There are a lot of metal bands out there, trust me. So, when looking for a specific sound, it can be hard to find that one band that really does it for you. Here is a list of my personal top 10 metal bands that most people have likely not heard of.
10. Dimmu Borgir.
I decided to start this list with symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir because of their specific sound in the black metal realm. Their use of classical instruments, such as horns and strings, as well as a chorus puts the “symphonic” in their sound. This myriad of instruments with the melding of the guitars, double bass drums, and singer Shagrath’s specific voice makes their music Gothic and haunting, in a sense. The reason they are only number 10 on this list is because out of all the other bands, they are most generic. Black metal has many bands as a part of its genre, and even though Dimmu Borgir has put their own twist on the music, they can still sound quite similar to other black metal bands.
9. Arch Enemy.
Fronted by a female singer for most of its existence, Arch Enemy still brings the harsh and even guttural vocals that are required for death metal. Their music features fast paced, almost thrash-metal-like guitar, and drum riffs that get the hair standing on your neck. Their sound is much more “mainstream metal” than others on this list, but the lyrics and vocals put them on the map. Give them a listen and I’m sure you’ll notice that if I had never mentioned the female singer, you wouldn't know it was a girl.
8. Nekrogoblikon.
Lets start with the name on this one. Nekrogoblikon skillfully combines the words “Necronomicon” and “goblin” to make a band that is centered around goblins and their, lets say, goblin-like behavior (i.e. death, the stealing of children, and all around macabre tomfoolery). As far as their music goes, they're more of a classic death metal band than any of the others on this list. They very noticeably use a synth, which gives their sound a bit of an extra oomph and pop. Personally, I listen to them with the idea of a comedy band in mind rather than a serious metal band, but this just makes the music better to me (a lot like Dethklok). They definitely have a unique gimmick, even going so far as writing a song about it, but they’re not the last on this list to utilize that method.
7. Lordi.
If you’ve ever heard of GWAR then you may find Lordi a ripoff of them, but that's simply not true. Much like GWAR, they dress up in somewhat grotesque and complex costumes as part of their on stage characters. However, unlike GWAR they are not a comedy metal band, but more of a hard rock and heavy metal band. The lead singer has a powerful, yet hoarse voice, somewhat like a harsher version of Metallica’s singer James Hetfield. I put them at number 7 because their sound is a nice intermediary between rock and metal; something I haven’t heard very much of. Much like the next band in line, Lordi typically has a theme (usually surrounding hard rock or monsters).
6. Sabaton.
A heavy metal band hailing from Sweden, Sabaton’s specialty is singing about wars and battles through history. A lot of their music focuses on the World Wars and the specific battles in them, but also spans to content about PTSD and the warriors who fought in these battles. The lead singer has a nice deep voice with a bit of that Metallica roughness that I talked about with Lordi, but not nearly to the same extent. The best way to describe this band’s music is that they capture what they're about; they sound like battle songs.
5. Kamelot.
Let me begin this one with a disclaimer: the music for this band that I am referring to is from the period when singer Roy Khan was part of the band. Since I have not heard anything from the new singer, I have no thoughts on their newest music. Kamelot is a power metal band and is probably the most normal of all the bands on this list. Their music is dynamic and interesting, not sounding repetitive or reusing sounds. The singer Roy Khan has a voice unlike any other. Able to belt out highs and lows that could be compared to Freddie Mercury (yes, I know that’s a bit of a major statement), his voice makes the band’s music all the more distinctive.
4. Alestorm.
Following a band like Kamelot seems like a hard thing to do, but when I tell you about Alestorm you’ll understand. Alestorm is a Scottish heavy metal band that is known for their very deliberate and unique theme: pirates. That’s right, Alestorm is the quintessential pirate metal band. Their lyrics, the sound of their music, and even the singer’s voice are pirate themed. That one detail aside, Alestorm actually has quite catchy and accessible songs. They’re sea shanties and bar tunes, so they’re easy to sing along with. I view them as both a comedic and a serious metal band because I like their music for both reasons. Anyone can listen to them, honestly (at least anyone who likes pirates).
3. Turisas.
In all honesty it pains me to put this band at number 3, but I couldn't deny the merit of the next band. Turisas is a heavy/folk/power/battle/symphonic metal band that can put anyone in a good mood. They’re one of my all time favorite bands because their sound is the perfect melding of metal and classical or folk music. Their lyrics, sang by the magnificent Mathias Nygard with his deep and commanding voice, include stories about the history of the Scandinavian peoples and truly inspiring themes. If you know anyone that’s in a bad place, I would definitely suggest they listen to Turisas; their music is some of the most self-motivating and positive-thinking music I know of. It’s quite hard to describe their sound since it varies so much, so I’m going to put a link to one of their most popular songs here. Give them a listen, you won’t be disappointed.
2. Rammstein.
It’s possible some of you reading this have heard of Rammstein since they are a very popular band. Rammstein is a German industrial metal band that has evolved over the years. The fact that everything is in German aside, Rammstein’s music is very catchy otherwise. It’s creative and interesting, especially with their themes. Ranging from commenting on the glorification of the media to the global reach America’s economy has, Rammstein’s music talks about what they think matters as well as what affects them. Till Lindemann, the lead singer, has a voice that very much complements the German language and the musical rhythms. Another aspect that I really like about this band is that they have a lot of high quality music videos, some of which don't necessarily have to do with what the song is directly about. Usually, the music videos themselves are just as enigmatic and entertaining as the songs.
1. Amon Amarth.
Perhaps I’m being a bit biased placing my favorite band in the number 1 spot, but they’re genuinely THAT good. Amon Amarth is a melodic death metal band that takes its name from the elvish word for Mount Doom from The Lord of the Rings. Fans have given the band a very specific designation: viking metal. Amon Amarth’s music does focus on the myths and legends of the Scandinavian peoples as well as their deeds, much like Turisas. They do this so well that someone who knows nothing about Norse Mythology can learn about some of the most famous tales and characters from the lyrics.
Johan Hegg, the lead singer, brought the band out of obscurity (or at least from greater obscurity into lesser obscurity) with his deep, guttural voice. The reason their music is called melodic death metal, however, is because it’s sustains a melody in the song, unlike a lot of classic death metal and more like heavy metal or rock. Amon Amarth is innovative, especially when it came to their “cover” album Under the Influence. They wrote songs that mimicked the style and sound of the bands that influenced them most. Each album has a unique sound and feel to it while still keeping the themes of Norse mythology. I put them at number 1 because of their ability to keep the spirit of the vikings alive and spread the stories of those peoples in an accessible manner. Their music, even when listened to passively, will keep you humming along and feeling empowered.
All of these bands are great and I listen to each one of them. Quantifying their merit wasn’t all that easy, so if you disagree with any of this, that’s fine. My goal here was to show more people some bands out there that deserve some love and admiration.
Rock on, my friends.
