Most Unique Male Voices in Modern Rock

I'm young and in this list are only singers with unique and "unmistakable" voices. I don't mention Freddy Mercury, Rob Plant and so many others because I want this list to have "MODERN" singers. If you don't know some of these singers go check them out before criticize.
The Top Ten
1 Chris Cornell Christopher John "Chris" Cornell was an American rock musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist for Seattle rock band Soundgarden and as former lead vocalist and songwriter for the supergroup Audioslave. His vocal range was C2 to A5, while his highest notes went up to G6. He died on May 17, 2017.

Nothing compares to Chris. His voice is unique and amazing. Just listen to songs like Black Hole Sun, Blow up the outside, Spoon man, Cochise, Shadow on the Sun, The Day I Tried to Live, Burden In My Hand, Gasoline. Pretty Much any Soundgarden or Audioslave song can be used as an example of his greatness. Even when he does a cover he kills it. Check out his cover of Nothing Compares 2 U. This cover really allows him to demonstrate his range and shows us what a legend he was. RIP Chris

This man should be number one. Don't get me wrong: Matt Shadows' vocals might be good not as good as Chris Cornell legendary voice GOOD. Listen to all of Chris' vocal ranges and then you'll understand why there's still many that love his music.

Yes! Nothing compares to Chris. He is the rock star every one will miss. Humble, loving & very passionate about his music. We love you so much Chris. Wish you are still here rocking the world.

Actually kind of sad that M. Shadows is above Cornell. What a sad joke, listen to "Beyond the Wheel" and then try and say Shadows is better or more unique.

2 Chester Bennington Chester Charles Bennington (March 20th, 1976 - July 20th, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and actor, best known for being the lead singer of Linkin Park. Before he was known for Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of post-grunge act Grey Daze who was heavily inspired by Stone Temple Pilots they released two albums with Chester before his death. Wake Me and No Sun Today, a third album called Amends would be released in 2020 consisting of voice samples from Bennington. After Grey Daze dissolved, Bennington would join Linkin Parkin in 1999 formerly called Hybrid Theory, replacing former vocalist Mark Wakefield, who would go on to become Taproot's producer. Even with Bennington's ...read more.

He has a beautiful otherworldly voice. It saddens me to see him at #4! He is very articulate, has a really powerful, silky voice... Wonderful screamer, so very versatile, can balance melodic and screamo like no other... Amazing voice quality, the timbre, and the amount of emotion it manages to convey, can easily move anyone to tears... There's always so much more to a singer than the no of octaves they have, they have to know how to hold a note, how to balance aggressive and vulnerable elements in their sound, and how to sound impeccable... Chester is a testament to all of that!

People might say his voice isn't anything special, but that's just because Linkin Park is very popular, and therefore people think it's mainstream and not very unique. However, just LISTEN TO CHESTER'S DAMN VOICE! It's amazing, like an angel or something. And then he screams like a demon, and it's just as amazing. His voice is just beautiful. If you want two opposites to show his range of talent... The Little Things Give You Away and Given Up.

I don't think that anyone can match Chester's "God Gifted" Voice, I know some people says that His voice is nothing special and then I want to say to them Just listen "Easier To Run", "Little Things Give You Away" and every other songs of Linkin Park and then Compare. And to add Stream his "Rolling In The Deep (Adele)" cover.. HE HAS THE GREATEST VOICE & CAN SING EVERY GENRE WITH EASE...

I prefer M shadows but I have to hand it to chester, he is the best at what he does, it's a shame he doesn't produce some more really heavy songs as he has the potential to do so and coming from a vocalist I can tell his technique etc is perfect.

3 Layne Staley Layne Thomas Staley was an American musician who served as the lead singer and co-songwriter of the rock band Alice in Chains, which he founded with guitarist Jerry Cantrell in Seattle, Washington in 1987. Alice in Chains rose to international fame as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s. In 2002, Staley was found dead in his home of a drug overdose.

Hands down greatest of all time, had more range than any rock singer ever, yes even more than Cornell. But Cornell would be second. Layne was approached 1st to lead audioslave for a reason. For some reason a lot of people listen to his voice but never really heard it. yall go hear him this time and seperate the addiction, RIP Layne

Layne Staley completely blew my mind when I was 16. 20 years on he is still my shelter, could never get tired of his voice. Sorely missed

Listen to them bones...

4 Brent Smith Brent Stephen Smith is an American singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Shinedown.

He sings nothing else matters better than Metallica and don't get me started on his version of simple man. If you guys want to hear what a real singer looks like just look up smith and myers on YouTube and watch some of their videos and then try saying he isn't the best.

I'm actually a bigger fan of several other singers on this list but as far as pure voice In my opinion Brent Smith blows everyone away. When I heard the cover of simple man I could not believe his range how cleanly his voice projected at the extremes his notes

It's not even from my era, but after I saw a clip of a live concert oh, I'm a huge fan. In my opinion the best rock male vocalist today. The sheer power is unprecedented. I especially love the Pearl Jam covers so you know what Eddie's lyrics are... LOL.

