The Best Metal Singers Of All Time Ranked

Heavy metal (or simply metal) is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, heavy metal bands developed a thick, monumental sound characterized by distorted guitars, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats and loudness. Heavy metal is traditionally characterized by loud distorted guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals. Heavy metal subgenres variously emphasize, alter, or omit one or more of these attributes. The New York Times critic Jon Pareles writes, “In the taxonomy of popular music, heavy metal is a major subspecies of hard-rock—the breed with less syncopation, less blues, more showmanship and more brute force.” The typical band lineup includes a drummer, a bassist, a rhythm guitarist, a lead guitarist, and a singer, who may or may not be an instrumentalist. Keyboard instruments are sometimes used to enhance the fullness of the sound. Here are all of The Best Metal Singers Of All Time ranked.

See more: The Best Drummers Of All Time Ranked

See more: The Best Guitarists Of All Time Ranked

20. Ben Burnley

“The songs he wrote are the best song I have ever listened to. His distinct voice crafts a spell on every song he sings and leads them to be epic. It’s not just about being “hard” but on the emotion of the songs too. And by that he can really do express what the song means through his singing and not every singer can do it! Ben’s voice is one of the most unique singing voice I have ever heard and as of now he is my favorite lead singer. His ability to sing while doing guitar riffs are extremely more than awesome.”

19. David Draiman

“David created and carved a path for new metal bands and fans alike. His vocal range is almost unmatched, for low and raspy, to high and smooth. And dare not let me mention all the hits him and the godly band Disturbed has come out with throughout the year. He belongs up there in top ten with no question, look at the song Haze he made with M Shadow and Devive, amazing to say the least.”

18. Matt Barlow

“While probably not THE best, he is undoubtedly one of them. His phenomenal voice has soared into the highest reaches of sound and rumbled in the lowest depths. The masculine thickness of his voice also allows for him to be soft while still menacing and strong. His voice is a one of a kind, and it’s a damn shame he doesn’t get more recognition.”

17. Chuck Billy

“Absolutely the most talented vocalist in metal. He has mastered the scream/sing technique. (ala Hetfield) and has taken it a step further. He can produce a great melodic line and sound absolutely terrifying at the same time. Amazing versatility/flexibility. Listen to a little Testament. (F.E.A.R. , Careful What you Wish for, The Preacher) You’ll see…”

16. Dave Mustaine

“Dave’s voices are amazing but it’s hard to like it. But if you listen that set the world afire, you understand me and all megadeth fans. Also Five Magic is good choice for Dave’s vocals, and you must think that Dave also plays hardest riff’s and amazing solos, and sing the song. He is beast.”

15. Lemmy

“Lemmys voice set the bar for metal and when you hear him live and see people running for the exit sign after an encore with overkill you know it’s the real deal. The raspiness of his voice, the intensity of his singing style, how much blood has he coughs up? I want to have a voice like him.”

14. James LaBrie

“James is an amazing vocalist. He is severely overlooked in the rock world. Dream Theater songs are very hard to sing. He sings them so high and clear that it makes it look easy. The control he has over his voice is out of this world. He can go from belting, right back to a soft spoken serenade. He has incredible range and only seems to improve. The Astonishing is without a doubt some of his best work. Tremendous frontman as well. Always interacts with crowd, and exudes a joy and passion for what he is doing up there. Not even to mention his regiment for vocal ability.”

13. Maynard James Keenan

“He always seems to pour deep emotion into his songs, which to me seems to be one of the determining factors of a good singer. Pure talent and singing range is good, but to to have that and be able to put for that emotion is something else. Maynard James Keenan is definitely deserving of a top five spot, he has a unique passionate sound to his voice and can produce an undeniably genius set of lyrics.”

12. Joey Belladonna

“Possibly the best at “normal singing” in Thrash. Has such an energy and enthusiasm to how he delivers certain lines that just works perfectly in establishing the fun that most of his era of Anthrax is known for. Thrash metal and singing more than the few same notes don’t go hand in hand, yet Joey Belladonna manages to pull it off incredibly.”

11. Michael Kiske

“When he sang the Keeper’s he was just a guy. His voice is endless, ethereal and none in the list can beat his range. The way he modulates during the songs is unique. Dickinson is just a fast talker with some highs, Michael tells you the story with his words and tones. Unbeatable.”

