Top 10 Heaviest Metal Bands

This list is not a compilation of the "best" metal bands, but rather the "heaviest" metal bands. It represents the best among the "heavy" ones.

The criteria used for this list include: quality of music, style, skill, and the intensity with which you can bang your head to the music.

The Top Ten

Cannibal Corpse

Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, formed in 1988. They're known for their graphic album covers, violent lyrics, and controversial song titles, such as "I Cum Blood." They gained mainstream exposure with their appearance performing "Hammer Smashed Face" in the 1994... read more

Cannibal Corpse is the most hardcore, aggressive, and kick-ass band I have ever heard. I enjoy many of the bands above, but they are nowhere near as hardcore as Cannibal Corpse. This is one of the rare bands that can sound like they do.
Bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Pierce the Veil do not even need to be close in the ranking, as they are not hardcore, and are not the best bands out there. This band knows how to scream and make riffs, unlike so many other bands.

Cannibal Corpse is the most hardcore, heaviest, and one of the best bands of all time. Look at their album covers. They're gross and kind of creepy but awesome. Even the lyrics are so gross, violent, and aggressive, making them a perfect death metal band and even the heaviest band.
Slayer

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 are considered one of the Big Four of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax.... read more

Slayer released some of the heaviest albums of all time such as Reign in Blood and Seasons of the Abyss. Even their name just screams heavy band. I personally find them heavier than Cannibal Corpse because I find that E, Eb, and D/Drop D are the heaviest tunings, which are the most common thrash tunings, and that Slayer's vocals are just the right range to be heavy. Many people would disagree, but it's an honest opinion. I find some Cannibal Corpse songs heavier than others, but I think Slayer just beats them out.
If you disagree that they are heavy, just listen to Angel of Death or Raining Blood loud through good sound equipment, and feel the music crushing you.
Behemoth

Behemoth is a Polish blackened death metal band from Gdańsk, formed in 1991. They have been instrumental in establishing and popularizing the Polish extreme metal underground scene.

Come on, guys, this list is not about voting for your favorite band. My favorite metal bands are Lamb of God and Pantera, and I'm not a very big fan of Behemoth. But, I have to agree their music is extremely heavy. Take Slaves Shall Serve for example. The song itself sounds like it wants to kill you.

Have you already heard "Slave Shall Serve"? How about "He Who Breeds Pestilence"? No? Then go and check out the heaviest band in existence. Sure, there is more mainstream stuff like "Cannibal Corpse" or more eighth empty string 0-0-0-0-0 like "Meshuggah", but this one is true hell, and artistically so as well.
Meshuggah

Meshuggah is a Swedish progressive metal band from Umeå, formed in 1987. They are often considered pioneers of the djent subgenre due to their use of downtuned, polymetric guitar riffs and complex rhythms. They are also known for their song "Bleed," which is notable for its intricate instrumentation... read more

Not only is Meshuggah's tone and overall vibe by far the heaviest on this list, but their lyrics also push the bar to a whole new level of dark poetry. There couldn't be a stronger juxtaposition between the whiny, insipid lyrics of many "core" bands, splattered with unnecessary F-words, and the rich imagery and hellishly uncanny lyricism found in Meshuggah.

This band is definitely the heaviest on the list. In most bands, you'll hear at least one or two songs in an album that aren't as heavy as the others, sometimes more. However, Meshuggah only makes heavy music and, to me, is the heaviest sounding band I've ever heard.
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

Music, in general, is very subjective. It's all about the person listening to the song, etc. But, briefly to the point: Metallica, during their time categorized as "heavy metal", produced the Black/Metallica album. It is, and still remains, very heavy in sound, feel, and performance.
Yes, it was produced very well. It contains many good songs, some so good that they could be thought to be made simply for the purpose of making money, or just to ensure that future kids have some tunes to play to their chicks.
"Sad But True" is a good example of a very heavy song musically. There are much faster, slower, deeper, and louder bands/songs out there. I would love to challenge Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, and Moonspell to make a cover song of Ozzy's "Mr. Crowley"... Oh wait... They are "heavier", so why shouldn't/couldn't they cover "Enter Sandman"? They could, but they don't want to?
In the end, we can look back in history to the great classical composers (Mozart, Beethoven, etc.). They were the "heavy metal" of their time. Following the adapters to the day where everyone has been influenced by someone, none of us metalheads can disagree that Metallica introduced us to a new style of sound. Define heavy for yourself, and then you can define your heavy metal band. Others are just merely overdoing something or are predecessors.
Nile

