This alphabetical list presents bands that took the inspiration for their name from literature (novels, poems, plays, comics). The list shows the debut album cover along with the information of the corresponding source of inspiration.

Please feel free to suggest more examples of metal/hard rock band names that are inspired by literature.


AUTHORS

1st Place (52 bands):
J.R.R.Tolkien

2nd Place (21 bands):
H.P.Lovecraft

3rd Place (10 bands):
W.Shakespeare

4th Place (7 bands):
E.A.Poe

5th Place (3 bands):
F.Herbert, R.E.Howard, C.A.Smith

6th Place (2 bands):
A.Huxley, J.W.v.Goethe, B.Kane, S.King, C.S.Lewis, H.Melville, K.Miura, M.Moorcock, J.K.Rowling, H.Van Alkmer, O.Wilde

7th Place (1 band):
R.Adams, J.P.Ahonen, D.Alighieri, L.F.Baum, E.C.Bertin, R.Bloch, E.Bronte, L.Carroll, L.Carter, L.Chase, C.Dickens, A.Diggle, M.Ende, S.Erikson, W.Faulkner, J.&W.Grimm, Homer, A.Jodorowsky, Kakifly, U.KLeGuin, H.W.Longfellow, G.R.R.Martin, A.Miller, P.Mills, J.Milton, D.Quinn, S.Rohmer, P.Rothfuss, Y.Sadamato, M.Sandemo, W.Scott, H.Sienkiewicz, D.Simmons, W.Smith, J.Steinbeck, B.Stoker, Suetonius, L.Uris, L.Weisberger, H.G.Wells, Q.Yuan


CATEGORY

1.) Novels (93 bands)
2.) Short Stories/Novellas (34 bands)
3.) Drama (11 bands),
Poems (11 bands),
Comics/Mangas (11 bands)
4.) Religious Texts (4 bands)
5.) Author Names (3 bands)
6.) Magazines (2 bands)
7.) Biographies (1 band), Essays (1 band), Reports (1 band),

1.A Dream Of Poe - The Mirror Of Deliverance

2.Abhoth - Abhoth

3.Abigail Williams - In The Shadow Of A Thousand Suns

4.Ahab - The Call Of The Wretched Sea

5.Alice In Chains - Facelift

      View entire list ››

This list is meant to be an extensive, but by no means exhaustive, collection of the greatest (modern) metal albums and eps. Running the gamut from avant-garde to trve norweigan black metal. *As someone who is young in age, my tastes tend to revolve around the period of the 80s to the present.* Although certain metal albums from before will certainly be featured, the period of the 60s-70s will be under-represented. I refer you to this excellent list to gain a better appreciation for some of the best metal from that period: https://rateyourmusic.com/list/freis/martin_popoffs_the_top_500_heavy_metal_albums_of_all_time/

1.Ea - Ea Taesse

2.Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull

3.Earth And Pillars - Earth I

4.Earth Crisis - Destroy The Machines

5.Earth Rot - Black Tides Of Obscurity

      View entire list ››

What follows are 25 very good albums that seem to have flown under the radar of MS users, as not a one has even 50 ratings. Pulled pretty much from tastes, so largely some death, doom, sludge, stoner, and thrash. So check 'em out, you might find a couple worth your while.

1....And Oceans - The Dynamic Gallery Of Thoughts

2.(EchO) - Devoid Of Illusions

3.5ive - Hesperus

4.Abske Fides - Abske Fides

5.Altar Of Betelgeuze - Darkness Sustains The Silence

      View entire list ››

These obviously won't ruin your day. Chances are if you are into these styles you'll love this selection. No stylistic borders, but I'm limiting myself to one album per band. These aren't necessarily my favorite albums by these bands, but they are the one's I think fit the best.

10ish years later, I find a lot of my descriptions on these really mediocre. Don't judge my shitty writing.

1.Ævangelist - De Masticatione Mortuorum In Tumulis

2.Abruptum - Potestates Apocalypsis

3.Absolutus - Pugnare In Iis Quae Obtinere Non Possis

4.Abyssal - Novit Enim Dominus Qui Sunt Eius

5.Aderlating - Spear Of Gold And Seraphim Bone Pt. 1

      View entire list ››

Rules:
1. One album per band
2. Alphabetic order
3. Only albums with less than 30 votes + albums not available on MS



