Top 10 Best Metal Singers

The Top Ten
1 Bruce Dickinson Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, (born 7 August 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.Outside his career in music, Dickinson has pursued a number of other activities. He undertook a career as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines, which led to a number of media-reported ventures such as captaining Iron Maiden's converted charter aeroplane, Ed Force One, during their world tours. Following Astraeus' closure, he created his own aircraft maintenance and pilot training company, Cardiff Aviation, in 2012. Dickinson presented his own radio show ...read more.

Bruce is the epitome of a front man. His range and unique cackle are accented by his ability to hit the hi note and stay on key. Nicknamed the "Air Raid Siren," Bruce has some of the most epic screams in Metal and rock history. The greatest being "The Number of the Beast." Bruce can also handle the rapid fire lyrics of insane Steve Harris. Yes, Steve, you are insane, but in a good way and you have taken full advantage of Bruce.

Bruce learned from Ian Gillan about looking people in the audience in the eye, person after person and then everyone thinks Bruce is looking at them. He is. And he has you captivated.

Bruce is also a talent off the stage. A certified Airline Pilot and Captain he has flown commercially between tours and concerts, including piloting "Ed Force One" on their world tours. Bruce is also a world class fencer, author and entrepreneur.

I can appreciate Bruce being a pilot as my father flew for Eastern Air Lines 60's to 80's. I like that Bruce has a ...more

Bruce has ALWAYS stayed at a great, high vocal range. No matter how much older he is getting. , I Love dave mustaine, sucks that his surgery took a lot out of his voice. He's still beautiful, and. Rob Halford, I've never heard anyone scream that loud, I love him too. But in all reality. Bruce still has it, voice pitch might be down 1 point as apposed to the other older singers.I. want more singers to come out like these ones I have listed, not that growly distorted stuff. We need more bands that have melody in their sound, like Bruce Dickenson said, "if you can't carry a tune, I'm going home"! REAL MUSIC, NOT JUST NOISE!

I just completed my mini tour with Iron Maiden (Tampa, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, Lincoln and KC - 5 shows in 31 days). Bruce was remarkably consistent throughout. At 58, hitting the high notes and singing virtually every word. And the screams - from Speed of Light to Children of the Damned to of course Number of the Beast - he hit them with gusto. All while running around the stage and the elevated runway without missing a note. Very theatrical, entertaining, and consistent, the epitome of what a heavy metal frontman should be.

SU-METAL? She doesn't sing metal. I thought this was the best metal vocalists and not pop singers.
Her vocals are crappy, the band SUCKS it'll be much better without the three kids.
I don't understand why she's on this list, above Bruce Dickinson! How can someone who's listened to Bruce Dickinson vote for someone like that. And if you haven't listened to Bruce Dickinson, you haven't listened to metal you shouldn't be allowed to vote.

2 Ronnie James Dio Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture in metal culture and is known for his medieval themed lyrics. Dio possessed a powerful versatile vocal range capable of singing both hard rock and lighter ballads; according to Rainbow/Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore upon hearing him sing, "I felt shivers down my spine." Dio sold over 47 million albums throughout his career. He died from stomach cancer in 2010 at the age of 67.

Ronnie James Dio is really cheesy. Before someone calls me out, I honestly think it's an intentional design choice, and I'm fine with that.

If anything, Dio's cheesiness works because he has the power and energy to back up his style and tone. So yeah, he's cheesy in a good way (Also, being cheesy isn't inherently a bad thing).

Another thing I want to address is that DragonForce isn't bad because they're cheesy. Yes, they are cheesy, but like Dio, I think it's intentional and there's nothing wrong about it.

Ronnie was a whole package like no anyone else, the closest to perfection by far. Total dominance of his tools, smooth, powerful and dense voice. Dio means god in italian, that's enough to describe how mighty he was...

The greatest metal voice of all time. Like seriously. I really enjoy Bruce Dickinson and Iron Maiden overall, but still, I prefer Dio's voice by a lot. He's the metal voice and will always be. So great songs, especially combined with Tony Iommi's or Ritchie Blackmore's riffs, it's so unbelievably awesome. I have to admit that I fell in love when I heard him for the first time. And for a reason. Just take a listen to any of his songs… and you'll also be catched in his voice, those harmonies, so unique. Love them.

Ronnie James Dio has a unique voice, and I have never heard anyone cover his songs better than he could sing them himself. Dio has a better vocal range than most people in this list, James Hetfield for example. Dio (if he were still alive) could easily sing 'tallica stuff, but Hetfield would never be able to cover a Dio song and make it as good or better as Dio would sing himself.

