Top 10 Most Influential Metal Bands

The top 10 metal bands that most inspired you to try making music, or were the biggest inspiration and had the most influence on the metal industry.

1. Black Sabbath

   

   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. Their self-titled debut album received mixed reviews, but they quickly gained a strong following... read more

   They created and popularized heavy metal. It is idiotic not to have Black Sabbath at number one. Not only were they the first true metal band, but they were also the direct inspiration for quite a few major subgenres. Doom metal, sludge metal, stoner metal, and gothic metal are all inspired by the mighty Sabbath!

   Sabbath started metal. They created metal. If it weren't for them, Metallica, Lamb of God, Megadeth, Slipknot, and Iron Maiden wouldn't exist. And what the heck is up with Slipknot, Lamb of God, and System of a Down being on this list? They are good, yeah, but they didn't influence.

2. Iron Maiden

   

   Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Their most critically acclaimed period is widely considered to be from 1983 to 1989, during which they released landmark albums like Piece of Mind, Powerslave, Somewhere... read more

   They are one of the best metal bands in all of metal history, maybe the most influential band alongside Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. Lamb of God and Slipknot should not be here because they are not influential bands. They are from these times. In my opinion, an influential band is one that has influenced many bands in metal, like Iron Maiden!

   Sabbath was undeniably the first metal band in existence, but Iron Maiden was really the first band to play actual heavy metal. What I mean by that is they were the first to play metal like how it's known today.

3. Metallica

   

   Metallica is an American heavy and thrash metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup included James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Ron McGovney (bass). They first gained mainstream fame with their 1991 self-titled album (The Black Album... read more

   Let's be real, Black Sabbath was really the first metal band, but Metallica is definitely the most well-known metal band and by far the most famous and popular, with Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Iron Maiden being close behind. If you asked someone what the first band they think of when they think of metal, they will most likely say Metallica.

   They actually should be number one since most of the world today wouldn't even know every band on this list (even Black Sabbath or any other metal band, for that matter) if it wasn't for Metallica.

4. Judas Priest

   

   Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are frequently ranked among the greatest metal bands of all time and are commonly called "The Metal Gods," after their song on the 1980 album British Steel. Their influence on the development of heavy metal is profound... read more

   Leaders of the NWoBHM, without them, metal would have died away. Rob Halford set the stage for what being a metal frontman is. Also, I believe that having two lead guitars was their idea.

   Should really be above Maiden. Black Sabbath at 1 makes sense.

   One of the earliest metal bands.

5. Death

   

   Death was an American death metal band formed in 1983 by Chuck Schuldiner. The band is widely considered one of the most influential in heavy metal and a pioneer of the death metal genre. Their debut album, Scream Bloody Gore, is regarded as the first true death metal record. Death released seven studio... read more

   Yeah, everybody knows about the invention of death metal, but don't undermine their influence on metal as a whole. Albums like Human and Symbolic explored the limits of metal.

   When they heard the Possessed demo, Chuck said, We should be like these guys. But they later influenced Possessed with Scream Bloody Gore.

   These guys were the reason for the existence of Cannibal Corpse, Children Of Bodom, and many others.

6. Venom

   

   Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. They rose to prominence during the late stages of the new wave of British heavy metal. Their first two albums, Welcome to Hell (1981) and Black Metal (1982), are considered foundational in the development of thrash metal and... read more

   Essentially created the genres of Thrash and Black Metal and were a significant inspiration for Death Metal. On a side note, why is Slipknot number 4?

   First band to go extreme, and whether you like them or not, you have to admit that was a huge turning point for the genre.

   Thrash Metal and Black Metal. All extreme metal bands were influenced by this band, from Death to Darkthrone.

7. Slayer

   

   Slayer was 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 are considered one of the Big Four of thrash metal, along with Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax.... read more

   Not a fan, but their influence on early death metal bands is as significant as Possessed, believe it or not!

   P.S. What in the world is Slipknot doing on the list? They were probably the first metal band to set an example of how to be utterly terrible by churning out sonic garbage after garbage.

   Major influence over extreme metal subgenres and also cited as an influence by many modern metal bands. Definitely top 10 material.