In my opinion, Chris Cornell always is number one.. Number two should be Brent Smith as his vocal timbre travels miles and the first time I ever heard him sing Simple Man I thought lynard skynard you have been blown away!

5 Matt Shadows Matthew Charles Sanders, better known by his stage name M. Shadows, is an American musician, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter and founding member of the American metalcore/alternative metal band Avenged Sevenfold.

I think what makes then unique is when you can listen to a few seconds of the singer and you know exactly who it is, and this guy's definitely got it.

He is an amazing singer and his voice goes perfect with the style of music they play and with all of the band members ever

Easily the greatest singer these days! So many different voices! Simply genius!

Such an unparalleled voice. Unique and totally amazing...

6 Hansi Kürsch 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 each vocal track individually because harmonizers and "perfect pitch" programs don't work with his voice due to distortion and the natural double layer effects his vocal cords have .
His early technique made use of a more aggressive and harsher, "screaming" technique . ...read more.

He is one of the elite modern metal singers. The most unique thing is his tonal versatility - you won't believe this is the same singer.
He's got at least 10 different voices - harsh, soft, demonic, angelic, aggressive, funeral, playful, spiritual, melancholic, ghostly, medieval retro voice; storytelling voice, polished voice for symphonic metal and raw for thrash … All they sound amazing.
Add to this his godly range, immense power and control (even live). This is also the most beautiful, emotive and expressive voice I've ever heard. His voice gives me chills, especially 'My Last Sunrise'.

Demons And Wizards - Path Of Glory, My Last Sunrise, Heaven Denies, Fiddler On The Green, Crimson King, Love's Tragedy;

Blind Guardian - Majesty, The Bard's Song (In the forest), Sacred Mind, Thorn, Time What Is Time, The Curse Of Feanor, Otherland.

7 Jonathan Davis Jonathan Howsmon Davis, also known as JD and JDevil, is an American musician best known as the leading vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn.
8 Axl Rose William Bruce Rose Jr., better known as 'Axl Rose', is an American singer born on February 6, 1962, in Lafayette, Indiana. He Is the founder and lead singer of the hard rock band Guns N' Roses. He is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock.

Axl has a really wide vocal range (Spanning 5 octaves) and has a nice gritty voice.

What this guy has to be top 3 at least

9 Chino Moreno Chino Moreno is an American musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist and contributing guitarist of Deftones.

This man here should be in the ten. Nobody currently is pushing the boundaries of singing like him. Seriously in September 2016 their album Gore debut at #2. Has anybody from the 90s in the last 10 years debut that high. Think about it.

10 Maynard James Keenan Maynard James Keenan, often referred to by his initials MJK, is an American musician, record producer, winemaker, and actor, best known as the vocalist for Grammy Award-winning progressive metal band Tool. He also is the singer of A Perfect Circle and Puscifer bands that vary in style.

Definitely should be much higher up. His voice is incredibly unique and can make you feel something.

Should be miles above the list, no one sounds quite like him

One of the best unique voices ever!

Should be number one!

The Contenders
11 Myles Kennedy Myles Richard Kennedy is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Alter Bridge, and as the lead vocalist in Slash's current band: Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators.

I only get to know Myles recently through his tour performance with Slash, which totally shocked me! I regret I haven't known him any earlier. What an amazing amazing vocal that's totally in his own league. His voice and technique is the best, he can sing anything effortlessly and his attitude is humble, grounded, mature! He's a kind that grows on you.

Yes, Myles Kennedy blows them all always with the both power and beauty of his voice. He is only at 4% because he average punter hasn't heard of him! Love both the heavier and softer sides of his singing and Alter Bridge...the best modern band around bar none (Black Stone Cherry and Chris Robertson come a close second).

An insanely good singer, one of the few who are better live. Look up songs by his band, Alter Bridge, and you will his incredibly unique voice and the insane amount of heart he puts into his singing. Just look up songs like Blackbird by them, listen to them live. You'll see what I mean!

Yea, I must be becoming a softy in my midlife, sometimes the way he sings his songs makes me get a little choked up, know what I mean? Anybody? Definitely one of the best around.

12 Mike Patton Michael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, film composer, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the alternative metal band Faith No More.

Probably the widest range in music history:
Vocal/melodic range - 6 octaves, 1/2 note (Eb1 to E7).
Sings: Alternative metal, Avant-garde metal, Experimental metal, death metal (early).

13 Marc Martel

The most unique thing is that he sounds and looks just like Freddie Mercury. Check this out (copy and paste): Queen Extravaganza on American Idol - Somebody to Love (HD)

Probably the best vocalist of the last 20 years!

Great to see the co-lead vocalist of Downhere on this list, even if just at 13.

14 Billy Corgan William Patrick "Billy" Corgan Jr. is an American musician, songwriter, producer, television writer, poet, and professional wrestling promoter best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and sole permanent member of The Smashing Pumpkins.

Billy is one of the most underrated singer/songwriters of all time. His music and voice are very unique

Deserves number one

15 Corey Taylor Corey Todd Taylor was born in December 8, 1973. He is an American musician, author, and actor best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the Nu-metal band Slipknot and hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour.

