Top 10 Best Female Metal Singers
When you think of metal music, the first thing that often comes to mind is aggressive riffs, pounding drums, and powerful vocals. But let's not forget about the incredible women who have shaped the scene with their unique voices and presence. From symphonic metal queens to growling vocalists who can rival the heaviest of male counterparts, these female metal singers bring something truly special to the genre. They're not just part of the metal world - they're driving it forward in their own way.
Floor Jansen is a Dutch singer-songwriter and vocal coach. She is currently vocalist of Nightwish and leader of Revamp. Floor Jansen has the best technique and the most versatility out of any female metal vocalist. This woman exudes metal. She is not only the best female vocalist in the genre but also one of the best voices in metal.
Since After Forever disbanded, she's been working with her project "ReVamp." Both bands are worth checking out alone for Floor's voice. At the time of writing, there is also a very high possibility that she will become the third lead singer for Nightwish, and I very much hope that this happens. She deserves to be recognized by a wider audience because she is so fantastic at what she does.
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli (born August 17, 1977), generally known as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She is a soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves... read more Tarja has a beautiful voice, both strong and full of emotion. Albums like Oceanborn and Wishmaster showcase her abilities best. I don't like her simply because she's a soprano. There are many out there in metal. She indeed has a unique voice, the one that introduced me to this kind of music. Nightwish and Tuomas's music were undoubtedly the most complementary to her voice. I like her solo career, but it cannot compare to the greatness that Nightwish is. To those who claim that operatic voices have no emotion, listen to "Two for Tragedy" and "Dead Boy's Poem."
Sharon den Adel, Dutch singer and the vocalist of symphonic rock band Within Temptation.Together with her partner, Robert Westerholt, den Adel is one of the founding members of Within Temptation. She has defined their work as epic and cinematic. Her vocals play a major role in the band's sound,... read more
Best growling - Otep Shamaya (Otep)
Best opera metal - Lori Lewis (Therion)
Best new age metal - Amy Lee (Evanescence)
The most melodic and touching voice ever, who can sing whatever you want, even without any singing classes - Sharon Den Adel!
She is a very underrated singer, only because she doesn't pay journalists to call her "a Goddess," like some other singers do (like Tarja Turunen, whose husband pays for every interview and headline with such a ridiculous title, to make you feel like there is nobody else who sings even better!). I just hope that the voting is going to be fair once and for all, and that the really best singer is going to win!
Simone Johanna Maria Simons is a Dutch singer-songwriter. She is the lead vocalist of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. Not only one of the hottest, but also one of the greatest voices in female-fronted bands, or any genre of female singing for that matter. Listen to Tides of Time. It's a beautiful ballad which brings out the best in Simone's vocals.
She writes awesome songs. Her voice and stage presence are amazing, and her headbanging is on point. Also, the band is obviously having a great time together when they perform.
They all love what they're doing. They've never done a bad album.
She is not as powerful as Floor vocally, but the emotion, beauty, and technical ability in her voice are astounding. Definitely the best.
Suzuka Nakamoto, born 1997 in Hiroshima, Japan and known as Su-Metal in the kawaii metal-band BABYMETAL. She is a Japanese idol, singer and model. Suzuka is represented by the talent agency Amuse, Inc. and has been a member of two musical groups formed by the company: Karen Girl's and Sakura Gakuin... read more She's literally been on stage since she was in diapers and has shown at a young age an incredible command of the audience, a skill artists almost thrice her age have been known to achieve. Her voice has matured, especially now that she turned 20, and will only continue to improve from here on out. I'm not saying she's better than the others here, but she definitely deserves a higher spot on this list.
Most vocalists stay within their comfort zone, but Su-Metal can sing just about any type of song thrown at her and sing it remarkably well. Add to that her dancing and stage presence, and she is definitely one of the top few vocalists in the business.
Alissa White-Gluz is a Canadian vocalist, best known as the former lead vocalist and one of the founding members of the Canadian metal band, The Agonist, and current lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal group, Arch Enemy. Total badass. Her growls are brutal, and her cleans are excellent. She writes really good songs, too. Alissa was great with The Agonist but horribly underused in Arch Enemy.
Why get someone with a voice like that if all you want is half of what she can do?
She has an amazing voice and great stage presence. She makes the music video beautiful, and some of her choices in living on her own terms and not giving a damn about the world are perfect.
She complements the rest of the band (Arch Enemy) in all aspects.
From my point of view, Alissa should be ranked third.