3 Rob Halford Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice.

He isn't called the metal God for no reason. He earned that name and deserves it. Possibly the most powerful voice in all of metal. No one else on this list has proven they can do the more insane things that Rob can with his voice, they're almost inhuman (compare the scream in "Dissident Aggressor" to the growl from "Halls of Valhalla" for an example of his range and the songs "Painkiller" and "The Mower" are perfect examples of something no one else can do quite like him). The natural talent and skill he has to sing in many different styles is immense, he's sung blues rock, angelic ballads and even thrash metal and nailed it every time. He is the most metal voice there is - just listen to the "Painkiller" album. He also pioneered the power metal vocal style, there was no one in rock music like him before (or since, for that matter). No. 1 in my book and it would appear that my opinion is shared with many others. Long live the metal God m/

Just hear the difference between "Beyond the Realms of Death" and then "Painkiller".
Halford can sing with an extraordinarily clean voice, but can scream like no one else can do. He helped create metal, influenced lots of important singers and surely knows how to use his 4 octaves (though he is best at hitting high-pitched notes).
He truly deserves to be #1.

Was going to vote for Corey Taylor..
But there's a song named 'The Sentinel' which didn't allow me to vote for anyone else.
I suggest all to listen to that song. Many would not have listened to it since it's not mainstream Judas Priest. But believe me...Listen to it right now and you will come back just to thank me.

Rob should be number 1. I have seen him perform throughout his career... Today he is the best he has ever been. No one compares on this list. He is a gift of voice to appear once in ones lifetime. His range cannot by equaled by anyone. Iron Maiden is my favorite band but no one sings like Rob Halford...no one.

4 James Hetfield James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica.

A big joke hetfield is at no 6... All the voters are blind.. Hetfield can sing hard medium and soft both like hard in creeping death, master of puppets.. Medium in ride welcome home, enter sandman and slow in unforgiven 2, nothing else matter.. He is best live performer... Metallica is best band of the world and they are god of metal... Hetfield deserve 1st position in this list... He is best vocalist + rhythm guitarist and member of Metallica.. Name of Metallica is enough...

James, more than anyone else, has a powerful voice. Regarding attack and aggression, he is unsurpassed. Even with that said, he finds a balance so that with this aggressive roar, you can also hear his enunciation, verbalization, and pronunciation of the lyrics. James is the master of rhythm not only with his guitar, but with his voice to. A perfect example of this is "Metallica - Blackened (vocals only)" on youtube.

Just one question who is su-metal and why our she above James? Can she sing aggressively like him in battery, mop, creeping death? Can she sound totally melodious like James in nothing else matters, fade to black? Can she sing "oh please good wake me " ; " SANITARIUM" like him and bring goosebumps to us? No she can't guys vote for this man guys... He deserves to be 3rd or 4th on this list...

Maybe he has a crack voice when he was younger, (in kill'em all period) but his voice developed itself day by day. Yes, he is not a born singer, don't have a pure talent like dickinson or halford, but I don't think that they could sing metallica songs like james. Especially the black album, load&reload. And the S&M... Compare master of puppets album and the concert. Not to saying which is better, but to see the evolution.
What I'm trying to say is, he isn't perfect, just like kirk and lars. Oh come on, metallica isn't perfect itself. But, that is the factor why we love metallica and care them like an children :D
(sorry for bad english. I'm just a beginner :D)

5 Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne was born on December 3, 1948. He is also known as ''The Prince of Darkness''. Ozzy is an English singer, songwriter, and television personality. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of the band Black Sabbath. Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 and has since had a successful solo career, releasing 11 studio albums.

BLACK SABBATH. Listen to this song and you'll see that James Hetfield, Bruce Dickinson etc should be number three and four (second should be Roy Khan). Ozzy beats anyone on this list (except Roy Khan). We love you both!

He is the angel of metal vocals. His voice is appealing, and he still gets the metal across the line with a high pitched tone. He deserves number one place. Enough said.

1st off, this guy invented metal! He is truly amazing! But, I think he should be #2 next to Jonathan Davis (Korn) who should be #1.

Bruce Dickinson and Ronnie James Dio are a little theatrical and operatic. I'm not sure why that's metal for so many.

6 Corey Taylor Corey Todd Taylor was born in December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the Nu-metal band Slipknot and hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour.

Corey's scream is as close as you can get without actually yelling and ruining your voice. Given how angry slipknot's music is, listening makes for a very immersive experience. You feel the genuine rage that the band feels, especially on Iowa. But what he is less known for, and underappreciated for, is his expressive singing. He has a distinct voice, one of the most distinct ever--very easy to pick out. He doesn't have a great range, but he sure knows how to use what he has. he sings with a lot of power.

