Top Ten Best American Metal Bands
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"... read more They may all be good, but compared to Metallica, all of these bands are amateurs. Fact. If it wasn't for Metallica, none of them would exist. Hands down, the best band, metal or not. They really know how to write music, especially by today's standards.
And they're doing the best they can considering how old they are now, with some of their songs being played faster than the recorded version. Metallica, keep writing awesome, tasteful music! Love you guys!
"Not What They Used to Be" would only be accurate before "Death Magnetic" came out. That album is total thrash metal like their old stuff, and it's an extremely underrated album. Just listen to "All Nightmare Long," it's so awesome!
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... read more This band is just awesome. I just love them. Can't believe they're so low on the list!
*Ahem* Did we forget Megadeth is an American band?
Very speedy and full of great solos. Megadeth is the best American band.
Avenged Sevenfold is an American alternative metal band formed in 1999 in California. Their longest lineup consisted of M. Shadows (vocals), Synyster Gates (lead guitar), Zacky Vengeance (rhythm guitar), Johnny Christ (bass guitar), and The Rev (drums)... read more M. Shadows is a one-of-a-kind vocalist, and I love his higher vocal range and falsetto. He can growl like any other metal band, which, in my opinion, is better than James Hetfield and Corey Taylor. This makes A7X better than Metallica, but I agree Metallica should top them because Metallica is one of my favorite metal bands ever. Dream Theater should be in second place.
Slipknot is a great band with a bunch of great songs, but Avenged Sevenfold is Avenged Sevenfold, with such awesome guitarists, a superb vocalist, and the world's best drummer. RIP Jimmy.
Slayer was an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. They rose to fame with their 1986 album Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the big four of thrash metal bands, the others being Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax... read more Why is Slayer not number one? They are definitely the best thrash metal band, and both Megadeth and Metallica are thrash. Slayer has released the best thrash metal album (Reign in Blood) and definitely deserve to be number one.
My list:
1. Slayer
2. Megadeth
3. Dio
Every member is incredibly influential and brought something unique to metal.
Pantera was an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul. The band started out as a glam metal act in the 1980s with little success. After discarding their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, the band signed a major record deal with... read more Pantera is the best. Rex is a badass bassist. Vinnie Paul can wail on the drums and has an amazing sound. You know his drumming. Phil is the greatest frontman, hands down. I just saw PHA and the Illegals. Awesome. But Dimebag is metal. He's the best. Period. Notice metal fell off after that idiot ruined it.
I saw Pantera along with most of the bands on this list. No one can come close to Pantera. The connection between the fans and the band may never be duplicated. Slayer is close in that category, but they lack the ferocious vocals of Phil and the amazing guitar of Dime. Pantera influences all new metal and set the bar when Far Beyond Driven debuted at #1.
Dio was an American heavy metal band formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Do I even have to explain why Dio is the greatest American metal band? Dio's voice is overwhelmingly powerful, the riffs are cool as hell, and the songs have great lyrics. No doubt, the greatest American metal band ever.
With vocals like that, Dio is the boss. Plus, he was in Black Sabbath, and I love them.
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 Their music is beautifully complex and yet heavy at the same time. They also have a variety of songs with different styles, all of which are amazing. Surely they should take first place.
Why only fifth place? I mean, the others are all pretty cool, but DT gives us chills, gives us masterpieces, and makes us believe they're gods. Yay.
Listen to the Falling into Infinity album!
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
Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner. Death is considered to be one of the most influential bands in heavy metal and a pioneering force in death metal. Its debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, has been widely regarded as the first death metal record, while the band's... read more Death made 7 decent albums (many of them much more than decent) while Metallica only made 3.5 decent albums. Come on, I can't believe how extremely overrated that band is. Death, on the other hand, made true, good quality metal.
Ridiculously good riffs, extreme heaviness, overall musical proficiency, very good lyrics (towards the end of their career), and no sellouts. Chuck Schuldiner was always true to metal, making brilliant music and giving metal a new meaning, and for that, I thank him.
Recommended songs: Crystal Mountain, Misanthrope, Zombie Ritual, Pull the Plug, Spirit Crusher, The Philosopher, Cosmic Sea, Flesh and the Power it Holds.
