Top Ten Lightest Heavy Metal Bands

Of all the bands in the world considered metal, which of them would you consider to be the least heavy or intense?
The Top Ten
1 Ghost Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band that was formed in Linköping in 2008. The band consists of five masked instrumentalists known as the Nameless Ghouls, and a demonic anti-pope known as Papa Emeritus. They have released four studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. Each album introduces a new version of Papa Emeritus... read more

They suck. They are super annoying... how does anybody like this!

Oh yes, plus generic and poppy. They are barely metal to me.

I agree with Metal_Treasure, they’re just a modern metal band who dresses like King Diamond to fool people into believing it’s good. Kinda like Slipknot.

2 Dream Theater Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band from Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name of "Majesty", only to change its name to Dream Theater later.

The members of the band’s original lineup consisted of John Petrucci (Guitar), John Myung (Bass) and Mike Portnoy (Drums). The band had multiple keyboardists and singers, but as of and since 1991, the band's... read more

Of course they have their heavy music and metallic feel, but I put DT an number two for two reasons: (1) They also make a lot of light music (i.e. hollow years, wither, another day, etc.) and (2) the singer's voice (James LaBrie) is very light, almost to a point at which he could be a pop singer.

For me they have always been a prog rock band with some heavier metall-ish songs. Their 2016 album, The Astonishing, is not a metal album to my ear. This album sounds like a Christmas album by Trans-Siberian Orchestra, for the most part.

3 Ayreon Ayreon is a musical project by Dutch songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist musician and record producer Arjen Anthony Lucassen. Ayreon's music is described as progressive rock, progressive metal and power metal sometimes combined with genres such as folk, electronica, experimental and classical music.

I honestly don't even know why he is considered metal. I've listened to his first to albums, and they definitely are more prog rock than metal. Actual Fantasy is reminiscent of Pink Floyd.

I agree - more prog rock than metal.

4 Andromeda Andromeda is a progressive metal band from Sweden formed in 1999. They are currently signed to Massacre Records, Replica Records and Avalon/Marquee.

Relatively unknown prog metal band, but they are certainly one of the less intense ones.

5 Within Temptation Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt.
6 Sonata Arctica Sonata Arctica is a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, Finland. Created as a hard rock band named Tricky Beans, they later changed to Tricky Means and finally to Sonata Arctica, when they shifted to power metal.
7 Guilt Machine
8 Amaranthe Amaranthe is a Swedish heavy metal band notable for having three lead vocalists: Elize Ryd, Jake E. Lundberg, and Henrik Englund Wilhemsson, each presenting a different vocal style. Their second album, The Nexus, reached 6th on Swedish charts, 4th on Finnish charts, and reached a peak of 12th on the US Heatseekers charts . They are coming out with a new album October 21st, 2016.

Yes, pop and dance music with some heavy things from time to time. They aren't even metal to me.

9 Eight Bells
10 Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a progressive rock band, the band shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of... read more

Their stuff was very heavy for the early 70s (Burn, Hard Lovin' Man, Mistreated, Black Night, Stormbringer). But currently we have death metal and compared to it, the mentioned Deep Purple songs aren't heavy.

The Contenders
11 Volbeat Volbeat are a Danish heavy metal band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll, heavy metal and rockabilly.
12 Beyond the Black Beyond the Black is a German symphonic metal band from Mannheim originally consisting of Jennifer Haben (vocals), Nils Lesser (guitar), Christopher Hummels (guitar, vocals), Tobias Derer (drums), Erwin Schmidt (bass) and Michael Hauser (keyboard). As of August 2016, the members parted ways, with Haben planning on continuing the project with a new band whose member have not yet been confirmed. Formed... read more

A great Symphonic Metal band, yet very melodious and focusing more on creating atmosphere than heaviness. Sometimes they interpolate musical elements typically associated with Middle Ages. A bit like Within Temptation in their "Mother Earth" and "The Silent Force" era (though I have to say that BTB's two albums are both at a 4 star level for me, WT are one of my Top 5 music artists).

They are barely metal. Vocals are pop vocals.

13 Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were a Heavy Metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward.

The band became mainstream after improving after their debut album got panned. In 1978, Osbourne was fired and replaced with former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Who went to release... read more
14 Limp Bizkit 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
15 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 Silveria in 2007. Korn was originally formed by three of the members of the band L.A.P.D... read more
16 Symphony X Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey. Founded in 1994, the band consists of guitarist Michael Romeo, keyboardist Michael Pinnella, drummer Jason Rullo, lead vocalist Russell Allen and bassist Michael Lepond.

I disagree a little bit here - they aren't very soft and there are many other bands that are softer than Symphony X.

17 Queensryche Queensrÿche is an American progressive heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. They released their self titled EP in 1984, but didn’t gain notoriety until the release of their critically acclaimed album Operation: Mindcrime in 1988. As of now, they have one EP, and 15 studio albums.
18 Skillet Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee in 1996 and based in the United States.

A Christian/Hard Rock band and occasionally Christian/Alternative Metal band. Their newer music isn’t that heavy to be honest.

They are NOT metal though

19 Stratovarius Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation, they have released 16 studio albums, 4 DVD and 3 live albums.
20 Avantasia Avantasia is a German supergroup rock opera project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist of the band Edguy.

Yes, they are light.

21 Motley Crue 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.

Motley Crue is a rock band from Los Angeles, California in 1981. They mostly play Glam Metal, an extreme style of rock music, but not very heavy.

This isn't metal guys

22 Burzum Burzum is an influential black metal solo project of Norwegian musician and writer Varg Vikernes. Burzum came to prominence at the beginning of the Norwegian Black Metal scene in the early 1990s. Vikernes was imprisoned for 21 years for the murder of Mayhem guitarist Euronymous, and charges of church arson. In prison, Burzum released 2 dark ambient albums recorded entirely on synthesizers. Burzum... read more

Varg would be disappointed that he is in this list...

23 Fields of the Nephilim
24 Judas Priest 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”.

They are known for several of their hit songs, which include “Painkiller”, “Breaking The Law”, You’ve Got... read more
25 Nightwish Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and lead singer Tarja Turunen. It's currently formed by Tuomas, Emppu, lead vocalist Floor Jansen, bassist and vocalist Marco Hietala, multiinstrumentist and vocalist Troy Donockley, and drummer Jukka Nevalainen (currently on hiatus and... read more
8Load More
PSearch List