Top Ten Heaviest Metal Bands

CC is the band that made every Anal Destruction of Child Anihilator sorrow of madness of satan band wich belongs to progre death black not hipie blood ancient metal genre possible, so Yeah, if I have to go with one I rather go with the original.

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 no where near as hardcore as Cannibal Corpse. This is one of the rare bands you find that can sound like they do. Bands like bring me the horizon and peirce 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

I expected the top 20 to be full of Death Metal bands... What I found: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Megadeth, Motorhead. Guys, it's 2016 and you still think that those bands are the heaviest? Slayer is the only band that doesn't play Death Metal to belong near the top. About the modern metal bands in the top 20: I can accept Slipknot, but AX7 shouldn't even be on the list!

I think that people are voting on the bands that they like rather than the heaviest bands. I think one band that is even harder than Cannibal Corpse is Suffocation. They have every thing: down tuned guitars, aggressive drumming and some of the most brutal and guttural vocals

Slayer realeased some of the heaviest albums of all time such as Reighn 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 (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.

Slayer may be "heavier" band than Metallica, but they all represent the same time era of being created. There will be time when Slayer, Metallica, Megadeath and all together will be satanic stories for the kids, and there will be the time when these are "hippy" proge metal. To me Slayer is more like faster style trash metal than Metallica, while Metallica is deeper and heavier... But to get the hippies to leave the premises I would choose Reign in Blood over Enter Sandman.

Anyone who thinks Slayer is the heaviest metal band has not listened to any metal past the year 2000. Don't get me wrong, I love Slayer, and they're the band that really got me into metal. But comparing them to bands like Infant Annihilator or Necrophagist is just laughable

You know Slayer are the heaviest Metal band ever, simply by just listening to any one of their albums.

A perfect example of Slayer's epic heaviness would either be their Reign In Blood or Seasons In The Abyss albums...

Slayer is the definition of HEAVY in Heavy Metal!

M/ m/

I voted for Behemoth as the heaviest band ever because, they're basically black and death metal combined together. That's what makes them heavy.

Come on guys, this list is not bout voting for yer favorite band.. My favorite metal band is lamb of god and pantera and not to mention I'm not a very big fan of behemoth but I have to agree their music are extremely heavy take slaves shall serve for example, the song itself sounded like it want to kill you

Have you already heard "Slave Shall Serve"? "He Who Breeds Pestilence" maybe? No? Then go and check most heavy band in existence. Sure - there is more mainstream stuff like "Cannibal Corpse" or more 8th empty string 0-0-0-0-0 like "Meshuggah", but this one is true hell, and in artistic way also.

Behemoth are one of my favourite bands. This list is basically all the well known bands. I haven't even seen nile on the list and behemoth/nile are so much heavier. And the people who voted deathcore bands like BMTH are posers who don't know real metal

This is a popularity contest. Nile is way heavier than all these other 9 bands, Cannibal Corpse deserves to be on the list, not the other 8. 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 heavy music

Annihilate the wicked on this page. Nile is amazing band who really understand technical death metal. Enough said and those who think a musically oblivious 8th graded is voting well I am musically smart 9th grader

Apparently Linkin Park, Slipknot and A7X are grind core because they're heavier than this. NOT! Cannibal Corpse are high on the list because they're more mainstream now.

Nile is by far the heaviest band in the world. In instrumental plan and also the atmosphere they are bringing. All other aren't come close

Not only is Meshuggah's tone and overall vibe by far the heaviest on this list, their lyrics 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-shots, and the rich imagery and hellishly uncanny lyricism found in Meshuggah.

This list is horrible!

1: Slayer is the heaviest band on earth? Come on, these guys never heard of death metal! Specially when it comes 2 strings lower

2:heaviest band does NOT mean the best band! Why should "heavy=best"?

Black metal can be extremly heavier than death sometimes but its much more dark. I should discover more heavier stuff if I'm wrong with voting for meshuggah

easily one of the heaviest bands ever. Chaosphere came out in 1998! They were wayyyy ahead of their time when it comes to straight up heaviness and are still just as (if not more) heavy now. how tf metallica even mentioned on this list lmao.

As heavy as Slayer and Cannibal corpse is that doesn't even compare to Meshuggah. They are intense if you want a good example of this to dehuminization it's really damn heavy and heavier than most slayer and cannibal corpse songs but it's not even close to being Meshuggah's heaviest song.

Dude this band is as heavy has hell! If you don't agree, go listen to fight fire with fire, battery, and call of kutulu. They should be top 3 at least!

Music in general is very subjective. It is all about the person listening the song etc. But briefly to the point: Metallica, within their time as categorized as "heavy metal" the band made their Black/Metallica album. It is, and still is very, very heavy, to the sound, feel and how it is performed.
Yes, it was produced very well. It has many good songs, even so good that they could be thought to be made as simply in purpose of making money... or just to make sure that future kids have some tunes to play to their chicks.

