After polling the little demonic beings living within my thick fat hairy skull, an imperfect list of the Top 100 All-Time Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Bands was born. We hope you despise it.Insincerely Yours,
The Management
P.S. When you are done vomiting blood all over the list, test your metal wits on the Sporcle quiz: “Gears of Rock Top 100″
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- Black Sabbath
- Metallica
- Iron Maiden
- Slayer
- AC/DC
- Judas Priest
- Motorhead
- Led Zeppelin
- Megadeth
- Pantera
- Ozzy Osbourne
- Kiss
- Aerosmith
- Motley Crue
- Anthrax
- Guns n’ Roses
- Alice Cooper
- Scorpions
- Queen
- Van Halen
- Def Leppard
- Alice in Chains
- Deep Purple
- White Zombie
- Venom
- Dio
- Rush
- Overkill
- Accept
- Mercyful Fate
- Cream
- Marilyn Manson
- Diamond Head
- Machine Head
- Thin Lizzy
- The Misfits
- W.A.S.P.
- Ted Nugent
- Ministry
- Poison
- Exodus
- Type-o-Negative
- Ratt
- Sepultura
- The Ramones
- Pearl Jam
- Journey
- Bon Jovi
- Dream Theater
- Twisted Sister
- Danzig
- Fear Factory
- Tesla
- Quiet Riot
- Soundgarden
- Metal Church
- Joe Satriani
- Steve Vai
- Sammy Hagar
- Kreator
- Lamb of God
- Testament
- Faith No More
- Cinderella
- Tool
- Corrosion of Conformity
- Saxon
- Mastodon
- Stone Temple Pilots
- Cannibal Corpse
- Skid Row
- Korn
- GWAR
- Helloween
- Suicidal Tendencies
- Hatebreed
- Armored Saint
- Down
- Rage Against The Machine
- Primus
- Whitesnake
- Life of Agony
- Vision of Disorder
- Slipknot
- Biohazard
- Warrant
- Queensryche
- Extreme
- Mr. Big
- Living Sacrifice
- Black Label Society
- Deftones
- Sick of It All
- Living Colour
- Sevendust
- Foo Fighters
- Lita Ford
- King’s X
- System of a Down
- Nirvana
Now that you have studied the list, test your memory with the “Gears of Rock Top 100″ game at sporcle.com. And remember this is not the greatest Top 100 list in the world, no, this is just a tribute.
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go over the list again and edit it, some of these bands are not metal bands or heavy, metal has changed too, so some bands are not the same as the new metal bands coming up, they are great bands and some of the best ever, but to classify them against current is unfair in the fact that styles of metal arent even similar anymore.
Nice list. But where is FASTWAY, DOKKEN, MAMA’S BOYS and KINGDOM COME?? They were certainly better than many on your list. Glad to see Diamond Head in there, but why did you include Journey, among others?? Kiss is also HIGHLY over-rated. They belong near the bottom.
First of all, it is YOUR OPPINION that KISS is overrated. I agree that much of their earlier stuff is Soooo NOT METAL! But the “Big Four” (Creatures of the Night, Lick It Up, Asylum and Animalize) are WAY METAL! Seriously, “War Machine”, “Heaven’s On Fire”, “Not For The Innocent”, “Any Way You Slice It”, “Creatures…”, “All Hell’s Breakin’ Loose” , almost every song on those four albums is in your face hard driving heavy metal! Gene Simmons is both a monster and a master, so show some respect.
Very true about Gene Simmons, Dark Mark. Everyone has a different opinion.
@Josh I agree that metal has changed a great deal over the years. There aren’t too many new acts on here because it takes years of proving it on the road; A band has to feel the power of being on top, hitting a low, a come back, and reconquering the world over again (repeat cycle). I was also thinking of the influential factor. 70′s hard rock bands (which can be easy listening compared to today) make the list because their then-heavy riffs rewrote how hard rock and heavy metal music was done. I also hate classifying the different types of metal. If something rocks hard, then let it rock. No need to create yet another subgenre for it. I think I picked up that wisdom from Ozzy a couple decades ago.
@Powertrip Should I have included Monster Magnet too, lol (if that is what your name referenced)? Good call on the Dokken. Kiss is totally the most overrated band of all-time (perhaps the next Top 100 list?). However, what they brought to hard rock and heavy metal is legendary. The big stage show, blowing stuff up, blood spewing, making an ass out of yourself on stage, exploiting your fans hard-earned cash on ridiculous merchandise, etc. They showed that heavy music can be one giant party.
