of a Down was the biggest influencer to my appreciation for heavier music. And just like LP, the band helped many get introduced to heavier music as well.
Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge/alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario in 1992 with a line-up consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Their original name was Groundswell until they changed it to their current name in 1997. In 2003, the band's current guitarist Barry Stock was recruited to the band. In 2013 Gontier left the band due to creative differences. He was replaced with Brad's brother Matt Walst. This is another band I often see many say were the ones to get them into heavier music. While maybe not as influential to me, it definitely helped many get into that kind of stuff.
Three Days Grace didn't just get me into heavier music they also got me into rock music in general. Without them I would've never appreciated rock music as much as I do.
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 Silveria in 2007. Korn was originally formed by three of the members of the band L.A.P.D. ...read more. Korn often is that middle band that takes the starters of LP and 3DG and eventually leads them to bands of the likes of Pantera and Metallica. It's usually the next step forward for heavy music fans.
Limp Bizkit is an American nu-metal/rap metal/rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 1994. Their lineup consists of Fred Durst, Sam Rivers, John Otto, and Wes Borland. They're mostly known for their singles like Break Stuff, My Way, My Generation, Nookie, Eat You Alive, Rollin', and Take a Look Around... read more I may personally not like the band's stuff but I won't deny that they do bring their fans into more heavier music.
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. Much like Korn, Slipknot is kind of that middle band for many. I notice a lot of Slipknot fans eventually get attracted to bands like Lamb of God and Sepultura which pretty much kicks it all off from there.
Evanescence is an American alternative rock/alternative metal band. It was founded in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. I've seen people often state Evanescence was the band to get them into Metal and stuff. I can see that. Personally Evanescence lead me to bands like Nightwish and other Symphonic bands.
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).Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan (Drums), their most notable drummer, passed away in 2009, being temporarily replaced by Mike Portnoy, who was replaced by Arin Ilejay, who was finally replaced with Brooks Wackerman. A common phrase for fans "foREVer" was created after the Rev's death in his remembrance. ...read more.
This band helped me get into Metallica due to a recommendation after I told my Uncle I liked their Nightmare album. Next thing you know I was listening to Master of Puppets on loop for weeks.
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. I often see this band being a good gateway for Hip Hop fans to enjoy heavy music. I think their Evil Empire album is probably their most Hip Hop influenced album.
Metallica is an American Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup was James Hetfield (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist), Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Ron McGovney (Bassist). The group came into mainstream from their Self-Titled album and the hit single "Enter Sandman".With their first two albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning reaching underground success, their third effort, Master of Puppets has since become one of the most important heavy metal albums ever, as it became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. The title track has since become the band's most played song live. ...read more.
I was debating whether to add them but I figured someone would eventually. Metallica and Maiden are usually the first metal band for most people.
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. Wasn't the case for me but I seen many state that this band got them into metal and heavier stuff.
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian ...read more.
Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band that formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are often referred to as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and are even commonly called “The Metal Gods”, after one of the songs on their 1980 album “British Steel”. ...read more.
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 ...read more.
Def Leppard are an English hard rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the new wave of British heavy metal movement.
Dokken are an American metal band formed in 1979. They split up in 1989 and reformed four years later.
Poison is an American glam and hard rock band that achieved great commercial success in the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s.
Mötley Crüe is an American metal band formed in Los Angeles, California on January 17, 1981. The group was founded by bassist Nikki Sixx and drummer Tommy Lee, lead vocalist Vince Neil and lead guitarist Mick Mars.
Quiet Riot is an American heavy metal band. The band was founded in 1973, by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni under the name Mach 1. They then changed the name to Little Women, before settling on Quiet Riot in May 1975. The band's name was inspired by a conversation with Rick Parfitt of ...read more.
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Megadeth was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was fired from Metallica. They have released 15 studio albums to date, and have gone through many lineup changes, with Dave Mustaine being the sole constant member.They released their debut album “Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!” in 1985, but became successful after the release of “Peace Sells...But Who’s Buying?” in 1986. ...read more.