Choosing 11 wasn't easy, luckily Metal has been blessed with great voices.”
The 11 Greatest Metal Vocalists of All Time
(in my opinion)
By Nando Machado
If the text were about the ten greatest rock vocalists, Freddie Mercury would probably be among the top ten, but this text is about the 11 greatest metal vocalists, meaning that singing metal is a very specific thing that only a few can do in such a way.
Ronnie James Dio – Immortal – Listen to "I" by Black Sabbath, "Kill The King" by Rainbow, or "Stand Up and Shout" from his solo career and discover why he is the greatest vocalist in the history of Metal.
Bruce Dickinson – Hallowed Be Thy Name. Bruce went through difficult times after the World Slavery Tour, practically losing his voice and no longer being able to reach the higher notes. Today, Bruce is in better shape than ever and singing better than ever.
Ian Gillan – One of the most influential vocalists in the history of Rock, when I interviewed him for Wikimetal I was truly moved. Some might say that Deep Purple isn't Heavy Metal, but listen to Gillan singing Trashed and you'll see a tremendous Metal vocalist.
Rob Halford – What can be said about Rob Halford? His high notes and flawless live performances speak for themselves.
Geoff Tate – Queensrÿche changed the sound of Metal and Hard Rock in the 80s, and was a very influential band for progressive Metal bands. Geoff Tate has an impressive technique.
David Coverdale – You might say Coverdale can't hit the highest notes anymore, but what this vocalist recorded with Deep Purple and Whitesnake can never be erased.
James Hetfield – James isn't the most technically gifted or the most polished vocalist, but his unmistakable voice and singing style define Metallica's sound; just hearing James' voice is enough.
Eric Adams – You can say whatever you want about Manowar, but that guy always sang a lot. If you disagree, please listen to Revelation Death's Angel from the album Into Glory Ride and find out why.
Andre Matos – In my opinion, the greatest Brazilian vocalist of all time. Today, Andre is in top form; on the To Live Again tour with Viper, he was having fun like a child and singing like a 20-year-old. Believe me, the album The Turn of the Lights will be a major milestone in Andre's solo career.
Brian Johnson – He himself jokes that he's the "new" vocalist for AC/DC. The guy had to overcome the loss of the immortal Bon Scott and still managed to keep AC/DC at the top for over 30 years. What can be said about the raspy vocals in "Back in Black," "For Those About To Rock," or "Flick of the Switch"?
Joey Belladonna – I was blown away when I saw Joey Belladonna live for the first time; the guy sings and rocks out so well, hits every note, he's the greatest thrash metal frontman!
