Top 5 Metal Vocalists

[Shadowmancer]

This is going to be fun, this is limited to Metal alone because if it wasn't there would be the same names over and over again. I mean I like Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli's voices but we would see their names come up quite a few times. Give reasons or risk the penalties.
In No particular Order.
Bruce Dickenson: The Air Raid Siren, a man with a huge vocal range, The voice behind Iron Maiden for the majority of the Albums that they have released. Just a great singer, performer. Just great can't say it enough.

Roy Khan: I love this guys work in Kamelot, he has an Operatic style that suits Power Metal, in that he has the range to pull off an amazing vocal performance in one song, look at the latest single Ghost Opera to see what I am saying along these lines.

Ozzy Osbourne: This guy is the Pince of Darkness, he is the original Metal man, Black Sabbath and by himself he has produced some great songs.

Lemmy Kilmister: The voice of Gravel that keeps going at an age where you would be starting to think about retirement, he is over 60. His vocals are still as good as when he first started in Motorhead so go figure.

Phil Anselmo: Has a quality to his Vocals I can't express, can do stuff like Cemetery Gates and then do stuff like Cowboys from Hell. I haven't heard much of his work with Down but what I have I have liked.

There are so many more that you can include I had trouble cutting this down to 5, at least one would be there regardless but that is a different matter all together.

 

[justinsayne]

alright here's my list, in no peticular order
-Dave Mustaine- by far my favorite vocalist, I just love the sound of his voice, it's very distinct and doesn't sound like any other vocalist I've ever heard

-David Draiman- this guy has everything, I don't know of anyone else that can sing like Draiman sings, and I've never heard anyone else hit the wakaka like he does, hell his voice alone makes every song he sings unique, I would love to hear him and Disturbed do a Motley Crue cover, I'm thinking Dr. Feelgood, that would be awsome

-Wayne Static- dude, if I try to imitate his vocals my voice goes to shit in about 15 sec., I use to think that the majority of his vocals were altered in the studio then I saw him live, and it was crazy he actually sings like that, it's amazing his vocal chords are still functioning, I get to see him again later this month, can't wait

-Corey Taylor- the guy sings through a heavy ass mask and still sounds great, and he has showen that he can actually sing, when Stone Sour came out, plus Revolver megazine had him listed as the best Vocalist this last year

-Bruce Dickenson- I think this one was covered pretty well in the ost above me, great range, great singer, and the voice behind Maiden, if it weren't for Bruce Maiden probably wouldn't have made it so huge

 

[Dj Martyn]

Chad Gray - Of Mudvayne Fame, i just love this guys vocal range, he can go from all out vocal chord destroying screams to soft melodic/haunting singing.

Mike Patton - Faith no more/Fantomas/Mr bungle/Tomahawk - This man has it all his performances incorporate; airy falsetto passages, Sinatra-esque lounge crooning, death metal grunts, Medieval-style chanting, an abrasive take on scat singing featuring various shrieks, screeches, and the occasional jostling of his Adam's apple while singing; as well as beatboxing and a variety of authentic-sounding vocal emulations of flowing water, a train, a computer voice, or other items.

Max Cavelera - Sepultura/Soulfly - He has that much energy in his voice he could stop a train. Sepultura was never the same without him.

(i know it more rock than metal but...)

Dave Grohl - Good times all round, good range on his voice, flawless transition between Scream and sing, and he can pull it all off live.

Zack De la roche - Its not a metal voice...its a hip hop voice...but it works, he hasnt got the clearest style or the greatest tonal range, but it serves a purpose.

 

[Shadowmancer]

Mike Patton - Faith no more/Fantomas/Mr bungle/Tomahawk - This man has it all his performances incorporate; airy falsetto passages, Sinatra-esque lounge crooning, death metal grunts, Medieval-style chanting, an abrasive take on scat singing featuring various shrieks, screeches, and the occasional jostling of his Adam's apple while singing; as well as beatboxing and a variety of authentic-sounding vocal emulations of flowing water, a train, a computer voice, or other items.

(i know it more rock than metal but...)

Dave Grohl - Good times all round, good range on his voice, flawless transition between Scream and sing, and he can pull it all off live.

Zack De la roche - Its not a metal voice...its a hip hop voice...but it works, he hasnt got the clearest style or the greatest tonal range, but it serves a purpose.