He is a member of Slipknot band. This make him special. I love and the others but I like Corey, too. I don't know why I click to vote Corey (because I love and the others). It was just random. Anyway I love Corey, I know almost everything about him. And what about Slipknot? I really love that band! And their songs are the best! I don't care if their satanist or they don't believe in god, I don't care about Christianity. Actually I'm atheist. :) So I don't care about this! I love the way they scream! I would like to be in a metal band and scream like them!

One of the best vocalists around. The thing that makes Corey Taylor such a talented musician is the versatility he has as a singer. From Slipknot, to Stone Sour. I've heard him sing with Steel Panther and do a beautiful cover of Purple Rain. Corey can sing so many different types of music and the passion and power that he sings with is what sets him apart from other vocalists.

Corey can go from a stellar metal growl to amazingly melodic singing in the flip of a switch. The fact that he's been at it for so long makes it all the more impressive because his range has not diminished in the least. Finally, the fact that he can make two very similar bands sound so different is just the cherry on top.

7 Phil Anselmo Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Pantera. He currently is the vocalist of heavy metal bands Down and Superjoint Ritual.

Pantera
Down
Superjoint (Ritual)
The Illegals
Scour

No one else is this diverse. Heavy metal, hard rock, hardcore, extreme metal, death metal. He even writes lyrics different in each band. Respect to DIO, DICKINSON, HALFORD but Phil gets my vote for consistency, versatility and music integrity. by the way, hetfield way overrated.
1. Phil Anselmo
2. Ronnie James Dio
3. Rob Halford
4. Bruce Dickinson
5. Mike Patton (same reasons as phil)

Anger, Beauty and Awesomeness, those are his vocals. The coolest sounding vocalist in my opinion, which just makes the songs sound heavier, and just doper overall. He did used to hit the notes, just listen to Cemetery Gates, but then he went to a much more badass and cooler song. Top 5 Vocalist, AT LEAST.

Phil Is the reference for heavy metal voice, attitude and power. You may find a guitar player as talented and skilled as Jimi Hendrix, a drummer lime John Bohan and so on, but voices are unique. There are no singer exact like another. And that makes Phil so distinctive. In my opinion, he is the king of metal. Number 1.

Not much to say besides the fact that he should be way higher. Phil is the definition of a metal vocalist. He has the screams, the power, the soul, the distortion and the gut. When Phil sings I feel it in my bones, he was and always will be the perfect metal singer.

8 Geoff Tate Geoff Tate is a German-born American singer and musician who rose to fame in the 1980s with the progressive metal band Queensrÿche.

No metal vocalist could do what Tate did. Geoff infused Operatic vocals with theatrical emotion and combined them with power, range and melodic maturity.
His 4 Octave vocal range was on Full display in the EP and followed into their debut full fledged album 'The Warning' with powerful vocals on the title track, fantastic emotion on songs like'Child of Fire'and 'Road to Madness' to the iconic and instant classic 'Take Hold of the Flame' No vocalist in hard rock or metal has had the ability to change vocals like Geoff Tate did. Many singers in yesterdays and todays metal scene claim Tate as their main influence and rightfully so, no one did it better.

This list is turning into a top ten list for bands, just with singers names listed in place.M. shadows and Corey Taylor do not have half the voice that Tate has. While Queensryche might not be as good as Metallica, Geoff Tate can certainly sing better than Hetfield.

Especially early in his career, the notes that he could hit crystal clear put Queensryche (with help from Chris Several) at the forefront of Prog metal. The only guy that approaches him, in my opinion, is another Prog metal legend, John Arch, from Fates Warning.

Tate in his prime had the best vocals I've ever heard, in my opinion. His voice can hit the highs and lows. His vocals are absolutely outstanding. First time I listened to Queensryche, I couldn't get over how powerful and outstanding his voice is.

9 M. Shadows Matthew Charles Sanders, better known by his stage name M. Shadows, is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the American metalcore/alternative metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

Not to be disrespectful to the other great singers on this list, but I think Matt has the best voice out of all of these singers and more. I've been a fan all my life, and I'm not planning on changing. Matthew Sanders has the most amazing vocal fry of anyone I've heard. If anyone came close, it'd have to be either David Draiman, Ivan Moody, Adam Gontier, or Tim Mcllrath. A7X foREVer

M Shadows in my opinion should be at least 3. He has a powerful voice and uses it in the way he should use it! On hail to the king album his vocals are just amazing. It's not like any other metal singer. This is Raw power. If the Rev was still here and he sand on Hail to the king, he would be number 1!