I love Nirvana…Should they be included on a Metal/Hard Rock list?No.Just no.There’s like 20 bands that aren’t even metal but more like…Hair Metal/Classical lmfao.And where’s Pantera at?Honestly,fail list,and fail musical knowledge.Go learn your genres and come back.
@Maiden Hahahahahahaha, I’m very pleased that you enjoyed the list. Pantera is #10 by the way. Seen ‘em a bunch back in the day, even have two Dime guitar picks with my blood on ‘em. So don’t you dare question my knowledge. Nirvana radically influenced hard rock and heavy metal, and I absolutely hate that fact. In fact Nirvana ruined hard rock, hair, glam, classic, heavy metal, whatever stupid names you want to call it, but I still had to acknowledge that loser. If something rocks, then let it rock. Don’t pull the genre nonsense with me. I’ve even rocked out extremely hard to The Beatles, Stones, Who, and Ramones; you know the true classics that influenced most of the bands on the list, and are therefore considered hard rock bands in this book. Accept that, and thank you for reading the Gears of Rock.
The list is in the strictest sense your own opinion. Every metal fan who makes a list will be different then the next guy or gals. I personally disagree with a few of the ones on your list, but who cares. Its your list, nothing more. Saying all that to say; If you read HIS list and don’t like it, oh frickin’ well. It’s just that, HIS list. Why give negative feedback when uncalled for. HE is entitled to HIS opinion just as you are.
you also forgot Avenged Sevenfold …R.I.P the rev. there is no other band as great as avenged sevenfold
A7X SHOULD BE IN THE TOP 10 WITH SOaD!!
yea, i love them , hhuge a7x fan. also they should take slipknot off, they suck.
YOUR MUM SUCKS
SLIPKNOT 4EVER
Avenged sevenfold aswell
go piss and jump off the bridge…
avenged is rock/metal music badass…
I think the order is off, and some of my faves are not represented, but its a good list. As usual, the “Metallica or Pantera” crowd showed up. Always arguing about who’s the “most metal…” or the “hardest ever…”. At the end of Anthrax’s “I Am The Man”, they claim “…and we’ll remain the hardest ever.” Does that mean they will (or ever were)? No. I means they believe so would like you to, as well. Stop arguing oppinions. Cast your vote and see how it stacks up. You do that by BUYING CD’s and mp3′s – not stealing them. Ratings are calculated by sales, not thefts. When you steal you favorite bands music, you devalue the band and make sure they won’t be around very long by making it so they can’t afford to release another album. Also, labels often drop artists when their sales drop and don’t (or struggle to) recover.
I’m not sure how this list was compiled (sales, cronology (obviously not), opinion of the writer, random poll, etc.), but if you disagree with it, make your own list. No matter how you try, you aren’t going to change someone’s opinion – and the facts are the facts, the only way to change them is to cast your vote with sales.
I realize no-one is arguing “Metallica or Pantera”, but that argument was once VERY popular amongst “metal-heads”. I’m referring to the “My favorite band is better than your favorite band” people. If it rocks, it rocks, end of discussion.
These F**king people dont know what metal even is!!!! what kind of heavy metal list doesnt have Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir in it wtf. these editors suck!!!
They arent on there because they suck. Which leads me to wonder why hatebreed is on there…
Ok. I’ll even go for Mr Big…Colorado Bulldog pulls their ass from the fire…but come on…Journey? Hard? Heavy? Dude…my mom listens to Journey…
As for the rest of the list…it’s your tastes dude. I’ll give you that. Just glad y’all got the Motorehead on there.
And Five Finger Death Punch is missing. I know they ain’t got “years of road” but Journey? Oh yeah I said that allready…
Just stumbled upon this while doing some research. While I don’t agree with a good portion of this list, you all have to remember that some bands like Journey were once considered hard rock, the same way that Zeppelin was considered metal. By today’s standards, neither of the above apply, but they both were an important part of rock history.
I also agree that Kiss is over-rated, but they played an important role in music and therfore deserve to be up there. But Mr. Big? Living Colour? Like them, but come on now.
Speaking of Zeppelin, they were such an important part of rock history, i can’t imagine them being any lower then #2, but that’s just my opinion
Cmon. How can you place zeppelin any lower than two? You really think that motorhead and judas priest or AC/DC is better than zeppelin? Other than that the list is nice, but i would place Dio a bit higher.
