Top 10 Most Legendary Vocalist Screams

This is about the screams that make your skin crawl, your blood pump, and your brain ask if it just got roundhouse kicked by sound. Not the random yells anyone can toss into a mic. No, we're talking about screams that hit with precision, force, and something almost supernatural.

Which vocalist has the most legendary scream in their songs? That's your call to make. Is it the kind that tears through a chorus and leaves rubble where your eardrums used to be? Or is it the one that sneaks in, perfectly timed, and elevates the track from "great" to "holy hell"?

The Top Ten

Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)

Chester Charles Bennington (March 20, 1976 to July 20, 2017) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist of Linkin Park.
Before he became known for his work with Linkin Park, Bennington was the lead singer of the post-grunge band Grey Daze, which was... read more

Incredible voice, powerful screams, meaningful lyrics, and a master of screaming! No one could beat Chester when it comes to screaming. No one could scream for 17 seconds except him! The legendary vocalist is CHESTER! Hands down...

Coming back here after he died. I remember seeing his name on the top of this list, and I couldn't be prouder of my childhood hero. Now that he's gone, only his achievements remain. Rest in Peace, man.

He is by far the best screamer I have ever heard. He will scream his heart out, and then the next song will be slower, showing no signs of vocal fatigue.
Phil Anselmo (Pantera)

Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the vocalist for the heavy metal bands Down and Superjoint Ritual. Anselmo has also been involved in various side projects and collaborations within the... read more

No matter how much of a douchebag this guy is, he is one of the most legendary metal vocalists ever.
Maynard James Keenan (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer)

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

I used to think Chester was the champion with his 17-second scream in Given Up. However, Maynard's scream in The Grudge crushes it, coming in around 24 seconds. He said he couldn't talk for quite some time after the recording. It's not his only good scream either. The DIE at the end of Jerk Off is great. Most of his work has some great screaming, especially in the late '90s. Check out those tracks before you write him off as the best screamer ever!

Listen to him scream "DIE!" at the end of "Jerk Off," and I guarantee you'll all see why he deserves to be in the top 5.
Rob Halford (Judas Priest)

Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter. He co-founded the heavy metal band Judas Priest in 1969 and has served as its lead vocalist throughout most of its history. Halford is often called the "Metal God" and is celebrated for his powerful, wide-ranging... read more

Seriously, he should be number one for sure. Just listen to Painkiller before you vote. I also think that Freddie Mercury should be higher up!

Painkiller, A Touch of Evil, Victim of Changes, Dreamer Deceiver - and Chester is number one? Guys, please.

One of the masters truly uses screaming as an instrument and not just some wall of noise.
Dimash Kudaibergen

Dinmukhamed Kanatuly Kudaibergenov, commonly known as Dimash Kudaibergen, was born on May 24, 1994. He is a Kazakh singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
He gained international recognition as a contestant on the Chinese talent show Singer 2017, where he finished as the runner-up. Dimash... read more

Dimash can scream for more than 25 seconds!
Freddie Mercury (Queen)

Freddie Mercury was a Zanzibari‑born British singer of Indian descent, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Queen. He achieved fame for his flamboyant stage persona and remarkable four-octave vocal range.... read more

Yes, like the visitor said, he did a bit of high-pitched screaming in Under Pressure. And it was great.

Ogre Battle, anyone? Under Pressure has a good scream, though.

Great scream in "Under Pressure." What a great man he was!
Serj Tankian (System of a Down)

Serj Tankian (Armenian: Սերժ Թանգյան. Born August 21, 1967) is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and political activist.
He is best known as the lead vocalist of the Armenian-American rock band System of a Down. After the... read more

Serj is an absolute legend, unique and inspiring. His vocals are intelligent, passionate, and emotive. There really isn't anyone like him.

Not only are his screams legendary, but his vocals are among the best I have ever heard. A true master of his art.