What the hell M Shadows is 7th. He is probably the best metal vocalist ever, no one can sound like him and he has an amazing voice and is the best screamer.M. shadows has an incredible range and can sing different song like soft song example:Dear god, so far away, size the day and some crazy songs like god hates us and eternal rest.M. shadows must be in to 3

Considering that A7x is the best band of this generation, Shadows must be regarded as one of the better vocalists - simply because of the band's ability to put old-school metal back on the map... none of that screamo crap - at least since they've matured.

10 Michael Kiske Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the former lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween.

Some decent picks on here, but then a lot that are just vocalists in popular mainstream bands that aren't actually that talented. At least Bruce Dickinson is around where he should be. The problem with Kiske is that he's not actually done much with metal since Helloween. Although you should listen to Ultrasonic's Light of Dawn album. His voice has aged better than most as though he's been in suspended animation all of this time.

Matt Shadows? Corey? Who are they next to the great master Kiske? He is easily one of the best vocalists out there! Even Deris (who is an amazing vocalist as well) who entered in his place has some difficulties into singing the other vocalist songs. Just try to achieve the high noted of Eagle Fly Free, Halloween and a Tale That Wasn't Right, then you'll see what a real vocal master is.

What?
This is rhe best singer of all time.
No one can raise their voice like he does and
Sound so clean.
Just hear songs like:
Eagle fly free
Keeper if the seven keys
How many tears (kiske version

He is a lot better than andi deris and a little bit
Better than the god of power metal (the best genre in music) who is Kai hansen.

Don't listen only the Helloween albums. His voice there sounds like crystal and very clean but he also sounds like a child singing high notes. His voice now is in better condition and more mature. Just listen his projects (Place Vendome, Kiske/Somerville, Avantasia, Revolution Renaissance, Tribuzy) to see how better his voice is nowdays!

The Contenders
11 Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone Temple Pilots they released two albums with Chester before his death. Wake Me and No Sun Today, a third album called Amends would be released in 2020 consisting of voice samples from Bennington. After Grey Daze dissolved, Bennington would join Linkin Parkin in 1999 formerly called Hybrid Theory, replacing former vocalist Mark Wakefield, who would go on to become Taproot's producer. Even with Bennington's ...read more.

Chester is not a metal singer, he is METAL!
His voice is technical, aggressive, melodic, powerful and unique.
Every song he made is a majestic and there is no voice like him in the entire history of music.
Linkin park is the best band ever and it's so unhappy that their talent isn't recognized as they deserve in metal world only because they do other genres too.

What? Why he's on 150? He should be at least in the Top 50 to Top 100 but why does he is so far away here in 150. I can't believe this man! He needs more vote man! As for me, his voice is 1 of the most amazing voice ever so I guess he deserves to be at least at a higher place than this man.

His vocal range is legendary. He is a metal artist (I mean not metalcore). So he should placed with SHADOWS if we consider heavymetal and nu metal are two extreme sub genre of metal music, which is again a sub genre of hard rock music.

Chester bennington the best metal singer is in Linkin Park d best band in d world... He screams very good in faint, given up, lost in d echo, etc...

12 Joey Belladonna Joey Belladonna is the American Thrash Metal singer, best known for leading the band Anthrax. He also sings and drums for the cover band Chief Big Way.

Possibly the best at "normal singing" in Thrash. Has such an energy and enthusiasm to how he delivers certain lines that just works perfectly in establishing the fun that most of his era of Anthrax is known for

Dude, seriously, only 25? What is all that baby metal crap? Hetfield, ozzy, mustaine, they are all legends. But they are in no possible way better than Joey. I mean, this man can reach high notes like a god. Don't believe me? Listen to the first part of armed and dangerous in the first buildup. Man those notes give me goosebumps every single time I absorb them.

You'd have to be either deaf or totally ignorant to rank Hetfield or Mustaine above Joey. Hetfield isn't bad but Mustaine is a complete joke as a vocalist. Joey should be top 5 for sure.

I'm not a huge fan of the high octive singing, but somehow the way Joey does it, I love. State of Euphoria, Persistance of Time were my albums back in the day... and I saw Anthrax a few years ago in NYC, with Joey back in the band. Still amazing voice 30 years later

13 Maynard James Keenan Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor, best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool. He also is the singer of A Perfect Circle and Puscifer bands that vary in style.

He always seems to pour deep emotion into his songs, which to me seems to be one of the determining factors of a good singer. Pure talent and singing range is good, but to to have that and be able to put for that emotion is something else.