10. Chester Bennington

“His vocal range is legendary. He is a metal artist (I mean not metalcore). So he should placed with SHADOWS if we consider heavymetal and nu metal are two extreme sub genre of metal music, which is again a sub genre of hard rock music. Best vocals of all time from screams to soft tones Chester could sing anyone’s music like it was his own. He is deeply missed.”

9. Geoff Tate

“No metal vocalist could do what Tate did. Geoff infused Operatic vocals with theatrical emotion and combined them with power, range and melodic maturity. His 4 Octave vocal range was on Full display in the EP and followed into their debut full fledged album ‘The Warning’ with powerful vocals on the title track, fantastic emotion on songs like ‘Child of Fire’ and ‘Road to Madness’ to the iconic and instant classic ‘Take Hold of the Flame’ No vocalist in hard rock or metal has had the ability to change vocals like Geoff Tate did.”

8. M. Shadows

“Really unique voice. Amazing control and range coupled with an ability to incorporate heavy raspy growl for metal stompers or extremely clean and emotive vocals for ballads with perfect execution at all time. Shadows must be regarded as one of the better vocalists – simply because of the band’s ability to put old-school metal back on the map… none of that screamo crap – at least since they’ve matured.”

7. Phil Anselmo

“Anger, Beauty and Awesomeness, those are his vocals. The coolest sounding vocalist in my opinion, which just makes the songs sound heavier, and just doper overall. He did used to hit the notes, just listen to Cemetery Gates, but then he went to a much more badass and cooler song. Phil Is the reference for heavy metal voice, attitude and power.”

6. Corey Taylor

“Corey’s scream is as close as you can get without actually yelling and ruining your voice. Given how angry slipknot’s music is, listening makes for a very immersive experience. You feel the genuine rage that the band feels, especially on Iowa. But what he is less known for, and underappreciated for, is his expressive singing. He has a distinct voice, one of the most distinct ever–very easy to pick out. He doesn’t have a great range, but he sure knows how to use what he has. he sings with a lot of power.”

5. Ozzy Osbourne

“He is the angel of metal vocals. His voice is appealing, and he still gets the metal across the line with a high pitched tone. He deserves number one place. Ozzy is the original metal vocalist and frontman. He started it all. if it weren’t for ozzy with the help of tony command geezer butler, metal would not be what it is. Enough said.”

4. James Hetfield

“James, more than anyone else, has a powerful voice. Regarding attack and aggression, he is unsurpassed. Even with that said, he finds a balance so that with this aggressive roar, you can also hear his enunciation, verbalization, and pronunciation of the lyrics. James is the master of rhythm not only with his guitar, but with his voice too.”

3. Rob Halford

“He isn’t called the metal God for no reason. He earned that name and deserves it. Possibly the most powerful voice in all of metal. No one else on this list has proven they can do the more insane things that Rob can with his voice, they’re almost inhuman (compare the scream in “Dissident Aggressor” to the growl from “Halls of Valhalla” for an example of his range and the songs “Painkiller” and “The Mower” are perfect examples of something no one else can do quite like him). The natural talent and skill he has to sing in many different styles is immense, he’s sung blues rock, angelic ballads and even thrash metal and nailed it every time.”

2. Ronnie James Dio

“Ronnie James Dio has a unique voice, and I have never heard anyone cover his songs better than he could sing them himself. Dio has a better vocal range than most people in this list, James Hetfield for example. Dio (if he were still alive) could easily sing ‘metallica stuff, but Hetfield would never be able to cover a Dio song and make it as good or better as Dio would sing himself.”

1. Bruce Dickinson

“Bruce has ALWAYS stayed at a great, high vocal range. No matter how much older he is getting. , I Love dave mustaine, sucks that his surgery took a lot out of his voice. He’s still beautiful, and. Rob Halford, I’ve never heard anyone scream that loud, I love him too. But in all reality. Bruce still has it, voice pitch might be down 1 point as apposed to the other older singers.I. want more singers to come out like these ones I have listed, not that growly distorted stuff. We need more bands that have melody in their sound, like Bruce Dickenson said, “if you can’t carry a tune, I’m going home”! REAL MUSIC, NOT JUST NOISE!”