Top 10 Best Metal Songs of All Time

Right from the start with the first riff, it's like a punch to the face. The buildup to the main riff is pure headbanging joy. Hetfield and Hammett keep unleashing riff after riff at amazing speed and with a punchy sound.

Together with Burton's bass and Ulrich's drums, it forms an impenetrable wall of thrash metal that keeps hitting you like a slap to the face.

The lyrics are some of the best ever in a metal song. Hetfield's angry vocals shouting "Pain monopoly... Ritual misery!" all the while hitting percussive downpicks on every riff is the stuff of legend.

Suddenly, out of the blue, comes a calm and beautiful bridge with a clean riff and a serene dual harmony, followed by Hetfield's soulful solo. Hetfield has an amazing haunting blues-rock lead playing, which I love.

Then, Hammett comes in with his absolutely insane solo featuring an ear-piercing pinch harmonic. Hammett ends on the highest note on the guitar, and the next riff played is ...more

X Japan? Laugh out loud.

To create a masterpiece like Master of Puppets, you need a perfect combination of factors, which only exists in Metallica. The great rhythm guitar of Hetfield, perfect solos by Hammett, the wonderful bass performance of Burton, and finally, the overwhelming drumming of Ulrich. So, suck it, kiddos, we are the best.

Master of Puppets is easily the best song on this list. Don't get me wrong, I love Hallowed Be Thy Name. In fact, I had quite a bit of trouble choosing between the two. However, I went with the former because Master of Puppets is simply genius. The vocals and the guitar blend like salt and pepper, and the solo is wonderful as well. This song will leave an impact on you, I promise.

Literally a perfect song. I say that without a drop of hyperbole. Every note and riff isn't just excellent. It also fits the structure and story within the song. The beat, drums, and pacing perfectly sync with the story within the song. The story works on all levels. It can be seen as both a story of an individual addict or a horde of them crawling back to the master they worship.

I'll put it at number one on the Best Metal Song List. Why not? Sure, I can think of a couple more songs that would have valid rights to the top spot as well, but this song has every element a brilliant metal song should have. The song is epic in every way: the songwriting, the musicianship, and the production are all top-notch and have raised the bar for all metal that followed.

It's hard to single out any one performance, but Bruce Dickinson's vocals on this track are unparalleled by any singer in any genre on any planet. Okay, maybe that's a little over the top, but seriously, the vocals in this song are insane! This song is also my all-time favorite song, regardless of genre.

Though my first Maiden song was Fear of the Dark, and it's my personal number-one metal riff, HBTN is simply a bigger, more advanced, and better song overall. This song has everything a non-brutal death, but still metal, song needs: a spooky opening, dark lyrics, a great riff, and a perfectly executed transition between the silent part and the go loud part. It also features a shouted, speech-like section of lyrics. And that's just one-third of the song. The rest is as good as the opening, which is no small feat. Every second of this masterpiece is both beautiful and entertaining. Words can't express it. Just go listen to it if you haven't. No need to thank me.

This is not only the best metal song, but in my opinion, the overall best song ever. This tune never gets old and rocks just as hard as the first time you hear it. Every time Maiden puts out another live album, this song just gets better and better, especially with the addition of Janick Gers on 3rd guitar.

Metallica is good, but Iron Maiden is the best and greatest. Iron Maiden influenced Metallica and so many other great, amazing bands. This is their best song, the best song from the greatest band. The vocals, guitar, drums, and bass - everything is perfect in this song. Metallica, Avenged Sevenfold, and Slipknot are probably the most mainstream and popular bands here. Yes, Metallica is more mainstream than Iron Maiden, but Iron Maiden is way better.

I have to be completely honest. After being on this website for around 10 threads, I can see how Megadeth and Metallica bias this place. Now, my favorite is Megadeth. So, I don't take offense to it. I just feel it's very hard for a band other than those two to make it on these lists. Nevertheless, I vote for Holy Wars because it is my all-time favorite song. I think it's highly underrated by people too close-minded to consider music from other bands. Either way, those people have no effect on me enjoying this song. So, like I said before, I am voting for this.

