Top 10 Bands Every New Metal Fan Needs to Know

Metal is a huge world, and when you first step into it, the good stuff can hit you like a boot to the chest. One band pulls you in with speed, another drags you through gloom, and before long you're chasing riffs, growls, solos, and weird album art like you've been doing it for years. You are not just picking songs here. You are figuring out what kind of metal fan you want to be.

Some bands teach you how heavy can feel sharp, epic, ugly, or flat-out beautiful, and that is where the real fun starts. This list is built for the moment when you want to stop skimming the surface and start getting loud about what you love.

1. Opeth

   

   Opeth is a Swedish progressive metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Åkerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which led to Åkerfeldt becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force.... read more

   Awesome progressive death metal band.

2. Blind Guardian

   

   Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are widely credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing and incorporate extensive orchestral... read more

3. Agalloch

   

   Agalloch was an American black and folk metal band based in Portland, Oregon. The band was formed in 1995 by frontman John Haughm. Before disbanding in May 2016, Agalloch released five studio albums, four EPs, two singles, one split single, two demos, four compilation albums, and one live video.

   Their album "The Mantle" is possibly the greatest album ever made.

   Just listen to The Mantle or Ashes Against the Grain.

4. Death

   

   Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner. The band is widely considered one of the most influential in heavy metal and a pioneer of the death metal genre. Their debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, is regarded as the first true death metal record. Death released seven studio... read more

   If you want to get into death metal, start with this. One of the greatest bands ever.

   R.I.P. Chuck.

5. Iced Earth

   

   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.... read more

   This band is a must. New metal fans don't have to miss songs like Dante's Inferno, Dracula, Melancholy, Anthem, Damien, and many more. Godly singer and thundering riffing.

6. Overkill

   

   Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey. The band has gone through many lineup changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Verni remaining the only constant members.... read more

   Very awesome band!

7. Accept

   

   Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, and bassist Peter Baltes. The band rose to prominence in the 1980s with albums like Balls to the Wall and Metal Heart. Accept is considered one of the pioneers of... read more

8. Annihilator

   

   Annihilator is a Canadian thrash metal band founded in 1984 by Jeff Waters and John Bates. Waters, the band's primary creative force and only constant member, has served as a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, and producer over the years. The band gained recognition with its debut album, Alice... read more

   New metal fans should also try the technical version of thrash. New fans will hear about the Big 4 and other regular thrash bands, but not about technical thrash.

   Masterpieces from Annihilator: Alison Hell, Human Insecticide, and Schizos (Are Never Alone).

9. Gojira

   

   Gojira is a progressive and death metal band from Bayonne, France. The band was originally known as Godzilla until 2001. Its members include Joe Duplantier on vocals and rhythm guitar, Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on lead guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass.

10. Testament

    

    Testament is an American thrash metal band from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1983 under the name Legacy, the band currently consists of vocalist Chuck Billy, guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, bassist Steve DiGiorgio, and drummer Gene Hoglan. Testament's lineup has varied over the years,... read more

The Newcomers
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    Fear Factory

    

    Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band formed in 1989. Over the course of their career, they have released ten full-length studio albums, exploring a range of styles including industrial metal, death metal, groove metal, and thrash metal. They are recognized for pioneering a fusion of extreme... read more

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    Stratovarius

    

    Stratovarius is a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation, they have released sixteen studio albums, six video albums, and three live albums. Stratovarius is recognized as one of the pioneers of the European power metal scene and is known for their melodic and symphonic sound... read more

The Contenders

13. Possessed

    

    Possessed is an American thrash and death metal band originally formed in 1982 in the San Francisco Bay Area. They are noted for their fast, aggressive playing style and Jeff Becerra's guttural vocals. The band is widely recognized as one of the earliest pioneers of death metal and is often credited... read more

14. Rainbow

    

    Rainbow is a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, active from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1993 to 1997. The band was originally formed with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow was ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and has sold over 28 million... read more

    Rainbow played a key role in metal's evolution in the 1970s. Dio's talent was discovered.

