Top 10 Naturally Skilled (Self-Taught) Metal Singers

Metal_Treasure There's a list 'Top 10 Trained Metal Singers', where you can find Geoff Tate, Roy Khan, and so on.

The Top Ten

1 Rob Halford - Judas Priest Rob Halford - Judas Priest Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest and famed for his powerful wide ranging operatic voice.

He is one of the pioneers of the operatic vocal style in metal. - Metal_Treasure

2 Ronnie James Dio - Dio, Black Sabbath, Rainbow Ronnie James Dio - Dio, Black Sabbath, Rainbow Ronnie James Dio (born Ronald James Padavona; July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010) was an American heavy metal singer, songwriter and musician. He fronted and/or founded numerous groups including Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio and Heaven & Hell. He is credited with popularizing the "metal horns" hand gesture ...read more.

The one and only Dio! Mr. Golden Voice. R.I.P. Dio! - Metal_Treasure

3 Hansi Kürsch - Blind Guardian, Demons & Wizards Hansi Kürsch - Blind Guardian, Demons & Wizards 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 ...read more.
4 Bruce Dickinson - Iron Maiden Bruce Dickinson - Iron Maiden Paul Bruce Dickinson, known professionally as Bruce Dickinson, is an English musician, airline pilot, and broadcaster. He is most well known for being the lead singer in heavy metal band Iron Maiden and his solo career.

This list doesn't surprise me: passion gets you further than training. can you do one of these on guitarists? - gemcloben

@gemcloben: yes, passion is the right word and I noticed that my most favorite singers are naturally skilled although I can't deny training helps.
Sure I can do this on guitarists, too. - Metal_Treasure

5 Michael Kiske - Helloween, Unisonic Michael Kiske - Helloween, Unisonic Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the former lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween.

I tried to rank the singers according to their vocal skills and not the popularity of the bands they sing for. That's why some more popular singers are lower. - Metal_Treasure

6 Tobias Sammet - Edguy, Avantasia Tobias Sammet - Edguy, Avantasia 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.
7 Matt Barlow - Iced Earth, Ashes of Ares Matt Barlow - Iced Earth, Ashes of Ares Matthew 'Matt' Barlow is an American heavy metal singer and police officer. He was the lead singer for Iced Earth in the 1990s and 2000s. He is currently the lead singer for Ashes of Ares. After the September 11 terrorist attacks Matt Barlow decided to become a police officer and contribute to the "real ...read more.
8 Jon Oliva - Savatage Jon Oliva - Savatage John Nicholas Oliva, known as Jon Oliva, is an American composer, multi-instrumentalist and singer. Co-founder of the metal band Savatage and the rock opera Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He's got a real 4 octave range, able to morph the sound of his voice to any style, from John Lennon and Freddie Mercury, ...read more.
9 Russell Allen - Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob Russell Allen - Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob Russell Allen is a singer and lyricist best known as the vocalist of American progressive metal band Symphony X.
10 Ralf Scheepers - Primal Fear, Gamma Ray Ralf Scheepers - Primal Fear, Gamma Ray Ralf Scheepers is the vocalist for German heavy metal band Primal Fear. He has a relatively high-pitched tenor-esque singing voice and sometimes uses a shriek reminiscent of Judas Priest's Rob Halford, although it is his baritone lows which give him a near four-octave range in the modal register.

