Top 10 Best Speed Metal Bands
Motörhead were an English heavy metal band formed in June 1975 by bassist, singer, and songwriter Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister, who was the sole constant member; guitarist and songwriter Larry Wallis; and drummer Lucas Fox. The band's harsh vocals and fast paced tempos helped inspire speed metal and thrash metal. There was time I believed Motorhead were speed metal but currently I think they are probably not metal in general. Borderline metal at best. Maybe their punk-ish attitude influenced thrash metal but not speed metal as we know it now.
Unjust that they are number one, they aren't speed metal. Not even metal according to Lemmy. But if it is neccessary to classified them to be metal, then classified them only to heavy metal, because they aren't speed metal, really not.
I have always loved Motorhead and I always will... I love Megadeth and Metallica but they are not even close to being speed metal. They are thrash metal so they should not be on this list...
Motorhead, the pioneers of speed metal aren't at number one because of some poser band that got famous from damn guitar hero, and Megadeth isn't speed, their thrash.
DragonForce are a British power metal band based in London, England. Formed in 1999, the group are known for their long and fast guitar solos, fantasy-themed lyrics, and electronic sounds in their music to add to their retro video game-influenced sound. AMEN! Dragonforce invented their own exclusive brand of metal, Extreme Power Metal. Operation Ground and Pound, Heroes of our time, Revolution Deathsquad, Fury of the storm, Through the Fire and Flames. There is actually one simple step to be better than Dragonforce.
1. YOU CAN'T
I mean, think about the name. DRAGON FORCE... That just says epicness right there. I'm surprised the drummer hasnt snapped his wrists playing that fast! Shred on, boys!
No doubt about it! DragonForce is THE BEST! Fury of the Storm, Through the Fire and Flames, Fields of Despair, Storming the Burning Fields, Once in a Lifetime,... if someone can say that these song can be beaten I will no longer be a fan of them. But for now, DRAGONFORCE is the best band ever!
Simply the best. Malmsteen was the pinnacle of speed, then came Herman. He was so fast and utilized so much solos that no death metal band took him. He started it to piss them off even more and eventually reached success. Rest of the group is just as fast as him and the vocals are just amazing.
Dragonforce is the most awesome band ever. I have been listening to rock and roll for 60 years and I say, these guys are the very best: quality of compositions, performance perfection in the recordings, exciting action filled stage performances. It does not get better than this.
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s in West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Heavily influenced by Queen, they use the technique of overdubbing. They also incorporate large ...read more. Early Blind Guardian played excellent speed metal. Check out the songs: Majesty, Banish from Sanctuary, Guardian Of The Blind, Journey Through The Dark, The Last Candle, Fast to Madness, Damned for all time.
This list is a total mess because people don't know what speed metal is. Thrash is different from speed metal.
Much more power metal than speed today, Guardian's two or three first albums sure had that speed metal sound to them. Try "Banish from Sanctuary", "Damned for all time" or "Fast to Madness".
I really like their new album 'beyond the red mirror', in my opinion they really deserve a higher rank than this.
Their first 3 albums are speed metal albums so I'll vote for them. Blind Guardian is my favorite band.
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg, Northern Germany. The band is a pioneering force in the power metal genre, and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I and Part II, are considered masterpieces of the genre. Helloween themselves don't think they were speed metal. Maybe they are right. I would say their debut album Walls Of Jericho was mostly speed metal but not the albums they made after it (they were power metal).
Helloween is MOSTLY power metal which genre cannot be separated from speed metal.
Helloween is progressive rock, heavy metal, speed metal, power metal, experimental symphonic metal, etc.
-Keeper of the Seven Keys is an amazing record.
- A7X nor Dragonforce are even Speed Metal.
- Helloween has only failed twice, the others (besides Blind Guardian) have many times
Helloween's a great speed metal band. I like them as a speed metal band. Even more than Gamma Ray.
Accept is a German heavy metal band from the town of Solingen, originally assembled by former vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, guitarist Wolf Hoffmann and bassist Peter Baltes. Why is Accept in 14th place!? Refer to "Fast As a Shark, " it'll blow your mind. It's a song that was released in 1982. It was the fastest up at that point, no one came close to it.
Accept (one of the pioneers of speed metal) is in #14 because out of the current top 13 bands, only 4 are/were really speed metal bands. The rest are thrash or even death metal, metalcore, hard rock, fast Rock N Roll ... Laugh out loud.
They built the genre along Priest and Motorhead, actually.
Accept No Substitues!