Thrash Metal at its best! No doubt, this has got to be number one. Friedman and Mustaine did such a good job on this one. I've played guitar for 18 years now, and this album contains some of the hardest things I have ever tried to handle on guitar. The difficulty of the songs has nothing to do with my vote for this album, though. It is about the music. Everything is just perfect except for Dave's singing. If you just focus on the singing, in my opinion, Master of Puppets deserves the number 1 spot. But I am voting for this album because it has everything nearly perfect.

What is Chop Suey? And who is X-Japan? This song should be number one. I still can't play this song. The awesome lyrics are backed by the most influential guitar work. This song is far better than Master of Puppets. Again, this song should be number one. Megadeth rules.

Just as I was scrolling with my mouse, I found Forever Winter by Antim Grahhan. I never thought they would be on the list. It's a great song, and yes, I am from Nepal. People, please check out Ma Sano Prakash by Atomic Bush. You will love it. You won't regret it.

This song alone stands like two pillars of thrash metal. It is somehow both melodic, heavy, and fast at the same time. Dave's aggression-fueled solo perfectly complements Marty's virtuosity. It's not necessarily my favorite metal song, but it is the best, hands down, if that makes any sense.

"One" essentially encapsulates every notable subgenre of metal. The more melodic parts in the opening draw from ballad-based metal songs on the softer side. The chorus, with its distortion, sounds a lot like sludge metal. The bridge, featuring the lines "Darkness! Imprisoning me!" serves almost as a precursor to alternative, nu, and even rap metal. The machine-gun riff is very reminiscent of groove metal. The final two-minute solo is pure thrash and speed metal goodness.

With its various parts and musical sections, the song has a structure reminiscent of progressive metal. "One" is not just a legendary metal song. It encapsulates the entire genre in seven and a half minutes.

I have yet to hear a better song. The build-up transitions from slow, filled with pain and sorrow, to fast, heavy, and filled with rage. The emotional impact of the vocals and the way the song is sung is mesmerizing. It starts slow with excellent guitar work, building up with more bass and drums. At a certain point, the lyrics and singing style reach a breaking point, transitioning from a plea to unleashing all the rage in a headbanging fashion. The song concludes with a classic guitar solo.

The flow and structure of the song are captivating. It encompasses everything Metallica stands for: grim lyrics, powerful vocals, amazing riffs, and a beat and flow that just get better and better. Finally, the guitar solo finishes off this masterpiece. It is the best Metallica song and the best metal song overall.

In my opinion, the best metal song to ever exist is also one of the best songs of all time. It starts off slow and melodic, then suddenly explodes into all-out heavy perfection. It features one of the best guitar solos ever. Here is my list of the best metal songs of all time:

1. One by Metallica
2. Hallowed Be Thy Name by Iron Maiden
3. Fade to Black by Metallica
4. Master of Puppets by Metallica
5. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due by Megadeth
6. Painkiller by Judas Priest
7. The Trooper by Iron Maiden
8. Holy Diver by Dio
9. Chop Suey! by System of a Down
10. The Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden

In my opinion, this song instantly deserves the number one spot on the list. It's my all-time favorite metal song. The lyrics in this anti-war song are meaningful, as they are about a WW1 soldier who is severely wounded - arms, legs, and jaw blown off by a landmine, blind, and unable to speak or move - begging God to take his life. The song also contains one of the greatest solos and riffs. It's a very balanced metal song, starting with a soft, clean guitar tone and building up to a thrashy, heavier sound. Truly a masterpiece.

Whoever says that Black Sabbath isn't metal can get out right now. Black Sabbath are the pioneers of metal and should be respected that way. Paranoid is an iconic song. It should be higher on this list. I think Black Sabbath and Judas Priest are on the same playing field since they came out around the same time. Paranoid is ORIGINAL metal. Although, I do also agree that Master of Puppets is a God-tier song.

You guys are all wrong. The best song is the one that started it all: Paranoid. It's disappointing that bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Korn, Slipknot, and even Linkin Park (who I don't see how can be classified as metal) are ranked ahead of Black Sabbath. Black Sabbath are the godfathers of metal.

This song was almost an afterthought for Sabbath originally. However, thanks to its carefully crafted guitar riffs, memorable vocals, and cultural impact, it basically created metal. I would consider Master of Puppets a distant second, though, and that song is amazing. Great job, Sabbath.

