Top 10 Best Artists to Add to a Workout Playlist

There are specific songs that get you pumped up to go sprint or lift some weights. Once you start making your workout playlist, it's common to see it filling up with a full album or two from a single artist instead of just single songs.

Whether you're making a Pandora station based around the artist or just picking specific songs, some artists just have too many good options to choose from.

Here are the artists who have enough good songs that you could just about pick any one of them and be pumped up for your planned exertion.

The Top Ten

Eminem

Eminem, born Marshall Bruce Mathers III, is an American rapper, actor, and music producer born on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eminem has sold over 220 million records, making him the best-selling hip-hop artist of all time. In addition to his solo career, he was a member of D12 and (with... read more

Eminem is renowned for giving a lyrical middle finger to his listeners, topping a very short list. With enough beat thumping to bob your head to and intelligent lyrics to sing along with (maybe just in your head, depending on your surroundings), Eminem is always a great choice.
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
AC/DC

AC/DC is an Australian hard rock band founded in November 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Bon Scott was the lead singer until his death in 1980 from alcohol poisoning. He was succeeded by Brian Johnson.
The band is known for its blues-influenced rock sound and enduring hits such as Highway... read more
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
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
Five Finger Death Punch

Five Finger Death Punch, often abbreviated as 5FDP or FFDP, is an American heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada. Formed in 2005, the band's name is inspired by the classic martial arts film The Five Fingers of Death. They released their debut album, The Way of the Fist, in 2007.

Five Finger Death Punch has a bit more of a gravelly sound but remains lyrical enough to get your blood pumping without feeling like you're being yelled at. Perhaps the best thing about this band is that they aren't AC/DC.
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

System of a Down strikes a balance between nostalgia and the new-and-improved, offering plenty of familiar songs. This makes them perfect for keeping you focused while you attempt your one rep max.
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
Three Days Grace

Three Days Grace is a Canadian post-grunge and alternative rock band formed in Norwood, Ontario, in 1992. The original lineup consisted of guitarist and lead vocalist Adam Gontier, drummer and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson, and bassist Brad Walst. Initially named Groundswell, the band changed its name... read more

Three Days Grace offers the right amount of rock with very few slow songs, but nothing so fast and hard that you lose the melody. They deliver just the right amount of rock without the whining of metal.
Sia

Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (born December 18, 1975), referred to mononymously as Sia, is an Australian singer and songwriter. She released her debut album in 1997 but mainly gained mainstream attention in the 2010s.
Born and raised in Adelaide, she started her career as a singer in the acid jazz... read more

Sia isn't necessarily known for her fast tempos, but she is unmatched in her ability to sing about personal triumphs, similar to Pink. Her powerful voice can truly pump up your ego and sense of self-worth. Give her newest album a listen and try not to feel a bit more proud.

The Newcomers

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Avril Lavigne

Avril Ramona Lavigne (born September 27, 1984) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. At age 14, she won a radio contest singing with Shania Twain, performing before a large arena crowd. By age 16, she had signed a two-album recording contract with Arista Records, reportedly worth over $2 million.... read more
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Evan Taubenfeld

Evan David Taubenfeld is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being Avril Lavigne's lead guitarist, music director, and a frequent collaborator. Taubenfeld was also the lead singer of the band The Black List Club.

The Contenders

Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine is an American rap metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1991. The lineup consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk.
Their politically charged music, which blended rock, hip-hop, and funk, debuted... read more

A perfect blend of funk, rap, and rock makes Rage Against the Machine an excellent addition to any workout playlist. You really can't go wrong with any song from any of their albums.
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
Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 - June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more
Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky is an American post-rock band based in Texas. The group originally performed under the name Breaker Morant before adopting their current name in 1999.
They are known for intricate guitar work and instrumental tracks that convey strong emotional narratives. The band describes... read more

No lyrics, no heart-pounding beat or guitar, and no mainstream radio play give Explosions in the Sky a limited listener base. But there's a reason they almost exclusively handled the soundtrack to Friday Night Lights. You'll be hard-pressed to find a motivational video on YouTube that doesn't borrow a song from these guys.
Macklemore

Ben Haggerty (born June 19, 1983), known by his stage name Macklemore and formerly Professor Macklemore, is an American singer and songwriter from Seattle, Washington. He rose to fame with his musical partner Ryan Lewis, releasing the Grammy-winning album The Heist in 2012. The duo's hit singles include... read more
Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson is an American rock band that formed in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1989. The group was founded by frontman Marilyn Manson and guitarist Daisy Berkowitz. They were originally called Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids and built a cult following in the early 1990s through theatrical performances... read more
Aesop Rock

Ian Matthias Bavitz, better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip-hop recording artist and producer originally from Long Island, New York. He began his career in the late 1990s and became known for his complex and abstract lyrical style. Aesop Rock currently resides in Portland, Oregon... read more

Aesop Rock's music is gritty, speedy, and intelligent, all delivered smoothly. You might find yourself listening even after your workout is done, just to try and memorize the lyrics.

Aesop Rock is one of the few rappers whose work I enjoy. Although I don't like listening to music while working out, if I did, he would certainly be on my playlist.
Primal Fear

Primal Fear is a German metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers and Mat Sinner. They are known for playing heavy metal, power metal, and speed metal, with a style often compared to Judas Priest, though Primal Fear is generally faster and heavier. The band features dual lead guitars, and Ralf Scheepers'... read more
The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first settled line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Ian Stewart (piano), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar), Bill Wyman (bass), and Charlie Watts (drums).... read more

Start Me Up is the best example.
Linkin Park

Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin Park... read more
Van Halen

Van Halen was an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. From 1974 until 1985, the band's lineup consisted of guitarist Eddie Van Halen, vocalist David Lee Roth, drummer Alex Van Halen, and bassist Michael Anthony... read more
Immortal Technique

Felipe Andres Coronel, better known by his stage name Immortal Technique, is an American rapper and political activist born in Lima, Peru, on February 19, 1978. He is known for his politically charged lyrics that address issues such as poverty, racism, and government corruption. He moved to Harlem, New... read more

You'll enjoy both the hard-hitting beat and the lyrics that'll get you mad at the world. What better way to get pumped before, during, and after a workout than to listen to someone tell you all about the injustices in the world?
The Notorious B.I.G.

Christopher George Latore Wallace, born May 21, 1972, better known by his stage name The Notorious B.I.G. (sometimes Biggie Smalls or simply Biggie), was an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York. On March 9, 1997, he was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California, at the age of only... read more
Queen

Queen is an English rock band formed in London in 1970. The original lineup was Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass guitar). Before Queen, May and Taylor had played together in a band named Smile. Freddie Mercury, a fan... read more
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

Nothing is better than Death Metal for lifting weights.