    Genre-defining songs by Rainbow:

    From the 1976 album: Stargazer, A Light in the Black, and Tarot Woman

    From the 1978 album: Gates of Babylon, Kill the King, and L.A. Connection

15. Primal Fear

    

    Primal Fear is a German metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner. They are known for playing heavy metal, power metal, and speed metal, with a style often compared to Judas Priest, though Primal Fear is generally faster and heavier. The band features dual lead guitars, and Ralf Scheepers... read more

    These guys currently play the purest form of metal, with no influences from other genres (no prog, punk, rap, folk, etc.).

    Songs: King for a Day, Strike, All for One, Diabolus, and Rebel Faction.

16. Nightwish

    

    Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. It was formed in 1996 by Tuomas Holopainen, Emppu Vuorinen, and Tarja Turunen. The current lineup includes Holopainen, Vuorinen, Floor Jansen, Troy Donockley, Kai Hahto, and Jukka Koskinen.

17. Morbid Angel

    

    Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida, formed in 1983 by guitarist Trey Azagthoth. They are recognized as pioneers in the genre for their technical compositions, blast beat drumming, and occult-themed lyrics. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked their 1989 debut album Altars... read more

    Their last couple of albums have been pretty bad, but I still like them because of their earlier stuff.

18. Metallica

    

    Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more

    Every metal fan needs to know this great and legendary band.

19. Iron Maiden

    

    Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Their most critically acclaimed period is widely considered to be from 1983 to 1989, during which they released landmark albums such as Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... read more

20. Gamma Ray

    

    Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal band Helloween. The band has released multiple albums and is known for its influence on the European metal scene. Hansen's work with Gamma Ray helped define... read more

    Rebellion in Dreamland, Land of the Free, Last Before the Storm, Armageddon, Anywhere in the Galaxy, Rain.

21. Savatage

    

    Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1979 in Tarpon Springs, Florida. The group was initially called Avatar before changing its name to Savatage. It went on to gain recognition for its symphonic and progressive metal style.

    Excellent band. Hall of the Mountain King, Morphine Child, Handful of Rain, Chance, Gutter Ballet, Commissar, Scream Murder, Sirens.

22. Exodus

    

    Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. Over a career spanning more than 45 years, Exodus has undergone numerous lineup changes and two extended hiatuses. The band is considered part of the Bay Area thrash metal scene.

23. Equilibrium

    

    Equilibrium is a German folk metal band known for blending multiple metal subgenres. The band's music incorporates elements of folk music, power metal, black metal, and symphonic metal, often accompanied by epic and mythological themes. Formed in 2001, Equilibrium has released several albums and built... read more

24. Arch Enemy

    

    Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Halmstad, formed in 1996 as a supergroup. Its members have played in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, and Eucharist. The band became known for its blend of aggressive guitar riffs, melodic solos, and dynamic... read more

    New metal fans can try something extreme yet still melodic and not very brutal (melodeath). A woman growling like a man would be a pretty cool start.

    Then they can try other melodeath bands such as Amon Amarth and COB, as well as regular death metal bands and technical death metal bands.

    I personally like, at most, the song War Eternal by Arch Enemy.

25. Dream Theater

    

    Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in Boston, Massachusetts. The band was formed in 1985 under the name "Majesty," later changing it to Dream Theater. The original lineup consisted of John Petrucci on guitar, John Myung on bass, and Mike Portnoy on drums.... read more

    If you listen to DT, then you are officially a metal fan.

26. Anthrax

    

    Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. The band is considered one of the Big Four of thrash metal, alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. They are known for albums such as Among the Living and for pioneering the fusion... read more

27. Dio

    

    Dio was an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 by vocalist Ronnie James Dio after he left Black Sabbath. The band was also co-founded by drummer Vinny Appice, who had played with Dio in Black Sabbath. Dio released several acclaimed albums, including Holy Diver and The Last in Line, and remained... read more