Dude, it's effing Maynard for crying out loud, he can sing his ass off and nobody can match him for range, ability, and pure talent! And what a unique voice too, a lot of new singers try to imitate him. Top spot should totally go to MJK. If you dunno who he is, CHECK HIM OUT!

Of course there are singers with a bigger vocal range, but every single note MJK sings is spot on. Furthermore he knows how to deliver certain emotions like only very few beside him. Easily belongs into the Top 5.

To me maynard James Keenan is definitely deserving of a top five spot, he has a unique passionate sound to his voice and can produce an undeniably genius set of lyrics.

14 Hansi Kursch Hansi Kürsch, born Hans Jürgen Kürsch, is the lead singer, lyricist, co-composer and bassist for German power metal band Blind Guardian . Heavily influenced by Freddie Mercury, he creates a huge choir effect by overdubbing his own voice multiple times in complex, overlapping vocal harmonies. He records each vocal track individually because harmonizers and "perfect pitch" programs don't work with his voice due to distortion and the natural double layer effects his vocal cords have .
His early technique made use of a more aggressive and harsher, "screaming" technique . ...read more.

Hansi is better than most of the singers on this list. In my opinion he should be number one, even above Halford, Dio and Dickinson, because Hansi sings with so muck passion, and the choral effect he does by overdubbing his voice 1000 times is just epic. He's versatile, got a wide range. He sings heavy songs with a voice so mean and aggresive it sounds like satan himself, and then on the ballads his voice becomes the softest and most beautiful voice I have ever heard. Truly, Blind Guardian would not be what they are without Hansi's voice. Just listen to Bright Eyes, Battlefield, Lord of the Rings or Time Stands Still. Hansi is a god among insects

Hansi #38?!? He's a vocal God. His vocal skills are so great that he should be in the top 5. Probably Hansi can't beat Halford but I agree he's maybe a little bit better than Bruce D. (no disrespect to him). And Hansi's got the most passionate, beautiful and emotive voice in metal (maybe outside metal, too). Try 'My Last Sunrise' by Demons & Wizards, and 'The Bard's Song In the forest', 'Majesty', 'Thorn' - by Blind Guardian.
Oh boy... non-metal singers like Dave Grohl and Axl Rose are now higher than Hansi... And LOL - Ozzy and Dave Mustaine better than Hansi?

Severly underrated singer, his voice can be brutal one second and light as air the next. He can hit all the notes and fill them with passion. While Blind Guardian is a controversial band because of the power metal label, you can't deny Hansi to be one of the best singers out there.

One of the best metal Vocalists of all time. The range of his voice and his ability to perform live is paralleled only by some on this list like Dio, Roy, or Bruce. Deserves a much better place in this list.

15 Chuck Billy Charles "Chuck" Billy is an American vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal band Testament.

Absolutely the most talented vocalist in metal. He has mastered the scream/sing technique. (ala Hetfield) and has taken it a step further. He can produce a great melodic line and sound absolutely terrifying at the same time. Amazing versatility/flexibility. Listen to a little Testament. (F.E.A.R. , Careful What you Wish for, The Preacher) You'll see...

Come on guys no one has such a talented voice such as Chuck Billy. He is maybe not as hot as m shadows but he sings waay better. This is about real metal singers not good looking guys

Chuck is the absolute best, are you kidding me. Dark Roots of Earth... What! His voice is fantastic...Native Blood...What! He is the best.

My dad and I agree on very little, but we agree that Chuck Billy has a fantastic voice. Says it all, really...

16 James LaBrie Kevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater.

James is an amazing vocalist. He is severely overlooked in the rock world. Dream Theater songs are very hard to sing. He sings them so high and clear that it makes it look easy. The control he has over his voice is out of this world. He can go from belting, right back to a soft spoken serenade. He has incredible range and only seems to improve. The Astonishing is without a doubt some of his best work. Tremendous frontman as well. Always interacts with crowd, and exudes a joy and passion for what he is doing up there. Not even to mention his regiment for vocal ability. The running, diet, vitamins, etc. He devotes so much of his life to his ability to sing. So much respect for this guy. Rawk on James!

He is good.. Geoff Tate? Noo... James LaBrie is the Progressive Metal vocal.. His vocal is unique... I don't know how to describe it, he is only for Dream Theater, Dream Theater just for him. The one and only, his vocal control... He has his own vocal style, if you are DT fans since their Image And Words album, maybe you can understand the beautiful of his voice.. Learning to Live, Another Day.. Peruvian Skies, Burning My Soul, Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence... Through My Her Eyes, The Spirit Carries On, To Live Forever, Lifting Shadow of A Dream.. He is the best progressive metal vocal. I think his vocal is versatile.. Cover other band songs like, Iron Maiden, Dio, Queen, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple.. Listen to Tenement Funster; Flick of The Wrist; Lily of The Valley cover or Elton John songs, Funeral For A Friend Love Lies Bleeding cover... Or maybe Stargazer... Easy to say if you NOT a singer... But... Not easy to be James LaBrie...