The first time I heard this song was on Rock Band, and I loved it! Black Sabbath is the original metal band. This was essentially one of the first metal songs. Every metal band today has learned something from Sabbath, which is why this song is the best.

When this song came out in 1990, the first thought I had was that Priest came to rip the metal crown from Metallica's head. The song and album were so good that the band broke up. How could they top this album? I wonder if that's the reason Rob left? They really nailed it.

This is one of the most powerful songs I've ever heard. It's a masterpiece in the heavy metal genre. You're not truly living if this song doesn't give you shivers.

Overrated Metallica at the top, as usual. I remember a kid was saying, "You know, dude, I wonder what God was thinking when he made Lars Ulrich." A guy promptly replied, "He definitely wasn't taking 'Painkiller.'" Damn.

As long as metal is considered, then it doesn't get any better than this. I mean, my refrigerator magnets came in to check what was happening when this song was playing.

First off, "Master of Puppets" got me into music in general. It's the first song I tried to learn on guitar. I worship this song. But we are talking about "Iron Man." Without it, there would be no metal. It's the riff heard around the world. I have seen some truly atrocious things on this site, but with this, I draw the line.

"Iron Man" deserves nothing less than Number 1. Number 6 is an outrage. The songs "rated" above it are all phenomenal and deserve a spot on this list, but selling short "Iron Man" is about as metal as voting Lil Wayne as the greatest metal artist ever. It's just WRONG.

Even if I'm not a big fan of Black Sabbath, I would say I'm a bigger fan of S.O.A.D. Iron Man is not only a great song, but it's a song from Black Sabbath, one of the best metal bands ever. So they deserve to have a song in the top 10. Also, I saw Chop Suey, which is why I commented on System of a Down.

I agree it's a really great song, but come on, it's not even a metal song. It's nu-metal or hard rock. And no solo, no nothing - great song, but it doesn't deserve the top 10.

How is this not number one? I mean, Metallica rocks hard and all, but on the other hand, it's IRON MAN BY Black Sabbath. Without this song, there would BE no metal. It should at least be in the top 3. Seeing it at number 19 makes it hard to take this poll seriously.

Black Sabbath is the father of all metal. This should be way higher, along with many other great songs by them: N.I.B, Symptom of the Universe, Paranoid, Supernaut, and even their new stuff is pretty good. If you haven't listened to their new 13 album, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

The best example of Heavy Metal in all ways. Musically, rhythmically, lyrically, and pretty much in every meaningful way, this song represents everything you need to know about Heavy Metal. This is true regardless if you're new to the genre or a veteran, followed, in my opinion, by Iron Man and Painkiller.

This song is TOO good not to be in the top ten. Although my favorite Maiden song is Infinite Dreams, I say that The Trooper should be in the top ten because of how legendary and recognizable it is. And come on, is there anything better than The Trooper live? No one forgets the moment Bruce runs on stage in the red jacket, waving the Union Jack!

"Into the valley of Death, rode the six hundred. Cannons to the right of them, cannons to the left of them, volley'd and thunder'd... THE TROOPER!" - just an unforgettable introduction by Bruce at Rock In Rio 2001. Anyway, this is a classic. In my opinion, it has the best guitar riff ever written, and the intro played live by Maiden is just eargasmic.

It's classic Iron Maiden, so grab their fans' attention and tell them to stop endlessly going on about Hallowed Be Thy Name as though it's the only great track they've written. Look where Rime of the Ancient Mariner is.

This is my favorite song of all time, and I think it should be at least in the top 5. I'm a great fan of Metallica and I even love Master of Puppets. But personally, this is just my opinion. I mean, this song has everything: the intro, the solo, the lyrics, the drums. It is perfect!

This song is just awesome! Superb intro? Check. Great vocals? Check. Good lyrics? Check. Guitar solo? Awesome. This should at least be in the top five. Come on, guys!

This was almost Metallica's best song but fell just short. I love the way all the vocals are and how it is written. I also love how the theme of this song is night.

Finally in the top ten! I just love this song! One of the best! And why isn't there any Pantera on the Top Ten?