8. Pantera

   

   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 replacing their original lead vocalist and enlisting Phil Anselmo, they signed a major record deal with... read more

   If this list was 'top metal bands' instead of 'influential metal bands,' I would put Pantera at number one simply because their music seems as heavy now as it did when it was released. As legendary as they were, I just don't think the same can be said for bands like Sabbath and Maiden. If it wasn't for Pantera, we wouldn't be able to enjoy many of the top metal bands around now, due to Pantera being the frontmen in the charge against the post-metal grunge era (Nirvana), when metal was no longer considered cool.

   I think Pantera should be at the 5 spot. Pantera invented groove metal, which is the subgenre that many bands like Slipknot fall into. Slipknot should definitely not be in front of Pantera.

9. Motorhead

   

   Motörhead were an English heavy metal band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis, and drummer Lucas Fox. Lemmy was the band's only constant member. Their aggressive sound, harsh vocals, and fast-paced tempos were influential in the... read more

   Motorhead influenced bands such as Metallica. These guys need to be at the top with Black Sabbath. But let's be honest, you can only trust the first Black Sabbath album anyway! Motorhead all the way!

   They were the first to fuse hardcore punk and metal's energy together. Without them, there would be no Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, or any bands that were inspired by them.

   Motorhead at number 11? Should be at number 1 or 2. They invented so many genres. It's ridiculous.

10. Deep Purple

    

    Deep Purple is an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are regarded as pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has changed over the years. They originally played progressive rock, but shifted to a heavier sound around 1970.... read more

    Many bands of the '60s-'70s played heavy blues rock or hard rock, believing it was heavy metal. Many metal fans still make this mistake. Deep Purple played hard rock but also metal as we know it now: non-bluesy rock music, mostly based on classical music. For example, "Highway Star" is a metal definition: an entirely non-bluesy song based on Bach-like chord sequences. It's not their first metal song, but it's the best.

    Later, this non-bluesy sound became the most important feature of metal music. Rainbow, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden made it more evident. Metal, in general, became a genre based on classical music. Behind the riffs of "Holy Wars" and "Master of Puppets," you can hear classical music. R. Blackmore is a pure genius. "Highway Star" is widely considered as early speed metal. It also has a memorable riff, a breathtaking technical solo, and Gillan's great vocals.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Diamond Head

    

    Diamond Head are an English heavy metal band formed in 1976 in Stourbridge, England. The band is recognized as one of the leading members of the new wave of British heavy metal. They are widely acknowledged by thrash metal bands such as Metallica and Megadeth as an important early influence on their... read more

12. ?

    Queensrÿche

    

    Queensrÿche is an American progressive heavy metal band formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. They released their self-titled EP in 1983 and gained wider recognition with the critically acclaimed album Operation: Mindcrime in 1988. As of now, they have released one... read more

The Contenders

13. Megadeth

    

    Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. The band was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was dismissed from Metallica. They have released 16 studio albums to date and have undergone numerous lineup changes, with... read more

    I voted for them because they happened to be exactly tenth on my list.

    Dave Mustaine revolutionized metal riffs and heavily inspired the change in Pantera's sound, which led to the rebirth of the most influential metal band of all time.

    I get sore necks and headaches headbanging to Megadeth all day!

14. Bathory

    

    Bathory was a Swedish black and Viking metal band formed in 1983 by Quorthon and Jonas Åkerlund. Their first four albums are credited with laying the groundwork for Scandinavian black metal. Quorthon is often cited as a pioneer of the genre's signature shrieking vocal style.... read more

    What, the most influential Black Metal band is not in the top ten? This band was responsible for the Norwegian Black Metal scene.

15. Rainbow

    

    Rainbow is a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, active from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1993 to 1997. The band was originally formed with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow was ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and has sold over 28 million... read more

    Without Rainbow and Deep Purple, nobody would ever understand the process of metal invention and its evolution. In the late '70s, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden continued in the direction of Rainbow and Deep Purple with a non-bluesy heavy sound, mostly based on classical music. Judas Priest and Iron Maiden didn't sound like the bluesy Led Zeppelin and the bluesy Black Sabbath.

    Moreover, in 1977, Roger Glover (Rainbow bassist and ex-Purple bassist) became a producer for Judas Priest to help them. Not many believed in Judas Priest back then, and they had no support, money, gigs, etc. So let's talk about influence. Rainbow perfected the general pattern of metal music and also the speed metal sound started by Deep Purple. Rainbow also invented at least three metal subgenres: power, symphonic, and neo-classical metal. I'd say this is quite influential.