James LaBrie holds claim to one of metal's most celebrated clean voices. From Dream Theater's iconic album 'Images and Words,' this next high note is found on the record's final track, 'Learning to Live.' During this particular part of the song, LaBrie continues to ascend in pitch, teasing a magical high note which fans mentally beg LaBrie to hit. After the build-up, the vocalist finally reaches the desired peak before guitarist John Petrucci transitions into a new part of the song with a mind-bending solo.

After listening through Dream Theater's discography, he's easily one of my favorite vocalists of all time. The high notes from Learning To Live and Innocence Faded are orgasmic, and the emotion he drives through Metropolis pt 2 and Octavarium are mind-blowing. Dream Theater ranges from aggressive to melodic, writing some of the most complex songs to date, and still I can't imagine another singer fitting his place.

17 Dave Mustaine David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. Mustaine is best known as a pioneer in Thrash Metal, being the former lead guitarist of Metallica before his dismissal in 1983, leading to finding and becoming the front man of his own band Megadeth shortly after.

Dave's voices are amazing but it's hard to like it. But if you listen that set the world afire, you understand me and all megadeth fans. Also Five Magic is good choice for Dave's vocals, and you must think that Dave also plays hardest riff's and amazing solos, and sing the song. He is beast.

Might not be on the top, and rightly so, because the likes of Bruce and Rob are simply better. But Dave's got some unique style which I haven't heard before. His voice oozes sarcasm and weirdness, and that works for all those intricate Megadeth riffs.

I haven't got a clue why he's all the way down here. Dave mustaine has a unique voice, which proves better than most singers these days. I understand that its hard to listen to his voice, but once you start to get used to it, you can't get enough!

He is the best. He is the maker of thrash metal. He is GOD. You will understand when you get used to his voice. If you aren't, listen to Insomnia and Dystopia. And Breadline.
Besides he has the best riffs. No one can beat him in that category.

18 Matt Barlow Matthew 'Matt' Barlow is an American heavy metal singer and police officer. He was the lead singer for Iced Earth in the 1990s and 2000s. He is currently the lead singer for Ashes of Ares. After the September 11 terrorist attacks Matt Barlow decided to become a police officer and contribute to the "real world" instead of living the illusion of a "rock star." In 2007 he returned to music.

Whilst probably not THE best, he is undoubtedly one of them. His phenomenal voice has soared into the highest reaches of sound and rumbled in the lowest depths. The masculine thickness of his voice also allows for him to be soft while still menacing and strong. His voice is a one of a kind, and it's a damn shame he doesn't get more recognition.

This godlike ability to jump between clean super-high and clean super-low is quite remarkable. Its weird because sometimes it doesn't even look like it acquires that much effort from him, its like he "pretends" to sing somehow, kinda ventriloquist-ish haha.

By the way we got a random example in the opener of the AoA album "The Messenger" where every other line is sung either high or low.

Best voice in all Heavy Metal.
This guys can sing whatever he likes and with such passion and emotion I can't describe it.
Just listen to A Question Of Heaven and you will understand perfectly what I mean.

Should have been way higher though. For me he is number 1 but he should be at least be in the top 10.

THE voice of ICED EARTH. Killer growls, clean and hight pitched vocals. "Something Wicked This Way Comes", "Horrow Show" and "Immortal" albums are a proof of what is he made of: pure metal and a class A+ quality voice.

Barlow, a perfect mixture between Hetfield, Anselmo, Dickinson and Halford, at his best.

19 David Draiman David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the vocalist for the band Disturbed as well as for the band Device.

An amazing voice. David can sing from soft to hard. It's true he is not only a great metal singer he defines a culture. Metal is the most powerful music I know. Disturbed is a kind of underrated which is pity, I hope with my vote David can be rated higher...

David needs to be in the top 10! He is one of the best singers of all time and is definitely not getting the love and respect he deserves from this list. Metal would be far different if it were not for David Draiman, the personification of what it means to be a metal singer. David is not just a metal singer, he is metal. He does not just define Disturbed and Device, he defines a culture and an amazing genre.

David created and carved a path for new metal bands and fans alike. His vocal range is almost unmatched, for low and raspy, to high and smooth. And dare not let me mention all the hits him and the godly band Disturbed has come out with throughout the year. He belongs up there in top ten with no question, look at the song Haze he made with M Shadow and Devive, amazing to say the least.