How in the hell is this not number one? This song is amazing, one of the best in history. Dio is a rock/metal legend, in my opinion. His voice is so amazing that you can listen to it for hours and not get tired of it. It's such a unique voice that you can hear it anywhere and know who's singing. I honestly think this should be higher on the list.

R.I.P. Dio. We miss and love you.

A great song with such a simple, yet complex riff. It uses five power chords and is written in the key of C minor. Ronnie James Dio's first solo album was a masterpiece. Somehow, this song worked its way to the top of an album crowded with great songs.

When I first heard this song, it was the cover done by Killswitch Engage. I saw it on Spotify and absolutely loved it. It wasn't until about five years later that I looked up "Holy Diver" on YouTube and saw that Dio had made the original. This was the song that got me into Dio and solidified him on my list of easily top 10 metal artists ever.

I have no idea what Dio is going on about lyrically in this classic, but as the great Henry Rollins said: Dio's voice makes you want to put on a cape and fly like Superman. And he's right.

The best metal song hands down, this is the only band that has several amazing songs. Other bands only have like one. They are very underrated and super unique. They like to combine other genres into their music. Chop Suey has a staggering 640 million views, while Metallica's best song is only at 140 million. Serj and Daron make the most powerful songs and love their people. Their voices are amazing, with Serj's screaming and slow melody, and Daron's nice soothing high-pitched voice. And Shavo is crazy. This dude is flipping his fingers all over his bass, and it's amazing, producing the best noises in any song. And finally, John is the best drummer alive. There's no question. He makes the best transitions to beats in music. It's unbelievable.

In an interview, Daron Malakian explained, "The song is about how we are regarded differently depending on how we pass. Everyone deserves to die. For example, if I were now to die from drug abuse, they might say I deserved it because I abused dangerous drugs. Hence the line, 'I cry when angels deserve to die.' The lyric passages 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit' and 'why have you forsaken me?' are references to Jesus' death on the cross. According to the Gospels, it was one of the seven things Jesus said while dying."

We all know that there isn't a better song than Chop Suey!. First, the voice: Serj Tankian has a paradisiacal voice. He could sing at a death metal concert and at an opera with the same powerful voice. Second, the instrumental parts: guitar, bass, and drums blend beautifully. Third, the words: this is the most touching lyric that I've ever heard.

Do I even need to explain why Chop Suey! is one of the best metal songs ever? Okay, it may not be the best, but this song is pure awesomeness and everyone knows it! The intro, the lyrics, the scream part, Serj's voice, Shavo and Daron being badasses once again, and John rocking the hell out. System of a Down is honestly a fantastic band, and this song deserves to be in the top 10! There are other System of a Down songs that should really be here too.

All of the songs in the top ten are great, but I think that Angel of Death deserves to be in the top ten. According to me and many others, it's the best thrash metal song out there. It's unfortunate to see this song ranked behind Metallica, which, in my opinion, is one of the worst metal bands. Sure, Kill 'Em All was good, and so was Master of Puppets, but their other albums are nothing compared to those released by bands like Pantera, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Slayer, Motörhead, Exodus, and many more. It's time for people to realize that Metallica isn't that great and that Slayer is the best thrash band. They may have released the best thrash album ever, featuring one of the best metal songs ever, and that song is Angel of Death.

I'm genuinely surprised this isn't in at least the top 5. Just by listening to this song, you can tell it's extremely advanced and certain to go down in history. It somehow gets better every time you listen to it. Maybe that's just black magic?

There are many good songs in Slayer's discography that don't exist in Metallica's discography. One such song is "Angel of Death," which is one of the most iconic thrash metal songs ever. The fact that it ranks below Metallica's song "One" is honestly sad.

No way! Rank 12? Go to hell, all of you. This song is a masterpiece of speed metal. You guys don't know true metal. Metallica is just overrated. You all should listen to this. You'll forget Master of Puppets and will hear this even in your dreams.

I genuinely can't believe this song isn't in the top 10. The riffs and solo are spectacular, and the lyrics are deep yet uplifting. It's a celebration of descent into madness. The song gets everybody up and headbanging. Even people who don't like metal adore this song. It transcends the genre. This is a true defining song of metal and deserves to be ranked much higher.