None of these guys are really Metal, I know they can pull it off if need be, But Zach De La Roche will never ever be considered Metal by me. Dave Grohl, Is a good Rock voice because Foo Fighters are Rock and not Metal. Mike Patton isn't really metal he is a conundrum and you can say he is anything and Everything. But not really Metal.

Ill add some more now since people aren't adding anything:

Zakk Wylde-Not only does he shred Guitars brilliantly but he can sing quite well as well. Don't believe me listen to In This River by Black Label Society, it is a well written tribute to his good friend Dimebag Darrell.

Liv Kristine- I am loving Leaves' Eyes at the moment and she is one of the reasons, her voice is haunting over the top of the Symphonic Metal in the songs.

Dave Mustaine- His later stuff as opposed to his really early stuff where he just sounds whiney. But on the whole one of the Great voices of Metal.

 

[Midian]

Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour)
Being a huge Slipknot fan for many years now I have to pick Corey Taylor, he as proven he can do many different styles of singing from the melodic songs in Stone Sour from the screaming in his earlier Slipknot work.

Max Cavalera (Sepultura/Soulfly)
I have proberly put him in because of my addiction of Soulfly at the moment but theres something about his vocals that I love. (ROOOOOOOOOOTSSSSS BLOOOOOOOOOOOOODYYYYYYYYY ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTSSSSSSSSS)

Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
I love the way he sounds, how fast he sings and how much energy he as. LAIHO ROCKS!!

Rob Zombie (White Zombie)
Don’t really know what to put I just like his voice

James Hetfield (Metallica)
Legend.

 

[Luke_loki]

Matt Heafy (Trivium) - Has a very powerful voice and has improved his vocals greatly and he isnt afraid to evolve and change.

ZP Hart (Dragonforce) - He has tremendous vocal range and has one of the most flexble voices i've heard and he isnt afraid to hit the high notes and he can pull it off live .

Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath) - It's Ozzy Friggen Osbourne he has one of the most unique voices in music full stop when people hear his voice they know it's him.

Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage) - This guy is awesome he has a unique style of mixing heavy screaming with melodic lyrics and this just works.

Ronnie James Dio (Dio) - This guy may be small but he has a epic vocal sound.

 

[Meilichia]

Jay Gordon (Orgy) - I don't know if he really counts as metal, but his voice just makes a song in my opinion.
Jason Miller (godhead) - I think his voice has a quite eerie, yet powerful voice.
Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil- I also know this is girly metal, but her voice is just so amazing, and well theres not much else I can say.
David Draiman (Disturbed) - This man could sing anything, and it would sound amazing!
And finally Jonathan Davis - I know most people seem to dislike him, but I do love his voice.
I don't even know if any of them are or are not metal! there are so many sub genres and everyone has different opinions on what is what in music, I would rather include Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) and Tarja Turunen(old Nightwish singer) But i don't know if they are metal or not!

 

[Dragonslayer]

Well I've been listening to all kinds of metal for years now; and personally, I'm in love with our European style Power Metal - bands like Helloween, Gamma Ray, Hammerfall, Kamelot, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest etc... you know the stuff.

About this thread, I'm not so sure... I mean, there are very different subgenres in Metal, and it's really hard to compare many of them.

For example, if on the one hand one would name Bruce Dickinson or Roy Khan of Kamelot as great singers, on the other hand guys like Corey Taylor, Max Cavalera or Alexhi Laiho, who most of the time don't actually "sing" but shout, scream or growl most of the time, I find it really hard to call all of them "singers."

But then again, the thread is about "vocalists" and not "singers", so I suppose this is ok.

Now since I love euro-sounding power metal, with powerful clean vocals above all, I'll name my personal favorites:

1. Russell Allen (Symphony X) - actually an American band, but Russell Allen is the total package - this guy can do it all, from wonderfully emotional clean passages that sound musical-like, to power metal vocals, to raspy growls and screams; to me, this guy is hands down the single best vocalist in metal today. If you don't know this band, get their latest album "Paradise Lost"; it has their best sound so far, and some really killer tracks. You should especially see them live - Allen is just as good, if not even better in the live performance. Just freakin' unbelievable, this guy.

2. Bruce Dickinson: Well the Iron Maiden fronter... much has been said about him, he is just great... Very powerful in VERY high ranges; live he has gotten a little sloppy lately (but then again, his vocals are nigh impossible to sing at the level he does, especially live), and it was his voice that put Maiden on the map - the other vocalists, even if they have their own fans, never got that much out of the Maiden songs as he did.