You can say whatever you want, think whatever you want, like whom ever you want... But David Draiman is David Draiman! He should be at least be in top 5. His voice is so beautiful and yet so powerful, calm for your ears and yet blowing your mind! Just listen to some of Disturbed/Device's songs and you'll see. World wouldn't feel same without him... Can't live without a everyday dose of it! Disturbed live forever and after! M/(-. -) m/

20 Floor Jansen Floor Jansen is a Dutch singer-songwriter and vocal coach. She is currently vocalist of Nightwish and leader of Revamp.

Floor Jansen has the greatest range I have EVER heard in a singer's voice. She can so from belting to opera to growling with not a single problem. Her voice is 4-5 times more powerful than the average singer as well. She has a beautiful, soft voice for ballads and a hard, rocking voice for the heavier songs. Listen to 'After Forever - Beautiful Emptiness', 'After Forever - Evoke' or 'ReVamp - Here's My Hell' for great examples of her voice.

I can't believe Floor Jansen is this low. I mean, have you not heard the new Nightwish album with her? She has the most amazing voice (not to mention very powerful) of any singer I've ever heard. Just listen to songs such as Shudder Before the Beautiful or The Greatest Show on Earth by Nightwish. She has a terrific voice for these songs. She fits with Nightwish so well.

This Metal Goddess shall be below Dickinson, she exceed all female vocalist in the past years, just listen Ghost love score if you not have an eargasm you are deaf! Amazing!

That a metal wannabe like Amy Lee can make top 10 while the goddess of metal is stuck outside of it is a travesty of the worst kind. Just listen to the latest ReVamp album.

21 Lemmy Ian Fraser Kilmister, known as Lemmy, was an English musician, singer and songwriter who founded and fronted the rock band Motörhead. He was a bassist and a singer known for his raspy voice. He died in 2015 from cancer and other health problems.

The raspiness of his voice, the intensity of his singing style, how much blood has he coughes up? I want to have a voice like him.

Lemmys voice set the bar for metal and when you hear him live and see people running for the exit sign after an encore with overkill you know it's the real deal.

In my opinion Metallica's version of "overkill" was better because you could actually tell what James is saying.

To not be in the top 10 might constitute a criminal act. Talk about fame, recognizability, and walked the walk.

22 King Diamond Kim Bendix Petersen, better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish heavy metal musician. He is known for his extensive vocal range, usually sung in falsetto. King Diamond was originally known as the vocalist for Mercyful Fate, but has become notorious for his horror themed Concept albums that he has released as a solo artist. He is also known for his Satanism which he does not see as a religion, but a philosophy by which he lived even before reading Anton LaVey's The Satanic Bible.

What is truly amazing about this man is that he has not lost his ability to hit the high notes over 30+ years of singing. Even the all-time greats like Dickinson, Halford, and Dio slowly lost the ability as time went on. Hasn't happened to the King yet.

But I can understand why he might be so low. King Diamond is not exactly mainstream. I can only hope people find him, as I did recently. Not only is he great, but so is his band. Check out the concept album "Abigail". It's a metal masterpiece! I'm not sure if I'd put him as the greatest as there's more to singing than hitting high notes, but he absolutely deserves top 10! Possibly top 5.

How are people like Corey Taylor so high while King Diamond and Joey Belladonna are so low? King Diamond can sing higher and lower than anyone else on this list, and can jump back and forth between the two in seconds, while also having a just as excellent mid-range voice.

What an incredible deluge of eerie falsetto shrieking, growling, gurgling... His work on Abigail is the stuff of metal legend and struck fear into to the hearts of listeners and competitors... Should be at least top 10, if not top 5.

The King is below someone like Corey Taylor? That should not be, King has an incredible vocal range and deserves to be in the top ten at least.

23 Ben Burnley Benjamin Jackson Burnley IV is an American musician, composer, and producer, best known as the founder and frontman of the American rock band Breaking Benjamin.

Ben Burnley has a voice that can amp you up and can put you in a better mood no matter what is going on. His music and vocals are an inspiration to me and I cannot wait until he can get back into the studio and make some more awesome music. He is truly an inspiration and hero to many, including me.
His music got me through my GED, and now through 2 semesters of college. I am getting ready to get "I Will Not Bow" tattooed on me, for him and Bruce Willis (big fan of both), also because it is my theme song.
Keep rocking' Ben. You deserve the best. Hope you get to feeling better. I am wanting to come to a Breaking Benjamin concert so bad, and bring my daughter with me for her first concert. Mine was NKOTB in 1990, I want her's to be you guys.