16. Led Zeppelin

    

    Led Zeppelin was an English hard rock band formed in London in 1968 as the New Yardbirds. The group consisted of Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboard), and John Bonham (drums). The band was largely the brainchild of Jimmy Page, who even financed their first tour... read more

    Whether or not you think Zep is metal, it's certainly the biggest influence to have existed on the genre. Nobody played hard rock/"classic metal" until Zep came around. Black Sabbath should be in second. They basically did Zep but a bit heavier with more distorted guitar. But that "metal" sound came from Zep.

    Why is Slipknot on here? They're not even really metal! Every band on the whole list is five stars (except Slipknot), so it was really hard to choose. Zeppelin is the early metal band definition.

17. Celtic Frost

    

    Celtic Frost was a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich, known for their influential role in shaping the genres of black, death, and doom metal. They were formed in 1981 under the name Hellhammer, then rebranded as Celtic Frost in 1984. The band was active until 1993, with a brief reformation from... read more

18. Slipknot

    

    Slipknot is an American metal band that formed in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1996. They're recognized as a key force in the New Wave of American Alternative Metal from the late 1990s through the 2000s. The band is also known for their black and red jumpsuits and horror-inspired masks.... read more

    They are influential not only in metal but in other genres as well.

19. KoRn

    

    Korn is an American nu-metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The band's current lineup includes founding members Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Brian "Head" Welch, and Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, along with Ray Luzier, who replaced original drummer David Silveria in 2007. Korn... read more

    In terms of being influential, KoRn may not have created metal, but they created a major subgenre that dominated the mainstream unlike almost any other subgenre.

    They created nu-metal. Whether you like it or not, it was the biggest subgenre in the late '90s and early '00s. They deserve top 10.

    There's no nu-metal without Korn. They invented it.

20. Meshuggah

    

    Meshuggah is a Swedish progressive metal band from Umeå, formed in 1987. They are often considered pioneers of the djent subgenre due to their use of downtuned, polymetric guitar riffs and complex rhythms. They are also known for their song "Bleed," which is notable for its intricate instrumentation... read more

    One of the most influential bands in modern metal. Even outside Djent, you can hear their influence, from hardcore to jazz (Tigran Hamasyan).

    The godfathers of Djent. Bleed is one of the most iconic metal songs of all time!

    They are more influential than the rest of these bands here. Even Townsend says that everyone imitates Meshuggah in the end.

21. Lamb of God

    

    Lamb of God is an American heavy metal band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed in 1994, the band originally featured Randy Blythe (vocals), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar), John Campbell (bass), and Chris Adler (drums). Chris Adler departed the band in 2019 and was replaced by Art Cruz. The... read more

    It gives me Redneck when I see this in the top 11. Holy cow, this is better than the others.

22. Ozzy Osbourne

    

    John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (December 3, 1948 - July 22 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and television personality, often nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness." He rose to fame in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath.... read more

23. System of a Down

    

    System of a Down, formed in 1994, is an Armenian-American alternative metal band from Glendale, California. The band name is sometimes shortened to System or SOAD. They're known for their politically charged lyrics, often addressing topics such as genocide and war, in songs like Holy Mountains, Prison... read more

24. Napalm Death

    

    Napalm Death is a British grindcore and death metal band formed in Meriden, West Midlands, England, in 1981. Although none of the founding members are still in the band, the lineup of Mark "Barney" Greenway, Shane Embury, Mitch Harris, and Danny Herrera has been stable for most of the band's career... read more

25. Tool

    

    Tool is an American alternative and progressive metal band formed in 1990.

    The lineup includes Maynard James Keenan (vocals), Danny Carey (drums), Adam Jones (guitar), and Justin Chancellor (bass), who joined in 1995. The band is recognized for incorporating electronic influences and for their... read more

26. Kreator

    

    Kreator is a German thrash metal band from Essen, formed in 1982. Along with Destruction, Sodom, and Tankard, they are part of the "Big Four" of Teutonic thrash metal. Kreator is credited with influencing early death and black metal and has released several landmark albums, including Pleasure to Kill... read more

27. Machine Head

    

    Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California, formed on October 12, 1991, by vocalist and guitarist Robb Flynn and bassist Adam Duce. They've released numerous albums, with The Blackening (2007) often cited by critics as a modern metal masterpiece. The band continues to tour... read more