Sad But True is a good example of very heavy song as musically. There are much, faster, slower, deeper, lover - what so ever bands/songs 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", why shouldn't/couldn't they make cover of Enter Sandman? - They could, but they don't want to?

In the end, we can go back in the history towards the great classical ...more

Their first 4 albums are kinda heavy, but they don't belong anywhere near the top 10. The people that think Metallica is the heaviest must not listen to a lot of metal. Bands like Cattle Decapitation, Pig Destroyer, Abominable Putridity, Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, Dying Fetus, Behemoth, Ingested, and Deicide are 1000x heavier than Metallica. If you think they should be #1, listen to bands that belong to the following genres: Grindcore, Deathgrind, Death Metal, Slam Death Metal, Black Metal, or anything associated with those genres. They aren't even the heaviest thrash band. Kreator, Slayer, Sodom, Ghoul, and Skeletonwitch are a lot heavier

Well, firstly let's put their post... AJFA albums aside. Consider their first four masterpiece albums. Pretty heavy eh, Metallica haters? They were easily the heaviest back in the 80s along with Slayer. James had a amazing voice which goes well with their songs. They have original riffs unlike those recycled ones by Slayer. I don't think Maiden should be in the top ten, yeah they're amazing but not that "heavy". A7X are a joke they shouldn't even be remotely close to the top ten. And where the hell are Black Metal bands like Gorgoroth and Mayhem?

Heavy? Walk. Hollow.

This list is actually a measure of band popularity and public familiarity.
It is certainly not a list of heaviest.

For ultra heavy bands see:
Born Of Osiris, Electric Wizard, Bongripper, Admiral Angry, Candlemass, Gorguts, Nile, Job For A Cowboy, Dethklok, The whole genre of djent with Animals as leaders and Periphery are super heavy, also Pentagram and the Doom genre are slow and brutal.

I could go all day listing heavier bands than these classics and popular bands.

Heaviness is available in all tempos, slow and fast and mid tempo, and the techniques and sounds involved are different. I love Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Megadeth, Metallica and Slayer, and yet also how the younger bands have pushed the envelope.

And anyone who thinks Maiden or Metallica or LoG are heavier than Slayer listen to Reign In Blood, Seasons in the Abyss, God hates us all, and Crionics personally is better than fight fire with fire.

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! 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.

Metallica is extremely heavy, just listen to And Justice For All. But, try comparing that to Far Beyond Driven and it sounds like nursery rhymes! Still not completely sure whether this or Slayer is heavier. But I do know that Pantera is the most BRUTAL BAND ON THE LIST!

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

Maybe not the absolute heaviest band ever, but definitely the heaviest band with clean choruses, and aside from maybe Meshuggah and Cattle Decap they are clearly much heavier than anything else in the top 10.

Their album "The Codex Necro" redefined heavy. Every album is amazing. Try out "Castigation and Betrayal" off "Hell is Empty, and All the Devils are Here" to see what I mean.

Because they're not only black metal, but they're actually Grindcore too. And grindcore is pretty heavy

Okay so according to this list A7X and System of a Down are heavier than Cryptopsy, Suffocation, and I don't even see Cattle Decapitation. Apparently Metallica is heavier than Cannibal Corpse… please, people. This isn't the "10 Most Fangirled Metal Bands." This is a list of the heaviest. Oh and what is with people thinking Slipknot is heavy? That's what 10 year olds said back in 2001. Just like how a bunch of scenes in 2008 jabbered about how Suicide Silence was so "br00tal."

Honestly, no nu-metal or thrash metal is as heavy as death, black, or grind. Infant Annihilator is the only deathcore band deserving of the top 10. And fangirls need to get off. Now.

Bruh, IA is THE heaviest band that exists, they kick the ass of every band in this list, even the good old Corpse, period... any one who doubts it either they haven't heard them or they are still listening to Linking Park, BVB and think those are heavy bands.
If you want some good underground bands I recommend Volturyon and Soreption, quality bands.
AND the ones that say pornogrind and all those subgenres are heavier, make yourself a favor and download Behold the kingdom of the wretched undying from IA, it's a 17 minute song. slam/tech-death/grindcore brutallity masterpiece AND THE HEAVIEST SONG TO EVER EXIST!. ImI

Heaviest band I know. Just look at the lyrics and listen to the sheer brutality.
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

I'm sorry but Slayer sound like nursery rhymes compared to this... The guitars, drumming, vocals, heck even the lyrics are heavier. I was going to pick cattle decapitation... but due to the lyrics I decided on IA

Some people don't know the definition of heavy. Were 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 heavy for the sake of sounding heavy. It's raw, melodic and metal as it gets. It is metal in its pure form.