The songs he wrote are the best song I have ever listened to. His distinct voice crafts a spell on every song he sings and leads them to be epic. It's not just about being "hard" but on the emotion of the songs too. And by that he can really do express what the song means through his singing and not every singer can do it! Ben's voice is one of the most unique singing voice I have ever heard and as of now he is my favorite lead singer. His ability to sing while doing guitar riffs are extremely more than awesome. I can listen to him all day long... in fact there's not a day that I don't play one of Breaking Benjamin's song. The riffs, the bassline, the drums plus Ben Burnley's voice = Best kind of music for me. Ben is number 1 for me!... and the whole Breaking Benjamin band!

He deserves it! The most talented singer in this world is Ben!
And he deserves it, best band in the world with the world's best singer alive
Not a day without hearing the voice of Ben! Or without hearing BB simply amazing!
I'm a fan since 2000 and I'm only 15 years old I really like Ben and the band are my favorite band for 11 years I admire them for how every song I associated with him in some way Not only the voice, also he is an amazing person, see how he gives the show together with the band! What else can I say? Amazing singer, amazing guitarist, amazing band, amazing person, amazing songs, amazing meaning its already perfect!
How can't he be the best singer? He have everything that someone can wish for his music! I just hope to new songs I really want more things to hear with that perfect voice of him, the songs can never boring me because of the whole band! Just wait for a new song and know that Ben is ok, and yeah he is the best singer, because all of this and much ...more

Belated opinion since it is now 2016. Just started listening to BB and now I can't get enough. Burnley's vocal range is impressive and one that I never get tired of hearing. His voice is distinctive. My favorite is his low range with that is so full it sounds like he's singing into a tunnel. He can death growl but also sing ballads. Ashes of Eden is an unusual but great example of his vocal range. I'm going to a concert in March. I hope he is as good live as he is on studio records. Can't wait!

24 Serj Tankian Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and political activist. He's best known for being the lead singer of the Armenian/American rock band System of a Down. After System of a Down's hiatus in 2006 he began to release solo material. Some of his solo songs include: The Sky is Over, Lie Lie Lie, Harakiri, Baby, Empty Walls, and more. His solo albums and EPS include: Elect The Dead (2007), Imperfect Harmonise (2010), Harakiri (2012), Jazz-iz Christ (2013), Fuktronic (2020), and Elasticity (2021) on top of that he has gone on to perform soundtracks for films in recent years.

I was gonna vote for Roy Khan, because he is incredible, but my loyalties will always be to Serj Tankian. System of a Down is my favorite band since I was 10 years old. Serj's has this incredible range of style and emotion. You get all these different kinds of songs like Question or Spiders or even crazy ones like Vicinity of Obscenity. And his solo work is amazing too. The big sound of Elect the Dead or the symphonic Imperfect Harmonies or the sorta punk rock Harakiri. Serj is an amazing talent.

Serj has shown a wide and expressive vocal ability with many of their hit songs. For example, Chop Suey has a hard, powerful chorus, and then melodic and equally powerful verses. His unique talent allows him to create such works as I-E-A-I-A-I-O with fast and creative verses and an loud and beautiful chorus.

Brilliant vocal range, beautiful voice, and not just with SOAD, listen to all of his solo work too. Also seems to have a nice personality, not as big headed as many other famous singers. Also, Dave Mustaine has a crap voice, and James Hetfield's is ok, consider others people, don't vote for your favourite band.

His vocal range is about 4.2 octaves and his voice is insane. He performs one of the finest vocals. Of course not better than bruce, Halford or Dio but surely deserves top 10. He has the most unique metal voice and when it comes to vocals he is far better better than overrated M.Shadows

25 Ian Gillan Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He originally found success as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, and the original singer on the rock opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, where Gillan had the leading role (Jesus Christ).

The first metal singer and master screamer. He is the guy who invented the metal style singing - operatic and powerful vocals, with a wide range (4 octaves). Bruce Dickinson was influenced by Ian Gillan. Not by Ozzy.
Give a listen to "Disturbing the priest" by Black Sabbath. Really freakish and psychotic vocals.

So many metal singers were inspired by Ian Gillan. I can't remember all of them right now but I clearly remember that Hansi Kürsch (one of the best metal singers of all time) quotes Gillan as the biggest vocal influence. Hansi said during an interview that Gillan was the only metal singer who moved him "because the way Gillan sings has always had a deeper impact on me."

The one who started it all. The only reason he's not top 1 is the debate whether he belongs to the metal or hard rock genre...

The way Gillan moves his notes from high pitch to bass in songs like Born Again makes him one of the best.

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