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No Freaking Breaking Benjamin.. Wow
ok… wanna know why breaking benjamin isnt on this list? because they suck dick, they are mainstream unorigional pussys
i gotta disagree with that statement on Breaking Benjamin. I mean seriously, this band is one of three that inspired me to be a musician. And c’mon you gotta give some credit to the fact that they put some good fucking songs out there. Look how far “Diary of Jane” has gotten
I really like breaking benjamin, but they simply aren’t a band that should be on a top 100 list of heavy metal hard rock bands. They may be good, but they aren’t that good, or that influential
lol even lordi isn’t on the list, they won the eurovision songfestival in 2006. and system of a down is surely not on the 99th place
and what did you thought when you putted nirvana on 100. they scored a very great hit with smells like teen spirit. almost everybody knows that song but most of the bands who are on this list i dont even know.
Don’t get me wrong man i love KISS, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Poison, Cinderella, Twisted Sister, Whitesnake, Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row, Tesla, Ratt, Warrant, Mr. Big, Lita Ford, W.A.S.P., Motley Crue, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and others like them on the list but being honest its a list called Top 100 Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Bands of All-Time and those acts are Glam, Hair, and Sleaze Metal not Hard Rock or Heavy Metal and don’t belong on a list with Pantera and Metalica. Also Journey hell no and Cream what were you thinking. I despise Nirvana and they are alternative, punk, grunge, 90′s music whatever you wanna call it the killers of metal and don’t belong on this list. Heavy Metal and Hard Rock are pretty far apart to combine in one list to.
Huh. Has anyone heard of Scorpian???? THE BEST!!! WHY ISN”T IT ON THERE?? AC/DC should be number one, then Black Sabbath. and Aerosmith should be higher, along with Whitesnake. Led Zeppelin could be higher…. And Where is Avenged Sevenfold? Other than that, and a few genre mistakes, it’s a cool list. Haven’t heard half of the bands, though.
Happy music listening!!
i dont care what you listen to. just keep Journey off and Metallica on.
I don’t agree with this list at all! I think that some bands are over rated and votes should re-listen to the artists above and delete some and add some bands .People please re-vote and re-listen !
I’ve just gone through the whole list of top metal bands and i was completely appalled by the choices. One list didn’t even include ACDC in the top 100 – what a joke. While i don’t agree 100%, this is fundamentally an outstanding top 100 metal bands of all time. Well done.
ac dc is gay
bullshit, if anything, i know the singers of queen and judas priest are gay
I love KoRn why didn’t they put it on the top 10! Thats sucky!
Extreme “heavy metal/hard rock?” Not sure; they’ve always been difficult to classify. All I can say is that their music and sound has always been a preference of mine; and, after all, that’s what all music is to each individual listening …. a matter of preference. Therefore, personaly not pleased to see them low on the list at No. 88. Then again, I’m just glad to see they made somebody’s list at all. If not the best in showmanship, they’re at least one of the best in musicianship.
What??? A7X isnt on the list? And neither is Disturbed? Yet Journey and Bon Jovi are? I thought this was metal!
Definitely true. I like Journey and Bon Jovi, but neither belong here. And of all the recent metal bands to come out, Disturbed and A7x are the biggest and best. I don’t know how Sevendust can make it on there, but those two can’t
Hundreds of lists of best metal bands/albums on the internet, made by so called metal heads and 1 or 2 of them list one of the most influential metal bands of all times, not including this list. Appearently none of you “Metal Heads” have heard of a Mr. Bobby Leibling, Bedemon 1974. Pentagram from there after, cmon.
this is definently wrong. half of those arent even metal. you sir, fail.
The Only band i never heard off on the list is Vision Of Disorder, What about Emperor, Rainbow, Reverend Bizarre, Kyuss, Soulfly, Immortal, Kreator, could go on. But it is each to their own, sometimes it depends on what mood you are in. Best live (headlining) concerts i Ever saw was Metallica Milton Keynes Bowl 1993, Acdc donington 1991, and Carcass Hellfest 2010. Metal/Rock as changed a lot in 20 odd+ years i have been listening, We are missing some new classics bands to emerge though.
Ps Just seen Slipknot for first time, they did put on a bit of a show, pleasantly surprised. And yes i do know Pentagram very well.
Where is UFO?
and where is Shadows Fall?
brutal. keep it coming.