Accept and DragonForce are the only speed Metal bands in the top 10. (Maybe Gamma Ray)
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band from Los Angeles, California. Megadeth was formed in 1983 by guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist David Ellefson, shortly after Mustaine was fired from Metallica. They have released 15 studio albums to date, and have gone through many lineup changes, with Dave Mustaine being the sole constant member.They released their debut album “Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!” in 1985, but became successful after the release of “Peace Sells...But Who’s Buying?” in 1986. ...read more.
Their first, second, third and fourth album are masterpieces of this genre.
Listen to "Rattlehead" and "Mechanix" from "Killing Is My Business... And My Business Is Good"... "My Last Words" from "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying"
And "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" and "Poison Was The Cure" from "Rust
In Peace" and you will realize why Megadeth should be on the 1st place...
Now what I think about the rest of top of this list
But, it's good to known, that speed metal wouldn't exist without motorhead.
Dragonforce is a good band, but they are more likely Power Metal band... Read they're lyrics... And especially they are overrated as hell because of Guitar Hero.
Slayer - this is definitelly not speed metal... They became as NWOBHM band and they became Influential Thrash Metal band with some attributes of Death Metal... But not Speed Metal... They shouldn't be on this list.
Metallica - They were speed metal band when Mustaine was in it... Songs like Phantom Lord, ...more
None of the Big-4 is speed metal regardless of who is faster. Neither are Exodus, Kreator, Overkill and Testament. Thrash is different from speed metal. Unlike thrash, speed metal does not have hardcore punk elements and is more melodic. Speed metal is a higher version of power metal and can be described as heavier, faster or more technical power metal. Not every fast song is speed metal - death metal is also fast but it's not speed metal.
No one and absolutely no one can beat Dave Mustaine's speed in the guitar. Just listen to The Demo of Mechanix and you'll know what I mean. Or maybe Last Rites / Loved to Death or just listen to Killing is my business and peace Sells album. Gar Samuelson algo performs a great drumming being fast as nobody but not as brutal as Slayer Dave Lombardo or thrash metal drummers in general. What else could you ask of a speed metal band? Come on guys vote for Megadeth it's the best.
Whaatt?! At no. 2? Are you kidding me? Megadeth is THE fastest metal band EVER! And I say that because playing fast and sounding like crap doesn't mean anything, megadeth plays fast and has waaayy more technically difficult, original, impressive, state of the art music out there than anybody! I mean, lamb of god sucks, avenged seven fold sucks, dragon force sucks, children of bodom sucks, Korn sucks, five finger death punch sucks, slip knot sucks, Judas Priest sucks, and I could go on forever. I mean come on! Megadeth, Metallica, pantera, and black label society are my personal faves. altho megadeth started losing it after first six
AlBums, and Metallica after first 5, and zakk wylde everything after hangover music starts sucking pretty bad. Also dream theater is talented, I don't like vocals though. just not my cup of tea. Eeeek, I got off topic. Anyway, megadeth should be number one, cus they waaayyy better than dragon force. What the hell? All they sing about is weird magicy ...more
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical approach changed over the years. Originally formed as a progressive rock band, the band shifted to a heavier sound in 1970. Deep Purple, ...read more. The List Of Top Speed Metal Bands should always start with Deep Purple - the inventors of speed metal. They wrote the first speed metal songs (Hard Lovin' Man, 1970; Fireball, 1971; Highway Star, 1972). Robb Reiner of speed metal band Anvil called them 'early speed metal'. Fireball was the first metal song with double bass drumming but the real speed metal masterpiece was Highway Star.
*** Highway Star is a metal definition: an entirely non-bluesy song which is based on Bach-like chord sequences. Later this non-bluesy sound became the most important feature of metal music - Rainbow, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden made it even more evident.
*** Highway Star was very fast for the early 70s standards, with a memorable riff, breathtaking long & technical solo, Gillan's great vocals and that galloping style (later used by many speed metal bands and bands like Iron Maiden, Iced Earth). To a high degree metal in general was invented in the form of speed metal.
People that can't hear any metal in Deep Purple are deaf. Listen to the song Burn. If you don't hear any metal at all, you need a hearing aid.
First speed rock / metal band. Listen to their live tunes from the late 60s and early 70 s. Speed going to be faster at that time! Paices power drumming was unseen before.
Highway Star is pretty fast.
Judas Priest are a British heavy metal band that formed in Birmingham, England, in 1969. They are often referred to as one of the greatest metal bands of all time, and are even commonly called “The Metal Gods”, after one of the songs on their 1980 album “British Steel”.They are known for several of their hit songs, which include “Painkiller”, “Breaking The Law”, You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”, and “Turbo Lover”.
