For the last two weeks, there's been a dearth of exciting news and major albums being released. The biggest news item as of late seems to be
Slash's involvement in the Phineas and Ferb Movie. That should be a sign of how bad things are right now.
As a response to this, I've decided to mix things up and do a top ten list (because nobody does that on the internet, am I right!?). This time, I will countdown my favorite
metal vocalists. I'm not including hard rock singers in here, just strictly metal. Also, this is not exactly a list of who I believe are the
best singers, just my personal favorites. So here they are.
*Note* I made the conscious decision not to make this list
go to eleven. I think that's a bit played out at this point.
10.
Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen, Journey, Talisman)
Originally singing to neo-classical power metal and transitioning to more pop rock, Jeff Scott Soto not only has a great voice, but is capable of performing in many different genres. Whether it's screaming his lungs out during his earlier career or singing more melodically in recent times, Soto's voice can fit just about any style of music, except for maybe death metal. He might even be good at that. I wouldn't put it past him.
9.
Joey Belladonna (Anthrax)
Distinguishing himself from the other singers in the Big Four, Joey Belladonna easily stood out as the best vocalist in early thrash metal and gave Anthrax a unique sound. Rather than using raspy and harsh vocals (which they would later use with John Bush), Belladonna sings using a combination of in-your-face shouting and melodic verses. His range allows him soar to levels most other thrash singers wish they could. Now that he is back with Anthrax, the band can continue to hone in their signature sound.
8.
Sebastian Bach (Skid Row, Sebastian Bach)
While his immense ego may not make him the most likeable rock star, Sebastian Bach's powerful voice cannot be denied. The energy he puts into the songs he sings gives them a sense of attitude and excitement. Although he and Skid Row began with a hair metal sound, they later moved into a more thrash direction when their former genre became less relevant. No matter if he is singing a power ballad or a lightning fast thrasher, Bach gets the job done every time.
7.
Eric Adams (Manowar)
There are few bands that praise their love of metal in songs as much as Manowar, and Eric Adams is usually the one to do it. He sings about marching out to victory and dying for metal in soft verses while transitioning to screams and chanting choruses. Speaking of screams, Adams is one of the best and can hold a note at incredibly high pitches even in his 50's. Adams was one of the major influences in most power metal vocalists, and it pretty clear why.
6.
Niklas Isfeldt "Nick Night" (Dream Evil)
How can you not love a guy who screams "METAL!" at the beginning of a
song? Nick Night is one of the best vocalists in power metal and his singing reminds us that Dream Evil can be metal and fun at the same time. The lyrics he sings are cheesy, but in a way that pokes fun at how serious some people can take the genre. He reminds us that heavy metal can be silly while still being awesome at the same time. Also, he's Swedish. That should be enough right there.
5.
Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth, Yngiwe Malmsteen, and a bunch of other bands that would make this list way to long)
When Rob Halford left Judas Priest in the early 90's, most people thought the band was finished. When the band first heard Tim Owens voice singing for a Priest cover band, they didn't believe it was him and that he had dubbed Rob's voice somehow! Owens was able to help the band survive the dark and evil times of the 90's and early 2000's until Rob reclaimed his rightful spot as the singer of Judas Priest. Once he was gone, Owens replaced Matt Barlow in Iced Earth and made two great records with them. After Matt returned, Tim decided that he could take his amazing voice and sing in multiple bands, proving that his powerful screams and incredibly wide range can make just about any band sound even better.
4.
Matt Barlow (Iced Earth)
Matt Barlow has one of the most unique voices in metal and can go from deep growls to high pitched screams. While most metal singers sing in a tenor register, Barlow sticks closer to a baritone range. He can incorporate thrash vocals as well as overdubbed power metal singing in the songs he sings with Iced Earth. While it's sad to see him leave the band again, lets hope that we will continue to hear his great voice in whatever he decides to do in life.
3.
Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Dio, Heaven and Hell)
The late, great Ronnie James Dio is an obvious choice for this list. If this was a list of who I thought were the best singers in metal, he would be number one. Dio had a voice that every other metal vocalist wished they had and tried to emulate. He was able to replace Ozzy in Sabbath and create two of the best albums in the genre, and another great one when he returned in the early 90's. His solo career is another great example of what this man was capable of. Dio was also one of the few singers whose voice barely deteriorated with age, even when he was pushing into his late 60's. Although the man may be gone, his music will live on.
2.
Rob Halford (Judas Priest)
Rob Halford has been considered by many (and by himself) as the "Metal God", and for good reasons. Halford was one of the original screamers in metal and blew the doors open as to what the human voice could achieve in the genre. Even in his later years, Halford can sing incredibly demanding songs and still make them sound as great as they were when they were originally written. Anyone who drives a motorcycle on stage and sings on it deserves large amounts of awesome points.
1.
Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden)
The "Air Raid Siren" makes the top of this list because of his ability to never fail in giving great vocal performances either in the studio or on the stage. Dickinson's operatic style of singing is just another example of the superb musicianship that is present in Iron Maiden. The intro the "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and the note he holds at the end is one of the greatest vocal performances in a metal song in my opinion. I believe Dickinson could sing for any metal band and carry them with his signature voice. He might also need
more cowbell.
