Best Doom Metal Bands
Candlemass is a highly influential Swedish doom metal band formed in Stockholm in 1984 by bassist, songwriter, and bandleader Leif Edling and drummer Matz Ekström. They are best known for pioneering the epic doom genre with their debut album Epicus Doomicus Metallicus released in 1986. The band remains... read more How are these guys not on top? Epicus Doomicus Metallicus is a great album with so much feeling in the intros to A Sorcerer's Pledge and Solitude. The Phrygian Dominant gives Demon's Gate the most delightfully evil feel. And, of course, the guitar harmonies in Black Stone Wielder are amazing.
Besides, the videos for Mirror Mirror and Bewitched (especially Bewitched) are hilarious. Plus, Leif Edling is a bass player and the main songwriter, so that is just automatically awesome.
There is no denying what Black Sabbath did for metal, but Candlemass just sounds so good it's absolutely irresistible.
Black Sabbath were a heavy metal band formed in Birmingham, England, in 1968 by guitarist and songwriter Tony Iommi, singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne, bassist and main lyricist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. Their self-titled debut album received mixed reviews, but they quickly gained a strong following... read more So, you invent Doom Metal, master it, and you get 4th. Does this seem fair to you?
Black Sabbath are the GODS of Doom Metal. WHY 4TH?
The first doom metal band and the first metal band in history definitely deserves to be at the top of the list.
Black Sabbath basically made doom metal. Just listen to the song Black Sabbath.
Katatonia is a Swedish metal band formed in Stockholm in 1991 by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström. The band has released nine studio albums spanning the course of three decades, and their tenth studio album, The Fall of Hearts, was released on May 20, 2016. Katatonia's sound has evolved from death-doom... read more By far my favorite metal band in general. Renkse's vocals express such emotions, and the lyrics and melody of their songs are amazing. Both their death-doom period and their softer stuff are equally amazing.
I believe their albums Tonight's Decision, Last Fair Deal Gone Down, and Viva Emptiness are pure gems of melancholic doom metal. I don't know what I would do without them. They helped me through very difficult times in my life.
I wouldn't classify their newer material (after Brave Murder Day/Sounds of Decay) as doom metal, but they remain a great band to this day. Their doom material alone isn't my favorite, but it definitely packs a punch.
Electric Wizard is an English doom metal band from Dorset, England. Formed in 1993, the band has released eight full-length albums. Their works Dopethrone and Come My Fanatics. . are widely regarded as landmark releases in the doom metal scene due to their dense, heavy sound and occult themes. The definition of underground. Most people either don't know them or worship them. Probably the heaviest Doom Metal band of all time, they're extremely unique and interesting. They definitely deserve a higher spot than 6.
Extremely earthy. You just want to chill and smoke something when you listen to this band (especially Dopethrone)!
Doom without Electric Wizard is not doomy and earthy enough!
My Dying Bride are an English doom metal band formed in Bradford, England in 1990. To date, they've released fourteen full-length studio albums, three EPs, one demo, one box set, four compilation albums, one live album, and one live CD/DVD release. The band is considered one of the pioneers of the death-doom... read more If there's one band who can do a bloody miserable, evil, slow, heavy song, it's My Dying Bride. That's what doom is, right? So why aren't they fighting with Candlemass and Katatonia for number one?
My Dying Bride is a real doom metal band. Their music can shoot your mind with a huge shotgun. If you don't believe my word, listen to "My Body, a Funeral." It's deeply sad and dark.
One of the best bands to ever come out of Britain.
Draconian is a doom metal band from Säffle, Sweden, formed in 1994. The band is known for combining gothic and melodic elements with traditional doom metal. Over the years, they have released several full-length albums and maintained a strong presence in the underground metal scene. I have heard off and on of this band. But, I have recently taken the time to listen to at least one of their songs, "No Lonelier Star," and I am SHOCKED! No, seriously! I mean I have honestly NEVER heard anything like it before in my life, and that's simply the honest truth about it!
I could go on and on about them based on this song alone, but I'll keep this short and sweet. They RULE! And rightfully have earned a place of honor in my playlist for sure!
Definitely Draconian. One of the greatest doom metal bands EVER! I've been listening to doom metal music for so many years now, and I've never seen a band like them. They're the best in the business.
If you want to try them, just listen to "Death, Come Near Me" from the album "Arcane Rain Fell." It's the saddest 15:22 minutes of your life. Do not listen to the demo version of this song. You'll love this band! I'm sure.
Swallow the Sun is a Finnish melodic death and doom metal band. They are known for combining melodic and atmospheric elements with the heaviness of doom metal. The band's sound features emotional intensity, slow tempos, and dark lyrical themes. The music "Cathedral Walls" featuring Anette Olzon (ex-Nightwish) just explains why this is one of the best doom metal bands in the world.
Whereas original doom metal pioneers like Paradise Lost and Katatonia were only grasping the potential of the genre in regards to capturing human emotion, Swallow the Sun perfected it, making some of the most emotional music ever in any genre. Plague of Butterflies is perhaps the most beautiful I've ever heard.
Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band that was formed in Linköping in 2008. The band features five masked instrumentalists known as the Nameless Ghouls and a lead character known as Papa Emeritus. Each album cycle introduces a new iteration of Papa Emeritus, though all are portrayed by frontman Tobias... read more Ghost is, in my opinion, the best modern metal band. They have extreme satanic lyrics, but not the cliché Black Metal "Rawraghraw hail Satan" kind. They have deep, dark lyrics that literally make you feel like you are present at a Satanic ritual. Papa Emeritus has an incredible voice, and the melodies from the instrumentalists are great.
They are good enough that Dave Grohl himself jumped on board. He produced Ghost's EP "If You Have Ghost" and performed studio drums. A Nameless Ghoul from Ghost basically said that Dave Grohl sometimes drums for Ghost in live performances. Ghost is one of those bands where I can honestly say that there is no song I dislike. Even their worst song sounds good!
Paradise Lost are a gothic metal band that formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. They are considered pioneers of the death/doom genre and have also played a key role in the development of gothic metal. Their influential early albums, such as Gothic and Icon, helped define the genres they are associated... read more Paradise Lost should easily and deservedly be within the top three. They absolutely cemented the genre with "Gothic" and "Shades of God." Along with My Dying Bride, doom metal was defined in the early '90s upon the foundation of bands like St. Vitus and Black Sabbath.
The fact that Type O Negative and BLS even made the list, let alone trumping actual doom metal bands, is a testament to the low ratio of list contributors who even know what doom metal is in the first place.
Paradise Lost is simply the best, the grandmasters of doom. Their consistency and longevity are unmatched. The quality of their work is truly outstanding. Trying to pick a favorite PL song is an exercise in futility because you'll discover there's a Paradise Lost song for every season.
Type O Negative was an American gothic/doom metal band formed in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1989. Their lyrics often focused on themes of romance, depression, and death, earning them the nickname "The Drab Four." The band was fronted by Peter Steele and gained a dedicated fan base with albums like... read more The song Love You to Death alone beats everything Ghost has ever done or will ever do.
October Rust, Bloody Kisses. Arguments are now invalid.
The Newcomers
This is a young band, and it's quite promising. They surely have a lot of things to improve in their music, but their sound is fresh and interesting to me.
I think they deserve to be here, even higher than most doom metal bands.
Does no one know or appreciate Sleep on this site? They are by far one of the best stoner rock/metal bands ever and one of the best doom bands! There is no way they shouldn't be in the top 5.
Matt Pike may not have invented Doom, but by God, he wrote the book on how to do it right!
Pentagram is an American heavy metal band from Alexandria, Virginia, often credited as one of the pioneers of both heavy metal and the doom metal subgenre. Formed in the early 1970s by vocalist Bobby Liebling, the band has undergone numerous lineup changes over the decades. Their early recordings, though... read more Early pioneers of metal, or they would be if they didn't take 15 years to release their first album. They should be at the top of the list. Big Four of Doom Metal: Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, and Trouble.
They not only pioneered doom metal but metal in general. Alongside Black Sabbath, they are considered the early pioneers and sometimes founders of metal.
The early pioneer of doom. Should be in the top 2.
Neurosis is a post-metal band based in Oakland, California. They were formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band. Over time, their sound evolved to incorporate doom metal, dark ambient, industrial, and folk music influences. Go listen to Through Silver in Blood and Times of Grace. If everyone who reads this does so, these guys will be at least number 10.
This band is so underrated! I Was Buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery is one of the greatest songs ever made, along with By the Time You Read This I Will Be Dead and Kiss My Ashes Goodbye. David Gold is the most underrated musician ever. He has so much talent and gets almost no recognition!
I'm surprised that this band doesn't have more votes. Go listen to The Green Album and try to tell me it's not one of the most beautiful albums you've heard.
Should be higher. And they should get noticed more, to be honest. Such a great band.
Acid King is an American stoner metal band based in San Francisco, California. It was founded in 1993 by frontwoman Lori S., drummer Joey Osbourne, and bassist Peter Lucas. The band is known for its heavy, hypnotic sound and has released several studio albums and EPs.
This band is superb! If you like Moby Dick and Doom Metal, this is the band.
Great modern metal band! Drawing a ton of influence from the greats, like Type O Negative and Sabbath.
Virgin Black is an Australian band that combines gothic doom and symphonic metal influences. They are signed to The End Records in the U.S. and Massacre Records in Germany. The band has released four studio albums and one EP. One of the best songs in history has been released by this fantastic band: "Our Wings Are Burning." This group also has other albums that every doom/gothic metal fan should listen to.
Cathedral was a doom metal band from Coventry, England. The group gained recognition with the release of its debut album Forest of Equilibrium, which is widely considered a classic of the genre. Founded in 1989 by former Napalm Death vocalist Lee Dorrian, Cathedral remained active until 2013. Most of the bands on this list are gothic metal, not doom. Listen to Forest of Equilibrium. It's about as true as doom metal gets.
For the beginners, I'll suggest the song "Ashes You Leave." You are going to love them. I bet.