Most Underrated Metal Singers
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). Severely underrated - 4 octave vocal range (same as Freddie and Rob Halford) and Gillan was the guy who put together the basic elements of metal singing style, including screams. There were screams before him but he made screaming part of the vocal art.
Yep. Smoke On the Water, Highway Star, both great and my favorites. This guy may not be the heaviest of all metal at all, but he is indeed underrated, he should be in the top ten best!
He is one of the best rock singer ever...
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.
Most underrated. Meaning, the gap between his great vocal skills and level of popularity is the biggest.
I'd say he's more unnoticed than underrated.
Charles "Chuck" Billy is an American vocalist, who is best known as the vocalist for the thrash metal band Testament. James Hetfield is good, but to me, Chuck Billy is the best thrash metal vocalist.
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. Godly voice, advanced vocal technique. The guy is very underrated.
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.
Michael Kiske is a singer best known as the former lead vocalist for the German power metal band Helloween. Michael Kiske and Hansi Kürsch are the best singers on this list and should be more appreciated.
The gap between their vocal talent and level of popularity is the widest, meaning they are most underrated.
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. You should check out his new band AHOLA where he sings in English. This guy really deserves more fame. An amazing voice.
He's really a great singer who deserves more attention. One of the reasons for being unnoticed is that he sings mostly in Finnish.
Songs: Teräsbetoni - Teräksen Taakka, Missä Miehet Ratsastaa, Paha Sanoo.
Those who are interested can visit my list Top 10 Teräsbetoni Songs.
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.
David Randall "Randy" Blythe is the vocalist and lyricist of American heavy metal band Lamb of God and side-project band Halo of Locusts.
Blaze Bayley is an English singer, musician, songwriter, and lyricist. He was the lead singer of Wolfsbane from 1984 to 1994, and currently from 2010 following reunions in 2007 and 2009. Bayley was also the lead singer for Iron Maiden from 1994 to 1999. Since then, he has embarked on a solo career. Honestly, many people look down upon Blaze simply because he couldn't fill the impossibly huge shoes left behind by Bruce Dickinson. Blaze has a completely different voice than Bruce and gave a whole new tone to Maiden. Some of the Blaze era songs aren't the best (The Angel and The Gambler is the worst Maiden track yet), but The Clansman, Virus, The Sign of The Cross, Futureal, Man on the Edge, Como Estais Amigos, and Lord of the Flies are all great songs.
Plus, Blaze's solo track Escape Velocity sounds like a track made by Iron Maiden. It's a damn good tune that should get more recognition.
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 in metal culture and is known for his medieval themed lyrics. Dio possessed a powerful versatile vocal range capable of singing both hard rock and lighter ballads; according to Rainbow/Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore upon hearing him sing, "I felt shivers down my spine." Dio sold over 47 million albums throughout his career.
He died from stomach cancer in 2010 at the age of 67. Not very underrated but he should get more attention than Ozzy. Because compared to Ozzy, Dio is very underrated.
Not That Underrated But Still, Great
Sebastian Philip Bierk, known professionally as Sebastian Bach, is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987-96. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted in Broadway plays, and leads a solo career. Most of the guys here aren't even underrated. Some are overrated, but I never seen bach on greatest lists. Just listen to the song Wasted Time and feel his scream
Tomás Enrique "Tom" Araya Díaz is a Chilean American musician, best known as the bassist and vocalist of the American thrash metal band Slayer.
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 world" instead of living the illusion of a "rock star." In 2007 he returned to music. This guy is very underrated, yes. Great voice.
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.
Howard Jones (Born July 20th, 1970) is an American Heavy Metal vocalist. He currently fronts the band Light the Torch (Formerly Devil You Know), but is best known for his tenure in the band Killswitch Engage from 2002 to 2012 and was a vocalist for the now defunct Blood Had Been Shed.
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. He's really underrated. Manowar may not be a super super amazing band but Eric is a very good singer. Not perfect but very good. He performed the longest sustain/scream in metal (by far) - 33 seconds in the song Thor.
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. His current voice is underrated
David Garrick, better known by his stage name David Byron, was a British singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist with the rock band Uriah Heep in the early 1970s.
Kim Bendix Petersen, better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish heavy metal musician. He is known for his extensive vocal range, usually sung in falsetto. King Diamond was originally known as the vocalist for Mercyful Fate, but has become notorious for his horror themed Concept albums ...read more.
Alf Peter Tägtgren is a Swedish musician, multi-instrumentalist and producer. He is the founder, main songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist of the death metal band Hypocrisy as well as the industrial metal band PAIN in which he is the only member. Amazing range from deep as hell growls to evil high screams. Clean singing is also excellent especially as part of his music.
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.