BURZUM! nah i am kidding ...
I cant choose between Iron Maiden ,Arch Enemy and Immortal...some of them...

Haven't seen that many metal acts live but Maiden is the best so far

Anathema were probably the best live band I've seen, but they again, they are not very metal now.

Iron Maiden without a doubt, even though they're all over 50, they're all still the best at their instruments.

Behemoth, they have the best stage presence I've ever seen.

Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Metallica

Rush, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, Rammstein

Written by Valentin B on 28.07.2008 at 10:31

lol.. i saw only one dude mention manowar... what is wrong with you people? lol in bulgaria when they played that 6 hour or so gig they brought a choir on stage and played "Warriors of the World United"... i mean how awesome can you get? there truly is no other band like manowar...

oh god, the fact that I wrote this before I actually saw Manowar in concert says it all haha.

I have since seen them twice and I am positive they can still put on a good show if they want to, but unfortunately both times went from either good moments to really boring/cringing moments. Dammit, they played a sloppy and obviously unrehearsed version of "Heaven and Hell" and then of course there's Joey's neverending speeches, which were funny in some points but completely devoid of any real meaning overall..

Right now it's pretty hard for me to determine which bands are best in concert. My top 3 best shows are Saxon at Wacken 2009 (third), Accept at Sonisphere (second) and Priest at Rock the City this year (first).

While the first two were almost one-off performances (Accept had only a few 2-hour shows that summer and Saxon's was a retrospective), Priest did a whole summer/autumn tour of shows averaging 2 hours and 15 minutes in length with the same setlist. I had some luck too probably and caught them on a great day as the sound quality and performance was absolutely perfect, unlike a few other videos I've seen on youtube.

As for overall, including bands I've never seen I'd say Maiden in the early 80s, for reasons stated over and over in this thread.

As for bands I've seen myself, my choices are (to give bands from different genres) AC/DC, Stu Bloc era Iced Earth and Machine Head. AC/DC constantly out-rock bands with a median age that's half of theirs, and always deliver a great show with amazing visuals and tons of energy.


Machine Head on the other hand are absolutely pure metal, the performance is always great, the sound is beastly, and of course Robb Flynn knows how to get a crowd going. Crowd participation is a huge part of a MH show from what I see, "Halo" live at Sonisphere UK is just magnificent.

aand Iced Earth makes my top 3 because of regardless of how technical their music is, they almost always manage to kill live (I watched the live webcast of their Graspop show where Seele fucked up the solo on "Declaration Day" but aside from that I've yet to hear them doing mistakes on stage), and if they had a bit more of a visual element to their shows they would probably be in the absolute world metal best where a band of this quality deserves to be.

Obviously IM. I saw HELL live once and they were awesome too.

I hear Immortal and Behemoth are pretty good live, same with Shining.

Of the bands I've seen, Cancer Bats was pretty awesome.

I know it will be hard to be taken serious saying this...but older Gwar put on one hell of a good show, and it was always a good time. Even recently they still do pretty well.

Possessed was a really good concert, watching Jeff Becerra rock out in his wheel chair was really inspiring, he kicks ass too!

Immolation

Apart from Anathema, I have to mention Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. Then Dark Tranquillity and Arch Enemy from the ones I've seen.

Rush, Iron Maiden are my favs

Written by BloodTears on 10.03.2012 at 13:22

Apart from Anathema, I have to mention Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. Then Dark Tranquillity and Arch Enemy from the ones I've seen.

Out of the gazzillion bands I have seen live Dream Theater is one of the worst.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.03.2012 at 01:11


Out of the gazzillion bands I have seen live Dream Theater is one of the worst.

I agree with you, I cant imagine Dream Theaters music translating very well into a live setting at all and judging by what I have seen online they sound very mediocre live.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.03.2012 at 01:11

Written by BloodTears on 10.03.2012 at 13:22

Apart from Anathema, I have to mention Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. Then Dark Tranquillity and Arch Enemy from the ones I've seen.

Out of the gazzillion bands I have seen live Dream Theater is one of the worst.

I could only imagine. That shit gives me a migraine from the studio versions, I can only imagine how bad it would sound un-edited and not doctored up.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 11.03.2012 at 01:11

Written by BloodTears on 10.03.2012 at 13:22

Apart from Anathema, I have to mention Porcupine Tree and Dream Theater. Then Dark Tranquillity and Arch Enemy from the ones I've seen.

Out of the gazzillion bands I have seen live Dream Theater is one of the worst.

Why? I disagree, obviously. It's not boring to me on record neither is it live, except for the last album

Isis anyone?

Guys, guys, guys... Iced Earth! They are great live. and don't get me wrong, I looooove Metallica, but they are awefull live. Heatfield' s voice is terrible!

Written by LichBorne on 23.11.2012 at 11:02

Guys, guys, guys... Iced Earth! They are great live. and don't get me wrong, I looooove Metallica, but they are awefull live. Heatfield' s voice is terrible!

Have you seen those bands live

Sunn O))) gig is (supposedly) an unforgettable experience. I'd love to see them live. Folks don't know what to do... I love it.

I still think that any band that make you feel good/astonished on their show is good live band -> if you a fan of it, than its the best live band....

Written by Warman on 26.06.2006 at 23:35

The band I must see live is Norther, if I don't ... I'll die unhappy!

Apparently I'll die "unhappy".

Written by Warman on 23.11.2012 at 16:38

Written by Warman on 26.06.2006 at 23:35

The band I must see live is Norther, if I don't ... I'll die unhappy!

Apparently I'll die "unhappy".

Fucking Gwar !!!! out of those I've seen, they were the best live act.

A close second would have to be Municipal Waste & Maiden.

KISS and Iron Maiden.....I am so thankful that I have been catching them both live since the early 80's and I am lucky enough to still be able to see them and both bands have gotten better and better!!

Primordial .. and Rammstein of course

Written by Bad English on 23.11.2012 at 14:37

Written by LichBorne on 23.11.2012 at 11:02

Guys, guys, guys... Iced Earth! They are great live. and don't get me wrong, I looooove Metallica, but they are awefull live. Heatfield' s voice is terrible!

Have you seen those bands live

yes. both of them. Iced Earth last year, and metallica this year.

Iron Maiden and Katatonia are both fucking amazing live. Wintersun is also!