Hands down the most versatile singer on the list. He can sing the most angry throat tearing songs with Slipknot and then sing incredibly calm and sad songs like bother with Stone Sour.

Come on are you kidding me? M shadows comepletely screwed up his voice screaming the wrong way and he doesn't even sound half as good as corey taylor

Beautiful voice

16 Serj Tankian Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and political activist. He's best known for being the lead singer of the Armenian/American rock band System of a Down. After System of a Down's hiatus in 2006 he began to release solo material. Some of his solo songs include: The Sky is Over, Lie Lie Lie, Harakiri, Baby, Empty Walls, and more. His solo albums and EPS include: Elect The Dead (2007), Imperfect Harmonise (2010), Harakiri (2012), Jazz-iz Christ (2013), Fuktronic (2020), and Elasticity (2021) on top of that he has gone on to perform soundtracks for films in recent years.

I thought this list was for "Most Unique Voices," not "Best Voices." Serj's voice certainly falls under the 'unique' category and should be much higher on this list!

He makes his voice different to be unique and deserves recognition for that but isn't really a skilled singer

I needed to add Serj. He deserves number 3 at least.
P.S. benjamin Burnley is a dick and doesn't deserve a spot on this list

17 Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1987, he started the grunge band Nirvana, which became one of the most successful bands ever. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his Seattle home in 1994.

His voice is still creepy and disturbing (in a good way) 20 years after his death, many teenager of today's era, are becoming huge Cobain fans. Kurt Cobain "the last great rock star"

His vulnerable voice of sad and raw beauty is very impressing and stands out. It matches the bittersweet, sometimes fragile, sometimes brutal quality of his songs.

Before there was Kurt, no one, NO ONE, tried to sing like him.

18 Devin Townsend Devin Garret Townsend is a Canadian musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the founder, songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist in extreme metal band Strapping Young Lad from 1994 to 2007 and has an extensive career as a solo artist.
19 Adam Lambert Adam Mitchel Lambert is an American singer, songwriter and stage actor. Since 2009, he has sold over 2.5 million albums and 5 million singles worldwide.

Nobody in this list can outmatch his vocal skills, he is just inevitable. don't judge him by this picture lol

I thought this was rock.

20 David Draiman David Michael Draiman is an American songwriter and the vocalist for the band Disturbed as well as for the band Device.

I don't care if you like Disturbed's voice or not, but you will memorize his voice the second you hear it. I love Matt Shadows and Avenged Sevenfold, but David Draiman has a much more distinctive voice and I personally like Disturbed better. But that doesn't change the fact that David has the most distinctive voice in rock.

How is he so low? Damn. By the way, he is the singer for disturbed.

21 Matthew Bellamy Matthew James "Matt" Bellamy is an English musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He is most famous for being the main vocalist in alternative rock band "Muse".

Matt should be at top of this list!
Go hear Supremacy, Showbiz, hyper music and stockholm syndrome..
His voice is spectacular, his piano and guitar skill make prove that he is an complete musician!
Sorry my terrible English

He has a spectacular vocal range and was ranked in the top 10 in rolling stones' list of best rock singers ever. He ought to be on top of this list!

I really don't understand how he isn't on this list.. Go look up Muse's live performances! His vocal range is spectacular!

He's got a mesmerising voice! Just listen to Hysteria, Starlight, Time is running out. He desrves to be in the top 3 if not right on top of this list!

22 Tom Delonge Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr., is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and film producer. He was born in Poway, California on December 13, 1975. When he was in high school at age 15, he got expelled for drinking at a basketball game. He also used to play the trumpet, but later played the electric guitar instead. He decided to form a band with Mark Hoppus and Scott Raynor called Blink-182. He was known for his guitar playing and his raspy voice. Years later in 2015, Tom left the band Blink-182. Other bands he was in include AVA and Box Car Racer.

Seriously, I can't think of anyone that sounds like him, definitely one of the most unique voices in rock.

23 Eddie Vedder Eddie Vedder is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as a member of the rock band Pearl Jam, with whom he performs lead vocals and is one of three guitarists.

It was a hard decision between Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell and Layne Staley. I can tell all of their voices the first time they make a sound in all of their songs. So, I don't know why I picked Eddie, because they're all amazing and unique, and definitely all four of them are in my top 5 favorite vocalists. And Billy Corgan, too.

His voice is so raw and so full of emotions!

He's the best.. His voice so gentle

24 Tobias Sammet 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.
25 Billie Joe Armstrong Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt. He's also in side-project groups such as The Network, Foxboro HotTubs, Pinhead Gunpowder, and The Longshot. His first group was a band called The Lookouts which disbanded after their 2nd album. He released a solo album consisting of covers in 2020 called "No Fun Mondays" ranging from rock and punk covers. He has a 2 and a half octave vocal ranger, but over time in 2020 and onwards his range has gotten slightly higher. Most notably in their Father Of All album, and during various ...read more.

Very unique voice, easily recognizable! Overall, pretty good singer too.

I could pick his voice out anywhere. So unique and powerful

His voice is so awesome how is he not number one?!

Billie Joe is truly a God

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