America's greatest metal artists

[Zephyrus]

It's in there likely because the US's heavy/power metal contributions should be of note.

 

[LivingCadaver]

Pentagram
Slayer
Metallica
Megadeth
Death
Morbid Angel
Fates Warning
Manowar
Dream Theater
Suffocation

In terms of influence, I would say.

yup, perfect!

 

[AchrisK]

I think that looks a bit more solid, with the exception of Possessed. They don't seem to have enough credintials.

Paving the road from thrash to death metal = no credintials? I differ.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Pentagram
Slayer
Metallica
Megadeth
Death
Morbid Angel
Fates Warning
Manowar
Dream Theater
Suffocation

In terms of influence, I would say.

Looks pretty solid. I guess I want to question Manowar since I've heard they're super-cheesy, and I doubt they could beat out very many European power metal groups, but I have no personal experience from which to criticise them.

Time now to go listen to the 4 or 5 bands on there that I know practically nothing about. Anyone have good starting album recs for Death, Suffocation, Fates Warning, and Manowar?

Paving the road from thrash to death metal = no credintials? I differ.

I'd say Slayer had a pretty big part in that as well - instrumentally, at least. I'm not sure what exactly is supposed to be 'evolutionary' about Possessed, but I sure hope it's more than just the use of death grunts.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

By the way, Necuratul, was there any particular reason for leaving out influential blues-based (i.e. stoner, sludge, southern, etc.) metal bands? I'd like to hear some reasoning behind why groups like Pantera or Kyuss wouldn't be worthy of the list, besides just that most people here aren't into their styles.

 

[DarkBliss]

I'm not sure what exactly is supposed to be 'evolutionary' about Possessed, but I sure hope it's more than just the use of death grunts.

Well, they are believed to be the earleist band to play death metal.
Although, Death's first demo(under the band's previous name Mantas)was recorded in the same year Possessed recorded theirs.

 

[chuj666]

Looks pretty solid. I guess I want to question Manowar since I've heard they're super-cheesy, and I doubt they could beat out very many European power metal groups, but I have no personal experience from which to criticise them.

Time now to go listen to the 4 or 5 bands on there that I know practically nothing about. Anyone have good starting album recs for Death, Suffocation, Fates Warning, and Manowar?



I'd say Slayer had a pretty big part in that as well - instrumentally, at least. I'm not sure what exactly is supposed to be 'evolutionary' about Possessed, but I sure hope it's more than just the use of death grunts.

great list maybe i would substitute Virgin Steele for Manowar

 

[Donnie Darko]

Testament
Metallica
Dream Theater
Slayer
Death
Alice Cooper
Pantera
Alice in Chains
Overkill
Arsis

 

[Manic Ferocity]

All the bands when they were in their prime, of course. This includes essentials and personal favorites.

Metallica
Slayer
Autopsy
Brutality
Blood Freak
Frightmare
Massacre
Morbid Angel
Immolation
Saint Vitus

And...if you consider Alice In Chains metal, they should be on the list as well.

 

[IOfTheStorm]

I guess I want to question Manowar since I've heard they're super-cheesy, and I doubt they could beat out very many European power metal groups, but I have no personal experience from which to criticise them.

This sentence has some of the most amazing oxymorons i have ever encountered. Just to satisfy my curiosity, name some of these "many european power metal bands" if you want.

 

[zabu of nΩd]

Let me try that again: I doubt they could beat out many of Europe's finer power metal groups, such as Helloween, Stratovarius, Primal Fear, Running Wild, Nightwish (if they count), etc.

 

[IOfTheStorm]

First of all, why compare them with power metal bands in the first place (since Manowar just play heavy metal), secondly, Primal Fear, Nightwish and Stratovarius are jokes (Stratovarius weren't, in fact they used to be brilliant but this lasted for 2-3 albums, old albums) and finally, no matter how great Helloween and Running Wild were, they never created something of the grandeur that is "Into Glory Ride" or "Hail To England".

 

[AchrisK]

I gotta hear me some Manowar. You're telling me they are not English? I assumed they were. I guess it's Spinal Tap that has me thinking that.

 

[Vilden]

Nightwish, Stratovarius, Primal Fear beating out Manowar? Wtf moment of the day!

 

[mutantllama]

What about Iced Earth?

 

[S<issors]

I gotta hear me some Manowar. You're telling me they are not English? I assumed they were. I guess it's Spinal Tap that has me thinking that.

the British flags on their album covers are deceptive.

 

[MasterOLightning]

Yeah, I thought Manowar was from England as well.

I'm surprised to see so many votes for Testament. I didn't think they were any better than 7th or 8th just as far as US thrash bands, and only a few even mentioned the more highly esteemed Overkill.

I would say that Death is lock for any such list, while Possessed is iffy. Death may not have been first in some senses, but they were more popular, reached more people, and influenced more bands. And that's only in terms of the demos/first album. Mid- to late-period Death had a very large influence on modern melodic, technical death metal

 

[zabu of nΩd]

First of all, why compare them with power metal bands in the first place (since Manowar just play heavy metal), secondly, Primal Fear, Nightwish and Stratovarius are jokes (Stratovarius weren't, in fact they used to be brilliant but this lasted for 2-3 albums, old albums) and finally, no matter how great Helloween and Running Wild were, they never created something of the grandeur that is "Into Glory Ride" or "Hail To England".

As unconvincing as your offhand dismissals of Primal Fear, Nightwish, and Stratovarius are, I am intrigued that you find Manowar to be superior to all of the bands I listed, so I guess I'd better check them out.

edit: btw, I didn't know they weren't power metal. I've just heard them described as such before.

What about Iced Earth?

Pretty lame Iron Maiden wannabe band imo.

 

[Rabid Headbanger]

You know what's great about top ten lists? All they do is start arguments because everyone likes different bands in different orders.

 

[IOfTheStorm]

As unconvincing as your offhand dismissals of Primal Fear, Nightwish, and Stratovarius are, I am intrigued that you find Manowar to be superior to all of the bands I listed, so I guess I'd better check them out.

Well i didn't mean to convince, just saying what i think about them.

edit: btw, I didn't know they weren't power metal. I've just heard them described as such before.

Power Metal is a totally different thing. Funny how heavy metal bands that deeply influenced it are automatically considered to be power metal as well, even Maiden are called like that by some.