Best Power Metal Singers
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... read more Happy to see him at #1 - he deserves that. Not only for his stellar vocal skills but also for his hard work. Who else records individually 100 vocal harmony lines (vocal tracks) per song?
WAY too unknown. After checking YouTube videos, I can say so for sure. Blind Guardian songs should have 15-20+ million views at least.
Most versatile voice in power metal. He's two notes below any of the best and a full octave on the lower notes.
Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the former lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween. Eagle Fly Free! No one is close to Kiske on the high-pitched notes.
Not only is he one of the most talented power metal singers, but his voice also seems smoother and more pleasant to hear than that of other power metal singers.
*Should be number 1.*
He is "The voice." He should be at the top of the list.
Roy Sætre Khantatat, is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. Commonly known as Roy Khan or simply Khan, he was the lead vocalist for the symphonic power metal band Kamelot from 1997 to his departure in 2011. He co-wrote most of Kamelot's songs with the band's guitarist and founder Thomas Youngblood during... read more Best by far. He conveys so much emotion. Nobody comes close. He stays away from aimless wailing, unlike most of the other singers on this list.
He sings with so much passion and emotion, and he has a big vocal range. Definitely the best singer in the metal scene.
"The voice of God." The most passionate singer you'll ever hear. No other can convey emotions like Roy does.
Ralf Scheepers is the vocalist for German heavy metal band Primal Fear. He has a relatively high-pitched tenor-esque singing voice and sometimes uses a shriek reminiscent of Judas Priest's Rob Halford, although it is his baritone lows which give him a near four-octave range in the modal register.
Tobias Sammet is a German metal musician, best known as the vocalist and primary songwriter of the power metal band Edguy, as well as the founder, main singer and bassist of the metal opera Avantasia. He's in his own league. He might not have the best voice, but so many years of Avantasia and singing with the best of them have certainly paid off. He gets better and better with every iteration.
While he does not have the most "unique" voice, his vocals are extraordinary and clean. After 20 years, he seems to keep getting better!
ZP De Villiers Theart is a South African singer, songwriter, and the lead vocalist for Skid Row. Theart first garnered attention as the original singer of British power metal band DragonForce. Isn't he a power metal singer? I know he doesn't have powerful vocals like Hansi or Michael, but his voice is good.
Hansi and ZP are both great. However, I like Hansi's screaming more, and for slow vocals, I prefer ZP's voice.
Listen to Inhuman Rampage and tell me he shouldn't be number one.
Joakim "Jocke" Brodén is a Swedish-Czech singer and songwriter who is the lead vocalist, keyboardist, and occasional guitarist of heavy metal band Sabaton. He and bassist Pär Sundström formed the band in 1999. Joakim's lower vocal range sets Sabaton apart from other power metal bands and many metal bands in general. He never resorts to high-pitched screams or death growls, instead putting raw power behind clean vocals to both tell the stories and convey the emotion of the heroes and horrors of war.
Whether it's the unstoppable might of Ghost Division, the mournful lament of Cliffs of Gallipoli, or the grand remembrance that is The End Of The War To End All Wars, Joakim always drives home the point of whatever he sings.
Fabio Tordiglione is an Italian singer and lyricist who has sung with many music bands including Rhapsody of Fire, Labyrinth, Ayreon, Angra, Vision Divine, Hollow Haze, Kaledon, Ancient Bards, and Athena. He has a great vocal range and an awesome, very emotional way of singing. Moreover, he is amazing live! Should be number 1.
He's one of the best! He can hit higher notes, lower notes (check out Emerald Sword live in Canada on YouTube), and more. He should at least be No. 2.
Fabio has an impressive vocal range. His voice is wonderful, and he puts a lot of emotion into his singing. He should be number 1.
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. If we consider only technical vocal skills, Dio is #3 after Kiske and Hansi. But if we take into account the overall influence and importance, Dio is definitely #1.
I see no reason why he is not at #1. He definitely had an amazing voice and a big influence on the whole metal scene.
André Coelho Matos is a Brazilian vocalist, pianist and composer. He was involved in the heavy metal bands Viper, Angra and Shaaman. His technique and emotional singing were incomparable. RIP Andre, your highs have just reached the sky.