The Contenders

11 Eric Adams - Manowar Eric Adams - Manowar Eric Adams has been the singer of the American heavy metal band Manowar since its inception in 1980. Previously, he sang for a group called LOOKS, a band which also included future Manowar bassist and childhood friend, Joey DeMaio.
12 Tim 'Ripper' Owens - Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Yngwie Tim 'Ripper' Owens - Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Yngwie Timothy S. "Ripper" Owens is an American heavy metal singer who first gained attention as the lead singer of Judas Priest, and then Iced Earth. He took the nickname "Ripper" from the Judas Priest song "The Ripper" during his time in the tribute band "British Steel". He currently performs with Beyond ...read more.
13 Sharon den Adel - Within Temptation Sharon den Adel - Within Temptation Sharon den Adel, Dutch singer and the vocalist of symphonic rock band Within Temptation. ...read more.
14 Jorn Lande - Avantasia, Allen-Lande, solo Jorn Lande - Avantasia, Allen-Lande, solo Jørn Lande is a Norwegian metal and hard rock singer known for his solo career as Jorn, and providing vocals for Avantasia, Masterplan, Ark, Beyond Twilight, Millenium, Allen/Lande, Mundanus Imperium, Vagabond, The Snakes, Ayreon.
15 Mikael Åkerfeldt - Opeth Mikael Åkerfeldt - Opeth Lars Mikael Åkerfeldt is a Swedish musician, prominently known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of progressive death metal band Opeth, as well as being the former vocalist of death metal supergroup Bloodbath for three albums up until 2012. ...read more.
16 André Matos - Angra, Avantasia, Shaaman André Matos - Angra, Avantasia, Shaaman André Coelho Matos is a Brazilian vocalist, pianist and composer. He was involved in the heavy metal bands Viper, Angra and Shaaman.
17 Daniel Gildenlöw - Pain of Salvation Daniel Gildenlöw - Pain of Salvation Daniel Gildenlöw is a Swedish musician and songwriter. He is best known as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist for the progressive metal band Pain of Salvation.
18 Jarkko Ahola - Teräsbetoni, Northern Kings, Ahola Jarkko Ahola - Teräsbetoni, Northern Kings, Ahola Jarkko Kalevi Ahola is a Finnish performing artist, composer and singer, best known as a metal singer. He is the vocalist, bass player and one of the three songwriters of the metal band Teräsbetoni. He also started a solo career as Ahola, a metal band.
19 Phil Anselmo - Pantera, Down Phil Anselmo - Pantera, Down Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the former lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Pantera. He currently is the vocalist of heavy metal bands Down and Superjoint Ritual.
20 Devin Townsend - Devin Townsend Project, Strapping Young Lad Devin Townsend - Devin Townsend Project, Strapping Young Lad 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.
21 James Hetfield - Metallica 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 heavy metal band Metallica.
22 Stu Block - Iced Earth, Into Eternity Stu Block - Iced Earth, Into Eternity Stuart "Stu" Block is a Canadian singer-songwriter, who was the frontman for Canadian progressive death metal band Into Eternity, and is now the lead vocalist for American heavy metal band Iced Earth.
23 Ian Gillan - Deep Purple, Black Sabbath Ian Gillan - Deep Purple, Black Sabbath Ian Gillan is an English singer and songwriter. He originally found success as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple, and the original singer on the rock opera concept album Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, where Gillan had the leading role (Jesus Christ).
24 Paul Di'Anno Paul Di'Anno Paul Andrews better known as Paul Di'Anno, is an English singer best known as the first vocalist to record with heavy metal band Iron Maiden, from 1978 to 1981.
25 Dave Mustaine - Megadeth Dave Mustaine - Megadeth David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. Mustaine is best known as a pioneer in Thrash Metal, being the former lead guitarist of Metallica before his dismissal in 1983, leading to finding and becoming the front man of his own ...read more.
26 Kai Hansen - Gamma Ray, Helloween Kai Hansen - Gamma Ray, Helloween Kai Michael Hansen is a heavy metal guitarist and vocalist. Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray. He is also the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween.
27 Daniel Heiman - Lost Horizon, Heed Daniel Heiman - Lost Horizon, Heed Daniel Heiman (born June 11, 1974) is a Swedish power metal singer. He is most famous for his time in Lost Horizon. After leaving Lost Horizon, he recorded an album with the band Crystal Eyes, and later founded the band Heed.
28 Peter Steele - Type O Negative Peter Steele - Type O Negative Petrus Thomas Ratajczyk, better known by his stage name Peter Steele, was the lead singer, bassist and composer for the gothic metal band Type O Negative.
29 James LaBrie - Dream Theater James LaBrie - Dream Theater Kevin James LaBrie is a Canadian vocalist and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the American progressive metal band Dream Theater.
30 Tony Kakko - Sonata Arctica Tony Kakko - Sonata Arctica Toni Kristian "Tony" Kakko is a Finnish musician, composer and vocalist. He is mainly known as the vocalist, primary songwriter, and creative force in the band Sonata Arctica since 1996.
31 Chuck Billy - Testament Chuck Billy - Testament Charles "Chuck" Billy is an American vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal band Testament.
32 Tom Araya - Slayer 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.
33 Fernando Ribeiro - Moonspell Fernando Ribeiro - Moonspell Fernando Ribeiro has been the lead vocalist for the Portuguese metal band Moonspell since 1992. He sings gothic metal, black metal, doom metal, melodic death metal.
34 Max Cavalera - Sepultura, Soulfly Max Cavalera - Sepultura, Soulfly Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera is a Brazillian singer, guitarist, and songwriter who currently plays in heavy metal bands Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, and Killer Be Killed.
35 Todd La Torre - Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory Todd La Torre - Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory Todd La Torre is an American singer and drummer. He is the lead singer for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche, and a former lead vocalist of the bands Crimson Glory and Rising West.
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