3. Ronnie James Dio: Need we say anything about him? Small guy, HUGE voice, many many great songs with Sabbath, Rainbow and his own band. A must-know.

4. Jorn Lande (ex-Masterplan): After leaving Masterplan, he's now pursuing his solo album career and also has numerous appearances in various Metal/Rock Operas (such as Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon or Tobias Sammet's Avantasia), and usually does an awesome job... Very raspy voice, a classic hard rock singer reminscent of guys like David Coverdale (who I believe is one of his big idols), and a very charismatic guy. Listen to his performances on the latest Avantasia-release "The Scarecrow" and it's preceding EPs, highly recommendable are the songs "Promised Land", "Another Angel Down" or the title track "The Scarecrow".

5. Roy Khan: Very good singer; actually he is a trained opera singer, and he has a very unique sounding voice that differs from the "regular" power metal vocal sound.

Honorable mentions:

Oliver Hartmann (ex At Vance): A heavily underrated German singer; he has a very versatile voice and can sing pretty much anything from pop to power metal on a very high level - ironically, listen to At Vance's cover version of ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All" with him on vocals - that performance is just stellar.
Further Honorable mentions go to: Daniel Heiman (ex Lost Horizon), Matt Barlow (Iced Earth) - very charismatic voice! ; Michael Kiske (ex Helloween), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica); Warrell Dane (Nevermore), Pasi Rantanen (ex Thunderstone), Tobias Sammet (Edguy, Avantasia), Rob Halford, Tim "Ripper" Owens.

I deliberately didn't name any screamers/shouters/growlers, because to me - it is just not that difficult. Ok, maybe it's hard to continously do this without ruining your vocal cords to such an extent that you start spitting blood - but the very instant that a singer doesn't have to hit the correct notes anymore, I just cannot consider them good singers or good vocalists. But this is definitely a matter of personal taste in music as I don't listen too much to "harder" metal stuff such as Black, Death or all sorts of -core Metal except for a few bands (such as In Flames, Children of Bodom, some Dimmu Borgir and such things), just so you understand where I'm coming from. Besides I'm (lol at least trying to be) a singer myself in my own euro-style power metal band, so I believe that plays a big part as well.

BTW: I found it kinda funny someone named ZP Theart of Dragonforce among the Top 5 vocalists; because honestly, I think his voice is really really thin and has little expression (the fact that Dragonforce play on hyperspeed doesn't help that either), and especially in that particular singing style, I believe there are NUMEROUS guys who are a lot better. I mean, I like Dragonforce, they're pretty fun... but ZP isn't exactly a great vocalist.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

1. Ronnie James Dio. Honestly, the only one who could have taken Sabbath over after Ozzy went solo, and his work in Dio was fantastic. The man not only had a great range, but his voice remained full and fertive at any octave. Killswitch Engage did an admirable job with Holy Diver, but it also showed me how hard Ronnie's voice was to imitate.

2. James LaBrie. The voice of Dream Theatre. Maybe he is not as metal as guys like Anselmo, Dio, Hetfield, etc, but he can sign the hard, the soft, the high, the low, and all point in between with mastery. Since I do consider progressive rock to be an offshoot of metal, I do look at LaBrie as one of my top 5.

3. Dave Mustaine. Justin and I have always found some common ground here. Dave Mustaine had such a unique voice, but the neat thing about it was the ability Dave had to tell a story with his voice. Whether he spoke, sang, screamed, etc, he always maintained a connection with the song, and never did the one thing in metal I despise most - he never screamed for the sake of screaming.

4. Ozzy Osbourne. And I didn't like his work in Black Sabbath too much. I mean, it was important and influential, but I enjoyed Ozzy's solo work more, and his eerie voice from songs like Mr. Crowley to Mr. Tinkertrain and beyond is just awesome.

5. Chris Jericho. That's right, fuck you, I said it. Jericho and his Fozzy band mates covered metal fantastically, but also created some great metal originals such as "Crucify Yourself," "Enemy," and "Nameless, Faceless." Jericho is obviously not one of the top 5 metal vocalists of all time, but he's on my list, dammit!!!