Amy Lynn Hartzler, known professionally as Amy Lee, is an American singer-songwriter, classically trained pianist and composer. She is also the lead singer to the Arkansas band Evanescence. Amy Lee is in a category of her own. She doesn't have an operatic voice (Tarja is the best in that area). She is not and has never been a metal symphonic but a goth rock artist. I say 'artist' for a reason, because unlike many women here who only sing, she creates magical melodies. Her lyrics are pure poetry, unlike some fairy tale nonsense, and her voice is so full of emotions that no other performer can convey to an audience. So stop putting Amy Lee in any lists. She is one of a kind!
Her voice is great, but she doesn't sing metal. Learn this already.
Johanna Charlotte Wessels is a Dutch singer-songwriter who was born in Zwolle, Netherlands. She is best known as the lead vocalist for the Dutch symphonic metal band Delain. She is also in the symphonic rock musical group called Phantasma. When a singer delivers a full load of emotions, more than you can handle. When a singer steps on the lines of songwriting and launches previously successful songs to new, indescribable heights. When a singer makes you cry listening to songs that are not meant to be soft and sensitive ballads, but powerful metal creations. When the fans break down with just a move of her eyes or a tiny facial expression, or get lost in a small dance on stage, then you know that this is the best singer in the world for you!
It's no big secret that I consider Tarja to be the best, both in Nightwish and in her solo work. However, I recently started listening to Anette, and I now understand how her other fans feel about her. "Seven Days to the Wolves" is, in my opinion, the best song I've heard her sing and perform.
The studio version of her singing it is so totally awesome that I can't even listen to it without breaking down into tears each time I hear it! I'm sorry, but it's just way too intense!
Furthermore, it breaks my heart to hear that she was kicked out of Nightwish. Throughout her time with the band, as I have commented before elsewhere, she gave it her all to do the best she could with her singing and performing. As I always say, at least she was trying! What really hurts is the fact that she was also pregnant at the time and, at one point, ill with the flu (I think it was stomach flu).
I could go on forever about this, but I believe I've said enough about it. I still respect Nightwish, of course, but that was truly a sad moment in my life and my time of listening to this band entirely. I love you, Anette Olzon! May your legacy never be forgotten!
Vibeke Stene is a Norwegian soprano. She is best known as the former vocalist in the gothic metal band, Tristania. I've been listening to Tristania since 2007. While I am mostly a fan of Xandria and Nightwish these days (and just recently totally impressed by Draconian), I feel it is time for me to express my thoughts and feelings about Vibeke. She is AWESOME!
Sanguine Sky and World of Glass are by far my two favorite songs featuring her singing. There is truly something about her, something in her voice, that I don't quite fully understand, but... I mean, she is, in all honesty, magical in one way or another. I wish her and this astoundingly unique band the best of luck and fortune! Thanks!
The Newcomers
Taylor Michel Momsen is an American musician, singer, model, and former actress. She is known for portraying the character of Jenny Humphrey on the CW teen drama series Gossip Girl and Cindy Lou Who in the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.
Yes! She is back and singing with all the experience and emotion she has kept for years. I think she's singing better than before! For God's sake, put a picture of her here!
Should be number 1 in my opinion. The most beautiful, angelic voice I have ever heard.
It's a shame she left Draconian, but she'll always be my number 1.
Very dramatic, angelic, and versatile voice. She should actually be part of the top list.
Heidi Parviainen is a Finnish lyric soprano, and best known as the former lead singer of Finnish metal band Amberian Dawn. Heidi really does have a beautiful voice. I really like sopranos, but here, especially.
I don't think anyone really compares.
She is my favorite, along with Simone. But she's a mezzo, not a soprano.
An angelic operatic voice. For me, she is the best full soprano singer in the metal/rock scene nowadays.
Elizabeth Mae "Lzzy" Hale is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. She is best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the American hard rock band Halestorm, which she co-founded in 1997. Her range between a beautiful Amy Lee tone, as shown in "Break In," to her sexy raspy voice, as shown in "Mz. Hyde," makes her, in my opinion, the best female rock/metal vocalist.
And her stunning good looks just put the sugar on top!
I really love Lzzy. Her voice is awesome. She has the passion and power that music needs.
Doro Pesch is a German hard rock singer that started her career in native Düsseldorf in the early 80s with the underground bands Snakebite and Beast. Doro has a quality to her voice that is really second to none. Not the sort of over-the-top "operatic" quality that a number of female metal singers have, but a power and intensity to her clear voice that few can match.
One of the pioneers, and still unrivaled.
Saw her in concert for the first time this year, and she gave so much energy. You can tell she loves what she does.
Doro is the best.
She's the Queen of Metal and should be number 1! She's the only one on this list that is actually metal!
I have never in my life seen a live performance like that of Anneke, and I never will. If possible, I think the notes were more on key than on the record. Fantastic presence and amazing control.