Nile is an American technical death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are heavily inspired by ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern history, religion, mysticism, and art, as well as the works of H.P. Lovecraft. The band is known for its complex compositions... read more

This is a popularity contest. Nile is way heavier than all these other nine bands. Cannibal Corpse deserves to be on the list, not the other eight.
Dying Fetus, Misery Index, Mortician, Malevolent Creation, Suffocation, Carcass, Beheaded, Morbid Angel. All those bands should be here. Not those other bands that are mentioned. People just don't know what heavy is, or they are completely uneducated when it comes to heavy music.

Metallica, Pantera, Slipknot, and Black Sabbath in the Top 10? Even Slayer is way too light compared to Death or Black Metal. Brutal Death Metal like Nile is pretty much one of the heaviest music types you can find out there.
Pantera

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 replacing their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, they signed a major record deal with... read more

Although the list is messed up, Pantera would definitely be the heaviest of the bands mentioned in the top 10. Listen to 5 Minutes Alone. God, that song is heavy! It features one of the heaviest riffs ever made in the history of metal. No song I have heard can match up to the heaviness of this song. And trust me, I listen to a lot of metal.

This list is lying. Pantera are obviously heavier than Metallica, Slayer, and pretty much every other band ever (except for maybe Cannibal Corpse)! Don't believe me? Here's my proof:
- Cowboys from Hell
- Vulgar Display of Power
- Far Beyond Driven
- The Great Southern Trendkill (especially this one, it's the best metal record of all time, right up there with Pantera's previous two efforts)
- Reinventing the Steel
Listen to all of these (in order), and I guarantee you will think that I am right. If not, then that's fine, it's probably just because Cannibal Corpse out-heavies them by just a little bit.
Infant Annihilator

Infant Annihilator is an English deathcore band from Hull, East Yorkshire. The band was formed in 2012 by drummer Aaron Kitcher and guitarist Eddie Pickard. Their music is known for its technical brutality and controversial lyrics.

I listened to Unholy Gravebirth. The eerie string music, crying baby noises, and demonic squealing mixed throughout the beginning still didn't prepare me for the absolute pummeling I was about to endure. They took deathcore to new extremes. Still, they're not my favorite deathcore band. That would be Whitechapel.

The heaviest band I know. Just look at the lyrics and listen to the sheer brutality. I don't know what people have against deathcore. It's just as heavy or heavier than death metal.
Maybe it's the way the people in the bands look. Or maybe death metal fans are jealous of the success of bands like Suicide Silence. Check out the band Callenish Circle.
Anaal Nathrakh

Anaal Nathrakh is a British extreme metal band formed in 1999 in Birmingham, England. Their music combines elements of black metal, grindcore, and industrial. They are currently signed to Metal Blade Records and have released several critically acclaimed albums.

Musically, nothing really competes against Anaal Nathrakh in regards to heaviness. Black Metal with strong influences of Grindcore and Industrial Music, it's an effective combination to establish something uniquely heavy, which this band succeeds at. In fact, the music is so chaotic, even bands like Cannibal Corpse sound rather mellow in comparison.

Heaviest band ever. Castigation and Betrayal is the most unfairly heavy song ever. It features 30 seconds of extremely heavy doom metal, 3 minutes of insanely aggressive death metal, and then returns to those initial 30 seconds. That song alone makes them the heaviest band ever. Not to mention, Pandemonic Hyperblast is the second heaviest song ever, right behind that.
Cattle Decapitation

Cattle Decapitation is an American deathgrind band from San Diego, California, formed in 1996. Their music addresses themes such as animal rights, environmental destruction, and misanthropy, often depicting humans in the roles of abused animals. While the band originally had an entirely vegetarian lineup... read more

Bands that can get really heavy:
Popular bands:
Slayer, Metallica, Pantera, Slipknot
Black/death/core/grind bands:
Cannibal Corpse, Anaal Nathrakh, Cryptopsy, Devourment, Behemoth, Nile
Other extreme bands:
Sodom, Kreator, Sepultura, Morbid Saint, Dark Angel, S.O.D, Gojira
Slow bands:
Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Black Tongue
Yes, these bands can get super heavy. Fight Fire With Fire by Metallica is an example of one of the heaviest songs ever, as is Heretic Anthem by Slipknot, March of the S.O.D by S.O.D, Disciple by Slayer, Mourners Lament by Candlemass, and God Is Dead by Black Sabbath. Most of the black/death/core/grind songs are also very heavy.
But none of them come close to Cattle Decapitation. The Carbon Stampede is like the heaviest song in the world. They make Cannibal Corpse sound like silence.