 

[The Mark of Zur-En-Arrh]

1. Dave Mustaine. For the same reasons everyone else has given.

2. Michael Ackerfeldt of Opeth - dude is fuckin awesome. Listen to any Opeth album and you'll cream. I'd have Ghost of Perdition as my entrance music if i were a wrestler. Small bit of keyboard, then a pyro and straight into a song that sounds like it's welcoming a demon from the depths of hell

3. Corey Taylor is great not only for his voice but his lyrics are amazing (usually). Sadly however, they will never release an album that is anywhere near as good as the first one.

4. I know he isn't real, but Nathan Explosion of Dethklok (it's either Tommy Blancha or Brendon Small who voices him). "NOW SCREAAAAAAMMMM.... FOR YOUR CREAM!" (Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle)

5. Phil Anselmo but ONLY for his work in Pantera and Down. His singing in Superjoint Ritual is terrible.

Another honourable mention - Max Cavelera (but does he have to count in Portugese on EVERY album he appears on?) and Tommy Belladonna (or is it Tony?) the original singer of Anthrax, just gotta love 'I Am The Law' and 'Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)'

Also Chris Cornell in his Soundgarden days and if i could ressurrect one singer it would be Layne Staley of A.I.C. (yeah ok they're grunge bands but still....)

Least favourite metal singer - Tom Araya of Slayer. Seasons in the Abyss is pretty much the only song he sings on and that ain't great

 

[Shadowmancer]

Nice choice in Michael Ackerfeldt and I forgotten about him, either that or I was just about to get into Opeth when I created this thread. I would like to add the following to my submission since it is so hard to keep this down to five and I have expanded my horizons further than what they were when I started this thread.

But yes IC Jericho does have a great voice for metal. Just not top 5 by a long shot.

Eric Bloom - His vocals suit Blue Oyster Cult so well that any song done by them is great. One of my favourite bands of all time.

M. Shadows - I have been taken with Avenged Sevenfold over the past few months, his vocals are good, and will only improve with age, getting rid of that remnant of the whinging tone.

Matthew Tuck - He has the basis for a great voice just too much of a whinger, he will improve with age in that regard.

Rob Halford - The Gay Man that made Leather fashion for metal, Im not talking about that, because it doesn't matter when it comes to his city levelling singing, Listen to any of the nummerous classic songs that Judas Priest released while he was there, as well as his solo stuff.

 

[Uncle Phatso]

The top four. I only like these four so I rated them lol.

1- Dez Fafara (Devildriver)

Sample of music: [youtube]dITGwqMDEQE[/youtube]

Some might not know him but he's the x lead singer from coal chamber. His vocals are mostly growls, Some arent clean, Some people say they can't understand Dez. But to me dez's lyrics mix with the music and tell a story. His vocals can be mixxed with the music very well and with that metal sound they fit perfectly. He dosen't have the perfect range of vocals. But he's not about the clean soft sounding shit. Dez is 100% about the metal and thats what makes him #1 on my list.

2- (tied with #1) Robb flynn (Machine Head)

Sample of music: [youtube]8gk0c5yi3-o[/youtube]

One of the best bands on the planet- Machine head. Fucking awsome band. Robb can pull out the growl vocals and the clean lyrics. I have a ipod and when I'm lisiting to the song in the sample and he switches to clean after the solo, it sends shivers up my spine. He also, YES ALSO, Plays very complicated songs while singing. Thats a feat in itself. Alot of bands can claim, Oh we have one to. But does yours play like robb? I don't think so. To me Robb and Machine head got robbed this year by mastadon on the mayhem tour. They were put on the back burner on the second stage. Funny thing is more people went to see them than mastadon on the front stage!

3- Ics Vortex (Dimmu Borgir)

Sample Of music: [youtube]-fja-rweMp0[/youtube]

Bass player? Yes, What are you thinking phatso?! Bass players can't sing, Bullshit ics vortex is one of the greatest. The reason why he's at #3 is just that he's secondary vocals. But goddamn partnered with shagrath of Dimmu Borgir Its a match made in, Hell or heaven. I'll let them pick, Shagrath is the lead. His vocals sound like the come from the bowels of hell. Ics on the other hands sounds like he's comming down from the heavens. Thats why he's on my list. No other singer i've herd with 2 in a band can pull off that combo. His singing time might be limited to 30-45 seconds. But he can pull it off

4- Jamey Jasta (hatebreed)

Sample of music- [youtube]qF-CR5iImKw[/youtube]

Little Jamey Jasta, The hardcore beast himeslf rounds out the top four. His vocals allways make me want to punch old wemon. Just obliterate them lol. But really Jamey's vocals fit perfect with hatebreed. Just like dez his vocals fit in perfect with the band. As hardcore as they come jamey is alls sure to please the side of his fans that want to punch random things.