Links to albums which are not featured on MS:
Antagonist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7gKRrqbWG8
Aphotic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGDeUKGB16o
Apocalypse (UK) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-6Dw9EjLe8
Arcania https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU7oPe7WUfw
Armageddon (USA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfu4hX1H_-s
As Light Dies http://aslightdies.bandcamp.com/album/ars-subtilior-from-within-the-cage
Atlain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaG3-z_puEM
Attack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mSzsfjD3jE
Auditory Imagery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNT5bypc2rQ
Änglagård https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFI554_xM-I
Babylon Sad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc12Z3Bqf2c
Betrayal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl9mqOw7adc
Black Hole http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlkPxq1BZaE
Black Symphony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8Ly1Luk21s
Blood Cult http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgwRqPoM_zg
Bronz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OTnWnDegMw
Buffalo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzxM6Z_oDQ
Cactus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_y_m0mImGw
Calhoun Conquer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQih771h2Mw
Carmilla Morte http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmqiMdo5Zks
Cave Of Swimmers https://caveofswimmers.bandcamp.com/album/reflection
Centaur https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSn7iXf7lVc
Ceremonium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsbVOcaT4-c
Chowder http://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/passion-rift
Clepsydra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpQVVe9wPqc
Cosmosquad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HehOaRhPrx0
Counter-World Experience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LPR-BoMQpc
Cryptomnesia http://tornfleshrecords.bandcamp.com/album/primordial-oddity
Crystal Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mot3HS8ks7I
Cult Of Vampyrism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VpmkSxl3Lo
Cybele https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pCxN9pkHTU
Cyberhed https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJdj6iJ5lXo
Dali's Dilemma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80DcS2zHfM8
Dawn Of Dreams https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyIZsuaQWJE
Dead Temple https://deadtemple.bandcamp.com/
Deaf Eyes https://deafeyes.bandcamp.com/releases
Decision D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQZ8vH-RBiQ
Decoryah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69bHWfAg_0A
Demimonde http://demimondeofficial.bandcamp.com/album/mutant-star
Diabolique https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx1mKbpncBU
Doom (JPN) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsqw8X-c4zc
Dust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO_IyJU-ZbE
Dust Sculptures http://dustsculptures.bandcamp.com/album/nostalgia
Dustynation http://dustynation.bandcamp.com/
Dying Passion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLa6ACfBlGY
Earth Burnt Black https://earthburntblack.bandcamp.com/album/under-a-dying-sun
Egypt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt5Wh7jGSl8
Egypt (US) https://egypt1.bandcamp.com/album/become-the-sun
Embryo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2lhw0z7r_8
Empyria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr3u1Qjfk70
End Amen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVfKv9vC2z8
Energetic Krusher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1hUUhRAkTY
Equirhodont http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=if1TCEu9jto
Eternal Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wzddYaT6s
Eternal Valley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWRsO7_KNiM
Evol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OmQypgX-Lc
Excidium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2O9k7pNvLA
Exises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srS4QTBCqp0
Exxplorer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgg2FXe5ZQE
Flames Of Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGHSHUj3IsU
H-Bomb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkmgHJgZl4I
Harrow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh-qWj5hzYs
Heaven's Cry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHp0jTLCUko
Hocculta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaI7dmrbwvA
Hydrotoxin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS0L_lPn3i8
Hypnotic Scenery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdc9abD6kgk
Icecross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MOQRWHCJLA
Iron Claw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHL6Na0c5g0
Jakub Żytecki https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlTDJ1CwyP8
Jarun https://jarun.bandcamp.com/album/pod-niebem-utkanym-z-popio-u
Jeronimo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLMflMrHP24
Jester's March https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh6WR9x_eU8
Kalovorot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyze-7dst6A
Katar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw3DvrfWLsg
Kobong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EayCslBxICc
Kohllapse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sSYgruU3ug
Korpse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1njOKpJkcBI
Light Of Darkness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZNPZDB47OA
Lucifer's Friend http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y9AJ4HVAQg
Maeth http://maeth.bandcamp.com/album/oceans-into-ashes
Maleficium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lt28cw_oYI
Malignant Eternal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q88RWpnSYfs
Mech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_bfMQt6rpY
Megace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4iFcde28Oc
Mely https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvorSS6mEtE
Memoria https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSPEeBxWuxA
Memory Driven https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvkb1FJAm_8
Mephistopheles (GER) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9FYtWtE4-A
Mistguide http://mistguide.bandcamp.com/album/era
Moonlight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=480oxwRDwmw
Narita https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w5e15suhfk
Necroart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4m_5I3MecA
Neolithic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Op7tamalrT4
Nexus 6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlABSdgZJFI
Night Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9sscVftmDU
Nimbatus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntsia6r9hOo
Nox Mortis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UUsn2m94HA
Obiat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlZiyI6PPbw
Obrero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEtYdT5ifQ4
Obsidieth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja8EEH7vh4E
Odyssey (RSA) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1cDZfDXXzc
Olvido http://olvido-oficial.bandcamp.com/album/luto
Oppressor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtMPBlZ1EHM
Opus Arise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdVTjAgduHI
Oracle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-QQZWqFEI
Ordained Fate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOivwjopHvg
Path Of Debris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lebyXZNr21M
Pergalė http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26N4_6JYop0
Polluted Inheritance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVdxGUo3Y04
Promethean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc79qtfThZ4
Red Tide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jS_bNbnTMQ
Quicksand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5lGb7mLSUk
Sabaoth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKqjutLIdtM
Sacrosanct https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwVVICRxdSE
Sad Whisperings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06YH2FVtP8I
Sandrider http://sandrider.bandcamp.com/album/sandrider
Sanvoisen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtUi72rXfac
Scatterbrain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQmEpkrYkts
Scissorfight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJsIEOxkUik
Secrecy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tAy6DzMrEw
Sethery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd71lkQdpW0
Shadowseeds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3lPRlNYNGM
Sorg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IFGwLk-F7U
Soul Cages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxtRlcB2WVY
Southwake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uObnRZrXPBs
Stomach Earth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3XkLGh-23g
Stworz https://stworz.bandcamp.com/album/c-po-yznych-ziemiach
Sweet Noise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3hy31kQcc
Symphonian http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HLk1LV6nmE
Synkronizity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0rySk_WY4o
T2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1cKMIfcumg
Tangerine Circus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMnNAZMQ-IE
The Advent Equation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQCBsIvgr0
The Bedlam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi6tQRtnXdE
The Beyond http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBltGF1Yf4
The Fathomless Deep https://thefathomlessdeep.bandcamp.com/album/the-fathomless-deep
The Re-Stoned https://re-stoned.bandcamp.com/album/totems
Thunderhead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrvJPbe-eQ
Thy Withering Orchard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9PuIWfAm7o
Time Grid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXCbYUCKPGk
Toad (CH) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci3Wt_HS4h8
Torchure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqoE9a4imfE
Touch Of Cruel Hands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKFZy0XMoSY
Tower https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO40C2HBlbA
Trizna https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaHdBWB7NVs
Under The Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0xyRZRCi3E
Utopianisti http://utopianisti.bandcamp.com/album/utopianisti-ii-utopianisti-meets-black-motor-jon-ballantyne
Vanguard X Mortem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5EnjGbDMlo
Viogression http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmUF5fo3KL0
Violent Work Of Art https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hirh1sdp2Is
Virgo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHE5VQSB5PU
Vyre https://vyred.bandcamp.com/album/the-initial-frontier-pt-1
Wicked Innocence https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LNKYKenx-Q
Wicked Maraya https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8CVp-V9rD4
Wings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBB6b9R8Z1A
Wizz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5H02wmRgDk
Xenolith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIcbJHC_FWY
Zions Abyss https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z62KqVqQR-0