I love rock, and this is one of my very favorite songs. How is it number 36 when bands like X Japan and Dir en Grey are in the top 20? Ozzy is one of the greatest metal artists of all time, and this is his best song, featuring a killer solo by Rhoads. This ranking is unreasonable.

31? Are you kidding me? This should be at least in 3rd place! RIP Randy and long live the godfather of heavy metal!

This is probably one of my favorite metal songs. I'm not much of a metal fan, but this song is great.

I've never heard a song that gave me goosebumps until I heard "Fade to Black." It's such a beautiful masterpiece that I barely play it, so I never get tired of listening to it. But when I do, I stop what I'm doing and leave my reality.

Best Metallica song ever. Listen to the intro. The words (I know they aren't on here), the vocals - James Hetfield is brilliant. Kirk Hammett rocks the guitar. Lars Ulrich beats the hell out of the drums. And Robert Trujillo has got thunder fingers. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009! This band has been rocking since 1981 when the band was officially formed that October.

Everything in this song is perfect. There's no match for it! This is, by far, the best song in the world. There is no comparison. "Master of Puppets" (MOP) is good because it has a classic riff, but "Fade to Black" has a "perfect" solo in addition to other things that MOP has. The beginning, the middle, and the end of the solo - how it practically fades to black - is an unbelievable masterpiece.

This is by far the best Metallica song. Master of Puppets is good, but the depth of this song makes it a true masterpiece. While it might not have the length of some other Metallica songs, it definitely has the greatest lyrics and solo of them all.

This song is a really heavy and groovy tune. The beginning is a really good intro to a great song. Pantera, in general, is a great band, so this song is a great addition to their great collection of songs. I'm personally excited because they just got back together as a band.

Best Pantera song, but overall best metal song of the '90s. I respect Metallica, but Enter Sandman isn't my favorite. Add this and take away Sandman, and you have a great top ten.

This song is better than Walk, in my opinion. Well, in fact, it's better than any other song in the top ten.

As a fan of all metal bands, I will say that while this list is good, this needs to be higher. Solidly in the top 3.

Sorry, but this is one of the best songs in history. And I don't mean only metal, but also if you include classic rock like Floyd, Zeppelin, and the Beatles. Even Mozart, Beethoven, and Wagner. If you listen to it 10 times, you will not forget this song for your lifetime. This is not music. This is a world.

I don't know about you guys, but I LOVE this song. It is an amazing song. It has the famous riffs, the brutal drumming, the badass vocals, the speed, and the awesome solos. Raining Blood has it all. Slayer has created a masterpiece with this one!

After I'm done listening to it, the only negative thought I have is, "Darn... if only they added a little more to that song to make it longer." But I guess that would take away from the beauty of the song if it were longer.

I may be a huge fan of Avenged Sevenfold, but there hasn't been a darker guitar riff than Raining Blood by Slayer. Actually, I'm just a fan of all things metal. This song should at least be in the top 5.

This song is the definition of metal, and people still voted for mainstream Metallica just because they have the word "Metal" in their band name. I mean, come on, guys. Come on.

This is the greatest song of all time by the real fathers of heavy metal. Lemmy's vocals are simply on another level from others. This song just further states that.

Ace of Spades is the OG speed metal hit, and if not for it, these other songs wouldn't even exist.

Way better than some of the songs in the top 10. And it is a classic!

This is one of Metallica's most underrated songs, but this song rocks. From the intro, and then the thrashing along at the speed with which the guitars are played - it's so awesome that it draws you in and helps you visualize what they're singing about. This is an example of fine art. Metallica forever.

This album has some of the best Metallica songs. It ranks so low because people think it's awesome, but it's even better when you listen to it in your head because you can put yourself in James Hetfield's shoes.

This is the best Metallica song of all time for me. Maybe my ears just got tired of listening to Master of Puppets.

Definitely one of the best Metallica songs. My personal favorite would be Battery. Can't believe this is not higher up.

What a song. I am horrified that this isn't in the top 10. It really is one of the best songs out there. How somebody could make a piece of music sound like that is beyond me.

Greatest metal song from one of the best bands ever! The best intro with the greatest vocalist ever. Bruce Dickinson is an artist who paints with words.