The Newcomers

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Slaughter to Prevail

Just take a peek at their vocals. These guys should be at the very top.
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Nails

Nails is an American hardcore punk band with powerviolence and grindcore influences, formed in 2009 in Oxnard, California. The band has cultivated a strong cult following among fans of extreme metal genres. Nails is currently signed to Nuclear Blast, and their most recent album, Every Bridge Burning... read more

The song Unsilent Death is one of the hardest-hitting songs I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. They are far better than any hardcore band because they are so heavy. In my opinion, they're even heavier than Cannibal Corpse.

If you don't agree with Nails being the top choice, I guess You Will Never Be One of Us.

You haven't heard heavy until you've heard of these guys.

The Contenders

Slipknot

Slipknot is an American metal band that formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1996. They're recognized as a key force in the New Wave of American Alternative Metal from the late 1990s through the 2000s. The band is also known for their black and red jumpsuits and horror-inspired masks.... read more

To all the people who say popular bands are not heavy:
Slayer, Metallica, Pantera, and Slipknot are not usually as heavy as some black, death, or grind bands, but when they are at their heaviest, they surpass a lot of those bands, especially Slipknot.
This band combines nu-metal with thrash and death metal. Disasterpiece, People = Sht*, and The Heretic Anthem truly define heavy. They have a pretty chunky guitar sound on the Iowa album.
Those are not their only heavy songs. There's All Hope Is Gone, where the verses are nothing but blast beats and screaming. There's also (Sic), Eyeless, Scissors, and Psychosocial. That is Slipknot at their heaviest.
Lamb of God

Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the band originally featured Randy Blythe (vocals), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar), John Campbell (bass), and Chris Adler (drums). Chris Adler departed the band in 2019 and was replaced by Art Cruz. The... read more

Lamb of God is heavier than most bands, but there's no need to compare them with extreme Thrash Metal (such as Slayer) or BDM (such as Cannibal Corpse), even some Deathcore (if you consider deathcore as metal). There are two reasons: 1, Lamb of God's music is mostly slow or at mid-tempo. 2, They have pretty melodic riffs.
Rate the bands for their heaviness, if Cannibal Corpse and Slayer are at 10, the Beatles at 1, I think Lamb of God should be around 7.5.

I love Black Sabbath. With that said, no other band besides Meshuggah should be on this list with Lamb of God. The first Slipknot album was decent. Metallica isn't half bad, and I do enjoy Pantera. Cannibal Corpse is a total joke, so there's that. The rest, I can totally do without, especially on a "Heaviest Bands" list. Seriously, what.
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

Some people don't know the definition of heavy. We're talking chunky riffs, layered raw sounds, relentless tempo, growling vocals, and technicality here. Not popular bands and certainly not nu metal!

Death is the final form of metal music development. It is the absolute. Without any posing or being heavy for the sake of sounding heavy. It's raw, melodic, and as metal as it gets. It is metal in its pure form.

Death! In my opinion, one of the best and first bands in real death metal. Their old school sound is much heavier than nu metal!
Dying Fetus

Dying Fetus is an American death metal band from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Formed in 1991, the band is known for its aggressive style, which includes blast beats, complex riffs, slam riffs, and heavy breakdowns. They are widely regarded as influential in both the brutal death metal and technical death... read more

Brutal death metal with unique yet heavy breakdowns, mixing hardcore beatdown with slam and grooviness. Plus, the riffs are mad technical and intriguing.

Powerful drums, speed, low tuning, brutal vocals. Dying Fetus is the definition of heavy. This should be number one on the list without a doubt.