Serj can do anything he wants with his voice, including screams. While he's not as heavy nowadays, he can still perform these as well as he did during System of a Down's glory days.
Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)

Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He first gained fame as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, contributing to iconic songs such as Smoke on the Water. Gillan also performed the role of Jesus in the original 1970 rock‑opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar, composed by Andrew... read more

Speaking of legendary, Child In Time is where it started. Ian Gillan screams for about 2 minutes and does it extremely well. Before him, The Beatles screamed too, but Gillan made screams part of the singing art because his screams are well-controlled and mastered. He screams on most of the songs, and his screams are systematic on many songs like Hard Lovin' Man and Bloodsucker.

It's not only Child In Time where he screamed. He screamed in other songs too. However, two of my favorite screaming songs of his are Smoke On the Water (remix version) and Highway Star (the song starts with a scream).
Corey Taylor (Slipknot)

Corey Todd Taylor was born on 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 the hard rock/alternative metal band Stone Sour. Taylor has also published books and appeared in films and on television.... read more

His scream is so deep and dirty. You can feel his emotions when he sings, like in Disasterpiece.
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)

Paul Bruce Dickinson (born August 7, 1958) is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He's best known as the lead singer of Iron Maiden and for his solo career.
Outside music, Dickinson worked as a commercial pilot for Astraeus Airlines and flew Iron Maiden's converted charter aircraft... read more

Number of the Beast was the first thought that came to mind when I first read this topic.

The Newcomers

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Meat Loaf

Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday. September 27, 1947 - January 20, 2022), better known by his stage name Meat Loaf, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He was recognized for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live performances... read more
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Thom Yorke (Radiohead)

Thomas Edward "Thom" Yorke is an English musician best known as the lead singer and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Radiohead.
He has also been involved in solo projects like The Eraser and co-founded the experimental band Atoms for Peace. Yorke is known for his distinctive voice... read more

The Contenders

Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian, Demons & Wizards)

Hansi Kürsch (born Hans Jürgen Kürsch on August 10, 1966) is the lead singer, lyricist, co-composer, and former bassist of the German power metal band Blind Guardian. He has cited Freddie Mercury as a major influence and often creates rich, overlapping choir effects by overdubbing his own voice multiple... read more

His screams are awesome - powerful and very well-controlled. Some of his screams are even somewhat melodic, which is an achievement. He's got the screaming experience from his early material when he used a "screaming" vocal technique that was more aggressive and harsher than his later stuff. My favorite scream is in "Fiddler on the Green" by Demons & Wizards (4:05).
David Lee Roth (Van Halen)

David Lee Roth is an American rock vocalist, songwriter, actor, author, and former radio personality. He's best known as the flamboyant lead singer of Van Halen during their most successful years. Roth has also released several solo albums and hosted radio shows.

Some have said the high-pitched screams, yelps, and squeals heard on virtually every Roth-era Van Halen song were actually done by bassist Michael Anthony. I don't think so. I think it was Roth. Those were such a signature sound for him and a major part of the appeal.

The only one that screams in two octaves at once. What's with his screams, like the woo woo in Somebody Get Me a Doctor? NO ONE could add those chilling screams at the end of every line like DLR. THE BEST. He should be number 1. Gotta love the guy.
Roger Daltrey (The Who)

Roger Harry Daltrey is an English singer and actor. He rose to prominence in the mid-1960s as the founder and lead vocalist of the rock band The Who. The group released fourteen Top 10 singles in the United Kingdom across the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, including "I Can't Explain", "My Generation", "Substitute... read more

Won't Get Fooled Again and Love Reign O'er Me. He has done more, but that's all he needs. The greatest thing about his screams is they weren't just loud noises. They conveyed something. Won't Get Fooled Again showed his bitterness and frustration with the world and his desire to fight, while Love Reign O'er Me showed his anguish and despair.

The song "Won't Get Fooled Again" on the "Who's Next" album. Daltrey earned his stripes the day he recorded the standard of Rock 'n' Roll screams.