Their original lineup consisted of Al Atkins (vocals), K.K. Downing (lead/rhythm guitar), Ian Hill (bass), and John Ellis (drums). Atkins never recorded on any Judas Priest releases, but contributed to several songs. ...read more.
Judas Priest is a bundle of crap... no, sorry, it's the best metal band. I hope you agree with me that Sad Wings of Destiny is one of the best, if not the most underrated, heavy metal albums out there.
So, to make it clear: Painkiller, Sad Wings of Destiny, Screaming for Vengeance, Defenders of the Faith, and Jugulator (the one that reinvented metal) are among the best albums of all time.
It's a good time for Judas Priest with their new album/DVD, Battle Cry. I hope they reach new heights. Basura equals new metal. Judas Priest is the best!
Judas Priest and Motorhead are the first speed metal bands, and the only ones on this list, the others are thrash metal, but still they are all awesome. If you don't think Judas Priest are speed metal, listen to exciter and metal meltdown, they are fast.
It seems you don't know what speed metal is. Motorhead is pure hard rock, Judas priest are not speed metal, slayer are more trash than speed, megadeath is heavy-black metal, Halloween is metal (No one know what gender)...
With Stained Class, they invented it, with albums from Killing Machine to Ram It Down, they perfected it and with Painkiller ^^ Angle of Retribution they made the best Speed Metal albums ever made. They are the best Speed Metal Band as well as The Greatest Metal Band that ever existed!
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal band Helloween. Actual speed metal, what is Hatebreed, Slipknot, and A7X doing on this list? They aren't even that fast
Rule Germania Gamma Ray! They got enough speed to kick most of theese list bands off the board!
Avenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band, that was formed 1999 in California. Their longest lineup of members was M. Shadows (Vocals), Synyster Gates (Lead Guitar), Zacky Vengeance (Rhythm Guitar), Johnny Christ (Bass Guitar), and The Rev (Drums).Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan (Drums), their most notable drummer, passed away in 2009, being temporarily replaced by Mike Portnoy, who was replaced by Arin Ilejay, who was finally replaced with Brooks Wackerman. A common phrase for fans "foREVer" was created after the Rev's death in his remembrance. ...read more.
Is not speed metal, metalcore was in the beginning, then started to vary between its style to combine heavy metal with metalcore and finally, in their most recent albums is mostly hard rock and heavy metal.
This is not speed metal but they have speed and everyone knows it. But this band is all the way first. Every metal lovers should be listen this band... This band is just awesome. I just love this band.
Avenged Sevenfold are NOT speed metal - speed metal is a genre with specific features and not every fast song. Get them off here!
Don't know why they're on a speed metal list, but what the hell I'll vote any way, 'because they are just that awesome.
Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. They rose to fame with their 1986 album Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the big four of thrash metal bands, the others being Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. ...read more. Most of these bands are not even Speed Metal, just thrash. But Slayer with pounding double bass drums, disturbing vocals and lyrics, and some of the best guitar work in metal are simply the musical superior of all other speed metal bands.
Megadeth is crap. Metallica is heavier then them, but definitely not a speed metal band. Slayer takes the crown in my opinion. Dragonforce #1? They only sound fast because they speed their stuff up, ever heard them live? Yeah they suck.
Slayer is not speed metal. None of the Big-4 is speed metal regardless of who is faster, heavier or better. Thrash is very different from speed metal.
Dragonforce is fake, and they show off. This is fast as literally hell as they write songs about it. They're way faster than Megadeth.
Exciter is a Canadian speed metal band from Ottawa, Ontario, formed in 1978 as Hell Razor. In 1980 they changed the name Exciter. They are widely considered to be one of the first speed metal bands and a seminal influence of the thrash metal genre. Exciter wrote the book on speed metal, guitarist John Ricci wrote the most crushing speed metal riffs I, ve ever heard, And they did it years before Metallica, anthrax or Megadeth. This band never gets the respect they deserve!
I ccn recall Dan Bheeler on T.V. stating catagorically that Exciter were Speed Metal. Frankly it's just another pigeon hole to segregate their music. John Ricci laid down much heavier songs than Metallicash or Megadude. The production on their first two albums was abrasive and lent itself to a more brutal thrash sound. LLTL was ok, but not great. Exciter would have kept thrash on the straight and narrow path we love.
John Ricci invented speed metal!
By far the best
Metallica is an American Heavy/Thrash Metal band formed in 1981. The original lineup was James Hetfield (Vocalist and Rhythm guitarist), Dave Mustaine (Lead Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums), Ron McGovney (Bassist). The group came into mainstream from their Self-Titled album and the hit single "Enter Sandman".With their first two albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning reaching underground success, their third effort, Master of Puppets has since become one of the most important heavy metal albums ever, as it became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. The title track has since become the band's most played song live. ...read more.