This band and Infant Annihilator are the heaviest bands I listen to.
Decapitated

Decapitated is a Polish technical death metal band formed in Krosno in 1996. The current lineup includes guitarist and founder Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, vocalist Rafał Piotrowski, bassist Paweł Pasek, and drummer James Stewart. The band is known for their precise musicianship and impact on the international... read more

Very technical, fast, and heavy death/groove metal band. If you think Cannibal Corpse is either too gruesome for you, or you're a Meshuggah and Slipknot fan, you'll easily get into these guys. System of a Down is hard rock and CoF is mall core. What's next, Bathory being the heaviest on this list? I hope not.
Megadeth

Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica. They have released 16 studio albums to date and have undergone numerous lineup changes, with... read more

This band is just as heavy as Metallica. Metallica is not that heavy compared to any death metal, black metal, or doom metal band, especially funeral doom metal bands.

Metallica's heavy? Heavier than Megadeth, Lamb of God, and Slayer? Ha ha. Really, there should be some sense among people. Come on.

Still rocking after all these years. Better than the rest. Enough said. From Killing is My Business to Super Collider, better quality.
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 like Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... read more

Black Sabbath has nothing to do with extreme metal. It started as a classic blues-rock band and then became a hard rock/heavy metal band. Metallica and Megadeth have some heavy songs, but there are much poppier metal bands. Slayer is among the heaviest, but Iron Maiden is more melodic with complex songs and a much better vocalist!

Ridiculous! Everybody knows that Iron Maiden is the heaviest band of all times! No one could compare. No one could even come close to Iron Maiden!

What? 8th place? You people don't understand the influence Number of the Beast had on metal.
Black Tongue

Yo, this list is so inaccurate. Black Tongue is heavier than nearly every single band above them on this list.

Just a full, heavy sound. They really know how to overwhelm you with sheer brutality.

Their slow and doom-core-like style makes them heavy and brutal.
Broken Flesh
Separatist

I kid you not, these guys should be in the top ten. Like seriously, why are bands like Slipknot, Iron Maiden, and Metallica high up on this list? No hate to them, but this list is for the HEAVIEST bands. "Isolation" by Separatist is one of their songs that proves they are worth being put at a higher rank on this list.
Devourment

Devourment is an American brutal and slam death metal band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1995, the band has split up and reunited multiple times over the years. Drummer Brad Fincher is the only original member who has remained active with the group through all of its incarnations.

Chaotic yet groovy, even groovier once you hear that snare bomb that paves the way to slam riffs. First truly brutal slam death metal band.
Deicide

Deicide is an American death metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed in 1987 by guitarist brothers Eric and Brian Hoffman and drummer Steve Asheim. Vocalist and bassist Glen Benton joined shortly after, and the band officially adopted the name Deicide in 1989. Known for their blasphemous and anti-Christian... read more

This should be higher than Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and especially Black Sabbath.
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. Their self-titled debut album received mixed reviews, but they quickly gained a strong following... read more

There are so many comments saying they're not heavy. Sure, they're not as heavy as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, etc., but in the early '70s, they were the heaviest band of all time! There was no other band heavier than them.

This website sucks something awful. Anyone who looks at these lists is just getting really bad info. I'm not even a metalhead, but I know damn well that Black Sabbath invented metal music and should be in front of all these others.

The origins of doom metal. You get the feeling of getting crushed when listening to them. Amazing stuff.
Motorhead

Motörhead were an English heavy metal band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis, and drummer Lucas Fox. Lemmy was the band's only constant member. Their aggressive sound, harsh vocals, and fast-paced tempos were influential in the... read more

Lemmy would smite these emo-metal bands down with the sheer power of his bass-playing hand, and then melt their souls with his voice.
Q: Who would win in a wrestling match, Lemmy or God?
A: Trick question. Lemmy IS God!

This must be a Yank site, as Motörhead are the gods of heavy metal. How can Maiden be heavier than Motörhead? Haha.

I'm confused about how classic metal bands like Motörhead are below 10. Motörhead are a brilliant band!
Skinless

Skinless is an American death metal band that was formed in 1992. The band initially disbanded in 2011 but reunited in 2013. They are known for their brutal sound and high-energy performances within the death metal scene.

The GREATEST band of ALL TIME across EVERY genre. Why? Because of their sheer, unbridled brutality.
If you're in the mood to subject your ears to a beatdown, put on tracks like The Optimist, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead, and Overlord. For something less extreme but still brutal, listen to songs like Deviation Will Not Be Tolerated, Smothered, and Enslavement.
The band is musically talented, heavy as hell, and just overall really fun to listen to. All of this comes together to make them the greatest and heaviest band ever conceived.

These guys can slam you in the face with their heaviness. They're also just really fun to listen to, so they're probably my favorite death metal band.