Firstly, Dickinson never writes songs. Steve Harris does. It has the greatest guitar riff in metal. Not at all satanic, but a warning against it. Long live Iron Maiden.

This is one of the best metal songs ever, second only to Master of Puppets.

Haha, this is supposed to be a list of the best metal songs of all time? If you're true metal fans, you should be ashamed that one of the best songs by one of the best metal bands of all time is ranked a measly 19th. If you have any self-respect and respect for the immense contributions these legends have made to metal, you'd rank it in the top 10 at least.

Ranked at 12? This masterpiece should be at least in the top 5, or even above Master of Puppets. It has fantastic riffs, an amazing solo, deep and excellent lyrics, nearly perfect vocals, and a chilling intro. Anything else? This song is very emotional and has deep meaning if you try to understand it. It touches me every time I listen. This song is a masterpiece and will soon become legendary. Dimebag Darrell for the win. RIP legend.

Better than System of a Down, Slipknot, Korn, Linkin Park, Disturbed, etc. I was annoyed to see Slipknot ranked so high. They nearly ruined metal. The song is amazing: it has a sick riff and solo, great vocals - what more could you want? The only thing that bothers me is the absence of songs by All That Remains or Trivium, while Slipknot is featured.

By far, this is one of my favorite Pantera songs and arguably the best metal song of the '90s. It is technically complex and melodically sung, creating a somber yet energetic atmosphere. It's a true musical masterpiece, only rivaled by the best classical composers.

What the hell? Afterlife is at 74. Such a masterpiece should be at least within the top 10. Come on, guys, this is the best song by one of the best bands ever, A7X. Please vote for Afterlife and take it to the right position. Such a solo, such a melody, and, after all, such a song can never be out of the top 10. It's better than most of the songs in the top ten.

This features the greatest solo ever to be played, the most beautiful and well-written lyrics ever to be sung, and it's coupled with a fantastic orchestral part. You can't beat it. I'll tell you one thing: it's better than Master of Puppets, for sure!

Haha, this is the funniest thing I've seen in all my life. Afterlife, a piece of art, is number 29, and yet pieces of complete garbage are ahead of it. For God's sake, Crazy Train is higher than this. Crazy Train, sung by the lunatic who bites the heads off bats. Maybe whoever made this list must have eaten some.

Love the intro to this song. It's simply epic! The combination of the band and orchestra is just awesome. The first time I heard this, it blew my mind. It's just an epic song that deserves to be on this list easily.

What a song - pure classic metal. I love that riff, and I think some songs from Kill 'Em All made metal. Black Sabbath just started metal, but Metallica made it and inspired many metal bands. Oh, and Maiden also gave a different touch, which no one followed. Their style and songs are unique but purely awesome. No one writes like them, but they are second after Metallica.

As metal as it gets with the original members of Metallica. The classic of classic metal.

This song should Seek and Destroy its way to the top five!

One of the best guitar solos of all time. Still gives me chills.

The song that started it all. Everything about it is iconic, from the thunder and rain at the beginning to the terrifying riff to the Hendrix-style rave-up at the end. This is metal. That riff uses what is known as the tritone or "Diabolus In Musica," a sound that evokes fear and dread in the listener. I wish I was alive in 1970 to be able to hear this on the radio. It was a mission statement that music was just beginning to be truly understood. Music has never been the same since.

This is where it all started. Oddly enough, it didn't get better than it did on this particular track. I LOVE that riff, and the fast bit at the end serves as an epic conclusion to one of the greatest songs ever.

I didn't think anyone knew this song, but it is awesome - the creepiest riff ever. Every day is Black Sabbath day, and keep it unholy!

I don't understand whether it's a joke or what, but this song is given such a low position. It should be in the top 3.

56? This song is legendary, inspiring so many other metal genres. Epic riffs, solos, vocals, drums, lyrics, etc. All I can say is this list is broken...

The greatest metal singers ever are Rob Halford and Dio. R.I.P. Dio. This is the greatest song ever written, and it's Dio's self-admitted best song. This rank is BS.

What a killer riff! This is one of the best heavy metal songs ever.

This should be in the top 10. This is an insult to metal fans.