1.(EchO) - Devoid Of Illusions

2.5ive - Hesperus

3.7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes Of Absolution

4.A Sorrowful Dream - Toward Nothingness

5.Aarni - Bathos

      View entire list ››

The wide spectrum of sounds expressed through the sub-genre of Doom Metal often gets overshadowed by the somehow inaccessible slowness that is in its nature and so DM doesn't get the recognition it deserves for being, in my opinion, one of the most flexible subgenres of Metal ... Because of that, Doom Metal has remained among my favorite genres of music since the time I was introduced to it through My Dying Bride's "Turn Loose the Swans".

1.Esoteric - The Maniacal Vale

2.Saturnus - Martyre

3.Lacrimas Profundere - Memorandum

4.My Dying Bride - Turn Loose The Swans

5.Process Of Guilt - Erosion

      View entire list ››

Some of my favourite stuff I have scratched it up to one pile. One album per band, no order, just chaos.

1.Eibon - Entering Darkness

2.Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs

3.Mar De Grises - Draining The Waterheart

4.Ankhagram - Where Are You Now

5.Anorexia Nervosa - New Obscurantis Order

      View entire list ››

the "genres" of stoner metal, sludge, and post-metal all seem to bleed/flow together at various times so playing metal bartender, i've cooked up this list of albums those interested in the genres can use as suggestions/starting points. this is just a basic primer with 25 albums... not a definitive list by any stretch. just albums i love. some are landmark releases that helped define the genre... while others are recent releases from cool bands that MS/labels have helped me uncover. Enjoy.

1.Acid Bath - When The Kite String Pops

2.Baroness - Blue Record

3.Down - Nola

4.High On Fire - Death Is This Communion

5.Kyuss - Blues For The Red Sun

      View entire list ››

weeeee. all my past staff picks now compiled into one swell list.

1.High On Fire - Snakes For The Divine

2.Krallice - Dimensional Bleedthrough

3.Greymachine - Disconnected

4.Kylesa - Static Tensions

5.Profetus - Coronation Of The Black Sun

      View entire list ››

weeee! 2010 is pretty much toast and 2011 is coming 'round the bend. here are my top 25 picks from this past year. top six or seven are firmly in place, the rest of the list is a clusterfuck of high 7 's to low 8's, which are likely to go up or down a couple slots within seconds of my posting this.

1.Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini

2.Mar De Grises - Streams Inwards

3.Negură Bunget - Măiestrit

4.Shattered Hope - Absence

5.Eibon - Entering Darkness

      View entire list ››

Updated in 19/9/2011

1.Alcest - Écailles De Lune

2.Year Of No Light - Ausserwelt

3.Mar De Grises - Streams Inwards

4.A Forest Of Stars - Opportunistic Thieves Of Spring

5.Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini

      View entire list ››