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IRON MAIDEN SLAYER MEGA DETH CHILDREN OF BODEM Judas Priest THEY ALL SUCK HAHAHAHAHA
Dude, your dissing my bands. once you say aerosmith and black sabbath suck, i will kill you and your shrine to journey, i want you to can your trap and if you insult anethor metal band, i will tell them to kick your ASS!
I am replying to my own comment, I had screwed up in life very bad, but I have a twisted list of bands on the list I like, there is no order on what is the best
Black Sabbath
Metallica
Iron Maiden
AC/DC
Judas Priest
Led Zeppelin
Megadeth
Ozzy Ozborne
Kiss
Aerosmith
Guns N’ Roses
Queen
you don’t dare lay a finger on any of the said bands, if you do, I will end you
i put the bands in order that i saw them on the list, don’t hurt me, anybody, but
JOURNEY, you might as well put some loser like Justin Bieber on this list
but still, remove jouney
i think iron maiden and metallica should change places.
ABSOLUTELY…………………….. I AGREE WITH U……
U HVE MY SUPPORT……
In my years, i listened to rock bands my whole life. i know that JOURNEY SHOULDN’T BE ON THIS LIST AND AVENGED 7X SHOULD
Can someone tell me why the eff Nightwish isn’t there!
For the same reason Lacuna Coil isn’t. Because they aren’t major metal bands, haven’t really gone anywhere yet, and haven’t influenced anyone
where is MANOWAR???
HEY, DONT U GUYS…….. REALISE ONE THING????
HEY, U ROCK N ROLL FANS………… INSTEAD OF ARGUING AMONG US, WHY DONT GIV A THOUGHT……..??????
WHERE IS ROCK N ROLL GONE………………..????????????????? WE C ONLY (HIP HOP N POP) MUSIC …………… TELECAST IN TELEVISION… ALL THE TOP MUSIC CHANNELS OF WORLD IS FOCUSIN MORE ON HIP N POP SPECIALLY……
WAT DO WE DO????????? SURELY THERE MUST ME SOME WAY………………………………………………………………………………..
Bitch, please.
Metallica number 2????????
System of a Down in this list??
Whitesnake # 81??????????
Slayer????? Who are these guys?
Deep Purple #23 ??????????
C’mon, you put new bands high ranked and legendary are on the bottom.
This list sucks! Only thing I Agree with is Black Sabbath.
WTF System of a down litteraly DESTROY Foo Fighters and cannibal corpse, and from my opinion Iron Maiden Should be first but Metallica , Sabbath and Maiden are definitively in the top 3
WHAT THE FUCK, no disturbed they redefined alot of metal and A7X is deserving a spot, but how the helll is bon jovi and journey and system of a down metal? like wtf give your head a shake
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Wtf does queen do on tha list?
in my opinion, they only partially deserve to be on this list, as they go from a pop-ish tune to releasing the first thrash metal song
check wikipedia, then kill me
I just want to take a second to thank all of you that have commented on my Top 100 Hard Rock Bands post so far. I love hearing your opinions-even when it is hatred-on hard music, keep it coming.
Metallica deserves no.1 place!
I find it interesting that many of us who actually grew up and or partied to 80′s Hair Metal seem to forget Stryper: True, they were a “Christian” Hair Band, but they did have some crossover hits such as “Honestly” and “To Hell With The Devil”…remember?
I remember when I first discovered them. A friend of mine had given me an album to listen to. They really rocked hard and at the time, I suspected that the Christian thing was merely a gimmick for them. Either way, they put out some decent sound.
this is not the first list i have read of best metal artitst but may be worst alot of those bands are not metal! and Lamb of God at 61? I listen to enough liquid metal to tell you that the rest of the metal world agrees. secondly not having pantera in top ten but ac/dc, led zeppilin and judas priest? To many of these bands are not Metal! Learn the genre before posting. aerosmith pearl jam stone temple pilots the misfits plus more arent metal remove or change name of list or you will just remain a joke who knows nothing about music!
H
I hate the list, some of them are not even metall.
Nice list, but I would place led zeppelin #1 or #2, and I think that nirvana is way too low.
What the hell 52nd list of metal I’ve seen without fuckin RAMMSTEIN on it please half of the list sucks the other half is good but no German metal? I thought we were metal fans not people who listen to the crap like that little jackass making himself rich named Justin Bieber. My god what has the metal nation come to?
what about 30 seconds to mars ???