Top 10 Best Speed Metal Bands
Speed metal is a rush. It is the sound of a freight train with no brakes, a lightning bolt splitting the sky, a roller coaster that never slows down. You don't just listen to speed metal, you strap in and hold on. Fast, aggressive, and packed with shredding solos and machine-gun drumming, this genre takes the intensity of heavy metal and cranks it to the extreme.If you have ever felt that regular metal just doesn't push the tempo hard enough, this list is for you. The bands on this list have spent years perfecting the art of high-speed riffing, blistering solos, and breakneck rhythms. Some laid the groundwork in the early days, defining what speed metal would become, while others pushed boundaries and injected new life into the style. From technical mastery to pure, unfiltered aggression, these bands have taken speed to a level most musicians wouldn't even attempt.
Now it's your turn. Cast your vote for the ones you think belong at the top.
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... read more I have always loved Motörhead and always will. I love Megadeth and Metallica, but they are not speed metal. They are thrash metal, so they should not be on this list.
Motörhead, the pioneers of speed metal, aren't at number one because of some poser band that got famous from Guitar Hero. And Megadeth isn't speed metal. They're thrash.
If there was no Motörhead, there would be no thrash or speed metal! Everyone else on this list, thank Lemmy!
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
Think about the name. DRAGONFORCE. That just says epicness right there. I'm surprised the drummer hasn't 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 songs can be beaten, I will no longer be a fan of them. But for now, DRAGONFORCE is the best band ever!
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 first two or three albums had that speed metal sound. Try "Banish from Sanctuary," "Damned for All Time," or "Fast to Madness."
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 is mostly power metal, which 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.
- Neither A7X nor Dragonforce are even speed metal.
- Helloween has only failed twice. The others (besides Blind Guardian) have failed many times.
Helloween is 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 to that point. No one came close to it.
Accept, one of the pioneers of speed metal, is at #14 because, out of the current top 13 bands, only 4 are or were really speed metal bands. The rest are thrash, death metal, metalcore, hard rock, or fast rock and roll. Laugh out loud.
They built the genre along with Priest and Motörhead, actually.
Accept no substitutes!
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... read more Their first, second, third, and fourth albums are masterpieces of this genre.
Listen to "Rattlehead" and "Mechanix" from "Killing Is My Business... And 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 in the first place.
Now, what I think about the rest of the top of this list:
It's good to know that speed metal wouldn't exist without Motörhead.
DragonForce is a good band, but they are more likely a power metal band. Read their lyrics. They are overrated because of Guitar Hero.
Slayer is definitely not speed metal. They started as a NWOBHM band and became an influential thrash metal band with some attributes of death metal, but not speed metal. They shouldn't be on this list.
Metallica was a speed metal band when Mustaine was in it. Songs like "Phantom Lord" and "Metal Militia" are good speed metal songs, but about ten speed metal songs do not make a "good speed metal band." I like Metallica, but they have definitely done more in the thrash genre.
Avenged Sevenfold is one of the best 21st-century bands. I know their music is hard to classify, but in my opinion, it is more likely hard rock than speed metal.
Helloween is a great speed/power metal band, and they deserve to be higher on this list. "Walls of Jericho" is one of the most important speed metal albums.
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 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 early '70s standards, with a memorable riff, breathtaking long and technical solo, Gillan's great vocals, and that galloping style (later used by many speed metal bands and bands like Iron Maiden and Iced Earth). To a high degree, metal in general was invented in the form of speed metal.
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”... read more Judas Priest is 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.
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. Judas Priest is the best!
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 are Hatebreed, Slipknot, and A7X doing on this list? They aren't even that fast.
Rule Germania Gamma Ray! They have enough speed to kick most of these list bands off the board!
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 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, is simply the musical superior of all other speed metal bands.
Megadeth is crap. Metallica is heavier than 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.
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.
The Newcomers
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... read more I think their best speed metal songs are Shot to Hell and Most Dangerous Game.
Razor is a Canadian thrash metal band formed in 1984 at Guelph, Ontario. The group shot music videos for songs such as "Evil Invaders", "Shotgun Justice", "American Luck", and "Sucker for Punishment".
Avenged Sevenfold is an American alternative metal band formed in 1999 in California. Their longest lineup consisted of M. Shadows (vocals), Synyster Gates (lead guitar), Zacky Vengeance (rhythm guitar), Johnny Christ (bass guitar), and The Rev (drums)... read more This band blows Dragonforce out of the water! They're so fast!
Probably their most speed metal-ish song is Chapter Four, which is actually a banging song.
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 can recall Dan Beehler on TV stating categorically that Exciter was speed metal. Frankly, it's just another pigeonhole to segregate their music. John Ricci laid down much heavier songs than Metallica or Megadeth. The production on their first two albums was abrasive and lent itself to a more brutal thrash sound. Long Live the Loud was okay, but not great. Exciter would have kept thrash on the straight and narrow path we love.
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"... read more One of the best. I've been listening to them from the beginning.
Saw them in concert in LA. They blew the doors off the place!
No one in the world can do Fight Fire with Fire as fast as Metallica.
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... read more Mid-70s speed metal genre-defining songs: Kill the King, A Light in the Black, and 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. Credit goes 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-titled debut Metal Church from 1985, The Dark, and Blessing in Disguise, along with their last album called XI. It's a cool way how they maintained 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 too.
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 made the genre themselves.
In 70s British speed metal, we have Judas Priest and Motörhead as pioneers, and American Riot, who switched their band name to Riot V.
Come on guys, listen to 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.
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... read more
Anthrax is an American thrash metal band from New York City, formed in 1981 by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker. Seriously? They should be #1 because they pretty much are the inventors and kings of speed metal.
This list is hilarious!
There are few true speed metal bands in this list, and the best one of them is at 26. People, just listen to Chosen to Stay. It should be counted as one of the best metal songs ever but is hardly mentioned anywhere.
Listen to their first album: Skeptics Apocalypse. The best speed metal album!
Avenged Sevenfold?! This is a metalcore band, NOT a speed metal band!