How is Megadeth, Maiden, Sabbath, Slipknot and Metallica heavier than Death? ,

Just like Death. Being Death metal they out-heavy most other metal bands.

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.

Lamb of God is amazing. Nobody does vocal like randy Blythe. He kicks ass, their material is amazing and everything they have is kick ass, heavy, bad ass, and metal as HELL! They are heavier then half the bands on this list and although they aren't they heaviest ever, they are without a doubt one of the best ever!

Don't get me wrong, Lamb of God is my favourite band of all time, I mean, they kick serious ass and have the best riffs and drum progressions.
However, they are not the heaviest band, heavy bands are like Chelsea Grin, Cannibal Corpse etc
Come on people, learn what heavy means, not just who is the most intense...

Sorry guys, this list is about "heaviest, " not which bands your girlfriend or mom can tolerate. Therefore, as cool as they are, Mettallica, Black Sabbath, Megadeth, Maiden, have no business appearing here. When I think heavy, I think of condemnation of my soul, bleeding ears, and pits with broken bones... And Lamb of God.

Very technical, fast and heavy death/groove metal band. If you think Cannibal Corpse is either too gruesome for you or your 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 heaviest on this list? I hope not.

This list is a joke. Cannibal Corpse is the only heavy band at top ten. Check the remix that I made of this and you will see the real heaviest metal bands...

GOD DAMN. Decapitated is heavy as all hell. Just check out Winds Of Creation.

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.

So heavy with vocals because it literally sounds like a dying bullfrog

This and Infant Annihilator are the Heaviest bands I listen to.

The name and the music... Says it all.

Their album "None So Vile" is probably the heaviest death metal album ever

Cryptopsy, Cattle Decapitation and Periphery need to be higher.

LOL, Cryptopsy at #26, and Black Sabbath at #13, LOL, LOL, LOL

Spill the dirty blood of jesus it's over human level
It's not the only, No forgiveness, Coronation, Paradygmat, Death's evangelist and more are simply insane

Basically Nile but more raw and less technical.

This appears to be a popularity contest, rather than what is really "heaviest". Love slayer, slipknot... Etc but nothing can compare to SYL (except maybe meshuggah) for heaviness.

Stop what you're doing. Go and listen to 'Oh My God' by Strapping Young Lad. Come back and vote then.

Strapping young lad no.24 on a heaviest bands list? with metallica, slipknot, cannibal corpse, and iron maiden on top 10? wow

How Strapping Young Lad is not the first of the list is beyond my comprehension.

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

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

Every single song is a facemelter. You haven’t heard heavy till you’ve heard these guys

GREYBOYY seems to know very little about Heavy Metal and is citing bands that just use speed and relentless noise to quantify what is 'Heavy'. For volume to have impact there must also be silence in the music. How can you seriously be discounting bands that are responsible for creating Heavy Metal in the first place? Maiden are a Heavy Metal band (How can this band NOT be in the top 30? ). Priest is a Heavy Metal band. Sabbath are a Heavy Metal band. Metallic are a Heavy Metal band. Heavy does not equal constant racket and growling tuneless vocals.

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

I am the same 11 year old. I looked up the definition of heavy and changed my mind. Iron maiden is heavy. I do think that all of the songs above iron maiden in this list are heavier though. Bands that are heavier than iron maiden: Motörhead, Otep, Cacophony, Armored Saint, some Van Halen songs, some AC/DC songs, Megadeath and more bands.

As much as I love iron maiden they aren't super heavy they are more of a classic 70's metal band which back then was very much like more heavy version of rock and roll.

Lemmy would SMITE these emo-metal bands down with sheer power of his bass playing hand, and yet alone melt their souls with his voice.

Q: Who would win in a wrestling match, Lemmy? Or God?

A: Trick question, Lemmy IS God!

Just like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and Metallica. Motorhead doesn't belong anywhere near the top 20 in regards to heaviness

This must be a yank site as motorhead are the gods of heavy metal, How can maiden be heavier than motorhead. Haha

I'm confused when classic metal bands like Motorhead are below 10. Motorhead are a brilliant band!

Deicide rule the world!

Deicide is similar to Vital Remains because they have one thing in common...


Hint: 😈

Brutal music, insane cover art and a perfect brutal yet melodic mix. Everything is great from the blast beats, drums, riffs, break downs, solos, vocals and bass lines. On top of all these great qualities it's so brutal I think it should be up there in one of the top 10 spots along with infant annihilator, black tough and sunn o))).

Whats with all the bad 80s metal bands on here how is Metallica heavier than slipkn ot? r ings of saturn is hella heavier than Metallica how is it 19th lol how is slayer heavier than cannibal corpse

Heavier the most the bands on the list not better but heavier

What? I like this band, but there are definitely WAY heavier bands then this. its core. come on.