Top 10 Best Masked Metal Artists
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 Nu Metal...? I hate these 87 new genres that someone had to create. They are a simple nine-member band (with a drummer, percussionist, singer, DJ, two bassists, three guitarists, and millions of 'maggots'!) that plays heavy, rhythmic, melodic, fast, epic, and genius metal. How's that for self-centered, music-genre-creating, control freak people? Ahem, sorry...a little glitch I sometimes get.
Just listen to a hidden extra track, somewhere between their first album, M.F.K.R. (Mate, Feed, Kill, Repeat). It's called 'Eeyore'...I think. That should say it all about how good they are! I have been following these guys since they had a video on a regular TV music show called The Box. They should have their top 10 list with only them on it!
Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band that was formed in Linköping in 2008. The band consists of five masked instrumentalists known as the Nameless Ghouls, and a demonic anti-pope known as Papa Emeritus. They have released four studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. Each album introduces a new version... read more Traditional heavy metal/doom metal band from Sweden. The lead singer is a demonic anti-pope, while the instrumentalists wear masks and hoods. The names and faces remain a mystery, but the band gained attention from Dave Grohl, who became a session drummer, producer, and maybe even a live drummer.
Mushroomhead is an American nu metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound which includes influence from heavy metal, art rock and electro-industrial and their imagery which features masks and costumes as well as... read more Such an explosive band! Although they have been around for a while, they don't get the love they deserve!
Alternative/industrial/nu metal band from America. Like Slipknot, they simply wear masks for shock value.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who has worked within many genres of music. Progressive avant-garde metal. He is known for a white mask and a KFC bucket on his head, while shredding for hours at a time.
Lordi are a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1992 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume maker, Mr Lordi. They're a great band, and they helped get me into heavy metal. They're also the reason why I'm obsessed with wearing masks!
Traditional heavy metal/shock metal band from Finland. They lean on a hard rock/heavy metal sound, with the use of horror lyrics and pyrotechnics.
Gwar, often styled as GWAR, is an American heavy metal band formed in Richmond, Virginia, United States, in 1984, composed of and operated by a frequently rotating line-up of musicians, artists and filmmakers collectively known as Slave Pit Inc. Thrash metal/comedy/shock metal band from America. They dress like aliens and often "kill" celebrities on stage.
GWAR dominates this list! All these other bands must kneel before the almighty GWAR!
Mudvayne was an American nu-metal/alternative metal band that was formed in Peoria, Illinois, in 1996. Originally from Bloomington, Illinois, they are known for their sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks, and uniforms. I hear people saying they are the worst metal band of all time, but I personally think they are good. Songs like Dig, Not Falling, Happy?, and World So Cold are what grabbed my attention from this band. If you are interested, check them out!
Also, they change costumes sometimes. If you are one of those people who think they should stick with their original costumes, look over it, I guess? Really, they are very good if you can get into their unique screams and guitar shreds.
Ghoul is a thrash/death metal band from Oakland, California. Though the members' actual identities are meant to be concealed, it is known that some members or past members of Ghoul also play or have played in other bands such as Impaled, Dystopia, Wolves in the Throne Room, Exhumed, Phobia, Asunder... read more Thrash/death metal band from America. They wear bags over their heads and play an aggressive, evil-sounding blend of thrash and death metal.
Hollywood Undead is an American rap rock band from Los Angeles, California, United States. They released their debut album, Swan Songs, on September 2, 2008, and their live CD/DVD Desperate Measures, on November 10, 2009. Their second studio album, American Tragedy, was released April 5, 2011. All of... read more My personal favorite for many reasons, from the music to the masks, this band is for everyone!
I love Hollywood Undead. They are awesome.
The Newcomers
Immortal is a black metal band from Bergen, Norway, founded in 1990 by frontman and guitarist Abbath Doom Occulta and former guitarist Demonaz Doom Occulta.
How I forgot them, they are my favorite technical death metal band, or specifically, technical deathcore.
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, complexity, and new wave weirdness. Grindcore/mathcore/noise metal band. They are very experimental, with some grindcore albums, some noise rock albums, and a mathcore album.
My, my, god, amazing masks, epic songs! Plus, they are an amazing supergroup band. They are an excellent masked metal band, and I love that they are a brilliant metal band ever.
Most underrated band of all time! They deserve more love than they get.
Daft Punk was a French electronic music duo consisting of producers Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter.
The Residents are an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. Since their first official release, Meet the Residents, the group has released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, and ten DVDs.Batushka is an insanely good occult/black metal band from Poland. Definitely worth checking out!
British death metal cover band who specialize in covering pop songs. The band adopted wearing masks as it was felt that a masked appearance would fit in well with the idea of playing covers, and with the band name, of course.
My favorite covers that put a smile on my face: Stayin' Alive (Bee Gees), Hot Stuff (Donna Summer).