 

[Faulkner91]

Dave Mustaine-Like most People said i like his voice and its distinction.

Ronnie James Dio- I liked him better with Black Sabbath than Ozzy honestly. Midget with a Voice

Phil Anselmo- Only heard his voice in Pantera but liked how he could go Low with Walk to a higher voice in cemetary gates.

Bruce Dickenson- The man can sing high pitched like nothing and like people said great performer.

Corey Taylor- Can change his voice to heavy metal to soft rock i love Before I forget

 

[Anarchisticism]

Im only going to list people from the newer metal scene because i just can't get into a lot of the older stuff.

#1) Matt Heafy-He has a powerful singing voice and has an awesome scream. Ex. The song Shogun.

#2) Howard Jones-This guy can produce a scream like no other and has the best melodic voice of any metal singer. Ex. Reject Yourself/Declaration

#3) Corey Taylor-Has the definition of a metal voice. Ex. People=Shit

#4) Phil Labonte-Can death growl like a beast if he wants. Ex. The Weak Willed/Indictment

#5) Tommy Vext-He can scream with the best of them and has a great melodic voice.
Ex. Failed Creation/Closure

 

[The Dewbliners]

In no specific order:
Morgan Lander-From Kittie- She can do it all, from screaming, to growling (hot growl btw), to melodic singing. Plus it doesn't hurt she has stage presence and is good looking.

LaJon from Sevendust- For his ability to go from deep and soulful to heavy and angry. Loved his work on the Strait Up record.

Dave Mustaine- Is any explanation neccessary at this point for him? I guess cuz of his perfect enunciation (sp?)

Dead (from Mayhem)- He was the perfect example of a "Black Metal" singer. His dedication to that specific subgenre was superb.

James Hettfeild- Say what you will, but without James, speed and thrash probably wouldn't have made it to the mainstream. I know alot of people hate on Metallica, but, I don't understand why. Oh, and his preacery voice is amusing to me, having grown up in the Church.

 

[NSL]

1. Ronnie James Dio. Honestly, the only one who could have taken Sabbath over after Ozzy went solo, and his work in Dio was fantastic. The man not only had a great range, but his voice remained full and fertive at any octave. Killswitch Engage did an admirable job with Holy Diver, but it also showed me how hard Ronnie's voice was to imitate.

You forgot his time with Rainbow, but you're forgiven.

I'm going to list my favorite 5, since all the great legends have been taken anyway.

1. Phil Labonte (All That Remains / Ex-Shadows Fall) - I haven't heard much from his time with Shadows Fall, so I really only have ATR to judge him on. On their first album, he showed some great screaming ability, and has slowly mixed in a lot of clean vocals as they've matured as a band. Their last album, Overcome, consists almost entirely of clean vocals, and has some of their best lyrics. He's definitely one of the best out there right now.

2. Gabriel Garcia (Black Tide) - He may not actually be the #2 metal singer out their right now, but the fact that he's 15, and was 14 when they released their album, impresses me. He obviously doesn't have the vocal range yet, that most out there have, but he's used it very well over their first album, as well as their covers of Iron Maiden and Metallica. As he matures, and his voice finishes changing, he'll be able to add a lot more.

3. Candace Kucsulain (Walls Of Jericho) - It's no secret I have a sick love of WOJ, and she's the biggest reason why. Her looks have nothing to do with her being a great singer (go check out my thread on Female Rockers). Her screams/growls have always impressed me, and have stunned many people at some of the festival shows where I've seen them. Then, they released Redemption, an EP of nothing but acoustic work, and her voice really showed through.

4. Ryan McCombs (Drowning Pool / Ex-SOiL) - I usually find myself being the only hardcore fan of his. I think he is one of the most under-rated singers out there. With SOiL, he was able to sing through every range, and he's only gotten better since joining Drowning Pool. The sound of his voice is an added treat to his singing.

5. Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) - I know not all of their music is "metal", but her singing has never really crossed the line into rock. She doesn't scream as much as most metal vocalists, but she can sing better than almost all of them, and is definitely the reason the band has had any success. The music is good, but it would be nothing without her leading it.