The best South American singer (Brazil) and one of the top power metal singers.
Best vocal range ever. Will be missed forever!
John Nicholas Oliva, known as Jon Oliva, is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Co-founder of the metal band Savatage and the rock opera Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He's got a real 4 octave range, able to morph the sound of his voice to any style, from John Lennon and Freddie Mercury,... read more
Marc Hudson is a English musician, composer, singer and songwriter. He is mostly known for being the current lead singer of Dragonforce. I'd rank him above ZP. He has a better tone and a fuller range. Marc is also better live.
In this list, ZP Theart is the #2, but Hudson has higher notes and lower notes too. I think he has a better tone for power metal.
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... read more
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... read more Iced Earth is the most underrated metal band of all time, and Matt Barlow is the most underrated vocalist.
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli (born August 17, 1977), generally known as Tarja Turunen or simply Tarja, is a Finnish singer-songwriter. She is a soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves... read more She's a trained opera singer who does metal. Absolutely fantastic.
Alesia Garavello Alessio is a Italian-born vocalist and guitarist for the band A New Tomorrow. He has previously been a power metal vocalist, performing for a couple other bands.
Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996. You may compare the singers' studio album performances. Try listening to Tony's live performance, like the live album For the Sake of Revenge (2006). Then compare with some live performances of Blind Guardian. It's a clear victory for Tony.
Best power metal vocalist! His live performances sound fantastic. Insane range. This man's a genius!
The best song to hear what he's capable of would probably be News Travel Fast, White Pearls Black Oceans, or Don't Say a Word.
Tony is love.
Tony is live.
Tony has better vocals than 85% of all metal singers in the world.
Timo Antero Kotipelto is the vocalist of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius and is the creator and vocalist of the power metal band Kotipelto. Kotipelto's voice was born for power metal. He and the melodies from Stratovarius songs bring so much power and also a healing magic that no other band can give.
Pftt, Kotipelto's got more talent than all the guys on this list put together!
Marko Tapani "Marco" Hietala is a Finnish heavy metal vocalist, bass guitarist and songwriter (Nightwish, Tarot). Some of his best works are in his personal band, Tarot.
Jarkko Kalevi Ahola is a Finnish performing artist, composer and singer, best known as a metal singer. He is the vocalist, bass player and one of the three songwriters of the metal band Teräsbetoni. He also started a solo career as Ahola, a metal band. Jarkko belongs in the top 5! His vocal range is something like three and a half octaves, and his high notes are truly impressive. He can sing almost anything, including opera. It's too bad he's not so well known outside Finland - he deserves to be more famous.
Powerful, beautiful, and divine voice. Great range. Impressive sustain - he can hold a note for 14-15 seconds, which puts him in the same league as Michael Kiske (Helloween), Eric Adams (Manowar), and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear).
Try:
Teräsbetoni - Pyhä maa (3:15)
Northern Kings - Don't Bring Me Down (intro scream and 2:55-3:05)
Also, try one of Ahola's live performances in Viiala, the last stop of his X-Mas charity tour. Copy and paste into the YouTube window:
Ave Maria -- J. Ahola -- 8.12.2013
His Ave Maria (live!) reveals his capacity to be an opera singer, too. The second half is more impressive (after 2:45), especially towards the end.
Daniel Heiman (born June 11, 1974) is a Swedish power metal singer. He is most famous for his time in Lost Horizon. After leaving Lost Horizon, he recorded an album with the band Crystal Eyes, and later founded the band Heed. There is no other sweet, melodic, and powerful voice with such a huge range, especially in the high pitches.
It's so hard to do that he, like Kiske, preferred to accommodate in a more usual range, doing what others find difficult, simply with no effort.
Daniel will be a legend for Lost Horizon and Heed, but for nothing more. He is wasting himself in bands like Lavett and similar ones.
The third Lost Horizon album with Daniel should be a present that the world deserves.
As a professional singer who has been studying singing for more than a decade, I can promise that he is just the best singer that exists right now, at least for power metal.
One of the absolute best voices in all of Europe.
Kai Michael Hansen is a heavy metal guitarist and vocalist. Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray. He is also the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. I like his singing more than Michael Kiske's.
