Top Ten Metal Bands With a Unique Sound
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing. They also incorporate large ...read more. This metal band has a very unique dense sound thanks to intense drumming and multi-layered vocal harmonies. Vocal harmonies are not typical in metal but the band still sounds heavy enough.
Next, this is the only band that can do certain odd things and still sound amazing: to put oriental folk tunes in a metal song with heavy riffs and intense drumming, then add overlapping vocal harmonies like in Bohemian Rhapsody, and finally to spice this mixture with a perfect symphonic orchestration. It’s difficult to beat that (try: Wheel Of Time).
Their acoustic ballads sound pretty unique, too (The Bard’s Song, Lord Of The Rings). In “Lord of the Rings” when lyrics say "Slow down", music speeds up! This is so odd but pure genius - it sends controversial messages to your brain and I'm sure they did it on purpose. It’s really funny at live shows because when Hansi sings "Slow down", the crowd starts jumping, following the music (and Hansi smiles ...more
Tool is an American alternative metal/progressive metal band, that was formed in 1990. ...read more.
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.
Currently thrash sound is so popular and overplayed that nobody think it's unique. But in the early 80s Metallica sound was most certainly unique and almost revolutionary. Also, even now, everybody would recognise Metallica sound - when you hear a Metallica song you know it's Metallica.
Meshuggah is a Swedish progressive metal band from Umeå, formed in 1987. They are often considered the fathers or founders of the djent metal sub genre due to their use of downtuned guitars. They are also known for their song “Bleed”, which is known for its extremely complicated instrumentation, especially the drumming. They released their most recent album, “The Violent Sleep of Reason” on October 7th, 2016.
Meshuggah's line-up consists of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992 and bassist Dick Lövgren since 2004. You can listen for a couple of seconds and know it's them. The odd rhythms and low heavy riffs played on 8 string guitars, and Kidman's strange but effective style of shouting. Plus Thorendal's solos which sometimes give it a spacey sort of vibe, a very out there, almost alien feel. They were extremely influential and lots of bands imitate their sound, but Meshuggah still stands alone
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. ...read more.
Whispered is a melodic death metal band that combines musical elements of Finnish and Japanese culture, being formed in Finland in the year of 2004. Whispered draws inspiration from traditional Japanese battles. They play Samurai Metal
Opeth is a Swedish progressive death metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Akerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which lead to Mikael becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force. Along with ...read more.
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in early 2000 and composed of bassist Troy Sanders, guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor.
In Flames is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden, formed in 1990. ...read more.
Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, formed in 1992. The band takes its name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom.
Kataklysm is a Canadian death metal band. They call their musical style "northern hyperblast" after an advertisement in M.E.A.T.
Babymetal is a Japanese metal idol band. Their line-up consists of Suzuka Nakamoto as "Su-metal", Yui Mizuno as "Yuimetal", and Moa Kikuchi as "Moametal". Considering how they basically invented a new genre, I guess they deserve a spot here.
Why they don't get hit by a car or at least by a horse!?!?!?!
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.
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, ...read more.
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. ...read more.
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. They look unique but does this mean they sound unique, too? I'm so not sure...
Destruction is a German thrash metal band. They are considered one of the "The Big Four" of the German thrash metal scene, the others being Kreator, Sodom and Tankard. Despite thrash metal being almost the same, these guys managed to develop a unique thrash sound combining low e string chunks with high notes giving a crazy and unique riffing style in thrash metal.
Listen to Spiritual genocide, Under attack, Bestial invasion, Mad butcher, Curse the gods and many more.
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. It was formed in 1984 under the name Rose, then Purgatory, by guitarist and main songwriter Jon Schaffer, and original drummer Greg Seymour. The band's music has also been described as thrash metal and power metal.They released their debut album in 1990 and have since released twelve studio albums, four EPs, three compilations,... read more
Papa Roach is an American rock band from Vacaville, California. Formed in 1993, their first major-label release was the triple-platinum album Infest.
Vektor is an American progressive thrash metal band from Tempe, Arizona. The band was formed under the name Locrian around June 2003, but changed their name to Vektor in 2004.
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.
Bullet for My Valentine are a Welsh metalcore band from Bridgend, formed in 1998. The band is composed of Matthew Tuck (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Michael Paget (lead guitar, backing vocals), Michael Thomas (drums) and Jamie Mathias (bass guitar). Former members include Nick Crandle and Jason James; ...read more.
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California. The band, which was founded in 1988, consists of Chino Moreno, Stephen Carpenter, Frank Delgado, Abe Cunningham and Sergio Vega. They have released a total of 9 studio albums. Some of their most popular songs are Change (in the House of the Flies), Passenger, Bored, Minerva, Rocket Skates, Back to School (Mini Maggit), Beauty School, Diamond Eyes, Hole in the Earth, Mein, Digital Bath, and etc.