I love Metallica, probably my favourite band of all time actually, but their primary genre isn't speed metal, apart from Kirk Hammet's and Cliff Burton's solo's.
Not speed metal. Dyers Eve is their fastest, but it's a Trash Metal song. Megadeth is faster.
Well, Are this guys Speed( I always thought so) thrash or just plain Heavy metal?
I know faster band and that band is Megadeth now that's the real speed metal.
Rainbow are a British rock band led by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1993 to 1997. They were originally established with Ronnie James Dio as the lead singer and lyricist. Rainbow were ranked No. 90 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band has sold over 28 million albums worldwide. The band's early work primarily featured mystical lyrics with a neoclassical metal style. Mid 70s speed metal - genre defining songs: Kill The King, A Light In The Black, Death Alley Driver. The first two songs were covered by Metallica.
Rainbow helped to define and strengthen this baby genre (metal) in the mid 70s - credits to Ritchie Blackmore and Dio.
Listen to 'A Light In The Black' - it was the next step towards speed metal after 'Highway Star' by Deep Purple. This song is more technical and more intense - its awesome and fast instrumental section in the middle of the song is already 4 minutes long. Currently such extended and fast technical sections are very typical for speed metal songs.
Anvil are a Canadian heavy metal band from Toronto, Ontario, formed in 1978. The band consists of Steve "Lips" Kudlow, Robb Reiner and Chris Robertson. Anvil and Exciter were among the pioneers of speed metal in North America.
Try Bushpig by Anvil - it's very fast and the drum intro is insane.
Primal Fear are a German metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner. They play heavy metal, power metal and speed metal. Primal Fear remind of Judas Priest but Primal Fear are faster and heavier. They use twin (dual) lead guitars. Ralf Scheepers voice reminds of Rob Halford. Currently they are one of the best bands (if not the best) putting out speed metal songs and also power metal songs. It's normal because speed metal is a higher version of power metal and can be described as heavier, faster or more technical power metal. Speed metal is mostly played by power metal bands because power metal and speed metal usually go hand in hand.
Helloween, Accept and Blind Guardian don't play speed metal anymore but Primal Fear and Gamma Ray still do. However, I respect the first three bands for keeping this subgenre alive in the 80s.
Metal Church is an American heavy metal band. They originally formed in San Francisco, California in 1980 before relocating to Aberdeen, Washington the following year and briefly using the name Shrapnel. The best Metal Church albums are their self-debut Metal Church from 1985,The Dark and Blessing in Disguise along with their last album called XI
cool way how they mantained the roots of Power abrasive sound.
Metal Kings-Metal Church
Elimination! Elimination! A lemon nation. Overkill defines speed/thrash metal. Ironbound only proves that sometimes the old ways are good to.
They're not speed metal.
The green and the black... !
Venom are an English extreme metal band formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the new wave of British heavy metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal—are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. Come on guys, venom is the best. They have made the genre their selves
In 70s brittish speed metal we have judas priest and motorhead as pioneers and america riot who switched their band name to riot v.
Come on guys listen some good stuff!
Annihilator is a Canadian thrash metal band founded in 1984 by vocalist, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, engineer, producer, mixer and mastering engineer Jeff Waters and former vocalist John Bates. I'm a huge fan and I agree they are terribly underrated but they are NOT speed metal - they're technical thrash (and recently they sound more like prog metal with thrash elements).
Metal Treasure, you are wrong. The following Annihilator albums are speed
Alice in Hell
King of the Kill
Criteria for a Black Widow
Waking the Fury
All for You
Annihilator
This band so underrated
Slipknot is an American metal band formed in Des Moines, Iowa in 1996. The band is best known as one of the pioneers of the New Wave of American Alternative Metal during the late 1990s - 2000s and are distinguishable by the band's clothing choices, consisting of black/red jumpsuits and horror inspired masks. ...read more. Not speed metal, but they are not bad.
Lääz Rockit is a thrash metal band formed in San Francisco, California in 1982. Although one of the lesser-known groups of the Bay Area thrash metal scene, each album in their career has received high critical marks. One of their signature elements were Ibanez guitars adorned with elaborate airbrushed scenes of warfare. I think their best speed metal songs are Shot to Hell, Most Dangerous Game.
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. For sure, I agree that Anthrax brought a great sound; fast a with a style all their own. Love them. A must hear. Too thrashly be speedy.
Seriously? They should be #1 because they pretty much are the inventors and kings of speed metal
