Top Ten Metal Bands With the Best Riffs
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 Warner Music Group via Atco Records. Around this time, Pantera would undergo a major change in their musical direction, discarding their Glam Metal image in favor of a more more Thrash Metal esque reputation. Their Thrash influences would eventually be seen as influences for Groove Metal ...read more. I actually think Mouth For War is their best riff.
Annihilator, Pantera, Metallica and Amon Amarth - the best riffs. Runners up - Mastodon, Primal Fear.
Not my favorite band, but you've gotta admit Dime has the best riffs out there. Just listen to songs like I'm Broken and Walk.
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".With their first two albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning reaching underground success, their third effort, Master of Puppets has since become one of the most important heavy metal albums ever, as it became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. The title track has since become the band's most played song live. ...read more.
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.The band became mainstream after improving after their debut album got panned. In 1978, Osbourne was fired and replaced with former Rainbow vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Who went to release 2 albums before leaving in 1983, only for Osbourne to return in 1992. ...read more.
We're talking about the King of the killer riff here.. the hand of Doom.. the Godfather of Heavy Metal himself.. Mr. Anthony Frank Iommi!
Tony Iommi wrote the absolute best and most recognizable riffs of all time. No way Sabbath isn't #1
Notable riffs:
Iron Man
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
NIB
War Pigs
Supernaut
Heaven and Hell
Iron Maiden are an English Heavy Metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The most critically acclaimed period for the band was from 1983-1989. With vocalist Bruce Dickinson, bassist Steve Harris, lead guitarist Dave Murray, rhythm guitarist Adrian ...read more. Too many amazing riffs to count; Roughly 65 really good riffs and 20 great riffs
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 Mustaine being the sole constant member.They released their debut album “Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!” in 1985, but became successful after the release of “Peace Sells...But Who’s Buying?” in 1986. ...read more.
Guess I'll vote Megadeth, but where on God's green earth is Opeth?
More quality riffs than any other band by a long shot.
Metallica and Pantera are also good, but when it comes to riffs, Mustaine is the god. Some highlights:
Rattlehead
Mechanix
Wake Up Dead
The Conjuring
Peace Sells
In My Darkest Hour
Holy Wars... the Punishment Due
Hangar 18
Five Magics
Poison Was The Cure
Tornado of Souls
Dawn Patrol (Ellefson)
Skin O' My Teeth
Symphony of Destruction
Reckoning Day
A Tout Le Monde
Victory
Trust
She Wolf
Blackmail the Universe
Kick the Chair
The Scorpion
Back in the Day
Truth Be Told
Sleepwalker
Dialectic Chaos
This Day We Fight!
Headcrusher
Never Dead
New World Order
The Threat Is Real
Fatal Illusion
Poisonous Shadows
So Megadeth are my top 1. Rest of the list is for me:
2. Pantera
3. Metallica
4. Iron Maiden
5. Slayer (I don't like them in general, but their riffs are awesome)
6. Rage Against The Machine
7. Annihilator
8. Black Sabbath
9. Judas Priest
10. Avenged ...more
Slayer is 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. @IronSabbathPriest - I agree with you about fills and snare overuse. I adore fills and don't like very much the snare sound (I prefer double bass). But Tom gets repetitive, too. Maybe everybody does at a certain point.
I've never really considered guitars to be Slayer's prime. I think Araya is the most talented.
I agree guitars aren't their prime but maybe Lombardo is the most talented.
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in early 2000 and composed of bassist Troy Sanders, guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor. The entirety of The Wolf Is Loose contains some of the greatest riffs ever known to mankind!
Annihilator is a Canadian thrash metal band founded in 1984 by vocalist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, engineer, producer, mixer and mastering engineer Jeff Waters and former vocalist John Bates. Their songs are riff fests and they are #1 for me (alongside Pantera).
Guitar work is their prime - very fast and technical yet melodic riffs. Jeff Waters writes thrash riffs with lots of progressive elements and I love this.
Songs:
Schizos (Are Never Alone), Phantasmagoria, The Trend, Alison Hell, Human Insecticide, 21, Imperiled Eyes, Sixes and Sevens, King of the Kill, Ultra-Motion.
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.
Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Tumba, formed in 1992. The band takes its name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom. I listen to these guys namely for their riffs.
The Pursuit Of Vikings, Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags, Guardians Of Asgaard
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. Not any other band makes me headbang like LOG, maybe Slipknot but they are not as much as focused on riffs like LOG. Not to mention that they one of the best drummers so his presence increases the quality of the riffs since the guitarists must stand up to him.
These guys should be way higher. Not comparing metal styles, riffing styles, but music as a whole. This guys craft riffs better than most band solos
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.
Opeth is a Swedish progressive death metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990 by David Isberg, who invited Mikael Akerfeldt into the band as a bassist. Isberg ended up leaving the band, which lead to Mikael becoming the band's vocalist, guitarist, principal songwriter, and driving force. Along with Edge of Sanity, Opeth is credited with being the first progressive death metal band, although they now play progressive rock. Akerfeldt is good friends with Jonas Renkse of Katatonia, and Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree. Definitely these guys. Their riffs can be extremely nasty and at the same can be very mellow and tranquillizing.
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker.
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: Pet Detective. In 1995, vocalist Chris Barnes left the band to focus on his new death metal project Six Feet Under. He was replaced by George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher of the band Monstrosity, who has remained as the frontman since. ...read more. I'm sorry, but really low guitar messes don't count as riffs.
Children Of Bodom was a melodic death metal band from Espoo, Finland. Formed in 1993, the final lineup consisted of Alexi Laiho, Janne Wirman, Henkka Seppälä, Jaska Raatikainen and Daniel Freyberg.
Savatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band that formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are often referred to as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and are even commonly called “The Metal Gods”, after one of the songs on their 1980 album “British Steel”. ...read more.
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.
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.
They play that old school stoner metal, and just like other old school bands, they have awesome riffs
Some of the tracks can contain unusual melodic riffs, but their characteristic riffing is sick, twisted, and atonal - not very accessible. Rob Vigna is a very creative guitarist but goes unnoticed, just like the band itself.
Gojira is a progressive metal band from Bayonne, France. The band was known as Godzilla until 2001. Gojira is composed of Joe Duplantier on vocals and rhythm guitar, his brother Mario Duplantier on drums, Christian Andreu on lead guitar, and Jean-Michel Labadie on bass.
Primal Fear are a German metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner. They play heavy metal, power metal and speed metal. Primal Fear remind of Judas Priest but Primal Fear are faster and heavier. They use twin (dual) lead guitars. Ralf Scheepers voice reminds of Rob Halford. They have different types of riffs and I love the variety they offer.
All For One, Road to Asylum, Strike, Diabolus, Blood on your hands.
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte and Industrial Metal band consisting of Till Lindemann (vocals), Richard Kruspe (guitar), Paul Landers (guitar), Oliver Riedel (electric bass), Christoph Schneider (drums) and Christian Lorenz (keyboard), that formed in 1994 in Berlin . ...read more. So simple, yet so heavy