"Won't Get Fooled Again" has one of the most famous screams, raw and intense. I think you can see it in the grooves on the record!
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

Kurt Cobain (February 20, 1967 - April 5, 1994) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician, best known as the frontman of the grunge band Nirvana. Founded in 1987, Nirvana achieved global success in the early 1990s, reshaping rock music with albums like Bleach, Nevermind, and In Utero. Cobain died... read more

How can Kurt Cobain not be #1? Listen to his live performance of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." This guy shouldn't even be listed here. He should be on the Best Rock Howl of All Time list.

In their live show at Club Quattro, Nagoya, Japan, 02/16/92, Cobain bursts out with a 10-second scream during Aneurysm.
I'm talking about scream, not metal songs, etc.

He has to be number one. His screams were raw and uninhibited.
Steven Tyler (Aerosmith)

Steven Tyler is an American singer-songwriter and multi‑instrumentalist, best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith. He also plays harmonica and occasionally keyboard and percussion. Tyler served as a judge on American Idol during its 10th season (2011), among other television... read more

While Chester Bennington is good and all, there's a reason why Steven Tyler is called the Demon of Screaming. He should at least be in the Top 3!

Tyler's voice and scream are unique and very recognizable. He should be number one. He became super popular thanks to his legendary scream.

Another one who can sing while screaming, mostly in tune. For example, "Dream On."
Eric Adams (Manowar)

Louis Marullo (born July 12, 1952), known professionally as Eric Adams, is an American singer who has been the frontman of the heavy metal band Manowar since its inception in 1980. Previously, he sang for the group Looks, which also included childhood friend and future Manowar bassist Joey DeMaio. His... read more

By far... THE longest and continual non-stop scream.

He screams often and long. His scream on Thor is about 33 seconds long (go to 4:35). This is the longest scream I know.
M. Shadows (Avenged Sevenfold)

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. He is recognized for his versatile vocal range and for helping to shape the... read more

Ending scream of God Hates Us live (2011).
Starting scream of Beast and the Harlot, Second Heartbeat, Critical Acclaim, Almost Easy, all live in the LBC (2008).
There you have the loudest and most powerful screams in metal. :) He is number 1 by far.
Layne Staley (Alice in Chains)

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.... read more

Love, Hate, Love and Bleed the Freak are just two of Staley's vocal masterpieces. I've been listening to him for over 20 years, and he still takes my breath away with his vocal power and passion. RIP.

For me, he is the obvious number one. I've never heard another scream that sounds like Layne's. It was so unique and filled with pain.

Layne Staley's scream is so unique and powerful. His singing ability is unmatched, and he is extremely underrated.
Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)

Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead singer and lyricist of Led Zeppelin. He's celebrated for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and charismatic stage presence. After Zeppelin's dissolution, Plant released numerous solo albums... read more
James Hetfield (Metallica)

James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Metallica. He helped form the iconic thrash metal group in 1981 after answering... read more
Tom Araya (Slayer)

Tomás Enrique "Tom" Araya Díaz is a Chilean-American musician best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer. He joined Slayer in 1981 and remained with the band until their retirement in 2019. Araya is recognized for his powerful vocal delivery and stage presence.
Lord Worm (Cryptopsy)

Dan Greening, known by his stage name Lord Worm, is the original vocalist for Cryptopsy, a Canadian technical death metal band. He contributed to the band's early albums, which helped define their intense and chaotic sound. Outside of music, he has also worked as an English teacher for adults.

About 28 seconds long, in the song Open Face Surgery.
Jonathan Davis (Korn)

Jonathan Howsmon Davis (born January 18, 1971), also known as JD and JDevil, is an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead vocalist and frontman of the nu metal band Korn, which is considered a pioneering act of the nu metal genre.... read more

How is Freddie Mercury above him, exactly? He is one of the greatest singers of all time, but is he really the greatest screamer?
Chuck Schuldiner (Death)

Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (1967-2001) was an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He was the founder and leader of the band Death, widely considered one of the pioneers of the death metal genre. Schuldiner passed away from brain cancer on December 13, 2001, and is often referred to as... read more
Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)

Michael Trent Reznor, known professionally as Trent Reznor, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and film score composer.
He's known for his stark, industrial rock sound and his select use of music videos. Reznor has described videos as little advertisements for the music, and only... read more