There is no one like her, no matter what you say. She moved me to tears up on that stage.
Best female singer ever. There is incredible resonance, pitch, tone, and power in her voice. Her singing on "Travel" can make everyone cry.
The goddess of music. There are a lot of fantastic vocalists on this list, but Anneke is head and shoulders above all of them.
Liv Kristine Espenæs, better known as Liv Kristine, is a singer/songwriter who has performed and composed songs mostly for various subgenres of heavy metal music. Leaves' Eyes is a truly awesome band! Hell to the Heavens is one of the most awesome things I have ever seen! Those men have no right to persecute her! I am a practicing witch, and I personally find this offensive. Many women were ruthlessly killed in the Middle Ages for no good reason at all!
I love you, Liv Kristine!
Her voice is operatic, melodic, and perfect for symphonic, Gothic, doom metal! Nice voice and very beautiful!
Definitely deserves a spot in the top 3.
The hardest part of describing Tatiana Shmaylyuk's vocal skills is reassembling one's mind after her incredible transitions. Add undeniable style and depth of intelligence to her writing, and she stands as one of the greatest metal vocalists ever. In fact, Tatiana puts the very existence of gendered lists like this one into question. In a male-dominated genre, it's easy to resort to looks when considering women. Tati is such a skilled musician that, while watching a Jinjer set, you honestly forget everything else. You might even think she's the most stunning being to walk the Earth since Aphrodite left the clamshell.
Angela Nathalie Gossow is a German vocalist, best known as the former lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her growling was brutal. She was one of the best. Too bad she retired.
Though the new Amaranthe song she guested on shows she hasn't lost it.
Why is she so low? I mean, #15 is too low for her.
Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia is an Italian singer and lyricist, best known as one of the two vocalists in the Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. She's an amazing singer. She has a special voice. When I heard her for the first time, I was amazed.
Two words: Angelic voice.
Her pure, powerful voice mixed with the roughness of the rest of the band touches my soul.
Best voice ever, powerful and high at the same time. She is the Metal Queen! Amazing girl.
Lacey Nicole Sturm (née Mosley, previously Carder. Born September 4, 1981) is an American singer and songwriter. She hails from Homestead, Florida, and was raised in Arlington, Texas... read more
Elize Ryd is a Swedish singer-songwiter, dancer, composer and show artist, best known as one of the three vocalists in the melodic metalcore/power metal band Amaranthe. Probably the most beautiful voice, not only in metal but just in general. She has excellent voice control and a super clear voice. I'm afraid that the only reason she isn't ranked much higher is because her band, Amaranthe, isn't as famous as Nightwish, Arch Enemy, Lacuna Coil, etc.
Although I still love those other singers too.
She is young and not well known, but once you have heard her singing, you will never forget it. Elize has a very beautiful voice. She sounds like an angel but at the same time can deliver a very strong vocal performance.
Akane Liv is an absolutely incredible soprano vocalist, who is also very versatile and isn't just constrained to the operatic side. She is a very passionate singer with excellent control and tone. I'd easily put her up there with the greats of symphonic metal like Tarja or Floor.
Amanda Somerville is an American singer-songwriter and vocal coach, known primarily for her work with many European symphonic metal bands. A magnificent voice, powerful and melancholic. It's a shame that she has not had a band to sing to the world, one of the most underrated voices in the metal scene!
Any metal fan who doesn't get a chill down their spine when Amanda sings is not a true metalhead.
Her voice is pure power! To me, Noora is the best female metal singer out there! Just listen to "Kingdom," "Black Ninja," or "Out of Control" - the list goes on and on. She has such a unique timbre, and the edginess of her voice has blown me away.
She can also pull off jazzy and mellow pop vocals, which shows her versatility is outstanding.
Mind-blowing, powerful voice, incredible vocal range, and versatility. She has everything a truly talented singer should have.
Researched at least all top 20 on this list.
I vote for Noora.
Why? Watch her live. You will know, with no explanation needed.
Maria Diane Brink is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the frontwoman of American metalcore band In This Moment. Maria Brink is a fantastic vocalist. She is amazing live, brings a lot of energy to In This Moment's stage presence, and really gets the crowd going. Seeing her at Mayhem Fest in 2010 was possibly one of the best experiences I had throughout my teen years.
She is a fantastic addition to the world of metal, and I expect In This Moment to be a name we will continue to see for many years to come.
I first heard Maria at Ozzfest and was completely blown away. In This Moment and Maria Brink should have been on the main stage instead of the second. They were better than any band that played on that second stage and better than Lordi, which made the main stage.
Complete travesty of metal.