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... read more Slipknot is one of the best bands I have ever heard. I'm a big country music fan, but Slipknot and Misfits have pulled me into this whole world of music. I love Slipknot!
Slipknot is so amazing. The best songs, in my opinion, are Eyeless, My Plague, or Wait and Bleed. The best album is Slipknot. If you like Nu-Metal, go on iTunes and check them out.
Slipknot should be higher than Avenged Sevenfold. They should be in the top 3!
The Newcomers
Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean, drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm guitarist Pepper Keenan.
Staind is a post-grunge/alternative metal band that was formed in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1995.The band members of Staind are Aaron Lewis (vocalist and guitarist), Jon Wysocki (drummer, who left in 2011), Johnny April (bassist), and Mike Mushok (guitarist). After Jon's departure, Sal... read more
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. They should easily be top 10. Joey Belladonna and Scott Ian are legendary together.
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the group consists of vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Chris Adler. Lamb of God is the most talented on the list. Obviously, people think it's little 8th graders voting, but I'm in year 9. I know good music when I hear it.
Linkin Park is on this list? Awful. That's why I voted for LOG. They're the best, and people need to realize it.
It's called "Pure American Metal" for a reason. They NEED to be number 1.
Theocracy is a Christian progressive power metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia.
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 As much as I want to give this to Disturbed, I have to give it to Korn. Metallica copied other metal bands such as Judas Priest and Black Sabbath, bringing nothing new to the table of metal. Bands like Cannibal Corpse and Death were just too heavy for non-metalheads. When Korn came around, they introduced something heavy enough for real metalheads and soft enough for non-metalheads - the perfect combination.
It is true that if Korn never came around, Slipknot and maybe even Disturbed would never have made it. I love Disturbed and Slipknot, but this is just the cold hard truth. Avenged Sevenfold definitely would not have made it without Korn. Why are they even on this list? They are closer to emo than actual metal.
Living Sacrifice is an American Christian metal band formed in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1989. Over the years, their music has evolved to encompass various styles, including thrash metal, death metal, and metalcore. They are considered pioneers in the Christian metal genre, known for their unflinching... read more
Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1979 in Richmond, California. Spanning a career of 37 years, Exodus has gone through numerous lineup changes, two extended hiatuses, and the deaths of two former band members.
Overkill is an American thrash metal band, formed in 1980 in New Jersey. They have gone through many line-up changes, with singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth and bassist D.D. Overkill at #56? After dozens of mediocre bands, some of them not even metal? Shame on this list.
Manowar is an American power metal band from New York City, New York. Formed in 1980, the group is known for lyrics based on fantasy and mythology.They have been a significant influence in the history of metal, especially in genres such as power metal, symphonic metal, Viking metal, war metal,... read more
Tool is an American alternative metal/progressive metal band, that was formed in 1990.The band is set together between Maynard James Keenan (Vocals), Danny Carey (Drums), Adam Jones (Guitar) and since 1995 Justin Chancellor (Bass).
The band is known for their influences from electronic... read more
One of the most unique and influential acts in recent metal.
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. Their songs have emotion and meaning, and they deliver it through their music.
Come on, this should be in the top 5!
Cannibal Corpse is a American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1988. The band is known for their graphic album covers, explicitly violent lyrics and song titles like "I C** Blood" The group got into mainstream after performing the song "Hammer Smashed Face" in the 1994 film Ace Ventura:... read more This should be in the top ten. This shows a true American brutal death metal band.
Dark Angel is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1981. Their over-the-top style (extremely fast, heavy and lengthy songs with lots of tempo changes, lyrics and extended instrumental parts) earned them the nickname "the L.A. Caffeine Machine". Although Dark Angel had... read more
Trivium is an American Heavy Metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Their frontman, Matt Heafy, lead guitarist Corey Beaulieu and Bassist Paulo Gregoletto are the band's most consistent members and have appeared in every album since... read more Diverse and ever-evolving. Extremely talented musicians.
Because Trivium kicks all of the others' asses.
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". These guys should be higher. They have great songs like Down with the Sickness, Stricken, Indestructible, and Asylum.
Listen to the songs, and if you like them, come back to the list and vote for them.
Amazing band. They deserve to rank higher than Slipknot and Avenged Sevenfold.
They deserve to be higher in the ratings. David's voice is incredible.